Fireplaces

I know, I know, it's been a couple of days. I know it's not a good excuse really, but I've been really tired, and seeing as how the only time I have to do this is late at night... Anyway, enough excuses.

Today I'm grateful for fireplaces. I love them so much. If I grow up and can't afford to live in a place that has a fireplace, I will buy one of those DVDs that has a fire going and sounds almost believeable.

There is just something so relaxing about the dancing flames and the crackling sound. Not to mention the warmth. I just love fireplaces so much! No matter how stressed I am, things always feel better with a fire lit and a comfy couch :)

On top of that, I am also greatful for the power the scriptures have to enrich my life. One scripture passage can completely change my thinking. It's a beautiful thing!

Answers

Questions racing through my mind. So many questions I don't know how to answer, and so many things that have gone unsaid. It's hard to deal with sometimes. You don't really want to ask the questions, but you really need to know the answers.

Sometimes I ask the Lord some questions, and I wait and wait and wait for the answers. Sometimes I receive the answers, and I just don't notice. I forget to wait.

Today, I started getting some answers. It kind of sucks, but is kind of wonderful at the same time. Like, it causes pain, but is a relief. I'm grateful to finally be getting the answers in such a way that I can recognize them.

Hot Cocoa, Pumpkin Muffins, and Sleep :)

Yes, that's correct. Today I am grateful for hot cocoa, pumpkin muffins, and sleep.

I slept in today in the hopes that it would help me on my way to recovery. I woke up and couldn't decide what to have for breakfast, but thanks to my mother's wonderful cravings I got delicious home made pumpkin muffins! I love pumpkin muffins! I think they are fantastic! On top of that, I made myself a cup of cocoa to drink along with my muffins. I sat at the table with my mom and my little brother and we had a nice little chat, at the conclusion of which I went back to bed. I got 8 hours of sleep last night and probably a good 4 hours this afternoon at the encouragement of my loving parents and boyfriend and am well on the way to getting better.

Whether it was the muffins, the cocoa, the conversation, or the sleep I don't know (let's be honest, it was probably the sleep) I'm feeling much better. I'm grateful for that now, even if it is only temporary. I certainly hope it is not, but even if it is I suppose that's okay. Kyle pointed out that being ill only makes you more grateful for when you're healthy. I guess this whole being sick thing is a blessing as well. What do you know? Isn't life great?

The Simple Things

Today is one of those days where I feel extremely grateful for all the obvious things for which I thank the Lord every day.

My boyfriend called me this morning to wake me up to go to the gym. How wonderful is he? Yeah, he really does wake up at 5:30 am to make sure I wake up to my alarm so I can get out the door and feel good about myself. So I rolled out of bed and went to the gym. I worked out hard, and it wasn't even all that painful. It actually felt good! I know, working out feels good? You have to be in moderate shape or it sucks. Luckily, I was really in the habit a few months ago, and haven't suffered from too much laziness since. It doesn't hurt that campus is on a mountain... Anyway, I came home from the gym, and showered. I was feeling SO good. I was tired, but I had energy to do things, if that makes sense. Anyway, I ate breakfast and got myself out the door to go to school. I drove to the train station. Then I got on the train, and it happened. I felt this ridiculously sharp pain in my stomach and I suddenly felt like I was going to throw up.

There are three possible things that we believe could have caused this. I could have just worked my abs too hard, or I could have worked my abs too hard in combination with my lovely ulcers, or I could just have been getting sick anyway. Either way, It was miserable! Positively awful! I figured it would probably just go away, so I went to class and tried to learn. It was alright, at least it was alright until I had to stand up and walk to my next class. The pain was excruciating.

I got to class, and it got to the point where I had to put my head down. Can you believe it? You don't put your head down in a college math class with less than 20 people. That's just not okay, but I couldn't hold it up. I almost passed out and decided that I needed to not stay for the rest of school. It really put a damper on my day. I was all set and ready to say that I had actually gone to all my classes today! I didn't know what to do, so I just sent Kyle a text saying, "Can you come get me?" He dropped whatever he was doing (he was between classes at the time), and he came all the way up to the U to get me!

He took me to his house, got me settled in his bed, and went to do what he needed to do today. His mom came down to check on me a couple of times because she's super sweet like that, and then he came back to me and took care of me the rest of the night! He is so wonderful!

My father has also been extremely cheerful and helpful today, and I am grateful for that, as well. Not to mention my good friend offering to get me a grilled cheese sandwich from the institute. Or the texts I recieved from my other good friend causing excitement and happiness. :)

So really, I guess what this is meant to say is that I am so terribly grateful for all the wonderful people in my life who make everything so wonderful and take extremely good care of me. I feel extremely blessed by them. Today especially when I needed them more than usual.

