Resolve to BE

I went to California for 10 days over Christmas break. I had hoped to get warm sunshine, a tan, and an escape from the Utah ice chest.
It rained most of the time. (Just my luck)
Provo greeted me with frigid weather and lots of snow. Before winter semester began I spent a few hours going through old journals. For nine years, I have faithfully made New Year's resolutions; it's hilarious to read my teenage goals. I'm kind of embarrassed to share some of these but hey, no one reads blogs anyway, right?

2004 (Age 13): #3. Have a new posture! Remember: confidence = sexy  (Yes, I really wrote that.)
                         There are 6 or 7 other resolutions about having more fun and enjoying life. I must have been a stiff or something......

2005: #6. Eat no popcorn. (Wow, that must have been a depressing year....)
          #28. Do not kiss (That wasn't a problem as I didn't have my first kiss for another two and a half years. What kind of person resolves NOT to kiss anyway??)
          #39. Do not be so inquisitive (My mom will appreciate that one)
          
2006: #4 Be a bag of sunshine!! (Be careful what you wish for.)
          #12. Avoid procrastination as I would a spider. (I sure had a way with words)


2007: #13. Eat more vegetables. (REALLY?! How old was I? This was still a problem?)

2008: #9. Eat vegetables. (No comment...)
          #13. SIMPLIFY. (I love this one)
          
Ever make resolutions you know you'll accomplish without a doubt, but you make them just to feel better about yourself?  Like:

2010 #9: "Go to a different country (suckas!!! I AM!!!!)"


Soooooo....what about this year? For 2011, I made a list of all the things I wish were part of my life.  This time, I printed it out on bright pink paper and hung it up on my wall.  Some (lofty) goals:

• Read the Book of Mormon entirely in Spanish
• Run in a half marathon race. 
• Don't get sick once.
• Take the GRE
• Go skiing or snowboarding for the first time
• Bowl a turkey, and bowl at least 200.
• Go on a road trip or use my passport

Basically, I resolved to BE. To live and love life. To do things I've always wanted to do. This year, I'm living like I've never lived before. Besides, I turn 21. Isn't 21 supposed to be the magical year? So how have I done so far? As of this last weekend, I already broke "don't get sick once." But I've already checked off another resolution, so I guess I'm 1 for 2.

Tender Mercies Remind Me of The Miracle

"Somedays we forget to look around us.  Somedays we can't see the joy that surrounds us.  So caught up inside ourselves, we take when we should give....It's up to us to be the change. And even though we all can still do more, there's so much to be thankful for."
–Josh Groban, Thankful

I am overwhelmed with how much my Heavenly Father and His Son love me.  As I said in my last post, these few months are truly my favorite time of year.  The more I stay in tune with the Spirit and do what I'm doing, I recognize the tender mercies the Lord places in my life every single day.  Whether it's getting asked out by a boy I like, or nailing a singing performance when I was worried I'd bomb it, or getting A's on assignments on tests and papers when I have been doing a balancing act with three jobs and full-time school, God's hand is in my life every day.  The more we learn to recognize that these aren't merely coincidences, the more love and joy we feel for life around us.  I am surrounded by so much beauty.  I have an amazing mother who I talk to almost every day, sisters, friends, and roommates who care about me, an incredible place in the best choir I have ever sung in, a healthy body that can run and run, and most of all, a membership in the only true Church on this earth, a Gospel of peace and joy that helps me stay on the path that leads me back to my Heavenly Father.

How do I know how to be good?  Heavenly Father sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to live on earth and be an example to us.  His life was a miracle.  He was perfect.  From birth to death He demonstrated faith, humility, selflessness, and obedience.

He suffered pains and afflictions worse than death so that we would have a way to overcome our "natural man" and become the celestial, exalted beings we were meant to be. I love my Savior. I love my Heavenly Father.   "There's so much to be thankful for," and this Christmas season I won't be forgetting that.