Our Own Eternities

I have been thinking a lot about marriage and family lately. I have always been a family gal and have always known that the truest happiness we will ever have comes from forming relationships, most of all, those in our own families.  Since I hit my 20's, I have longed-more like pined-to find my eternal companion and become sealed for time and all eternity.  I wanted to find the one person that would make me feel complete, that would be, as they say in Mexico, my Media naranja, or half-orange. A person that will love me for me and all my imperfections, and one I will love the same way.

Through the past year I have learned the sacred undertaking that starting our own eternal units really is. I have experienced many, many things that blessed me, tried me, stretched me, and showed me I was capable of a lot more than I ever imagined.  They showed me what in life really matters and how we must build and protect those things.

There are two messages that I want to communicate today. First:

 Marriage, starting, and more importantly preserving our own families is of the utmost importance in this world, because in the end, it is preserving our families that is going to preserve our nation, our society, our world.

I firmly believe and support fighting on the front lines to protect and defend our nation and other nations of the world from Satan's evil influence, for it is running rampant everywhere. But in the end, it is not military forces that are going to preserve our society, it is our families!!!!!!!! 

Read the Proclamation on the Family, listen to what all our Church leaders are telling us: The tiny family is what is going to save us, not the defense of our shores.
We must work towards this right now, for the second coming is only approaching ever closer. We must work to become better individuals, to be loving and honorable husbands and wives and to raise loving and honorable children. We, as individuals, have the ability to influence and change the world. To build these kind of individuals, we must build these kinds of families. So in a time when wars are being fought, our government is falling apart and our culture is becoming more lewd, vulgar and corrupt, focusing on preserving our families instead of allowing ourselves to be swallowed in the problems that are attacking the world is where we MUST put our effort!!!  

The Second but more important message is this:

It is only through uniting as a man and woman in marriage that we actually start our own eternity. It is those relationships that anchor us, ground us, grow us, exalt us, give us true happiness.

I had an "Aha" moment a few months ago that changed my course in life. I was jogging, with a gazillion thoughts on marriage running through my head. All of a sudden this thought came to my mind: That my eternal companion and I are meant to become a Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother. In The Church we are always taught that we are living to go back home to God, to become Gods and Goddesses ourselves. But for some reason, it didn't pierce me in such a literal sense. 

Whooaaah! I thought. The man I marry, he's to be a Heavenly Father. He's to be of the caliber of Heavenly Father!!! Holy Crap! (Yes, those were the actual words going through my head). Now I realize that none of us are at that "heavenly" caliber right now, but just thinking of the scope of becoming that blew my mind. That is a huge task, a huge thing! The huge thing! 

All of a sudden, certain men in my life I thought of when it came to dating and marriage seemed like the completely wrong decision. Every guy I knew seemed like the wrong decision! The gravity of my choice of my eternal companion hit me so hard and I stopped mid-jog like I had slammed into a concrete wall and I almost fell over. The physical pain in my heart that came along with it was also just as real. 

But the reality of that began sinking deep into my soul, and the joy that grew from that moment far outweighed that pain. I thirsted for more and started studying about marriage and the family from many different sources and have gained perspective and wisdom I absolutely treasure. I began to see how experiences I had been having had been molding me to become the kind of spouse I wanted to be, the kind Heavenly Father wanted me to be. My time on this earth became so much more precious because I know I have it to prepare and start becoming that Heavenly Mother. This is time to get a jump-start and work on my own eternity.  And I want to find a worthy man who is loving, honest, kind, and who is constantly striving to become like Christ to do it with.

The bonds that two people make as husband and wife, the selflessness that grows from deeply caring about another person's well-being above your own, the support, security and loyalty of someone who loves you always being by your side, that is where true happiness really comes from. And the little spirits that will enter your life and your home is another source of that joy.

