Don't be grump, ya shlump

Well, I seem to always be learning and forgetting and relearning again. So on the chance that you've maybe forgotten a few things that I've already shared, I’m going to share them again.

Before that.

Nothin' like a game of Rubiks swap. I'd say we get 1 pt. for creativity.

LIFE IS GOOD

At one point in my life I only knew that life was supposed to be good. I hadn't learned how to actually achieve that even though I saw it all around me and was raised surrounded by helpful ideas, encouragement, and support. Then, probably sometime in 2010, I finally figured it out! I was in an environment where I could actually apply what I had been learning my whole life. By the time I was in college I knew how to turn any negative situation around in 2 seconds flat. Once, I got dumped by a really great guy and after dropping him off (talk about an awkward drive home) I realized that I actually felt pretty bad about the whole situation. I didn't want to be, though, because I knew it was for the best. So I gave myself five seconds, literally just five, from where I was until I hit the stop sign ahead, to be frustrated. 5 – 4 – 3 – 2 – 1 and that was all. I eased off the brake, released the clutch, put it in gear and pressed on. And I promise you on a box of donuts, I was not sad about it ever again.

Obviously trials come in all shapes and the solution to overcome will never be a one-size-fits-all. Whether it be five seconds, or five days, we can allow ourselves time to be frustrated. The only reason that I could ever agree to this is if once that time is up, we truly move on. It is one thousand times better to move forward if when we do so, we can actually let it go and move forward with nothing holding us back. We don’t have to trudge along… there’s no need for it. There’s never a moment when we are not as important to God as the people around us and because of that we deserve the time necessary to “cope” with life’s challenges. So if you need to take a moment to collect, do it! And if you need a second to be upset, in the most appropriate way that you can, do it!

The alternative to this is constantly being whirled up and down by life’s daily challenges. There are too many terms for this, “choose your battles”, “let the little things slide”, “don't let it get to you” to name a few. I like to say, “Is it worth it?”

Normally when I ask myself this question the answer is always NO.

After 2010 I don't think it would ever be right of me to claim to be a negative person. I have no excuses because I have a stronger sense of hope and faith than ever before! I have no reason to be a grump. Doesn't mean I don’t go through my life without a constant mental battle between good and bad responses to the many things that life puts in front of me, though, and this means that I have to constantly be reminded that LIFE IS GOOD.

Whoever you are, wherever you are, don't let life get you down! Be the one to rise above. Hey, someone else has already done it, you can do it too! You know who it is, just follow Him.

IN OTHER NEWS

Last week we had the opportunity to go to a Musical Easter Fireside in Weston, Mass. It was incredible! The man that plays Hyrum Smith in the Joseph Smith movies was there performing as a singer, and Elder Oaks daughter was playing the violin accompanied by her kids (all under the age of 8). There was AMAZING talent and the spirit was strong as it testified to each of us individually that Christ lives! I'm going to expect nothing less than professional excellence from my future children. They'll thank me for it someday. Did you know that I am learning the harmonica? Yeah, we'll be a world-touring musical family fur' sure. 

HIGHLIGHTS

On Monday we went to dinner with white people and I learned that you can make Meatloaf in a huge mega dish. That night we had a Family Home Evening with a Spanish family and the English sisters, and my awesome companion translated everything I said for them. Tuesday we had a great lesson with our investigator Patricia in which our member friend offered to call her daily and read the scriptures with her. He’s been doing it faithfully since then. Wednesday we went to Weston for a mission-wide Sisters Conference and had a full day of training propelled by women power. :P Thursday we met with an investigator named Maribel and we invited a member to come with us. She brought her 13 year old daughter along and we had a great time reading the Book of Mormon together. That night we went to dinner with the craziest, coolest N’yorcieno (New York+Puerto Rico) family. Their little girl followed me around asking for permission to smell my head all night long and giving me suggestions for my split ends… except she doesn't talk really, so this was all through facial expressions and hand gestures. Friday we had District Meeting and apparently my companion and I were supposed to do the training, but we forgot, so we stood up and threw together a training that ended up starting a great conversation that gave all of us a ton of good ideas and energy in the work! Then that night we had dinner at a house built in 1778. They had a flying squirrel skeleton underneath one of the fireplaces that’s been there for hundreds of years, literally. It was the coolest house I've ever been in. The kitchen used to be a carriage stall. Saturday was the night that we went to the fireside, and we even pushed with all our might and got Patricia to come! It was all in English and she was sick so it wasn’t the absolute best, but she liked it a lot and… well, okay. She still wants to go back to her old church to see if she likes it better. However she comes to church with us every Sunday… riddle me that! Yesterday we had church for the usual 5.5 hours, perks of serving in two wards. We visited with a sister named Maria who’s friend recently died of cancer and somehow were able to make a lot of neat connections between how she helps her autistic son, and how Heavenly Father leads us. She realized how much God loves her and she’s going to let us help her paint her house this week.

Alrighty then, time to get goin’. The Mission President is actually here in the same chapel and we're going to do interviews in a little bit. I adore this man and his family. Did you know that I'm super excited to be a wife and mother? I learn more from them then I’ll ever be able to apply in real life. 

I love you all and I hope that you can make this the best week yet! Turn it around if it starts to go the other way. You have more control than you think you do, and that's a bonafide guarantee if you include the Lord in all that you do. 

I love you all so much

Be sure to wish my mom a late happy birthday if you know her! It was yesterday! Happy 46, mom :) I won't tell a soul your real age! Don't you worry.