YW In Excellence (Take 1)

I've been a part of the Young Women's program in our church for only two months now. For those of you who don't exactly know what I'm talking about or what that means, allow me to explain:
Our church leadership is run solely on a volunteer basis. Although our bishop and bishopric members extend specific "callings" (responsibilities) to individual members, the acceptance of these callings is not required and all callings are fulfilled without pay. These callings could be anything from leading the music in a sacrament meeting, to teaching Sunday School, to in my case, working with the youth, specifically the teenage girls ages 12-18.

One of the main purposes of the Young Women's program in our church is something called Personal Progress. Throughout their time in Young Women's, the girls work through projects and experiences dealing with 8 different life values: faith, divine nature, individual worth, knowledge, choice and accountability, good works, integrity and virtue. The projects and experiences could be anything from reading certain scriptures and writing down your thoughts on them... to doing 10hrs of service in the community... With 8 values, each requiring you to complete a number of experiences and a final "value project", it took me a few years to complete my Personal Progress when I was in Young Women's as a girl.

Each year, the Young Women's program puts on a YW In Excellence night, where the girls come (with their parents) and showcase an experience or project that they worked on that year. Some girls learned how to cook with their mother's, so they brought her favorite snack samples for everyone to try; some learned the intricacies of family history work and were able to showcase all the names they were able to find and index; others shared journal excerpts or artwork...

Just as boy scouts are rewarded with merit badges for archery or swimming, Young Women are honored for their knowledge and testimonies gained in all the important life values needed to live a successful, fulfilling life as a daughter of God.

As part of the YW presidency, I offered to spearhead the YW In Excellence night. I had the girls pick out a theme for the event - they chose the Dr. Seuss book "Oh the Places You'll Go!" and I ran with it. Pinterest was my crutch through the whole thing, but I am living proof that some Pinterest projects WILL succeed! I probably took on way too much, because I'm horrible when it comes to delegating, but I don't regret a thing because it turned out perfectly and all the girls loved it :)

Straws from Target for the BOMB punch: recipe here

I had the girls make the tissue paper pom poms for our YW activity last Wednesday. We put them on wooden dowels and poured sand around them to get them to stay in the little metal pails - the perfect Truffala tree!

I found these 'sprinkle' balloons here - they were perfect for the theme. We cut out tons of tissue paper confetti and stuffed it into the balloons before blowing them up. Extra confetti was sprinkled on the tables...it was too cute to waste :)

The best snickerdoodles in all the land: recipe here

One of my most favorite snacks is popcorn. And some of the most delicious popcorn is found at Garrett's in Chicago. They're known for their caramel-cheddar mix...so I tried to mock it. It turned out a lot better than expected, so I was pleased. 

Recipe here

Yurtle Turtles: recipe here

& rainbow Jello cubes: recipe here

& obviously rainbow candy galore!

They had their choice of paper bag or little plastic bowl to dish their snacks into

The invite - I made this in Adobe Illustrator using free Dr. Seuss fonts found here

One of my favorite decorations of the night were these Dr. Seuss 'value quotes' that I made in Illustrator and had printed for the value tables the girls set their projects up on. Each color indicates the specific value the quote is associated with. White (gray): Faith / Red: Individual Worth / Green: Knowledge / Gold: Virtue

Orange: Choice and Accountability / Blue: Divine Nature / Purple: Integrity / Yellow: Good Works

The program - made in Adobe Illustrator

Invites, program, and all value quote prints are available in my Etsy shop! Made-to-order for you and your ward! Willing to negotiate based on need (ie. for Girls Camp rather than YW in Excellence or New Beginnings).

BIRTHDIZZLE

My birthday was a hoot. I got to hang out with this booger all day. I loved it. Normally, I wouldn't take off work for just my birthday, but luckily my aunt chose to get sealed in the temple to her lovey love on the same day...soooo with those two reasons combined, it was an obvious day away from the office.

