Story #1:
The other day I was small talking with a saleswoman about some of the changes that are happening in my life. My dad chimed in from behind me and informed the woman that I was soon-to-be married.
The woman's eyes got big as she leaned back from me and said, "You're getting married?!? But you are just a baby!!!! You're getting married and you are just what? 19?"
"I'm 23 actually," I replied.
She dismissed my correction saying, "Okay still. You are just a little baby to be getting married!"
I shrugged in response; I've heard my fair share of that comment.
I began to smile, as I recalled a conversation I had previously had with another stranger earlier this summer...
Story #2:
Mom, Dad, RBH and I were visiting Nauvoo a couple months ago when RBH proposed to me. The day after our engagement became official, we visited several sites in Nauvoo that were filled with older couples giving tours. At one of the houses, a woman asked us why we were on our trip. Again, my dad was the one to announce that the previous day, RBH and I had gotten engaged. This woman was all a flutter at the excitement of our relationship.
As the tour went on, this woman began to tell a story about an early pioneer, mentioning that when this pioneer was married, she was just 19 years old.
She turned to me, hoping to make a connection to the story, and asked, "now how old are you?" (Clearly expecting me to say 19).
"I'm 23 actually," I replied.
She looked surprised and a little embarrassed for me as she said, "Oh...an older bride..."
I shrugged in response; I've heard my fair share of that comment.
What all this means:
Monday, July 22, 2013
Saturday, July 20, 2013
Scones pt. 2
Continuing the scone story from earlier...
My parents picked me up from the airport today, and as I climbed into the car, I found THIS on my seat:
I died laughing...and happily ate my second (first?) scone of the day.
My mom must follow my blog ;)
Don't worry - RBH had a full on delicious and healthy vegetable filled dinner tonight. We both have recovered from The Greasy Scone Incident of 2013.
Friday, July 19, 2013
Scones
This morning, RBH and I headed over to the county offices to get our marriage license. We weren't that surprised to see two other couples getting their licenses at the same time, but we were surprised to see that the two other couples were dressed up in white dresses and suits. Both parties had flowers and people taking pictures of them. I felt so underdressed...
It got me kind of excited, seeing the other couples, and I spent several minutes telling RBH we should just get it done in the county office haha. I'm glad I found a man that has a consistently level head...
But the real story of the morning isn't about marriage; it's about bread.
We got through the process way faster than we had anticipated and had some time to kill before my flight. Neither of us had eaten, so we decided to find some quick food before saying goodbye.
RBH suggested that we avoid all types of fast food, wanting to avoid the greasy yucky feeling of processed America. We drove for a little bit, but we only seemed to find pricier sit down diners and greasy fast food.
We resolved on Subway. It was the best we could do. As we pulled into the Subway parking lot, I noticed the restaurant next door was called Sconecutters and I perked up in my seat yelling my changed opinion - "SCONECUTTERS?! YES LET'S GO HERE! PULL IN HERE!"
RBH gave me some "are you sure that's what you want?" and "you want this more than subway" statements, all while pulling into the recently designated lunch stop. I insisted that this was the perfect stop and I LOVE SCONES. He was sweet and followed me in.
I was so confused.
Nothing on this menu looked like scones. The only thing really "breakfasty" on the menu was a list of 3 breakfast sandwiches. We ordered 2 and made our way to a booth.
When we were served, the waitress brought us this:
Tuesday, July 02, 2013
Let yourself walk in the shade
Today was one of those "its so hot you could boil an egg on my face" days.
I began my 25 minute walk up to campus this morning with practical shoes on and an extremely heavy backpack. About 70% of my walk is uphill (I thought I knew what a hill was before I moved to Utah, I have never been so mistaken in my life. RBH busted a gut when I showed him the ONE hill in my hometown...and he realized that the dinky mound in front of us was what I was referring to as our "sled hill." This place has hills that would qualify as mountains in Illinois haha.)
ANYWAY, I started making my way up this hill. I felt the weight of my leaden backpack sinking my feet down into the boiling cement. The sun seemed to have both arms around me, gripping onto my shoulders. I put on my face of determination, and pushed back the wet hair sticking to my forehead. I could feel myself saying, "This is nothing. This isn't even hard. This heat is NOT going to get to somebody like ME. Are you kidding? I did harder things in heat like this for 18 months." A friend passed by in a car and waved to me - pausing - wondering if she should give me a ride up. I waved her on. "I don't need any help."
I purposely stayed away from the shade. I purposely took the harder route. I'm not sure to whom I felt I was proving my toughness...was it myself? Was it the people I was passing? Was it God?
Finally, after the halfway point of my walk, I surrendered my pride to the shady part of the sidewalk.
Immediately, I felt relief. It was cooler here. I was protected. I felt hope return. I felt positivity. I didn't feel like I was out to prove anything anymore.
I still had on my heavy backpack. It was still hot outside. I still had to walk up the hill. But with the sudden presence of the shade, everything became easier.
