Making the most of our time

So I've been thinking a lot lately about this life and now what I get to do with it. There are so many unknowns. And each day we are faced with things that we must do. 1. go to work 2. do the dishes, 3. take out the garbage 4. buy food 5. make food 6. clean the house . . . the list goes on. Each day we must get things done. But what happened to the list that matters?
a. make someone smile. b. enjoy the beauty around us c. find one more thing you can do to make someone else's life that much easier d. prayer . . . This list is eternal. Because the fruits of this list are those that will last forever.
This is what has been most difficult about being home. I miss only having to worry about the second set of 'things to get done today' and as the first list is important and must be accomplished, oh how I long for the day when we get to 'rest from all our troubles and all our cares' and be in the presence of our Father and Savior once more.
As you can see my postings are a bit different than before, but these are the things that are on my mind. And even though it has been a rough transition for me I hope never to lose sight of the things that really matter from day to day.
I hope you all have a great day today and if it's not a good day, do something to make it so. (something for someone else almost always does the trick.)

Things I've learned.

So until I have more news to share I thought that I would share with you some things I've learned and share stories from my past many months of my life.

So I'll take you back to the begining of my mission. I'll be honest. I didn't really want to be there. Each day was a struggle having the desire to do the work. I kept thinking of all the things I could be doing and the things I was missing out on. I was thinking all about what I wanted. Pretty selfish I know. This obviously led to me feeling completely guilty that I wasn't wanting to be there doing the Lords work. I so badly wanted to give up and come home. I knew that no one would judge me or think less of me. But what I knew more is that I didn't want to be THAT person. I wanted to be someone that could do hard things. Someone that would do what was expected and do it well. I found strength through the scriptures and prayer.

One of my favorite example of doing hard things and faith is in the Book of Mormon, following the Prophet Alma. In Alma 8, Alma finds himself in the city of Ammonihah where "Alma labored much in the spirit, wrestlng with God in mighty prayer, that he would pour out his Spirit upon the people who were in the city; that he would also grant that he might baptize them unto repentance." The response was the people withstood 'all his words, and reviled him, and spit upon him, and caused that he should be cast out of their city . . .' so Alma left and while leaving this city he was 'being weighed down with sorrow, wading through much tibulation and anguish of soul. . . it came to pass while Alam was thus weighed down with sorrow, behold an angel of the Lord appeared unto him, saying: Blessed art thou, Alma; therefore lift up thy head and rejoice, for thou hast great cause to rejoice; for thou hast been faithful in keeping the commandments of God . . . Behold I am sent to command thee that thou return to the city of Ammonihah and preach again unto the people of the city. . "

Okay I don't know about you but I sure as heck wouldn't want to go back to a place that I had been rejected and spit upon. I saw a lot of rejection in TX and there was never a time when I was rejected by someone that I ever would think to go back and try again. However here is where Alma's strength and faith are exemplified Alma 8:18 ". . . that after Alma had received his message from the angel of the Lord he returned speedily to the land of Ammonihah. And he entered the city by another way. . ." He returned speedily! What faith! For crying out loud. I think I would question and doubt and definitly not go speedily. This would be so hard and Alma just did it. In vs 20 we see how merciful the Lord is. Alma comes to a man and asks him for food. He is receieved by Amulek, a worthy man that the Lord had prepared to recieve his servant. Alma had NO idea that he would find safety in the walls of the city. He did not know that the Lord had prepared Amulek to not only take him in but become his greatest companion in the gospel.

I know that if we face those things that seem impossible with faith in the Lord he will prepare a way for us to be provided for. I know that the Lord only asks us to do things for our benefit. I did not want to be serving a mission at first, but once I gave up myself and submited to the Lord I began to thank him each day for the opportunity to serve him. We can serve him each day. By being a living example of him. Sometimes it may be hard to be like him, but I know he can help us do it.

Pres. Uchtdorf said "Try and keep trying until that which seems difficult becomes possile and that which seems only possible becomes habit and a real part of you."

I share these things in the name of our savior, Jesus Christ.

Home again Home again

Well I think most people know that I'm home. But I just thought that I would say Hi to ya'll. I'll be better at putting something fun up here. This is just a quick hi and welcome back to my blog. I'll share thoughts and things that I learned. But first I have to get my room organized. Turns out that you can life off a lot in a year and half and you come home with a bunch of junk!
But look for more to come from me!

Love to you all.

Address

Here are my addresses. . . I'm only in the MTC for 3 weeks so until the first week of August this is my address. . .

Texas Dallas Mission
Provo MTC
2005 N. 900 E.
Provo UT 84604

THe rest of the time you can get me things by sending them to the Mission home.

Texas Dallas Mission
13747 Montfort Dr. Ste 120
Dallas, TX 75240-4454

I'd love to hear from you all! This will stay up for 18 months so if you lose it. . .

Well I guess farewell for a bit! I wish you all the best! I love you all!! Thanks for everything!

Texas. . . Here I come!!

'Farewell'

My 'farewell' is this Sunday at my student ward (1928 South Campus Dr.) at 2:45. It's pretty easy but google it so you know which church it is. . . Also my mom is doing a party/get together on SATURDAY the 11th starting at 5:00 at my parents house. I'd love to see everyone at both or one. Just enough to give you a hug and say 'see you later'. :)

Things I'll miss. . . .

Since I'm only two weeks out I'm starting to think of all the things I'm going to miss. . . . This is only a short list and in no real order. . . .
First the things not pictured. . .
My Cabin!! It's my escape from life.
The Mountains! I love Utah, and I am determined to be more outdoors-y when I get home.
Movies!!! I'm already looking forward to watching some when I get home!!!! ie 'Alice in Wonderland'
My personal space. :)
Working with my Uncle.

Traveling! Even if it's a small road trip! Going on trips with your friends always proves to be a good time!

My kitty!! He's soooo much bigger now! Not fat, just bigger. But I love him!

Performing! I really miss the theatre! I plan on doing a whole lot more of it when I get home! I've met some of the coolest people by being involved in shows.

I hate to miss out on that!

But there will be more

plays when I get home.

I'm going to miss just being around with my friends! That's everyone! It's just bizzar to think that so much could be different when I get back. I already know I'm missing three weddings of people I love dearly! Catching up on all the blogs is going to take some time! :)

I'm really really really going to miss the Salt Lake Temple. . . I'm all about the live sessions. I've been to the other temples in the valley but I just can't stay away from Salt Lake! It's my favorite place on the planet!

This fullfills two! My mom and dad. It's been nice being back home these last few months. I wouldn't get to see my parents otherwise. They are truly amazing people. . . I don't want to say goodbye to them. . . Then of course FOOTBALL!! I'm such a dork to not have timed this better. Two football seasons?! What was I thinking?! No I'm just kidding. . . well only a little. Luckily I have awesome friends to keep me posted! (thanks Brynn!! I love you already!)

Probably most of all. . . This one! I hate hate hate that I don't get to see her grow up. Not being here to watch her grow up, and smile, and laugh with me makes me not want to go. She'll be TWO when I get home. Now I know you don't have memories from before that. . . but she wont know me when I get back.

More will probably come to mind but this has been on my mind lately. . . However, even with a list that long I have no doubt that I can do this. And that there is no way I'd be doing it if the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints wasn't the true church. The Lord has blessed me far and above anything I could have asked for. I'm prepared to give him 18 months of my life.