Reflections

What a spiritually filled week it has been for me, and a busy one as well. I would like to share the things that have crossed my path and made me think this week.

The first thought began with last Sunday, but it still has me thinking .... I went Visiting Teaching, and the lesson was on "The Light, Life, and Hope of Jesus Christ" Hannah talked about the light and life, and I talked about the hope, and tried tying it in with the season. When first thinking about it, nothing was coming, but once I got there, I don't know the words just flowed, and I believe them, I felt like I was speaking by the power of the Holy Ghost, and it impacted me, probably more than it did my girl, but it was good. The lesson talked about the three things we hope for: the Atonement of Christ, the Resurrection, and the hope of eternal life. I was then drawn to Moroni 7:41 which talks about those three hopes, but then kept reading Moroni 7: 41-48 and realized how we have those three hopes, how we know of them, and what we do because of that hope which is why it is important to remember especially throughout this season. Those verses talk about faith, charity, the pure love of Christ, and meaningful prayers. More than before I realized how those four things are apart of obtaining, sustaining, and the result of hope. And how we need all of those things in our lives to make the Christmas season as it was intended.

Well, next my Home Teachers came over, and we talked about administering angels, from Elder Holland's talk, "The Ministry of Angels." They challenged Katie and me (I love that every time they come over they offer a challenge to us that they check up on, to help move us along spiritually, anyways) to think about how to, and to look for opportunities where we can be angels in the hands of Christ, that we may do good. They too brought us to Moroni 7, and in going back and reviewing this chapter in relation to angels and how to recognize them I am drawn to a few poignant scriptures: Moroni 7:29-31, "Neither have angels ceased to minister unto the children of men...... and the office of their ministry is to call men unto repentance and to fulfill and to do the work of .... the Father, .... that they may bear testimony of Him." Well, I guess I would like to bear testimony that I know that angels work in my life, both those that are seen and unseen. They are the comforter when I feel down and alone, they are my family members: my mother, my brother, my sister who offer words of comfort, they are individuals around me that influence me to be better and stronger in the face of adversity, many examples of which come to mind. So, this week I am trying to think how I can be an angel to someone else, to be in-tune enough with the Spirit to know what it is that I can do to answer someone else's prayers.

Next thought came from today, and there are two of them that I would like to share. The first is from church and the idea of SHEPHERDS, and the second is from my reading of the Book of Mormon (yes, I am going to finish reading it again by the end of the year). Steve Shaha talked in church and asked the question "why shepherds?" Why did the angel appear to shepherds, why not to carpenters, or to fishermen, or to any number of types of people, why to shepherds? It isn't like we really know, but it was certainly interesting to think about. Perhaps it was because Christ himself was to be a shepherd, that those shepherds were also born in a stable and rested in a manger, that they could relate to this circumstance. Perhaps that is why Mary "pondered in her heart" after the shepherds came and talked to her (Luke 2:19). Steve mentioned all this, and it really got me thinking, he then went on to talk about how the sheep of shepherds know their master because he loves them and cares so much for them. The rest of the meeting for me, Sunday school, and Relief Society all focused on being a part of the flock, on knowing my Shepard, and it was beautiful. Which is why I guess I wanted to mention it.
The last thing was in 3 Nephi 13:33 and 34 I've read it before and found comfort from it, but reading it today, it really stood out to me, and I would like to leave you with that: "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness..... and take .... no thought for the morrow." As we find hope through the atonement, recognize the tender mercies extended to us through angels the Lord puts on our path, and come to know our Shepard, the Lord will watch out for us and we will have no need to worry about the things of the future. May we come to recognize His hand and gain a greater knowledge of Him this season, Merry Christmas.

Saying Goodbye

Hannah and Katie....
what great faces.

Jess, Emily and Hannah

Tiana, Katie, and Alex..... CHRISTMAS....
they have been SUCH great roommates, I seriously have lucked out!

Emily, Kayla, Jess, Katie, Amie

Alex and Tianna.....
aren't my roommates cute!

Kayla, Emily, Katie, and Amie.....
I love my roommates

Brian and Celene.....
two of the nicest people I know

Mena and Hannah......
I love this picture, it makes me smile

Andrew

Melissa and Jen.....
at Jess's party

Tag you're it!

So Jess and Katie might kill me for putting this up, but hey, it is the rules of the game, right?!?!
This is from the first day of school this year, it was a Tuesday, and we were all headed off at the same time, we (I) made someone stop to take a picture for us, hahaha .... I love these girls SO much.

So, I put this picture up because I had been "tagged" by my sister, the rule of the game is to post the 4th picture from your 4th file in your pictures folder, good luck! ..... I tag: Kalisha, Hilarie and Cecily (by the way girl, I need your blog address, thanks)

Season's Festivities

do I know you?

It is interesting to think what defines if you know a person. On one level, I have said, yeah, I know that kid, because I have seen them in the Bensen many a times, it feels like I know them because of that. Where, in reality I don't know the person's name or what they do, or anything about them at all. I've also found myself saying I know some people in my ward, because I have played soccer with them, and know about their life, who they like, and what their major is, I know a little bit about their family, and their future plans. Yes, I would say that I know that person, but I don't think that I know what their fears are, nor do I think that I know anything about their childhood, or many of the trials in their life, do I really know them? What about someone that I've lived with for a year, could I say that I know them? For my roommates I would say yes to that question, but in all reality, I don't know if I really know them, for example, I lived with Kayla for a year, and I am learning SO much about her through her blog, I look forward to reading her writings, and learning more about her, I don't know if I really knew her just because we lived together. But is it just learning about people that defines if you know them?

Well, this whole thought process came after reading Tiffany's blog and thinking about if I really know her. I don't even know if I have spent 12 hours with her, maybe, and I wouldn't say that we are necessarily close, but I enjoy reading her blog as often as she updates it. I enjoy hearing about her view of life, and her optimism, and how the gospel is just a part of her. I enjoy hearing about her teaching experiences, and her single life, her adventures, and her friends from far away and how she stays close to them. It helps me to gain a better perspective on life. Do I know her? Well, not really, but I feel like I do because of her blog. I feel a connection to her, despite that I really don't have one.

So, I guess that gets me thinking.... do I know the people that read my blog? Do they feel closer to me because of it? Does anyone even care about what I have to say? Most of the time I think that no one should, my life and thoughts really aren't that interesting, but then I think about Kayla, and Tiffany, and how much I enjoy reading about their life even though I am not really a factor in their lives. So, to all of my readers, do I know you?