My mom's parents are currently serving a temple mission in Costa Rica (lucky), but couldn't resist the opportunity to come back to America for their daughter's sealing. It was so nice to be surrounded by family all day.

Aaaaaand Nate totally NAILED the perfect bday present. I've been needing a new purse for months. Husbands give the best gifts :) I'm a lucky girl.

Too often I find myself trying to plan ahead. I look into the future and try and figure out what's going to happen next week, or next month, or 6 months from now - when really, I tend to forget to live in the now. I forget that I'm in the place I am for a reason, whether it's to learn something, or be there for someone, or to experience something, or to keep me from doing anything or going anywhere else.

If there's one thing that I've realized this year, it's that God has a plan for each and every one of us, and it's not just a picture-perfect future in store - it's steps and experiences, conversations, relationships, trials, lessons - all foreseen by Him - all planned - all needed for us, to get us eventually to that perfect future...but until then, it's going to be all about enjoying the journey up until that point. And not always wondering what that future is going to be like, but instead stepping back and noticing the importance of every single day.

That sounds so dumb and cliche, but really it's so true. I always spend way too much time worrying what's going to happen, when I could be missing out on an experience, or memory, or conversation that I'll want to remember, or that will help me grow or learn something specific.

So, here's to a new attitude. To enjoying every day, and not wondering what the next is going to be like until the next morning.

But here's also not to over-analyzing...because that could happen, too...  :)

Good Byes

It's a bittersweet feeling, seeing someone off on a mission. It's a little hard to comprehend right in the moments leading up to it - you don't really know how or what to feel, so you kind of just keep smiling because you don't know what else to do. But then there's that real moment right there at the end where you finally realize what's happening - and that's when the tears come. That's when you realize what you're really doing is saying goodbye, and that's when you realize you're sending them off...and you won't see them for a very long time. And it's happy, and it's sad...but mostly it's happy - because they're happy, and you know how happy they're going to make everyone else they're going to be with...because they're so great, and you know that other people need them more than you do right now. Even though you love them so much and don't want other people to replace you or get to know them like only you do - and maybe they won't, but you're allowed to be selfish with your very best friends, right?

I've sent off two of my best friends in the last two weeks. The emotions didn't hit me until today, when I dropped of Kaitlin at the MTC. It was easy not getting emotional when Aimee went in, because she didn't let us see her day-of, and I still had Kaitlin to call when I needed her once she was already gone. But today as I was sitting next to Kait at lunch, in her cute little missionary clothes and her big bright smile, it all hit me. The only thing that was keeping me together in that moment was how happy she was- sitting next to me and all of her family. I couldn't help but smile with her all the way to the curb where the greeters were there ready to take her bags and whisk her off into the sea of other missionaries. And I smiled and smiled, even when I felt those tears running down my face as I was saying my last goodbyes. I was the last one to hug her. And I squeezed her little arm and I told her how great she was going to be. Because she is. She's going to be the very best missionary that has ever been. I know that. And I'm so proud of her. And I feel so blessed to have known her these last 4 years. And I know that Heavenly Father has been saving her - saving her for this time and for these people. She has a great work ahead of her :) And I'm so extremely excited to hear all about it.

I love my little Sorella.

He Is God And We Are Not

Today is the day that I was supposed to enter the Missionary Training Center as a full-time missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I would spend roughly 9 weeks in the MTC, and then head off to Sweden, to preach the gospel to the Swedish people until July 2014.

It's crazy to look back just four or five months and see how drastically my life has changed in that period of time. So many huge decisions have been made and changed and made then changed...which is honestly kind of hard to comprehend. So much of  me wishes I knew the reasons for why things have happened the way they have; but then another part of me is really enjoying this feeling of not really knowing what's going to happen next, or what big change is going to be around the corner. All I know is that it's been a time of growth for me. It's forced me to rely on my Heavenly Father for guidance and help in moving down the path that I felt was best for me - the path that would make me the very happiest, because that's what He wants most for His children.

