Noah's Ark

Everything I need to know, I learned from Noah's Ark.

1- Don't miss the boat.
2- Remember that we are all in the same boat!
3- Plan ahead; it wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark.
4- Stay fit. When you're 60 years old, someone may ask you to do something really big.
5- Don't listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs to be done.
6- Build your future on high ground.
7- For safety's sake, travel in pairs.
8- Speed isn't always an advantage; the snails were on board with the cheetahs.
9- When you're stressed, float awhile.
10- Remember, the Ark was build by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals.
11- No matter the storm, when you are with God, there's always a rainbow waiting.

The Power of Hope

Woman Up!

 My first semester of college I attended BYU-Hawaii. I know, crazy, right? Well, I was very excited to go; however, I was also scared out of my mind. My first semester was going to be somewhere that I could never visit family or close friends for support, and I was going in knowing practically nothing about the area.

A little overwhelming...okay, a LOT overwhelming.

Let's say that I cried a ton, I decided that Skype was evil and never going to help ease missing my family, and I felt like giving up way more than once or twice. In short, it was hard. I was even reading through my journal this past week and letters that I had stuck in there from my family. I couldn't even read my dads without crying, and it's almost been two years! I definitely was pushed while I was there, and I came out with way more confidence in myself than ever before.

Not to be negative there, but I just wanted to give you that background. My dad would always tell me to woman up... even before I left, but the phrase was brought up more once I was 3.5 thousand miles away and struggling.

I tried to keep that phrase in my mind when I felt like giving up because I knew I could do it; it was just a whole mind trick thing that was making me freak out. So, one day when I went to the Swap Meet (it's like a giant farmer's market for those who don't know what I'm talking about), and there was a cute little man personalizing these little leather bracelets. I picked one out and wrote what I wanted and I've worn it ever since.

It's a constant reminder that I can do whatever I set my mind to. Sometimes I just need to pull myself together and woman up!

Nerve.

 Remember what I said about adventure being out there?

Well, I just wanted to remind you that it's still out there; go find it! Plus, I think this little quote is a good motivator for doing things, even if you're nervous.

I mean, honestly. What is the worst that could happen? Just go for it.

Find Joy in the Journey

I'm apologizing right now for a longer post...but I just kept having thoughts! And there are some really good quotes, so you should keep reading ;)

“Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he has been robbed. The fact is that most putts don’t drop, most beef is tough, most children grow up to be just like people, most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration, and most jobs are more often dull than otherwise. Life is just like an old time rail journey ... delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders, and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride.”

~President Gordon B Hinckley~

Things are going to come up in life and you are not going to like it. For example, a few Fridays ago was crazy for me. I had homework starting at 7 until 9, and then classes from 9 until 11:15, and then I had to run to the testing center and take a test and a quiz… which I did not do very well on. Then I hurried to my next class at 1, and then at 2 I finally was able to head to my apartment. However, this did not mean I had down time. I still worked on homework, and then I had to get ready for work from 4-10. I got off work and then went to visit with my mom for a couple hours, and when I got back to my apartment I had homework until 1. Can you say crazy? I had been dreading that day all week (and it was a FRIDAY for crying out loud!), and when it finally came I didn’t even have time to think.

As I reflected on my thoughts for the day they were mostly negative. I don't have enough time! I'm exhausted! Work? I still have homework! I just am no good because I can never pass a test/quiz in this class... and, trust me, the list went on.

However, as I relived my thoughts I came across good things that made my day better and caused a little smile to escape in the madness. They weren't huge... just simple, random things throughout my day.

Simple, rejuvenating experiences surround us.
~Richard G. Scott~

The girl who said good morning with a cheery smile as I walked to class...

Tripping over myself, but regaining balance and just laughing...

The boy whistling for all the world to hear...

The boy jamming out with his headphones in, not a care in the world...

Laughter and smiles from people I knew, and people I didn't know...

And that list goes on too...

