Sabbath Sayings

Yesterday there was a double rainbow. The colors were so rich and vibrant. It was gorgeous! It was actually such a tender mercy. When I saw it I thought about Noah and how hopeful it must have felt to see the first rainbow after 40 days and 40 nights of rain and to know of God's promise to never flood the earth again. I felt hope yesterday. I felt hope that whatever is coming in my life is going to be better than what has happened so far. Not saying that my life has been bad in any way, but sometimes when I get too caught up in myself I tend to feel the gloom and doom of the future. 

Reality: there is no gloom and doom of the future. 

Maybe this is a little too personal to put on a blog, but this is what has been weighing on my mind lately. Over the past couple of years I have felt a serious amount of disappointment. Laced with these disappointments have been innumerable tender mercies, but these disappointments have triggered a lot of pondering, questioning, growing, pain, joy, and sadness. Lately I have realized the impact these disappointments have had on my trust; in myself, my Heavenly Father, and those around me. This is what I have learned. 

My older brother, who knows me so well, sacrificed his life, his hopes, his dreams, so he could do what our Father asked him to do. He not only gave up his life, he took on all of the experiences of my life, and all those around me. Because he did this I have hope no matter what. I am pretty sure that I have quoted from this talk before, but I love it and it has truly changed my life. 

"Think of the purest, most all-consuming love you can imagine. Now multiply that love by an infinite amount—that is the measure of God’s love for you.  

God does not look on the outward appearance.  I believe that He doesn't care one bit if we live in a castle or a cottage, if we are handsome or homely, if we are famous or forgotten. Though we are incomplete, God loves us completely. Though we are imperfect, He loves us perfectly. Though we may feel lost and without compass, God’s love encompasses us completely. 

He loves us because He is filled with an infinite measure of holy, pure, and indescribable love. We are important to God not because of our résumé but because we are His children. He loves every one of us, even those who are flawed, rejected, awkward, sorrowful, or broken. God’s love is so great that He loves even the proud, the selfish, the arrogant, and the wicked. 

What this means is that, regardless of our current state, there is hope for us. No matter our distress, no matter our sorrow, no matter our mistakes, our infinitely compassionate Heavenly Father desires that we draw near to Him so that He can draw near to us."

I am sorry, that is kind of a long quote, but it is just so good. It is from Pres. Uchtdorf's talk in October 2009 titled, "The Love of God."

Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. He is my Savior. Through him I have hope. 

1 John 4:18 "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear..."
2 Timothy 1:7 "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power and of love, and of a sound mind. 
1 Peter 1:3 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." 

There is a song that I sang in Inspiration choir last year called, "Behold the Wounds in Jesus's Hands." It is an amazing song that you should look up and listen to, but I just want to share the last verse. 

"Behold his wounded hands and feet! Come touch, and see, and feel the wounds and marks that you may know his love for you is real. Then as you fall to worship him and wash his feet in tears, your savior takes you in his arms and quiets all your fears."

The gospel that is found in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true. Whether you are a member or a kind passerby I invite you with all my soul to come unto our Savior. Give him room in your heart to fill it with love and hope and faith. 

He Lives.

 

Future

Consider the lilies.

Luke 6:28-30

In My Own Little Corner

Tender Mercies.

How can we deny them? 

Even our most simple thoughts God listens to. He is tuned in all day and all night. He is the most understanding being that exists. If I could just be a little more like him. I am convinced that he is so eager to bless us with happy little blessings along our major journey here. How deeply grateful and joyful I feel when I am humble enough to recognize them. 

It's my birthday tomorrow! I am turning 21! Wait...WHAT??

I know, right? 

I went to the bank today and the lady said, "Oh, you renew your license this month." Boy was I glad that she reminded me. Pretty weird though. 

Just some highlights from my little corner in Provo:

• One day, we were talking at work. Two of the full-time employees that I work with were in the front office. One of them is more sensitive and humble and just a cutie pie (Kevin). The other one...well...let's just say he is all boy; snips and snails, and puppy dog tails (Craig). We were mentioning movies and first Kevin confessed that he looses his "man card" because he likes Anne of Green Gables and The Sound of Music. "Man card?" Who says that? Then Craig told us that he saw a chick flick with his wife over the weekend and fell asleep. We asked what movie he saw and he said Here comes the Boom. He generously explained that it was about a teacher that becomes a cage fighter to save his high school band or something like that. I looked at him confused and said that that didn't sound like a chick flick. He kind of paused and then responded, "Well, nobody died and my wife cried." There was a kind of awkward silence while everyone processed what he just said and then we all lost it! "No one died!" So every movie that doesn't have killing in it, but makes girls cry is a chick flick! Who knew? 
• My friends, the Sandberg's, came to Provo and I was able to visit them. My Senior year of high school they had an exchange student that stayed with them. She was my same age and we were the only two girls in my mom's Laurels class. Before she left back to Brazil my mom took us out to Pizza Factory. It was pretty fun. Anyway, she is back in America living with the Sandberg's and going to Dixie. So I got to see her. It was so fun. She is so cute and we had so much fun giggling and catching up. The Sandberg's are just great. A good, faithful, loving family. I am so thankful for their friendship and light in my life. 

