Study: To Live

Your time is limited, don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma, which is living the result of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinion drowned your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition, they somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.         [Steve Jobs]

This thought hits a chord in my heart. Here is my problem...

I have fear. A lot of it.

I'm afraid of everything. What people think. What if the house burns down. What am I going to do with my life (now... "our" life). I can't go snorkeling... I'll get eaten by a shark. I can't go float down the river... I'll drown. (this tends to happens with water)

Did you know that fear is a learned behavior. It's true. (Here comes my psychology self...) We are conditioned to fear things. Little Albert anyone? 

But I've been asking myself lately...

Is fear worth it?

I decided its not.

It's not productive. It isn't efficient. It doesn't accomplish anything but ulcers. It wastes time, energy, and emotional construct.

Life IS for living. 

Life IS NOT for worrying about everything.

I've discovered an even greater appreciation for optimism. Sometimes it can be difficult to muster, but it conquers fear in a split second. I am in love with the observation made in "We Bought a Zoo"...

The word "COURAGE" is my life mantra. It has been for years. And honestly, I love it. I love being reminded that we have one life to live. Sometimes I need the reminder to do those crazy, out of the ordinary, spontaneous, memory-making experiences. Our every-day lives need those.

So here is my little blog post to myself as a reminder. I can do hard things. I can have courage. I will cultivate optimism... and I will enjoy what life has to offer. 

Current Study: Angels

I can't stop thinking about them: the angels in my life.

I love Elder Holland's description of Adam and Eve's experience of stepping into mortality:

"They knew this telestial world would contain thorns and thistles and troubles of every kind... [And] God knew the challenges they would face, He certainly knew how lonely and troubled they would sometimes feel. So He watched over His mortal family constantly, heard their prayers always, and sent prophets to teach, counsel, and guide them. But in times of special need, He sent angels, divine messengers, to bless His children, reassure them that heaven was always very close and that His help was always very near."

I can't seem to get that out of my mind. Elder Holland continues, "Seen or unseen they are always near."

They are always near. My heart is full of gratitude for the many tender mercies I've received when I haven't been left "lonely and troubled." I have been sustained by angels, seen and unseen.

"Indeed heaven never seems closer than when we see the love of God manifested in the kindness and devotion of people so good and so pure that angelic is the only word that comes to mind."

It blows my mind the many MANY times a friendly hug, a sincere greeting, a look of concern, a check-up call, a small note, words of encouragement, a quick email, a simple act of kindness, a long talk, an expression of love and hope, or just a simple post on this blog has been a tool of the Lord, and the giver-an angel. I don't have words to express the deep gratitude for the divine help I've received from both sides of the veil.

I add my own witness to Elder Holland's, "I testify of angels, both the heavenly and mortal kind. In doing so I am testifying that God never leaves us alone, never leaves us unaided in the challenges that we face." I know now I can face challenges to come, both global and personal, both great and small. And even I can act as an emissary for another in need.

"I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left... my Spirit shall be [with you], and mine angels round about you, to bear you up." D&C 84:88

Study: Gratitude

I'm a copy-cat! Thanks for the idea Shalyn!

100 Things I'm Grateful for...

1. My incredible mom!
2. Uplifting music
3. My beautiful mountains!
4. An all to sensible father who keeps me in line
5. Christmas lights! (Yes ours are already up)
6. A good education
7. Fall leaves
8. Disney movies
9. Trials that continue to remind me of all my blessings
10. Laughter
11. Phone calls from my grandparents
12. Hugs
13. True friends... you know who you are!
14. Family History!
15. Jamba Juice
16. My blog!
17. Snowball fights
18. Good memories
19. Temples!
20. Scrapbooks
21. My journal
22. Thank you Cards
23. New friends
24. Good crys... yes I am grateful for them
25. Rain
26. Snowboarding
27. The Spirit helping me along the way
28. Horseback riding
29. A certain country song I like to sing REALLY loud
30. Books
31. Conference Issue Ensign
32. Brandon playing football with me all day!
33. My quilts tied by grandma
34. My house
35. String cheese
36. Views that take your breath away
37. My little shadow... Brittany
38. Chocolate Cake
39. Missionaries: Sis. Briggs, Sis. Smoot, Sis. Jones :D
40. My bishop
41. Smiles from strangers
42. Pictures!
43. A good recipe
44. Journey... yes the Band
45. My super duper laptop
46. Spending time with my family
47. New markers
48. Catching up with friends I love
49. Familysearch.com Indexing! You should all do it!
50. Impromptu get-togethers
51. Peace
52. Quotes. I'm a sucker for a good one
53. My jeep!
54. Hazelnut hot chocolate...hmmm
55. Kind words
56. Those good people who fix my computer!
57. Inspirational moments
58. The scriptures
59. Those inspirational moments WITH the scriptures!
60. My cell phone. At least I think I'm grateful for it
61. Men who will change my oil so I don't have to
62. Hymns:
63. If You Could Hie to Kolob
64. O My Father
65. I Stand All Amazed
66. Lord I Would Follow Thee
67. Praise to the Man
68. Scarfs... especially in Rexburg
69. BYU Idaho
70. Piano Music
71. Opportunities
72. Service
73. Good Health
74. Highlighters
75. People who REALLY care, and don't judge
76. Times to sacrifice
77. The BYUI Activities Program
78. Ivie Family Christmas Party
79. Card games
80. My tennis shoes
81. Hope...I'm VERY grateful for that
82. Those times you feel your heart ache and the only thing you can do is give it to the Lord
83. My camera!
84. Jokes
85. Hitting my target heart for an extended amount of time! Yeah for exercise!
86. The Quiet Study Section of the library
87. Flowers
88. Sunshine
89. Modern Medicine
90. Warm homemade bread
91. Holidays from school
92. A competitive game. Me competitive?
93. Temple Square
94. Tender Mercies
95. People who are FILLED with optimism
96. Sincere Compliments
97. Elastics
98. The Atonement
99. The Gospel
100. My Savior

Study: Water

Man! Weren't the Olympics awesome! There is something about a dedicated athlete that just inspires me! Dara Torres was incredible! Even though she didn't get her individual gold I'm still impressed! And Michael Phelps... whoa! Now there is a powerhouse! I can't believe someone can swim that fast! It was so much fun watching him meet his Olympic goals (and kicking everyone else's butt)!

So I have a confession. I hate water. Actually, its more of a love-hate relationship. I love water. It hates me. Whenever I tell people that they don't believe me. I put on a good game face around water so you wouldn't usually be able to tell that we don't get along. Now don't get me wrong, one of my very favorite past times is looking at it when we're at the beach or the lake. Plus I really enjoy a good canoe, boat, or raft ride.

However, I've never liked it just me and it (unless its a bubble bath in my own safe bathroom).

Well I recently made a personal goal to complete a triathlon.... a mini one. Baby steps, starting small! And as you all know a third of that is... swimming. Yuck. "So what do we do? We Swim! Swim!" (Thanks Dory)

I started swim lessons yesterday. Ha ha... it's true! When I got in the water the instructor looked at me and asked, "Do you have a phobia of the water?" I laughed and asked if it counts as a phobia if I won't put my face in the water. She smiled and I'm sure quickly realized she had her work cut out for her.

I would like to announce that at the end of the day I had successfully put my head under the water MANY times! AND I learned how to dive in! (Special thanks to Flannel and Jason! You guys ROCK!)

So thus begins my study of water. Wish me luck. I hope the next time I see you won't be at my funeral. ;)