A path I follow

I was inspired by a friend and decided to write a poem. It is entitled “A path I follow”:

 

This path I take,

This road I walk,

On my way to that gate

That by chance I’ll unlock.

 

Though rugged the way

And bleak the view,

I’ll not waste a day

Of this life I pursue.

 

For on the horizon

The sun will shine forth,

And all will be shown

For what it is worth.

 

No time to waste.

Life’s path to follow,

With heart encased

In hope’s love of tomorrow.

Papers

Well, the mission papers are almost in…just one more interview next week. I just had my interview with my bishop. During that interview as my bishop bore testimony over and over that the mission is hard, but worth it, this whole endeavor become more real to me. I’m actually doing it…sometimes I can’t believe I’m actually going on a mission. The rest of the time though, I ponder upon the months ahead of me, the blessings and the growth to come, and I count my blessings that God persuaded me to go.
When my bishop asked me why I wanted to serve, all I could think to say was that the Lord told me to. Though it hadn’t been my plan, knowing the divinity of God and His love for me, I need no other reason. I know that it won’t be easy. I’ll just have to take the trials as they come. I can’t sit here worrying my faith away, so I don’t worry and I don’t speculate. I simply contemplate, hope, dream, pray, and prepare to share the good word of God to the people I will serve.
A lot of people have been asking if I want to serve somewhere specific. Honestly, I don’t care where I go. I know God has a specific place in mind for me and I trust that I will fulfill my predestined mission there.
I’m really curious as to when I’ll get my call. After sending the call, Salt Lake likes to get an acceptance letter quickly that is signed by both the missionary and the bishop. Being in Alaska for 4 to 6 weeks will make this process difficult, though I don’t really want to wait until I get back to find out. I will have to simply trust that my leaders will know how to make it work and remember that all things come in God’s time, not mine.

Getaway in Moab

My family just spent a week in southern Utah exploring the red rock of Arches and the Canyon lands. I loved the break from busy life. I was able to forget about the the worries of the world for a while and enjoy the creations of God. We hiked, jumped rocks, 4-wheeled (hummer tour), biked, took pictures, and sight saw.


Some of us went on a guided hike through the Fiery Furnace in Arches. Our park ranger guide stopped us under surprise arch where we discussed how nature has been proven to relieve stress. I love nature because it does calm me and brings my spirit closer to God. Works of God’s hands are truly beautiful and always remind me of Him.


Of course, I also loved the opportunity to spend time with my family. They are truly amazing and inspiring people. I am so grateful that God put them in my life.

My call

                 

During most of my life I never felt like serving a mission was something I needed to do. As a faithful member of the LDS church I had thought about it. I know the good my three brothers gained from serving and I wouldn’t have minded getting to experience what they did. Well, God threw me a curve ball last week.
My family was traveling back from a week long vacation in Moab. We were about an hour into the trip and I was reading a book. As I read the doubts of the upcoming school year filled my mind. I hadn’t heard anything about making it into marching band, I didn’t feel right about the student loan I was applying for, etc. I thought if only I could get away for two years and serve a mission. Then I would have another chance to audition for marching band and my tendinitis would be much better and I would have loads of teaching experience. But I had never felt the draw to serve a mission before…
I felt a strong overwhelming love wash over my soul. Love without doubt. I knew then that I had just been called to serve. Though doubts and fears filled my mind, I knew that God wanted me to go. These thoughts haunted me for the rest of the day and into the next. I knew they weren’t going away, so I had to do something about it. I told my mom I want to serve a mission. She of course got all teary eyed. She had seen me struggling for the last couple days but didn’t want to intrude.
I feel at peace that I am going in the right direction. It came on suddenly and at first I was worried that I hadn’t prepared fully because I haven’t taken any mission prep classes, but I felt again that love telling me that I am prepared. I need to go. I am so excited to go. I can’t think of doing anything else with the next 18 months of my life.

ramblings of the heart

Today I was contemplating what the future will hold, and the dreams of my young heart. I think every girl has dreams and desires of their heart. Some dreams are given up for others and some desires change for better ones. I have a dream. I have a heart-felt desire, but I have no idea whether my dream will come true or whether the Lord lead me down a better, different path.

I have a Prince Charming who I have liked from the very first moment I met him years ago. He is off serving the Lord right now and gets back in a matter of months. We became good friends before he left and have written occasional letters. I haven't thought about him very much for a long while because his return date seemed so far away, but as it draws nearer I can't help but wonder what he will be like when he returns. I can't help but wonder if he will be my true Prince or if fate will bring another to my tower. For the last couple of months I've been giddy and my heart has run rampant with dreams. This last week, it stopped. I'm not sure why, but the sudden change in emotion has caused me to reflect and look deeper into myself and to think more sincerely about my dream. I have always acknowledged God's hand in my life and want the right Prince to be the one who will call my name so I may throw down my hair and invite him into my life for eternity. I am grateful now for the change in my heart. Without the giddiness and heart-racing emotions of a stricken young girl, I can think more clearly and accept the will of the Lord more readily. If he be the one who comes to my tower, I will be the happiest damsel on the face of the planet. If another who is equally worthy be the one, I will still rejoice in the wonders of love and life.

No matter what events unfold in the future, I know I will wait to enter the temple until it is the right time, in the right place, and with the right person. I am excited to meet the future worthy young man who will be mine, and I his, for the rest of eternity.

"Don't quit. Keep playing"

My sister posted this on her facebook. It hit me in a powerful way because I'm a musician and because I often feel a little inadequate both in music and life in general. I've had trial a plenty in my life, and I have personally felt the Master's arms of comfort, support, guidance, and enabling power surround me. I know He lives, and He loves every one of His children in a very sincere and personal way. He knows each of us individually by name and He knows our true potential. One of my greatest desires, even more than becoming an accomplished oboist, is to fulfill the potential my Master sees in me. I never want to disappoint Him, so I trudge along, stubbornly enduring to the end with complete faith and trust in the omnipotent hand leading me through this life.

Consider this story: A young piano student's mother, wishing to encourage him, “bought tickets for a performance of the great Polish pianist, Paderewski. The night of the concert arrived and the mother and son found their seats near the front of the concert hall. While the mother visited with friends, the boy slipped quietly away.

“Suddenly, it was time for the performance to begin and a single spotlight cut through the darkness of the concert hall to illuminate the grand piano on stage. Only then did the audience notice the little boy on the bench, innocently picking out ‘Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.’

“His mother gasped, but before she could move, Paderewski appeared on stage and quickly moved to the keyboard. He whispered to the boy, ‘Don’t quit. Keep playing.’ And then, leaning over, the master reached down with his left hand and began filling in the bass part. Soon his right arm reached around the other side, encircling the child, to add a running obbligato. Together, the old master and the young novice held the crowd mesmerized.

“In our lives, unpolished though we may be, it is the Master who surrounds us and whispers in our ear, time and time again, ‘Don’t quit. Keep playing.’ And as we do, He augments and supplements until a work of amazing beauty is created. He is right there with all of us, telling us over and over, ‘Keep playing.’” (As quoted by James E. Faust, Oct. 1999 General Conference, General Releif Society Session.)

Our True Identity