But If Not

What is your faith based on?

You might say, "I have faith that God will bless me if I follow the commandments." Or perhaps, "I have faith in good times to come," or, "I have faith that God will deliver me from my troubles."

Well, that sounds great. But what if you don't feel like you are being blessed? What if good times don't come? What if trials and tribulations follow you around your whole life, and no matter how hard you try, you can't be rid of them? 

What then? Is your faith going to disappear the moment your life takes a turn for the worst and you feel like God has stopped blessing you and answering your prayers?

Consider the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. They were told that if they would not bow down and worship Nebuchadnezzar's idol, they would be thrown in the fire to die. They responded by saying:

17 - If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
18 - But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. (Daniel 3)

What do you think these men based their faith on? Signs, miracles, and God-given perfect lives? Do you think they expected things of God like some people do today (and surely also did back then)? No, I think their faith was based on something higher - trust in God, His plan, and His timing. God would rescue them from the fire, but if not - if that wasn't His will - then they would worship and trust in Him still. 

Friends, life doesn't always go as planned. Sometimes we are asked to endure a very hard trial, and no matter how often or how hard we pray, sometimes things don't get any easier. 

Why? Well, sometimes we are asked to endure trials because they strengthen us. We learn to trust in God and we gain perspective when we experience challenges. That's how it should work, anyways, but some people don't let themselves be strengthened. They choose to give up on God and let go of their faith. 

Will this be you? Are you going to hold on to faith as long as things go your way - but let go as soon as God's will doesn't line up with yours? Or are you willing to trust that God is all-knowing, infinitely loving, and always has a plan? 

He does always have a plan. He is always looking out for you. He is forever waiting for you to stretch out your hand and commit to follow Him no matter what. 

I will choose to follow the example of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. 

Because I know that God can take away my sorrow and heartache - but if not;

I know that God can give me a successful and full life - but if not;

I know that God will deliver me from financial woes - but if not;

I know that God will bless me with a healthy body - but if not;

If not, I will trust in Him still. I will not succumb, I will not let go of my faith. Because my faith isn't founded on a perfect life. It isn't founded on the belief that God will always fulfill my wishes. My faith is built on something higher. My faith is in God's will, God's plan, and God's timing, not my own.

Let us all choose to follow the example of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego and have faith in God no matter what He has planned for us.

xoxo,

Haley

choosing fearlessness

Hey folks!
Can you tell from my lack of posting that I am really getting back into the swing of school?
Joy. (<sarcasm)
General Conference took place last weekend. If you missed it or just want to review some of the talks, click here! 


I wanted to talk about one of my favorite things said during General Conference last week. 

First, I should probably add that I had some things bothering me that I had prayed about before General Conference. I am a SENIOR now, and it won't be too much longer before I have to leave my family and go away to college. I know that it's for the best and that I will be starting an exciting new chapter in my life, but right now I'm really really dreading it and I feel sad and afraid. I know that a lot of kids feel nothing but excitement to go out on their own, but that is definitely not me. I'm a huge home-body and will be leaving behind not just my home, but my parents and all of my siblings. I know that I can always come home if I need to, but a lot will still change, and I really feel sad about it. 
So, that being said, one of the things I prayed for was that I could somehow feel okay about leaving my home next year. 

I know that God heard my prayer, and I heard something during Elder Lynn G. Robbins's talk that meant a lot to me. He said: 

"The Savior, the only perfect being who ever lived, was the most FEARLESS."

The most fearless. Christ endured so much pain, so much scorn, was tempted, was tried, and yet He was fearless through it all. 

Life isn't always - or even usually - peachy. Most of us are probably constantly worrying about something, whether it is something large or small. 
But fear can be very debilitating. Fear can keep us from Jesus Christ. Even though He has promised that He will carry our burdens, we usually don't let Him! We choose heaviness and fear instead of joy and faith. We choose to feel anxiety instead of feeling liberated through Christ's grace. 

We must remember to let go and let God take care of things. 

I promise - I promise - that He knows what He is doing. I've seen it in my own life, dear friends. I've endured hard things and asked God why I am asked to bear the burdens I am given. But, in time, I always find that everything works out for my good. 
Sometimes I have to remember to keep an eternal perspective. We won't always be blessed for enduring our trials in this life, but I know that with God, everything is one eternal round. 
We are not earthly beings, we are heavenly beings. We came from God's presence, and if we endure well, we will return to God's presence. When you think of it that way, our earthly fears seem like such trivial matters. 

I want to spend my whole life trying to live like the Savior. I am so, SO not perfect, but every day I am trying to develop Christlike attributes. So, after hearing this talk, I've decided that the next attribute that I need to work on is fearlessness. 
Join with me? We all have something we are trying to overcome. I don't know you, reader, but I know that there is something in your life that makes you afraid.

The beautiful thing, though, is that we don't have to be afraid. We can give Christ our burdens and choose to live as He did. Fearless.

