Be where you'll say you'll be

For Christmas I gave Tyler a brochure from BYU that was a walking tour of all the different varieties of trees they have on campus.

So several weeks ago, he had an appointment in Provo with a credit union and Alex and I tagged along. As I was dropping him off, he noticed his phone was almost completely dead and he had no time to charge it. Since he didn't know how long his meeting would be, we decided to meet at Brick Oven several blocks away and then start our tour.

Alex and I went shopping and on the way back I decided I was early enough that instead of making him walk the couple of blocks, I would just pick him up at the credit union. I sent him a text letting him know where I was. Surely with only 5 or 6% power on your phone you can still receive a text message.

We sat and waited.

We drove around looking for free Wifi so I could get tickets to the Payson Temple open house.

We came back and waited.

After about 40 minutes I had a thought that maybe I should check the Brick Oven.

Oops. There he was. Waiting. For 40 minutes.

Before cell phones, we would always stress the importance of meeting places and being where you'll say you'll be. I blew that one. I was relying on a cell phone that was dead.

This week Ash called home from school, wanting to go to Ellie's house. She talked to Kiersten and Kierten gave the green light. Only problem is Ash had soccer practice. Our only problem turned into no problem. I would just go to Ellie's house and pick her up and take her.

Okay, no problem turned into a problem again when no one was home at Ellie's. So I drove to the elementary and peeked in Ellie's mom's classroom windows. Dark. I drove back to Ellie's and waited (Ellie's cell phone didn't work and I didn't have another contact). With 15 minutes left of soccer practice, Ash calls my cell to tell me she is at Ellie's brother's baseball game.

Hmmmm . . . . that wasn't the plan. She told Kiersten she would be at Ellie's.

Oops for Ash. After that little episode, we had to make some rules.

Number one:

Be where you'll say you'll be.
When you say you'll be there.
Doing what you should be doing.

A fair weather runner

Yesterday was a gorgeous day for a run. I left my ear buds nestled all snug their bed and just listened to the birds, the train, the barnyard noises on my five mile route. Some days I need music to keep me moving forward, but yesterday it was just me and my thoughts.

I gave myself just a little prick for not signing up for the Salt Lake City half marathon that was going on at exactly that moment, only 30 miles away. It's one I'd like to do at some point. Katie did it a couple of years and ran in the rain. Another friend ran in a strong headwind but yesterday was the perfect setup. No wind, perfect running temps, close to home. Okay, at this point I went ahead and gave myself a full fledged karate kick as I remembered my friend, the bishop, was running it and had once told me I should sign up.

I told him no because you never know what April weather will bring. So far in my half marathon career of five, I've had great weather at all of them. Maybe a little chilly to start out, but you warm up quick enough. I've never had to race in rain or wind or snow or really uphill for that matter.

Yep, I'm pretty much a race wimp. I like my running conditions to be ideal. I don't want hard obstacles or other factors to inhibit what I'm doing. I just want to enjoy the ride.

So yesterday as my thoughts were pretty much telling me what a wimp I was, I came to a hill and I ran it. I ran up it all the way.

Before we came to this earth, we agreed to experience hard things that would help us grow and become better. If I looked at life like I do my running, just wanting the easy route, the comfortable conditions, the ideal situations, I wouldn't be who I am today.

So much of who I am has come as I have run with the wind in my face wondering if I will ever make it the end. As I've run with the rain pelting my face begging for shelter from the storm. As I've run in blinding snowstorms desperate to discover a new way of life. As I've run up hills, long hills, and not being able to see the top.

But you know, I have always made it through my trials and hard times. And even though I wonder if I'll ever make it out alive while in the midst, I do. However, I'm never the same person. I come through stronger and braver and full of more confidence, ready to face the next unpleasant running condition of life. The trick is to enjoy the ride even through life's unpleasantness and uncertainties and to always keep the Lord as your running partner. 

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Happy Birthday today to my niece Makayla who turned eight. She has dealt with some of life's hardest obstacles in having a body that doesn't quite function normally. Oh, was a glorious day it will be after the resurrection to get to know the person who has been bottled up inside.

