What’s in your purse?
And other odds and ends..
Monday, February 28, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
Happy Birthday!!
This morning I woke up and instantly had a smile on my face. Just the fact that I made it another year in this world is satisfying enough.
I did my usual routine of hitting the snooze a few times, finally getting my little eyes to open, starting where I left off in the Book of Mormon, rolling- literally- rolling out of bed, and then... turned on my most recent “Pump up Jenna” song:
Katy Perry: Firework
I love this song and I feel that it relates so well right now.
I find that the lyrics of songs often have the most compatible meaning to how I'm feeling. You can relate and agree to what the song is talking about. If your a girl.. I'm sure you give Taylor Swift a “You know it, girl!” a time or two whenever she comes on the radio. I know I do!
That's life- every one is different, but yet we all go through hard times, breakups, we hurt, we cry, we laugh, and have happy and amazing moments. You hear it in a song- it's going to impact you in one way or another!
So for now, out of the handful of songs that I can apply to my life- Firework is one of them. 1. I love the Fourth of July 2. I know I'm worth something 3. I truly believe that some doors were closed... so I can open one, that leads to the perfect road.
God doesn't give us anything we can't handle. Each day we learn and grow from the good and bad experiences and if we take whatever is thrown at us as a positive.. we can only improve and become more Christlike.
So when I hear this song- I know I need to be who I truly am, not be afraid of whats going to come and know that I can take whatever may come. It's all in your attitude. If you wake up and say, “Hey! You are amazing and this day is going to be awesome!” It will be.. It's all in how you make it.
And that's exactly what I did this morning!
My birthday was wonderful. I can honestly say it's the best one I've had in a few years. Last couple ones I felt forgotten by the one person who should have made me feel special. This year.. I felt so much love and like I was worth something from all of you! I've said it before and will say it again- I have the best friends and family!
Today I had many phone calls, texts, Facebook posts and emails saying happy birthday. I have to say that my brother, Jake, topped off the day with his rockin' birthday song! It was seriously awesome and I wish I could have recorded. But don't worry... I've requested it at my birthday dinner this weekend and {Hopefully} he does it and I can record it!
Well, you saw my Surprise Birthday Dinner post with my amazing friends and here are a few other surprises from the day!
This is my birthday gift from my parents!
Favorite book! If you haven't read it- you should!
Rach spoiled me with these!
And I ended the night doing what I love most... dancing! Our cute coach gave me a birthday sack with some goodies so it was the perfect ending to a wonderful day!
All I can say to all of you and your kindness is...
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
SURPRISE!
Well it's no surprise that I have THEE best friends ever!
Yesterday my dear and long time friend Jessie {we go all the way back to elementary friends) took me out to linner. Yes, Linner. Not lunch time anymore but not yet quite dinner time. We went to The New Thai Cafe in West Jordan and it was YUMM-MMY!!
{This was last Friday at our SLC Temple date}
Today as I'm causally texting my sweet Bestie, she writes back, "BTW We're going out tonight. I will pick you up around 6 :o)"
Yes! A hot date!
So she picks me up and asks if our 'usual' is OK. Of course it is!! Who can pass up Red Robin?
Needless to say, I had no idea what was going on and when we walked strait in and to a table I still wasn't thinking anything of it. As I'm walking and people watching all of a sudden I see this cute little face smiling back at me... it's Weenie! Then I notice a table full of girls... my girls!
They surprised me with a dinner party and boy was I surprised!
Can I just say, that I have the most amazing friends ever? How great are they to take time out of their evening to have dinner with me? I just love them all so much!
Thank you girls for such a great night! I'm loving these Pre-Birthday parties! Love you!
PS: Girls night soon, my place. Bring your dancing shoes cause we are going to have a dance off with my Dance Central!
And here she is, the lady of the hour that put together a great night! She always takes such good care of me.
I absolutely LOVE this picture of her! Pretty and Pregnant!
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Day 23
15 facts about you.
1. I am the youngest and most loved of three older brothers.
2. Chocolate makes me pee upon consumption.
3. I am {slightly} scared off the car wash.
4. I am appendix free.
5. Peanut Butter is good with anything. It's the new Ranch.
6. My friends are cooler than yours.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Having Faith
As I'm starting a new chapter in my life, I feel that I should start a new routine and new habits. With the trails that I've faced these past few years, and even more so in these last few months, I feel that I have found a part of me, or understanding about who I am and especially, who I want to be.
