Mercy

Tonight I'm grateful for Mercy. Google gives the following definition for mercy compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm.   In my mind that is what love truly is! I've been at home with my family for the Holidays. At times they have granted me mercy and vice versa. I'm grateful that Jesus Christ makes mercy possible. It is truly beautiful when love wins and peace is granted. Really the greatest feelings I've felt in my whole life have come when mercy was extended to me. im grateful for people who extend mercy and who teach me how truly Great God is. God really does love us because He sent His son so that all that believe in Him can be saved! Sounds like a wonderful merciful plan that will continue to bring a fun feeling that I don't deserve but brings me relief and joy. "God be thanked for the matchless Gift of His Divine Son."

Laughter

Im grateful for laughter. I've allowed my mind to get really weighed down lately, but realized this weekend how powerful laughter is. It really is so important to goof off now and again and to recognize the joy in the often overlooked moments.

Okay okay... I have more to say!

Also... I just must say THANK YOU. You have been so very patient with me during this whole process of not feeling good ect ect. You have been patient with me in general. What I am most thankful for is how you treat me. Even if I do try your patience at times, you never make me feel like a burden. Thank you for helping me feel valued and appreciated. Its not easy for me to feel that way and I feel like it must be work for you sometimes in order for me to feel that... and I do! THANK YOU for all you do to help me feel awesome, even when I may not deserve it!!!!

AND I HAVE SPOKEN

The Fall

Today I finished up an email to send to Nate Mitchell about when I fell off that silly mountain.
I just want you to know Aly that as I wrote this email I just kept thinking over and over again how grateful I was that YOU were there. I know you were in so much pain that week. It is one of those weeks that only we will ever understand. But I hold it close to my heart. And I hope you know I recognize atleast in part how much you gave that week when it was hard! I LOVE YOU SIS! THANK YOU FOR WHO YOU ARE! I am blessed to have you for my friend.
(I think this will post under your name because I am using your computer... hehe) OH DWELL...

ONCE AGAIN... I AM GRATEFUL FOR YOU!!!!


Kel

Theres More where that came from!!!!!!

Ive been pondering on the name you gifted me just a few days ago. 

Today I am grateful for the words you spoke and how ill carry them with me as I walk forward. 

I look up to you so much Aly, and I feel its an honor that you took the time to name me.

So today, though im grateful for a lot of things.... Im super grateful for that! (AND THERES MORE WHERE THAT CAME FROM!!!!)

I am Maple of the Morning Light, and I have spoken! 

The Tonto National Forest

My heart is full today. Just this past week we walked together on the trail Aly! We walked side by side as trailwalkers. A dream come true!

Today I am grateful for the Tonto National Forest. In April 2013 I met my best friend there in the Bloody Basin. I am grateful the Creator moved us both to the middle of nowhere. Your constant friendship truly means the world to me.

Love you Aly. I truly Thank the Creator all of the time for our friendship! Im grateful for the beautiful Forest that brought us together! It has been a great beautiful journey!

God Bless you my Friend

Kel

Conference and Easter

Wow its been a long time since I posted. I had actually forgotten about the blog and then one day remembered about it and went to our website and saw a post written by you.

Wasn't Conference great? I am grateful for the wisdom of those who are directing our church. I am grateful for them teaching correct principles to safeguard our lives and our homes. The messages taught were beautiful. In a world that is filled with chaos I am thankful to find clarity in the words of our Prophet, Apostles and other church leaders.

I am also grateful for this Easter Sunday--for a time to reflect and remember our Savior, Jesus Christ. Because of Him I can have hope in many things: forgiveness, mercy, life after death, etc.

Sure love ya Kelli! Hope to see ya soon in the Tonto National Forest :)

Howdy Aly

It has been quite the adventure the past couple weeks. IVE MISSED YOU!

Ive been grateful for the gospel.

It really dawned on me this week just why the Gospel really is the Good news for me!

I have learned that the gospel is good news for many reasons, but one of those is for hope. The gospel says a lot of amazing things that are TRUE! Its all about promised blessings and miracles and happiness ahead and comfort for the present.

So I am grateful for Eternal Truths.

