Angels Among Us

I have a few angels...

They were answers to a prayer...literally...

One came an hour after I prayed.

One gave me encouraging words in texts and chatting online.

One dropped off cheesecake bites at my apartment tonight.

One dropped off a sweet roll.

Another answered her phone when I had a minor-meltdown that felt like the world was ending.

One came by just to say hello, and then I realized what a beautiful day it was outside yesterday so I opened the blinds and windows and my mood was changed.

The list could go on.

I had a need.

I asked God for some support and love.

He answered me with my angels.

Willing to Mourn With Those That Mourn

My heart has been a bit achey the past week or so. There are three of friends of mine that are struggling. Some with some giant things, other small things, and some will probably never overcome the challenges they face in this life. Big or small, they are all hurting.

In the Book of Mormon, Mosiah chapter 18, verses 8-13 we learn of what is promised to us and what we promise (a covenant) when we are baptized. Among other things, we promise to be "willing to bear one another's burdens, that they may be light;...to mourn with those that mourn; yeah, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort".

I was thinking about my friends today, I realize that it is not expected of me to "fix" their problems, or to make it all better. That is what the Atonement of Jesus Christ is for. His job is to heal. My job is bring others to Christ if I can, and love and serve. I'm not trying to fix. I just want to do well whatever it is that is actually in my power to do. So why so sad today? Today I think I am just doing what I have covenanted to be willing to do..to mourn, bear burdens, and comfort.

So I press on...

Welcome To My Apartment!

Welcome to my apartment...

"Spice a dish with Love and it pleases every Palate." My rack of Indian Spices from Nadia and Natasha. Made with LOVE! Just need some American ones now...


Small, but big enough for me.

Yep, I put it together all by myself! Thank goodness my tool box has an allen wrench attachment for my power tool! It would have taken me forever! I love this table, love, love, love it. I have never been a coaster person, but now that I have a table I spend good money on and built, I am reconsidering!

My neighbors surprised me with flowers. Perfect way to cheer up a dining room!

The sorting of the knick knacks began Sunday morning. All this has been in storage since high school. These are all from Canada, England, or Germany, given to me by my Grandma Kelm or Great-Grandma Vaile. Random keepsakes, I just had to take a picture.

My fridge is properly stocked. My brother LOVES me!



The living room still waiting for a couch.

I love that I can walk around my bedroom and not just walk around my bed.



Nice big counter. It also has its own large closet.


Hope you enjoyed the tour!

Flying

I did it, moved into my own apartment.

I've been telling my dreams to the scarecrow
About the places that I'd like to see
I say, "friend do you think I'll ever get there?"
Oh, but he just stands there smilin' back at me
So I confessed my sins to the preacher
About the love I've been prayin' to find
Is there a brown-eyed boy in my future, yeah
And he says, "girl, you've got nothin' but time."

But how do you wait for heaven?
And who has that much time?
And how do you keep your feet on the ground
When you know that you were born,
You were born to fly

My daddy he is grounded like the oak tree
My momma she is steady as the sun
Oh, you know I love my folks
But I keep starin' down the road
Just lookin' for my one chance to run
Hey, cause I will soar away like a blackbird
I will blow in the wind like a seed
I will plant my heart in the garden of my dreams
And I will grow up where I wander wild and free

Oh, How do you wait for heaven?
And who has that much time?
And how do you keep your feet on the ground
When you know, that you were born?
You were born, yeah, you were born to fly

So how do you wait for heaven?
And who has that much time?
And how do you keep your feet on the ground
When you know, that you were born
You were born to fly, yeah

You were born to fly, fly, fly, fly, hey

Ooo,Ooo,Ooo

Plan A

A friend asked me what I was planning on for New Year's Eve. She said she hoped I'd found someone cute to smooch at midnight. Well, that was plan A. However, Plan A has been postponed yet one more year. I replied to her email feeling kinda down, like Plan B was a lesser options. Shame on me! Here is what Plan B entailed...

I celebrated New Year's just how I wanted...The first decision I made was to NOT attend the New Year's Eve Dance. I can't remember the last time I did not attend it. I didn't miss it one bit! I celebrated by hanging out with my family, the Konkles, and the Princes, eating waffles, milk duds, chips and salsa and playing doubles ping-pong with my brother, a trivia game by the funny Dallan Prince, and socializing til 11 pm when some of the adults wanted to go to bed. Then I went to Desiree's apt and toasted in the new year with her and a glass of Martinelli's sparking cider. I was in bed just after 1:11 on 1/11/11. I got up at 6:30 am to go meet a nice big group of about 20 of us at Mt Bonnell to see the 1st sunrise of the year followed by Kerby Lane for breakfast where Abraham Martinez ended up paying for our table (4 girls). Then, I made black eyed peas and collard green soup for good luck and prosperity. Chanda Vaniman used to make it for us but since she moved to TN, I had to take matters into my own hands. In the afternoon Dad, Mom, Devin, and I headed to the Blanton Museum to see the Monet exhibit. We like to pretend we are cultured, although Devin says that is just a fancy word for something that is boring.

Although I hope soon I have a magical New Year's Eve with a kiss that sends sparks flying at the stroke of midnight, do I really have room for complaining?

I loved watching the first sunrise. (Patience Part II Blog Entry) There is something monumental about it. Just another morning perhaps, but I learned a great lesson last year that stuck with me. I stood there in anticipation doubting it was really going to happen, like I missed it somehow. It just seemed too bright outside for the sun not to have come out already. Then there it was, perfectly peaking up over the horizon. This year there was no doubt, I knew it was coming and I would know I had not missed it. This year I could rely on the faith and hope. Much like my life....

Last year I started with the desire to be more patient, dare to dream, dare to love, dare to be fearless. I still have HUGE desires of my heart I am longing for. There are things that did come to pass in 2010-a fabulous cruise with friends, academic achievement, graduation, became a licensed therapist, got a great job, won an award, turned 30 and survived, got my heart broken and survived, and tried my darndest to strengthen relationships in many areas of my life. I was patient, I was fearless, I did love, and I dreamed. The sunrise was beautiful. I accomplished much good and there is still so much I can do. Because of what I know happened last year, I can continue in the faith and hope of a great new year.

To quote Connie Summers. "If you are living righteously and striving daily to follow God's will for you, you are still on plan A." So maybe was I wanted in my head for New Year's was really plan B, instead I lived plan A...and what a wonderful plan that and the rest of this year can be!

Step one, moving into my very own apartment January 7th. Yep, that seems like an excellent place to start.