I'm not writing this because I feel like I need to give an explanation for what's going on - I want to write this because I'm not the only person that's going to struggle with something like this. I'm hoping this will just be an added testimony of faith and reliance on our Heavenly Father to make important decisions in our lives.

Anyone reading this probably already knows about my mission call and everything that led up to it.

I received my call on November 7, 2012.

The days after that passed more quickly than any semester really had before. School and work got more hectic and it was easy to consume my thoughts with everything that surrounded them and my final semester at BYU. So many times I just wanted to quit and leave and just go to Sweden or anywhere else but Provo. My emotions were hard to control - they'd be up way high one day and then on the floor the next. I'd be nervous and scared and doubtful and then excited and fearless all at one time. It helped that almost all of my best friends had received mission calls right around the same time. It made me feel re-assured that this was the right thing for me - the right way to give back - the right way to serve our Lord for the sacrifice he made for all of us. I just had to keep reminding myself that.

That's why what happened mid-November was so out of place. So random. So strange. So, so hard to just dismiss and ignore.

We like to call it fate. Fate brought me Nate :) In the ice cream aisle at the grocery store.
But it started so many years before that night in November. He was one of those people I would see on campus all the time. It started after I walked into the wrong class my freshman year. I made eye contact with this really attractive guy and basically ran out of the room crying in embarrassment. From then on I would see him at least twice a week around campus, before class, in the library...everywhere...but never had the guts to ever say anything to him. But then there he was, right in front of me choosing which ice cream to get...and I guess knowing I was leaving and never going to see him again made me have a little extra courage or something, because before I realized what I was doing, I was talking to him. I was helping him choose which ice cream to get. And he said it was fate. Fate that I was there right then. And I blushed and my hands got extra hot and probably started melting the ice cream that was in my own hands. I walked away pleased that I finally talked to him - this guy I had been crushing on for about three years now. I didn't think anything of it after that. Well, not until I saw him again a week and a half later. Don't ask me how we both happened to be there, all I know is that it wasn't a mistake. I look back on it now and just have to laugh at how shocked we both were. How out of our element I think both of us were, but it only took that one night for both of us to realize that this wasn't just a coincidence. I found out later that he told himself right then that he needed to see me every day before I leave. And he did. He did and I love him for his persistence.

I've heard just about every opinion anyone could have on the situation. I really struggled when it came to deciding whether or not to put off my mission. We're counseled in our church, and even as women preparing to serve missions, to not ignore or put off any potential marriage opportunities. Now I'm not saying there's going to be a ring on my finger any time soon!! Please don't think that. But I knew it was important to take that into account in this big decision. I also knew that this guy was different. SO different than anyone else I know or have dated in the past. If you could just have a little taste of the way my heart feels when I'm around this boy, or even just thinking about him...you would know why I chose to do the thing that I did.

I deferred my mission until May 29, for now. Who knows what will happen in these next few months. All I know is that I needed them to explore the possibility of something I've always dreamed of having. I couldn't imagine leaving after such a short amount of time and not knowing what was going to happen. Maybe I'm not supposed to go. Maybe preparing to leave set me on a course for a lifetime of service. Maybe preparing to leave stopped me from taking a job in New York after graduation. Maybe it could be a lot of things...it makes me understand more fully the importance of staying worthy to receive personal revelation. You never know when your life is going to change all of a sudden and you're going to only have the Lord to rely upon in order to figure out what to do next. I know that's why I felt like I needed to put off graduating until this last month. I know that's why I felt like I needed to prepare to serve a mission. And why I, for some reason, felt like I needed to put my relationship with Nathan above that.
Obviously this is something that I sought a lot of counsel about - from leaders, my parents and other family members, from scripture, and above all of that, from my own conversations with my Father in Heaven. I had to keep reminding myself that Nathan wasn't sent to me as a distraction, or a punishment...choosing him would never be "wrong" or looked at as a "sin" from deviating from my original plan. Revelation changes. We see that time and time again in our church. It's not a bad thing, it's just a way our Heavenly Father reaches us and guides and directs our lives. Sometimes he needs us to start down one path in order to lead us to another...

