My New Life

I loved hearing this women's and this family's experience. She is strong and made stronger through the Lord. I have some physical struggles that I have been working through this last year. Some of them linger on and on. As I watch this I feel that my trials are small, but I also know that they are just different and catered to my need for growth. I also know that I am not alone in these trials, but that my Savior Jesus Christ is there to help me through.

Like her I don't have to let my weaknesses and physical oddities define me. I joke with my co-workers that I need to go in for "treatments" (A.K.A. tanning sessions to help resolve the condition) to keep the feeling of what funny things my body is doing light and not a big concern to others. Sometimes it scares me, but mostly I feel a gentle reassurance that it will work out.

I love teaching the children here at this school. I love to let them feel sincere love for the short time that I have them. Sometimes I have to be tough and bold, but if I don't then I am not showing them true love. I listen to them (sometimes a rare thing in their lives to have an adult actually listen). I help resolve their pains, both physical and internal. I read stories and play the guitar and sing for them. I teach them TRUTH. A good amount of the time I just play with them (also a rare thing for many children). I am not yet a Mother, but I hope to be someday. Like this women, no matter what I have to give up for the short term it has been worth it to hopefully made their lives one ounce better. Even if I miss a treatment here and there. I hope to be able to do this for my own family someday. For now "I'll go where you want me to go Dear Lord."
My New Life
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHDvxPjsm8E&feature=player_embedded

Things I have learned about myself this Spring in Maine

1. I don't have complete control of what happens to me, but I do have 100% of the control of how
I react to what happens to me.
2. To be Included does not always equal the feeling of being loved.
3. I desire the opportunity to create a home that will last more than a short 3-6 months. I want
to create a home where people want to be and feel comfortable to be. A place where love is.
4. I desire stability, not 100% as life needs a little bit of spunk and mystery, but I need to have
more than I currently have.
5. I can love. I want to be loved.


6. Moose aren't easy to find, particularly when you are searching.
7. Ironically love comes into our lives even when we are running from it. It sneaks up on ya!!!
8. I can make a touch down, even if the triumph is less because the teams are made up of 7th
graders.
9. To serve others is the best way for me to forget myself and my sorrows, however sometimes I
must do something to remove the wedges in my heart so that my heart may give full service
to others.
10. Kids love easily and it would be nice if adults could love that easily too.


11. Drama is not restricted to middle school. No matter how much we try to tell the kids that it is
unnecessary, it truly is something that people must learn to work through. It is a part of life.
12. I love the Temple. It has been a place of peace and comfort for me this spring. I have felt
true peace there and answers have come as I have pondered there.
13. I love to cook. I love to cook for others. I feel very little satisfaction in just cooking for me.
14. I miss having a full kitchen to work with.
15. I am stronger than I ever thought I could be. I can resist a lot more than I ever thought I
could.


16. Irony and Ironic things may fill our life, but not all of those Irony's are going to be significant
in the long run. They may be significant in the short term, but gradually they will fade.
17. As in my mission, the heart ache and hard times gradually fade away, while the good times
remain strong in our minds. Hold on tight to the good.
18. Not all the feelings of my heart need to be vocalized, some are better off left inside.
19. Sometimes the best way for me to put 2 and 2 together is for me to talk it out.
20. Some of the personal things of our hearts should not easily be handed out. I ought to be more
cautious who I trust with the my most personal thoughts, experiences, and future dreams.
These are my treasures and ought to be well earned.

Deep Damarascotta Diving

Today's epic adventure of our first day out playing on the lake was nearly fidangled by the fun killing wind. It picked up Mandy's chair which contained her cell phone, book, and my camera. AHH!!! After much diving and searching, all the items were recovered. The best one was Mandy's cell phone as a timely call vebrated the phone so that I was able to find it. I nearly burst into tears it was so funny. Well, at least we captured the three person tube balancing act before the camera got sucked in. Maybe it is just time to get a new camera, as it is being held together at this moment by duct tape.

