I got it easy

    Yesterday at church, I had such strong feelings of peace and love from my Father in Heaven.  We found out about a lot of people close to us who were struggling with trials such as cancer, tumors, and loss of loved ones. The theme of the day was, "come what may, and love it." It boggles my mind sometimes how people who face literally life altering trials such as these can still find the blessings in their trials. I need to be more like this. My roommate Whitney has always been a good example of finding the silver lining in hard situations. She is currently (and has been for more than a year and a half) faithfully waiting for the love of her life to return from his mission... (In San Diego no less...). She has struggled daily to live without this wonderful boy, and it has gradually become easier for her. She finds his love in the simple things like cards, letters, e-mails, and packages from the past. She also finds daily strength in the Gospel. She will usually stop me during her scripture reading, or various studies of the words of the living prophets and say statements that help us both to overcome our trials. Basically what I am saying is that Whitney gets it, as well as these other people in church yesterday.  Life isn't about all the good times, but more often than not it is about the bad times, and what we learn from them. It would not be that interesting to have friendships that were full only of happy times or sunshine and butterflies. There is SO much beauty in the trials of life. That is when we make deep connections with people, and how we know there is a God. Without one, we would not ever be happy, but he gives us that chance to find the joy in the journey, the silver lining, or the 'come what may and love it' attitude of Elder Wirthlin and Whitney.
    I guess that I have not been feeling as much this way lately. I have been having a really tough couple of weeks just getting used to the rigors of my daily life. I have been stressed to the max, and feeling unsettled about a few aspects of my life that I probably should take care of. Sometimes the weight is too much to bare... but I think these have been some of the more spiritually growing times of my life thus far. I have felt the guidance of my Father in Heaven in what I need to do to make it through, accomplish all my duties, and do it all well. He has given me the strength I have felt there was no way to possess. I have had the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost, and of my Mother, to whom I owe my everything. Without the support of these great friends and family that I have, I would not be able to do what I do.  My Mom has had the patience to just listen to me ramble every day around 2 o'clock. She has been a constant support to me, and I am so grateful for her. I am grateful for friends who (probably pretend) to be interested in all the things I am, and who again have the patience to just talk to me. I am grateful especially to my Father in Heaven for listening to me daily come to him with gratitude, inquiries, and my small challenges. I am just grateful yet again, for the life I have. I literally am LIVING my dreams right now. I could not ask for a better situation, and I hope that I can keep living worthily to enjoy these blessings and feelings of happiness.
   So thank you for being you, and supporting me in my times of trial. "Come what may, and Love it."