I delight in 'for sure.'

As has already been discussed, I'm the most 'not-spontaneous' person I know. In fact in relief society today, we discussed (for the second week in a row now) talents. And for the second week in a row, when the question was posed, "What talent would you like to possess?" I have written down two things: 1. The self-discipline NOT to push my snooze button in the morning and 2. The ability to be spontaneous.

And so, this week I was offered an amazing opportunity but it came down to a question of time. Do I have time? So much to do, but so little time. Balancing life, school, clinic, family, and in a sense a job I already have, is there time for another? I just wasn't sure.

All week I've been planning and thinking and hoping and praying. I even went so far as to write my 'acceptance' e-mail last night, but I couldn't bring myself to send it. Then, I went to Sunday School where my friend Mitch was teaching the lesson. We talked about the parable of the Unjust Judge. We'd talked about it last week as well but honestly, my attention span was shot last week, but this week...I was tuned in. During the comments of others, I realized that even when the Lord doesn't answer our prayers it does not mean that he isn't interested or that he doesn't care, that's just an assumption we naturally make as a result of being 'natural men'. It doesn't mean that we should stop praying about it because God doesn't care, it means that he is so interested in our welfare that he has better plans for us--whether it be us using our own judgement and figuring things out or him telling us the answer when the time is right. After I made this comment, Mitch asked me to read this quote from Elder Scott:

• Elder Richard G. Scott said:

• “It is a mistake to assume that every prayer we offer will be answered immediately. Some prayers require considerable effort on our part. …

• “When we explain a problem and a proposed solution [to our Heavenly Father], sometimes He answers yes, sometimes no. Often He withholds an answer, not for lack of concern, but because He loves us—perfectly. He wants us to apply truths He has given us. For us to grow, we need to trust our ability to make correct decisions. We need to do what we feel is right. In time, He will answer. He will not fail us” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1989, 38; or Ensign, Nov. 1989, 30–31).

  He then posed the question: What have you learned as you have persevered in prayer? In an instant, I knew the answer to the question I had been pondering all week. I realized that the Lord is aware of my time and my abilities better than I am. And I need to trust that. I saw the situation with new eyes and knew my answer. We need to do what we feel is right--that was the take home lesson. Whether by my own thoughts or by the feeling that comes by the Spirit of God, we can know what is right and we will feel it in our hearts.

  For a situation that seemed so chaotic, it is now a beautiful whole. I see the picture. I see all the pieces and desires of my heart that have come into play. This wholeness I think can only come when we allow the Lord help us see the plan he has in store for us. The moments he lets us see how the pieces are coming together and working for our good.

I delight in U2.

I am my mother's daughter. We enjoy almost all the same music. She's taught me all about the music of her day. She can even tell you how old she was when certain songs came out. I teach her all about the music of today. She starts out not liking at all and then warms up to it and in some cases ends up liking it more than I do! Examples: Switchfoot, Ben Folds, The Fray, Lady Antebellum, and others I can't think of right now.
Well Tuesday, U2 came to Salt Lake City. They pretty much shut down the University of Utah campus by 2, clients at the clinic even cancelled their appointments to avoid the traffic.
I was so lucky to be invited to go by these fabulous ladies! I've nominated myself to be their adopted sister! I think I've been to almost every concert ever with Natalie. Christie and Emily have been along on a lot of the concert ventures as well! This one however, is one never to be forgotten. Natalie warned us that we'd be be speechless and that we were. We had fantastic (and bonus, probably the cheapest) seats. We even got to watch U2 jump in cars after and drive away. We also had a getaway route planned so we got back to my place super quick.
Another fantastic memory with my best friend!

I delight in written word.

I am a journal writer. I've been a journal writer for years and as much as it tempts me to convert to typing my journal, I just can't do it.

While writing, whether it be typed or handwritten is very therapeutic, I love hand-writing. I love the thinking that hand-writing requires. I can type so fast that I am sorely tempted to write things I don't mean when I'm on a 'mind spill.' Besides, this keyboard has a delete key. A joy I find in writing in my journal, is that whatever I write is real and its written forever, it can't just be deleted with the click of a button.

And so as I finished another journal last night I reflected on the portion of my life it contains. Each journal has its own story, its own time slot of my life. This one will always be significant in so many ways. From last July to the present, a big learning curve has come into my life. Today is the start of another story in a way. Another journal and its bigger and will take me longer to fill it up. The adventure excites me. Just knowing that currently my life is unwritten but that I already have new opportunities and experiences to record in its pages. If its any foreshadow of what is to come, all I know is that it will be good.

I delight in being a half marathon finisher!

Me and the Hewletts! We all ran the half today!

Today, I did one of the most crazy things I've ever done. I ran/speed walked 13.1 miles. It was a fantastic experience and I could not have done it without Emily who let me chat her ear off all the way down the canyon. Ogden is a beautiful place and today, I gained a new found appreciation for it. I also gained a greater appreciation for what bodies can do. Especially at mile 11 when my feet were just done and I didn't think a second wind was possible, it was!

Now, please excuse me as I cross another thing off my bucket list! Yay!

When it rains, it pours.

Its been raining for two days. The sun has not been seen. Life is mirroring the weather as the rest of this week will include lesson planning, dvd watching (previous client sessions), quiz studying, reading, relief society lesson planning, 13.1 mile walking, antiquing, gathering, and writing. What a weekend.

I delight in institute.

Institute is a program in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for the Young Single Adults in the church (there are classes available for those who are older, and a seminary program for high school age students) to continue learning in the gospel. Institutes are often located near the campus' of most major Universities in the United States (and elsewhere) or are held in nearby chapels and homes. Its a great opportunity to learn about the gospel in a group with peers.

Tonight I went to a class on the Book of Moses, found in the Pearl of Great Price. 10 weeks of class, 8 chapters. Tonight we had the opportunity to talk about the plain and most precious truths that were removed from the Bible as we now know it. We discussed how the world would be different had just the first Chapter of Moses (or Genesis as we know it) not been changed, most of the confusion about the nature of God, our relationship to him, our purpose, the role of our Savior Jesus Christ, the existence of Satan, and the fact that God speaks and not spake would all be so clear.

My gratitude deepened for a 14-year old boy who read James 1:5, who believed that God would hear his prayer and who had the faith to act on the answer he received. Out of the darkness came light, a brighter day, the restoration of the Gospel. To learn more about the restoration and about the Prophet Joseph Smith, click here.

I delight in the opening of doors.

Life has a fantastic way of opening doors. Today I feel one was opened. Nothing really spectacular happened, its a culmination of a million tiny little things lately. My 'purpose' is being refined and in a way redefined by life's experiences in such a way that all of my life has prepared me for this moment. God has a way of pulling things like that off. What a blessing he can see the bigger picture and that He can let us have glimpses.

The saying I'm living by today, one of my personal commandments I suppose you could call them is, "Don't be distracted." I think I could have recognized the guiding hand of my Heavenly Father more clearly a while ago, but I got distracted. And so, I've put limits on somethings (the internet, the news, 'fluffy books') that are 'distractions' and have put 'must-do' stamps on things that keep me from being distracted--prayer, scripture study, pondering, meditation, journal writing (this one is KEY for me!) etc.

Simple lessons I've learned about a thousand times now but He is patient and I am a work in progress.