Rainbows

Wow, its really been a long time hasn't it! Well, I think I am due for some extra positivity, so time to update the blog!

For those of you who don't know, I am in my last real semester of college! AH! Next semester I will be doing my student teaching and then I am done! So I am squeezing in all my last classes,working more than I have before, trying to get used to living off-campus, finishing all kinds of paperwork and licensing, and stressing out over it all. If you have seen or talked to me in the past few weeks, you are probably sick of hearing about it. But I am getting used to it! And everyday, I keep receiving tender mercies from my loving Heavenly Father that help me to know that I can get through it! The most recent one found in the scriptures. In 3 Nephi chapter 13 verses 32-34 it says:

"For your Heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow, for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself."

I am so grateful that I have this knowledge. It was such an important reminder to me that Heavenly Father knows what I need. He knows all about all this stuff that I have going on in my life! But He also knows what is most important. He knows what He wants me to do. And first and foremost, that is to draw nearer to Him. Before I do anything else, I must pray unto Him, and read His teachings and feel His Spirit. I must take the time to help someone else, to be a true disciple of Christ. If I can dedicate myself to this goal, Heavenly Father will help me to get everything else done. Everything else will fall into place. Now, I am not saying that I should take absolutely "no thought for the morrow." Heavenly father can't help me if I refuse to do any work. However, as I strive to seek Him first, He will bless me with the focus, the strength and the ability I need to succeed.

Another tender mercy that I want to talk about happened last Saturday. If you live in Provo, you probably remember this:

Basically there was this huge super random out of nowhere storm that delayed the BYU football game for like 3 hours. (The football Stadium is the Lavell Stadium...That's why this is funny. Haha)

So normally when it rains I freak out and just hope I don't get wet. But this time, I kept running from front window to the door and opening it, and running back to my room and looking out that window and back to opening the front door to see the crazy storm. It was beautiful! (Plus it distracted me from my homework. :) )

And out of nowhere, I started singing a primary song. "I like to look for rainbows, whenever there is rain. And ponder on the beauty of an earth made clean again." I realized that I want to be the person that sees the rainbows in the storm. 

There is something truly beautiful in seeing how our lives are changed when we get through something hard. For example, out of all the stress that I am going through this semester, I am going to gain an education that I can use the rest of my life, a degree that will earn me a job so I can support myself, and so many new friends that I know are there to support me. Trials are hard and scary just like storms can be, but if you look closely, you can always find a rainbow. Sometimes the only rainbows you will be able to find are simple truths like the ones I wrote about in my previous post, but there is always light and color in our lives if we search for it. I am so grateful for the storms in my life so I can learn to appreciate all the blessings I have received. I love life!! :)