be a goddess

Artist Selina Fenech defined a goddess as:


"A woman who is in the process of learning to know, accept and love herself on all levels, Mind Body and Spirit. A woman who, because she focuses on personal growth and self awareness, experiences a life increasingly filled with peace, love, joy, passion and fun. A woman that understands she has unlimited capacity to make her life anything she wants. A woman who is inspired to give to those around her our of her sense of gratitude and abundance." 

I like that.  

a little early-morning coldplay

here's a little love to start your day.  one of my very favorite songs! <3
happy thursday!

happy independence day!

We had a fabulous 4th of July.  I'm home in Idaho for the summer so I spent the holiday with my family and also with Ariel, my dear friend and roommate at BYU.  I was so happy to have Ariel here and to be able to show her my hometown.  Idaho Falls is such a beautiful place and I love the people here.  

We went to the local parade in the morning; then we went to Rexburg to spend time with some extended family (including cousins who live in England that I hadn't seen in four years!! SO good to see them!); later my sisters, Ariel and I came back to Idaho Falls and met up with some friends for the fireworks show. I was told that our fireworks show put on by Melaleuca was recently rated #2 in the nation.  I don't know about that, but I do know every year Idaho Falls enjoys an incredible show and that this year's show lived up to its reputation! We were in awe as we watched 40 minutes of beautiful fireworks in the sky.  During the finale we listened to "Come Thou Fount" and I thought about how thankful I am not only to live in this free country, but also to know that Jesus Christ made all of our lives here possible. 


God bless America! 

before the fireworks

Mother Teresa: "Do it Anyway"

Mother Teresa: “Do it Anyway”

People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self centered;

Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish ulterior motives;

Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;

Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;

Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;

Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they might be jealous;

Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;

Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;

Give the best you’ve got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis it is between you and God;

it was never between you and them anyway.

slowing down, finding peace

Did you ever think it would come to this? Information withdrawal?  Really? 

Let me back up here.

Over the past two weeks I've been trying to slow down because I feel like I'm in the midst of chaos so often that I've lost time to just "be still" and think.  I've been working to cut out the extra "noise" in my life and just "smell the roses."  I've been trying to live in the moment, appreciate what's around me, get more in-tune with myself, and most importantly, contemplate my relationship with God.  I've been doing simple things like meditating 20 minutes daily, going on walks and bike rides, sitting outside and watching the sunrise more often, staying in bed for a few extra moments in the morning just to listen to the birds chirp outside my window, reading books I want to read, making time to talk with people and be more aware of what they need.

It was hard at first, because since my junior year in high school I've been cramming things into my life--always trying to do more.  I think I believed, "The more I do, the better I'll be."  (wrong!) So of course slowing down was hard at first!  But after only two weeks of slowing down, I look back and wonder why I chose to go at such a crazy pace.  I now feel so much more peaceful because I'm more in-touch with myself!  I'm making time to contemplate what life's about, where I'm headed, and what God wants me to accomplish.  So slowing down and creating a more peaceful lifestyle has been quite an exciting revolution for me.

I've been doing a lot of thinking and praying about what I want to change in my life to become the person I want to be and to live the best life I can--cause here's the fact:  We're only living this life once, so we've gotta make it good!  I've been thinking about this talk by Elder Oaks.  In our personal efforts to come closer to Christ, we need to figure out the best things in our lives--and then choose to pursue the best things over the "good" and "better"options.

One last thought: When I'm more in-touch with myself, it's easier for me to be more in-touch with others.  Rather than becoming more selfish, I begin to look outward and to be a more giving person.  I think it's easier to love people when we feel inner peace.  

* * *

<3

"they were men who were true"

I'm tired of hearing bad news in the media about men who make poor choices (it's rather discouraging) so today I'm going to write about a fantastic example of men who made fantastic choices.

The Book of Mormon records an account of 2,000 sons of the people of Ammon who left their homes and families to defend their people in battle (time period = about 63 BC; location = somewhere in the ancient Americas in the land called Bountiful; commander = Helaman).   These men came to be known as "Helaman's stripling warriors," and they were men known for the strength God gave them for their faithfulness and diligence.

Del Parson's painting, "Farewell My Stripling Warrior," depicts one of the young men's mothers bidding him farewell. 

You can see more of his work here.

Mormon described them as follows:

"They were all young men, and they were exceedingly valiant for courage, and also for strength and activity; but behold, this was not all--they were men who were true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted.  Yea, they were men of truth and soberness, for they had been taught to keep the commandments of God and to walk uprightly before him" (Alma 53:20-21).

Though I sometimes worry about things like this, I know there are also men who are choosing to be "true at all times," to "walk uprightly," and to live with courage and strength.  I know it because I know men in my life--my dad, other male family members, my professors, friends, leaders in my church and other churches--who exemplify what it means to be righteous men, even in a world where values like integrity, fidelity, and hard work are too often forgotten.

