#girlstrong

Shabby Apple is running a campaign right now that hit close to home for me. Have you seen the #GIRLSTRONG floating around on instagram? I’ll break it down here if not: For every #girlstrong hashtag used on Instagram, Shabby Apple will donate 10 cents to the Elizabeth Smart Foundation. A charity that helps fight the tracking of girls worldwide. Elizabeth Smart is my age, her family lives in our stake + I’ve heard her tell her story in person. I get the chills every time I think about what she has been through. But the advice that her Mother gave her that very first night she was back home completely changed her life + I think of it often. She said to her “Elizabeth, what this man has done to you is terrible, and there aren’t words to describe how wicked and evil he is…but the best punishment you could ever give him is to be happy.” That is exactly what Elizabeth has done + I admire her for it. She has completely turned her life around by choosing happiness every day since.

It is my job + my choice to be strong. To be happy. To live a life that I am proud of. To surround myself with strong women who love me for who I am. My responsibility to provide a safe haven for my family to come home to, to teach my boys how to be gentlemen + how all girls should be treated. To remember the things that my mom taught me . To wake up every day + choose happiness. To be as STRONG as I can be for myself + my family. This is a few quick snippets from my personal mission statement along with the constant thoughts that keep me going everyday.