Tuff with 2 'f's

Dear friends and fellow bloggers,

Life is hard. It is hard to see eye to eye with someone else when each of you have different perspectives. It's hard to change yourself when you've already developed a pattern or a habit. Sometimes it's hard to be hopeful when you keep failing. Sometimes the hardest thing to do is "man up". Sometimes apologizing isn't enough. Sometimes it's going to hurt no matter what.

Sometimes it is exceptionally hard to wait for the light of dawn. But it will come. I have faith that the sun will rise, as it always does.

Living and Learning,
Selina

Things I Have Learned

1. There are some things, ideas, and people worth fighting for, so when you find them, don't let go.
2. Find inspiration in "ordinary" things.
3. If you are afraid to try something new, hold your breath and jump. It'll be worth it in the end.
4. Bliss is being completely happy, even when things aren't "perfect".
5. Know yourself first, but encourage good development.
6. Serve others.
7. If you love with all your heart, doubt has a harder time sneaking in on you.
8. Pray first, act later.
9. Make your life a choice. Choose to truly live.
10. Keep friends close.

Questions and Answers

Yesterday I got to have a long conversation with my mom about a few very important things. I find it interesting the information you can find out by asking the right questions. The conversation left me feeling great about what I am doing and where I am going. The affirmation from my mom was more than what I could ask for. I realize that sometimes we need to simply ask the right questions, when we talk to other people, parents, siblings, room mates, but especially when we pray.

Yesterday, I also spent a decent amount of time sincerely praying, by the end my focus had changed. My initial desire to have my question answered changed to a desire to fix a few things in my life first. My perspective changed from temporal to eternal matters and I realized how to get my life completely in order so that I can make those larger decisions.

Yesterday was full of realizations and full of new light:) I got a rush of excitement for life all over again:D

The real "I love you"

This is the real "I love you", regardless of what they do, you love them. When you are willing to swallow your own pride in order to help someone else.

Love goes beyond liking someone's personality and it surpasses the initial infatuation. When the bad days rain down and the baggage is exposed those that love you are still standing, right there next to you. It doesn't matter if there is a day that you don't see eye to eye on everything because you know that you will work it out. And the reason that you care enough to work through differences? Because you know who they really are, who they truly are and you love them for that. And the best part is that they love you for you too. That when you tell them stupid mistakes that you've made, they don't judge you or freak out on you, they stop and listen to what you have to say; they listen heart to heart. And when you are done, they take you in their arms and let you know that everything is okay and that they are there for you.

Love is what makes that moment possible.

Faith in Every Footstep

The other day I called my mom on my lunch break (a pretty normal activity for me) and we got into a big discussion about faith and healing... There are times in our lives that even though we are living faithfully, bad things happen. For example, my mom was approached by some people that are very close to her and they essentially told her that she hadn't been healed yet because she didn't have enough faith. False. I was floored by the response. Do we not believe in trusting God? Do we not admire Job for praising God even in horrific suffering? Do we believe in a "candy machine" God who gives us exactly what we want? Or do we trust him to allow us to grow through hard experience and stand by us to comfort us? Do we trust him enough to be faithful even when he allows us to walk through the fire of affliction?

Life happens. Every affliction that we experience isn't necessarily because God wanted us to suffer or to force us to go through those trials. However, because we are mortal we are subject to travails of the flesh. Because our Heavenly Father loves us he will not always save us from suffering, but he will lift us up and refine us. We have had and will have times of difficulty and sickness everyone does because we are mortal. The beautiful thing about the Atonement and our Heavenly Father's plan is that he makes it all work out. Even when the clouds gather and things seem grim, there is always a light. If God protected all of his "faithful" children from hardships, then how would they compare? When tested, would they pass? If we never experienced trails because of our "faith" what would we say when we met Job? Heavenly Father loves us and wants us to grow and become the best people that we can. So, he doesn't always shelter us from the storms of life. He will only allow us to experience what we can bear, but he knows we can take a lot more than we think we can. It is not a matter of whether there is faith enough to heal; it is a matter of faith enough to trust when things don't look good from our human perspective to continue trusting our Father. How much faith does it take to walking over a bridge as opposed to taking tht first step into the stream, trusting that God will provide a way? My mother trusts her Savior completely, she is in the prayers of many, many people. She is on prayer rolls around the western United States. She is not experiencing this because she lacks the faith to be healed, but rather, God is showing her how much faith she has, how strong she can be when she relies on her Savior.