I read a talk this morning entitled, "We Are the Architects of Our Own Happiness" by Bishop Gerald Causse. In it there was a paragraph that really stuck out to me. He said, "The greatest thing we can desire in life is to align our will to the will of the Lord--to accept His agenda for our lives. He knows everything from the beginning, has a perspective that we don't have, and loves us with an infinite love." I was struggling a lot prior to officially deferring as to whether or not Heavenly Father would desire more for me to serve a mission or to take the steps to potentially starting an eternal family. I was unsure of what "His agenda" was for me in this circumstance. Both were so good - it's almost impossible to go wrong with either of them. Which is why it really came down to me. Yes, I had to keep God a part of it, but I think what I felt the most in deciding is that He was giving me a choice - and I could pick either one and be immensely happy with either of the two options. I really do believe that. I don't think that I will be worse off in deferring or even not ever going on a mission. I feel like there are many people close to me right now that believe that I'm doing the wrong thing by thinking that.

What we sometimes forget is that our relationships with our Father above are too personal to cast judgement on one another's decisions. Our Heavenly Father knows us and our situations so much more than we could ever imagine - or more than anyone else could imagine FOR us. The talk goes on to say that, "The promises of the Lord assure us of our final destination. The itinerary for each of us will vary according to the foreknowledge of God. Our circumstances may change, unexpected events may occur, challenges may arise, but the promises of God to us are assured through our faithfulness." I'm faithful that I'm being guided by a loving Heavenly Father who knows me and my future better than anyone else does. I know that whatever He has planned for me is better than I could ever imagine. Each of our circumstances are so different - I hope we all strive to keep that in mind. Heavenly Father works in our lives so differently according to our needs, personalities, or desires. I know He is anxious to bless us when we do what is right, and I believe that's what He's done and is doing in my life right now.



I met a guy and he changed everything for me. It's difficult for me to write about this, because I still don't know why it happened - it's something I may never fully figure out. But I know that I'm happy. So, so happy. And that's when I know it's right...it's right and it's good. So, so good.

So it should probably be documented somewhere that I've chosen to defer my mission for 3 months. Surprise :) Fate happened and I couldn't really escape it...so I instead chose to roll with the punches and be like totally and completely happy with every second of it.

He gets here to Austin on Thursday. I haven't seen him in the flesh in like a month, so this is like the most exciting thing that's happened all of break. It's like five thousand times better than Santa Clause. I don't regret saying that, either. Praise the heavens. I can't wait.

By Their Fish Ye Shall Know Them?

I always liked to think that I had my life all figured out. Months ago I decided to stay a little bit longer here at BYU for who knows what reasons - I always thought it was to find some guy to sweep me off my feet and put a ring on my finger.

That was not the case.

Then I thought I just needed extra time to find a sweet job in New York City...or anywhere else. After all, I am graduating in December.

That also, was not the case.

Then I figured I just needed to have fun and be with the people I love while we still have time together.

And I was right! BUT, in the midst of that, I also came to realize something else...

I don't always know what is best for me. So often I pray to receive direction on the way my life is headed and SO often I don't always get the clearest answer...it always just kind of happens. I find my life heading in a direction that I couldn't be more happy with, and for that, I just continue to thank my Father above for being so gracious in making my life so clear cut.

After my grand internship in Chicago this summer, I knew that I wanted to continue in the advertising industry. It's everything I'd ever want in a job, so I worked hard at keeping connections with everyone I could at different agencies around the country. Coming into this semester, I knew that my friendships made would be coming to an end, and I'd be off to bigger and better things at some fancy city away from this little city in Utah.