So, with that, I will face the next year of my life with my eye single to the glory of God. I will remember Christ in all I do. I will follow His example and I will be fearless. 
I will have courage to move forward, and I am going to choose to feel excited about my future.

We all have bright futures. It doesn't matter what is going on in your life or what has gone on in your life. You can be fearless too, because you have so much going for you. Christ will never leave you comfortless, and He will always help you to have courage.





Here's to fearlessness and absolute trust, 

Haley. 

Help Thou Mine Unbelief

I was a brand-new teenager and had just experienced profound loss.

It felt like the world was falling apart. But I said God was there. I said He cared. 

And He did. 

Sometimes I hear negative words. I hear the church being criticized. 

Sometimes doubts creep into my mind. 

But I tell myself: I know what's truth and what isn't. God is truth. He is light.

And He is. 

I really struggle making choices. "I need some direction!" I cry.

It feels like He isn't listening sometimes. 

But I say to myself, God cares. He's aware of my life and won't let me make the wrong choice. He listens to me. 

And He does.


The following is an excerpt from the book Life of Pi by Yann Martel. If you aren't familiar with this book (now movie), our protagonist Pi is floating on a lifeboat in the middle of the ocean with a 450-lb. tiger named Richard Parker as his only companion.

From Chapter 74:

     "Sometimes my heart was sinking so fast with anger, desolation and weariness, I was afraid it would sink to the very bottom of the Pacific and I would not be able to lift it back up.
     "At such moments I tried to elevate myself. I would touch the turban I had made with the remnants of my shirt and I would say aloud, 'THIS IS GOD'S HAT!'
     "I would pat my pants and say aloud, 'THIS IS GOD'S ATTIRE!'
     "I would point to Richard Parker and say aloud, 'THIS IS GOD'S CAT!'
     "I would point to the lifeboat and say aloud, 'THIS IS GOD'S ARK!'
     "I would spread my hands wide and say aloud, 'THESE ARE GOD'S WIDE ACRES!'
     "I would point at the sky and say aloud, 'THIS IS GOD'S EAR!'
     "And in this way I would remind myself of creation and of my place in it.
     "But God's hat was always unravelling. God's pants were falling apart. God's cat was a constant danger. God's ark was a jail. God's wide acres were slowly killing me. God's ear doesn't seem to be listening.
     "Despair was a heavy blackness that let no light in or out. It was a hell beyond expression. I thank God it always passed. A school of fish appeared around the net or a knot cried out to be reknotted. Or I thought of my family, of how they were spared this terrible agony. The blackness would stir and eventually go away, and God would remain, a shining point of light in my heart. I would go on loving." 



I really loved this chapter. The reason I share it with you is this: God doesn't always seem to be listening. Sometimes we get swallowed up by all of the awful things going on in our lives.

Sometimes our doubts overwhelm us and God doesn't make sense anymore.

This happens to EVERYONE, do you hear me? Everyone.

The important thing is that you remind yourself - sometimes even verbally, as Pi did - God cares. He hears. He knows. 

Even if you don't feel like it. Even if you can't see it. You already know. God has made manifest the truthfulness of Himself and His gospel to you before. He didn't suddenly cease to exist. It's just that the world is a tumultuous place sometimes, and it's easy to lose track of what's real and good and what isn't.

Be the one who's willing to show God that you'll hang in there. Even when it's hard. Even when you feel far away from the Spirit. Hang in there. Keep the faith. Reach out.

Be the one to exclaim, "Lord, I believe. Help thou mine unbelief."

We all struggle with unbelief sometimes. Push through. Carry on. Remind yourself of God's goodness.

It might take a minute, it might take a year. But I promise that God WILL help take care of your unbelief.



Thanks for sticking with me. I love you all, hope you had a great weekend!
Haley.

give it to GOD.

I had an interesting experience a couple weeks ago. I got to meet a woman that my dad knew while he was on his mission in Virginia.
We spent a while catching up with her and she mentioned how her daughter had had a baby unexpectedly a few years ago. No one knew she was pregnant, not even the daughter (how does this happen?!?!?).
Anyways, she said something that I really loved. Her daughter had just had a baby! Meaning she had had sexual relations with some man before she was married, something that our church frowns upon quite a lot.
So what did the mother do?
This was basically what she told me:
"I gave it to God. I didn't have to beat her upside the head for her decisions! It was too heavy of a burden for me to carry, so I gave it to God. He handled the whole thing for me. He's still handling it for me, I don't have to worry about it. I never had to worry about it."


I was so impressed. I was so impressed and am still impressed at her faith in God. She was willing to trust completely that God was over all. She explained that if she kept worrying and asking about her troubles, she was showing God that she didn't trust Him to handle it.

My friends, when you have troubles, give them to God! Give them to God and then let go of them. God can handle it. Christ already carried your burdens. He suffered for you already, so you don't have to keep carrying around regrets and burdens, worrying about whether or not they're taken care of.

