Today something amazing happened....

Today something amazing happened....

The provo tabernacle burned down...this occurred Friday night, December 17th. Not so amazing. But just wait. The provo tabernacle was truly an icon in the community. I remember meeting President Uchtdorf there at a stake conference he was presiding over. The building inside was beautiful, the handcrafted wood, the organ, it was so wonderful inside! So I was speculating with the girls at work how something like this could happen? Why would God allow this beautiful building that pioneers to the valley had hand-crafted over a span of 15 years, just burn?

And then the most AMAZING answer came today....

Regardless of what happens, most of what happens we have no control over, but Christ remains....His message to the world never leaves. I really do believe with all my heart that this picture is no coincidence. I know God's hand was somehow a part of not allowing that picture to burn. I don't really know why but that picture just really touched my heart. It made me super emotional the second I saw it. Just such a testimony to me that no matter what happens, or how bad things may seem, any life event can be turned into something sweet and beautiful. This picture is a message to anyone who is searching for truth about this life, there is only one answer where it can be found, and that is through Christ.

Running up the canyon

My run tonight up Provo canyon was SOOOO amazing. It was absolutely beautiful. There were a couple of inches of fresh powdery stuff everywhere. The sun was hitting the mountains just right to give it that pinkish hue just before the sun goes down. My favorite. Ice had frozen on the tree branches and the sun was shining through. I had one of those moments running....maybe you have had one....when I thought, "Have I really seen this before??" It was such a weird feeling to know that I have been on the earth for 23 years, and tonight I was seeing the mountains for the first time. I LOVE that! I ran and leaped a little in the air, feeling so invigorated, inspired, and at peace tonight.

First week of December

1st - worked a half shift, went home to logan

2nd - played in logan, ate at logan gyros with Dad, Dad bought me 12 pairs of brand spankin' new socks, taped Exodus with luke and Dad

3rd - skied opening day at the BEAV! I've still got it! The snow was perfect...a good foot of new powder and the snow kept falling all day.

4th - worked, could hardly move my legs from skiing

5th - church, went on a drive up the canyon with a good friend...chatted about where we are at in life

6th - work.

7th - BOUGHT A CAR!!! He is a beauty.....1998 subaru outback, 168,000 miles....pictures to come

8th - Work, saw my first pleural effusion and abdominal hematoma. Jazz vs. Heat game...we lost. Grateful tonight for friends who remind you of who you are!

The day that it snowed

This morning I left my house at 545am for another day of work. The ambiance of this morning was different. A new winter chill seized the air. It felt as though the usual happenings of the summer decided to hibernate, and there I was, a stranger embarking into the frigid while the rest of the world stayed warm. It was peaceful. Winter causes a stirring in me, it has since I was little....this desire to be closer to the people I love, to the people I work with, to nature, to God. I am thankful every year for winter. The mountains loomed ominously this morning, with a new snowcap glowing in the dawn light. I feel the mountains are pulling me in....it is time to be on the mountain, to let the brisk air burn in my nose and the tears pour out of the corners of my eyes in the icy wind.

Winter seems to let my spirits be freed....

This last little while, I have felt like a wanderer. I feel as though I'm blinded and I'm merely putting one foot in front of the other into the dark with no idea what is on the other side. In some ways I feel like I've lost pieces of my heart, and I look back to the past and can't trace where I lost those pieces....maybe they'll never come back. In other ways, I feel as though my heart has never been stronger, I never knew I was so courageous to continue on into the dark.

But new discoveries seem to appear each day that weren't there the day before....maybe I'm more observant because my soul is grasping to anything that seems to be the continued path toward truth and light.

It happened today when I listened to 'Singing in the Rain' on my way to work. I love this song. Nurse Melissa and Dr. Z began singing it at work. Then, as I was walking to FHE another girl was singing the song on her way home. And then, to my complete surprise....another girl on HER way home also hummed the tune. Ironic.

Or the other day I was at the grocery store....I decided to smile my whole way through the grocery store. People were staring at me left and right. I've never felt so happy grocery shopping. And the littlest finds of good prices and great products became monumental discoveries. Smiling. Who would have thought?

