Be Brave

       Mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty. Bravery is the act of Courage. And its a powerful thing. I have been thinking a lot about my life lately....Been in kinda a slump if you know what I mean:) And I have come to a fabulous conclusion and plan (it could be more concrete...haha).  I have been so frustrated with myself for  not doing everything I know I should be and not progressing like I want to and I finally realized....yes I don't have all together....by any means...more than HALF THE TIME! I seriously spend my days either being lazy and procrastinating...or else I feel like I am running around like a chicken with its head cut off! Jeesh! Its quite horrible. 
    But that's NOT the point...The point is, that from now on I am determined to live my life BRAVELY! No matter where I am, or what I am doing....I do it with intention and purpose... and I do it bravely... I know that God has a plan for me and wants and needs me to listen to him and be on the same page! Goodness did I really think  It would be better if I just figured it out on my own? When has that ever worked??? For Anyone????!!! Not that I really was deviating from Gods plan on purpose....I just forgot for a moment to let Him be the one in charge. I forgot that every once in a while I am supposed to slow down and remember how much He has done for me...I forgot that He knows better than I....I forgot that He loves me....As only My God can Love me...I forgot. 
     But I remember now...and I know of a surety that God would not have His precious sons and daughters live their lives shrinking and hiding from their real purpose and potential....because why....because we are scared? Of what? Of others? Of Satan? Of God? Of ourselves?....no no no....God would not have it. He has given us so much and He NEVER GIVES UP ON US! Even when we have given up on ourselves...He never does. 
   We are the chosen generation. We are the elect. And a mediocre conviction of the gospel is not enough anymore. It is my belief and testimony that we have work to do. And its not going to get done unless WE DO IT! Whether for you that means finishing school strong, Or maybe trying to be a better Mom, or maybe you have felt the call to go on a mission, or maybe do family history work for your ancestors, maybe you just need to go to the temple more often, or maybe its joining the wimpy scripture reading club (a verse a day...no matter what). Or praying with more intent. We all know where we are at. And we know....We KNOW that God can make us better. IF. We just turn to our Savior, Lean on him for strength and TRUST HIM...
    Live Bravely....we are on God's side! What have we to fear?????
      
 Nothing.
      

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?
Actually, who are we not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small doesn’t serve the world.
There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It’s not just in some of us, it’s in everyone.
And as we let our light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fears, our presence automatically liberates others.

Source: A Return to Love, by Marianne Williamson

Strike the Music!!!!

Choir performance tonight!!!! And ...it....was....AWESOME!!!! LDC was asked to perform in the Semi-annual(I think its semi-annual anyways) Church music festival. After a smashing December (with seriously a gabazillion performances) we came back from Christmas break 5lbs heavier and ready to go. Until we encountered the black folders with 20 songs in it that we all had to have memorized in 1 and a half months! What was Bro. Eggett THINKING!!!! Needless to say after many many MANY hours of grueling personal practicing and countless rehearsals (some ending in tears), we tentatively boarded the bus up to SLC frantically thinking.."Its okay Bro. Eggett said we will have some practice time on the bus too" and journeyed up to Temple Square. I think its safe to say we were all fairly apprehensive, tiptoeing off that bus ("I should have practiced more!"). Once we all got in there and started our last run through I think we all lightened up a little (good thing! Jeesh!). Now all this music we performed were submissions from people all over the States  to the Church Music Committee for a competition. So we were performing the best ones out of those submissions. And most of the composers of those songs were in the audience with their families. Some traveling from several states away to here their song performed. It really was simply incredible. Such a sweet spirit was their during every song. That's not something you can fake, and believe me..I mean we are a pretty good choir. But were not THAT good. God is good to us. That was our conclusion anyways. Between the beautifull voices of the soloists to those last ringing notes of Josephs Smiths first prayer. It was astounding the   rich sound and spirit that poured into that room from Heaven. I feel so privaleged  to have been part of it. God really is so good...to all of us. So grateful to be reminded of that tonight.

So here we are....another valentines day come and well...going. And what am I doing? Why just sitting in my bed, still in my pajamas at 10:20 in the morning. Listening to my sister snore and eating grasshopper cookies by the mouthful! Yay for being lazy! Ahem...on occasion that is:) Now I know....the last thing you want to hear is a pathetically desperate plea for attention from another hopelessly romantic...and very much single young adult. I mean why else would I be frantically listening to and trying to memorize choir songs for Ldc (Latter-Day Celebration Choir, Orem Institute of Religion), writing a blog post (who has time for that?) and engaging in a vigorous series of downward dog, planks and chaturangas (yoga speak for calmly and with a straight face, waving your arms up and down, then balancing on them, then bending your legs and supporting your body while your muscles are screaming in protest as you gasp in huge gulps of air between movements trying to "breath deeply" and stay focused on not falling over....love yoga:) why else would I have agreed to work at both my jobs today and already decided to go to bed early...because...um...I will be very tired of course after such a long, fulfilling and productive day. Okay...okay so I am completely exaggerating (who doesn't?) Honestly...I love Valentines day! Why? Because I have so many people around me who I love and adore! I live with some of theeee bestest roomates eeeeevvveeerrrr, in our own adorable house, complete with mismatched furniture, a billion pairs of shoes always laying around and pots and pots of little plants in our windowsills (prepping for our garden) trying to soak up whatever bit of sunlight they can after we have, once again....watered them too much. My family is amazing, quirky, wonderful, spiritual and funny. And you know they love you...they're your family! And because they call every other day begging you to come over (wanna go to work for me?). Whats there not to love about Valentines day I ask? Love is wonderful in whatever shape and form! And whether your lacking in certain areas or not its worth celebrating! Yay for Love! Now time to get dressed and be productive:) Watch out world!