Amy Baldwin -  Dammeron Valley Ward

I was so excited to be able to be a participant in this challenge to become pure in heart. This goes hand in hand with how I have been feeling. I had a goal last week during sacrament meeting on 1/29/16-  I have been feeling that I needed to improve on my relations/showing love towards people closest to me. This challenge is the perfect opportunity to be able to report, to have accountability.  The first on the list is my husband. We have been married for 26 ½ years. When he comes through the door, I do not even bat an eye anymore, it is like he is a roommate, actually, I treated my roommates with more acknowledgement. So, every day when he comes through the door, I am going to jump up and put my arms around him, tell him I missed him and that I love him. I started yesterday, I was even a little creative and played a clip of a song, from Nickelback, “Far Away”, I said, “Listen, this is for you”…….then I played, “I love you!, I’ve loved you all along, I’ve missed you!” A big grin spread across his face, and then I gave him a hug. So simple, later, he made me a sandwich with a plate of veggies and fruit. That little act changed the way he treated me. It was so amazing to witness and feel this love come quickly and easily.

I then gave my daughter a big hug and said, “I love you.” Again, warm fuzzies spread around us. So, I am going to give my daughter a hug and say “I love you" every day.

This morning, before work, while exercising I listened to the talk “He asks us to be his hands”. I also want to improve love communications with my parents and two sisters. I keep waiting for them to call me and see how I am doing. I realize that it is not going to happen, unless I make it happen. I would like to talk to them on a weekly basis. They live in northern Utah so, I cannot see them at Sunday dinners etc. I am going to call them once a week. I started today, Monday. I left a message on my sister’s phone and I was able to talk to my parents. I started talking with my parents on my way home and didn’t stop talking for a half hour later. We had some spiritual, funny and just catching up moments. Before I hung up I made sure I said, “love you.” So great, and really fulfilling, I feel complete.