Okay, so maybe those were the only two things that I have to write about. It's probably a good thing since I need to get on some homework that is crushing my conscience. 

I have an exciting weekend coming up....an update soon!

Joys of life

I love people.

I love talking to people, hearing their stories, listening to their problems, sharing in their excitements, smiling at them, seeing their faces light up when they smile back at me. There's a little saying I have heard that says, "People are closest to perfect when they smile."

Of course that is true. 

2 Nephi 2:25 "Men are that they might have joy." 

What a merciful God we have to allow us to come to this earth and smile at people. 

I talked to my Grandparents today. First I called my Grandma Panganiban. I love her so much. When I was younger and I lived in California still I would visit her in the Summer for a week. It was a great time. I loved just being with her, hearing her accent and being enveloped in her smell. Before we got off the phone she told me how much she loved me and that she prays for me. Oh how I miss her and love her. She is a beautiful woman. I hope I can be as strong as she is and bear trials as gracefully and solidly as she has. 

Then, I called my Grandma Pingree. Another amazing lady. My grandpa died 4 years ago and I know it has been hard for her, but she is still always so happy and cheerful. I was able to hear all about my extended family and how they are all doing. It is so wonderful to have a family. Another tender mercy from God. 

Both grandparents, when I told them about my indecisiveness about my major, encouraged me to study what I love. My parents and siblings all encouraged me to do the same thing. I am so grateful for a family that encourages me to be me and to do what I love. 

Sometimes you just need family. 

And sometimes you just need to smile. Really smile. 

So. Smile...it's contagious!

Just because sometimes I really miss him and his smile.

Keys to Success

Today I was in a parade. 

I have been in many parades. When I was a Senior in High School I was on the Ivins City Royalty and we participated in every parade in our community. That was a blast. It was so fun participating in the pageant and then it was so fun being in parades and having little girls exclaim to their mommies that we were princesses. Yeah, definitely one of the best experiences that I have had. 

But, today, the BYU Homecoming Parade was by far the best parade I have ever been in. It was so fun! We had our cute little keys around our necks and we were throwing candy to all the little kids (and big kids). There were so many people there and their BYU pride was so great! It made me, again, so grateful to be here at BYU. 

I love my job. 

The people I work with are the best. We have such a fun time together. The full-time employees are the best too. One of our "big" bosses helped us make all of the keys and was even there to take pictures and reload our candy mid-parade. He is such a kind man. Through this process of preparing for the parade I have been able to meet and interact more with the "big" bosses at Physical Facilities. They are so great. I have been blessed to work and associate with such great people. 

So the moral of the story is: If you ever get the chance to go to the BYU Homecoming Parade. Go! It's so fun! 

Samples and Vultures

This weekend is BYU Homecoming. I haven't really been super school spirited since my Sophomore year of High School, but something about this University makes me feel spirited. 

Tomorrow morning is the BYU Homecoming Parade. Along with several of my co-workers I am going to be a Key in the parade. 

Yes, a key. 

I actually told my brother this last night and he laughed in my face! Apparently being a key in a parade is super humiliating. Maybe, but maybe not! I am stoked. 

Anyway, my co-worker, and great friend, Saryn, and I went to Costco to buy candy today. Boy, was that a treat.

I haven't been to Costco in a really long time. Since I was young and my mom actually had a need to buy everything in bulk. The most exciting part is always Costco's samples.

FREE LUNCH PEOPLE! 

I remember it being exciting, but today was a whole different experience. 

All I have to say is that the Costco sample people have to be pret-ty aggressive. 

The olds were crazy! The second there was a new batch of samples out they would flock to them and snatch them like we were in the great depression again! Bumping elbows and squeezing between people I felt like I was among vultures. One Sample Lady put her arm up and firmly explained to an eager young man that he couldn't grab a sample before it was put under the plastic display. There was this mom with her extra-large cart, filled with stuff and her two children, that almost ran me over to get to an inch of cinnamon role. When I looked at her irritation radiated from her eyes. 

I'm sorry I was in the way of your mini cinnamon role Lady!

Oh man, I couldn't stop laughing. 

Next trip to Costco I will be more prepared for the intense competition for those samples.  

Too Good Not to Start Early

I listened to Christmas music today. 

Sometimes Christmas music is the only thing that will make you feel better about, well, everything.

Who doesn't love celebrating Christmas? Thinking about baby Jesus, giving gifts, singing carols, making cookies, and decorating the house with red and green? 

Oh, oh, oh, the Christmas tree! That's the BEST part. I love putting up the old ornaments that we've had for years. 

Christmas will be a little strange this year. My parents moved to Rexburg and so I might actually have, well, I will almost for sure have a White Christmas! So, so, so exciting!

I forgot about the movies! White Christmas, A Christmas Story, Santa Claus, It's a wonderful Life, and Elf.

Okay, so maybe before the Christmas tree being the best is just being around family. Family makes Christmas time the best, for sure. 

It's all the best!

I can't wait for Christmas!! 

Only 2 months people! Two months until we celebrate the best Holiday all year!

 

Doesn't that look cozy?

This is totally not related at all, but I went to dinner with my brother tonight. We went to Cafe Rio. Soooo good. They best part and this was another thing that made me feel real good was their after-the-meal mints. Maybe I walked out with my pockets full....(a little Ghetto, I know!)