Because of Him and 23 hours!!!

Because of him, no goodbye lasts forever and I can spend time with these wonderful people again.

also ...

ANDY GRAMMER IN 23 HOURS!!!!!!!  (not that I'm excited or anything ... )

This is one of my favorites- mostly because of one line "I'm looking for a love that's still alive and well in rocking chairs".  I mean really- how cute is that?!

A Short Piece of Prose

One of my classes (my least favorite- Foundations of Literacy) is what's called a blended learning course.  Half of the time, we meet actually in a classroom and the other half of the time we complete online learning modules instead of going to class.  This week's topic is writing.  I was working on my module and got to a point in the lesson where the instructions were to simply write.  "Take the next 20 minutes and write. It can be a poem, a letter, or an essay--the style and topic do not matter. Write about something that is important to you."  

The following is the product of that experience.

Your Arms

            Your arms are not like other people’s arms.  Other arms are all skin and elbows and hair.  Some of them are skinny, and some of them are flappy like mine.  Some of them are big and bulging.  But none of them are like yours.  Yours are covered with strength and support.  The muscles inside of them are made of warmth and comfort.  They’re prickly with love instead of hair.  Other arms wrap you up with hugs and shoulders.  Your arms make a home where I am always welcome and can feel the joyful sensation of belonging.  Your arms are attached to your hands.  Just like your arms, your hands are not like other people’s hands either.  Other people’s hands can be dry and scratchy like when you’re washed them too much.  Other’s people’s hands can be slippery and hard to hold on to like they’ve just bathed them in oil.  Other’s people’s hands can be grabby, always searching for something to snatch up and cling to.  Other’s people’s hands can be shy, never actually touching yours but wishing they could and wanting you to make the first move.  Other people’s hands can hurt.  They form fists and slaps and pointing fingers, their only intention to bring pain and take away pleasure.  But your hands don’t do that.  Your hands are not perfect in appearance, but in them is the fulfillment of perfection.  Your hands are always inviting, waiting for me to accept your invitation.  You have taken my hand in your many times, but never forced me to keep holding on.  But I have.  I’ve held on so many times through the bad and the ugly.  I’ve tried to hold on, despite the messages of the world and the thoughts that try to penetrate my faith.  Why are you still holding on?  Why don’t you just let go?  Why don’t you just do what you know will bring results?  Why do you dare to think that there’s something better for you?  These thoughts are hard sometimes and it takes me a while to push them away.  While they’re in my mind, I can’t move forward, but you’re patient with me.  You know that it’s hard for me, because you’ve done it before.  Fighting past the thoughts, I can continue to endure and press forward with you leading me on.  Your imperfectly perfect hands and arms are not the only parts of you.  My favorite is your eyes.  I don’t know what color they are.  Maybe blue like mine?  Probably brown; the same kind of brown that just makes you feel close and warm.  But even if they’re not really brown, I do know one thing I’ll find in them: love.  When one day I can see your face again and look into your eyes as you look into mine, I’ll see your excitement that I kept holding on, even though it was hard.  I’ll see your joy from all the times I didn’t falter and none of the disappointment for the times I did.  I’ll see your love that has been there for me all along and that has made me feel important, even when no one else said I was.  I’ll feel the home of your embrace, celebrating the light that envelopes me, never again to leave.

https://istandallamazed.wordpress.com/tag/comfort/

Whoa! It's February and Time for a Challenge!

Where did February come from??  Sorry I haven't posted in so long ... I've been super busy with classes- here's a typical day for me:

Sleep (as long as humanly possible while still completing all important tasks)
Awake and eat breakfast (sometimes, just a Nutrigrain bar, but hey- it's better than nothing
Rush to class/work (good thing I only live seven minutes from campus)
After class/work is over, rush to the other one
Take a lunch break and eat some food (hopefully, I had time the night before to make something so I don't have to spend money)
Do homework- study for a test- read in a textbook- practice
Rush to final class/work shift for the day
Meander home to finish more homework, read emails, and get ready for tomorrow!

Unfortunately, blogging is not on that list ... but because I am ahead on homework at the moment, I can pause and enjoy letting the creative juices of my soggy brain flow!

http://www.petfinder.com/dogs/living-with-your-dog/dog-valentines-day-date/

Since it is almost Valentine's Day, it's time for my traditional Valentine's Day challenge!  This year will be a little different from in years past, though I still intend to write a letter to my future spouse and encourage all my single friends to do so as well!

This year's Valentine's Day challenge is all about love.  There are lots of small things in every day that demonstrate the love which the Savior has for us- there's a song that I absolutely love which talks about the Savior's love for us.

I Feel My Savior's Love

I feel my Savior's love 

In all the world around me.

His spirit warms my soul 

Through everything I see.

I feel my Savior's love;

Its gentleness enfolds me.

And when I kneel to pray, 

My heart is filled with peace.

I feel my Savior's love, 

And know that He will bless me.

I offer Him my heart;

My shepherd He will be.

I'll share my Savior's love

By serving others freely.

In serving, I am blessed;

In giving, I receive.

Chorus:

He knows I will follow him, 

Give all my love to him. 

I feel my Savior's love,

The love he freely gives me.

(Words: Ralph Rodgers Jr., 1936-1996; K. Newell Dayley, b. 1939; and Laurie Huffman, b. 1948)

The Savior blesses us everyday because of His love for us.  The beautiful trees and mountains that mark the landscape, the glorious sunrise, the little wisps of wind on a hot summer's day, the tiny birds that hop through the garden, the lovely butterflies that land on our shoulder- all of these creations from our Lord and Savior testify of his love for us.  He has done so much out of love for us and even gave the ultimate sacrifice because of it.  I can't even imagine loving someone that much (maybe that's why I'm still single ... ).