Let go. Let go of the heartache, of the regret, of the guilt. Let go and let God take care of it.
TRUST that He can take care of it. He doesn't need you to keep reminding Him about troubles that you should have already let go of.
Don't let your past weigh you down. Surrender completely to God and His grace and trust that things are taken care of, that you can proceed with your life with a light heart and a bright smile.

Show God that you are willing to move on with your life and that you are thankful for the bright future He has given you.


She was such a neat lady and I really learned a lot from her. Join with me as I lay my trials before God and then let them go completely. Join with me and show God that you trust Him enough to let Him carry your burdens. Join with me in giving it to God and forgetting about it.

Haley

Trek 2014: A Gospel Worth Sacrificing For

Hello my dearest readers! It's been a few weeks since I last posted, but it's not because I've been neglectful, I've just been out of town like the whole time! But I'm back now! Yay! 

So a few weeks ago, I went on trek. I mentioned in a post that I was going, but I never blogged about it, so first thing's first. Let me tell you a little about trek! 

This was the youth in our ward right before we left. Trek ended up being postponed a day due to several inches of snow. I was super bummed at the time, but we still had a great experience.

But here's the thing about having a shorter trek: we were worked to the bone! We had to make up the miles, and it was incredibly taxing physically.

I was so so sore every night and I got so tired after walking for so many hours. It was brutal! Seriously though, so brutal!

But I'm so glad it was hard, and here's why:

It was hard for the pioneers. It was so much harder for the pioneers than it was for me. They walked for months at a time, and often in bad weather. They got sick. They got hungry. These were all things I didn't have to deal with.
And even despite the luxuries I had, like good hiking shoes and a good coat and as much water as I needed, it was still really hard for me. I was so spent that at times I doubted whether or not I could continue.
BUT I did. I continued. I made it the whole way. The women's pull was also really long and difficult, and at moments I wondered how we could ever do it. But guess what? We did.

Here's what I learned on trek: I can do hard things. We all can do hard things.

Even though I doubted myself sometimes, I somehow always made it from Point A to Point B.

This is such an important lesson to learn! Do you know why?
Sometimes we will be called upon to carry burdens that feel too heavy. Life is hard, and sometimes it feels like we can't carry on, like we can't endure. But we can. With the Lord's help, we always can.

If you aren't familiar with trek or with the women's pull, here's briefly what it is. All of the men and boys in all of the families get called away on missions, and the women have to stay behind and pull the handcarts alone, usually up a big hill. At the end, the men are able to walk beside us, watching for a few minutes, before stepping in to help with the handcarts.
This was such a neat experience and taught me so much. Again, about burdens. The men were called upon to leave and serve the Lord, and had to carry the burden of leaving their family behind. The women, then, were left with no choice but to continue to press forward, pulling the handcart.

In life, sometimes we are called upon to spend extensive time serving the Lord by fulfilling our callings. Sometimes other things come up in life, and we find that we have to change our plans. No one can get through life without carrying some burdens, is what I'm trying to say.

But what do we do? We press on. We move forward with the knowledge that God is over all and can make weak things become strong.

So that was the first lesson I learned on trek. I can do hard things. Whenever the Lord calls upon me to carry a burden, I can do it in His name and with His help.


Here's another lesson I learned on trek: the gospel is ALWAYS worth sacrificing for. I mean, why do you think the pioneers were able to keep moving every day? Why were they able to keep putting one foot in front of the other, even when they were freezing or filled with sorrow because loved ones were dying? How did they do it?

It's because they had something worth walking for. They were going to Zion. They were following the prophet, and in doing so were following God's commandments and gracefully working through this burden. They knew it would be worth it. They knew it would be worth it for their posterity who could live in peace, away from persecution. They knew it would be worth it to leave a heritage of hope and sacrifice, one that their descendants could be proud of. One that GOD could be proud of.

Friends, the gospel of Jesus Christ is true. It was worth walking for. It's always worth sacrificing for. That's the only way the pioneers could have pressed forward every day. They knew they were sacrificing for a worthy cause.

How was I able to press forward every day? I remembered them. I remembered the pioneers and I thought of how much I love the gospel and how I am willing to do anything to keep it in my life and in the lives of my children and posterity. I leaned on their strength. I followed their examples. And I continued to have faith that the Lord would help me carry my burdens.


I know the gospel is true. I love it with all my heart, and I want everyone to know it. I want to be all in, willing to sacrifice and carry burdens to help the gospel to move forward. I know that following the commandments is always, always worth it.
Hard things come our way. They always will. I know that God is over all and that if He felt it was right, He would take my burdens. But sometimes He sees, in all His wisdom, that I need to endure certain trials.
Ours is not to wonder why. Ours is simply to trust and have faith and remember that things always work out.


I'm so grateful that I was able to go on trek and learn these truths, even if it was hard while I was enduring it. I truly never could possibly appreciate the pioneers as much as I do now if I hadn't carried that burden.
If you ever get the chance to go on trek, go go go!!