~Epic summer adventures log #1

"Is Love Alive?"...

Play this while you View this blog:


This is a super old post, but I thought I would add the pictures that were supposed to go with it and finally let it be posted:

Last year (Winter/spring 2009) I came across a song that really struck me. It's a song by Sara Baralis and Ingrid Michleson. I found it late last winter and thought it was a little late in the year to find it as it was already almost spring. However it has come to be one of my favorites this fall and winter. It asks the question "Is love alive?" repeatedly. At the time I was sincerely asking that same question. Here are the words and I will tell how it relates to my Christmas trip to Arizona:

bum bum bum bum bum bum bum bum
bum bum bum bum bum bum
bum bum bum bum bum bum

This is my winter song to you.
The storm is coming soon,
it rolls in from the sea

My voice; a beacon in the night.
My words will be your light,
to carry you to me.

Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love

They say that things just cannot grow
beneath the winter snow,
or so I have been told.

They say were buried far,
just like a distant star
I simply cannot hold.

Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?

This is my winter song.
December never felt so wrong,
cause youre not where you belong;
inside my arms.

bum bum bum bum bum bum bum bum
bum bum bum bum bum bum
bum bum bum bum bum bum

I still believe in summer days.
The seasons always change
and life will find a way.

Ill be your harvester of light
and send it out tonight
so we can start again.

Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?

This is my winter song.
December never felt so wrong,
cause youre not where you belong;
inside my arms.

This is my winter song to you.
The storm is coming soon
it rolls in from the sea.

My love a beacon in the night.
My words will be your light
to carry you to me.

Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?



I loved this song. I thought of it a great deal as I organized the love letters between my grandma and grandpa, from World War II. My grandfather served in the south pacific on a ship which refueled other ships. Between my grandmother and him they sent over 450 letters in a 3 year period. They were quite gushy but sweet at the same time.
I have come to the conclusion that love is not easy, it takes a lot of work, and their may be "Oceans" between two people, but if they are willing to work hard on both ends, then love can be alive. It will never work if one part or the other is left to do it alone. It requires the sincere desire and hard work of both parties.








Here are the actual letters:

On The Road to Madawaska Maine

This is an account of our road trip to Madawaska Maine. It was a lovely road trip with Aimee. It was insanely rainy on the way up, but after the rain came the lovely rainbows and the moose hunts.

Duck tours and More

Duck Tour 2010. I have wanted to do this tours since I first came to Boston in 2005. I thought it looked like a unique way to tour the city. Well, I sure was correct. I will add more to this dialoge tonight, but in case Elise gets a look at this, here is a picture of the shirt I bought in Boston. It's a dressy one, but quite fun.

Everybody wants to be loved

This is not all about the Romantic love, but rather about the need of everyone to feel love. I work in an environment where are many people that are looking for love and to be loved. This varies from the kids we teach to my co-workeres, to my closest friends, to those at church, and to those in the community.

I find such phrases as:
Happy is the heart that still feels pain
Darkness drains and light will come again
Swing open your chest and let it in
Just let the love, love, love begin

This I believe to be true, that no matter how badly a heart may be hurt the light and the love in the heart does recover. It even recovers more quickly if one were to go out and find others who need to feel loved







We have fallen down again tonight
In this world it's hard to get it right
Trying to make your heart fit like a glove
What it needs is love, love, love

(Chorus)
Everybody, everybody wants to love
Everybody, everybody wants be to loved
Oh oh oh
Oh oh oh

Happy is the heart that still feels pain
Darkness drains and light will come again
Swing open your chest and let it in
Just let the love, love, love begin

CHORUS

Everybody knows the love
Everybody holds the love
Everybody folds for love
Everybody feels the love
Everybody steals the love
Everybody heals with love

Oh oh oh
Just let the love love love begin

Everybody, everybody wants to love
Everybody, everybody wants be to loved