As weeks passed and as my beautiful roommate, Kaitlin, started the process of submitting her mission papers, I couldn't help but think that maybe MY path I had in my head wasn't exactly the right path for me...?

As many of you know, men in my church are asked to spend two years of their life starting at age 19, to serve a mission somewhere in the world. The assignments are made from the first presidency of the church and you are asked to pick up and go wherever you are called. It's terrifying and exhilarating and magnificent all at the same time. Sisters are not required to go, but are gladly welcomed if they so choose. My mom served in Korea at the same time as my dad a little over 20 years ago. (That's where they met...nothing sketchy...don't worry...) It's always been in the back of my mind that I COULD go if I wanted to...but to me, I just felt like God had planned out my life so perfectly up until now...why would I diverge from that in any way?? I had my dream job right in front of me! Yet, as Kaitlin drew closer and closer to getting her call...I drew closer and closer to the Lord, seeking His help in guiding me to make the right choice, for ME.

At the time, girls were not allowed to serve until 21 years of age. Literally a week after these thoughts started coming into my head, the missionary age for girls was dropped to 19, allowing me to submit my papers as soon as I wanted to (since my 21st birthday isn't until March). Meaning I could leave immediately after I graduate this coming December.

All my life, I've been taught that people receive answers to prayers in different ways. I've always been the type to just realize a ways down the road that my prayer had been answered based on the position I was in or the place I had progressed to after a certain amount of time...ya know? Like...slow guided inspiration that led me to the place I needed to be - and then I realize that that was the exact answer I had been seeking. I've never been one to get an answer based off a heavy spiritual experience that causes tears to shed and serious good bumps all over my body...until that day in the Conference Center in Salt Lake. I went into that General Conference weekend ready to get a confirmation on the decision to serve, and the prophet of God stood up within the first few minutes of that incredible weekend and spoke straight to my soul about the importance of missionary work and their cry for help in hastening the work of the Lord. That's all I needed to hear. My answer was clear. I needed to go.

I have no reason not to go - in fact, my reasons TO go greatly exceed my reasons to stay. This may seem slightly trivial to many not of my faith, but I feel like a great portion of my life needs to be spent in service to my Savior - the great sacrifice He made for me and every other person that has ever lived, or will live, is impossible to repay, but a year and a half is still a year and a half, and I can handle baby steps for now.

This gift of the gospel is meant to be shared :) And I know that I can help make others just as immensely happy as I am with it's wonderful news of light and purpose in this life.

I have been called to serve in the Stockholm, Sweden Mission from January 2013 - July 2014
I could not be more excited :) I know this is where I need to be and I'm so grateful for the people that have been in my life to guide me to the place I am today. I'M GOING TO SWEDEN!!!


If you would like to find out more about why I'm leaving reality for 18 months - ask me. If you want to hear more about my church - ask me! If you want to be my friend and take me to dinner/lunch/hot chocolate - ask me! If you want a hug - ask me! If you want to cuddle - ask me! I'm just in one of those moods...so take it while you can. 

Cinderella's Online Dating Testimonial

I met Kaitlin online roughly 3.6 years ago. After much stalking and a few Skype dates, we decided to move in together. Praise Jesus for social media!!! If I'm 28 and single, feel free to find me on match.com, because I swear it'll work.

Sometimes I wonder how I got so lucky. Having a best friend like Kaitlin has been one of the most incredible blessings of my life. I learn so much from her and she probably doesn't even realize it. I'm so grateful to her and the amazing example she is to me :) 

Kaitlin has wanted to serve a mission for our church for as long as I've known her. Every time she would bear her testimony or teach a lesson or have a gospel discussion with someone else or with me, I could just feel so strongly what an amazing impact she would make on so many people throughout her life. Everyone that comes into contact with her is touched by her sweet spirit.  