"We came through that experience with the absolute knowledge that God lives, for we became acquainted with Him in our extremities! 
"The price we paid to become acquainted with God was a privilege to pay."-Francis Webster of the Martin Company

Haley

He GIVES and TAKES AWAY.

Job 1:21: "...the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord."


So the Lord gives and the Lord takes away.
But wait. Does God ever really take away?
True, to us it would sometimes appear that He does.

Sometimes it feels like there is more bad than good in our lives.
Sometimes we are bombarded with trial after trial, and it can be hard to praise God when your life feels like it's falling apart.

But God's ways are higher than ours. God has a different perspective than we do. Is a loss to us always a loss in the grand scheme of things?

No. It isn't.

Many wonder, "how can there be a God if bad things happen to good people?"
Friends, God does everything for a reason. We can't always see what the reason is, but I promise that we become better people through our trials.
One day, after our earth life is long over and we have a much better perspective, we will understand why God does what He does.

I praise a God who GIVES me so many amazing things. My family and my heart and my emotions. I praise a God who gives beauty and love so freely. I praise a God who gives life.

And still, I will praise a God who TAKES AWAY. A God who is omnipotent and a God who sees all. I will praise Him when times get hard, because I know that He is mighty to save. I know that He knows what He is doing.


So can we worship a God who would let bad things happen? A God who would let people be taken from the earth early, a God who would let us feel sorrow sometimes?
Absolutely.

I will praise Him, my friend and my teacher. He always knows best.
He understands things that I never could.


Praise You in This Storm by Casting Crowns



Remember that all things will eventually work together for our good.

So join with me in lifting my hands always to the God who gives and takes away.


Haley.

acceptance and bright futures

One of the hardest lessons we have to learn while on earth is that some things are beyond our control.

Bad things happen. They happen to good people, they happen to bad people. They have always happened, and they will continue to happen.

Why? 
I think everyone needs to find their own answer to that. It depends on the person. Truly.


I can only speak from my own experiences. But here's what I do know:
Bad things happen for a reason. They are an essential part of God's plan.

Now hopefully I have a lot of living left to do. I'm only seventeen and many of you readers have been through a heck of a lot more than I have.

But I've still got a little experience under my belt. I lost my sister, most notably, and with that, I lost the picture-perfect life I had basically lived up until junior high.
I've felt lonely. I've changed friend groups. I've taken the Spirit for granted. I've become busier and busier taking on so much schoolwork, and with that I've had to give up a lot more than I thought I would, including some of my favorite hobbies.

I think we have this idea in our minds that if we do what we're supposed to do and try our hardest, our efforts will always reap visible and even tangible rewards.
So what do we do when that doesn't happen? Because sometimes our efforts fall short. Sometimes our hearts are broken. It's how life is.

The fact of the matter is, our lives aren't going to be perfect. But we have to learn to accept things as they are and free ourselves from the sorrow that would overwhelm us if we let it.

I lost my sister when I was thirteen. Did I do anything to deserve that? No. I mean, could anyone really do anything that would make them deserve that? But it happened anyways, and I have to come to terms with that reality. I've already come to terms with it, actually. I've accepted it. I'm at peace with it.
Does that mean I can't still be cripplingly sad about it if I let myself be? No, of course I'm still sad about it. I never won't be. But I'm never going to move forward if I let myself keep living in the past.

I would never ask for the trials I've been through. But I have to make the best of them. The death of a loved one is just one example. But I've learned that with all trials, when we accept them and decide to make the best of them - instead of trying to change them - we are inviting the Spirit into our hearts and allowing God to shape us into better people.

We learn to be more compassionate people. We learn to see things from God's perspective. We learn to trust in Him and rely on Him when we have nowhere else to turn. We sometimes learn that our priorities are not where they should be.

One bad thing happening to you could weigh you down and haunt you for your whole life if you let it. But when you accept the past for what it is, and also accept the present for what it is, then will you be free to look to the future and shape it how you will.


Notice how the picture at the beginning of this post says, "It is what it is" and "it was what it was," but makes no reference to the future.
Your future will be whatever you choose for it to be. Don't let trials and sadness hold you back.


Decide today that you will let go of whatever is keeping you from moving forward. A lot of things are in our control, I'd even say most things. But some things aren't, and we have to learn to accept the things we can't change.
Does everyone feel pain sometimes? Yeah. But there is more good in the world than bad, more happiness than sorrow, and more beautiful things than ugly things.

Trust in God and in His timing. He knows what He's doing, and His grace is sufficient to carry you through every up and down in your life.

When it comes to trials, always search for the silver lining and look for the reason why God may be putting this in your path.



I know I shared this video before, but it's been a while, and it really is worth a second watch if you've already seen it.


Remember that trials are a part of life. You are never alone when you suffer.

Learn to accept what you can't change and help others do the same. Search for the good in every situation. I'm reminded of Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin's talk Come What May, and Love It. (Watch it here.)

