i'm starting today with sharing an experience i had last night. it's nothing huge or life-altering, but i was definitely in awe (as always) of Heavenly Father's power and love that He has for me, and that through small and simple things, He answers prayers.
i was feeling kind of down as i was getting ready for bed, with those feelings of frustration that i was going to slide back to my bad, hopeless habits. and i was just questioning if i can truly overcome some of my challenges and if my life will ever change for the better. so i got on my knees and started to pray, and i thought, 'lace, this is your Father in Heaven, really talk to Him'. and as i thought that and really started to confide in him, i had the most overwhelming feeling of peace and hope come over me. it was so incredible, i couldn't help but smile whilst i was praying. like my whole demeanor and feelings about my night had completely changed and i felt excited and full of hope for my life and the mission Heavenly Father has in store for me. it was the most instantaneous change of heart i've ever had and i am so grateful for Heavenly Father's direct answer to my prayer. but it doesn't end there... so i get up and it was one those events that i had to document right away. when i finished in my journal, i went to get in bed, and i had a very unexpected text message from allen, my semi-blind date. it was totally random, and nothing will come of it, but again, it was just a way for Heavenly Father to show me that He's watching out for me. i am so blessed and so grateful for prayer and the love that He has for me. it was just an incredible and unexpected end to my not-as-good-as-i-wanted-it-to-be day.
work-out...
40 minutes on the eliptical w/20-20 sec "sprints"... 100 lunges... and the usual arms, butt, legs, and abs
*bonus- 35 minute run
food intake...
7:30am- sugar-free chocolate milk
9:15am- strawberry yogurt and bran flakes
11:30am-grapefruit
1:00pm- turkey sandwich and clementine
7:00pm- homemade orange chicken stir-fry and salad and sobe lifewater (zero-calorie deliciousness)
8:30pm- sugar-free chocolate pudding and a banana
h20- 10 cups
*no peanutbutter, thank you very much!
jillian's "feelings"...
i absolutely love biggest loser and jillian michaels. i think she is completely legit in everyway! so as i was catching up with the show, she was talking/yelling at one of the contestants about feelings and emotions, and what she said was just awesome! so of course i wanted to share...
"Tears don't make you weak. They're a sign of strength. Feelings exist for a reason. They tell you when things are out of balance, when you're going in the wrong direction. They're a compass. They're meant to be felt and expressed and moved through so you can grow. If you don't this is what happens to you."
it just validates that emotions and feelings are normal, and are meant to be shared, which i'm not the best at. it gave me some encouragement knowing that i'm not the only one who bottles up my feelings, but that for my own health and wellness, i need to communicate and let them out. while i'm still learning to share my emotions with others in person, writing this blog has helped me open up a ton (i know, i'm a dork), and i'm very grateful for it and the support i continually receive!
preparing for battle...
today in institute we were going over the great "war" chapters in Alma. brother norby always likes to "liken the scriptures" to us, so we went through a bunch of different passages and applied them to our lives. i know i've had this lesson so many times, but this time i actually wrote down the principles and how they apply and i gotta say, Mormon knew what he was doing when he put all these chapters in his great book.
there are so many scriptures that we went over, but i just wanted to share an example from Alma 49:3-5... it talks about the Nephites having to rebuild their cities that were destroyed by the Lamanites and how when the Lamanites tried to get in again, they couldn't because of everything the Nephites had done to fortify and strengthen it. this over course means, we need to build ourselves up and have the right armor and protection on, but brother norby took it a step further... these scriptures explain how the Lamanites tried every possible way to get in, but because of the structure and wisdom of the Nephites, the only way in was through the front door which of course was heavily protected... meaning, we are in control of what we let into our homes, what's on tv, the computer, what the spirit is, etc.
so yes, i know this is so simple and i'm sure you already know and understand the application of these great scriptures, but for me being the simple-minded, i'm grateful for brother norby taking it down a notch for me and explaining it in "lacee-terms".
a brilliant recommendation...
i was chatting with maegs today and she was sharing her great joy of being sealed to her wonderful husband. it was so awesometo hear how her, already wonderful marriage, has been completely enhanced because of the great sealing power. and of course she recommended that i get married in the temple someday... i'm just waiting for that someday :) but it reminded me of an incredible quote i read today from Elder Holland's talk "Of Souls, Symbols, and Sacraments"...
"The Prophet Joseph Smith once said we perhaps ought to render such a sacred bond as 'welding'--that those united in matrimony and eternal families are 'welded' together, inseparable if you will, to withstand the temptations of the adversary and the afflictions of mortality. But such a total, virtually unbreakable union, such an unyielding commitment between a man and a woman, can only come with the proximity and permanence afforded in a marriage convenant, with the union of all that they possess--their very hearts and minds, all their days and all their dreams. They work together, they cry together, they enjoy Brahms and Beethoven and breakfast together, they sacrifice and save and live together for all the abundance that such a totally intimate life provides such a couple. And the external symbol of that union, the physical manifestation of what is far deeper spiritual and metaphysical bonding, is the physical blending that is part of--indeed, a most beautiful and gratifying expression of--that larger, more complete union of eternal purpose and promise."
i'm definitely excited and looking forward to marriage for many reasons, but i know i definitely have long way in order to be fully prepared... i gotta get my "ducks in a row", right mom?!
orange chicken stir-fry sauce recipe...
i tried this recipe from the food network, but i think next time i'll alter it a bit cause i want it thicker and more orangey flavored.
1 3/4 cup chicken stock
2 tbs soy sauce
2 tbs corn starch
1/2 cup orange marmalade
*so next time i'm going to use a little less chicken stock, more corn starch, and more orange marmalade! pour it over some chicken and vegetables and you're good to go!
the future is waiting to be seized, and if we do not grasp it firmly, then other hands, more determined and bloody than our own, will wrench it from us and follow a different course.
2 weeks aka 14 days aka jake is home aka "i just wanted a hug"
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