The Best Final So Far

Finals are over!!!

(at least for this semester)

So, after a very stressful week of studying, trying to remember everything (or learn) everything I was supposed to for the semester I am finally done. You are all free to do the happy dance with me if you would like.

This semester I was so happy I actually got to take an education class - which I absolutly loved. The Professor - Tom was a great guy who works as a Junior High guidance councilor. Such a fun class. While the class was on adolesent development he encouraged us to learn how to help kids to see that change is possible. Sorry - I am rambling, bottom line, great class.

The reason behind the title for the post...

For our final in Tom's class he showed us a short clip from Dewitt Jones, a photographer for the National Geographic. The title of the clip was "Celebrating What's Right with the World". When I first saw it I thought - yah right - has this guy watched the news lately. But he soon changed my mind. Here are some things that he said that I loved:

• Celebrate What's Right with the World




• When I was growing up, I used to hold that maxim - - I won't believe it, until I see it. Yet the more I shot for the Geographic the more I realized I had it backwards. That the way it really works is - - I won't see it, till I believe it. That's the way life works.




• Vision controls our perception, and our perception becomes reality




• Instead of starting out as we so often do by griping about what's wrong with the situation...what's right with the situation?




• ...The very thing that so often frightens us today - that awesome change curve we hear so much about -- is really my ally.




• The power of vision is extraordinary - -We have to be willing to trust it, to come out to our edge, because it here on the edge that we find the winds to take us higher.




• that edges is between being the best in the world and being the best for the world.




• There's no use walking anywhere to preach, unless your walking is your preaching


• You just have to do it and believe




• If we look for it and believe it is there we will have a vision that fills us with energy, takes us to our own edge and gives us the courage to soar.

http://www.celebratetraining.com/ - You can watch the video.

What a nice burst of fresh air it was. I love to hear things that inspire me, and this one did just that. My goal is to celebrate and look for the positives in life, instead of wallowing in what is wrong which is what I normally do.

I am really looking forward to the 5 days off before I start school again. I am only doing 4 classes in the next five weeks. It should be really fun!

P.S. - I got a 100% on the final, all because I commented on the film. I love those kind of finals!

Going Home

On Monday night on my way home from work I drove past a house that made me smile. The house was beautiful in and of itself, but the yard and the front of the house was covered in Yellow Ribbons with a huge sign that said "Welcome Home Jason". For a minute I was jealous of Jason, whoever he was. I love that feeling of pulling into the driveway knowing that Mom or whoever is at home is going to come out to greet me, that feeling of overwhelming love and comfort, that feeling of peace and safety.

The rest of the way home I thought about my experiences of going to different places I call home, with my final thought being of what it was going to be like to go to my final "home". What would that reunion be like? Does Heaven have yards covered with yellow ribbons to welcome us home? Will we be met by people we love? Will we feel that overwhelming love and peace? I hope so.

After the sweet feelings that I had about Heaven, I had the thought that if I were to go today how unprepared I am. I thought of all of the things I still need to learn, the habits and attributes I need to get rid of and those that I want gain and develop. There are people I need to learn to love and those I need to forgive.

How thankful I am for the blessing that I receive every day to try a little bit better to become the person that Heavenly Father sees me as. I know that there must be days when he pounds his head against the wall thinking "Is she ever going to get this one right", but still he waits patiently leading me along. I know that I have a very long way to go, but hopefully I keep getting the chance to become. My desire is to live my life so when that final day comes that I will have a great homecoming as well. I hope that on that day My Father will say "Well done my good and faithful daughter"

“Nothing is going to startle us more when we pass through the veil to the other side than to realize how well we know our Father and how familiar his face is to us.”

President Ezra Taft Benson

Happy Easter

I just wanted to take a few minutes before the fun moments of the weekend hit to wish you all a Happy Easter. I hope that you enjoy your weekend, and that you have a chance to reflect on the reason for the celebrations.

My sister reminded me today of the quote "There would be no Christmas if there had not been Easter." -Gordon B. Hinckley

How thankful I am for the events that we celebrate at Easter. For the life of Christ, The Atonement, and the Resurrection.

I love the quote by Elder Ballard "...he had the power to save, and he loved his Son, and he could have saved him. He might have rescued him from the insult of the crowds. He might have rescued him when the crown of thorns was placed upon his head. He might have rescued him when the Son, hanging between the two thieves, was mocked with, “Save thyself, and come down from the cross. He saved others; himself he cannot save.” He listened to all this. He saw that Son condemned; he saw him drag the cross through the streets of Jerusalem and faint under its load. He saw that Son finally upon Calvary; he saw his body stretched out upon the wooden cross; he saw the cruel nails driven through hands and feet, and the blows that broke the skin, tore the flesh, and let out the life’s blood of his Son. He looked upon that.

In the case of our Father, the knife was not stayed, but it fell, and the life’s blood of his Beloved Son went out. His Father looked on with great grief and agony over his Beloved Son, until there seems to have come a moment when even our Savior cried out in despair: “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”

In that hour I think I can see our dear Father behind the veil looking upon these dying struggles until even he could not endure it any longer; and, like the mother who bids farewell to her dying child, has to be taken out of the room, so as not to look upon the last struggles, so he bowed his head, and hid in some part of his universe, his great heart almost breaking for the love that he had for his Son. Oh, in that moment when he might have saved his Son, I thank him and praise him that he did not fail us, for he had not only the love of his Son in mind, but he also had love for us. I rejoice that he did not interfere, and that his love for us made it possible for him to endure to look upon the sufferings of his Son and give him finally to us, our Savior and our Redeemer."

I add my thanks to Elder Ballard. What a blessing this part of the plan of happiness is in my life. I can't help but stand all amazed, to think that Our Loving Father would send His Son to die for us. And to know that even if it had been just for me, My Saviour still would have come and suffered and died. Just For Me. I know that he didn't come just for me, but for you as well.

I know that My Saviour, My Brother, My Friend suffered not only for my sins, but also for my pains, my sicknesses and my sorrows; I know he has "Takin my lickings for me" (Thank you Hancock Family for the sweet memory of your Dad).

I know he lives, and that he loves us, that he rose from the tomb. I am not sure what kind of mansion my actions are building me, but I know that I can't wait to kneel before my Savior to thank him for all that he has done and all that he continues to do.

I hope you enjoy this little clip. It is long, but well worth the watch. I hope that you feel the peace that comes from knowing that we are not alone in this life, and that our brother, Jesus Christ lived a perfect live, suffered, died and was resurrected all for us.

Happy Easter!