Let us commit to loving what comes our way. Always look up. Choose to go forward rejoicing.

The future is truly bright.


Haley


P.S. Don't forget about General Conference this weekend! Watch here this Saturday and Sunday!

LIVE

CONFIDENT.
SURE.
BOLD.
INDUSTRIOUS.

To me these are all words that describe members of our church.
We are committed. We work hard at what we do. And we are all in. 

I like this video because it reminds me to live life to the fullest.
We all have different roles in the church and in life. But whatever your role, give it all you've got.
Whether you're the stake president or the ward librarian, magnify your calling to the fullest extent.
Whatever you decide to do with your life, do it with full force.

"If you cannot do great things, do small things in a great way." -Napoleon Hill 


Your life will take so many turns. It will not take the exact route you planned on it taking, probably not even close.
But if you want to be able to look back on your life with fondness, you have to be powerful and confident and throw yourself into whatever work you take up.
Whatever trial comes your way, look it straight in the eye and don't back down.

This is how you can live a happy and fulfilled life.
This is how you can find joy in the journey, even when things don't go your way.


"If you must leave, leave as though fire burns under your feet."
"If you must speak, speak every word as though it were unique."
"If you must fight, fight with yourself and your faults in the night."
"If you must work, work to leave some part of you on this earth."
"And if you must live, darling, well, just live."

Hopefully the video seemed relevant. I just thought it was neat.

Happy Weekend!
Remember who you are!

Haley.

a thought on GOALS

Okay, is this man not the cutest thing ever?

So with watching the Olympics so much lately, I've been thinking of all the amazing things that people achieve.
Granted, most don't make it to the Olympics, but we all have something or another that we love to do, something that we have dedicated a lot of time to.
We all have different goals and every person will live their life in a different way.
BUT we are also all united. We are united in Christ. We are united as children of God.

"One thing that has stood the test of time is God."

I guess in some ways we are united in our goals. We all want to be happy. We want to be able to look back on our lives and know that we gave our all.
We all, believers and nonbelievers alike, crave satisfaction and praise.

I love when he says, "I've experienced much in my lifetime. And all of it wasn't good. And certainly all of it wasn't bad."

I've recently been doing a lot of family history work, and every time I read someone's story, it reminds me that our lives differ so much. We are all born, we all die, but it is what we do in between that defines us. 

Why do we do the things we do? 

Keep in mind your final goal. Who do you really want to please? 

Is it the world? Certainly not. 

Is it yourself? Well sure, but what, in the end, is going to make us the most happy?

It's God. God is who we want to please. 

"I belong to the greatest Hall of Fame that any man or woman can ever belong to. And when you belong to that, and you know you belong to it, you don't worry about these halls of fame that men create down here. It don't mean that much to you."

Remember that there is nothing you could ever do that would be worth giving up your relationship with God, with Jesus Christ.

I look at my own life sometimes and I wonder what difference I am making, what I am even accomplishing.
Sometimes I just feel like a robot that goes through the motions.
But I have to remember that sometimes my best is enough. As long I have the right goal, and am at least trying to live my life right, I'm doing okay.

Take heart in the fact that you don't have to win a gold medal or make it into the hall of fame to live an accomplished life. These are just silly things created by men.
An accomplished life is one filled with service, filled with love, and filled with faith.

So keep in mind your goals. Remember that our lives are a gift and we have to use them to make the world a better place.



You guys are awesome, and I have been so blessed with your support over the years of having this blog. I'm sorry I haven't been posting enough lately. I have had an extremely long-lasting case of writer's block that I can't seem to shake. Often I sit down to write and I just can't find the right words. So thank you so much for being patient with me.

Happy Sunday.

Haley

overcoming

All the world is full of suffering. It is also full of overcoming.

- Helen Keller

Is life hard sometimes, or what?! Have you ever heard stories of those people who seem to just have the worst life ever? Maybe you are that person - that person who has simply come across a lot of heartache. 

Life's pretty much tough by definition. But your life story should not be one of sadness! You have such an incredible future ahead of you! 

I recently read Anthem by Ayn Rand. Basically it is one of those futuristic dystopia type books where the government controls everything and people are not allowed to think for themselves. *Spoiler alert: In the end, the main character recognizes society's flaw and runs away into the forest to live a life of his own... alone. 

Yeah. The end. 

So I was asked the question today in English, "why is this a story of hope and liberation instead of one of despair?"

Well, let me tell you. A blank slate - a future that is yours for the taking - is such a beautiful thing. Whatever is behind you, whatever you have learned, can only help you from here on out. 

You could start a brand new life tomorrow, you know! Wake up and decide "today I am going to be someone important." 

Our God is a God of second chances. He offers peace. He offers a new perspective. 

You can make your life a beautiful one of service, love, and happiness. You have a blank canvas in front of you, it is up to you what colors to paint it with. 

Be optimistic. Life comes with trials, bumps in the road. But life keeps moving forward, and if you do your best to move along with it, you will see amazing things you could never see before. 

