Life Long Goal

Know that this is not a direct quote. I deleted sentences to condense it.

D&C 81:3-5

"[Be] faithful in counsel, in prayer always, vocally and in thy heart, in public and in private, also in thy ministry in proclaiming the gospel... and in doing these things thou wilt do the greatest good unto thy fellow beings, and wilt promote the glory of him who is your lord... Succor the weak, lift up the hands that hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees."

Back in Town

First off I’d just like to say Thanksgiving break was much needed and greatly appreciated! Black Friday was a success. Kenz and I went to fashion place mall and pretend like there was something we really wanted buy. We ran around franticly screaming. And then we left when that got old. Not a dime spent.

 But now I’m back on my side of the railroad tracks for three weeks.

Mine and Kenzie’s first night back: she read while I wrote, then we both read… for hours. After a while I realized my eyes hurt, I think I forgot to blink the whole time I was reading. I have that problem; honestly I think it’s a disorder. Then Kenz asked if I would pop her back. I grimaced and asked if I had to… the answer was yes. I tried to walk on her back, but I felt her spine and I started freaking out.  I ended up just doing it my way, which is pushing on her back with my hands on either side of the backbone. I applied pressure and immediately the popping was horrific!! I’ve never popped her back so well. It was awful. I scream and jump away and not even three seconds later we heard a *knock knock knock* Kenz motioned me into our bedroom she turned off the lights and locked the door. Then the voice on the outside of the door says “Ladies, I know you’re in there.” We just sat on my bed (in front of the door)in the dark giggling. I felt like a little kid again, hiding from my mom when I know I’ve done something bad. All I have to say is curse quiet hours!! I don’t have a quiet setting! We’re bound to get written up one of these days. It’s a comin’.  Oh and I wasn’t able to leave the room to microwave my frozen burrito. It was starvation for me Sunday night.

The Thanksgiving Challenge of 100

Before I take on the Challenge of 100 I want to first thank my parents for making it possible for me to be at SUU right now.  This has been the best experience of my life and I love every moment of it and I promise I’m keeping my grades up :) I love you and thank you again!

The Thanksgiving Challenge of 100

10 living people I am grateful for:

1.       My mama, Gay Lynn Smith, she always works so hard and tries to make sure all her children are happy and taken care of. She’s always been a good example to me and I love her very much.

2.       My dad, Steve Smith, has been a good example to me of giving and sharing. He’s always been gracious with his money and willing to help others out.

3.       Ryan Smith, has been a good big brother to me and always has something interesting he’s learned to share with me. I know that he cares about me and he’d do anything for me.

4.       Angela Smith has been a good example to me. I’ve always wanted to follow in her footsteps. I was potty trained at 18 months because I wanted to be just like her and that has carried on throughout my life. I graduated with a 3.9 because I wanted to do as well as she did. Thank you for always helping me push myself to be better.

5.       Brett Smith is such a stud. He is a good example to me of being friends with everyone. He never turns anyone away; he makes them feel welcome in his group of friends. He has a caring heart and a great sense of humor.

6.       Nate Smith has big dreams which I love about him. He is a hard worker and is such a help in the winter; he loves shoveling snow. He is unique and very funny. He always makes me feel so good because he’s always so happy to see me. I love him very much.

7.       Kenzie Sant is the greatest roommate ever. We have a blast every day and laugh all the time. We’re the same person but at the same time we’re very different. When I say “hey let’s turn our room into a maze and put my bed in front of the door!” she says “good idea, I’ve always wanted to know what it feels like to live in mass chaos!” haha So thank you for supporting me in my wild ideas. I couldn’t ask for a better friend.

8.       Rachael Clark, yes I did spell your name right. This girl is the truest friend a girl could ask for. She has helped me to grow and discover myself. She’s seen me at my worst and at my best and she’s been around through all of it. Thank you, I love you.

9.       Chase Driggs has been a wonderful friend to me. I’ve always been able to be myself with him and we’ve always been able to talk about anything. I’m so excited for him to serve his mission and I know he’ll be an amazing missionary. Thank you for always sharing your testimony with me and strengthening me.

10.   Trent Ingram taught me how to dream. He always told me to believe in the impossible and anything can happen. Thanks to him my head is always in the clouds, but that is where I like it.

10 people that have died that I am grateful for

1.       My grandma, Jennis Betts.  I wish I would have gotten to know her better. She raised my Mama though so I know she was amazing.