Growing up in a religious family that would have our morning family prayer and scripture study, I never really took it all that serious. Mom and dad were always good about encouraging it and setting the example. Being young, you can image the 'excitement' we had of waking up early or putting aside a few minutes to read as a family... yeah right. We all had other priorities, places to be or things to be doing. But they never gave up, we'd get in a good routine, even if it was only prayers at dinner, it was always apart of growing up.
As the years went by, I'd take into heart what my parents were encouraging us to do. I'd wake up early before drill and get a chapter in, or get a chapter in before going to bed. Some times I was really good at it, others a few days would go by, and eventually I would fall out of the routine.
During my college years, I had a wonderful roommate that was a great example. She'd always study her scriptures before bed no matter what. I decided I wanted to follow her example so usually during their 'nap' time, I'd read for a hour or so. I was never good at naps, so I figured that would be the perfect quiet time without distractions. Eventually our personal study, became 'family' study. Each night we'd read the scriptures together and take turns on the verses. Family study turned into having weekly Family Home Evening and the spirit grew stronger in our lives individually, and in our little college house. I learned a lot in that year and left college a lot stronger person with the new habit of personal scripture study.
I'm definitely not perfect in my studies, but it's something I'm constantly trying to improve. As we all do, we get in the routine, but if one day misses... it starts to slowly fall apart and we loose that habit. Then it usual turns into, “IF I have time, I'll read my scriptures.”
I can say that these past few months, I've found so much comfort in the scriptures and what they teach. When it personally effects you and it's speaking to you- it gives you an increased desire to set the time apart to edify and feel that those words were written just for you, at that time, and in the moment of your life. Just like Joseph Smith describes:
“Never did any passage of scripture come with more to the heart of man than this did at this time to mine. It seemed to enter with great force into every feeling of my heart. I reflected on it again and again, knowing that if any person needed wisdom from God, I did.”
-Joseph Smith History 1:12
I can honestly testify that if we say, “I will read my scriptures, and THEN accomplish what I can.” then we will be able to have a lot better day and find that we can get a lot more done by doing so. It's made such an impact, that I gladly put my scripture study before any task that I may think is more important... when its not.
Adapting to a new situations is always challenging and a bit hectic trying to get into a new routine. I've had a lot of time to do nothing these few months and I've been really good about making sure that my day doesn't always get wasted with useless things.
There are two ways to handle my open schedule. 1. Become a couch potato, catch up on all the latest shows, celebrity or facebook drama, or try to get the top score on Dance Central (I only did that for a week or two...). Or 2. Use my open schedule to prepare myself mentally, physically, and spiritually. I've taken option 2.
I've set the time apart to really read my scriptures and to study them with an open heart and to apply them to my life personally. I must admit, I always read the words, but I never applied it, or looked earnestly into what it was saying. Facing struggles or feeling like all has been lost in my life, it was really easy to turn to the scriptures and to feel their comfort and truth. To know that I'm not alone and that my trails can be conquered, if I let the Lord be on my side and guide me.
There was one night where I absolutely felt helpless and I got down on my knees, poured my heart out to the Lord and asked for some sort of comfort that he knows how I feel and what's going on. After my prayer, I opened my scriptures and read this...
“I, the Lord, have seen the sorrow, and heard the mourning of the daughters...because of the wickedness and abominations of their husbands.
“I will not suffer, saith the Lord of hosts, that the cries of the fair daughters... shall come up unto me.
“Ye have broken the hearts of your tender wife... The sobbings of their hearts ascend up to God...”
Jacob 2: 28-35
“Look unto God with firmness of mind, and pray unto him with exceeding faith, and he will console you in your afflictions...”
Jacob 3: 1
You can imagine the power and the comfort that this scripture brought. It was the answer and the comfort that I was needing to know that He knew how I was feeling, and that He honestly was listening to my heart. The feeling of His arms around me letting me know that he was with me at that moment, brought me to tears. It was such an amazing feeling that he was right there with me.
If you've ever asked, and received what you were needing- you know the feeling. You can't explain it, but you know in your heart, that the Lord is with you and hears you personally.
