My Finals Week Miracle

This post is really late, but it couldn't be helped. It's been so busy! But more on that later

My finals week miracle occurred on Wednesday night at about 11:20 pm. But before we get to that, we've got to set up the context. That night (that whole day) I was fried. Picture an egg on a skillet, burnt black- about that fried. Between stressful finals, work, and friends, my brain was dead. I was at the end of my rope. That night, two of my friends and I went to a bagpipe/Irish band concert (and while I'm glad we went, I probably should've gone to bed early). It was nice to get out, but I'm sure I was horrible company. Basically didn't want to talk or anything. I was just angry at the world, in a way.

So I dropped my friends off and I was driving home, after the concert, and  kind of broke down. I just prayed that Heavenly Father would send someone to help me out, because I just couldn't go forward any further. It was the end of my rope, and I just couldn't handle what I had left (two of my hardest tests, and getting ready to come home for the holidays).

After I'd composed myself, I went inside, and it was just normal. I had kinda figured I was going to have to make it one way or another, and I could wake up later than I had been, take my tests later and sleep in a little. I was just getting ready to go to sleep when my roommate comes downstairs and says "There's people here to see you! They insist on seeing you, so you have to come up." Lo and behold, it was my visiting teachers. At 11:20 at night, with a plate of cookies and a message- "You can make it, and this too shall pass." They had no idea that it was the night I needed it most. No one knew besides me and God. And that was enough. He knew what I needed, and He inspired them to come. And the cookies were delicious :)

The moral of the story is that God knows what you're going through, and He will send the help you need. He will not leave you to make it through on your own.. Don't forget it, especially during this wonderful season!

My roommate also helped by covering the plate and leaving this lovely note :) 

To God

Dear God,

I am not the proper one to use these words

Especially to describe the wonder You are

Someone much brighter should be the one

To praise You from near to far

Yet I am honored with the privilege to worship

Such a grand and glorious being as Thou art

And You accept it though it is so flawed

Your love is dear and close to my heart

You have asked me to call you Father

And I am blessed to be Your child

And despite my occasional tantrums and rebellions

I am striving to be meek and mild

Ever higher, ever greater, better than before

Father, Your influence drives me to fly

Upward, soaring, improving, and growing

You have given me the chance to have the sky

I have not the words to say how incredible it is

That I am here and You are with me

The miracle of Your knowing my life and my name

And that Father and child we'll always be

Love,

Your Daughter

PAD Day 7

Good Morning

I am so grateful to my bishop for challenging me to study my scriptures for thirty minutes in the morning instead of right before bed. Since I've begun this practice, only about a week ago, I have already seen blessings.

This morning, I left my apartment absolutely psyched about life. Suddenly being alive was just so exciting! It was wonderful! And it doesn't hurt that it was a gorgeous morning! I'm going to try and get out early tomorrow and take some photos, because Provo mornings are stunning. The sunrise over the mountains, the trees- so many trees- and the leaves just beginning to yellow. The cool air, the peace, it is beautiful. And I had my music playing, I was walking to class, abs everything was positively gorgeous. The world was a miracle.

Just about everything is going well in my life right now. I'm sure I could find reasons to be stressed, but on days like this, why would I want to? I just want to walk around outside and look at the trees, and appreciate the glory that God has created for us. This world is a gift to us, and I love it.

Words and Souls

What is it that I love about reading what someone else has written? What is it that makes it one of my favorite things to do?

I believe it's for many of the same reasons as why I love to read in general. I'm sure you've seen that quote about when you fall in love with a character in a book, you're falling in love with their soul. You can't actually see them, but through the words on the page, you understand their mind, their heart, their wants. Yuri begin to know what they'll do, what they'll choose, or who they'll love. Their souls become as familiar to you as your own in that short time. It's fascinating how characters on a page can mean so much to us, and that language, something so simple and seemingly above such creative concerns, could spell the characters out for us. How can words make someone seem just as real as any other human being? It is a wondrous thing.

We are all made of words. All kinds of them, eternal varieties, strung together in phrases, occasionally standing alone. They constantly shift and change around the core of who we are. Words are the essence of us. In my mind, I picture a human silhouette, beating red heart st the core, composed of words. And what this words are makes up who they are. It's all about what words we choose to keep, and which we throw away. That's why I love to read what other people have written in the energy of their heart. It truly is as if the writer has handed me a piece of their soul. Getting to know someone this way feels strange to me, but also special. You can't always see or touch them as you read, but within your mind, you began to see the shape of their soul. And human souls are beautiful things, full of depth and darkness, light and poetry.

It is the greatest trust, I think, to show someone what you have written. Not school papers, but something you wrote because you could, because the words clamored against your skull and wouldn't leave you alone until you let them out and set them on a page. To show someone that is truly meaningful. This is why I blog. I want to trust the world, and I want them to know what my words are. I have even learned what some of my own words are by writing! These are the words that make up my soul. And to read others' blogs or writing or anything is so precious to me, because what we write reveals so much.

Writing is a miracle, for in it we discover what it means to be human. We discover what it means to be ourselves, and who others truly are in their hearts.

The human soul is made of words. Share them wisely, my friends.