Now some people say marriage is not for them, or they've tried it once, it didn't work and they are meant to be alone.  I am going to be completely uncensored and blunt: NO THEY AREN'T! God wants every single one of His children to have their own eternity.  He wants them to grow and obtain eternal salvation.  We can only do that united to another person, with your own family. That's the only way!!! Yes, some people, some of the most wonderful people in this world, do not marry while they are here. They will get that opportunity to do so in the next life. But do not use or accept the excuse that you are better off alone. That is a lie that Satan wants you to sink into so you deny yourself the greatest joy and happiness there is and will ever be. If you keep thinking and living that way and alienating yourself from that opportunity, the bitter feelings you incur in this life are going to follow you to the next. You may choose on the other side not to accept the gift of your own eternity, or you are going to have a hard time accepting and obtaining it, for however long a time it may be.
I am ready and I know God knows I'm ready to start my own family, and although I would rather be brought together with my companion asap, it isn't the right time yet. So I am using this time to the best of my ability to learn, grow and prepare. It is my most earnest hope and prayer that each and every one of you will realize and live for the gift of your own eternity. Your own eternity! Your own happiness!

See the Good in the World. Be the Good in the World.

With seeing all of the horrible things going on in the world these past couple of months-well, let's be honest, years-I've tried to look for and focus on the good that is in this world.  There is a bunch of bad stuff in this world, from moral crud that has taken over our media, to the worst evils known to man, abusing, terrorizing and killing for the sake of hatred, for the sake of power. The adversary is taking the hearts of men and turning them cold.  But just because that is running rampant doesn't mean that good isn't flourishing too!

We know good will conquer evil in the end, so some people ask, why fight? Because we have to fight the evil in order for good to win! So look for the good in the world, and focus on being the good in the world. That is how we will continue forward, that is how good will prevail. Here's some little ditties to drive this home. Hope you like 'em :)

We are More than Conquerors Through Him

I love a talk given by Elder Paul V. Johnson of the Seventy entitled, "More than Conquerors through Him that Loved Us".

 I came home from church one Sunday and thought I'd grab the Ensign to read. I skimmed through the address titles, decided upon this one and was blessed with a new perspective on the message, "After much tribulation come the blessings."
Here are my favorite passages from it:

• "At times it may seem that our trials are focused on areas of our lives and parts of our souls with which we seem less able to cope. Since personal growth is an intended outcome of these challenges, it should come as no surprise that the trials can be very personal-almost laser guided to our particular needs or weaknesses [ain't that the truth!]. And no one is exempt, especially not Saints striving to do what's right."

• "A pattern in the scriptures and in life shows that many times the darkest, most dangerous tests immediately precede remarkable events and tremendous growth. 'After much tribulation come the blessings.' The children of Israel were trapped against the Red Sea before it was parted. Nephi faced danger, anger from his brothers, and multiple failures before he was able to procure the brass plates.  Joseph Smith was overcome by an evil power so strong that it seemed he was doomed to utter destruction. When he was almost ready to sink into the despair, he exerted himself to call upon God, and at that very moment he was visited by the Father and the Son.  Often investigators face opposition and tribulation as they near baptism. Mothers know that the challenge of labor precede the miracle of birth. Time after time we see marvelous blessings on the heels of great trials."

• "In the midst of problems, it is nearly impossible to see that the coming blessings far outweigh the pain, humiliation or heartbreak we are experiencing at the time. 'No chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.'"

• "Sometimes we want to have growth without challenges and to develop strength without struggle. But growth cannot come by taking the easy way...Not one of the trials and tribulations we face is beyond our limits, because we have access to help from the Lord. 'We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.' (Phillippians 4:13)"

So when the trials of life rain fire upon you and you don't understand why nor think you can get through them, remember this,

Help Me Find It

The path of life takes us through some pretty crazy and hard twists and turns. We come up against circumstances that throw us for a loop and have to make decisions on which fork in the road we are going to take, sometimes seemingly completely blindly. But the truth is with faith, we are never blind. If we ask our Heavenly Father where we are to go, what He wants us to do and how we wants us to do it, He will answer and direct each and every step of the path. And I mean every single step.
Recently I have had several friends that have been trying to decipher what the Lord wants them to do in their lives, which way their pathways are supposed to lead. I too was having a challenging time making a decision about what path I was to take for something in my life. I had received strong impressions and knew I needed to find out what to do, and I asked God what I was to do, but it took some action and effort on my part to get the answer, but eventually I did. The answer seemed to go against all reason, but the it was completely clear what I was to do. But, as it usually goes, I had no idea where this path was going to lead. I decided to put my faith in my Heavenly Father and go forward anyway.

