Smile

“The only way to get through life is to laugh your way through it. You either have to laugh or cry. I prefer to laugh. Crying gives me a headache.” -Marjorie Pay Hinckley

Have you ever stopped to think about how wonderful a simple smile is? Smiles are one of the few things that are understood by everyone despite race, culture, religion, or age.  Laughter and a simple smile can go a long way.  You never know the impact that it can have. I have noticed that a smile and humor lightens up the day of the patients I see.  I have also noticed how the smile and good humor of others have brightened my day. I have the belief that no matter what is occurring around the world or in your personal life that there is always something to laugh and smile about.  Life is all about perspective. Life viewed with a frown and tears just causes more sorrow. Life with a smile and humor just makes things look much better.  Now don't get me wrong there is nothing wrong with crying...believe me I have shed my share. But, after you have released a few tears...chin up and act upon your situation with a smile on your face!

The Temple.

On February 9 I was able to go to Oquirrh Mountain LDS temple and received my own endowments.  For those of you who are not members of the LDS church, visit this link to learn more about LDS temples:  Blessings of the Temple.

It has been such a source of strength, peace, knowledge, and direction over the last few months as I  have been making many decisions. I am so grateful for the blessings of the temple.  This week has been one of those no good, terrible, very bad weeks. Today I was planning on going to the temple after work because I knew it would make me feel much better.  However, my co-workers informed me it was closed until the end of the month.  I was so disappointed! I realized how much I have taken my close proximity to the temples for granted.  Most people around the world do not live in close proximity to a temple, and therefore they do not have the ability to go to the temple on any given day they want.  Today I also received a message from my aunt.  She explained how important the temple has been to her during her trials.  I know that through the blessings of the temple I will be given extra strength and power to help me through this journey of life. There are no blessings greater than the temple on this earth. 

Family

I am grateful for my family. The hardest thing about moving to Twin Falls was coming to a new place where I didn't know anyone. I loved being in Logan where I was only an hour and half from the family or minutes away from all my cousins who attend USU.  The last few days have been particularly hard...But with my family's help the hard times are much easier. They have been there to love and support me through the thick and thin. They brighten my life everyday through daily phone calls/text messages and humor.  I appreciate my family for going out of their way to make the changes I am going through a little bit easier. Thank you for your advice.  And yes, Kelton, I even liked your advice to not "be negatory, be suppository!" Your testimonies have helped me have the courage and faith required to put a smile on my face even when life doesn't go as planned.  Thank you for teaching me to put my focus on the most important things in life.  Not only do I have the support of my parents and siblings but I also have 3 grandparents, 26 aunts/uncles, and 53 cousins who I know I can always rely on.  My aunts have been like my second moms and in the case of Holli and Trisha...Sisters. I know few families who are as united and close as mine...and there is nothing I would change about it. Thank you for praying for me. Thank you for coming to show your love and support in all that I do. Thank you for auntie/cousin girls nights. Thank you for cousin shopping trips. Thank you for the phone calls/text messages. Thank you for your advice and love.  Your service, prayers, and examples do not go unnoticed.  I feel like the most loved girl in the world! I love you all!

Joy in the Journey

The last month of my life can be briefly summed up in one word. Change. And...holy fetch did it change.  Here is what I have been up to:

1. Was offered a dietitian position in Twin Falls
2. Graduated with my Master's degree...No more school for me!
3. Left behind familiarity and moved to Twin Falls
4. Became roommates with a cool girl named Becky
5. Started my first "real" job
6. Learn, learn, learn, learn and train, train, train....oh the joys of beginning a new job 
7. Roommate search...Becky got a new job!

All this change has brought on a whirlwind of emotion. It has been HARD! My faith has been tried greater in this last month then at any other time.  I have been reading A Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl.  This book has allowed me to see that the only thing that cannot be taken away from me or changed without my consent is my reaction and attitude to the circumstance. In the October 2008 General Conference President Monson talked about change in his talk Finding Joy in the Journey. In this talk, he quoted a well known author when he said, "Both abundance and lack [of abundance] exist simultaneously in our lives, as parallel realities. It is always our conscious choice which secret garden we will tend...when we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that's present-love, health, family, friends, work, the joys of nature, and personal pursuits that bring us [happiness]-the wasteland of illusion falls away and we experience heaven on earth." It is so easy to dwell on the negative, rather than the looking around at and seeing all that is going right.  When we pause to look at the beauty around us we will be able to find happiness in the bleakest of circumstances.