Life goes on..

First of all, an awesome song that Charmaine shared with me. I love it! 

Will You Be There- Boyce Avenue

Next song that I also love: Fast Car- Boyce Avenue [Credit: Alyssa- http://alyssafraser.blogspot.com/]

Both these songs make me happy.

As always, lots of things have been going on. Some trials, some blessings and some things that I am sure are blessings in disguise. Though it is hard to see through the clouds sometimes I am so grateful when I do.

It is so interesting how more amazing life can be once you change your perspective. The way you can go from complete despair to being happy again. Sometimes you just need to stop, calm down, realize that life goes on and that you will be okay. The Lord won't give you anything you can't handle so why not trust him? Sometimes it is frickin' hard, and you feel like things couldn't get any worse, or you feel like someone stabbed you in the heart, but when you stop, think, and look at the many possible situations things turn themselves around. As life goes about it's course, with uncertainty, the Lord is always there to help you. 

The other night I had to close the store that I work at by myself for the first time. It took me a while and probably like 10 minutes before I had to close I was viewing some business details on the computer. When I went to go back to the main screen it wouldn't let me. I was terrified. I couldn't get it to go back no matter how hard I tried. I was worried I was going to have to call my manager who had just left  and feel completely stupid. I pleaded with my Father in Heaven to help me. I didn't want to look incompetent after she had previously told me how fast a learner she thought I was. I pleaded numerous times, asking Him to help me. As I was trying many different things it finally went back to the main screen. The relief that washed over me was incredible. I was so grateful. As I continued to close the store I continued to pray, asking for His hand. As I struggled at times, and some things took longer then it normally would I managed to close the store. How grateful I was for the Lord's hand in my life. I managed to get out of the store, speed walk to the bus, and just made it by 3 minutes. 

The Lord is mindful of us. 

Trials are there, and they do cause us grief but we grow so much from them. The heart becomes stronger, our minds become sharper, and our testimony of our Saviour and our Father in Heaven increase. 

As I was going through a particularly hard time this weekend I really relied on Him to help me. Along with His help I talked to my brother, who directed me to a song by Laura Story. It is entitled "Blessings". It didn't help that I was already emotional the song made the tears stream down my cheeks. The combination of my sorrow but also the lyrics of the song really hit me hard. I was going to just select certain parts of the lyrics to post but they are all just amazing.

We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
It's not our home

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise

I highly suggest listening to this song when times are tough. We may not feel like it is true during the time but a change in perspective can make all the difference. 

I am so grateful for the blessings I have because of the things I know. While at institute last week my teacher  asked us:

"How do you know you know?"

I want you to think and ask yourself that question. I don't care if you tell someone or just keep it to yourself. I think when you ponder that question it will make recognizing that way, when it happens, even more prominent.

May you never forget the reasons you know what you know. 

P.S. Two amazing Mormon Messages. I must admit- I cried.

Charlotte's Birthday

So today was Charlotte's 21st birthday and she loved every minute of it I am sure. We started it off this morning with a lovely trip to the mall. I wasn't planning on buying anything but that definitely changed. For my new job at Things Engraved I have to wear "business casual" and sadly I didn't take very many things fitting into that category. When I took a look around I realized that their sale section was INCREDIBLE! I got a white pencil skirt- high waisted ($9.99), a black high waisted pencil skirt ($9.99) and a super cute flowy floral patterned shirt ($9.99). I figured with the basic pencil skirt I could totally look classy and cute at the same time. Afterwards we ventured home (after making a stop at a car parts store because Jaisie realized that she didn't have a gas cap- fun  time) and I did some lovely baking with a lovely friend. To make the cookies so much better we put in milk chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, crushed smarties, and Reese pieces. So good! Charlotte headed over to her parent's house and Jaisie and I took the opportunity to have a nap on our awesome "L" shaped couch. Surprisingly I had an awesome sleep. Apparently I even sleep through her alarm. A little later Jermaine came over, we got pizza, and watched a lovely film. The Charlotte festivities weren't over though. At 9 we headed over to the Cheesecake Cafe,

 where I was instructed by Charlotte to "look cute". So this is what I wore:

Not the best picture but I tried. 

So now it is 11:30 and for some odd reason I am extremely tired. I will definitely have a lovely sleep tonight and will enjoy church tomorrow. I am highly looking forward to it. 

Pictures!

So now too much has been going on. Just lots and lots of school. I found pictures from my previous adventures that I talked about in some of my posts but never put them up. Here they be.

These pictures are from the camping trip:

Hi allergic reaction to something random I came in contact with. Nothing a little Benadryl won't help.

These next pictures are the view of the camp from this massive hill Liz and I climbed so she could call her fiance. The cell reception was a bit iffy.

At the top of the picture is the main "fort". It was awesome.

Those are the lodge/cabins that we slept in. 

If you look hard enough, right in the very center above the trees are the two poles where the awesome swing was.

My awesome mask I made. Perfectly forms to my face.

note: bag of buns... they gave away the left over food at the end.

Fall Ball. Cuteness? I think so.

Childhood park. So many memories. 

Chicken Quesadilla! Freakin' delicious!

Outfit of the night. (you can't see but I'm wearing dark blue skinny jeans). Party?- I think so.

Have a lovely night!

Loving Life!

So much has happened lately and I am highly enjoying life in Lethbridge. The camp trip for school was an absolute blast! I loved it! I met so many people and did some many awesome things. We played numerous outside games and we did crafty stuff (aka a mask that fits our face, and a picture frame.) I highly enjoyed it. Here is a video of the amazing swing that I went on... twice. The swing is pulled up to 40 feet in the air. Amazing.

It was an amazing experience. When I got home from the camp there was a lovely envelope with my name on it. I opened it up and there was a AWESOME poem, which after some analysis (not hard) the poet had asked me to go to the Fall Ball (YSA dance). So I sent him a text with a clever reply using a common theme. 

The dance was loads of fun, and the pre dance part was fun as well. We went go-karting and to eat. Definite fun time! 

School has been going very well, super interesting and learning lots! 

Church has been amazing as well. Today was the second day of General Conference. What am amazing opportunity we have to be able to hear from our prophet and apostles. I have learned so much from these men and women. I am so grateful for them!

There were two short quotes that really enjoyed:

"It's better to look up." - Carl B Cook

"Where is your faith?" -Neil L. Anderson

Even these two simple statements are so powerful, if we take them into consideration and really think about them then we can progress so much. 

I also watched an amazing Mormon Message the other day. Actually two. Here they are:

P.S. I cried.

Have a wonderful week. Enjoy it, and try to notice the hand of the Lord.