Now that is something to be happy about!  So I'll wear a big smile today as I remember the fantastic men in my life.  Thanks for your strength!

banana ice cream.

This tastes so much better than store-bought ice cream, and it makes ya feel good, too.  You could even eat it as a pre-run snack.  Now that's awesome.

Banana ice cream:


2 very ripe bananas, frozen.
1/3 cup almond milk.


Place the frozen bananas and almond milk in a high performance blender (like a Vitamix) and blend til smooth.  Mmmmmm! 

seeing who we are and who we can be

I've been sitting in on one of Brother Bott's famous classes this term.  He's taught me so much about learning to see who I am, and he's inspired me to consider my potential as God's child.  Perhaps the reason why Bro. Bott is so popular is because he's learned to love other people and see everyone on equal terms--more like the way Father in Heaven sees us--and he conveys God's love every time he teaches.  He's always reminding us of our inheritance from God--of our divinity--and how we just need to learn to see it!

A few of my favorite pieces of wisdom from Brother Bott:

“Why don’t we just accept the fact that God says we’re [inherently] good and then act the part?”

“You’ve got to see who you are.”

“You’re not here to prove it to God;  you’re here to prove it to yourself.”

“You were born to create and born to control…you need to step up to the plate and take control of who you are and what you do.  You’re not a puppet.” 

"That's the secret [to beating depression and negativity]: work, work, work."

"If you wanna go to heaven you better identify the things that aren't gonna be there and get rid of them."  In this lecture, Bro. Bott was actually talking about sulking--telling us not to mope around, but instead to have good attitudes--cause guess what: God doesn't sulk :)  There will be no pessimism in heaven.  

"We all go where we want to go. If you want to make it to the Celestial Kingdom, live the celestial law."

"If I don’t make it to the Celestial Kingdom it will not be because of what God didn’t do for me—it will be because of what I refused to do for myself."

"Life doesn't start to become fun until you learn to laugh at yourself."
-Brother Bott

acroyoga

I just heard of this thing called acroyoga, and I'm amazed.

There are no words to describe how insanely cool this is--so you can just watch josh maready's video (maready, by the way, also just so happens to be insanely cool.  Check out his photography--WOW).




See? Amazing!  I'd like to know how many years of practice and hours of sweat this kind of fitness takes to achieve.  I'm left thinking--as Oskar would say in Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close--"What the?  What the what the?"

I am not always right.

One of my best friends and I keep touch by writing letters--yes, real snail-mail letters!  She's very dear to me and I appreciate her insight and wisdom.  As I reread one of her letters tonight, a few sentences stuck out as just what I needed to learn today:

"I feel like I've grown as a person so much in these short months of marriage, primarily in the departments of patience and biting my tongue.  I've learned I'm not always right.  There is always another way, sometimes a better way, to accomplish a task."

We all live, in great part, inside our own brains.  It's normal, of course, and it has to be that way.  But I need to learn to get outside of my own head more often and listen to what all these other awesome brains have to say!  We all have different talents and ideas and experiences and perspectives to help each other out. So cool.

This is what I wrote to put in my notebook of wisdom tonight:

I am not always right.

There are better ways to accomplish things than by my ideas alone.  Listen to others, respect their ideas and opinions, and be open-minded. Remember that God knows all truth and that we work together to come to know the truth He knows.  This is the beauty of working with others!  Each person possesses unique strength to contribute to the world—and unique talents that can teach and enlighten.  Wisdom means recognizing the truth that others have and then adding it to my own knowledge of truth.    

notebook of wisdom

Decided to start a book of wisdom (so I became more wise, of course).  It's a big binder and it's going to be filled with things I learn.  Its purposes are to help me:

1) Recognize what I learn
2) Remember what I learn
3) Apply what I learn

This is a good little 3-step formula for getting better at life, which is definitely what I'm here to do.

As Christians in the last days

We, as Christians in the last days, are up against quite a lot.  It's not exactly in fashion to be followers of Christ and to be working to become more like Him; with media constantly mocking sacred matters, with people preaching science and technology over religion, with false prophets producing confusing new fads and "solutions" we're supposed to follow to find truth--it's easy to get lost and wonder where to turn to know what's real and what's a lie.

Thankfully, Paul promises us that the scriptures help us know how to discern between lies and truth, and how to become people "of God, perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works" (2 Timothy 3:17).  I'm thankful to have God's words in the scriptures as a resource, support, and teacher in my life.

2 Timothy 3 begins with Paul telling us what to watch out for in this world (and what not to become ourselves!): "This know [ye] also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than loves of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.  For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth" (2 Tim 3: 1-7).

Paul was right--our world is teeming with these characteristics.  And they do "creep into" our homes and they easily distract us with promises of power, prestige, and wealth.  But they can't bring true, lasting happiness.  So I never want to be one of the "silly women" who becomes deceived.  Instead I want to learn the knowledge that endures beyond this life.  I like what Elder Wirthlin said: "How foolish is he who spends his days in the pursuit of things that rust and fade away.  How wise is he who spends his days in the pursuit of eternal life."

