Have we not reason to rejoice?

Sitting here at work, I started to wonder where I will be in a year. On my mission? In the MTC? Still at home, waiting for The Call? Where will my family be? Will Mom have had her surgery? Will Tess be done with her wedding preparations? Will Alex have found a job that he loves?

What journeys will we pass in the next year? Will our family increase any? Will it decrease any?

I move on Wednesday, the day after tomorrow. I'm excited to see the path that will come from it, to see where it will lead.
Now have we not reason to rejoice? Yea, I say unto you, there never were men that had so great reason to rejoice as we, since the world began; (Alma 26:35)


Today we have a restored Gospel. As President Utchdorf asks, is that not a great reason to rejoice?
For that, I am eternally grateful. 
I'm grateful for my family and for all the good friends in my life. Without whom, I would be surviving, but I sure wouldn't be thriving!

Bon Voyage Cassandra, till we meet again.

But if I alone had stumbled
If I alone had strayed
If I alone had wandered from straight and narrow way
If I alone bore guilt for which my all could never atone
He would have come for me
For me alone

How grateful I am for that knowledge. For my Savior. For His atoning sacrifice for me. How grateful I am this day, and everyday that He doesn't give up on me. What a blessing. A miracle.

Thank you Elders

A Catholic Priest, A Baptist Preacher, and a Mormon Bishop went fishing in a boat together. After awhile, the Catholic Priest ran out of bait. So he got up, stepped out of the boat, walked across the water to the shore, and returned the same way with more bait. Soon after, the Mormon Bishop also ran out of bait and did the same. Finally the Baptist Preacher ran out of bait and not wanting to be out done by the other two, stepped out of the boat and immediately sank down into the water. The others grabbed him and helped him back into the boat. As they watched the cold, confused Preacher trying to figure out why he could'nt do it, the Catholic Priest finnally laughed and whispered to the Mormon Bishop, "Should we tell him about the rocks beneath the water?" The Bishop, obviously confused, said, "What rocks?"

You Raise Me Up

When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary
When troubles come and my heart burdened be
Then I am still and wait here in the silence
Until you come and sit awhile with me

You raise me up so I can stand on mountains
You raise me up to walk on stormy seas
I am strong when I am on your shoulders
You raise me up to more than I can be

You raise me up so I can stand on mountains
You raise me up to walk on stormy seas
I am strong when I am on your shoulders
You raise me up to more than I can be

You raise me up so I can stand on mountains
You raise me up to walk on stormy seas
I am strong when I am on your shoulders
You raise me up to more than I can be
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


I have been a slacker, I'm aware. Unfortunately, my car, who I insulted one too many times,  kicked the bucket, managed to get word to my computer and my smart phone. The result, you might ask? If I plug the computer (named S'ven) he sparks. Ask the scorch marks on my bed spread, the one that pretty much caught fire. That was fun. My smart phone, Gladys? She cracked and then decided to start eating texts and voice mails. So, now I'm virtually disconnected with the world. That is both a liberating and debilitating feeling. Oh well, I have enough people in my life who text me if anything exciting is happening in the world!

Life has been rather eventful as of late. I picked up a second job, which so far, I enjoy. I do a lot of walking, a lot of joking, and a lot of hand washing. But I work with some great people. Aside from being so physically exhausted and emotionally drained, I've been spiritually fed. I am so grateful for my Home Teachers, I'm so grateful for the missionaries in my area.

I have learned an awful lot about myself this week. I also have decided that I need to learn to be a better story teller.

The big news though, is this. I should be submitting my mission papers by December. I am going on a mission. Don't worry, it was a surprise to me too. I fought it for a while. I can't say that I think I'll be a good missionary, I'm far too lazy, often too apprehensive to speak, too personal to refrain from hugging people. Yeah, it'll be tough. And yet, I get butterflies in my stomach, the size of pterodactyls, every time I think about it. I start almost jumping up and down, and I haven't even submitted my paperwork yet!

My plan/goal is to recert my EMT and CPR, so that they'll last until I get home, and then start working again and work toward getting my Fire 1. But, we'll see how that works. Right now, I'm working my tail off in two jobs, to get everything I owe paid off. Then I'll start saving money for the mission, then I'll purchase the clothes I need and off I go! I anticipate being able to put my papers in by December.

One of these days, I'll tell you the story of how this all kind of fell into my lap, but for now, I should go work.

I am grateful for the Savior, He raises me up!