Its no lie, this blog is an assignment for my writing class. I probably would not have ever started writing a blog if I had not taken this class. Since I did have the chance to write I have learned some things about myself and blogging in general.
The first thing I noticed is that I dont take the time to sit down and think about why I do the things I do, and my thought process in general. Putting my thoughts down on a page definitely forced me to think through what I really wanted to say. It let me be introspective, which I really enjoyed.
I think that blogging is beneficial, but it definitely takes something special to affect a large number of people. I am not planning on making a living off of blogging like some people have done, and they all have something that the average person doesnt. Its very interesting to think about what drives us to read and follow and share one persons words over anothers.
Overall I enjoyed writing about my thoughts more than I thought I would. Its been an interesting experience and I would not be surprised if I dedicated more time to writing my thoughts in some capacity from here on out.
Tuesday, April 7, 2015
Monday, April 6, 2015
Preparing for Marriage
As was very clear right from the beginning of conference, marriage and family is a very important topic to consider right now. While many people will note that I am not married, I have a rather unique situation where I already know who I am going to marry, and when. I have known who and when for just under one year now, and I have just under one year left to prepare. For those of you who dont know, this very long waiting time is due to the fact that before we start our family, someone in Germany needs her to teach them.
Warning: I am waiting for a missionary. Side note: yes I am actually waiting, yes I am sure, no I have not dated anyone else in the time she has been gone and I have not had the desire to.
If we did not feel the importance that she serve at this time, I guarantee we would already be sealed and happily starting our family. I have heard many things during the past nine months or so ranging from admiration that I am dedicated, to indifference, to disbelief, to outright critisism. To all I answer that our first desire is to do the will of our Father, who knows best. She needed to serve and I personally can not wait for the day when on the other side I meet every person she served while she was on her mission, and hear the stories of how they effected one another.
There are many difficult things reguarding waiting and being apart so long, but there are several major blessings I have received. First, I have come to appreciate everything she is to me on a whole new level. They say distance makes the heart grow fonder, and for me that has certainly been the case. Second, I have come to have an appreciation of what the temple sealing really means to me. I have had time to reflect and grow personally. I have had time to better myself and learn what I really want my family to be like. Third, I have had to rely on my Heavenly Father in difficult times. When I have been lonely and wished her home, he has shown me visions of new families being sealed because of her efforts. It has given us the opportunity to every day pray for the well-being of one another, an invaluable habit.
While it may be hard at times to listen to talk after talk, day after day about marriage and family, to see my friends getting engaged and married while I wait, and to watch the clock as every day seems an eternity, I know that when we look back from the eternities at our life, we will see this time as but a small sacrifice compared to the inexplicable joy it will have created.
Warning: I am waiting for a missionary. Side note: yes I am actually waiting, yes I am sure, no I have not dated anyone else in the time she has been gone and I have not had the desire to.
If we did not feel the importance that she serve at this time, I guarantee we would already be sealed and happily starting our family. I have heard many things during the past nine months or so ranging from admiration that I am dedicated, to indifference, to disbelief, to outright critisism. To all I answer that our first desire is to do the will of our Father, who knows best. She needed to serve and I personally can not wait for the day when on the other side I meet every person she served while she was on her mission, and hear the stories of how they effected one another.
There are many difficult things reguarding waiting and being apart so long, but there are several major blessings I have received. First, I have come to appreciate everything she is to me on a whole new level. They say distance makes the heart grow fonder, and for me that has certainly been the case. Second, I have come to have an appreciation of what the temple sealing really means to me. I have had time to reflect and grow personally. I have had time to better myself and learn what I really want my family to be like. Third, I have had to rely on my Heavenly Father in difficult times. When I have been lonely and wished her home, he has shown me visions of new families being sealed because of her efforts. It has given us the opportunity to every day pray for the well-being of one another, an invaluable habit.
While it may be hard at times to listen to talk after talk, day after day about marriage and family, to see my friends getting engaged and married while I wait, and to watch the clock as every day seems an eternity, I know that when we look back from the eternities at our life, we will see this time as but a small sacrifice compared to the inexplicable joy it will have created.
conference report
I absolutely love general conference! I had a wonderful weekend with some good friends and absolutely zero homework. I got the chance to go to temple square a fair amount this weekend and listen to conference in person. There were a lot of wonderful things and I think it is fairly safe to assume now that a big focus over the next six months is strengthening marriage and family.
While I was sitting in conference I made note of several rhetorical devices. One thing above all else was represented in most every talk. Stories began many a talk, and stories were all throughout the conference. It goes to show that in general conference, pathos is very important. All of the speakers wanted to use relatable examples while teaching what they taught.
As far as things that stood out to me in the doctrinal sense, one brother said that we can have righteous desires that are not in harmony with the will of God. I had never thought about it like that before, but a righteous desire may not be the right thing to do. It was comforting to me personally because I have had what I thought to be righteous desires, and then doubted once I recieved revelation that something else needed to happen. having to stay home from my mission when I wanted to go back out readily comes to mind. I wanted to serve for the right reasons, but he needed me here. That doesnt make my desire to serve again bad, just not the best at this time.
While I was sitting in conference I made note of several rhetorical devices. One thing above all else was represented in most every talk. Stories began many a talk, and stories were all throughout the conference. It goes to show that in general conference, pathos is very important. All of the speakers wanted to use relatable examples while teaching what they taught.
As far as things that stood out to me in the doctrinal sense, one brother said that we can have righteous desires that are not in harmony with the will of God. I had never thought about it like that before, but a righteous desire may not be the right thing to do. It was comforting to me personally because I have had what I thought to be righteous desires, and then doubted once I recieved revelation that something else needed to happen. having to stay home from my mission when I wanted to go back out readily comes to mind. I wanted to serve for the right reasons, but he needed me here. That doesnt make my desire to serve again bad, just not the best at this time.
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
Preparing for conference
I absolutely love General Conference, Ever since my first conference right after I joined the Church. I got to go in person and I still vividly remember how I felt when the Prophet first walked into the room. There really is a special feeling in the air when the Lord's chosen representative is in your presence on his errand.
For this conference I get to meet up with several friends and go to the conference center for the sunday morning session. I have friends that are just back from missions who never thought they would have gone, friends who always knew they would, friends who didnt get to go, friends who are coming back to the church. I am a combination who didnt think I would ever go, then got baptized and had no doubt, then had to come home early.
My favorite part of all of this is that though all of us have had different lives and have made different choices, we all are going to listen to the Lord's will for us this weekend. We all have tread different paths, but we have found the right one and are doing our best to stay on it.
If it werent for all of the wonderful people I am fortunate to call friends, I would not be where I am right now, and they would not be where they are if they hadn't met me. I hope all of you have a wonderful conference.
#becausehelives We can hear his voice through his chosen servants.
For this conference I get to meet up with several friends and go to the conference center for the sunday morning session. I have friends that are just back from missions who never thought they would have gone, friends who always knew they would, friends who didnt get to go, friends who are coming back to the church. I am a combination who didnt think I would ever go, then got baptized and had no doubt, then had to come home early.
My favorite part of all of this is that though all of us have had different lives and have made different choices, we all are going to listen to the Lord's will for us this weekend. We all have tread different paths, but we have found the right one and are doing our best to stay on it.
If it werent for all of the wonderful people I am fortunate to call friends, I would not be where I am right now, and they would not be where they are if they hadn't met me. I hope all of you have a wonderful conference.
#becausehelives We can hear his voice through his chosen servants.
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