A song that came over my Pandora station tonight, one that I have heard dozens of times, spoke to me in a completely new way. When I heard of it I thought of my dear friends and the challenges they are facing right now.  It is called Help Me Find It, by the Christian group Sidewalk Prophets. Needless to say this is my next itunes purchase.  This is a beautiful song that helped me put things in perspective, and to be okay giving my will over to His. Whatever it is He wants me to find, to have, He will give it to me, even if it is just peace for the moment.

Here's the lyrics and video. I hope this song touches you too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsjZ94K7UQs

Help Me Find It
I don't know where to go from here
It all used to seem so clear
I'm finding I can't do this on my own

I don't know where to go from here
As long as I know that You are near
I'm done fighting
I'm finally letting go

I will trust in You
You've never failed before
I will trust in You

(Chorus )
If there's a road I should walk
Help me find it
If I need to be still
Give me peace for the moment
Whatever Your will
Whatever Your will
Can You help me find it

Can You help me find it

I'm giving You fear and You give faith
I giving You doubt
You give me grace
For every step I've never been alone

Even when it hurts, You'll have Your way
Even in the valley I will say
With every breath
You've never let me go

I will wait for You
You've never failed before
I will wait for You

Chorus

I lift my empty hands (come fill me up again)
Have Your way my King (I give my all to You)
I lift my eyes again (Was blind but now I see)
‘Cause You are all I need

If there's a road I should walk
Help me find it
If I need to be still
Give me peace for the moment
Whatever Your will
Whatever Your will
Can You help me find it

Yes, He can. Yes, He will.

Trouble Teaches, Trouble Transforms

I finally finished "Making Sense of Suffering" by Wayne Brickey. The timing was perfect, as my body has been revolting against me the last two weeks and I have been tired and near falling into my pit of despair. The second to last section, "A Perfect Schoolhouse" brought me peace and strength to not give into the discouragement and hopelessness. It talks about how trouble teaches and transforms.  It is so powerful I have re-written it here for all to read. I hope it gives you strength and hope as well :)

"Mortal life is a marvel of elegance, but by heavenly standards it is coarse of flesh. Wisely designed imperfections-mental, emotional, and physical-make our bodies the perfect schoolhouse. They indicate to heavenly friends that we are still in school, facing problems not found in heaven.
  It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes. -Psalm 119:71
Mental imperfections severely limit memory and thought for the spirit within. When Nehor offered his falsehoods to the the Nephites, "many did believe on his words, even so many that they began to support him and give him money." In their first estate, none of these people (not even Nehor) would have bought such nonsense. But in the mental limits of the second estate, they embraced what they once rejected. In this schoolhouse, we pass test by trusting rather than brains.
Emotional imperfections permit salty tides to toss the spirit to and fro.  But we still have a choice: swim or drift. our best efforts in the strong waves of emotion may seem weak. But what matters is our exertion, not our position, in the ocean of emotion. Will we at least try to imitate the calm and dignity of our Exemplar and turn to him for stability? Strong undercurrents surge from our upbringing, genetic influence, and chemical activity in the central nervous system. These are not always in our control, but in some degree we can react according to the light we have. To our degree, we choose whether to passively float along or actively battle the negative current.
Physical imperfections present all sorts of distractions relating to pleasure, pain, and fatigue. But we are dual beings. The finer part of us must get control of the coarser part before the two fuse together in the resurrection. The daily question is, "Shall I do with my physical temple what God would ask?"
This earthly school offers us our finest hours, even on ordinary days. The lab of the bitter cup teaches us to discern good from evil, polish from stain, living water from poison.  Our hearts develop perfect hearing and bearing. Graduation with highest honors awaits every learner who wears the garb of flesh with patience and faith.
   In much wisdom is much grief. -Ecclesiastes 1:18
The Lord gave Joseph Smith a sample list of troubles that might be permitted in the life of a righteous person, such as being hunted by bloodthirsty men, opposed by the forces of nature, or jailed unjustly.  Then the Lord explained that trouble serves two purposes.
   All these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good. -D&C 122:7
Trouble teaches. What did Joseph learn from his troubles? Above all, he learned that "the God of my fathers delivered me out of all, and will deliver me henceforth." Serious trouble can give us serious experience with God.  The more experience we have, the more we may witness his deliverance. Experience reveals the living God to be a faithful God.
   But trials will only give us knowledge necessary to understand the minds of the ancients. For my part, I think I never could have felt as I now do, if I had not suffered the wrongs that I have suffered. -Joseph Smith, History of the Church
Trouble transforms. We are here to do more than experience the goodness of God. We must acquire it.
   It seems to me my heart will always be more tender after this than ever it was before. -Joseph Smith, History of the Church
Because of the matchless way it teaches and transforms, a mortal life rich with difficulty is the best educational bargain in eternity.  It fits us to be witnesses, heirs, and friends of God. That is why it is worth the trouble."