2.       President Gordan B. Hinckley. I wish I wouldn’t have taken him for granted and I would have paid more attention when he spoke.

3.                   My Savior Jesus Christ, he gave me everything.

4.                   George Washington was a great leader and helped to establish the freedoms I enjoy today.

5.                   Joseph Smith restored the gospel to the Earth and he gave his life for it.

6.                   Amelia Earhart, she’s cool. I did a report on her in 5^th grade.

7.                   The wright brothers. Everyone thought they were crazy, but they found a way to fly

8.                   The pioneers did a great deal for me that I will never be able to comprehend

9.                   The soldiers that fight for my freedom every day

10.               I’m glad Hitler died, if that counts

10 physical abilities I am grateful for

1.       I am blessed that I can walk on my own

2.       I am coordinated enough to drive

3.       I’m grateful that I can dance

4.       I’m grateful that I can type this and move my fingers

5.       I can text with my toes….

6.       I can stand on my toes

7.       I can climb trees

8.       I can do a back flip

9.       I can crawl under my bed (which is in front of the door)

10.   I can do a pretty decent hand stand

10 material possessions I am grateful for

1.       Spell check, I just used it on the word possessions.

2.       Fuzzy blankets, especially my Woody one

3.       Hats that hide my hair when I don’t want to wash it

4.       Jeans that hide my legs when I don’t want to shave them

5.       My cell phone so I can call Kenz and ask her when I’m supposed to go to work (true story)

6.       My bed

7.       My iPod that has been lost for 3 months…

8.       My scriptures, they’re marked up like a rainbow and I love it

9.       Window markers always equal a good time

10.   Consuela Bosifius (my unicycle/tricycle)

10 things about nature I am grateful for

1.       Rain obviously; I named my blog after it

2.       The sun shine

3.       Mountains

4.       Sunsets

5.       Oceans

6.       Rivers

7.       Trees

8.       The Aurora lights, I’ve never seen them, but I will one day

9.       Ice burgs, without them polar bears would die

10.   Dog poop, in comparison it makes everything look good

10 things about today I am grateful for (November 27, 2011)

1.       Chase Drigg’s farewell, I’m super excited for him

2.       Mike and Ty, they make me happy

3.       The beautiful sunset I got to enjoy on my way back to cedar

4.       Kenzie’s car, without it we would be stuck in Riverton

5.       Rachael, she’s just awesome and I’m glad I got to see her today

6.       Country music, I love jamming out on road trips

7.       My lap top, I’m currently typing on it

8.       the gospel, it blesses my life every day

9.       I am grateful that I love my life and I’m happy with who I am becoming

10.   My savior gets me through every day

10 things on earth you are grateful for

1.       Laughter

2.       Disneyland, even though I’ve never been

3.       Wendy’s (I’m just glad I have a job)

4.       Friendships that last a life time

5.       Sidewalks, if we all walked in the road where would the cars go?

6.       Umbrellas, I’ve really taken a fancy to mine

7.       Toilets…. Hey, you were thinkin it too!!

8.       Showers, even if I don’t use mine as much as I should

9.       The TV show Psych; Shawn Spencer and his partner Jazz Hands Magic Head

10.   Doors, it’s funny when people run into them

10 modern day inventions I am grateful for

1.       Drinking fountains are pretty cool

2.       Cars are useful

3.       iPod’s help us to have music readily available at our finger tips

4.       Hulu, so I can watch Whitney when I miss it

5.       Heating systems

6.       Camera’s

7.       Frozen burritos… I think I’m going to eat one in about 17 minuets

8.       Gold fish… the fish no the cracker

9.       Justin Bieber’s perfume

10.    The Rubik’s Cube

10 foods I am grateful for

1.       Sunday din din with the fam

2.       Panda express Orange Chicken

3.       Café Rio Pork Burrito

4.       Apple juice

5.       Fried turkey (which is what I had for Thanksgiving)

6.       Fish egg’s, so nasty!!

7.       Breakfast claws

8.       Cheddar Cheese Sun Chips

9.       Garden Salsa Sun Chips

10.   French Onion Sun Chips

10 things about the gospel that I am grateful for

1.       The atonement

2.       The sacrament

3.       The temple

4.       Families

5.       The peace it brings

6.       Joy

7.       Love

8.       Knowledge of an after life

9.       Prayer

10.   Tithing

Now folks, it’s your turn!! Take the challenge and leave it in a comment :)

The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven

I'm reading an amazing book right now. It has opened my mind up to God's many miracles. God can truly do anything. I've come to the conclusion never to doubt God's power. He is in charge and He has the last say in ALL matters. I have been so touched by this story and this family’s recovery. They had so much faith and God never left them in their trials. Hope is never gone, we just need to let God guide our lives so he can shape us into the people we can become.

visit the web site http://prayforalex.com/home.php to learn more about Alex’s story. You can also read the book "The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven" by Kevin and Alex Malarkey... here is a wonderful poem from the book...