An eerie day

Today reminded me of Tyler's birthday almost 8 years ago when we were living in Stansbury. The weather that day had gotten quite windy and I had stepped outside to rescue the garbage can as fences and trees came tumbling down.

I remember the feeling was just eerie and this afternoon's atmosphere had almost that exact feel.

I knew it was going to be windy today. I expected it and brought the garbage can into the garage. I sat inside watching it whip things around the yard and really wishing it would stop. I really don't like the wind. I haven't had a chance to survey the damage yet other than the fact that it rained mud.

You'd think looking out my windows that it was snowing. Erik is going to make bank this weekend cleaning windows. He's already got two jobs scheduled ahead of mine.

I also got a short email from my missionary parents, the first I've gotten in a little while. Apparently, they are experiencing their own Liberty Jail and are using an internet cafe because they've had no power for 4 days and no internet for 10. No power means no water, no toilets, no washing, no fans or air conditioning. It's also been quite muggy from all the rain. I'm sure they've had to get creative with all sorts of things and I'm looking forward to an email detailing this latest experience.

Go Forth in Faith

I think our stake president was inspired with his message he gave the youth of our ward about a month ago at youth fireside in conjunction with our ward conference. He's in our ward and knows many of the youth and knows we have many, especially young women, who are graduating and leaving home.

In a world with so much uncertainty, it can be a little daunting. I've also told my Laurels that they are on the cusp of so many important decisions. I find it a little ironic that the Lord would have young people who are still growing and maturing make such life-altering decisions such as marriage and career and missions. This much I do know is when we put our faith and trust in him and use the Holy Ghost for personal revelation, things always work out.

President Child had the group read 1 Nephi 4:5-6 and part of 7, prefacing that Nephi and his brothers were trying to retrieve the brass plates from Laban.

5 And it was by night; and I caused that they should hide themselves without the walls. And after they had hid themselves, I, Nephi, crept into the city and went forth towards the house of Laban.

 6 And I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do. 

 7 Nevertheless I went forth . . . 

Nephi did not know what the plan was for him, but he went forth anyway. Like Nephi there are times when we must also go forth with faith, not knowing what lies ahead. The Lord knows and he will be our light and guide if we let him. 

I loved that advice he gave. And in this month's Ensign there is an article titled Go Forth in Faith with that same advice . . . when we are living worthily and our choice is consistent with the Savior's teachings and we have done all we can, it's time to act, act in faith. The Lord won't let you go too far down the wrong path without letting you know. And when those feelings of discomfort and unrest come, you know it's time for a course correction.

Spring break at Zions

My Kiersten is wonderfully amazing. And such a talented writer that I "borrowed" her blog entry about our trip to Zions. After reading it, I thought the only thing that could be improved is to add some photos.

And that is something I can do . . .

I have a love hate relationship with Spring Break. I mean, it's great. Absolutely wonderful. You know, until it ends in three days instead of three months. It's like taking one bite of ice cream and then having Mom snatch it away until you eat your broccoli. Which isn't to say that my mom does that, or that I hate broccoli. (Actually it's not that bad.)

Needless to say, I'm currently blogging because I'm in some sort of conscious denial that I have English homework and it actually does have to get done before Tuesday. But hey, Tuesday's still a few days away, isn't it?

We've spent the last few days in St. George, hiking in Zion's National Park. When I was younger, I didn't think Utah was all that beautiful honestly. There was too much dirt and hot and the red rocks clashed horribly with all of the pine trees. (Why were the rocks red anyway?) I enjoyed Arches for a few hours, and Goblin Valley was pretty cool, (although I couldn't ever figure out why the hoodoos were called goblins. I thought they looked like rocks stacked on top of each other), but it wasn't until last year that I started to understand what was so unique about this state I live in.

