Pondering

I know I have said it a lot but I am so grateful to have a break from school. It just makes life so much less stressful. I feel like I am able to enjoy my day so much more and I am able to have more time to do the things I want and that are important to me. Recently Tommy and I have been trying extra to stay close to our father in heaven through prayer and study. With our busy life's sometimes this can really be a challenge for us. It is not always easy and we don't always make the time to do these important things but we are trying to do better. We find as we do these things along with exercise and taking care of issues and problems, we are able to feel so much better. It just feels so good to be productive. It feels so good to move things along, figure things out, take care of past issues and be able to put them behind you. It feels so good to be close to our father in heaven. It feels so good to feel like you are doing what you need to be doing each and everyday. Even though I hate school it feels so good to accomplish something you have been working so hard at. As Tommy and I have studied this week in the scriptures and in the ensign I have been reminded of 2 very important things. The first thing was when we were reading in 3 Nephi and I read the phrase, "Consider the Lilies". This also happens to be one of my favorite church hymns as well. I love the message and how we need to be reminded of the things around us and to enjoy them. I think as we get so busy in life we often miss important things around us. We forget the beauty in the most simple things. We forget to give thanks for the things we do have and we focus more on the things we don't have. (At least I am guilty of that.) I want to try really hard to focus on the things I have and what I am getting done instead of the negative.

The next thing that really stuck out to me was a talk we read by Jeffery R. Holland. He reminds us how important it is to stand up for what we believe but to also be loving of all people. Look for the good in people and try to help them with out judging them. His message was so powerful and just the reminder that I needed this week. I hope I will continue to make the time to study, ponder and pray so that I can stay close to my father in heaven and so that I can learn and be reminded of these to help me be a better me each and every day.