My new ward is pretty cool so far, people are really nice and inviting, I have a calling, and so far it's pretty good. I may be getting awkward questions soon though, I already got one tonight about "hey I noticed, why did the ward directory have your last name as Smith?" Ugh that's the last thing that I want. Apparently my last bishop didn't change that on my records for me, so now my married last name is floating around, which I do not like. Haha maybe no one will notice, really I just don't want to have to explain that to a bunch of random people. Well I guess I'll just figure that out if it even happens.
I have a job now, prettymuch the coolest job in the world!! http://idcutah.com/ that is where I work, Innovative Design Concepts of Utah, it is so sweet! I actually look forward to waking up every morning and going to work! I have to get up at like 7:30, which is quite the accomplishment, and a blessing that I have been able to sleep and get up that early! I really love my job, I was hired on for Christmas but there is definitely a chance that they will keep me on after the season is over! Everyone pray that it works out! I would love to keep this job! I've been getting decorations ready for an event coming up next week I think, in the conference center, but seriously, check out the website and just look at the pictures of some of the things that this company does, it's so sick! Speaking of which I should be in bed soon...
I'm getting ready for Halloween, one of my favorites :) I'm trying to come up with an awesome costume, and usually I can pull something pretty sweet off. I just watched The Nightmare Before Christmas to get into the spirit! Man I wish I had more exciting things to talk about!
I did have a cool experience last week! Well I've had lots of experiences in the last few months, I've been so blessed that things have been working out so well. But it is still hard dealing with well heartache and trying to figure out why things happen the way that they do sometimes, which if I'm not careful that one will drive me crazy... But last week I was reading my scriptures and was reading in the book of Ether, chapter 6 I believe, and it was the chapter right after the Jaredites had finished their barges and were getting in them to cross the sea, in the chapter you read that the ships were tight like a dish, and prettymuch they got in, closed them up, and prayed and trusted the Lord that they would get to the promised land...
5 And it came to pass that the Lord God caused that there should be a furious wind blow upon the face of the waters, towards the promised land; and thus they were tossed upon the waves of the sea before the wind.
6 And it came to pass that they were many times buried in the depths of the sea, because of the mountain waves which broke upon them, and also the great and terrible tempests which were caused by the fierceness of the wind.
7 And it came to pass that when they were buried in the deep there was no water that could hurt them, their vessels being tight like unto a dish, and also they were tight like unto the ark of Noah; therefore when they were encompassed about by many waters they did cry unto the Lord, and he did bring them forth again upon the top of the waters.
8 And it came to pass that the wind did never cease to blow towards the promised land while they were upon the waters; and thus they were driven forth before the wind.
9 And they did sing praises unto the Lord; yea, the brother of Jared did sing praises unto the Lord, and he did thank and praise the Lord all the day long; and when the night came, they did not cease to praise the Lord.
10 And thus they were driven forth; and no monster of the sea could break them, neither whale that could mar them; and they did have light continually, whether it was above the water or under the water.
12 And they did land upon the shore of the promised land. And when they had set their feet upon the shores of the promised land they bowed themselves down upon the face of the land, and did humble themselves before the Lord, and did shed tears of joy before the Lord, because of the multitude of his tender mercies over them.
In verse 5 is talks about how the Lord actually causes the storms to come down on them and it keeps talking throughout the verses about how fierce these storms were, mountains of waves, tempests, it even talks about sea monsters and things like that. I was blessed to be given a new perspective on life, we all hear about and experience life's storms, and we always hear that the Lord will calm the storm, or that he may not calm the storm but he will calm his child, but in verse 8 it says that "the wind never did cease to blow towards the promised land" meaning that sometimes, he causes the storm but only to push us towards something better, I mean it makes sense but it hit me hard the other night, that sometimes he sends such fierce storms to get us to somewhere way better than where we are, we just have to trust him, and pray and do all that we can to push forward, and sometimes, like the Jaredites in the barges, we are powerless to fight the storms, all we can do is trust that the Lord is taking us somewhere better, that the wind will not cease to blow us towards our own "promised lands" I feel like my words here aren't nearly enough to convey the feeling of understanding I had in regard to my own life and to the trials I have faced lately, trials that were things that I never ever dreamed I would be called to face, and man was I caught of guard and totally blindsided by some of them. But when I read that scripture it was like the spirit was telling me that all of this crap was really going to be worth it someday, that the Lord really is using these trials and storms to take me to something better, and that I just need to trust him and the guidance I receive from the spirit. I once had a friend who told me that when the Lord gives us trials, it means that he has not forgotten about us, and to add to that, it means that he has something better for us if we can but trust him and do our best to endure the storms of life. Again, I don't even think my words are enough to portray the knowledge and understanding that I was blessed with. Pray and read your scriptures and you really will be blessed with answers! Hope that wasn't too much to share but I felt like I should :)
I hope that all is well with you my friends and that you know how much I love you and value the amazing friendships I have been so blessed with throughout my life. Despite the hard things, I am so blessed.
And now I should be getting to bed :) goodnight and much love!
