Enjoy the Life You Have This Moment!!

Today I re-learned a profound truth that struck me so deeply. Our Relief Society president talked about our lives and how far too often we want the next step, next step, next step. What happens when all we are desiring is the next step in our lives, we skip out on learning the things we need to learn in order to get to that next step. 

In our culture it is expected to get married in your early to mid 20's, and procreate and live happily ever after. What was suggested today that really resonated with me was that we will only get this opportunity once in our life to truly and sincerely focus on ourselves, bettering and making ourselves stronger individuals. Never again for the rest of our lives will we have the unique chance to develop our talents, develop our abilities on the level that we do today. If we focus on bettering ourselves, and being the person that the Lord needs us to be, in time we will be ready for that next step when it comes. The Lord is in charge of every step in our lives, and he has many things to teach us all along the path, and when we are only focusing on the next step in our lives, we fail to recognize the powerful and beautiful lessons that our Father in Heaven has in store for us. 

I know that it is when we live in the very moment in our lives, and focus on bettering ourselves, no matter what, that is when we find happiness, and become more attractive to all persons because we are on the road to discovering who we are and who we need to be. When I focus on me, and bettering who I need to be, both temporally and spiritually, that is when I am the happiest with myself. The Lord wants us all to experience life at it's fullest. He doesn't want us to sit and wait for life to come to us, he wants us to go and find meaning in life. Developing new talents, new aspirations, new meaning, new learning etc. He wants us to return to him saying I gave it my all, and I lived everyday to the max! For truly the only thing that we can take with us in the next life is our knowledge, and I want the opportunity to say that I utilized my time, and expanded myself beyond my imagination. I feel that when we desire to learn more, that is when the Lord helps us expand our knowledge. I want to live life, enjoying every step in my life, and bettering myself everyday. The good habits that I form now will carry over whenever I am ready for that next step in my life. Until then, I will learn, grow and develop, and not rush what the Lord needs to teach me, and see his beauty in the journey that he has picked for me, and know that my growing is only unique to me and nobody else. 

The Miracles of Jesus

I had the pleasure of going to a baptism yesterday evening of a darling little girl that belonged to one of my dear friends. After she was baptized, they played a dvd displaying the miracles of Jesus, such as the lame to walk, the blind to see, seas calmed, sins forgiven, the lepers healed, and a woman healed simply by touching the hem of his garment. To see the many mighty miracles that was brought about in the life ministry of our savior was ever so touching. 

I was thinking to myself how amazing it would have been to be able to be alive during those times, and to witness these life altering events that made them firm believers. It was then that I realized the mighty miracles that the Lord has blessed me with in my own life. He never restored my vision in a physical sense, but he is the reason I am able to see the things I do today. It is Jesus Christ who has picked me up when I have felt like a leper, and he has healed my heart. He has calmed the stormy seas in my life, and has given me the opportunity to step out on the raging waters and keep my eyes on him, knowing that he is my only means of survival. These miracles that I speak of in my own life are nothing short of the miracles that Jesus Christ performed when he walked the earth. If we tune in more, we will see the many miracles not just in our own lives, but all around us.  One of my favorite quotes from president Hinckley that I have committed to memory because it resonates so freely with me is this.. “Like the polar stars in the heavens, there stands the redeemer of the world, the Son of God, certain and sure as the anchor of our immortal lives. He is the rock of our salvation, our strength, our comfort, the very focus of our faith. In sunshine and in shadow he is there to assure and smile upon us.” Found here

I am grateful for a mother and a father who taught me to learn about the teachings and miracles of Jesus, so that his miracles could be found in my life. I love him, and I’m glad that he walks with me in my life. Life would be too hard without him. I know he lives, I have not seen him, but I feel him all around me, and that is enough for me. I hope that I might look closer to see even more everyday miracles of Jesus Christ in my life. 

Indiana

Something about the aroma of fresh cut Hoosier grass with the scent of moisture contained within each blade of grass that allows memories to flood back to me like a steady flowing river. It reminds me of being outside playing so innocently as a child. Collecting the piles of freshly mowed grass so I could have "fences' for my plastic Bryer horses. Or to outline roads for hot wheels cars that my brothers and I would play in the dirt with. I would dream of the day when I would be allowed behind the wheel and be able to have the windows down with the wind blowing carelessly through my hair with the sun beaming beautifully all around.

I got to go see Grandma, and we went on a drive along the countryside, looking at the luscious greens that lit up so beautifully with the perfect reflections of the sun that illuminated God's love on each branch, leaf, flower, and hillside that it touched. To me, God's love is all around us. We sat on the back porch of my aunt's and caught up with family members, laughing and talking about life's perplexities.