Sometimes we wonder, is it because I wasn't good enough? Would I be experiencing this if I were more righteous and faithful. Truth be told, I'm not sure that is the question that really matters. No matter the reason for our afflictions, we have a loving Father who has the power to comfort, heal and strengthen. So why dwell on the problem or perhaps the reason for the problem. When the problem is our own and our trials come from sin we need to understand and repent. But it's my opinion that the most productive thing would be to dwell in the hope of Jesus Christ. The faith and hope that through our afflictions we can be sanctified. That hope has the power to motivate smiles even when the world is weighing down on us. Jesus Christ is there to comfort and support us. He wants us to succeed more than we do. He is standing by waiting to help if we will ask. Sometimes it takes a lot of time to recover from various things that life throws at us. But in the meantime we can find true comfort in trusting our Savior.

Mother Pig and Piglet Picture, Animal Wallpaper - National Geographic Photo of the Day

Mother Pig and Piglet Picture, Animal Wallpaper - National Geographic Photo of the Day

I saw this picture and I thought it was adorable in a strange way. Also, it made me think if Wilbur. Just wanted to share.

Selina Hearts California

Well, I’m home from a most excellent trip to California! I hadn’t been home in almost 6 months, which is probably the longest amount of time that I’ve gone without going home. The trip was awesome, and believe it or not I’m going to give you a break down of it!

Day One:

I arrived in California in time to go to my cousin’s reception, it was so nice to see my family after such a long time. It was overly warm outside (I forgot what summer was like in Calfornia) but it was still nice. 

Yes, The basketball hoop is important to that family. :)

Day Two:

I got to go to church in my home ward, but for the first time in my life I actually felt like I was visiting. It was uncomfortable but to be honest I figure that it was going to happen sooner or later. All around just a weird feeling. After that it was basically a regular day with the family. I got to sleep a lot and I figure that’s what Sundays and breaks are for, resting.

Day Three: BEACH TRIP

The day was pretty overcast and I was kind of disappointed but overall I can’t really complain about the beach. The company I would say is even better than the beach itself. It’s been a long time since Stephanie and Alex had some time to sit and talk.

Weird stuff happened though, as we were walking along the beach there was about a mile, a little under where the beach and a line of ladybugs, all but one that we saw were dead and they looked like they came in on the same wave, it was so weird. On a happier note, we saw a hilarious sign on the walk back, check it out:

Just imagine sound effects:)

Day Four: I got my herrrr did.

I got a PERM! I no longer have virgin hair, but so far I like the look. Its fun but it’ll be interesting to see what I can do with it.

 

That afternoon I met up with Alysha for Frugos, and as if Yucaipa were welcoming me home, they had yellow spoons!!!

That night I helped to arrange a bon fire on the beach out at Huntington Beach. Thank you Kevin and Danny for providing the goods.

 

I was behind the camera so I wasn’t in very many of the pictures.

It was an excellent night:) We also ended it with In-n-Out so it was great.  

Day Five:

I got to run errands with my Mom. And as silly as this sounds, it may have been my favorite day of the whole trip. Just like the good ole days when she and I would spend a day shopping together and get to talk about the things going on in our lives. My soul needed that day.

Day Six:

Packed, waited, drove to Arizona

Day Seven:

I spent about 4 hours out in the pool and got a sweet tan line. It was a blast being able to hang out with so much of my family. We played games like alligator, colored eggs, Marco polo and the matchstick game. Epic All.

Day Eight:

My oldest nephew got baptized!!!! It was so good. I was reminded and touched when they sang the opening song “I Like to Look for Rainbows” it resonated with me when we sang the lines about the earth being clean again, because it was something that I had been thinking about and that I desired, symbolically so much for myself. It was incredible to think of starting over, new and fresh; then I was astounded at the power of the Sacrament—it has the power to make us clean again, just like after baptism, every week. Wow.

  

We left that evening and drove through the night and arrived in Provo at about 4:30 AM, I slept for a few hours and then went to church and didn’t take a nap that day, apparently I was too excited to be back.