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Lynnette Sheppard

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This is my 18-year-old self sitting in my dorm roo

This is my 18-year-old self sitting in my dorm room at BYU.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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That was one of the hardest and best years of my life.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I am not very emotional by nature. But, one day, I broke, right in the middle of ward prayer.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I couldn't even catch my breath through the sobs.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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My world fell apart in a matter of hours.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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My dog died. My family found out they were losing their home. I felt guilty for being at college when they needed me. I was miserable with a nasty cold. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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It was all too much.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Up to that point, I had told nobody about my struggle and my family's desperate financial plight. I put on a happy face and pretended all was well.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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And yet, someone put a note in my mailbox that said something to the effect of, "Let those pearly whites shine, and know that you are loved." (You can see it hanging beneath the picture of Christ.)⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I had told nobody. How did they know I needed encouragement?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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A small act of kindness has lived forever in my mind.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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The world needs more people who are willing to take a minute and brighten someone's day.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I want my kids to be among the world-brighteners.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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And I want to lead the way.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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It only takes a minute to let kindness lead.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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A note. A text. A call. A smile.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Simple things can shine through the darkness and change lives.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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What small acts of kindness have impacted your life?

What battles are worth fighting with your kids?⠀

What battles are worth fighting with your kids?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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The ones that will help you win the war.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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What is the war? Your parenting goals.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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What are you trying to accomplish?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Where do you want your kids to end up when they are all grown?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Which battles will get you closer to your end goal, and which ones will not?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Be strategic.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Fighting all the battles may take your eyes away from what really matters.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Don't win the battle while losing the war.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Listen in to today's 5-minute episode of the #howtoraisegrownups podcast for a quick explanation. Link in bio.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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P.S. Like what you hear? Hit subscribe and leave a quick rating or review

Are you liking the new 5-minute podcast format??

Are you liking the new 5-minute podcast format??

If so, I would flip out (in the best way) if you would take a minute and leave a rating or review on Apple Podcasts.

It just takes a second 😉

Also, the fact that I can still do a flip is pretty much a miracle!

#howtoraisegrownups

"I HATE YOU, MOM!" she said as she slammed the doo

What does the future hold for our kids?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Will darkness win?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Will hate and anger overpower kindness?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I wish I had all the answers to the challenges of our day.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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But this much I know: God reserved our kids to grow up at this time for a reason. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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He chose us to be their parents and to lead them into the future; come, what may.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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None of the challenges we are facing are a surprise to Him.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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We can take comfort in the words of Russell M. Nelson:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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“You were taught in the spirit world to prepare you for anything and everything you would encounter during this latter part of these latter days. … That teaching endures within you!”⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Anything and everything means this day. This challenge. This unrest. And everything left to come.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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God trusts our kids.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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He trusts us to raise them and prepare them with His help.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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That means I do not need to worry about what the future will look like for my kids.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I don't need to worry about whether they will be able to weather the storm.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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God has already chosen them for this day. This time. This work.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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He will help me to remind them of who they are and what they are here to do.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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He will help me arm them with skills and faith so they will be ready for battle when it is their turn to fight.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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You and I are lucky to be raising this chosen generation.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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We cannot allow ourselves to sink into negativity and despair.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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There is much work to do.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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But there is also hope and light.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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God is at the helm.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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And we, every last one of us, were born for this.

My friend, Rhonda, from @iamrhondasteed has an ama

My friend, Rhonda, from @iamrhondasteed has an amazing heart! She is an artist and photographer who has started a digital print shop featuring her work as well as work from her mom and younger sister.

All proceeds from her shop go to her friend, Lucy, in Malawi, Africa who cares for abandoned and orphaned children with no government assistance.

Rhonda’s art is beautiful and her cause is great. If you would like to help, visit artfulheart.org to purchase something to help the children. Cash donations are also accepted, if you would prefer.

This quote came as a powerful answer to prayer for

It has been too long! A little break from the podc

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