Thomas S. Monson said that often "We are inclined to view our own personal misfortunes through the distorted prism of pessimism. We feel abandoned, heartbroken, alone.”

Having a negative attitude always makes things seem worse than they really are. When we have hope and look for bright days ahead, even the days we are living now will feel more glorious. 

I've been so so blessed with school this year. I have always been one to stress a lot about school. Even though I keep excellent grades, I've always stressed often about all the homework I have to do, all the tests to study for, etc. etc. 

I was so scared for this year because not only is it junior year in high school - in my opinion one of the hardest and most important - I am also taking 10 credits at the college a half hour away so that I can get a couple years of college in before I graduate. Anyways, over the summer I was so scared I was going to be overwhelmed and had a knot in my stomach every time I thought about all that I was trying to take on. 

Then something crazy happened. School started, and I really do have quite a lot of homework. But I am not stressed. I really don't even know how that happened. I have just gotten into a routine where every day I look at my planner, I make sure I am prepared for the next day, maybe I do some homework due in the future, and I call it a night. 

I'm not sure what changed that I have been so much more chill about schoolwork this year. I work just as hard. But I don't let myself worry so much. 

The days will pass. I could spend all day stressing about a test, but whether I spend the day stressing or not, the next day will come. The test will pass. It will all work out, and in a week I will have forgotten about being worried in the first place. 

Things are never as bad as they seem. Life is full of tender mercies and happy surprises. Be happy. Don't worry so much, and you will be more satisfied with your life. YOU can overcome. And you can help others overcome. 

I thank God for bright futures.

life's good!

I just wanted to share how much I love life right now! 
  People are so good!! I know I say it all the time, but I truly love people! 


It continues to amaze me how our Heavenly Father could create so many unique, beautiful spirits!

I know I shared this picture not too long ago, but hey! I'll just share it again. haha.

Cool, right?!

I had to visit an art show and write a report about it for an art class I'm taking. I decided to go to a chalk art festival that was held in my community over the weekend.

It's so interesting to see what people decide to draw when they could draw anything. 

Check this one out!

I whipped my report out in a quick fifteen minutes and didn't exactly ponder the experience like my teacher wanted me to. haha. So I just said all this stuff about how art is a form of social media and how it can change the world, blah blah blah.

But you know what? I was kinda right!

YOU have things to share with the world! You have thoughts in your head that are incredibly unique and could truly change the world!


What a work of art the human race is!

Wow!!

I'm so excited for the future! People can say all they want about teenagers and about how society is doomed, but I know some truly incredible kids! Kids who love God and do what's right and know stuff about the Middle East and China and places like that that I could never dream of understanding! :)

Great things await us!






America by Imagine Dragons

I can't get this song out of my head. I love love loooove it. LOVE it.

It's one of those goosebumps-I-love-my-country kind of things.



That's another thing! I just wanted to remind people to never take our amazing country and the luxuries we have for granted.

I feel like - especially during elections - there is so much tension and talk about how our country is doomed and in ruins and going downhill.

Well it's still the greatest nation that exists!

 

 



There are those, I know, who will say that the liberation of humanity, the freedom of man and mind, is nothing but a dream.  They are right.  It is the American dream.  ~Archibald MacLeish 




Life's good, people! God has His hand in everything! You are SO blessed!

Be nice to others! Remember who you are!





P.S. On a more serious note, my heart aches for all who were effected by the tornado in Oaklahoma. My prayers and the prayers of many others are with you. God bless you all.

P.P.S. I think that minus the piercings and lack of personal hygiene (and a whole lot of other things), I'm pretty much a hippy. Yep. World peace, man! (haha) :)

courage

...Surviving is about courage and faith....


Sometimes it takes courage just to keep going.
Sometimes it's about doing the right thing.
Or sometimes you just have to have courage so that you can prove to yourself that you CAN do it.

I've been telling myself for forever that once I turned 16, I'd donate blood. Blood is so needed by so many people and well, I've got it to give.

But when the blood drive was announced at my school, I thought Oh man... I'm actually 16 now! It took me about a week just to get the courage to sign up. I seriously asked a dozen people what it was like, watched youtube videos, read what people thought on Yahoo Answers... (LOVE Yahoo Answers! Wouldn't have an A in Chemistry without it!)

Eventually, the day before the blood drive, I had a moment of courage and told my bff Sydney that if we didn't go sign up THIS SECOND, I wouldn't be able to do it.

I was so SO scared. Scared of passing out, that it would hurt for a year, that I wouldn't be able to play the region championship game we had that night, (we WON!! I still am an idiot for playing in that game. I was out of breath after 3 minutes. ha.) I was just SO freaked out for so many reasons. Most of them entirely impractical.

I just kept telling myself that it wasn't a big deal and it would go perfectly.

But you know what? Friday came and I donated blood. And it didn't go perfectly, but I still did it. (hehe... they had a hard time finding my vein so they had to go kinda deep or something like that, because it hurt really bad the whole time instead of just during the initial stick... but I still did it!!)