What would a Holy Person Do?

"What would a holy person do?" That is the question Wendy Watson Nelson poses in her new book, "What Would a Holy Woman Do?" I have changed it up a tad to include both men and women for my purpose here. 

Sister Nelson extended a 3-day experiment to six friends. On each of the three days, each woman was to choose daily activity-something she would normally do-but now she would do it as a holy woman would. Each was encouraged to pray and ponder on it before she began the day. For example: how would a holy woman start her day? How would she read to a child, or exercise? How would she talk with a friend, or shop, or pray, or play, or do laundry? How would a holy woman handle or avoid a conflict?

How would a holy woman respond to her own success or failure? How would a holy woman use her time or energy? How would she welcome her husband or family members home? Would you be willing to try that?

It took me a few pages, but I got into this little book quickly as I read the different women's experiences. Each one shared their experiences and what they learned or how they grew from it.  They mentioned feeling more productive, more energized, more useful and purposeful. They had inspiration on how to deal with challenges in their daily lives and the rest of their days went much better when they acted like a holy woman would do.

It's funny. I had been thinking only the day before that I was so busy, always moving and doing many, many things, and even though I spent so much time doing so much, I didn't feel productive. I felt like I was always lazy, tired, and well, a failure.  I had prayed that morning that Heavenly Father would help me to become and feel more productive, more purposeful, and useful and this book was an answer to my prayers! So I took up this experiment.

I was amazed at the small yet big changes that approaching different activities in my daily life brought. On Day #1 my activity was reading the scriptures.  I read them more slowly and carefully. I gleaned more insight just by praying to do this as a holy woman and asking and acting sincerely.  I felt more peace as I started my day that carried over into the rest of it.  I felt less rush from the get-go and that Spirit stayed with me and helped me as I approached more things during my day.

Days #2 and 3 I choose to approach anything at work that would frustrate me as a holy woman.  I was more aware of myself and my reactions and therefore was able to choose the right as I approached work with this attitude.  I watched what I said and did. Those two days I was more a more proactive and effective provider and put more effort into giving the families I worked with good resources ad quality services. Despite a massive headache, I was so much more productive, more true and sincere in my duties. I felt like a better employee and a much better person overall!

What will you gain by taking the "What would a Holy Person Do?" challenge? Try it! You will be glad you will :)

What are your "Go to" Scriptures?

I have found gem after beautiful gem in the scriptures when I was least expecting it. Due to the circumstances in my life at those times, they spoke to me with greater power and, really, changed my life. They are now my go-to scriptures!

What are your go to scriptures? The ones that you go to when you are feeling troubled or need a pick-me-up? When you need perspective?

Here are a few of mine. Please, share yours!

Hebrews 11:39-40

(Speaking of those who were faithful, righteous and endured much hardship) "And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better things for them through their sufferings, for without sufferings they could not be made perfect."

Hebrews 10:32, 35

"But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions...

"Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward."

Doctrine and Covenants 6:14

"Verily, verily, I say unto thee, blessed art thou for what thou has done; for thou hast inquired of me, and behold, as of often as thou hast inquired, thou hast received instruction of my Spirit. If it had not been so, though wouldst not have come to the place where thou art at this time."