"Alex cannot walk

Jesus walked on water

Alex cannot talk

God spoke the universe into existence

Alex cannot breathe

The Holy Spirit is the breath of life

Therefore...

I will not look to the world

But to the WORD

I will not look to my son

But to my FATHER

I will not see with my eyes

But with my HEART

I will not fall victim

To the prison of circumstance

I will worship my God

And abide in his hope

Let it be..."

-Kevin Malarkey

He never said it would be easy, but he said it would be worth it.

                This came to me one day when I was feeling angry about the internal battles of hurt and anguish I was going through. I couldn’t understand how there could be a being up above who loved me and would allow me to feel the way I was. I was pondering the possibility of such a person existing when a thought came to me line upon line, precept upon precept until I could feel my Saviors love fill my heart.

Sometimes in life we feel remorse because we mess up, and sometimes we feel sadness because other people mess up, most of the time our hurt is caused from a mixture of both. It’s hard to forgive others for hurting us, for causing us pain in our life. If they loved us then why would they hurt us so bad? Have you ever heard the saying “love makes you do stupid things”. Well I am going to take a different twist on that. I’m not talking about the ‘fall in love’ type of love; I’m talking about family or parenting love. Is it real love to give into your child’s every whim? Or is it teaching them discipline, letting them cry a little over that toy they didn’t get the moment that they wanted it? Love isn’t easy and it’s not always pleasant. Truly loving your child means taking the hard way sometimes. The ironic thing about it is that it is so much more difficult for the parent. Not only does the parent have to say no, but they have to put up with the nagging and stay firm on their decision. They have to watch their child in temporary pain. It is so much harder on the parent to see their child struggle and know that they could take away the pain in a second by giving into instant gratification. Hence love leads parents to do stupid things, because they think relieving their child’s temporary pain is the best thing for them. Really, in the long run the child that learns patience, discipline, forgiveness, acceptance, long suffering, ect, is so much better off and ready to take on the challenges of the world. They have learned to work hard for the thing they want, and have developed self-confidence because they have been given opportunities to struggle and to overcome. They have more patience with others because they haven’t always received things in a moment’s notice. They are more accepting and loving towards others because they realize life is difficult for everyone at times. Having said that, at times a child might not believe that their parents love them because they’re not getting what they desire. But in the long run their eyes will be opened to the true and pure love their parents have for them. Children will come to respect their parents a great deal for giving them those opportunities to learn and grow. Children will be touched deeply when they realize that every time they hurt, their parents hurt more for their child’s sake. It will bring parent and child together in a way that no other love can. Real love isn’t without pain and hurt. It’s sticking together through the unpleasantness. And at the end of the journey there is so much trust, love, and respect. It binds them together. They are unbreakable.

                Real love is what Christ offers to us daily. Sometimes what we’re going through causes us unspeakable pain and sadness. We can’t fathom that he could possibly love us because he allows us to feel such hurt. The funny thing is, he is doing what is best for us, and he suffers watching us suffer. He wants to take away our heart ache, but he knows we need the experience so we can grow and learn. One day we will drop to his feet and thank him for his unmeasureable love he has shown us. We will praise him for going through our pain with us, and not giving up on us by taking the easy way out and taking our hurt away instantly. We will thank him for allowing us to grow and develop.  Sometimes our trials may feel unbearable and we wish that Christ would take them away for us, in that moment we need to be meek and teachable. We need to trust that the Lord has a plan for us and he is shaping us into the people that we can become. Each experience will be for our good and for our learning if we allow it to be. Just like children cannot grow when they are handed everything in life, we too cannot grow without struggles. I love my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and I am thankful for the opportunities I’ve had to overcome trials in my life. He never said it would be easy, but he said it would be worth it.