So maybe my heart really is just finding bits and pieces of it, that it beforehand didn't know existed. There is no 'shoulds' or 'musts' in this road of life. Only love and beauty to be found, and that is the path to follow.

And then I found this poem the other day that plucked at a heartstring

Yes, my fretting

Frowning child,

I could cross

The room to you

More easily.

But I've already

Learned to walk,

So I make you

Come to me.

Let go now--

There!

You see?

Oh remember

This simple lesson,

Child,

And when

In later years

You cry out

With tight fists

and tears

"Oh help me,

God--please."--

Just listen

And you'll hear

A silent voice:

"I would, child,

I would

But it's you,

Not I,

Who needs to try

Godhood."

Carol Lynn Pearson

Thoughts...

My thoughts of today...

I decided not to go to nurse practitioner school just yet, I'm going to work for another year first.

I love my newfound youtube song...Piano Trio by Ravel. Amazing.

I love the Subaru's and will hopefully be a proud owner of one tomorrow!

Mi padre

I absolutely LOVE this man! He is mi padre, as I call him.

Tonight was such a wonderful tender mercy to get to spend an evening with the padre.

He helped me decide on a car I had been looking at, then we chatted for a little while over at Ken and Jen Johnson's house, and then just me and the padre went to dinner at our family's favorite panini shop off of 90th south and highland dr. in SLC

It got me to thinking how grateful I am that there is in fact a human being on this earth that I can FULLY relate to, feel COMPLETELY comfortable being 100% myself, and know that I am connected to this man FOREVER. That is an amazing blessing.

The padre has a wealth of knowledge and an IQ that not many match.

Today he was telling me that England/Spain made better land conquests than their European neighbors the French/Portuguese. Hence, why they have always been at war with each other.

I said, "Dad, how do you know all the stuff you know??"

Being a pilot for the last 20 years of his life he said, "Whit, I've spent alot of my life wandering around reading signs." Haha awesome.

The padre is a very observant man, he picks up little bits of knowledge through careful observations.

He is a Bear Grylls of sorts....survived the Washington wilderness for two weeks, backpacked Alaska, he builds fires, travels the vast expanse of US cities, operates tons of flying steel, has flown fighters in formation.

He contemplates the deep meanings in life, and as a result has a wealth of wisdom.

He is quiet and gentle....when the padre speaks, you LISTEN

When I tap into the padre's brain for a few minutes, I begin to see behind his words an immensity of experience and collection of memories.

What it means to be a daughter of this man is growing in sacredness.

I'm beginning to realize that my life, the way I react to things, many of the experiences I've had, closely parallel the padre's life.

I'm very grateful that he often times has amazing advice.

When I think about the padre I get a little emotional, my heart is connected to his, and sometimes we don't have to say much.

I understand my dad's goofy humor perfectly.....mostly because i possess the same sense of humor.

The padre is very close to the Lord.

Growing up, the padre would take us to get 'GOOBS' at the convenience store

Diet coke....definite integral part of his life

Music....another integral part....he is a jazz pianist, and hence his children are pianists as well

When he hears the right blend of musical harmony in a song, he can't help but play the 'air piano', bang his head, tap his feet

The padre has slight interest in African American culture, nicknaming his children Dushondas and Propeshias.

The padre has sharp written wit, a master of written words.

I love him.

Ramblings

Today these are the things I am grateful for:

I'm grateful for Shea who helped me look at a car tonight in South Jordan because I didn't have any male support up until he agreed to help

I'm grateful for my dad who chatted with me for almost two hours and imparted his life wisdom

I'm grateful for a patient today that challenged my nursing perspective because it helped me search a little deeper why I am in this field.

I'm grateful for the gospel, which is the source of all truth

I'm grateful for my amazing coworkers who keep such a great attitude

I'm grateful for work that helps me appreciate leisure

I'm grateful that mistakes can be made, which leaves room for improvement

I'm grateful for this blowdryer that I have turned on to give me warmth:)