Leave them with your email address!

Today, I flew from Michigan to Tennessee, which was a blessing in my life for the following reason. Once again, I was able to share the gospel. This time with my flight neighbor named Alex. She is starting college at UT in the fall. What was funny is that I sat down and noticed that she was reading Eclipse by Stephanie Meyer when I had tucked away in my back , ready to be read, Breaking Dawn . We talked about Twilight, school, and eventually, religion! Bingo!!! I love it!

Alex told me that she was Catholic, but that she didn't practice it much. She wants to explore other religions, but she is hesitant because her grandmother is so fervent in her Catholic beliefs that she is nervous for her reaction. She told me that she had several Mormon friends and that she knew where the Mormon Temple was. I was lucky that I had a pass-along card. Back in January, the missionary committee gave us pass-along cards so that we could have them on hand. Thank you! I gave her my email and asked her to please contact me; and of course I told her to go visit our Church with one of those Mormon friends and that the missionaries would be waiting for her questions if she had any. I think she might. She sounded open to the idea of it.

A little under two months ago, I was able to help a back packer from Finland find a bus. I talked to him for about an hour about the Restoration. I gave him a conference issue of the Ensign since he was so intrigued by the idea of modern day prophets and apostles. He said to me, "and you believe that," incredulously. :-) I loved that. I said, "yes! When you hear them talk, you know their words are different. The Holy Ghost backs up their words." I also left him with my email address, and last week he actually emailed me!

Thus, I have learned, leave your contact information with those with whom you share. It leaves the door open to more communication. It's not just drop a card and wish them well; it can become a friendship, even if only like penpals that could lead them to the Church and to the missionaries!

I felt so happy today on the plane. In these moments, I feel such a soft happiness. I love it. This is my work and my glory. To bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of my fellow men. Just like my Father's (Moses 1:39).

Thanks for FRIENDSHIP!

Well, I am still in Michigan, but only for today. Tomorrow I leave, and I'm kinda sad about it. I'm not sure that I should broadcast such information. I am excited to see my family, but I also love having non-family family. Basically that's a shout-out to Hillary and David, who are such important parts of my life. I appreciate them so much.

On another side, I appreciate other friends as well, ones who even when far apart are close to heart because they care enough to make friendship a stable, fun support in our lives. I need that. I guess I thrive on the social, which means for me, these people make me a better person. I have such good friends. Such high quality. They inspire me to improve and to be a good person. Thanks to you all.

Patience and Forgetting vs. Worrying

You know what's funny? Sometimes you want something to happen. In fact, you want it so much that you often think about it even when you're trying not to. Of course, when you're at this state of mind, nothing happens. This is how it goes in my life. It's not until I've forced myself to forget about whatever it is, that said event occurs. That happened yet again yesterday. When I least expected it, I was very pleasantly surprised. Oh man... such is lovely life.

Summer Lovin'

I am in Michigan at the moment with my best friend and her family! Last night, I asked Hillary what time she wanted to get up. She said that "she didn't care because we had nothing to do today!" It was so weird. I fell asleep, looking out her bay window at the moon and the clouds surrounding it. Around 9:00, we woke up, ate banana milkshakes, and watched LOST. Then, we went outside to the pool to lay out and swim a bit. We ended up reading to each other at the poolside, talking girl talk, and napping a bit. I thought to myself, "this is it?" What am I going to do all summer? I'm not sure that I like the lazy life.

It was so good to see David though. I was so excited after I hugged him that I was shaking. Man, that must have been excitement. It's like he never left. Missions are so weird. Friends part for a long time, but because of the shared service, even though each person served in different parts of the world, when they come back together, it's as though everything is back in sync. I love it! The final piece to my puzzle from before my mission is back in place.

And now I have new pieces to add to the mix. I get to add Karin to my circle of love. Of course, there are many other companions and converts, but she is in Utah, which makes her more permanent. Alysha is a stronger piece as well. Before my mission she was my friend from Spain. Now she's that, my MTC companion, and my friend who coached me through the first stages of dating (we started dating guys at the same time; hers is still going on; I left mine behind :-)! ). And of course, there are new friends and interests that entered my life this spring. But I will divulge these things later.

That's summer fun (laziness) and spring updates!

Cheating on Chocolate

I just discovered how much I love coconut desserts. As a child, I didn't think anything without chocolate could be labeled as dessert. On the way to class today, I stopped by the bookstore to grab a bottle of water to get me through my history class. At the register, I saw a tiny sign that read, "dessert without chocolate" or something to that effect. Much to my surprise, I immediately wanted this white ball of coconut. I savored the light, fluffy taste, not realizing that I appreciate non-chocolate sweets. But after reflecting on it, I think I have grown up. I sometimes voluntarily choose vanilla over chocolate; I pick cheesecake over brownie blasts; and I might even choose a jamba juice rather than a frosty. Do I love chocolate less? No, I just love a lot more delights of life than I used to. Before, I thought I'd be cheating on chocolate, but I realize now that I can love many things without be unfaithful!

Do I Have the Right Job? devotional

Identify your gifts in life, and use those to help you choose your career. (DyC 46)
Work may not always be fun. Sometimes there are sacrifices and mundane parts to our callings.
You must love your job so that even low pay and trials associated with it are part of your calling to serve other people. One of the sacrifices for being a teacher is that you will not be compensated financially for what you do, yet it is worth it if you love it. Be willing to sacrifice a comfortable lifestyle if necessary.
You may not be applauded.
Mosiah 28 and Alma 1:26
Meaningfulness in life doesn't primarily come from work. It comes from serving others, enriching others. Render meaningful service through work.
You are always a full-time servant of the Lord. When I fold laundry or clean the floor, I am serving the Lord because my eye is single to His glory. No small calling, no small tasks. Added together, the small tasks make us prepared to serve the Lord.
Make your life about serving others. Be careful about your motive for the service that you do. You shouldn't focus on you. If you're sad, then recognize that it's not all about you. It's not. Focus on others. It will distract you from your disappointments, and it will bless them. Work to serve. Remember BYU's motto, "enter to learn, go forth to serve."
What is your calling in life? Jesus Christ will guide us to our callings. If He is my focus, His path will become mine. "You students are our calling." Do good in the world. "Follow your bliss. Follow your blisters." Go forth to serve.
I want to feel about my students and my teaching how he obviously feels about his.

Jeffery Thompson

Multi-Tasking

As I am typing this, I am sitting in class. I have found that I enjoy class much more when I am doing other homework during class time. Because there is so much repetition in my classes, I find it easy to do other homework while sitting in class listening to the lecture. I believe that this is only possible because I prepare for class by reading; therefore, I listen more carefully when my professors add supplemental materials that are not in the reading. Other than that, I work on Powerpoint Presentations, writing responses, and reading for other classes at times. Just a random observation!