My best friend received her mission call last night. She's going to Rome, Italy for 18 months come February 2013. We could not be more excited for her!! It's so amazing to see how the Lord has worked in her life these last few years that I've known her. She has continuously been guided by His hand and it makes her story that much more miraculous. Even something that seemed small at the time, like switching from Spanish to Italian last year, has impacted her future in such a huge way.

She cannot wait to teach the Italian people! SERIOUSLY such a dream come true for her :) God is so good.

Stay tuned for some big announcements ahead! It's an exciting time for all of us!

Run

Sunday is probably one of my favorite days during the week. Maybe it's because it's usually the one day that I get to sleep in, but it's also the one day I get to spend at LEAST three hours just pondering. Sometimes I wish I had more time to think. (Here is why) My life is so consumed with other responsibilities and obligations that when the time finally comes for me to breath - I don't want to do anything except sit there. By the time Sunday usually rolls around, my breathing time is complete and I have time to process my week.

Life is lived day by day. Second by Second. You can't count on something that used to be - you have to live for what is to come.

I think sometimes I psych myself out when it comes to the future. I tell myself I'm not prepared, or too young, or inexperienced, blah blah blah. I could come up with a million excuses - but the point is, that's not the point. I am my only obstacle at this point. Sure, stumbling blocks are put in our way, but at the end of the day, I've found that it's purely a mental game that we're playing here.

I got a letter from a friend the other day. He's spent the last 21 months in Los Angeles serving a mission for my church. Here's what he shared with me about this race we're participating in called life:

 "He won't make you run faster than you are able, but He will make you run."

So as much as I want to slow down time or quietly push the pause button on my life, I just can't. I learned that in church today. You just have to keep going. Because life is about progression and learning and change. So I guess I better start jogging, eh? 

I've learned that our lives are measured on faith and works - On the direction we're heading and the steps we're taking to get there.

To ponder is to think about something carefully; especially before deciding or concluding. 

How long do you think it took Heavenly Father to ponder about this earth we live on? How long do you think it took him to ponder about each one of us? About every single living thing He has created over time? How long do you think it took Him to ponder over the way everything would work and cycle and what would make the world go round? How long do you think it took Him to ponder about what exactly would have to happen in order for us to return to Him eventually? How long do you think He pondered over who He'd send? Over who would die for us? How long to do you think He pondered before turning away from His Only Begotten Son as He suffered for each one of us? 

How long do you think it take Him to ponder over our prayers to Him? How long do you think it takes Him to ponder over sending His blessings or comforting our fears or healing our wounds? 

I bet it doesn't take Him too long...

The Lord Is My Light

      
   Words will never be able to adequately express the love and gratitude that I have for my Savior, Jesus Christ. I know that may be a cliché statement to make – but it’s one I mean with all my heart.

In Matthew 27 verse 22, it reads, "What shall I do then with this Jesus which is called Christ?" - I'm not entirely sure why, but the one thing that continued to come to my mind is the hymn, “The Lord Is My Light”. To echo the words in that song, I say with strong conviction, “the Lord IS my light – then why should I fear? By day and by night, His presence is near. He is my salvation from sorrow and sin. This blessed assurance the spirit doth bring. The Lord is my light; He is my joy, and my song. By day and by night, He leads me along. The Lord is my strength. I know in His might I’ll conquer at length. My weakness in mercy He covers with power. And walking by faith, I am blest every hour. The Lord is my light, my all and in all. There is in His sight, no darkness at all. He is my Redeemer, my Savior, and King. With Saints and with angels His praises I’ll sing.”

        Christ is my everything. Without Him, I am nothing. Without Him, I would not be the person I am today – I would not have direction or drive – I would not have hope or faith in things I don’t know of that are in my future – I would not be able to love as I love or serve as I serve. I would not act as I act, say what I say, if it were not for that perfect man that once walked on this earth so many years ago – to pay the price for us to once again all live in heaven as one big eternal family – reunited as we once were before this world was.