That same day I was pulled to this scripture:
“That as much as ye shall put your trust in God even so much ye shall be delivered out of your trails, and your troubles, and your afflictions, and ye shall be lifted up at the last day.”
Alma 38: 1-6
I'm doing exactly that. From that moment, I made a promise that I will follow the spirit and its promptings. That I will kneel down each day and put my trust in the Lord and what that day has to bring. That I will heed to the Lords direction and listen to what is being said. That I will live my life, in a way that I will be able to recognize the Holy Ghost.
Does that mean I know where it will lead me, of course not. How can you question the Lord's motives or how he's wanting to guide you? He knows the plan, he knows us individually. He knows where we are, where we've been, and where we're going. We of course have our agency, to choose his way, the worlds way, or what we think is best for us. But at the end of the day, if we chose wrong, there is always away to get back on his path.
I love this quote by President Brigham Young:
“If I do not know the will of my Father, and what he requires of me in a certain transaction, if I ask him to give me wisdom concerning any requirement in life or in regard to my own course, or that of my friends, my family, my children or those that I preside over, And get no answer from him, And then do the VERY BEST that my judgment will teach me, he is bound to own and honor that transaction, and he will do so to all intents and purposes.”
I have the Faith and know that the Lord wont lead me astray and He knows what I need and what's best for me. That when I kneel down to pray, that I feel His arms around me with his comfort that I'm doing good, that I'm doing all that I can to please him.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Day 22
A letter to someone who has hurt you recently.
Hmm... little private situation, don't you think? So if you didn't read this off my last blog, this is from the 30 Day challenge I did for the same post.
Have you ever read the story of Abigail in the book of Samuel? Such a great story to read and an even better lesson to learn.
A brief summary:
David and his men do some work for Nabel. Nabel doesn't give them what they asked for and when David finds out - he is infuriated, as well as his men. As David and his men started making their way to Nabels house to start a war they run into a small detour. Abigail. The rest of the story goes as told:
"Upon me, my lord, upon me let this iniquity be."
"Upon you be what iniquity, woman?"
"Please my lord, I saw not the young men you sent to Nabal, my husband. But see, I have provided. Please accept of my offering, that this shall be no grief unto thee."
"You take the fool's sins on your own head? You know the injustice and see us coming to right it, and now you beg for mercy upon thine house?"
"I beg for my house, yes, but for thee also, my lord, that this shall not be an offense of heart unto thee, either that thou hast shed blood causeless, or that my lord hath avenged himself. For the Lord will certainly make thee a sure house because my lord fighteth the battles of the Lord, and evil hath not been found in thee all thy days. So it ever may be so, my lord, I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine handmaid."
Did you get all that?
Abigail begged David to forgive her all the same- not Nabal, but her, as if she were the one who had done the wrong. She didn't say, Forgive Nabel of his trespass.
*Forgive the trespass of thine handmaid.*
Abigail, the one who didn't need forgiveness nevertheless asked for it - illuminates something very important about forgiveness. It illustrates who forgiveness is for.
Abigail's message was that forgiveness was for the one who was forgiving, not the one who was being forgiven.
The story of Abigail also suggests that the Atonement is as much for the benefit of the sinned against- the victim of sin - as for the sinner.
If you've read The Peacegiver you know exactly what I'm talking about. If you haven't read it - please do. I was reading it for the second time the other day and knew that I needed to mention this story - and how perfect for "A letter to someone who has hurt you."
I think we are all often too quick to blame the other person. Or justify why/how they are wrong in every way and how we are in the right. It's not always the sinner that needs to repent and be forgiven... but its often a lesson for the one sinned against. One might say David did nothing wrong; he didn't make it to Nabel and he didn't start a fight. But the 'war' began when David and his men started seeking revenge in their hearts. Even though we may not say the mean things we want to or act in a hostile way - we are still sinning by putting the thought into it.
I know I'm guilty of it. And it's something I openly have been aware of and trying to work on. So if someone has hurt me - I need to think of what I may or may not have done to influence their feelings and actions.
Well, that's my preaching for the day. I love The Peacegiver. Read it. Enough said.
"Being mistreated is the most important condition of mortality. For eternity itself depends on how we view those who mistreat us."
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