Happy Valentines Day!

My mom used this in her relief society lesson the other week and I absolutely loved it! It truly makes you think about what this holiday is truly about; recognizing the good in ourselves and others and showing gratitude to those we love. Hope you enjoy! It's called...  

"The Parable of the Rose"

A certain man planted a rose and watered it faithfully, and before it blossomed he examined it. He saw the bud that would soon blossom-- and also the thorns. and he thought, "How can any beautiful flower come form a plant burdened with so many sharp thorns?" Saddened by this thought, he neglected to water the rose, and before it was able to bloom, it died...

So it is with many people. Within every soul there is a rose- the God like qualities planted in us at birth-- growing amid the thorns of our faults. Many of us look at ourselves and see only the thorns, the defects. We despair, thinking that nothing good can possibly come from us. We neglect to water the good within us, and eventually it dies. We never realize our potential.

Some people do not see the rose within themselves; someone else must show it to them. One of the Savior's greatest characteristics was that He was able to show people the kingdom of heaven within them. He was able to reach past their thorns and show them the rose.

This is the characteristic of love-- to look at a person, and, knowing his faults, recognizing the nobility in his soul, and help him realize that he can overcome his faults. If we show him the rose, he will conquer the thorns, then he will blossom, bringing forth thirty, sixty, or a hundred-fold as it is given to him.

Our duty in this world is to help our brothers and sisters by showing them their roses and not their thorns. Only then can we achieve the love the Savior wants us to feel for each other; only then can we become perfect as He wants us to be and blossom in the garden of His Father."

- Author Unknown

Adjust Your Sails

Why yes it is a Saturday night and I am blogging. Why do you ask? Well for one I am procrastinating writing a paper and two, I am home sick. BUMMER. Of course the weekend when it seems all the fun stuff is going on and I had all these awesome plans set is the one that my body decides to all of a sudden freak out and I'm sick as a dog. No I'm not dying, but man I hate feeling left out!! I like to be in the middle of all the partying hahaha oh well... hopefully I won't be confined to my home much longer or I might just go crazy!

I've been meaning to write a post for awhile, but just haven't found the right words to say that I felt were appropriate. But then I remembered the analogy that is totally applying to my life as of late..... "You can't control the sea, but you can adjust your sails."

The sea I've been riding in lately has sure seemed like a stormy one. There's been times I've thought I was gonna fall overboard. My ship has not been stable. But through it all, the one thing that has kept me going is keeping my eyes on my Savior. I've said many times that "I don't know what to think, but all I know is that I have the faith that my Savior will make everything right."

Life ISN'T fair. It never will be. You can choose to accept it and move forward or be unhappy. For me, I've had to look for the positive things because a lot of things happen that you can't control. What you can control is your reaction to them. People can try and tear you down, but if you are aware of who you truly are and who God knows you to be... nothing else matters. You may have to face situations and circumstances you don't like, but in the end, you will be a better person because of it.

I'm at a point in my life where it seems all the most important decisions are at my feet. And amidst all of that, I've had things that I felt very confident with fall through, which has made me question a lot of things I've desired. I had a friend comment today on a discussion we were having and how the advice I had given him was totally something he was not expecting me to say. It got me to thinking about how much I've changed. How much my perspective on life has not only changed since high school, but just in this past year or so. I want different things. I'm more aware of what's going on around me. I understand the reality, but I'm also hopeful of the best outcomes for each situation.

Lately I've realized how important it is to live in the moment. Look at what you have; what's in front of you. Take every chance that comes your way. Life is TOO short not to! I feel like honesty and communication are taken for granted so often and they are some of the things I so strongly strive for! I am so grateful for all the wonderful blessings I have in my life. Most importantly, this GOSPEL. For in it, I see the beauty of this life that surrounds me; I recognize the importance to my life each day. What a wonderful gift we all have to strive to lift others around us, to form beautiful relationships, to witness the tender mercies of our Lord and Savior, and to strive to become the Gods and Goddesses are Heavenly Father wishes us to be. These are the things that help me keep my ship steady when the sea seems to be relentlessly out of control. I'm grateful for all the many testimony builders that help me see what I am truly searching for and remind me that everything will work out according to God's will and timing.