Phillippians 4:12-13

"I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound; every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

"I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me."

Mormon 9:21

"Behold, I say unto you that whoso believeth in Christ, doubting nothing, whatsoever he shall ask the Father in the name of Christ it shall be granted him; and this is the promise unto all, even unto the ends of the earth."

Cheers!

What Do You Know to Be True?

"The best way to obtain truth and wisdom is not to ask it from books, but to go to God in prayer, and obtain divine teaching." ~Joseph Smith

As we go through life, we learn things, some true, some false. Some truths of the world, others truths of God. Which truths can really make a difference in our lives? In the way we spend our time, talents, energy, and money? In the way we treat others, our bodies, the earth, and opportunities to serve, grow and learn? Which truths can really make a difference in the way we live our lives and in the joy we find in living?

Here's one truth I'd like to share with you. I know that Heavenly Father knows each of us individually and is in the details of our lives. I learned this truth through my experiences with my health challenges. I learned it directly from God, not from a book, a scholar or any other person. When I really started looking for His hand in my life, when I asked for and looked for His tender mercies and divine signatures, he answered and showed me He was there. Learning this truth has made an absolute change in my life, from being bitter, angry and feeling forgotten, to knowing He's there, and seeing and receiving His blessings in my life.  I see more good in others and in myself.  I have a deeper understanding of the Atonement, and that experience continues to help me and others. I know my Savior and my Heavenly Father more intimately and am nearer to them because of this truth.

Think about one thing you know to be true, a truth that has special meaning for you. Please read the following and click the "Comment" link below to share your thoughts. If we all add one more truth to this list, it is sure to help others learn those truths as well :)

Write about one thing you know to be true.
How did you learn that truth?
When did you learn it?
What difference has that truth made in your life?

My Testimony of the Grace

 Living with chronic pain and fatigue for over 12 years with little to no relief has been extremely taxing physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Every day is hard, and being functional in daily life is a difficult task that leaves me drained.  My hopes for resolution have been, as I describe it “dashed to pieces” over and over and over again. I have become bitter and angry many times, and frustration and impatience still occur, but not like they used to. It took me years to realize what the Atonement really, really means, and how much Heavenly Father knows and loves me.  I’d like to share with you what I learned about the Atonement, about grace, from these challenges.
 Let me start by asking you this question: When something bad happens in your life, what questions do you ask? Usually we ask “Why me?” Well, my main question was, “Do I not have enough faith, am I not good enough to be healed?”  After months and then years of exercising great amounts of faith for healing and having absolutely no success, I felt that somehow I was doing something wrong, that I didn’t really have enough faith because I wasn’t being blessed.  I thought I had to rely on my own merits and save myself without the Lord’s help in order to then qualify for His grace. That is where I was going wrong.
My turning point came when I hit rock bottom and realized that I could not save myself, that I needed redeeming, both in the physical and spiritual sense. It was at that time I read, “Believing Christ” by Stephen E. Robinson, and how he explained the true nature of the Atonement opened my heart and mind to what it really means.
The purpose of the Atonement is grace.  Grace in the New Testament is understood as “an attitude of goodwill that predisposes God to act positively towards us.”  In other words, before you became a spirit, before you could even earn any rewards or deserve any blessings, God was already predisposed positively towards you. Grace is therefore not something you can trigger, manipulate, earn, deserve or control. So where I thought I had to earn God’s love and grace was completely untrue.
 Grace is not the absence of God's high expectations. It is the presence of God's power. We don’t earn grace-we need it. We cannot ever, ever make up for every mistake, wrong turn, weakness or sin. Heavenly Father wants us to accept that truth, with the truth that Christ is the only one who can save us. His power is made perfect in our weakness.
 Imagine that the Atonement is an ice cream sundae. Sound odd? Just go with me here.  The viewpoint that “We are saved by grace after all we can do,” suggests that all the ice cream and scrumptious toppings on the sundae are our efforts and the tiny cherry on top is God’s grace for us.

