Deep Roots are Not Reached by the Frost

So I'm sitting in my bed, right? And I'm thinking about how prayers are answered.  I'm supposed to be studying about covenants, but my mind is wandering.  I think about the many times I've prayed to my Heavenly Father and begged, sobbed, pleaded for something to happen, for someone to do something, or for my heart to change.  I think about the times I've gotten answers to those prayers in one form or another and realize that almost never have they come instantaneously, but rather they were answered after I put myself in a position where others could be the answer.  I have gotten so many answers through sacrament meeting talks, stake conference talks, late night roommate talks, mommy and daddy talks, seeing other people interact in the homework lab, listening to a professor, etc... So many prayers have been answered through other people, so naturally I wouldn't have been able to get that answer on my knees with no one around.  There are of course many other ways ...

People say that Satan works harder on you once you've got your mission call.  I can attest to this. BUT. The Lord also works harder WITH you once you've got your mission call.  I can attest to this even more. A lot of things happen because I'm human, make stupid decisions, let my temper get the best of me, act selfishly...etc.  Those things definitely still happen.  Satan, I feel, has been making those weaknesses more prominent in my life, it seems.  As I've realized that, I've also more fervently said my prayers and more diligently read my scriptures. That has made all the difference! This week...oh man oh man oh man.  It certainly wasn't a "hardest" week, but it was a hard week. Mostly because my own thoughts plagued judgement upon the world.  And those judgements ate away at my insides. Last night and this morning I prayed, pleading for help in this.  During my morning prayer I knew what I needed to do and that was to trust the Lord...

I said a BOOM-chica-BOOM, I said a BOOM-chica-BOOM!  I said a-BOOM-A-CHICA-ROCK-A-CHICA-ROCK-A-CHICA-BOOM! *you may now imagine me dancing in my kitchen* Today was a good day in many ways.  Although I was unproductive to a frighteningly high extent, it was a relaxing day and I'm not too stressed about it since I've got Monday to get stuff done considering there aren't any classes because our nation is wonderful and celebrates our Presidents. I went to the temple this morning at 5:30 with Ryan and Dale, thinking we'd make the 6:00 session, and then we get there and are told the session starts at 7:00....so we wait for an hour and a half and then do initiatories so we could get back in time for breakfast at 8:30 with my roommates and John Anderson (an old FHE brother who came down from Idaho today.  Haven't seen him since June or July!)!!  We were all very excited to see him. One thing I learned today:  To-do lists are not important sometimes.  Someti...

The good news of the gospel is what I'll be teaching to the people in southern Spain.  I'd better understand what that phrase means if I'm going to do that and over the past 3 days I've found a new bit of hope.  I've better understood what the good news of the gospel is. This glorious news has only the power we give it.  Just like God's power on this earth he's given to worthy men, the priesthood, is only as powerful as the man is worthy and uses that power righteously.  As a daughter of Heavenly Father I have access to the power of the atonement, but I only have access to the power I allow to come to my life.  I must open my heart and trust the Lord.  Bitterness, justification, grudges, anger...those things blind me to what I can actually truly do and what I can actually truly control. Something I've come to understand: those things that inhibit me from progressing can be left behind.  Those things may be connected to important memories, but by le...

“I love you, Mother,” said little John; Then, forgetting his work, his cap went on, And he was off to the garden swing, Leaving her the water and wood to bring.   “I love you, Mother,” said rosy Nell. “I love you better than tongue can tell.” Then she teased and pouted full half the day, Till her mother rejoiced when she went to play.   “I love you, Mother,” said little Fan. “Today I’ll help you all I can. How glad I am that school doesn’t keep!” So she rocked the babe till it fell asleep.   Then, stepping softly, she fetched the broom, And swept the floor and tidied the room. Busy and happy all day was she, Helpful and happy as a child could be.   “I love you, Mother,” again they said, Three little children going to bed. How do you think...

This morning I talked with my roommate about how sometimes when I'm really happy it's hard to focus because all I want to do is talk to everyone else and share my joy with them! I don't want to focus on reading anything or focusing on school work...I want to talk to people and smile and laugh and just talk and talk about how blessed life can be, because that's what my life is and always has been.  Now, mind you, there have been times when I've been blinded from seeing those blessings due to my own internal conflicts, but that doesn't mean my life wasn't blessed at those times. After I talked with her I was reading Alma 22.  Can I just say that Alma and Amulek, Ammon, Aaron, and the other sons of Mosiah went through A LOT to share the gospel.  They had such faith and strength and confidence in the Lord and thus were able to have a good deal of success.  But something else I noticed:  along with their faith, strength, and confidence, they also had a great de...

Tonight I made some final decisions after talking with a friend.  Hard final decisions. I wasn't looking forward to the rest of the evening after that.  Walking into the apartment I felt confident in my decisions, yet I felt a sense of loss.  I sat down at the table, sat there for a few minutes, then took a 20 minute nap until a Relief Society Activity I didn't really want to go to.  Lindsey came in, woke me up, and I dutifully got up because I wanted to support my Relief Society leaders.  I went to the Relief Society activity.  It was good, it was fun. Through out the activity I was victimizing myself and wanting pity. I ran home to grab some spoons for refreshments and when I walked into my apartment there stood, with Rachel and Ryan, two adults I had never seen before in my life.  I was on a mission though and I needed to get some spoons.  I quickly said hello and made my way to the kitchen when I found out that these two lovely people were R...

GUYS!  Guess what I remembered today?? As long as I've got my family, everything is good. I may not have what I want when I want it, but I do have what the Lord needs me to have right now.   "The family is ordained of God" and I'm so glad I've got the family I do. They may not be around me all the time, but when I do talk with my family they always bring the most clarity and understanding to my questions.  I am surrounded by amazing people, and they are all blessings in my life, but my family is sealed to me and that sealing brings power which is manifest in how much strength I glean from those relationships. Eventually I'll bring someone else into this family and hopefully that man will be integrated into my extended family very well.  And then he and I will be sealed and that power will strengthen us and our marriage, but that adventure won't be happening for a while.  For now, the family I have will stay the same (apart from new babies) and th...

Alma 26:1-3 "My brothers and by brethren, behold i say unto you, how great reason have we to rejoice; for could we have supposed when we started from the land of Zarahemla that God would have granted unto us such great blessings?  And now, I ask, what great blessings has he bestowed upon us?  Can ye tell? Behold, I answer for you; for our brethren, the Lamanites, were in darkness, yea, even in the darkest abyss, but behold, how many of them are brought to behold the marvelous light of God! And this is the blessing which hath been bestowed upon us, that we have been made instruments in the hands of God to bring about this great work." - Ammon As I read this, my thoughts turned to asking, "Do I have great reason to rejoice since the time I have started from the commencement of college, and could I have supposed God would have granted unto me such great blessings? Can I recognize those blessings for what they are?" These questions immediately turned to a pivota...