ThAnKs for the journey.....................

my life is full of reasons to give thanks--grateful is an understatement. --thinking about all the good things in my life--a strong crazy happy family, friends, a good ice cream cone, a relationship with Heavenly Father, laughter of kids, i love owls, a big fat nap, turkeys (poor guys), warm coat in this freezing michigan air, ability to see-to touch-to smell-to feel-, elder sweatfields jokes, inspiring books, i love my mom, talented muscians for me to listen to--can't forget coldplay, running all bundled up in the blizzarding snow, a place to come home to each night, people i meet, being able to learn everyday,  sports (even when byu loses), strawberries, getting mail, seeing people change, erasers on pencils,  i could sit here all day and never be done, but most importantly i am grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ-- He has given me the chance to live life, and enjoy the journey.

Prophet Thomas S. Monson once said--

"Day by day, minute by minute, second by second we went from where we were to where we are now. The lives of all of us, of course, go through similar alterations and changes. The difference between the changes in my life and the changes in yours is only in the details. Time never stands still; it must steadily march on, and with the marching come the changes.
This is our one and only chance at mortal life—here and now. The longer we live, the greater is our realization that it is brief. Opportunities come, and then they are gone. I believe that among the greatest lessons we are to learn in this short sojourn upon the earth are lessons that help us distinguish between what is important and what is not. 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."

My Haven

My haven is close to heaven,

as Heavenly Father welcomes me.

Guiding my hand through the door--my burdens seem like a forgotten memory.

All my cares lay at the gate, my minds fog disappears.

The world cannot enter here,

my life shines through the mirrors.

I see past tomorrow--my purpose is in every feeling.

I am calm; overcome with peace. The walls hold the love-filled to the ceiling.

I ponder. I pray. Asking Heavenly Father to stay by my side.

He is there in the temple, for my Haven is where He resides.

Time Stops.

I feel free--filled with light to shine.

I feel close to my Father

he says, "remember you are mine."

One day when I was about 20 years old, I remember sitting on my mom and dads bed. I was talking to my dad about life & I was really worried about practically everything--feeling really overwhelmed and just down and out.(you know the feeling?) As I was crying to him and wishing he could solve my problems, he said something I won't ever forget--

"You have no faith."

 At first I thought, woooooooooah, wait a second....of course I do--but then I started thinking what it really means to have faith--and if I had faith--I wasn't living it. It reminds me of a story in the Book of Mormon*. The Tree of Life is shown to the Prophet Lehi in a dream or vision-- Lehi recounted the tree as "a tree, whose fruit was desirable to make one happy." the fruit representing the Love of God & the Atonement--something we all want to feel.

How did they get to that tree of life?

     How do WE feel God's love and the Atonement in our own lives?

Lehi went on describing how there was a rod of iron (word of God) that led to the tree. Those who held on to the word of God are lead to happiness-true happiness, not temporary. Well how does this have to do with having faith? (you are probably wondering). 

  1 Nephi 8: 24 says,  "...I beheld others pressing forward, and they came forth and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron; and they did press forward... CLINGING to the rod of iron, even until they did come forth and partake of the fruit of the tree."  Faith is not seeing, touching, or holding the rod--its CLINGING to it. When we have faith, we cling to God's word--we have hope in good things to come--and when we keep on keeping on we find love at the end. I know my dad taught me a really valuable lesson that day; I had lost grip of the rod--it was now time to press forward and CLING to the rod. God is there. I know when I read His words, I feel His love--and I remember dont let go.