sunday thoughts .....

“Be a woman of Christ. Cherish your esteemed place in the sight of God. He needs you. This church needs you. The world needs you. A woman's abiding trust in God and unfailing devotion to things of the Spirit have always been an anchor when the wind and the waves of life were fiercest.” 
― Jeffrey R. Holland, Created for Greater Things

Christmas - The reason for the Season!

 "Calling all the monsters"

 Cousin Gift Exchange

 Generous gift from Granpa! :) 

 L.O.V.E - Part of Family Christmas Pictures 

 One of the most humbling experiences of my life. 

 We can't forget the Temple lights! 

Here are some fun Christmas Pictures.

As always....well I am exhausted!! Ill post more details I promise! 

I Love my Family!!!

Gray Family Christmas pictures :) 

I love my Family and am ETERNALLY grateful for them! 

Will post more pictures later.

Off to Zumba with Kayleen! 

A Christmas Dream Come True!

Pictures thanks to Amanda Walker :) Love that girl

I am so thankful for the opportunity that I had to go to New York and spend time with my dear dear friend Amanda Walker! Also I was able to see the people that I taught on my mission - members, recent converts, etc the list goes on and on. 

I will post more about my wonderful trip....but now I have to go and do some laundry :)

Till then.....tata

Guess where I am going!?!

Welp you guessed it!! I am going back to New York to Visit my mission! I am SO excited! Really it is all I have been thinking about since I got back. I have been thinking about the people that I taught, the members, people I contacted on the street. New York will forever hold a VERY special place in my heart. 

(Sometimes I like to think I am a New Yorker)

I can't wait to see how the spirit of Christmas has once again touched the hearts of the people in NY! 

New York Here I come! 

(Guess I better start packing)

P.s. ~ Amanda Walker I CANT WAIT TO SEE YOU!!!!

That's what I love about Sundays :)

 Just helping my little brother Garrett out with a photo project

 love my little Sister Alyssa! She is getting ready to go on a mission :) 

 makes me miss gymnastics..

Life is Interesting! 

I loved today. I really just love the Sabbath! In the morning I was able to take some pictures for my brother. Just being around nature really gets me thinking. As I was sitting by the river I was able to ponder. I have come to a point in my life of decision making. I am eternally grateful for the blessing that I had to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

I have found that when we are obedient to the commandments, that our Loving Heavenly Father has given us we are happier :) That is one of our purposes on this life is to be happy! One of my favorite scriptures in the Book of Mormon is found in Mosiah 2:41

 41 And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and ^ahappy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are ^bblessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out ^cfaithful to the end they are received into ^dheaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it.

I am thankful for wonderful parents who have always taught me to look upwards and to put my trust in my Heavenly Father. Today in Relief Society we were able to go over the first lesson in Preach my Gospel. The very first point is "God is our Loving Heavenly Father." I believe that when we truly understand that, then we can understand our potential. If we understand that we are literal sons and daughters of a Loving Heavenly Father then we understand our Purpose in life. When we understand our true identity we understand that we have a divine potential. Heavenly Father see's us in terms of the eternities and he see's us as who we can become. 

Welp...I am falling asleep but here is quote that I like..

Great things are brought about and burdens are lightened through the efforts of many hands “anxiously engaged in a good cause.” M. Russell Ballard

Goodnight world....

go and do something good! 

Breakfast with girlfriends

temple with Kayleen and Eryn

Fearlessing hispanics in the market

Mexican Tacos

Wedding reception

Dance Dance Revolution...

A Good weekend :) 

......details & pictures later.......

 Missionary Work.....
I love that missionary work does not end after the mission. I have learned while being home from my mission that really a mission was just preparing me for the rest of my life. It has prepared me in many ways. One way that my mission has helped and prepared me has been to become a better Member Missionary. I have had so many opportunities to share by testimony of the gospel. I have been able to testify of my Savior on a daily basis, even though I am not a full-time missionary. I am so thankful for the knowledge of the truth and for my personal testimony of the Savior. Tonight my brother Garrett and I were able to go and visit the Quintero Family. They are the sweetest family and from Mexico. At the end of the lesson we all knelt down as a family and Erica said one of the most heart felt prayers. I am so thankful for the spirit,because it is the true messenger and the one that lets the doctrine of Jesus Christ sink deep into their hearts. I love this Gospel!!

I love the Temple Lights! 

They make me happy! 

I took my little brother Garrett tonight to go and look at the Temple Christmas Lights. 

I always seem to run into someone that I know there, never fails.

 I love the spirit of being able to walk around the temple lights. I was able to talk to several hispanics, which made me super happy. There was these two men from Mexico who said that they come every year, I was able to testify to them about the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. 

What a wonderful  missionary opportunity. 

I love testifying.

I love the Christmas Lights.

I love the Christmas Spirit!

