It's Not a Coinkydink

This last weekend I went to Martin's Cove with my ward. I honestly did not want to go. I was really bummed that our ward had chosen to go to a desert instead of going boating or camping at a glorious place. But I decided to go anyway because I kept thinking that there would be something there for me.

To make a long story short, everything worked out for my benefit (not by coincidence). I found someone to cover my two jobs, a friend offered me a ride, I met many people who seemed genuinely INteResTeD iN GetTiNg To kNoW ME, and I received answers to prayer while walking around in sacred ground.

Hiking up to the Martin's Cove where so many had sought refuge from a horrible storm, I felt like the veil was very thin and pioneers who had suffered and died during their trip to Utah seemed to surround me. Our leaders provided the story of a person who had been part of the Willie-Martin company to each of us, and we were to read it once we arrived at the cove. My story was of a little boy, Peter H. McBride, who traveled with his family to go to the promised land. It was no coincidence that I got that story because I relate better to children. I felt a special connection to this little boy, who's faith pulled him through many difficulties including the death of his father after he had helped others cross the freezing river.

It was no coincidence that as I thought of what this particular group went through, my mind kept going back to the fact that they TrusTEd FuLLy in the Lord. I had almost forgotten what that was like. This reminded me of the complete faith I have had in the past and that it is faith that can help us through every day. It is that faith that has brought many miracles in my life.

It was no coincidence that I was one of the first to get across the Sweetwater River, that sacred place where three young men sacrificed their lives to save so many who had no more to give of themselves. They not only saved their lives, but also provided hope to those who had lost it. As I watched over one hundred ward members crossing this cold river with the help of some of our priesthood holders, I asked myself, why did those young men help the pioneers get across, when death may have seemed much sweeter then? Their trials were not going to end after that crossing. At that moment the feeling came that they did it because of love. They truly loved these people because they saw them as children of God and they wanted to make their trials lighter. I thought of how we can't stop people's trials from happening, but we can help them through them if we have love. I had forgotten that PraYiNG fOR TRuE LoVe for others every day can make such a difference.

Finally, it is no coincidence that as I visited a ward on Sunday (as I was not able to go to mine), the bishopric member who conducted said that the youth from that ward had just gone on Trek and opened up the whole meeting to those young men and women who had just experienced something similar to me. The meeting ran over about 30 min and it was well worth it. I was very touched by their faith and their testimonies reminded me again of what it is like to have the Spirit with you always. All the young men talked about how much they appreciated the women in their lives and how they hoped to someday be worthy to marry a faithful young woman. I remembered the KiND oF PeRsoN I wAnT To BE.

I know it is not by coincidence all these things took place to help me remember the important principles I had almost forgotten.

Taking Chances & Guitar Picks

Last night I went to a GrEaT COncErT. It has become a ritual of mine try to get a musician's guitar pick during or after the concert. I think picks represent the musician's love for music and the magic they create.  And lets face it, who wouldn't want to have something that was used by a famous artist? But trying to get picks is definitely something I would have never done a few years ago.

 Lady Antebellum's pick       

Here is a little story I'd like to tell: I love playing the guitar, it fills me up with so much joy and peace. It is definitely a getaway for me. By no means am I a professional player, as a matter of fact I am not very good, but that's not the point. I started playing the guitar because I loved acoustic music and I loved to sing, so you put the two together and the next thing I knew I was learning to play so I could accompany myself.

I think everyone has something that they would love to do but sometimes don't because they (including myself) may not ever be as good as David and Miranda. My take on that is: who cares!!! If you do like it, then just go for it. You don't have to do it perfectly to enjoy it!
 Little Big Town's pick
I have a friend who taught me to just live life and take every opportunity to do things you wouldn't usually do. For example, if we went to a friend's house who played the drums, instead of asking them to play the drums For hER, she would ask them to TeAcH hER. She's one of the reasons why I finally got over my insecurities and decided to try everything.


Here is a list of some of the things I WouLd hAVe NeVer DOnE in the past, that I have done now:
1. Sang a solo in church
2.Wake boarded
3. Snowboarded
4. Danced (I know, hard to believe that I never stepped on a dance floor until I got to college because I was too embarrassed about what others would think of me)
5. Tried out to be a commencement speaker and spoke at my graduation
6. Been in student government all through school including Grad School
7. Applied and worked for EFY
8. Written two articles which were bought by LDS magazines
9. Gone to the movies by myself
10. Gone sledding (hey! You have no idea how scary it is for someone who didn't grow up around snow!!!)

And of course, playing the guitar and AsKiNG MusIcIaNs FOr GuiTaR PiCkS.

David Cook's pick

These are just a few things that came to mind. It is amazing how my life has changed since I started just taking chances.  So here is to taking chances and guitar picks!!!!

Some People

I just had the most INSPIRING chat with one of my friends who got married not too long ago. To give you an idea of who he is (and it is important to know he is a guy even though I wish not to reveal his identity), let's just say he was in the SINGLE SCENE FOR MANY MANY YEARS. I called this friend and when I asked how he was doing, he went on to tell me all that has taken place over the last few months of his life. He told me that marriage was very different than what he had expected and he is still adjusting. But you also need to know that he, MORE THAN ANYONE I'VE EVER KNOWN perhaps, spent all the time possible speaking with married friends and asking them what it was like to be married and what change they had to adjust to.  Lesson one: you will never know what marriage is like until you get married because it will be YOuR MaRriAGe, not anyone else's.

My friend also told me that he never got the "YES" answer to his prayers and he was terrified to get married. His wife did get the Yes, but HE NEVER DID. He told me how scared he had been the months before he proposed, and the months before he got married, and probably sometimes now also. But he always prayed that if it was wrong, that he would be stopped. He went ahead with it, had faith, and made covenants for a Celestial Marriage.

Something he shared that really touched me is that one of his loved ones told him to go ahead with faith, that WITHIN A YEAR of the marriage he would get his answer, WITHIN TWO YEARS he would thank her for having encouraged him, and WITHIN FIVE YEARS he wouldn't even know how he could have ever doubted his choice. My friend also told me that a lot of his girl friends had gotten "answers," while their husband had not. Years after, both husband and wife were sure they had made the right decision.   Lesson two: If you love someone, and they are a good person, you just have to make a choice. You have to choose them and have faith that Heavenly Father will stop you just like he has in other decisions of your life if they were not good.  I mean, didn't you get the FEELING NOT TO GO TO A CERTAIN PARTY WHEN YOU WERE A TEENAGER? My point exactly.   Lesson three: for some reason, it has also been my experience that there are more girls who have gotten a Yes answer than there are guys. Either way, both have to show a lot of faith in their personal gOOd JudGMeNt.

What came to mind as we were speaking is that you are not a Celestial Marriage WHEN YOU KNEEL AT THE ALTAR and make covenants. YOU BECOME A CELESTIAL MARRIAGE THROUGH OUT YOUR LIFE. The same way we are not perfect, but we are working towards perfection and will continue to do so as long as we live this mortal life.

You know how people always say "I never got a big answer to my prayer, I mean I'm sure it happens for SoMe PEoPle, but it just didn't happen to me"?

Well peeps, I have yet to meet one of those "Some People."