What more can ye ask?!

I can't help but be in awe of the price Jesus Christ paid for you and me! I've been pondering the depth and breadth of this incredible gift. Although, at least in this life, I will never understand the full implications, I'm deeply grateful for a gift that only Christ could give.
Jeffrey R. Holland said, "Because Jesus walked such a long, lonely path utterly alone, we do not have to do so. . . We will never be left alone nor unaided, even if sometimes we may feel that we are. Truly the Redeemer of us all said: 'I will not leave you comfortless: [My Father and] I will come to you [and abide with you].' "
The Savior of the world can provide comfort and peace unlike any other source. I have been blessed with this peace numerous times and am grateful to Him who brings it.

Nigh unto perfection

There are a few things in my life that are nigh unto perfect: crepes, friends, family, and my job. I have made crepes twice in the past week. They are so divine! They are sweet but not too sweet for a nice breakfast. Crepes bring my heart to home and all that's divine.
I became quite sick about a week ago and it granted me the opportunity to see that my friends are nigh unto perfect. A few friends made me dinner and provided companionship when I wasn't able to leave my house. Wow! What more can you ask for?!
Three days from now I will be on my way to the annual family campout! This is one event that I dearly look forward to each year! I have many fond memories of playing cards with my cousins, hiking, warming water to wash our faces, walking to the bathroom with a flashlight, roasting marshmellows over the campfire, etc. I eagerly anticipate the reunion!
Since I've been unable to work the past few days I've realized how much I love my job! I have the opportunity to work with children in need; what job could be more perfect? And my co-workers are a second family; we are united in purpose and love each other!

Puzzle pieces

"She’s everything I’m not. She’s my other half. Without her I’m not whole. The thing about meeting your other half is, is you’re walking around, you think that you’re happy, right? You think that you’re whole, then realize you ain’t dirt without her, then you can’t go back to being just a half ‘cause now you know what it’s like to be a whole, ya know what I mean?"
-Ashton Kutcher in Guess Who

Lately I've been thinking about what makes two people compatible. . . is it two similar people who are connected through their commonalities or is it complete opposites who connect like puzzle pieces? I recently talked with a friend and asked him for his thoughts on the subject. He cited a book he read which suggested that we are best with those who are similar to ourselves. If we are similar we have less to learn about our significant other. We supposedly understand them and where they come from.
The more I think about it, marriage has many facets. One of the purposes is to become better together. Men and women are inherently different. We learn from each other because of our differences.
I used to be interested in men who had many qualities in common with me. However, lately I've realized that a man who is very different from myself brings so much more to the table. :) I have so much more to learn from a man who is so different than me.

Love and Temples

Today I was in the presence of the Spirit and felt the overwhelming love Heavenly Father has for me. It couldn't have come at a better time! Lately I have felt burdened with thoughts of self doubt. I question my ability, intelligence, and beauty. But feelings of self doubt tend to dissipate when you feel love. Love conquers all!

The other day I was in a religion class where we were discussing 1 Corinthians. We read:
"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." (3:16-17)
These verses really hit me! Heavenly Father loves His temples! He expects us to respect His temples. If our bodies are temples, Heavenly Father expects us to respect our bodies as well! He expects me to respect my body!

His Plan

When Heavenly Father closes a window he opens the garage door. (I'm sure there's a better analogy.) Sometimes we feel like opportunities close without our consent. But what we don't see is Heavenly Father's eternal perspective. I'm the first to admit, I'm not always the best at trusting and believing in Heavenly Father's plan. However, I have seen time and time again that Heavenly Father always has a better plan prepared for me then I could have imagined. I don't know what he has in store for me. But I trust that it will be wonderful!

Time, my friend and enemy

So, in my last post I wrote about patience. . . in the moment I was thinking how I had gained this profound appreciation for patience and was impressed by my own growth. However, a very short time later I find myself frustrated with time. Time can be a friend, when it's on my side. When it isn't on my side it is the most frustrating thing ever! I hate it when I'm the one waiting for things to happen! But what can you do?!

Patience. . .

Wow, it's been too long since I've written. . . many things have changed in the past months. With each experience comes new perspective. I've gained a greater appreciation for patience, not that I've mastered the virtue. Only a year ago I was eager to change my surroundings. I was frustrated a few months later when it didn't seem to be working as fast as I would like. However, things turned out extremely well! I look back at many of the trying times of my life and realize that if I were just patient things would have passed and I would have been happier during the "trial."
Once again, I find myself going through a particular problem. I realized that every trial passes and if I'm patient during the trial, the time seems to fly.
It's impossible for me to know how my life will turn out. But it doesn't make my life any better by wondering. Life is best when I'm happy in the present!