Paul goes on to explain that through all the "persecutions" and "afflictions" he went through, the Lord delivered Him from all of them.  He warns that we will also suffer and be mocked, but that we can continue in our faith--and the scriptures will strengthen us by giving us the knowledge (TRUTH!) we need to withstand opposition from the evils of our day that he just described in verses 1-7.  

"Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.  But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.  But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.   All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works" (2 Tim 3:12-17).  

I love the scriptures and I know they teach the truths that we can count on, because they're God's truths rather than man-created theories.  Each time I read the scriptures my mind makes new connections and I know what I need to change in my life.  I feel calm and at peace when I contemplate God's words, because I know they are helping me in my own search for truth.  They give me strength to stay faithful even when the world doesn't see faith as in-vogue.  

Even when it's hard, all of us as Christians in the last days "can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth [us]" (Philippians 4:13).  

“All health and vitality [are] the outward reflection of a pure heart and right intent”

–Baron Baptiste

"we are called to support and heal rather than condemn"

he makes me cry.

loving the Christian genre

Lately I've been really into the Christian music genre.  I listen in the morning when I get ready for the day and also sometimes walking to class, and I always have a big smile on my face as this music communicates  the JOY of Christ's love!  If you ever need a pick-me up, or just want a great song to listen to, here are some of my favorites (sorry some of the videos aren't so great):

we radiate what we are.

In a religion class the other night, our teacher gave us this quote by David. O. McKay:

"There is one responsibility which no man can evade; that responsibility is his personal influence.  Man's unconscious influence is the silent, subtle radiation of his personality--the effect of his words and his actions on others.  This radiation is tremendous.  Every moment of life man is changing, to a degree, the life of the whole world.


Every man has an atmosphere which is affecting every other man.  He cannot escape for one moment this radiation of his character, this constant weakening or strengthening of others.  Man cannot evade the responsibility by merely saying it is an unconscious influence.


Man can select the qualities he would permit to be radiated.  He can cultivate sweetness, calmness, trust, generosity, truth, justice, loyalty, nobility, and make them vitally active in his character.  And by these qualities he will constantly affect the world.


This radiation, to which I refer, comes from what a person really is, not from what he pretends to be....


Life is a state of radiation and absorption.  To exist is to radiate.  To exist is to be the recipient of radiation."


I love this quote!  During every moment in our lives, we're radiating our existence to the universe. And we're either giving or taking. We can choose to give life rather than take it away as we literally strengthen those around us.  We are--for better or worse--changing the world every day by what we choose to do.  COOL!

for Mother's Day

The following is an excerpt from Margaret D. Nadauld's message, "A Woman of Faith."  It reminds me of my own mother and many of the women who have influenced my life; it also reminds me of the woman I want to be :)  Happy Mother's Day!

"A woman of faith is fearless. She fears no evil, for God is with her (Psalm 23:4).  There is no ambiguity, no uncertain trump in her life. She can live a principled life because she studies the doctrine and teachings of a perfect teacher, the Master. She is a noble example to all who know her. She is less than perfect, of course, not because she doesn't have perfect principles or the perfect example in Christ, but because she is human...

A woman of faith loves the Lord. She wants Him to know it by the life she lives, by the words she speaks, by the service she renders to His children, by her every action. She knows that He loves her even though she is imperfect and still trying to be better. She knows that when she does her very best, that it is enough, as President Hinckley has told us.

A woman of faith is blessed by faithful men in her life who hold the priesthood of God and honor this privilege: her father...husband, brothers, sons. They value her and the divine gifts given by God to His daughter. They sustain and encourage, and they understand the great mission of her life as a woman. They love her; they bless her. They are in turn blessed by this woman of faith as they walk the path of life together. They know, as scripture teaches, that "two are better than one. . . . For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow" (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10).

I express my gratitude for wonderful women of faith, for great, noble men, and for my beloved family, who have lifted me up and inspired me throughout my life." 

when in disagreement, remember...

One aspect of maturity is the ability to listen to someone else's viewpoint with respect and consideration, whether or not the person's opinion matches your own.

One aspect of wisdom is the ability to respond to a disagreement by first showing that you understand where the person is coming from--or, if you don't, that you appreciate their views and would like some clarification--and by then gently explaining your own views without attacking the other person.

One aspect of intelligence is the ability to use reason, rather than feelings, to make valid your claim or the principle in which you are explaining.

One aspect of charity is the ability to embrace people, whether or not they agree with you, as individuals in the human family.

One aspect of humility is recognizing that we all are incredibly flawed; we all hold prejudices and we are all, in many points, misguided.  Thus, one aspect of humility includes understanding the necessity of listening to others' viewpoints so we can find out when we are wrong and then properly adjust our own viewpoints.   

One aspect of love is the ability to recognize and respect the divine light in every human being, and to view each being as equally important as oneself.