January 26th, 2002 - 7 years later January 26th, 2009

So for those of you that don't know me well, may not know what a sentimental person I can be. The other day I came across my scriptures that I was given the day I was baptized. Although Micah gave me the scriptures - it was his sister, Sara that wrote a message to me inside. So I wanted to share it.

The feeling that one receives, The one that says "I believe."
The knowledge of right and wrong, Is the thing that can bring you home.
The truth we can all receive, The knowledge we can believe.
The one who saves us all, Is the thing that can bring you home.
We can return home, To live together again, In the home we all were once in,
This is the hope to bring you home.

Written by: Sara Smith

The remaining message reads: "Tanya, You are making a great step in your life. You will be blessed. I know this church is true. I know you are a great friend and a special spirit. I know Heavenly Father brought you to Paso Robles and we were meant to be friends. Best Friends."

Not often am I asked how I came to find the church - So I thought I would take a moment to share my story. I moved to Paso Robles, CA in 1992 - shortly after moving to the area I became friends with several people as I got to know each of these people I learned that each of them was a member of the LDS Church, however each of them seemed to be living life in thier own way. Every one of those members became one of my best friends during my High School years and from there I grew to kbnow many other members.

The most important people I came to know was the Smith Family - what a group they were let me tell you! There was Sara, my bestest friend and partner in crime during our Junior and Senior year! Her father Ken and mother Debbie - to be honest I had never met two people like her parents, Then finally there was Sara's little brother Micah! Circumstances came that I moved into their home and was welcomed as if I had known them all my life and was introduced to the church.

As time went on I had come to know some facts about the LDS Church, and in 1999 I said good bye to best buddy Micah who was on his way to serving a two year mission for the Utah Ogden Mission. While Micah was away I received my monthly letter from Micah trying to convince me to meet with the missionaries or allow him the chance to teach me the gospel upon his return. At that time I was not ready and was living my life as a 21 year old adult.

Micah returned home in May 2001 and I honestly don't know what changed between us, but we started dating. Eventually, I took the missionary dicussions in December 2001 and it took a while for me to commit to bapatism until I was sure I was making the right choice - I have always been the type of person to think about everything and then think about it again, I wanted to make sure it was a commitment I could live with . . . FOREVER!

I was baptized January 26th, 2002 by Micah T. Smith