 It belittles God’s grace to think of it as only a cherry on top added at the last moment as a mere finishing touch to what we have already accomplished on our own without any help from God. Instead the reverse is true of God’s grace and the Atonement for us: our efforts are the cherry on top added to all God has already done for us.
When I humbly and submissively accepted and applied God’s grace and the Atonement for what they really are, my life changed; I changed. My faith, hope and trust in Him and His plan for me increased. Even if these problems continue to rage, I know that because of Christ’s Atonement, I will one day be made whole. For the time being, I know He is with me every step of the way, comforting me because he experienced every single pain and heartache that I have. His grace covers my frustrations, my fears, my sometimes outright anger with the situation too. It is through those pains and heartaches that I am being refined.
 Hold onto this truth and never let it go: He loves you, He knows you, and His grace is sufficient for you.

Linked to Him

No matter how many rough patches I hit in life, each and every time I relearn how much challenges bring you closer to your Heavenly Father. No matter how close to the Lord I feel I am when my life is going well and I'm happy, it is never as near as when trials hit. I've been asking Heavenly Father to help me draw nearer to Him, so the rough patches may be partly my own doing. But I asked for this in complete submission to His will. When I ask for them, I have an absolute honest desire for Him to do with my life what He will.
I reviewed the book "Making Sense of Suffering" on the blog I share with my friend Sarah, and each time I read from it I am reminded the purpose for adversity. Reading from written works such as this help keep me going from day to day, sometimes hour to hour.
After a day that presented some new challenges that will be here for the months to come, a sob session with my dear mother, and prayers sent heavenward asking Why?, I sat down with the book-which I have almost finished!-and read the section entitled "Linked to Him".  It reminded me the real purpose, the amazing gift and blessing the Lord is really giving us when trials and tests come to us.
A day later things weighed so heavily upon me and threatened to overtake me, and I fell to my knees in the middle of my home, unable to hold in my words to my Heavenly Father any longer. I have known my whole life that my Heavenly Father knows me and listens to me, but that day I opened up to him with a completely new faith that my brother Jesus Christ feels everything I do. He knew exactly what I was feeling in that moment. I felt comforted and not alone in a way I never have in my life to this point. Reading and believing this passage helped me make that difference.
I want to share it in it's entirety here, I could not hold it back.

Linked to Him, Making Sense of Suffering, Wayne E. Brickey

        Surrounded by violent waves, the terrified disciples asked, "Carest thou not that we perish?"  Perhaps we have asked the same thing, but it is for us, not Jesus, to answer.  Does he care? Can we trust his friendship? Our answer tells how well we know him. Without storms, we can difficulty becoming acquainted with Deity.
        In all their afflictions he was afflicted...In his love, and in his pity, he redeemed them and bore them, and carried then all the days of old.

        The truth is that he delights in you and me.  He prepares a way and a place for joining him, and he waits for us to prepare ourselves.  He is closer than we think. Perhaps we have our comfort and pleasure alone, but our pain-nerve by nerve-is shared with a faithful friend. Yet, he is never hardened by his awareness of sorrow.  Our suffering may not be as real to us as it is to him!
         By the rod of trouble, we can bond with him and know that he is our friend. As proxy for us, he bore our heavy cross and asks us to take up light ones. As his proxies, we sometimes do the uncomfortable things he would do if he were here. He empathizes with us in a sacred and quiet fellowship.
         We are individually in His presence...Thank God for that principle...For such a principle to be omitted from the work of the Lord would be an omission too serious to contemplate. it could not be.
         Suffering makes our quiet companion more discernible. The veil, especially the part covering the heart, is thinner. He leans near with encouragement, suggestions, leadership, strength and peace. He consoles "Be of good cheer," and he whispers, "I will lead you along."  If we, like Paul, ask a thorn to be removed, he may quietly suggest another approach: "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness."  If we hunger and thirst after righteousness, he fills us with the Holy Ghost.  If the path is steep with grief and suffering, he leaves the peak to join us and say, "Ye shall obtain." Thus does he gently make himself known.
         Who can say too much of his great power, and of his mercy, and of his long-suffering towards the children of men?...I cannot say the smallest part which I feel...We have been patient in our sufferings, and we have suffered every privation...Blessed by the name of my God, who has been mindful of us...I will give thanks unto my God forever. Amen."
         By our adventures with him in the storms, we discover that he cares, and we find ourselves wanting to honor him forever.  In every ordeal we see his hand steadying us and our oppressive burdens. We testify, "My God hath been my support." Our affection for him swallows up affliction. All our losses are gains if they link us to him.