Last summer Mom had a half marathon in Bryce Canyon so we spent a weekend up there. I remember standing above the canyon and being able to see for miles and miles and miles. We'd look down and see pillars the size of skyscrapers descending into the canyon below us. I remember thinking that this place must be where God comes when He needs something uplifting to help Him cope with the despair of our world (I love this!!).

Later we hiked down into the canyon. We'd walk in the shade of these huge cliffs on either side of us and stare in wonder at the trees that would grow right out of the rock. There was no possible way that they were surviving in their environment and yet they were.

I think last summer was the first time I remember being sorry to leave the dirt and the heat and the red rocks and the pine trees. Now we're in Zion's. I have to say I still prefer Bryce Canyon, but this place has its own wonders. The rocks don't form pillars, they're ginormous, sheer sandstone walls that reach as much as a thousand feet into the sky.

We've hiked along the edge and looked down into cavernous depths. 

We've seen gravity defying trees that grow sideways from the cliff and water that seeps down through several feet of solid rock to drip on the heads of ignorant hikers.

We've watched minuscule rock climbers scale the cliffs. We've looked out from precarious heights and seen what a small river and a few million years can do to a landscape. It's absolutely breathtaking.

And it's much more satisfying to think about than The Merchant of Venice.

Kiersten's blog, Be a Little Better, can be viewed at kierstenleary.blogspot.com.

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Erik and his friend Squirrel. My, he was friendly.

Ash was 100% positive we would run into her friend Ellie. I kept telling her it was nearly impossible because of the amount of of people. Ah, the faith of a child. Are they really the same age??

Alex worked hard for his badge. He is now an official Jr. Park Ranger and loves to tell everyone.

You remember him . . . You ALWAYS remember him

Today is Easter. A day of hope.

And General Conference. A day of soul-searching and commitments.

We got home yesterday from a little spring break jaunt to Zion National Park. I can now cross that one off my bucket list. One more to go and we will have been to all five national parks in Utah.

It's been a day of reflection and thinking and pondering and visiting with family. Thoughts about our recent excursion have been tumbling around in my mind and every time I come home from visiting the world, I'm in awe at its beauty. God really outdid himself. What's really sad, though, is my camera and my photo abilities just don't do it any justice. The eye is a marvelous thing in how it can capture the beauty all around.

We had hopped aboard our last bus in Zion and were headed out when our driver alerted us to some rock climbers making their way up the face of Zion's sheer walls. I am no climbing expert and couldn't even venture a guess as to how far up they were. I'll just say there were crazy high.

photo taken from ientours.com

As we watched them slowly navigate, it reminded me of a story my dad has shared from Gerald Lund in one of his books (Jesus Christ, Key to the Plan of Salvation).

[This] is an article from a medical magazine about "belaying" in mountain climbing. The belay system is the way a mountain climber protects himself from falls. Someone climbs up first, get in a firm, secure position, ties the rope tightly around his waist, and calls down to his partner, "You are on belay," which means, "I have you if you fall." The article told about Alan Czenkusch, a man who ran a climbing school in Colorado for physicians:

"Belaying has brought Czenkusch his best and worst moment in climbing. Czenkusch once fell from a high precipice, yanking out three mechanical supports and pulling his belayer off a ledge. He was stopped, upside down, ten feet from the ground when his spread-eagle belayer arrested his fall with the strength of his out-stretched arms.

"Don saved my life," says Czenkusch. "How do you respond to a guy like that? Give him a used climbing rope for Christmas? No, you remember him. You always remember him."

What a profound analogy for us. Like the belayer, the Savior stops our traumatic fall toward spiritual destruction and offers us a safe line back to him. And what can we do to repay him? Always remember him.

On this Easter Sunday, the way I can repay the Savior is to accept what he did and make it a reality in my life. Because of what I have felt and heard today in conference, there are changes that are necessary that will enable me to become the person Jesus Christ would like me to be as I remember him. As I ALWAYS remember him. May I have the guts and determination to think better, to live better, to be better.

* * * * *

A Secure Anchor by Elder Richard G. Scott

Where Justice, Love, and Mercy Meet by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland