With Patience Bare

I think that one of the gifts I have been blessed with in my life is patience. But I find at times that even with the degree of patience I have been blessed with there is always something that will try my patience. This trying will either strengthen my patience making it stronger for the next thing to come along and try it even more. Or I will allow myself to become frustrated and possibly get to the point of giving up for a time before coming back to it again.

Styling my hair tries my patience. I know! Of ALL the things in this world something so simple as styling hair becomes really frustrating for me and I, more than not, give up. It has been a life-long struggle. I blame it on having three brothers, which by default influenced me to be a tom-boy. And when a girl is a tom-boy styling hair is the last thing on their list of things they want to try. Therefore, I never learned how to do anything with my hair.

But as I have somewhat grown out of the tom-boy stage and began to act and dress more like a young lady doing my hair has become a challenge in which I hope to conquer someday.

Recently I was taught how to style my hair in a certain way that I have been wanting to learn for sometime now. This style includes scrunching my hair to create a wavey/curly look and then putting it half-way up in a messy bob. I attempted this on my own for the first time today.

Finally knowing how to style my hair like this I was excited and anxious to try. To my disappointment my hair did not scrunch up as much as I would have liked it to. It seemed like no difference was made no matter how much mousse I put in my hair. I thought maybe it would curl up once I blow dried it. Not having the clips needed to blow dry it properly to maximize the curl I did the best I could, but again, the results weren't as expected. I trudged on anyway and began bobby-pinning my hair up, pulling it back, and then creating the messy bob. The results were pathetic. Nothing was staying in, there was barely any curl and it was lopsided. I was going on two hours by that time. I took it all out and started again. Still no success. Having to leave for an appointment I quickly threw it back in a clip and left with a bit of frustration and feeling of defeat inside of me.

I decided that I was going to wait for another day to try it; it wasn't worth it for me to try a third attempt today. I went to my appointment, came home, and ate. Maybe it was the food, but I felt a new sense of determination to try again. I approached it with a heart at peace and ready to carefully take one step at a time with an increase in patience.

"One step at a time. One bobby-pin at a time" were my thoughts as I stepped up to the bathroom counter for another go.

With this added patience and determination the results were a lot more pleasing and acceptable. It is not perfect or not as good as I would like it to be, but being my first time and third attempt I was satisfied well enough. I was even successful at adding my beautiful butterfly clips without messing everything else up in the process. Quite the accomplishment if you ask me. I am grateful for the opportunity of being taught how to do this new hair style; it is number six on my list of things I know how to do with my hair now! And I am grateful for whoever said, "When at first you don't succeed, try try again."

Home Again!

As I sit gently rocking back and forth on my suspended bed, feeling a slight breeze on my face, and looking out my window to see streaks of pink clouds paint the sky I feel peace in my heart. After two weeks of house-sitting I am finally home again. The anticipation to sleep in my own bed and gaze up into the starry-night sky is almost too much to wait for! You forget how much comfort one finds in their own home and in their own bed until they are away from it for a time. I am so excited to be back home and especially to sleep in my own bed tonight!

The second week of house-sitting was so much better than the first week! I'm still feeling the "swift kick in the pants. Being put my place. A slap in the face. A dose of reality. A quick jab to the stomach" that I received from my good friend. I hope I will continue to feel it as it has been pivital point in my life that I am still learning, gaining, and applying in my life; a life long lesson that is a continual process towards perfection.

I am also happy to report that there were no more poop incidents with Cooper. But due to these incidents Cooper has been renamed as Cooper-pooper. It even says it on his birth certificate. I think it fits him quite well! The cats were great, besides of course the times they climbed on the furniture they weren't supposed to and I had to chase them with the squirt bottle. They probably like the adrenaline rush of it all. I did have a funny experience with one of the cats though. I was upstairs cleaning up when I felt mother nature calling. I went into the upstairs bathroom, closing the door behind me, and started doing my business. While looking out into the sky through the window that is next to the toilet all of a sudden I hear a noise and as I turn to look to see where it was coming from I discover one of the cats leaping towards me. Luckily I was already sitting down on the toilet! She scared me! The toilet faces the shower and the shower curtain was closed. Unable to see into the tub I had no idea the cat was in there. She got me pretty good!

Wherever you are right now I hope you will look up into the sky, see the bright moon beaming, and know that somewhere out there somebody is thinking of you and saying a prayer for you because you are loved!

The Promises in 70 Days

Promises

While my mom was visiting in the beginning of April to help with my fantasy suite, we had a spiritual/doctrinal discussion one evening about faith and the eternities. She taught me something about faith that I had never thought about before, but it made sense and felt right.

In my questions about faith she asked me what the meaning of faith was. I responded with the basic seminary/sunday school answer, "Faith is something hoped for but not seen." She then asked for an example, so from the top of my head I gave the example of having faith in marriage. It was her response to this answer and example that opened my mind to a completely new perspective.

Mom: "What is the promise the Lord gives us about marriage?"

Me: "It's that we'll either get married in this life or in the next."

Mom: "Right, so he'll provide a way for that promise to come to pass. When we have faith in something we need to figure out what we are having faith in; we need to figure out the promise the Lord has given us in order for us to have faith in it."

Me: "Hmmmmmmm......"

After some quick pondering on my part, we continued our conversation from there into mind boggling ideas of the eternites are and will be like. But the thoughts on faith have lingered in my head and I have applied this concept in my daily life of things I am praying in faith for. As I thought about it I began to wonder what all of the promises the Lord has made to us that we can have faith in. Because if we have faith in those promises we can be assurred that they will come to pass because God always keeps his promises. This excited me and I began to thirst after these promises and decided I wanted to begin from the beginning of the Book of Mormon and read it to identify the promises He gives us in there and then work my way into the other books (D&C, Pearl of Great Price, Old & New Testament).

70 Days

In the recent Stake/Regional Conference that was just held for all of Southeastern Idaho Elder Uchtdorf mentioned in his talk a time in his life when he read the Book of Mormon is a period of two months. The week following my Bishop encouraged me to do likewise. He didn't challenge me to do or ask me to commit to it either, but simply suggested and encouraged me to. I decided to take his suggestion and encouragement.

The Promises in 70 Days

With these two desires, identifying the Lord's promises and being encouraged to read the BOM in two months, I found it would be a perfect opportunity to combine the two. I started over in the BOM and began reading on May 6, 2008 and decided the finishing date to be July 15, 2008. This calculated to reading 8 pages a day, which is not bad or overkill at all.

As I read the daily 8 pages I identify the promises the Lord makes by noting the scripture and then typing out the promise(s) on my computer. I would like to obtain a missionary copy of the BOM so I can solely highlight the promises as I come across them. So, by the time I am finished on July 15th I will have a BOM with all of the promises highlighted as well as a document that has all of the promises compiled as well.

This experience has been fun and interesting in several different ways. One, by reading 8 pages a day I am more able to see the larger picture. Two, by being able to see the larger picture I make more connections because a lot more of what I have read previously is fresh in my mind. Three, having the intent and searching eye to identify the promises it almost seems like they pop out at me from the page. Four, as I identify the promises my faith increases because that is one more promise I can put my faith in.

I just finished 1 Nephi today and am excited to jump into 2 Nephi, Jacob......and then Moroni! As I have enjoyed this experience thus far I also want to encourage you to do the same. You don't have to have the same structure I do - it can just be something to look for in your daily scripture study. I know that if you do decide to even casually pick out the promises your faith will increase as mine has.

Taking Back Power!

A swift kick in the pants. Putting one in their place. A slap in the face. A dose of reality. A quick jab to the stomach. (Take your pick, I got more).

I am so grateful for true friends who aren’t afraid to tell you something straight up and who won’t let you get away with ‘justified’ destructive thinking or behaviors. I am grateful for true friends who know and see your potential and won’t let you settle for anything less. It is through these kinds of true friends that can spark significant changes in our lives. A spark of change has been ignited in me because of such a friend. Thanks!

This past week has been quite the roller coaster for me. Spending time at D&N’s large house is quite lonely and due to such circumstances I allowed myself to fall back into some old habits and a state of mind that wasn’t healthy physically or mentally for me. I then used the state I was in as justification for my actions saying, “Well, because I’m like this…I can’t do this or that…” Or, “Because I’m like this… I don’t have the motivation to do this or that…” I had a lot of vain hopes that only brought disappointment, which caused me to spiral even further downward. It was a pretty low and sad state I had pulled myself into.

When I was at the lowest point all week, when I was about to give into something that I had been fighting and praying to have the strength not to do, I received a phone call from a good friend of mine. A true friend of mine. When discovering what state I was in she did not hesitate for one second to give me a swift kick in the pants and a dose of reality, which put me back in my place and realigned my focus and perspective to where it should be. Yes, it has a hard blow to take with my thoughts being along the lines of, “She did not just say that to me! RUDE! That was so insensitive!” But quickly letting go of my pride, which this true friend of mine has also helped me to do, I let her words sink in and that’s when I realized how right she was and how wrong I had been.

She taught me something that I already knew but had allowed myself to become blinded to by my own unrecognized decisions that had led me to the state I was currently in. In six words she sparked a change in me, “You have the power to decide.” With further wisdom from her regarding power she pointed out that I was deciding to give my power to Satan, which was enabling him with a greater amount of power than he already had on his own and which allowed him to use the power I was giving him against me. She then opened my eyes for me to see how I could use the power I have for good; to bring happiness and redemption into my life instead of misery and hell.

Her words had such an impact on me that I literally felt my heart fill with a genuine desire to take back the power I had given to Satan and use it to bring back happiness and redemption into my life. Energy surged through my body that greatly empowered me to turn my heart’s desire into action.

Our conversation ended while I was on my way to Idaho Falls to run an errand and instead of turning up the volume to listen to my music I pondered upon the conversation I had just had and allowed the Spirit to work within me. The Spirit brought many thoughts, questions, and insights to me during my drive to and from Idaho Falls that only brought about a greater desire to use the power I had for good in my life as well as in other people’s lives. Some of these thoughts included:

- What am I allowing to stop me?
- Am I going to lose the war over myself by allowing the every day battles to win?
- What do I want in the end? What am I doing today to get myself there?
- Each day is a gift from God. How am I using this gift He’s given me? Will He be happy with the person I am at the end of the day?
- How am I prohibiting my own freedom?
- How am I allowing myself to succumb to Satan’s power?
- Does Satan rejoice or despise me waking up each morning?
- Agency = Power
- “Because I can and so I will!” If I want to do something I should do it because I can (as long as I stay within laws, boundaries, commandments, and covenants).

Having these questions run through my mind and answering them personally I was more clearly able to see how I was dragging myself down, but also how I could use that same power to bring myself up and to continue to strive for my potential.

By the time I returned to Rexburg I had the power to conquer the world! I felt such a significant change inside my heart that it drove me to make changes and decisions about my life physically, mentally, spiritually, and socially.

So right when I got home I geared up to hit the road on my bike. I hadn’t gone out all week due to the state I had drug myself into. But I wanted to begin to take back power and I decided to start with biking. I rode out nearby to where my “secret spot” is and took in all the beauty that surrounded me and thought back upon the last time I was at my secret spot and how much that meant to me. The ride out there was glorious; it was filled with fond memories, the fresh and empowering desire to change, a altering of my attitude, and of course the beautiful surroundings of spring flowers, the smell of rain in the air, and all of the other elements of nature I love! The ride back was amazing in its own way. I biked against a very strong headwind the entire way back; so strong at times that I was using all my strength to keep moving and stay upright. I felt that this wind was a test to see how committed I was to taking back power into my life. Was I going to let it lick me and get the best of me? Or was I going to see it as a challenge and opportunity for increase growth and strength? With the latter perspective in focus I stood up on my bike and used every ounce of strength and energy I had to keep going against the strong wind. When I arrived home I felt so rejuvenated, not just physically but in every aspect of my life.

Although what my friend said to me has sparked and ignited a change in me, it doesn’t mean that there won’t still be battles to face each day because each day comes with its own set of trials and opposition. The difference is now that I know that I have the power to decide whether I am going to use that power to bring happiness and redemption into my life or misery and hell. I chose happiness and redemption and I pray that everybody will too recognize the power within them and also choose each day to bring that same happiness and redemption into their own life.

I am so grateful and will forever be indebted to my amazing friend who had the courage to say what she did to me. I am grateful that she didn’t play into my sob story or allow me to continue in my own self-created pity party or allow me to get away with anything. I am grateful for a true friend who saw that I was better than the state I was in, who sees who I truly am, and who knows and sees who I can become. What she taught me that day will have an impact on me for the rest of my life. What she taught was truth and truth is never forgotten. Thank you for being the sparked that ignited this change in my life that will have lasting eternal effects on me.

A Mother of many Virtures

Caring. Loving. Compassionate. Supportive. Understanding. Knowledgeable. Light. Creative. Sacrificing. Seeking. Beautiful. Talented. Wise. Tender-hearted. Organized. Courageous. Logical. Determined.

Sensitive. Sincere. Steadfast. Powerful. Accepting. Integrity. Humble. Joy.

Purposeful. Giving. Friend. Confidence. Loyal. Spiritual. Helpful. Gentle. Merciful. Service. Prayerful. Gratitude. Forgiving. Humorous. Divinely-minded. Reliable. Trust. Patient.

Happy Mother's Day Mom!! I am so grateful for a mother who is filled with so many aspiring virtures; one who I learn and grow from and desire to become more like. I am grateful for all she has taught me, teaches me still, and will teach me. I am grateful for the myriad sacrifices she willingly does for her family and for her children. I am grateful for all she embodies and mostly I am grateful she is my friend and my mother!

Then & Now

I came across some of my baby pictures the other day and couldn't help but notice the similarities from then & now. Enjoy!

"Spooning: One of Rachel's favorite past time activities."

Whether it's sour cream or chocolate pudding, it's always better smeared across your face!



Born to climb!

Rachel's life motto: "Drink More Water!" It heals everything...except decapitation.....



From soccer to basketball to volleyball to base/softball to water polo to football.... What's next!?!



"Once a hotty, always a hottie!" Ooww oww!



Sitting on the pot & poppin' a squat! The world is your bathroom!



I went from a cardboard box with my brother, to a granola girl with a rusty car! I'm moving up in the world.....