                                  ***

I love this photo (Mark Mabry, Reflections of Christ) because you can see the love and hurt on Christ's face as he embraces this man, whom when I first saw it imagined myself instead, and see the Savior embracing me. This is what I think the reunion of the other side will be like, when he says, "I'm sorry you had to go through that," when he recounts the things you suffered, together.
He loves you soooooo much. He knows when you hurt. He knows what that hurt feels like.  It is so comforting, enabling, to know that you have a faithful friend that shares your pain, nerve by nerve. Your losses are gains if they link you to Him.

Serendipity..Find Better than What You are Seeking

The word Serendipity was coined by a 19th-century author named Horace Walpole, who loved an ancient Persian fable called, "The Three Princes of Serendip".

In the fable, the three princes each go out in search of their fortune, but all of them, through their acute awareness and perception, find things that are better than a fortune-LOVE, TRUTH and OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE. They are able to make these discoveries because they notice things that other people miss, and thus find unexpected joys and opportunities.

Walpole made up the word serendipity and it means this:
"A state of mind whereby a person, through awareness, sensitivity and sagacity, frequently finds something better than that which he is seeking."

The fact is that we control so very little, and that GOD CONTROLS ALL, and serendipity has nothing to with luck. Heavenly Father's gifts are all around us, along with his opportunities and incredible beauties, and we just need the awareness and spiritual sensitivity to see them. We can cultivate this awareness by first asking God for it, instead of doing nothing and expecting something big to happen. As we do, we can use our agency to take the spiritual initiative that allows God to bless, inspire and guide us.  Guidance is infinitely more valuable and more worthy of our pursuit and quest than is control.  And serendipity is a mindset or paradigm that can get us to guidance.

With a serendipity mindset, we are motivated by our desire to discover and deliver God's will into our lives.  We begin to see life as a great adventure where our challenge is not to control but to perceive and understand. We become as interested in learning to "watch and pray" as we are in learning to "work and plan", and the two sets of skills compliment and enhance each other.

I have tried and succeeded to an extent to achieve a serendipitous attitude in my life, especially when the pain is real bad, the fatigue all-consuming and just breathing seems too much to bear. All challenges serve a purpose, and I want to find the better things He wants for me, better than what I am seeking. I know He wants that for me and for you, too.

The Adventure of a Lifetime...

I had the opportunity to sail the Caribbean a couple of weeks ago, with 350 LDS Singles from across Utah and other parts of the country.  To say I had a blast is an understatement! It was by far the most amazing, awesome, fun trip I have ever taken, and not because it was a "singles" cruise. No sirree, it was so fun because of the wonderful people from the places we visited that I got to meet, the new friends I gained, the beauty of the earth I got to not just see but experience and the way I was able to really check out of day-to-day life and just live in the moment. I lost track of what day it was, what time it was, and the cares and worries that awaited me back home were a distant dream it seemed. Truly therapeutic. Ahhhh.....
I was anxious before the trip because I had never traveled abroad like this before and I really hate certain aspects of traveling. It took me a couple of days to warm up to the environment, crowds and people I was going to be with for an entire week. Oh, and I woke up with the stomach flu in the middle of the first night, which made our first "Day at Sea" a not-so-fun one. Thankfully a couple of kind new friends gave me a blessing, which helped a great deal. I looked at the bright side: 1 out of 7 days sick isn't as bad as it could be :) I was up and at 'em by the next day, hallelujah!!
My favorite thing was meeting one new person who lived in the places we visited. I got to meet one new brother or sister in Heavenly Father's, and therefore my, family that I never would have gotten the chance to meet since they lived almost a world away.  In Cozumel it was the shopkeeper of a little store in the Mr. Sanchos Resort. He and his family procured black coral which they made into beautiful works of art, one being a turtle necklace that I bought from him.  He told us about the coral, about his family, his life.
In Costa Maya it was a shopkeeper who took our picture.  In Grand Cayman it was the bus taxi driver who took us back to the port, a sweet woman with a beautiful smile and accent.  In Roatan it was the cab driver, Marlo, a 26-year-old, honest-to-goodness-guy who wanted to show us around the Island he loves so much after waiting patiently for over an hour for our ziplining adventure to be done. What a gift, what a blessing to get to meet more of our brothers and sisters from around the world. It made me feel at home wherever I went.
I kicked several things off my Bucket List, including:

1. Take a Cruise Ha ha, that was an easy one!

2. Visit a foreign Country Three, count 'em! Mexico, Honduras, Cayman Islands

Welcome to Cozumel!

Rainy Costa Maya

3. Ziplining We went EXTREME Ziplining in Honduras. 9 Lines, pouring rain, rust splattering our clothes. We were drenched and dirty but oh so psyched. So much fun!!!

                                                    The After shot...strong ladies!                 Jeanette and I after our exhilarating ride

4. Solo Karaoke Unforgettable by Nat King Cole

5. Jaywalk in a foreign country Okay, I admit that this one went on the list the moment we did it here in Grand Cayman, but hey, another one bites the dust! ;)

6. Snorkel in a reef I don't have a picture of this one, but it sure was beautiful! It was an amazing feeling to become a part of the world that lives beneath the sea, if only for an hour.  I really felt like I was a part of it, with fish of all different shapes, sizes and colors surrounding me. Wow! Next on the list...scuba diving! Time to become certified!

Some other fun tidbits from the trip:

Getting stung by a jellyfish in Cozumel. Yes, it's true! It hurt like heck but didn't last for too long. This one wasn't the one that did it (ha ha) but I absolutely LOVED coming back to our room and a different towel masterpiece each night. These cruise people are amazing, huh? We loved our waiter and the man who cleaned our stateroom, Valentine and Paul, respectively. They became like members of our family, and we theirs.

Gluten-free food! The food really impressed me, and I was in Heaven because the ship made their desserts gluten-free. I would've been majorly depressed if I couldn't have partaken of the chocolate molten lava cake! The pancakes sure were interesting, more like crepes or 100 sheets of rice paper put together, and they were devilishly hard to cut through but they worked for me!

Theme nights! 80's night was just rad and Western Night was a barrel o' fun. Yeehaw!

                                                           Four DDI Girls: Jeanette, Cherice,                Cherice and I with new friends 
                                                                                                              Janae and I                                                  Elicia and Kim

Turtles! I discovered my favorite animal (yes, I know turtles are amphibians!) is a turtle, and I bought sooo many turtle things on this trip it was insane! There were more I wanted badly but held myself back and took pictures of some of them instead. If I'd taken pics of all of them, you'd probably have 100 pictures in front of you!

Some of my favorite pics

                                               Beautiful, green Roatan                            Waves on the side of the ship

                                                 My favorite place!                                     at night. Kind of looks like 

                                                                                                                             Northern Lights, huh?

New Friends!

                                                      Mindy, Annie, Corinne             Elicia, Lisa, Kim, Jeanette, Cherice and I

                                                             Jon, Cherice, Craig and I                    Buds Eric and Erik

Laugh out loud moments...

                                                   Lisa and I saw these and couldn't                      The shopkeeper who took this picture
                                                                  resist. We were going for the straight                     said "Say 'Tequila'!" Which is why  

                                                  faced look, but I couldn't do it and                            we have our mouths open like so.

                                                                       couldn't stop laughing. The tears                           It's become my new picture-taking

                                                                              would not stop flowing.                                            catch-phrase. "Tequila!"

This was an experience of a lifetime and I can't wait to do it again.  Yes, again! Next year there will be another cruise and for those of you LDS Singles out there reading this, if you want the hook-up for it, talk to me and we'll get you in on it come this fall. 

Most of all, I thank the Lord for this amazing experience and the new friends and memories I've made that will keep me smiling, laughing and joyful for the years to come. 

Adios amigos!

Robyn