And... I love & Appreciate Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

Honestly, I should be a little embarassed considering his devotional speech today was like my personal counseling/rebuke session from the Lord... Ok, maybe it just felt that way--I love the spirit of God that can carry the message into the inner sinews of my soul.

I guess you could say I tend to be quite stiffnecked at times and take the truth to be hard. Hard, yes--impossible, no. I adhered to his words of wisdom today--even though at times it felt as though my heart was going to fall from my chest, break open & bleed.

The best truly is yet to come & I need to stop living in the past & trust that the Lord has even better things in store for the future--right in front of me in fact.

Talking to Christianne last night I was looking everywhere for something in particular--and I was so frustrated looking for it--that I kept moving it as I looked deeper... A few months back I was praying for an answer from the Lord on how to move forward--and it was right in front of me (only forgotten until 2 nights ago as I prayed). AND I really used to like these mint brussel cookies (in Florida--I think everything tastes better with a beach!) And, Christi gave me some mint Milanos for Christmas--a few bags in fact--thinking I liked the other ones way better I gave her most of them and didn't even try one until tonight--it was really good. Why three random stories?!? What do they have in common? An area I can improve. Why do I get so bent on what I think I like, or the best I've tried--that I fail to try other things--with the possibility that I may like them even more?!? Why do I insist on knowing best--when sometimes I look right beyond the mark?

I am learning from the teachings of Isaih, that the Lord really does make them plain & easy to understand when filled with the spirit of prophecy--and all too often I am filled with the spirit of 'Ashley thinks she knows best..."

There are so many things that I could talk about today--but I am really tired and when my alarm goes off in 4.5 hours i will be glad that I cut this short :)

But today--like so many days the Lord's hand has been so prevelant that I don't want to overlook it.

*The Sunshine.
*Waking up without an alarm
*Yoga!
*prayer & meditation
*incredibly beautiful Mt. Timp--on the way to school breaking through the clouds!
*I am hiking it this year!
*Studying the teaching of Isaiah
*Apostasy v. Apathy: agreement w/ Bro. Terry Ball
*gratitude for Christ for fulfilling the law of Moses, & respect for the devote Jews who still live the whole law of Moses.
*BYU devotional w/ Elder Jeffrey R. Holland--WOW!
*w/ an amazing friend!
*Seeing a quality old friend who shares my passion to study in the Holy Land.
*Walking on the bridge from campus & knowing I have a reason to be here--but wondering how many people were simply going through the motions because everyone around them was moving...
*Having the conviction to protect my heart from mistreatment
*The feeling that the opposition is the strongest to keep me from moving forward because the Lord is going to bless beyond what I can now imagine--& already is!
*Having my eyes opened to the way things really are
*Cooking a good meal :) I love to cook!
*"I don't think there are any people left here that are as old as we are..." :O
*a message from a good friend from 10,000+ miles away
*Costco & back--in 35 minutes
*dinner group with wonderful people--who were so appreciative! Love them!
*Melissa's dry sense of humor coupled with her very sincere heart!
*Cran Raspberry juice--I love a glass of juice @ the end of a long day :)
--Would that make me a wannabe wine drinker..? Nah...I'll take the juice.
*A holiday next Monday--spent with people I love SO much!
*very understanding clients & friends!
*Studying!
*Studying finance--it goes in a category all it's own--but i'm actually grasping it, applying it, loving it, and changing as a result of what I'm learning!
*Allowing the Lord to make weak things strong by study & also by faith
*The invitation to sing w/a good friend @ a banquet
*The invitation to sing in church--ahh careful what apportunities you ask for
-->it's that 'Costco sized bottle of self-confidence' again!
*moving forward without looking back
*a good roommate & friend willing to listen after a long day
*The opportunity to visit my mission & attend a best friend's sealing--shh don't tell her :) it's a surprise.
*Sharing the gospel with a friend
*the imagery of Brian throwing dry erase markers--still in shock :)
*"it's because I have a Y chromosome..."
*just laughing & unwinding after a REALLY long day.
*Mint Milanos from Christi--and I think I even like 'em--whoa!
*pure joy at the thought of Brad & Abby having a baby this week!
*my niece emailing me throughout the week--she just got her own email address--she is SO smart!

*AND my amazingly inviting bed--compliments of mia Mamma & Brabby's awesome Christmas gifts! Thanks guys :) Love you all!

There are so many more--but I am going to crash!