I began to think about how often we live our lives like I did today. Things are hot and hard and heavy - but we don't dare admit that because then we would be weak. We know the shade is there, willing to cover us. In fact, that is shade's only purpose - but we can't bring ourselves to give in and receive relief. We know that Jesus Christ is our Savior, sure. We even know that He can offer us strength, help, and relief. So why do we so often stick out our chin and say, "No. Today I don't need to walk in the shade." Or a defiant, "No thanks, I can do it all myself." Or how about "Of course Heavenly Father loves me, but I don't want to bug him with something so small as this little hill. He has got other important things to do."
How often do we think, "I'm strong enough to do this on my own," without realizing that what we are really saying is "I'm strong enough without you," "I don't need you," and even "I'm stronger than you."
I know that I have had days where I decided not to walk in the spiritual shade. Those days, just like my blazing walk today, were not fun. Doing things on my own resulted in sore muscles, sweaty necks, and bitterness. I remember days when I was so tired of walking with my heavy backpack alone that I finally let myself crumble to my knees to feel the sweet relief of the atonement, wondering why I didn't do it earlier. Why didn't I let myself feel relief before?
So when the thought comes to us "I should really read my scriptures today," "I should say my prayers before bed," or "man, I need to make it back to the temple," stop what you are doing and chose to walk in the shade. In reality, when we skip the things that we know we should be doing, we are saying exactly those defiant phrases.
"I know I should pray, but I don't have time" really means "I think I'm strong enough to get through my day today without prayer." Just let yourself walk in the shade.
Turn your burden over to the Savior. Let yourself be forgiven. Let yourself be healed.
Don't lie to yourself saying that you are avoiding the shade because you don't want to bother it - that your avoidance is out of love. The shade will continue being the shade whether you use it or not. The Savior will continue to be the Savior whether you turn to Him or not. The atonement will continue to be the atonement whether you use it or not.
Give yourself a break. Start to love yourself and the Savior more.
Let yourself walk in the shade.
I began my 25 minute walk up to campus this morning with practical shoes on and an extremely heavy backpack. About 70% of my walk is uphill (I thought I knew what a hill was before I moved to Utah, I have never been so mistaken in my life. RBH busted a gut when I showed him the ONE hill in my hometown...and he realized that the dinky mound in front of us was what I was referring to as our "sled hill." This place has hills that would qualify as mountains in Illinois haha.)
ANYWAY, I started making my way up this hill. I felt the weight of my leaden backpack sinking my feet down into the boiling cement. The sun seemed to have both arms around me, gripping onto my shoulders. I put on my face of determination, and pushed back the wet hair sticking to my forehead. I could feel myself saying, "This is nothing. This isn't even hard. This heat is NOT going to get to somebody like ME. Are you kidding? I did harder things in heat like this for 18 months." A friend passed by in a car and waved to me - pausing - wondering if she should give me a ride up. I waved her on. "I don't need any help."
I purposely stayed away from the shade. I purposely took the harder route. I'm not sure to whom I felt I was proving my toughness...was it myself? Was it the people I was passing? Was it God?
Finally, after the halfway point of my walk, I surrendered my pride to the shady part of the sidewalk.
Immediately, I felt relief. It was cooler here. I was protected. I felt hope return. I felt positivity. I didn't feel like I was out to prove anything anymore.
I still had on my heavy backpack. It was still hot outside. I still had to walk up the hill. But with the sudden presence of the shade, everything became easier.
I began to think about how often we live our lives like I did today. Things are hot and hard and heavy - but we don't dare admit that because then we would be weak. We know the shade is there, willing to cover us. In fact, that is shade's only purpose - but we can't bring ourselves to give in and receive relief. We know that Jesus Christ is our Savior, sure. We even know that He can offer us strength, help, and relief. So why do we so often stick out our chin and say, "No. Today I don't need to walk in the shade." Or a defiant, "No thanks, I can do it all myself." Or how about "Of course Heavenly Father loves me, but I don't want to bug him with something so small as this little hill. He has got other important things to do."
How often do we think, "I'm strong enough to do this on my own," without realizing that what we are really saying is "I'm strong enough without you," "I don't need you," and even "I'm stronger than you."
I know that I have had days where I decided not to walk in the spiritual shade. Those days, just like my blazing walk today, were not fun. Doing things on my own resulted in sore muscles, sweaty necks, and bitterness. I remember days when I was so tired of walking with my heavy backpack alone that I finally let myself crumble to my knees to feel the sweet relief of the atonement, wondering why I didn't do it earlier. Why didn't I let myself feel relief before?
So when the thought comes to us "I should really read my scriptures today," "I should say my prayers before bed," or "man, I need to make it back to the temple," stop what you are doing and chose to walk in the shade. In reality, when we skip the things that we know we should be doing, we are saying exactly those defiant phrases.
"I know I should pray, but I don't have time" really means "I think I'm strong enough to get through my day today without prayer." Just let yourself walk in the shade.
Turn your burden over to the Savior. Let yourself be forgiven. Let yourself be healed.
Don't lie to yourself saying that you are avoiding the shade because you don't want to bother it - that your avoidance is out of love. The shade will continue being the shade whether you use it or not. The Savior will continue to be the Savior whether you turn to Him or not. The atonement will continue to be the atonement whether you use it or not.
Give yourself a break. Start to love yourself and the Savior more.
Let yourself walk in the shade.
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