It's not even noon and there are so many things that I want to share with someone...and I think I've been spoiled. Having roommates like Rebecca, Stephanie, Christianne (practically a roommate ;) Courtney, Monica, Nicole, Kim, Suzy, Tara, Cassia, Kim, Jayne, Riley and serving a mission with Emryn, Kaila, Stefanie, Andrea, Jennifer & Emily taught me about companionship. Having someone there to share the joys, sorrows and everyday in general. I miss that.
People laugh when missionaries [those who go out and teach full-time about the gospel of Jesus Christ] when they get home from serving 18-24 months and they are so accustomed to having wonderful companions at their side... fools mock... there's nothing more wonderful.
I remember going to the local market with my mother the day I returned from serving in Washington and she divided the grocery list in half and asked me to get the produce... I just stood there entirely befuddled. I didn't want to go by myself. Here I was a 22 year old woman and I wanted my mother at my side. What if something wonderful happened? What if something not-so-wonderful happened? Who would I share it with?
It is actually a great blessing to realize how important this is to me because I was engaged to someone who didn't really care about what was going on in my life. It makes me think of two scriptures: Corinthians 6:14 "Be ye not unequally yoked together..." and also Doctrine & Covenants 88:40 Where intelligence, wisdom, truth, virtue, light, mercy & justice--cleaveth, embraceth, loveth, claimeth, receiveth and continueth...
Any good friendship and relationship is equally joined--yoked--and we do cleave together. [Cleave: to adhere closely; stick; cling; to remain faithful; to cleave to one's principles in spite of persecution.]
*A wonderful day in the temple.
*The teachings of the temple in Exodus 40 and Isaiah 56
*The opportunity to help people today that were blind, crippled, or spoke another language.
*A loving family who has supported me although I've struggled since Scott died
*Sister M. returning the third week in a row
*The capacity to memorize although that is not my strong point
*Keith encouraging me to come to class last night and knowing I needed to be there
*The teachings of the Atonement of Jesus Christ is Isaiah 53
*knowing that God knows who I am and where I am
*An increased capacity to love as an outgrowth of pain
*Remembering a good friends family who just lost a brother
*The capacity to help RL who's struggling
*Reconnecting with loved ones
*Being surrounded by good men and starting to feel more comfortable around them
*Talking with my "little sister" and being able to help her
*Sunlight
*Fresh Snow & a heated apartment :)
Words clearly can't suffice the joy of having Scott's kids out to visit & the good memories we are making with them. From Samantha's prayer that the pool would warm up to pizza & rootbeer floats, Disney movies & popcorn, playing football with Stockton--as hard as we can--he is AMAZING! Sydney playing the piano--thanks to Grandma Sydney, Samantha & her determined look! Sweet lil' Livie being overjoyed with the kids coming to play! Yummy homemade breakfast, wonderful cousins pictures, ridin' the motorcycle, swimming in the pool, gettin' beat by the kids on the Wii! Stockton keeping Uncle Brad from getting pants'd :) Pullin' funny faces! Lots of laughing & good times! We love you guys!!!