God bless you my friend

Kelli

Opportunities

I am so glad that you got to talk to Michael. He is such a great example to me as well. I hope you are doing okay Aly. I sure love ya my friend. 

This morning a girl contacted me who I had met last summer as an AFY Counselor. She was one of the girls in my group. Her message was simple, but she shared somthing she had thought of in seminary. I thought back to that summer and how wild it had been. How stressed out it sometimes made me. Then I thought about ANASAZI and all that stressed me out there. It is weird when looking back that all you really remember is the people. The People and some of the adventures you had together. Today I am grateful for opportunities the Lord puts in our lives and the wonderful people he allows us to meet. Because looking back I realize that happiness really is with others. I hope I can remember that throughout my life and try to better enjoy the ones around me while the moments last! Ill always be grateful for you!!!! I hope you know how much I miss you Aly, but also how grateful I am for the times we have had together! WHAT A GIFT! 

Someone who Listens

Thanks Kelli for your post. I watched that TED talk and I was truly touched by that young man. Thanks for sharing. Today I met with Michael and talked to him about some of my "struggles" in life right now. This seems to be a regular occurrence. He was really kind and gentle in his response to me. I just don't understand how he is so good and willing to take me where I am at. I just don't get it. Maybe God is that same way with me too. He takes me where I am at and loves me completely for me. I want to believe this and to be changed by his love. I'm grateful for those who emulate God's love.

Remembering

Aly I love what you wrote! I am so grateful for this idea!
I wont lie, I was determined since I woke up that this wasnt going to be a good day. And to be honest, most of the day wasnt.... until I remembered some things. I spent the beginning of the day in Rexburg and things truly just didnt go well. haha thats all I will say. When I got home I was feeling all sorry for myself and I felt quite miserable until I checked facebook and saw the following post with this video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36m1o-tM05g&feature=share&fb_ref=share

Everything that he says is what I needed today. It was my miracle. I have countless blessings. We all do. We all have challenges... but regardless of our circumstances... God really does love us. He sends us helpful reminders just when we need them. :) If we are choosing to make askings and listenings

Reflections on Yesterday

This morning as I write I am reflecting on my day yesterday. I find in life that I am so richly blessed. The recognition of these blessings can be crowded out by a fixation on what is not going right. Today I CHOOSE to focus on my blessings. 

Yesterday I had a pretty typical day on my off week from the trail. I read a little bit, I talked to a few people on the phone, spent some time outside and ran some errands. It was a pretty ordinary day but maybe those things I classified as ordinary (and kind of run of the mill) were really extraordinary. As I think about what happened yesterday I want to see the miracles in my day.

Yesterday I was in my front yard walking around and talking to my mom on the phone. John, my next door neighbor, smiled and waved. He is always so friendly and considerate. He asked me how my dresser worked out. "It works great. Thank you so much!" I replied. John is always a bright spot and so considerate. 

Yesterday I also spent time in the back yard picking tangelos. How often do I stop to consider the miracle of having legs to climb a tree and and hands to pick fruit with? My body is such a gift. Not only can I pick the fruit but I smell its sweet fragrance and observe its rich color. This fruit also provides nourishment for my body. The tree grows and bears fruit not for itself but to give to others. I want to be more like that tree--giving without reservation.

Yesterday I talked to my mom, Kelli, and Kaitlyn. I am so blessed to have a wonderful mother. My mother is so caring, thoughtful, nurturing, and overall wonderful. I love my mom so much. How blessed I am to have a mother who cares. She is my best friend and I am so glad I can call her mother.
Talking to Kelli and Kaitlyn really brightened my day. They are such good friends and good examples. I love how they live close to the Lord. I always feel uplifted talking to them. 

God is so good to me. What a privilege that I was able to spend time in the company of good friends and family yesterday. How blessed I am to live in a great neighborhood and to feel safe in my environment. Today I am choosing to see these blessings as tender mercies from God. I want to attribute these things to him. I want my heart not to be full and weighed down by the absence of things in my life. I want it to be full with gratitude for all I have been blessed with. I want to see with new eyes. To find the beauty in my circumstances. I want to choose to be happy now.