Shower of Heavenly Blessings

I am so sorry I have been a little MIA lately, life gets so busy when you least expect it sometimes. Eh, who am I kidding? My life isn't that busy, I simply lack the motivation sometimes haha.

Today I want to talk about blessings. I guess I am jumping ahead of the gun, most people note their blessings when Thanksgiving comes around. But alas, I have never been one to follow the crowd. This previous week was a little trying for me. I was having a hard time focusing and feeling the spirit in my personal study, worrying about not working enough, and honestly, just lacking the motivation to do much of anything that I needed to get done. I had no reason, but I was feeling down in the dumps, and just pathetic.

On Sunday the 25th, I had gone and had my FINAL interview for my mission papers with the Stake President and he had told me they would be on their way to SLC at the end of the week. But alas, they are not, and should be out the middle of this week. I am not a patient person by any means. I am sorry to admit, but I was pretty annoyed and I was super frustrated not having them out yet. I have wanted to serve a mission my whole life and the fact that this to me was another stumbling block, another day more of waiting until I get my call, was my LAST STRAW! I was stewing, tired, and honestly just wanted to cry and scream. I was being the whiny teenager I've tried not to be.

So, I sat down begrudgingly to do my scripture study for Sunday, and read this in 2Nephi 4:17,

"Nevertheless, notwithstanding the great goodness of the Lord, in showing me his great and marvelous works, my heart exclaimeth: O wretched man that I am! Yea, my heart sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities."

Heavenly Father is a pretty sneaky dude, and he knew it was time for my call to repentance. I couldn't deny that I read this scripture at an opportune time, I couldn't deny that I felt the spirit chastising me. Just after reading that, my mom called and I told her all I had been feeling and my frustrations. My father, being the nosey old man that he is, was listening to us and he said something that struck me as well. My dad doesn't often put his two cents into things. Not because he doesn't care, but because he really is a believer in free agency and letting me make my own decisions. He said, and this isn't verbatim, "Just because you want it now doesn't mean it's what God wants now. The time you are taking to wait, patiently or not, could be the difference between you going to Kentucky Spanish speaking, of Dublin, Ireland. You have no idea what the Stake Presidency is doing and what divine inspiration or trials they may be going through. Stick it out, be patient, and let it be in God's hands."

I appreciate what my dad said. It was exactly what I needed to hear. I sincerely believe that his priesthood power gave him the inspiration to say what God wanted me to know. I need to be more grateful for what I have and consider my blessing more often. I can be pretty ungrateful sometimes and I want to change that. From now on, I am going to post one thing I am grateful for at the end of my blog posts to remember all that I have to be thankful for. I encourage you all to remember what you have, and remember your blessing far outweigh your trials. 

Here is a video from President Uchtdorf about gratitude I would love to share with you :) 

Today, I am grateful for Eternal Families. I am thankful for a Father who is goofy and fun, yet one of the people in my life I look up to the most. I am grateful he is a worthy priesthood holder, and has never turned down an opportunity to utilize that power. I am grateful for a mother who taught me everything I know. From reading, to baking, to doing my own laundry, to being a Christlike daughter of God, I have her to thank for who I am today. Sometimes a girl just really, really needs her mom, and I have the best mom and best friend around. I am thankful for all of my siblings. We are all so different and unique, and sometimes we really try each other. I miss you all constantly, I pray for you, and I feel your love for me daily. I miss you guys like crazy. You are my best friends, and my greatest blessing from God. Thank you for never letting my head get too big, and always providing me with the laughs I need when I am down. I have no idea what I would do or be without you dorks.