lucky girl

Italy 2007

So I’m sitting outside Starbucks (no not with a drink) on State Street and 5900 South. It is the most beautiful September 19th day ever! Sunny… windy… cool… HOT! I absolutely LOVE people watching.. . but even more I love listening to their conversations and analyzing their daily life, their struggles and happiness! There are two ladies sitting next to me sipping their lattes talking in Spanish… dang it! I can’t ease drop… hmm there’s a man crossing the street with a long ponytail, green tank-top and bear belly, A dad with his son in soccer cleats, woa! A “Just Married” car, an old lady with 3 dogs, a hormonal teenage boy texting inside with his sunglasses still on, Harley boys with their leather get-up, men in suits, people honking, aww a little boy just smiled and waved at me! LOVE IT! Okay so on to my most recent thoughts… Recently I have been thinking about how much my Heavenly Father has blessed me this past year. I feel like I have relied on Him and leaned on Him more than any other time of my life. I am so grateful for His love and His plan. He truly does know each of us…. like really really KNOWS us! and has a plan for each of us…. a specific plan that we must learn to embrace. It has been interesting to see where my life has gone and how everything unfolds as we grow… . I am still clueless as to where I will be in 3 months but I know something is waiting for me! I’m just trying to live one day at a time.
It is interesting to think about where I was a year ago and what I thought I would be doing at this time. I thought I had things figured out, but just as those thoughts entered my mind, curve balls were thrown from every direction. I was humbled and became best friends with the edge of my bed each morning and night and in-between.

I just feel His overwhelming LOVE!!

The Atonement is a beautiful thing and I am so so grateful for my trials and hardships so that I can use it in my life. I am grateful for those bad days, painful days, emotional days, achy body days, somber days, lonely days, and cry-your-eyes-out-for-no-reason days where the Atonement is present and used for ME, just ME. I feel Heavenly Father has blessed me and trusted me with so many things! And he DOES answer prayers. I have prayed for good college roomies.. BAM done! I prayed to know why I hurt and ached so much a while back… BAM I know! I have prayed to feel His love and comfort. BAM I feel it so strong! I prayed to know why I went home this summer when I wanted to go somewhere else.. BAM I know! I prayed for a good experience in Utah with teaching and roomies.. BAM it’s the best!
Last Sunday in Relief Society our teacher gave us a quote that I absolutely LOVE: “Every experience God gives us, every person He puts in our lives is the perfect preparation for the future that only He can see.” – Corrie Ten Boom.
I feel so lucky and blessed for my family and friends that have been part of my life! Honestly.. everyone says they have the best friends and family…. BUT I definitely DO! Hands down… THE BEST in every possible way!
Sorry this is turning into a novel, but I just had to say my thoughts and write them down. I had to seize this opportunity before my next thunderstorm and trial roll along.. I would feel so ungrateful if I didn’t recognize my Savior and His Atonement, His plan and His love.
Don’t think that I have everything figured out because I don’t. I am far from that and still have much to learn (like how to discipline those first graders), much to experience (like watch Star Wars and eat a Hot Dog at a baseball game), much to see (like starving children in Africa), much to be taught (like how to properly ride a long board), much to discover (like how to cook like my mama), much to do (like ride in a hot air balloon), and how to love more openly (like the jerk who scratched my car with his car door!)…. It’s one day at a time… thank goodness!