Monday, August 30, 2010

Blessing #2

....9 a.m. church. Okay, so I may not always consider this one a blessing, but as of yesterday, blessing would be the perfect word to describe my new church schedule. Here's why...I spent my afternoon at Rock Canyon Park. This may not seem like a big deal to anyone else, but coming from a girl with a desk job and no window in the office, this experience was much needed.

For all those who don't know anything about Rock Canyon Park, let me paint you a picture. Imagine yourself sitting on a large, grassy hill. It's a perfect summer/fall day. Your eyes are closed and you can feel slight winds coming from the northwest. The sun is high in the sky, its rays offering just enough warmth to combat the wind chill. Slowly, you open your eyes and take in the sight in front of you. Directly ahead, you see a lake spanning your entire view north to south, its waves visible through the streams of sunlight. To the left, you see a temple pillar surrounded by trees, Moroni atop the pillar, trumpet pointing toward the east. As you turn around, you look up and watch clouds slowly progressing over the tops of enormous mountains. The view is breathtaking. What's more impressive though is the feeling these sights have produced within you...the feeling of peace.

This was my experience yesterday. As I sat on that hill in Rock Canyon Park, I couldn't help but think of Alma when he says to Korihor, "yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator." It's so easy to forget the beauty around you when you are caught up in the "thick of thin things." I just want to say how grateful I am for the reminder I had yesterday. There is a God and not only has he created this beautiful planet on which I live, but he also created me. I am one of God's creations, his daughter, and I am of great worth. I often forget this. To anyone who may read this, I hope my "tender mercy" experience can remind you of your great worth as well. Heavenly Father loves you and will provide experiences of comfort specific to your needs. He is always there for you as well as your brother and Savior, Jesus Christ. I can't express how much this experience meant to me. My testimony was strengthened and I hope never to forget the feelings I had.

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Blessing #1

I've often thought about starting a blog, however, I've always associated blogs with married couples so I haven't dared to start my own since, let's face it, we single folks just aren't as interesting without all the cute pictures of kids or grandkids that other's blogs possess :) Recently though, I decided I would start one anyway.

So...here it is. I want to use this blog as a gratitude journal of sorts. I seem to never have time to write in my journal and yet find plenty of time to waste on Facebook, iTunes, etc. So I figured I'd be more likely to write if it were on a blog since I'm on my computer so much anyway. Plus, I can make it cute, so really it's a win/win situation ;)

Anyway, let the counting of blessings begin. Blessing #1 for me today is...drumroll please....MUSIC! I have a somewhat small, no, maybe a medium...okay, perhaps a large obsession with music. For example, I got a new job a few weeks ago and discovered that I did not have speakers on my new computer. Let's just say, I was quite distraught. I brought headphones the next day and listened to music during my lunch breaks for the next week. Luckily, a week later, speakers were ordered and all was well in the work world again :)

Music has the ability to calm me when I am down and has often given me a more positive perspective on life. The lyrical and instrumental combinations speak to me in ways that other things often cannot. I like to find songs that carry positive messages. I've been on a Christian music craze as of late because of the messages that are conveyed in the lyrics. Although she's not a Christian artist, I wanted to share a verse from a Carrie Underwood song titled "Temporary Home" that particularly touched me recently.

Old man, hospital bed,
The room is filled with people he loves.
And he whispers don't cry for me,
I'll see you all someday.
He looks up and says, "I can see God's face.

This is my temporary Home
It's not where I belong.
Windows and rooms that I'm passin' through.
This was just a stop, on the way to where I'm going.
I'm not afraid because I know... this was
My temporary home.

This is our temporary home.

The first time I heard this song, I had a flashback of being in a hospital room myself, holding my grandpa's hand as he was preparing to leave this "temporary home." I remember feeling so incredibly sad for not spending more time with him. But as the song states, and as I know, my time with my grandpa has not really come to an end. I will see him again. This life is our temporary home, until we return to our Father in Heaven. How grateful I am for having this knowledge.

Anyway, I could go on for hours about several other songs, but this post would likely become quite burdensome to read. So I'll end with a quote I found about music that rings true to my life:

"Music speaks what cannot be expressed,
Soothes the mind and gives it rest,
Heals the heart and makes it whole,
Flows from Heaven to the soul."