one way I fail at being "feminine"

Wanna know a secret?

I hate Pinterest.

I'm not crafty.
I don't have time/energy/desire/interest to spend pouring over other people ideas to make things cute when I don't have time/energy/desire/interest in making things in my life cuter.

This is probably why I remain uncreative.
And boring.
And plain.

And why my Primary President friend was surprised when I gave her a gift wrapped in brown paper with a purple ribbon. "This is so unlike you!" she said. "It's so cute!"

Creativity is hit and miss with me. And I'm not that interested in seeking it out or cultivating it much more by learning new tricks via things like Pinterest. I know, I'm a homemaking failure. That's okay. That's why they invented ready-made scrapbooks and pre-printed birthday cards. Thank you every other creative/crafty/design/aesthetics-minded person in the world for saving me from having to make glitter princess masks on my own. Hello store aisle where I can just buy it.

And thanks to my sisters and friends who are the opposite of me and love things like Pinterest and DIY decoration projects. Anything "cute" in my life comes from them, almost guaranteed. Sometimes I wish I were more like that, but someone has to be the different one in every relationship, right? If I were good at that stuff, I might not appreciate it as much in others.

So, yeah, that's all. Just highly irritated by the Pinterst website at the moment, on which a friend "pinned" a board that I'm supposed to look at for a party we're planning together. Yuck. That website makes me convulse. But yay for everyone else who likes it; I'm  happy for you. Go and have fun pinning. Just please don't invite me. Mahalo.

Living the dream

I know I'm not a great blogger. You might even wonder why I have one since I rarely write on it.
I probably enjoy reading the posts more than anyone else. They remind me so much of what the Lord has given to me and all the blessings I have.

One thing I know about life is this: it's hard for everyone. But it's also great for everyone, or can be, if you trust God and let Him plan it out for you.

I had a really good conversation with my uncle the other day about faith and blessings. He really opened my eyes a little more when he quoted this scripture: Alma 22:16: the Lord blesses us according to our faithfulness and belief, when we ask for the things we need and desire.

At first I think it's a bit hard to believe that the Lord will give us grand blessings which we desire. After all, we don't really need a million dollars, or a big house, or extensive worldly success. And I really don't think those things are things we should pray for or set our hearts upon.

BUT, I do believe that the Lord needs faithful, strong people, who do good with what they have and set an example for others. And sometimes, those^ "worldy" things are things He does bless us with, if it's His will. I don't have a million dollars or a big house or extensive worldly success. What I have been given is the incredible gift of travel, and of seeing lots of different places and meeting amazing people and trying incredible things. I humbly acknowledge that what I get to do is something that many people only dream about.

While this lifestyle doesn't come without it's own set of challenges (and you might not believe me, but really, it actually is very hard and stressful), I know deep in my heart that it is what the Lord wants me to do. I am so grateful that of all the lives He could have given me, He chose to give me this one. He is my best friend. He is my best travel partner. He is the person I talk to and hang out with and rely on and trust in all things. Or am trying to trust in all things.

When I was a little girl, if you had taken me aside and whispered to me some of what lie ahead for me in my life, I would never have believed you.

Back then I thought differently. I wanted to be a bus driver, an elementary school teacher, a librarian. I dreamed of living a life tucked into Montana hills with family and neighbors and community associates as my closest friends.

Now my life and greatest loves are spread across four continents.
My closest friends live in five different countries.
I reside almost 10,000 miles away from my family.
This story does not in any way match the things I dreamed of back then.
But it reflects a perfect vision of my dreams now.

photo cred: www.fotopedia.com

I am grateful to be living my dreams. What that looks like day-to-day isn't always magical beach sunsets and travel dust. What that normally looks like is a 5:30 am alarm clock with a ten minute snooze. It looks like getting up before the sun and doing a "it's freezing cold and I can't stand it" dance while trying to get dressed in the dark. It's leaving the house by 6:40 am to take a twenty-minute bus ride + 25 minute walk to work for five hours. It's going straight from an intellectually-demanding job to an intellectually-demanding PhD program for another six hours before going straight to the church to teach young girls or attend meetings. It's an aching back and sore feet and looking tired and not-cute most of the time. 

It's spending Sunday afternoons cooking meals for the entire week so I have something to eat, hanging laundry after dark on Thursdays so I have something to wear, and feeling relieved when Saturday or a federal holiday comes so that I can rely on at least ten uninterrupted hours in the office to get work done.
It's a lot of time on the bus, and a lot of anxious hopes that things work out despite all my failings.
It's also temple trips and Friday night-market visits with angelic friends. It's making bagels and playing with my friend's sweet baby girl. It's rejoicing in long-distance Skype calls or Google-hangouts with my incredible family and faraway friends. It's visiting members of my ward, teaching institute classes, sharing the Gospel--my greatest joy--with others, and doing Yoga. It's falling asleep on my knees at night before I make it into bed.

Living the dream is often uncomfortable. Living the dream is not sweat- or tears- or stress- or disappointment-free. It's hard. It's sometimes lonely. But I wouldn't trade it. I'm doing what I want to be doing, on my way to becoming who I want to become. That's my dream, and I'm so thankful for the opportunity to live it.

Life is a great reason to rejoice.

fiekaiia

True story: every night when I go to sleep I can't wait to wake up in the morning just so I can eat breakfast. 

What I dream about eating:

delicious, right?

...and that's what I'm going to think about tonight. :)

Elevator buttons and Heavenly Mother: What I really think about the Ordain Women movement.

[A note to my non-member friends who might read this: I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I believe in Jesus Christ, and that He is my Savior and Redeemer. I believe that this is His true Church on the earth today, and that it was restored and organized by a man named Joseph Smith, whom I revere as a Prophet of the Lord. I believe in God. I believe that He is my Father and the Father and creator of all people and things on the earth. I believe that He loves me and all of us perfectly. You may not be familiar with many of the terms I use in this post, but if I do not define them well enough for you here, or if you would like more information about the Church or it's doctrines and teachings, I recommend going to the source at lds.org or mormon.org. You are also very welcome to ask me if you have any questions.

"The Church"= The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which I normally refer to as "the Church" here for simplicity's sake.
"Priesthood"= The power of God, given to mankind, to act in His name. It is "held" by worthy male members of the Church who are "ordained" (bestowed) with this power in various "offices" (levels) by likewise ordained, worthy, male leaders. Women do not hold offices in the Priesthood in the Church, but are "set-apart" by Priesthood authority to various positions of service in all levels of the Church]

Dear World,

Down here at the bottom of the world General Conference has just ended, and with the admonition of a man I esteem as a prophet, seer, and revelator ringing in my ears*, I feel the need to address a subject which is tender, sensitive, and current. This may be the first you've heard of the issue, or like me, perhaps you have been exposed to may differing viewpoints, opinions, and beliefs in conjunction with this topic. I have been through my own process of listening, thinking, and praying about this topic, motivated by the different and often confusing opinions of dear friends whom I love greatly, no matter the differences in our convictions. Hopefully if you've embarked on conversations around this subject you have met individuals who have been respectful while hearing your views, whether or not they share them. I ask the same from you. No matter which side of the issue you're on, or even if you don't even consider yourself to be in it, I ask for your respect as I try to express what I personally feel and think about the Ordain Women movement.

Just in case you haven't heard of it, the Ordain Women movement (ordainwomen.org) is a group of LDS women and men, some active and some less active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who seek to obtain ordination to the Priesthood for women in the Church. Their FAQ page explains that they feel women are not held in equal standing in the Church, that Priesthood ordination is something which should be shared, and that withholding female Priesthood ordination is continuing a tradition of female repression within the Church. While generally respectful of the Church's position, the group has continued to petition the Brethren to "take this matter to the Lord in prayer," believing that female ordination is the true doctrine of the Gospel of Christ, lacking only latter-day revelation to bestow it. While continuing to actively protest to gain admittance to the traditionally "men only" Priesthood session of conference for the past two General Conferences, the group has ignored the Church's polite requests that they simply watch the broadcast online rather than trying to occupy seats that are first reserved for brothers attending the session. I was personally in agreement with the letter the church issued to the group where they stated clearly that Ordain Women's behavior "actually detracts from the helpful discussions that church leaders have held as they seek to listen to the thoughts, concerns and hopes of women inside and outside of church leadership. Ordination of women to the Priesthood is a matter of doctrine that is contrary to the Lord’s revealed organization for his church." Sadly, at least to me, this did not stop the group's plans to protest, nor their attempts to gain access to Priesthood session. As their webpage states, "Ordain Women believes women must be ordained in order for our faith to reflect the equity and expansiveness of [the Church's teachings on gender equality]."


Ready to hear what I think?

First of all, I believe that the entire platform that women aren't fully involved in the Priesthood in the Church is utterly absurd and untrue. Without even being a full temple endowed member of the Church myself yet (soon!), even I know how that is false: the Priesthood is the means by which men and women receive exaltation. Neither men nor women can be exalted on their own, thus we need each other in the Priesthood to get there. Women hold the Priesthood inasmuch as we are called, sustained, and set apart to officiate in callings by the Priesthood. Male Priesthood leaders who are ordained  to their respective offices direct and work together with us, the unordained women. This does not bother me. I am not hung up on the word "under" in the phrase "under the direction of." In every capacity in which I have served under the direction of the Priesthood I have been listened to and respected. My ideas and opinions have been important and necessary. I have always felt that I am working with my Priesthood-holding brothers, and not separately, behind, under, or against.

I thought of this analogy: Sometimes when you get in an elevator there is a bellman there to push the buttons and take you to the floor at which you need to get off. Do you fight the bellman because he doesn't let YOU push the buttons? Are you annoyed that that ability is "withheld" or "taken" from you? Do you feel like you are less because you aren't given that job? I don't. You're riding the elevator together. You're getting off at the same place. What difference does it make to me that HE is the one pushing the button, and I am not? It does not make me less. It doesn't mean I'm not capable. It doesn't mean anything. It just means that it's not my job. End of story. As long as I get there, what do I care who pushes the button?

Secondly, I think the argument that women are marginalized and seen as "less" in the Church is utterly false. I have been blessed with success in many of my endeavors "in the world" (outside of the Church), but nowhere do I feel more respected, more valued, more loved, more needed, more honored, more important, more well rounded, or that I am more closely fulfilling my divine potential than when I am serving in the capacities to which I have been called in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, under all-male, all-ordained-to-an-office-in-the-Priesthood leadership direction. I am not marginalized. I am not devalued. I am not simply put into a room with crying children and told to "do your mothering thing." I am not relegated to a cushioned chair in a Relief Society room, given a rose on Mother's Day, and never expected or allowed to raise an opinion or voice a concern. I am heard. I am loved. I am equal. I have never doubted that, and although sometimes the culture of the church interprets the role of a woman differently, I have never felt that the doctrine did anything but support, honor, and value me. But it is true that people make mistakes. My heart hurts both for those sisters who have felt unequal, and those inside the church whose comments or actions have perpetuated that injustice. Such belief is not the Gospel, and it should rightfully be called out and done away with. But friends, I do not feel that arguing for female ordination to the Priesthood is either the right way to combat or to correct that culture.

Finally, whenever I start to wonder about issues like this in a Gospel context, I go back to my idol: Heavenly Mother.

Here's the thing: I believe that when I see my Heavenly Mother again, I will stand in breathless awe to behold Her beauty and majesty. I believe that She will stand next to my Father in Heaven, Her hand in His, totally equal in might, power, dominion, and grace. I believe that I will be filled with wonder at Her goodness, Her beauty, Her elegance, and Her loving heart. I believe that She is not one whit behind our Father in Heaven in matters of the Priesthood. I do not believe that Heavenly Mother holds an office in the Priesthood, but I do believe that She is every bit as exalted, perfect, and wonderful as Father in Heaven. I do not believe that not being "God" has ever held Her back from being a Goddess, Queen, and perfect Being the same as my Heavenly Father. I want to be like Her, and as far as I understand it, ordination to the Priesthood is not a necessary step on that journey.


To be honest, if a Prophet of the Lord ever does step up to the pulpit in General Conference and say, "Brothers and Sisters, after much prayer and fasting and consultation with the Lord I have received revelation that women are now to be ordained to offices in the Priesthood," it will be a trial of my faith. I will have to go and pray mightily for understanding from the Lord, and for my own confirmation that that really is His desire for the Church.

I do not believe that will ever happen though.

Why?

Because the Lord does not change. This Church is the same Church that existed in the Savior's day--the Savior did not ordain women then, and the Lord does not ordain them now.

And that doesn't bother me. 

To my wonderful sisters and brothers who are bothered, I'm sorry. I pray for you to find the peace of spirit and conscience that will allow you to accept the teachings of the Gospel as they currently stand. I pray that your hearts will be softened to hear the voice of prophets and apostles saying gently and lovingly, but clearly, that the ordination of women is not something that exists in the Lord's kingdom (but women in the Priesthood is!), and that you will then receive all the blessings of fully supporting and sustaining your leaders. However much sacrifice you have to make on your part, however much faith it requires for you, I pray that you can receive that confirmation and be at peace. I have been blessed in my life as I have sought to do so, and I know you will be blessed in yours.

So now you know where I stand. Congratulations to you! :)


*"Defend your beliefs with courtesy and with compassion, but defend them."--Elder Jeffrey R. Holland "The Cost--and Blessings--of Discipleship." April 2014 General Conference, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Am I the only one who does this???

Today at the institute building I was snacking on first, celery and peanut butter, and then apples and peanut butter. My two friends were looking at me like I was crazy. Finally one of them said, "how can you eat that?!" And then it hit me...

I'm so American.

And then I laughed.

Peace out NZ. Te u 'alu ki Tonga!

Leaving for Tonga in seven hours.

So excited to see these people: 

 and these:

 and these ones too:

Can't wait to eat this:

and this:

 

to see this:

 

and to swim in this: 

So rejoicing right now!

Mele Kalikimaka everyone! Frohe Weihnachten! Kilisimasi Fiefia! Merry Christmas! See yous next year. :)

things we take for granted

I know I write about gratitude a lot, and not to beat a dead horse or anything, but this post is going to be more of the same (and then I promise I'll find a more interesting thema okay?) There are a few things that have been on my mind that I just need to get out.

If you are reading this, there is a good chance that you live in a first-world country, and you probably have access to all of the comforts and conveniences of life that you need. In such a situation, when was the last time you reflected on how much it means just to be able to move?

What about the freedoms you enjoy? Like being able to express your opinion aloud, to disagree with someone, or to choose which church you go to?

What about having a bed to sleep in? Clothes to wear? Shelter from the elements?

As you know, I have had a boot on my foot for the past month. I was finally able to go a whole day without it just last Thursday, and I'm almost back to normal now, five weeks later. This has been a very challenging experience for me, and I've felt a lot of emotions. Overall though, the strongest emotion is gratitude. I am so thankful for the ability to walk, to be able to get myself from point A to point B simply given enough time. I am thankful for my body and for health--that my body has the resources it needs to repair itself, heal, and recover. I am thankful for the blessing it is to be able to walk up or down a hill, to run a flight of stairs, and to stand straight with weight on both feet. Did you ever stop to think how much your feet do for you? or your legs? And how different your life would be without them? I can walk across a room! I can walk down a block! I can walk across campus to the park, down the street to a shop, around the corner to the square, and wherever else I need to go! I don't have to ask anyone for help! I don't have to take a taxi! I don't have to plan two hours and count in hobbling time and rest. I can be independent and do the things I need to do. I am so thankful for my body.


And as for freedom: I have a very good friend at Uni whom I met at the beginning of our studies. He is from a country where there is a state religion, and to think or speak differently than what the Government says means death. DEATH, people! We are talking about the twenty-first century, yet there are still countries that keep their citizens in spiritual and intellectual bondage--they tear the most important freedom from them (the freedom to choose), and force them to obey or else. Sound familiar Mormons? Sound like Satan's plan?

This has become a great issue to me lately because my friend has begun to investigate the Church. He attends meetings and has read most of the Book of Mormon. He loves it. He has lists and pages and documents of questions. His enthusiasm and desire to know are bursting! He is like a child who has never seen water, when, presented with the ocean, he runs and kicks and splashes and dives and smiles and goes crazy, laughing at the delicious saturation of liquid. My friend has never had the option of doing or thinking something different before, and now that he is living in a country where he will not have to sacrifice his life to do it, he is eagerly on the hunt for all the truth he can stuff into his soul. Watching the zeal with which he embraces learning about the Gospel has been a reality check for me in multiple ways.

1. Am I as eager to learn and as much in love with the Gospel as he is?
2. Do I feast from the words as much as he does?
3. Do I take for granted the fact that I have ALWAYS had the option to believe in what I want to and to worship how I, not someone else, sees fit?
4. There are people living without these freedoms in their lives. They are not just some news report: they are real; they are my brothers and sisters and potential best friends. 
5. Where much is given, much is required. Now that I know this ^, I cannot not do something. 

And my last soapbox--as for simply having the essentials of life: My family and I were homeless for over a year. Like literally homeless. We lived in campgrounds, slept on friend's lawns, stayed short times with friends/family, etc. I still remember the discomfort of uncertainty and what it felt like to not know where you would sleep that night, the next night, or the next week. What it felt like to watch my brothers and sisters play at the park while waiting for mom to bring us food from the grocery store--wondering how to take care of them, how long they would last. Wishing to just have a stove to cook a warm meal on. Of what it felt like to live out of a plastic grocery bag packed into the trunk of a car, to have no friends or activities to fill your time, and to wear the same thing day after day because it was all you had. I remember waking up the morning of my 16th birthday on the hard, carpeted cement floor of a motel room where we slept, eight people to one tiny room, mom and littlest kids on the bed, older ones on the floor. I didn't go to school because we didn't live anywhere. And when we did move in for a longer time with friends, it still wasn't home, wasn't comfortable, because we were guests. We tiptoed around, tried to stay out during the day as much as possible, and to keep things clean and untouched.

My point: when was the last time you were thankful for a consistent place to lay your head? For a stove or microwave to heat up food? For your own space to be yourself in?

I remember what it was like to survive like that, and I cry with gratitude that I know where I'm sleeping at night. I still don't have my own place to live and all of my stuff is still packed in bags, lol, but I do have everything I need. I am so thankful.


Friends, our lives are so blessed. People who live without the comforts that we enjoy are not less than us--they are the same as us. We do not deserve, nor were we given the things we have because we are "better" than anyone who doesn't have them. They are simply gifts from God.

So two things: #1-Don't forget to thank Him. And #2: Share what you have with others. Share your food. Share your home. Share your blessings. Most of all, share your love.

He who gives money gives much. 

He who gives time gives more. 

But he who gives of himself gives all. 

Don't take the blessings of your life for granted. Sharing gives us more reasons to rejoice.

new favorite Christmas song

so, so beautiful. Enjoy world!

Now that November is fast pau, let's teuteu 'a e Kilisimasi!

I know I've written along these lines a little bit previously, but in honor of the wonderful season that is going to be upon us so soon, here is a list of my favorite Yuletide entertainment.

  Movies

1. It's a Wonderful Life. You already knew I loved this one, didn't you?
2. Mr. Krueger's Christmas. I've already written about this like twelve times, so you know how I feel about it.
3. While You Were Sleeping. There was one year when my family watched this once a week almost every single week from January to December. We just do not get tired of it. (and ps, word to the wise: never watch it with us. we will spend the whole time quoting it and laughing at parts before they come up).
4. White Christmas. My parents taped this from TV sometime in the early nineties, and we have been enjoying it every single season since.
5. Holiday Inn. Oh Bing Crosby. Oh Fred Estaire. Yous are too much!
6.  Meet Me in St. Louis. My mom does not like this movie, because she is not a fan of Judy Garland. I, however, am a fan, and I cry when she sings "Have yourself a merry little Christmas."
7. Home Alone. Mostly enjoyable because it reminds me of my little brother.
8. The Santa Clause. Whenever I see this movie, I remember the first time I saw it: my aunt and uncle took my siblings and mom and I to the theater to see it when it came out. It was the first time I had been to the movies, and I remember the awe of the full screen and feeling so wrapped with love in the presence of my family. 
9. How the Grinch Stole Christmas. My little brother loves the Jim Carrey version of this movie, but I'm more of a fan of the animated. I just love the story. Dr. Seuss is like the CS Lewis of the picture book world.
10. The Forgotten Carols. This is actually a play which I love and most of my family can't stand. But I think it's beautiful and I love the story. Written by Michael McLean.
11. The Fourth Wise Man. My mom loves this story. Thus, I love it.

Books and Stories

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. I love this book so much. SO.MUCH. Please, please, please read it this season?
The Mansion by Henry Van Dyke. Read this for the first time a few years ago, at the suggestion of President Monson. Enjoy rereading it at least once a year for the reminders that it prompts.
The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry. This story was a staple in our family's "24 days before Christmas" canon. I still hear my mom's voice in my head when I read this.
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson. A favorite roommate introduced me to this one. Love it.
Christmas Day in the Morning by Pearl S. Buck. Once again, reminds me of my mom. She is the little boy in the story.
The Story of the Other Wise Man by Henry Van Dyke. See note about the movie (#11) above.

Music

Christmas is not complete without the hymns of Christmas ("Joy to the World!") but outside of those, the following are some of my favorite Christmas albums and songs:
Handel's Messiah
Bing Crosby Merry Christmas and The Bing Crosby Christmas Album
Michael Buble Christmas
Celine Dion These are Special Times
Michael McLean The Forgotten Carols
Wrangler Country Christmas
The Carpenters Christmas Portrait
John Denver Rocky Mountain Christmas and The Classic Christmas Album
"Do they know it's Christmas?" by Band Aid

Feel free to add to the list. I love this time of year!

So viele Segnungen

Thirty minutes ago I was disappointed because my library account online says that I owe a fine for a service that I actually already paid for. I knew that if I could just go to them and produce the receipt they would realize their error, so I went searching through my wallet to find it. Even though my little sister often teases me about my ridiculous receipt-keeping habits, for some reason it was nowhere to be found! I was sad thinking of all the work it would be to go to the library and try to convince them that the charge was obsolete, and get them to reverse it. Then, as I was looking for my planner fifteen minutes later, at the bottom of my backpack was a small crumpled piece of thin paper. It was the receipt! Hallelujah.

If I told my office mate--she who is an avowed Atheist--this story, she would think nothing of it. She would say that it was lucky I misplaced the receipt in my bag rather than throwing it away. The other day she exclaimed "Thank the God I don't believe in!" when something good happened--I think when the heat got turned up in our office. I love her a lot, but I feel sad that she does not have the belief and faith that would help her to recognize that the blessings of our lives are gifts from a loving father in heaven who knows and cares for us.

That's how I celebrated finding my receipt--by thanking Him. It was such a small thing. No one knew I was looking for it, or how much I actually hoped to find it, already believing it gone forever, somehow carelessly thrown away. Heavenly Father could very well have NOT helped me find it, and I would still continue to trust in Him. Yet in His mercy, because He cares about the things I care about, small and not, He gave it back to me.

NZ doesn't have a Thanksgiving, but today I am celebrating it in my heart with gratitude for everything the Lord gives to me, big and small, insignificant and life-changing. I am grateful for so many things:

• That I was able to climb the stairs today for the first time in a month!
• That I have had the past month of being incapacitated to appreciate everyday of my life when I'm not!
• For every time I cross the street safely
• That my lungs work
• That I am free from harmful addictions
• Beautiful music. This song has blessed my life lately.
• Religious freedom
• All my freedoms!
• Wonderful memories to fill my mind
• Wonderful possibilities ahead of me
• Wonderful people surrounding me
• Naturally straight teeth (thanks to my dad)
• Organs that function, cells that regenerate, wounds that heal
• Clean water to drink and fresh air to breathe
• Opportunities to step outside of my comfort zone--to change and become better

I really can't begin to list everything I'm thankful for, but how cool is it that there is a holiday focused on celebrating our blessings?! That in and of itself is a blessing. A great opportunity to pause and look around, hopefully, if you are very lucky, gathered among family and loved ones while you do it. Once again, BLESSED.

So happy Thanksgiving everyone! Don't forget to thank the Lord himself, from whom all blessings flow. He gives us so many great reasons to rejoice! 

Psalms 126:3-- The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.

Sat. 23 Nov: I am grateful for fulfilling dreams! I finally got to see "Wicked" on Saturday in Auckland, a show I have wanted to go to for over seven years. Yay for the ability to do things we want to do!

Sun. 24 Nov: I am grateful for the blessings of travel. Met a precious new missionary from Jerome, Idaho. He will be serving in our ward for the next little while, but as of Sunday he was only 4 days in "the field." Bless.His.Heart. Honestly I cringed a little talking to him though--his accent is SO thick, and while it is nostalgic to hear, it also brings back some unpleasant memories for me, of not really fitting in in small-town Idaho, and really wanting to see what the rest of the world was like. Please don't get me wrong. I love Idaho! And I'm very grateful to have grown up there. I love visiting and think I will probably live near there again eventually. But I am SO, SO thankful to have been able to get out and see a little bit of the world and travel and meet new people and figure out where I fit in better. Talking to him reminded me of how blessed I've been to travel, and I am so grateful!

Mon. 25 Nov: I am grateful for whoever planted the flowers and flowering bushes that line the sidewalk of the home just down from where I live. It is a JOY to walk through there everyday and be greeted by the loving aroma of roses and nature. BLESS those who bring that kind of beauty to busy cities.

Tues. 26 Nov: I am grateful for quiet early mornings. I'm trying to strengthen my foot by walking on it without the boot in the morning before I get ready for school. I take my friend's dog with me and we do a very short (but slow) walk around part of our neighborhood. Nothing beats a beautiful, quiet start of a summer day. It brings peace and happiness to my whole life.

Wed. 27 Nov: I am grateful to be Tongan. Today someone stole my lunch out of the refrigerator in the Staff/Graduate student common room. I put it there yesterday, but it was gone today (why someone would want to steal a strange looking lunch of polenta, tuna, and tomatoes is beyond me). I was with a wonderful Tongan friend, and we ended up sharing her lunch--fat, soft Tongan-style white bread spread with butter and marmite--and hot chocolate. She was laughing at the "Tonganness" of the lunch and said she would be too embarrassed to share with me if she didn't know I was Tongan. lol. This is not the first time dual-ethnicity has worked to my advantage. :)

Wed. 20 Nov: I am thankful for my older sister and that she took the time to put together a package of things I needed from America and mail it to me, at great personal expense--both of time and financially. I am grateful for her constant love and support.


Thurs. 21 Nov: I am grateful for education. I am grateful to be able to read and try and fail and learn and grow.

 Fri. 22 Nov: I am grateful for seasons. I am grateful for the course of life. I haven't had a fall in three years, but it is still my favorite time of the year. I love the coolness and the crispness and the colors on the mountains and the smell of old leaves and seeing my breath in the air and walking into a warm house with chili on the stove. Fall is home to my favorite holidays: I will miss Thanksgiving next week, and Christmas next month. This is the time of year when it is hardest to not be with my family. But there are always new things to enjoy, right? I might try to have my own American-style Thanksgiving next week, if I can, and I will be spending Christmas in Tonga, so that will be a whole new cultural experience for me. I stumbled across this album yesterday and had a shock to remember that it is indeed the holiday season. Crazy how fast it sneaks up. Hope you have great plans for yours.

Kau 'Aposetolo

I am thankful for these men. I know they are called of God and are His servants and spokesmen on the earth today. I love them.

still feeling the gratitude

Sun. 17 Nov: Grateful for family home evenings. You already know--I love family. Probably my favorite thing to do is to hang out with my family, and a second best is hanging out with other families who love being together. Had FHE with my newest adopted family on Sunday and loved laughing and talking and praying with them. Delicious.

Mon. 18 Nov: Grateful for the peace and safety of my life, and skyping with old friends. Talked to a friend in Germany for over an hour. Love her. Love that we can still be friends, even on different sides of the world. Human experiences are the same everywhere. And technology is awesome.

Tues. 19 Nov: Grateful for letters from missionaries. Missionaries seem to have special hearts, and their love and prayers mean a lot. Got a letter from my missionary bro today. Made my day. Love him. 

a calling, missionaries, and good examples

Thurs. 9 Nov: I am thankful for church and for my calling in the Young Women's. Grateful to have the opportunity to serve.

Fri. 10 Nov: I am grateful to be able to walk!! And for missionaries and the spirit of God.

Sat. 11 Nov.: I am grateful for the good examples of other people in faith, service, and everything I want to be. Like these people:

And most especially, like Him.

family

This is kind of a cop-out post--most everyone is grateful for their family--but I really do have the greatest family on the earth, and I love each and every one of them.

Blood and not. 

They are the best. 

And I am thankful for them.

Essen!

[not my picture, and I also don't know what most of those dishes are. just wanted to illustrate the great variety we have. looks delicious though, right?]

Today I am thankful for food. Thanks to personal experiences and interacting with people from all over the world, I am very aware of the great blessing it is to have anything to eat, let alone the beautiful, plentiful variety that graces most of our lives. Yay for health! Yay for food!

Doctor's, Church, Sunshine!

Monday 11 Nov: Grateful for good, friendly, sincere and talented doctors and medical professionals who do their best to serve all of their patients. I usually live a medic-free lifestyle, but lately I have become pretty familiar with my local clinic, where I have had to return frequently to have dressings changed on my foot from where it got run over, and see the doctor for further diagnoses. Without exception, everyone I have worked with has been so helpful and kind. I am grateful for their good attitudes and help.

Sunday 10 Nov: I am grateful for the sacrament, and for church. I am grateful for one day a week that is set apart from all others to be able to set aside all the worries and cares of regular life and just focus on Gospel and the Lord. It is rejuvenating and healing to me.

Saturday 9 Nov: I am grateful for sunshine, and the mood-elevating powers a beautiful day has.

prayer and rain

Friday, 8 Nov: Grateful for rain and the calming, cleansing effect it has.

Thursday, 7 Nov: Grateful for prayer. Grateful to have a heavenly Father who knows, loves, listens to, and hears me.

Grateful for green and grateful for people

Thursday, 7 Nov: I am grateful for the landscapes of this world that the Lord created. There is so much beauty!!! From city skylines to remote wildernesses, from homey villages to pine tree forests, this is a beautiful world.



Wednesday, 6 Nov: I am grateful for people. I have a theory that most people are nice. Most people are just like you--just trying to do their best and live a good life and work with what they've been given. Most people understand that kindness is essential, and most people generally try to be a good person. I experience the blessings of good people all around me almost all the time, and I'm grateful for opportunities to interact with and learn from others.