And I'm pretty proud if I do say so myself.

And now that I've done it once, I can do it next time easier. (Hoping beyond hope that it goes easier, less painful, and faster!) :)


Courage isn't something you're born with. At least I don't think so.

Courage isn't about wanting to go skydiving or bungee jumping.
Courage is about being scared out of your pants to go skydiving and still jumping out of the plane.

Courage is about pressing forward even if you are worried about the future.
It's about trusting in the Lord even if you want to scream and cry because you are so scared.

It's about doing His will even if it's hard for you to accept.

It's about initiative.

Doing what you have to do even if you dread the possible outcome.

It's when grief and pain are on the front porch and you open the door and deal with them head on.
Because you know they're not going to leave and putting things off doesn't get anyone anywhere.


We agreed to do hard things before we came here. We agreed to be tried and tested. And we were excited to prove ourselves.

I think trials ended up being harder to get through than we had originally imagined.
But they're still there.

And the courageous thing to do is to deal with them so that we can keep on keeping on.

And enduring to the end. That takes courage.






P.S. What things have YOU done that required courage??

...the angels stood in reverence...

Sorry for going all AWOL this last week... I know you all missed me so much... :)

I just didn't have any superbly pressing things to share. It takes a bit of thinking sometimes, and I just haven't had the time to sit down and... think (wow. lamest statement ever).

Anyways, I wanted to share this song with you guys. Emma by the Nashville Tribute Band.

I looked all over to find somewhere to embed it from. This was the best I found. Click play, it will open up in a separate window, click play again, switch back, and you can read the lyrics! I always like reading the lyrics while listening to a song. Gives you something to do.
(The big, bolded line is my favorite if you couldn't tell.)

Oh! And exit out of the window when the song ends. Another random one will probably start up. Seems to keep happening to me. Sorry, best I could do. :)


  Emm

-------------------------------------------------------
Never had an ordinary day

Never lived your life in an ordinary way

For everything you loved you paid a price

But you couldn't let the world see you cry

Never had a moment of peace

Never felt the sunlight

When the worries set you free

Every time your life turned a page

It seemed like your heart might break

With the world on your shoulders

When the nights had grown colder

You seemed to weather every storm

With a queen's grace

When you lost your husband

When you buried your children

I'm sure the angels stood in reverence as you prayed

How much can one heart take 

How much can one heart take

Never had a day to call your own

When so many needed your warm heart as a home

Whispering a mother's lullaby

As you sat alone by the fire

With the world on your shoulders

When the nights had grown colder

You seemed to weather every storm

With a queen's grace

When you lost your husband

When you buried your children

I'm sure the angels stood in reverence as you prayed

How much can one heart take 

How much can one heart take

With the world on your shoulders

When the nights had grown colder

You seemed to weather every storm

With a queen's grace

When you lost your husband

When you buried your children

I'm sure the angels stood in reverence as you prayed

And I'm sure your heart breaks, when some people still say

Somewhere down the line you lost your faith

How much can one heart take -

How much can one heart take?

-------------------------------------------------------------

Oh and just if you didn't know - Katherine Nelson sings this song. 

Mind = Blown. You're welcome.* 

Now I'm going to repeat that line that's quite simply just my favorite. 

I'm sure the angels stood in reverence as you prayed.

I love the thought of a God who weeps. 
Angels who feel. Who love. 

Just think of that. A God who weeps. The most powerful being you could ever imagine. Weeping for the sorrow of mankind.
The love our Father feels for all of us - even you and me - is unimaginable. This we know, and we always say.
But - a God who weeps? 

It's an incredible thought.

( ^We know the guy who painted this! His mom is in our ward!)

I think this is a cool picture of Christ's birth and depicts just how aware and close the Angels in Heaven truly are. 

They are aware of you. People you love beyond the veil - whether you remember them or not - are so much closer than you think. You could've been best friends with some of these spirits in years long ago. Those angels are rooting for you. 

They are angels who stand in reverence of you and cry with you. 

You are never alone. Powerful beings with infinite passion are all around you. 

An incredible thought, indeed. 







*This, for like 5 minutes, read "your welcome".  I almost fell over when I caught my mistake. That's always been a pet peeve of mine. :)

help a friend. change a life.

I often wonder what sort of impact I could possibly have on the world.

There are billions of people who have died - and most of their names ends up becoming just that - another name. One little name - a few syllables among billions and billions.



The people that are remembered are the helpers. The lovers, the fighters, the thoughtful, caring people.
The people who make you rethink who you are - and make you want to be a better person. The people who make you feel like a better person just because they treat you that way.

The people who get up and do something productive. The people who try to make others' lives better.

I think everybody wants to be remembered for something like that.

Ask yourself - Do I really care about my fellow man? Really truly? What kind of person am I? What will I be remembered for?