I helped my grandma plant her flower boxes the other day, I left the gloves off so I could feel the dirt under my fingernails (something this germ-o-fobe never does), but it's being outside in the nature in Indiana that brings back so many memories that I can't resist. As soon as we moved onto the last flower box, it began to steadily sprinkle, and we laughed as we hurriedly finished the last box, and had gotten into a rhythm of knowing how we wanted the flowers arranged. The cool crisp air accompanied the raindrops. I rode home with a hoodie on, reminded of many past times, and the years that have gone, and where life has taken me. Yet some things are so similar and exactly how I remember them as a growing girl. 

I love waking up with the windows open, hearing the birds singing in the trees nearby, welcoming another cool, dew filled morning.  The sun peeks, showing it's smiling face, and showing it's glee on the upcoming flowers, ready to bloom. Maybe this all sounds a little cornball, but I realize how much I miss the simplicity of Indiana. I miss the nature that so beautifully surrounds Indiana's landscapes. God shows his love everyday in astronomical ways. People would have to be blind, deaf, and dumb to not see his hand so brilliantly shone through his works and wonders in this world that surrounds us! 

I think it's important to always go back to the basics and remember where we came from to better chart where were going. 

Things As They Really Are

I rediscovered this, and how thought provoking it is about out current society. We all get so wrapped up in the things of today, and sometimes we don't realize how much it detracts us from the things we need to be doing. That time we spend on technology could be spent building and strengthening relationships. Like  it's mentioned, technology is a blessing, just as long as we're using it in the right manner. How grateful I am for Prophet, seers, and revelators today in this time. Give this video a watch! (click on the words below)

 Things As They Really Are

Life As A Florida State Seminole

One of The Hardest Part of the move.. My nieces/Children

All the nieces I've watched since birth pretty much

Doak Campbell Stadium

This is Florida State University... The prettiest campus I've ever seen! 

This is our front door (if you couldn't guess)

This Is our Guest Room


After much stress and hard work, I made it to Tallahassee with TONS of help from others. I honestly can say, I know this is where the Lord wants me to be, otherwise there were 1000 barriers that would have prevented me from being here, but the Lord removed them, so I could enjoy being a Seminole. :) It's moments like these that makes you sit back, and realize how involved the Lord is in our lives. He really does care about even the small details of our lives, such as what college I should attend, which house I should live in, which major I should choose... Countless things that matter to him.


Because of faulty paperwork or lack thereof from my previous college (despite efforts on my end), I wasn't officially admitted into FSU until the DAY classes started! I had orientation, turned in all my medical paper work, called my sister told her what was going on, and she registered me for classes (because I didn't have a computer with me to register) . At FSU if you don't go to the first class, your automatically dropped from the course. After grabbing a bite to eat with my dad, we booked it to try and find my classes on a HUGE campus that I had no CLUE about other than the football stadium, and last I heard they don't offer classes at the Doak Campbell Stadium! I ran my legs off that first day, and honestly I don't know if I could have held it all together if it weren't for my dad being right next to me. He was SO very patient, and was there with anything I needed. I didn't even have a notepad for my first class because I had heard Orientation would be all day, but turned out because it was the first day of class, they shortened what would have been a 8 hour orientation down to 45 minutes (pretty intense). Thankfully dad had a notepad, and I was able to take it with me to my first few classes. When I was stressing because I couldn't find where I needed to go, and I didn't have a map, he without me asking, came and found me, and brought me his map. He was a sport in every sense of the word. He sat patiently outside of all my classrooms waiting for me to finish. He was such a blessing and stress reliever to me. I had no idea what I needed to do, but somehow Heavenly Father would quietly lead me to the right decision. I just prayed that I knew this is what he wanted for me, and he was going to have to help me, because I didn't know how I would be able to get everything done I needed to do, and you know what, it all got done, and I give all the credit to him.


So here I am at Florida State,  the school I've wanted to be at since I was a little girl. I've worked hard to get here, and honestly I didn't think I would actually make this dream of mine come true because of multiple reasons (I would have went to a University in Central Florida). I am so glad that I am here! I am so glad that things happen for a reason, and people come into our lives and help us understand what God wants for us. Things don't always go according to the way we had planned, but they do always go  according to what in the end will benefit us the most.


In the short time I've lived here in Tallahassee, I've learned even more about myself, about what I'm made of, and about who and what matters most to me. I've gained a stronger sense of the important things in life. I'm blessed with family members that would do all in their power to help me achieve success on all levels. They are my greatest support system, and I can truly say, I don't know what I would do without them. They moved my entire place without me being back in Lake Wales to help them. They took time away from their families to help me move here to further my education. I have a family that a lot of people desire. For that I am so grateful! They are my best friends and closes confidents.-- They probably only helped because they are excited to have a place to stay for FOOTBALL SEASON!! haha    I'm excited to share it with them, and be here during that exciting time of year! ohhh yeah!!! Bring on the times of our lives!!! The Doak will rock that much harder this year!!! GO NOLES GO!!!!