Interesting Lessons

Today I learned something extremely valuable. The power of song. More specifically, the power of song when you don't feel like singing.

I started feeling not so hot about a week ago. This is nothing unusual for me. I tend to get sick a lot. I lose my voice at least 3 times a year. I mean, really, if I can go six months with my voice in tact, I'm one lucky girl. So I lost my voice on Thursday in just enough time to go on a band trip. It came back for Friday, but by Saturday it had completely gone again. I have yet to regain it.

I know I should be used to it by now. I've been dealing with it for years. The first thing to go when I lose my voice is my speaking voice. A couple days later, my singing voice follows. I don't mean to toot my own horn. Honestly, I don't, but my singing, well... let's just say I can hold my own. When it gets to the point where my voice is scratchy and unattractive when I sing, I just stop singing. Sometimes it hurts. It physically hurts, or I am literally unable to produce a tone. Sometimes it hurts emotionally or it just hurts my ego and I'm embarrassed. It gets all nasty and nasal and I can't hit the pitches very well.

I realized today (I use the term very loosely because, in all reality, I just barely realized it a couple minutes ago while studying my scriptures) that in times where I can sing, just not well, it really is so much better to just sing. Music was put on this Earth for a reason. Usually, as with most things, the main reason is to point us toward Christ and invite the Spirit into our lives. If the Lord cared what my voice sounds like, why did he make my brother virtually tone deaf? Why is that lady who sits in the back of the congregation's voice so shrill?

I was given my talents to learn and to grow and to benefit others. Really, it's just as beneficial to me when my talents are taken from me for a short time. Doesn't it mean so much more to give something when it's hard for us?

I did not sing in institute today. I felt like I was doing the whole class a favor. I just learned that I was serving only myself and being entirely selfish. This is a very humbling lesson. I have resolved that I will never be so foolish again, because the blessings will always outweigh the sacrifice. Even if it does hurt the ears of whoever happens to be sitting next to me.

I am so grateful for this lesson and the potential it has to bring the Spirit more fully into my life! I have no doubt that it will be one of the most wondrous blessings I could possibly ask for.

To Be Grateful for Losing a Wallet

Over this past weekend, I went to Chicago with the Utah marching band. We flew out on Friday, and spent Friday night in downtown Chicago, then woke up bright and early the next morning to go play at the Utah vs. Notre Dame football game. Don't mention that game. I don't want to talk about it. Actually, I do want to publically thank the Notre Dame students, faculty, and fans. I have never in all my marching band career felt so incredibly welcomed at an opposing school. They are a good Christian people. The live their faith, and it was an absolutely amazing experience! Thank you! Anyway, back on track:

Saturday night we returned to Chicago. We had the option of staying at and around the hotel or returning downtown. I opted for downtown because I had absolutely no idea if I was ever going to make it back there again.

My good friend and I got off the bus and started walking. We had both spent the majority of our money the night before, so we weren't planning on spending much if anything. However, if you are ever in a strange place, it is good to have your wallet on you for your photo ID and emergency cash. My wallet was in the pocket of my jacket, which I very unintelligently forgot to zip. My bad. We went to a restaurant with a group of our other friends, but neither of us were planning on eating, so when we were two seats short at our table, we were glad to give up our seats for our comrades.

I really wanted to go look in that two story McDonald's across the street from where we were, so we went and had a peak in. I was in the middle of considering buying an extremely delicious looking muffin when I realized I would be unable to purchase anything becaue I did not have my wallet.

We(and by we I mean she) immediatel sent a text to one of our friends back at the restaurant asking if the wallet had been left at the table. They promptly responded telling us that no one had seen it at all. We were rather afraid that maybe I had been pick pocketed and had failed to notice bumping into someone. I was kind of really freaking out.

The one consolation was that the ID that was currently in my wallet was my Utah state ID card, not my drivers license. My license was safely back at my hotel. As that thought was running through my mind, another thought came that maybe I should check at the restaurant myself. We crossed the street again and went inside.

There was no luck at the table at all, but this particular restaurant had a souvenir shop on the main floor which was below the dining room. We walked around the shop looking near everything I had been near. We were about to give up. We were headed to the door when we decided to ask two of the employees if they had seen it. They were in the middle of trying to figure out how to call it over the intercom without describing the wallet when we asked. When they handed it to me, I put it in my jacket pocket and promptly zipped the pocket closed.

Sometimes we may be so stubborn that we are not able to hear or feel when the Lord wants to tell us that He loves us. Sometimes, as in this case, I believe we just need to be gripped by the shoulders and told. It was, all in all, a very good experience for me, and I am so grateful for the several wonderful ways in which the Lord expresses His love.