Timeless Nights Blog

I went to a funeral service for the mother of a neighbor/ward family yesterday. She passed away from terminal cancer. This family was one of the strongest families I've even known! Several months ago, one of the daughters was on an LDS mission in England and passed away. No one expects to go through trials like this. Especially within such a short time frame. But throughout everything, this family has provided an incredible example for so many people. Me included. I just wanted to mention a couple of thoughts/impressions that I gained during the service:

1. The gospel is real!
2. Satan and his followers will never give up, but will ultimately lose.
3. The closer you draw unto the Savior, the easier it is to follow his teachings and to know what's right.
4. Providing service is one of the best ways to draw close to the Savior.

Life doesn't always go as we plan. We will all have trials, and at times will try us to our very core. That's why this quote by Albert Einstein applies so well:

The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them.

We may not always know why we face trials. But if we can learn from them, pressing forward through them, we will come out a better person in the end.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

2009 ended in a way the best that I knew how, with good friends that I hadn't seen in a while.  I was debating where to go and who to hang out with.  I texted a few of my good friends and asked them what they were planning on doing.  A few of them got back and mentioned a few parties that I already knew about, but wasn't sure if that was really what I wanted to do.  Right before I left for a party in Salt Lake with my friend Danny, one of my friends texted me back.  Emily was hanging out with a few of my good friends from a long time ago.  I mentioned to Danny about it and we stopped in on the way.  Great idea!!! I was glad because I was able to hang out with some of my best friends from my early college years!

We ended up talking till 3 or so in the morning.  I love doing that because you can get the best conversations and get to know people the best that way.  One of my college professors mentioned once about this very thing.  He said

You probably wont take very much out of this class when all is said and done.  You probably wont take much out of your college education in a matter of speaking.  The best experiences and memories you will most likely take from your college experience is from talking to your friends at two in the morning, about absolutely nothing.

I agree with this completely.  Some of my best times have fallen into this category.  Ringing in 2010 added to those memories and started of a great year!

So 2009 came to a close.  There are a lot of memories and experiences that I had over the past year.  Some were great, and some were not.  Some experiences helped me to see myself in new way.  My friend made a comment on his Facebook wall last night that I liked, but don't completely agree with.  He said:

May 2010 be less sucky than 2009 :) Happy New Year everyone!!!

I agree with is because it proposes thought of 2010 being a better year than the past.  It could also focus on 2009 being a bad year, by looking at 2009 being "less sucky".  I probably could say that just as much as anyone, but I don't agree.  Yes, times can be hard, and yes, they do have their down times.  I learned long ago from my mission president something important that I will never forget.  At the time, I just found out that my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer.  I found out on Christmas Day of 2001.  A few months prior to that my grandpa on my dad's side passed away from a disease that took him fairly quickly.  I was really close to him as well.  Missionary work wasn't going that great at the time and I had a companion that was tough to relate to.  My mission president said something to this manner (and I'm paraphrasing it because I've altered it to fit my situation several times):

You may not always be able to control the situations around you.  (People have their agency to chose).  All you can do is the best with what you are given.  If you do, things will work out the way they need to.  You're family will be blessed because they won't have to worry about you.  You will be blessed you will be doing what you should.

With that, I realized that things can happen in this life that you may not be prepared for.  You may not be able to do everything that you wanted, and you may struggle from time to time.  The one thing I do know is that I am determined to live through the experiences for my own good.  To become a better person.  A better me!

I have a perfect scripture to relate to this.  It's in Doctrine and Covenants Section 122: 5-7.  I'm just going to quote the last part:

... above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.

With the coming of 2010, I plan on making this year the best of my life.  I know if I do my best if every way, I will be the person that I should be.

I've always been a fan of Disney movies. From what I remember, I grew up watching every one of them.  I have my favorites, but I really liked one of the recent ones that came out: Up. Anyway, my friend found the coolest picture the other day and put it on his Facebook wall. I would like to share it.

Great picture of Russell, the Wilderness Explorer.  Some things are just too great and too funny.  I hope you enjoy it. I've also included a link to a clip of Up.

I've always loved poems and quotes, especially ones that have deeper meanings.  Here's one that meant a lot to me because of how one act of kindness can change someones life forever.

I don't know who wrote it, but it's called "A Glass of Milk."
 
One day, a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he only had one thin dime left, and he was hungry. He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However,
he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door. Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water.

She thought he looked hungry so she brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it slowly, and then asked, "How much do I owe you?"

"You don't owe me anything," she replied. "Mother taught us never to accept pay for a kindness."

He said..... "Then I thank you from my heart." As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in God and man was strong also. He had been ready to give up and quit.

Year's later that young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease. Dr. Howard Kelly was called
in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes. Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her room.

Dressed in his doctor's down he went in to see her. He recognized her at once. He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life. From that day he gave special attention to the
case.

After a long struggle, the battle was won. Dr. Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval.

He looked at it, then wrote something on the edge and the bill was sent to her room. She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally she looked, and something caught her attention on the side of the bill

She read these words.....
"Paid in full with one glass of milk"
(Signed)
Dr. Howard Kelly

Tears of joy flooded her eyes as her happy heart prayed:
"Thank you, God, that Your love has spread through human hearts and
hands."