Your actions and decisions determine which blessings you are worthy of.
The way you treat people and how much you truly care... it comes right back around.

So... don't just pray for the poor/sick/sorrowful/suffering man.
D.O. something to help them. Show that you really, truly care. Make an effort.

And people will really. truly. care about you in return.

Be the helper, the lover, the fighter. Don't forget that every little tiny action contributes to and shapes the mosaic of humanity. You can save lives. You can be remembered.

What do you guys think of the above quote/picture? What does it mean to you? And how much do you care?

empathize.

There is someone out there with the perfect words to say to you.

They are going through - or have already experienced - the same things you're going through.
And boy, could you guys support each other.
You could talk and talk and talk and become best friends.

It's nice to have someone to confide in. Someone who just... knows. 


These people are hard to come by, but they are around.
But why are they so hard to find?

I suppose that can be answered in the little poem above.
We hide ourselves.
Not the good things, of course not the good things.

We hide the bad, the ugly, the mistakes, the hardships... etc...
But those are what people need to hear!

1 Corinthians 10:13 - There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

You are never alone. Ever. Everything that you go through... someone has experienced it before you.

“If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.” 

- Regina Brett

Open yourself up. Share what you know.
A certain confidence comes with knowing.
And it takes a certain person to see what others need and have the courage to share their experiences... to fill that need.


So, for the good and happiness of everyone, be that person. Share what you know with others. Observe, then serve.

And wear your blue skin out in the open sometimes. Or maybe wear a few less layers on top. You could really bless a lot of lives.

lord have mercy

This song is incredible. 

100% of proceeds go to the Emilie Parker family fund. You can buy the video or just the song here.






P.S. Yesterday was the greatest day of my life.

please pray for all affected.

Wow. What a contrast to my last post (found here).

I pray for all those who were affected by today's shooting in Newtown, Connecticut.

I think tragedies like this realistically affect everyone. This sickened and frightened... and saddened the entire country. And everyone who heard about it.

So pray for peace and understanding and acceptance. And a renewed motivation to do better and to be better so that tomorrow - and all the tomorrows after that - the world will be brighter and more beautiful than today.


And pray especially hard for the families and loved ones of those sweet kids and teachers.

And never cease to find the good in the world.

Those who serve and love.

The ones who end suffering. End hunger. End sadness and abuse.



‎"When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.' To this day, especially in times of 'disaster,' I remember my mother's words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers – so many caring people in this world." ~ Fred Rogers




May we all strive to be caring people who hope for hope and find the strength to be strong.

an era of gratitude.

First of all you guys, today is the one-year anniversary of this blog. I don't know why I feel so accomplished, but I do. This has been a lot of hard work for me and hours and hours of research and blogging.

Including this post, I have written 140 posts in the last year. That's a post every 2.6 days (I think - ha)!!

Ooh. That feels good.

Okay. So because my first post was about gratitude, and because we celebrated Thanksgiving this last week, I think the following video is a good one for today...




"Thank you, Mr. Gardener, for loving me enough to cut me down."



Ah. I feel so incredibly blessed right now.

But I don't always.

You know, it's so true that we have it good where we live. (assuming you live in a way similar to me...)

I really feel like I should never take what I have for granted.

But let's face it, this isn't always an easy attitude to have. When things don't go your way, when work is stressful, money is tight, and friends create drama... well, self-pity can creep in.

And I know many people - and of many people - who say, "Why would you do this to me, God??"

"I don't deserve this!"


Well I'll tell you what. I've had hardships in my own life. Most likely nothing harder than you've experienced, and I didn't always believe that, but I do now.

And I've probably suffered through trials that I didn't deserve.

But you know what? I've been blessed in much larger ways with good things that I didn't deserve, either.


I don't deserve the Grace offered me.

I don't deserve the family I have.

Or the friends I have.


The world doesn't owe me anything. My God doesn't owe me anything, either.


So when I think of all the things given to me anyways - and the people who have sacrificed just about everything for me - Why am I not the most grateful person in the world?


Well I should be. Because a grateful person is a happy person.



I suppose some of you might be familiar with the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism...

basically, the first three truths are these:
1. there is suffering in the world.
2. suffering is caused by desire.
3. by curbing desires, you can end suffering.

(The fourth is rather irrelevant right now and takes more unnecessary explaining, so we will stick to the first three...) :)


I think that that is brilliant. Suffering is caused by desires. By expectations. And consequently, by disappointment.


So when you start truly being grateful for all that you have, when you stop expecting more and more success, when you stop feeling entitled to everything offered to anyone...

you will be so, so happy. I suppose that's actually the way to experience true happiness.



So here's to a year of constant attitude checks for me.

Because I want to be a happy person. I want to be done desiring worthless things.

And I want to help others. To serve the Lord and show Him where my priorities lie. I want to focus on the things that really matter.


I want the world to be a place full of grateful people.


And we've got a ways to go.

But I guess I will start with myself.



So here's to a new era.

An era of gratitude.


Will you join me?