        I can say I have spiritually felt the prints in His hands and the mark on his side – for I have truly beheld the miraculous power of the Atonement in my life. I have felt its power – and because of that, I am that much more in debt to my Savior and the sacrifices He made for me and my many, many faults. It reminds me of something I read in “Believing Christ” by Stephen Robinson. In speaking about the gift of the Atonement, he says, “But how can I possibly deserve such a gift? – Don’t be silly. You can’t. You don’t. This gift is offered because I love you and want to help you, not because I owe it to you. – But how can I ever repay you? – There you go again. Don’t you get it yet? You can’t repay me, not you or all the billions like you. Gifts of this magnitude can never be repaid. For what I’ve done out of love for you, you can only love me back, and seek to become what I am – a giver of good gifts. And that is good news.”

        I just love that – as guilty as it makes me feel for doing any sort of wrong – it makes me so incredibly thankful for my Savior; for the fact that through anything I do, no matter what it is, He will always be there ready to take me back; so ready to forgive and forget; so comforting through any pain – for anyone, at any time. It’s incredible the real love He has for each and every one of us.

       I've loved really reading and dissecting the life of Christ this semester in my New Testament class. It has helped my testimony grow tremendously, because I’ve been able to learn of Him as man, not necessarily just a God. He seems so much more real when I can compare His mortal life to mine. I loved the lesson my teacher, Brother Wilson, taught about when He first entered into the world – how the song “Away In a Manger” isn’t true in the fact that Christ didn’t come into the world as a God. He was a baby who cried and was loud and hard to handle growing up – he was a human just like you and I are. He wasn't born perfect - he became perfect; just as we are commanded to become.

        I love my Savior more than anything else in this world. His hand continues to guide my life. I put full faith in Him and know that He has my best interest in mind through everything I go through. I’ve learned that through challenges, I only become stronger. I know that we will all be saved by His wondrous mercy and love. I know that He has put living Prophets on this earth to be His spokesperson – to help us and aide us in our journey back to Him. I know that it is through Christ, our Lord, that we will return to live with our Heavenly Father once again – and I will be doing everything possible to make that happen for the rest of my mortal life.

  

Timing

The new year has finally arrived and I have a feeling it's gonna be a crazy one. One full of surprises. 


Lately, I've had a problem trying to plan out my future...trying to count on certain things to work our certain ways to ensure this and that...blahblahblah. Basically I was lacking confidence in my future, and so when it finally all crumbled down, it hit me pretty hard - and so that naturally turned me to the one person we can all always count on...the Lord.


Today in our testimony meeting at church, I swear every person was speaking directly to me - their words were exactly what I needed to hear; mostly the ones focusing on God's love for us. For you. For me. That through it all - He understands what we're going through. When it feels like we don't have anyone else to turn to - at what seems like our lowest of lows, He is always there. Always. 


I don't know why I haven't learned my lesson yet, but I think now, more than times before, I will have to learnt o accept the Lord's plan for me. I have NO IDEA what it is - but that's what's exciting about it all. I have to train myself to let Him work in my life. I have to stop trying to push in MY timetable, when the Lord's timetable rules over that nine times out of ten. 


I found this incredible talk by Elder Dallin H. Oaks, talking about Timing. I highly suggest taking a few minutes to read it, especially at the start of this new year. Here's one of my favorite quotes from it:
"Do not rely on planning every event of your life—even every important event. Stand ready to accept the Lord's planning and the agency of others in matters that inevitably affect you. Plan, of course, but fix your planning on personal commitments that will carry you through no matter what happens. Anchor your life to eternal principles, and act upon those principles whatever the circumstances and whatever the actions of others. Then you can await the Lord's timing and be sure of the outcome in eternity." 


I'm open for what He has planned for me - do to the fact all MY plans just got completely crushed, I have faith that HIS are going to be ten times better for me this year. Bring it on :)