harder than it should be

"life's hard then you die"

or you just feel like this...

 truth. life is hard. and i will die someday. but is it really that hard? do i make it harder than it should be? i think yes. it's amazing that we can take the smallest things and make them seem like engulfing hurricanes. but it's not a hurricane. it's just your sink over flowing a little bit. but we freak out and run around in circles instead of shutting off the water. i have had my moments of overreaction. everyday of my life. something happens to me. someone tells me something. i see something. i panic and i forget to handle it. maybe if we take a step back and just look at our problems, we will notice that we are capable of handling them. 1 corinthians 10:13- " There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape , that ye may be able to bear it."



now, i know this verse specifically says "temptation" but  i think it applies difficult things in our life in general. God loves us and he will not suffer that we be given more than we can handle. handle. i think that how we handle hard things is a direct reflection of where our life is going. think about it. the handle bar of a bike can send us off the path and into the red ant hill or help us stay on the path. how i choose to handle my problems can send me off the deep end and into the red ant hill or help me stay on the right path. i choose to handle life. to take hold and just trust in my gut and my God. i read this devotional given at BYU-Idaho. it is AWESOME. read it and weep. or just read it. becuase it is really good.


http://www2.byui.edu/Presentations/Transcripts/Devotionals/2011_10_18_Wilkins.htm

I want to do this...

these are some of my favorites...

Summer...you tease me. You sit in hiding but give me reminders that you are there. Waiting. Just waiting. Summer, come quickly. Sweep me off my feet and take hold of my life. Bring me joy, adventure, sadness, love and sunshine. Lots and lots of sunshine. P.S. I'm so excited for you to come, I made an itinerary for us. 1. Go camping...a lot...
2. Roast marshmallows
3. Boating...water-skiing, tubing, swimming in nasty water, attempt this...

4. Perfect the J-Dawg Special Sauce
RECIPE:
3/4 c. Ketchup
3/4 c. Brown Sugar
1/4 c. Honey
1 tsp. Cider Vinegar
1 tsp. Soy Sauce
1/2 tsp. Onion Powder

5. Eat the perfected J-Dawg Special Sauce
6. Go to Las Vegas...as much as possible
7. Get a tan...or attempt the inevitable
8. Four-Wheeling
9. Roller-Blading
10. Swim, swim, swim, swim, swim, swim, swim, etc.
11. Read outside on my hammock
12. Grow my garden
13. Weed my garden
14. Keep weeding my garden
15. Weed
16. Go to the beach...it's calling me
17. Go sailing
18. Watch the entire Anne of Green Gables series...at least twice with my Bosom Friends

19. Go to Vegas again
20. BBQ until I cry...which won't happen...(the crying part)
21. Make butter for the 24th of July, Utah's Pioneer Day
22. Fourth of July. Need I say more?
23. Fireworks
24. Bachelorette
25. Watch the London 2012 Olympics

This is Michael. I used to have a secret crush on him...and by used to, I mean I still do...I had a poster of him in my room...don't judge. He has 14 Olympic Gold Medals.
26. Go Fishing
27. Baseball. Play it. Watch it. Dream about it.
28. Find out a way to make summer last forever

But, it's broken

I broke something. Something really important to me. Something that is irreplaceable. I broke it and I'm trying to fix it. How did I break it, you may ask? Well, I didn't treat it with enough care. I was foolish and didn't put it somewhere safe. I didn't cherish it like I should have, and now it's broken and I can never have the full thing again. I can never have what it was before. I can't have it because I was foolish.

I've been thinking a lot about the atonement. It covers broken things, right? Christ can fix anything. Can He fix this, too? Because I can't. No matter how I try to put the pieces together, I can't do it. My glue isn't strong enough, duct tape has failed me and I'm left with broken pieces. Should I just leave it? I can't do that. I need to fix it! I need to fix it! It's my fault it's broken. It means the world to me and I would be devastated to throw it away. Just fix it. Please.

The worst part is, part of what I broke, isn't even mine...

Today

The future. The past. I'm reading a book that is ridiculous in every aspect, but that's anthropology for you. However, the most recent chapter discusses time. Past, Present, Future. This has been something WEIGHING HEAVILY on my mind as of late. I think, "Wow, I've made so many mistakes...Wow, what is going to happen because of those mistakes?" I'm terrified of time. Afraid of losing time. The book I'm reading talks about the past as being part of us when it's over. It gets rooted in the earth, inside of our cells, and it supports us. Keeps us standing. I love that thought. The past becomes our foundation. Those mistakes that I've made, they taught me and now they are forever with me, to remind me that I can do better. I have learned a lot lately. The mistakes I've made this year have molded me into a better person, or at least I hope a better person.

The future. Scary, uncertain, yet exciting. The future sits in the horizon. Waiting for us. It will not show itself until it is time. It will not even give us a glimpse. It is patient and it waits. I am excited for the future. I anticipate the future everyday, because I only am acquainted with the past. I desire the future's friendship. But the future is wise to stay away until it is time.

The past and the future combine together to make the present. Right here. Right now. I live in the present. It is not scary, it is not part of me. It is simply here. And I forget to take advantage of it. I forget to let the present engulf me and I forget to enjoy the present. President Gordon B. Hinckley said, "Life is to be enjoyed, not merely endured." Why am I not enjoying right now? My present is amazing. Full of good things that I often take for granted. The present is a gift to me from the past and future. It is all they can do for me, to let me live right now.


Read "The Spell of the Sensuous" by David Abram for more weird stuff...

KONY 2012

LIFE

Life is...sad. Confusing. Full of Wonder. And sometimes Regret. SO we Pray. Hope. And worry. You know, it's funny how things don't work out. I've become more and more aware of how LIFE is not anything like this LIFE:


Life hurts and makes us wonder. It's hard and it's scary, but that's why we are here and that's why we have each other. To get through life and ENJOY it too. My life would be a lot more sad if I didn't have those people around me. Those people that sometimes drive me nuts, but mostly make me happy beyond comprehension. Life. It will all be worth it in the end. So, if any of you are struggling with life and it's difficulties, do the following in no particular order. it's worked for me:

1. Eat an apple. Super relaxing, surprisingly, I know. The crunch, the taste...it's just super fun.
2. Write in a journal. Writing down our most personal thoughts can help us sort through them and understand them on a whole new level.

3. Watch an episode of your favorite TV show...for me this is Full House...cheesy, charming and HILARIOUS.
4. Take a shower at night in the dark. Warning: leave a hall light on, or a lamp light on in the next room with the door cracked open. A little light is safer. BUT showering in the dark at night is so incredibly relaxing. I always sleep better after doing this. Don't try and shave your legs in the dark though...no workie.
5. Sing at the top of your lungs! Preferably when no one can hear you. That way you won't be self conscious. I usually bust out a Broadway tune or something from Glee. Don't mock me.

6. DANCE. Do this one alone as well. Sounds silly, but it is so fun. I dance to slower and more lyrical music. I also do this in the dark...I guess I love the dark...

7. Go running. Or walking. I do more walking...in all honesty, but this is new to me and it releases a lot of energy and stress. Yes, I did just discover this and now I'm addicted. I walk a bit then I sprint as hard as I can, then I walk and the cycle repeats. Do it. Just do it. Wear Nikes.

8. Read. A book. A story. Something that can let your imagination go crazy. Something mysterious or action packed. Something you've never read before.
9. Read something spiritual. Scriptures for me. Usually Book of Mormon. Love.
10. Pray. Hard. Often. Out loud...again alone. Because He cares too.


And watch this...it will make you smile.