I love love this time of year :) 

"We must prepare ourselves to assist the missionaries in finding those of our Heavenly Father’s children who will embrace the message of the Restoration." ~ M Russell Ballard

Idaho Bound

 Today was Morgan Longley (Now Sturms) Wedding. 

It was such a beautiful sealing and I felt more than blessed that I had the opportunity to be here. I love the feeling of being in the Temple. There is nothing like bring in the temple and knowing that you are in the House of the Lord and doing his will. 

I am thankful for the covenants that I have been able to make with my Heavenly Father.

I am thankful that I get to renew my Covenants.

I love the peace and sense of understanding and love that I feel in the temple. 

I love the Spirit that resides in the House of the Lord.

Morgan and Brian Sturm I am so proud of you both and for the decisions that you have made in your life. I wish you two the happiest marriage and fulfilling future. I am thankful that I had the opportunity to come here and be apart of your special day.

"[The] proclamation on the family helps us realize that celestial marriage brings greater possibilities for happiness than does any other relationship." 

~ Russel M. Nelson 

 aspen grove

Christmas Pajamas :) 

 the day we got sealed

last years Christmas Photo :) 

I love my Family! 

Congrats Lindsay Olsen ( Now Whitlock) 

I love you!

 Caught the Boquet

My Best Friends getting Married!! :)

This girl.....

Lindsay and I have been BEST friends since 1999! 

She is getting married Manana! 

I can not believe it! 

It seems like yesterday we were dancing around in our Leotards  talking about our 8th grade crushes

or going to stake dances

 EFY (4 years) 

Doing the water ballet at EFY 

going to Girls camp together

Sleepovers

Gymnastics

Getting ready for Dances

Halloween costumes 

YCL's

Riding our bikes (Everywhere) Including a visit to Sister Tilley Wearing bonnets :)

Babysitting together

Jamba runs

Taking all of the fortune cookies from Panda Express

Playing Dress up

Throwing Courtney onto my bed

Making CRAZY music videos

swimming

Eating Chips and Salsa while we played scum

Finishing President Hinckleys Challenge to finish the Book of Mormon by the end of the year 

Christmas presents 

Secret Santa

Pictures Pictures Pictures :) 

The list goes on and on.....

Miss Lindsay Loo,

I love you! I couldn't be happier for you. You deserve the VERY best and that is exactly what you got. I know that tomorrow is going to be the happiest day of the rest of your life. I feel so blessed to be apart of this special day. Thanks so much for waiting for me to get home and including me. 

You mean the world to me.

Tomorrow you are going to be a princess :) 

Love Your, 

 B.F.F.E ( Best friend for Eternity)

Kaitlin 

I am Mormon! 

A Member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

I couldn't be happier! 

I know who I am.

A disciple of my Savior Jesus Christ.

I know that this is the Lords Church.

I live it by obeying the Commandments and being the person my Savior Jesus Christ wants me to be.

I LOVE it! 

There is NO better way to live other than living than living his Gospel. 

I love this Church! 

I love My Savior! 

I love being a Mormon!! :) 

Zumba, Temple, Date with mis Padres, Time out for Women! Can it get any better ? I think not! :)

 Temple with Lauren I just love her! 

 I love love love the Temple!

 Out to Lunch with mis Padres :) 

 Saw my life long friend Kayleen at "Time out for Women" 

Were bi girls now.. Not at EFY anymore :) 

 Michael is INCREDIBLE!

Love all of these lovely Ladies! 

Amazing day! 

Will post more details later...

Hurricane Sandy....

oh how I miss you....

Glad the missionaries can Help out.....

Wish I was there...

Lady liberty standing strong..

May we all look to God and Live.

NY I love you and miss you terribly! 

You're in my prayers.

 good old light buddies

Here to save the day! 

Gotta love Halloween! 

Dear Real Mexican Tacos,

I have truly missed you. 

Glad youre back in my life.

Love your #1 Fan

(Hermana) Kaitlin Gray

I love you Grandma and Grandpa Peck! 

Good luck on your mission .

I know you will do great. 

You are an amazing example to me.

Love you mucho

Called to Serve.

New York .....My second home

oh New York How I love you

I miss you

You have a huge chunk of my heart

I pray for you

I pray for my investigators 

I pray for the members

I pray for everyone that I love

May you be safe

I will visit soon.

Please don't forget me.

Love,

Hermana Kaitlin Gray

love you mom

I love my siblings

Welcome Home Crew

Nothing like a daddys hug

siblings minus Chelsea

Welp...

I am home! It was such an amazing feeling to be able to see my Family. I feel  sad to leave my family in NY.

I am eternally grateful for the love and support that everyone has given me on my mission.
I love my Family.

My mission meant the world to me.

I know that my Savior Lives.

I know that the atonement is real.

Repentance is real.

I know that through the atonement and the gospel of Jesus Christ we all can be saved.

I love NY!

It has my heart.

Now back to real life....