I recently read a talk by Elder Joseph B Wirthlin where he gives us 4 steps to help us find joy in life…

Learn to laugh--I couldn't help but think of my snowboarding experience. :)

Seek for the eternal--Always keep your goals focused on an eternal perspective...not an earthly one.

Understand the principle of compensation--The Lord will bless you, even if it doesn’t come at a time that you want.

Trust in the Lord--Put your trust in the Lord, do your best, and He will do the rest.-Joseph B Wirthlin

If we keep these 4 steps in mind we can be happy eternally. My absolute favorite quote from Joseph B Wirthlin is, “Come what may and love it.” No matter what happens in life, find the positive side and focus on it...even if it's not so grand, it will seem better.

“Sadness, disappointment, and severe challenge are events in life, not life itself.”

~Richard G. Scott~

This means that life will go on. Every trial that we go through will come to an end eventually. That end may be far away, but it will come. "Everything will be okay in the end; if it's not okay, it's not the end." We need to remember this… keep everything in perspective and keep living life. “Come what may and love it.” Don’t let events get you down.

A lot of times I find myself worrying about the future… graduation, marriage, family, a career, and the list goes on. Sometimes I get weighed down with everything that I’m going to have to do and I forget about my life right now in the present. President Thomas S Monson tells us, “I plead with you not to let those most important things pass you by as you plan for that illusive and nonexistent future when you will have time to do all that you want to do. Instead, find joy in the journey—now.”

Don’t worry about what is going to happen. Yes, you should prepare for it, but don’t spend time worrying about when it’s going to happen and what you are going to do when it does. That will all come with time, and you should just live life now. When I get stressed my dad tells me to live life one day at a time. That's what I try to do. Don’t worry about tomorrow when you’ve still got today.

We only live life once and we should make the most of it. President Monson also tells us, “Let us relish life as we live it, find joy in the journey, and share our love with friends and family. One day each of us will run out of tomorrows.”

I hope you will be able to live life in the now. Don’t worry about what you are going to do in the future. Live in the present, put your trust in the Lord, learn and live the gospel... and learn to laugh. I promise you that you will find joy in your life if you do this. I know that the Lord is on our side. He knows what’s best for us and He will help us throughout life, even if it's just through the simple things we encounter every day.

Think of Yourself as a Pencil...

1- Everything you do will leave a mark.

2- You can correct any mistakes that you make.

3- What is most important is always inside of you.

4- In life, you will go through painful sharpenings to make you better.

5- To be the best you can be, you have to allow yourself to be held and guided.

That One Rule

I know that I get caught up in what others think... too much. I worry and stress over how somebody else is going to view me and my actions, heck, even just my looks. I know, kinda shallow, but I'm just being honest.

Anyways. I think we all get caught up in this constant chase of pleasing everyone around us. Let's be honest. You are never going to please everyone. Sorry if I burst some bubbles there, but it's the truth. No matter what you do, there will always be at least one person who disagrees. If we all know that, then why do we still worry so much about what everyone else will think?

This quote just put my thoughts into perspective a little bit. They are going to judge regardless, so why should we waste energy pretending to be somebody we aren't? Be the best you that you can be.

Always be a first rate version of yourself and not a second rate version of someone else.

~Judy Garland~

About all you can do in life is be who you are. Some people will love you for you. Most will love you for what you can do for them, and some won't like you at all.

~Rita Mae Brown~

...be yourself-not your idea of what you think somebody else's idea of yourself should be.

~Henry David Thoreau~

Easter

Easter... colored eggs, candy, bunnies, chicks, egg hunts, more candy, hidden baskets. These are just a few of the traditions that people celebrate on Easter. I know that my family enjoys many of these, and I love the memories that I have from throughout the years.

However, we also focus on the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Sacrament meeting usually consists of a special program, and all of our lessons turn to the momentous occasion of Christ living again. I would just like to bear my testimony again that I know He lived and that He was resurrected, and that we will be able to have the same blessing if we live on the straight and narrow path.

I hope you all have a great Easter!