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/127789708150780349/

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to help fill the world with love!  In order to show our appreciation for the love which our Savior has for us, share His love with others by serving them.  Small acts of kindness go a long way!  Even just a simple smile can brighten someone's day!  Sit with someone who's all alone during lunch; compliment someone on their outfit; have a conversation with the person behind you in line; tell someone they are loved.  If there's only one person who feels a little more love in their life from me issuing this challenge, then I will have done my part and helped to spread a little love. 

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/127789708150780339/

Do your part.  Share the love!

Good Tidings of Comfort and Joy

Comfort and Joy

Brought to you By:

The brand new, oh-so-amazing Round Covered Baker from Pampered Chef that I just received! (So excited to make soup in this bad boy!)

AND

This video.

Okay, so these two things bring lots of laughter, happiness, warmth, and smiles into my life.  I mean, what is better than sitting inside on a cold wintry night with a nice bowl of warm soup, snuggled up in your blanket, watching Christmas movies?  Or listening to Christmas music and enjoying the silent lights of the Christmas tree?

This season is all about comfort and joy, but in a different way.  Last night I participated in a Messiah sing-a-long on BYU Campus.  It was lots of fun and my roommates and I definitely have some good memories from it.  But that words and message behind the Messiah are so powerful that I couldn't help but marvel at what we celebrate during this Christmas season.  Our Savior, Jesus Christ, was born on Christmas day and He can bring us more comfort and joy than we could ever imagine.  We can be instruments in his hands to bring to pass his glorious and eternal purposes.  There are so many people we can touch, so many lives that we can change by just having a Christmas spirit all year round and sharing the joy of Christ with them.  Christ was born to die so that we may live again.  That statement alone should bring us exuberant and overwhelming joy!  Joy to the world because the Lord came and died for us!  In accomplishing this task, he suffered every pain and hurt imaginable.  He was human, just like us.  He knows how we feel and because he knows how we personally feel, he can comfort us better than any other being on this Earth.  He knows how it feels to be betrayed.  He knows how it feels to be completely alone.  He knows how it feels to lose loved ones and family members.  He knows how it feels to not be trusted.  And because He loves us, He knows how it feels to watch those we love suffer.  He knows.  How cool is that?!  How I wish that everyone could hear this message, feel God's love, and know that He really is there!  It brings such joy to my life to know that I can feel His spirit with me all day, every day.  

I testify that He lives, that He loves us, and that He will comfort us.  Like a friend with open arms, He waits and beckons "Come, follow me."  Let nothing you dismay during this holiday season or anytime throughout the year because Christ is always there for you.  And that's really comforting. :]

On the First Day of Christmas

I think this song is funny, but emphasizes two main points.  One- Christmas has really become more about the money to be made and commercialism.  Two- It's starting sooner every year. (But mostly it's just funny)

I'm one of those people who hates when I see Christmas paraphernalia out before Thanksgiving.  Not because I'm a Scrooge, but because it's never the right Christmas stuff.  I would love it if nativity scenes were sold all year-round at major retailers.  As a collector of nativities, trust me- they are not easily found in shopping centers year-round.  I feel like I always see stockings and Santa and garlands and Christmas trees out long before any nativities.  I know lots of people have said it, but I'll say it again because Christmas has become so commercialized.  We need to remember the CHRIST in CHRISTmas.

If it weren't for Christ, our lives would be entirely different.  He created this Earth, the beautiful landscapes and animals which we pay money to see (Been to the zoo lately?  Or a national park?).  He presented the plan of happiness which allows us to potentially return to live with Him someday, and He is also the main part of that plan- He died to satisfy justice and allow God to exercise mercy.  How can we only remember Him once a year??

Growing up, I remember my sweet mother leaving the Holy Family part of her ceramic nativity on the mantel all year.  It never came down.  Baby Jesus, the Virgin Mary, and Joseph were always there right next to the clocks and pictures.  One year, I asked her why.  No one else had their nativities up and they were a Christmas thing, weren't they?  She taught me that it's because we remember the Savior all year.  He is not just the reason for the season- He's the reason for everything.  Why can't we remember to honor Him more than just one month out of the year?

I have a wooden decorative piece that I put up just recently and it says "The magic of Christmas is not in the presents but in His presence."  His presence can be with us all year round.  He doesn't leave us on our own for eleven months out of the year and come around for December to celebrate.  He does not leave us comfortless.  He is with us always.  He loves us and remembers us all year round.  We should do the same for Him.

November: A Great Month to Be Born

And now, the beginning of thankful posts.  In order to avoid blowing up my blog, I shall post once per week.  We're going to start a thankful tree in our apartment, so hopefully I'll get some pictures (my picture-taking device shattered into almost a million pieces, so these posts might actually be a little bare ... )

Day 1: (Friday, I woke up at 6:00am)
I am thankful for doctors and the fact that they are willing to go through a million years of medical school to help other people and keep us all healthy.  Plus, they deal with gross stuff like blood and I'm pretty sure I could never in a bajillion light years do that.

Day 2: (Saturday, I attended two recitals)
I am thankful for the ability to hear and enjoy music made by others and that I have such talented friends who are willing and brave enough to share their talents with others.  Nathan and Lyz, you guys both did a fantastic job! (And Camille- great accompanying!)

Day 3: (Sunday, fast Sunday which despite the name, actually goes by really slow)
I am thankful for Christ and the faith which I have in him.  He has done so much for me already and I will never be able to repay Him.  And the most amazing part is that He will continue to do things for me and help me despite my inability to repay Him.