Love is the Most Powerful Force in the World

"The eternal truth that our Heavenly Father loves all his children is an immensely powerful idea. It is especially powerful when children can visualize it through the love and sacrifice of their earthly parents. Love is the most powerful force in the world."
--Dallin H. Oaks, "Powerful Ideas," Ensign, Nov. 1995, 25

At the end of each day, as I am leaving work, I sigh a little; it's been a long day, it's dark, cold, and I am hungry. All I want is to go to bed, but by doing so I eventually must get up and start the whole thing over again. What a world to live in. The world is filled with troubles--the forces of darkness surround us continually, threatening our very existence, and yet we are to live here. What a life to live.

However, as I left work today, the sun was just beginning to set, and there was a warmth about the fresh evening air. As the sun touched the horizon, it illuminated the valley with a bright pink hue, the color that I imagine love must look like. Now, that's the key to it all: LOVE. That is what life is all about: LOVE. There are combating forces all around us, pulling us in different directions every second, but the most powerful of all is LOVE. No matter what may be, LOVE is the ultimate gift, and it is here to guide us through the darkness. LOVE is my hope, it is my joy, it gives me strength and the ability to go on. Even when I am broken--because there will always be times when I am bound to break, LOVE is there to heal my heart. LOVE is life. What a life to live.

Broken

How many times can something break before it is beyond repair?

When does the heart at last stop beating once the soul is crushed?

Where is the light veiled somewhere within the dreary darkness?

What is peace amid the madness and confusion?

Who truly grasps the sorrowed tear bursting upon the ground?

Why is understanding such a difficult gem to find?

Friendship from Another World

Call me a nerd, but I don't care. I just finished the book Brisingr, and of course like it's predecessors Eragon and Eldest, I loved it! In particular I love the bond between dragon and rider—if only such a bond existed in our world! I seriously want my own dragon, if only to have a friendship as powerful as what is described in this book. Never have I heard of something so strong. Here is an excerpt:

Their greatest comfort was a simple one: they were no longer alone. To know that you were with one who cared for you, and who understood every fiber of your being, and who would not abandon you in even the most desperate of circumstances, that was the most precious relationship a person could have, and both Eragon and Saphira cherished it.

Isn’t that just beautiful?! What would that be like? Sigh... if only.

The Ministry of Angels

I planned on going to all three hours of church today--my roommate was teaching Relief Society, and the lesson was on Elder Holland's talk THE MINISTRY OF ANGELS, and I really wanted to be there for her and for her always wonderful lessons. However, Satan seems to work extra hard on Sundays, and today just wasn't my day. I tossed and turned all night long, and unfortunately by the time I did get to sleep, it was such that I slept right through my alarm. I woke up just as Relief Society was starting. Blast. I groaned as I limped to the bathroom, feeling once again as if I had been hit by a truck, or maybe even a nice big train today. I could already tell that it was going to be a long and trying day. As if in slow motion, I got ready for church, hoping to make it to sacrament meeting (that is our last meeting). Despite the cold and achy joints I was doing pretty well--ready with time to spare.

As soon as I opened my door I knew I was in trouble--it was snowing. I soon found that it was more of an extremely wet slush than snow, and I tried (somewhat unsuccessfully) to keep my balance as I slipped and slid out to my car. My feet were soaked and I was freezing, but worst of all time was running out. In the back of my mind a little thought crept in, "You know, you don't have to go." I knew it was Satan talking, and I needed to prove him wrong. I fell into the car and started it up, trying to keep my head held high even though my vision was swimming. I flipped on the wipers, but to my dismay the snow was too wet and heavy--it wouldn't budge. GREAT. I grabbed the scraper and tromped out, getting even wetter if that was possible--I could feel my old frostbitten toes creeping up on me. The snow still refused to move, even with the help of the scraper; it was just too wet and mushy. By this point I knew I was late for church, and I was about ready to give up. I threw down the scraper, and on the verge of tears, I yelled to the sky: "You seriously just don't want me to go!" I know it wasn't a huge deal, but Satan knew just which buttons to push with me today, and he was wearing down what little strength I had. It seems that Satan works the hardest on Sundays--he makes it so dang difficult to get to church! I was trying my best, but it just wasn't working out.

Just then, I heard a car horn honk behind me. I whirled around, unaware that anyone else was in the parking lot, and lo and behold there was a fellow member of the ward on his way to church--my good friend Danny Gray. He offered me a ride, and I didn't think twice, I just jumped in and said thank you as much as I could. I couldn't believe it--here I had been so downtrodden, and God had sent me an angel to rescue me, even from something as small and silly as my current predicament.

So while I missed the dear lesson on the Ministry of Angels, I witnessed such a ministry firsthand as I myself was saved by an angel in disguise, sent by a loving Heavenly Father to comfort His troubled daughter.

When I Reach the Age of a Handicap Sticker

As we were driving down the road the other day, we stopped behind this beautiful convertible silver audi--a perfect little car, I wanted it. Then, as we looked closer, my sister pointed out the small handicap sticker in the corner of the license plate. Sure enough, there was a little old silver-haired man driving the little new silver audi. How ironic we thought! Total oxymoron, right? Then it occurred to me, why not? When I am old, I don't want to be driving an old boat of a car, going 20 miles an hour down the freeway. Just because my body is old, doesn't mean my mind is. Thus, I was proud of this little old man, and his little silver audi. That's the kind of little old grandma I think I will be.

The Mom That Rocks

The past few days have been hard on me. My body hates the rain--I am achy all over and I feel like I've been hit by a semi-truck. This week my doctor switched my medications, so I've been trying to get used to those as well--unsuccessfully. I'm pretty sure that the new ones are making things worse. Such are the ways of life. I was especially down today, and I called my lifelines (the parentals) to see if they could help. My mom helped before she even answered the phone. As I dialed the number and pressed send, a woman's voice said, "Please enjoy the music while your party is reached." Okay, a ringback tone, not unusual, but it gets better. I hear KISS singing I WANNA ROCK AND ROLL ALL NIIIIIIIGHT, AND PARTY EVERYDAY!!! I cannot help but break out in a huge grin. Only my mom would have KISS for a ringback tone. Try calling her sometime, I know it will make you smile. My mom rocks, literally. :)

Newly Sharpened Pencils

You never know how much you love something until it's gone... I love school. I love learning. I don't believe that anyone ever takes advantage of it the way that they should. I just turned in my deferment forms, and I am officially out of school until fall. I am free, and yet it feels like an empty void. I would love a break if I chose it, but when you are forced into it it just isn't the same--especially when much of the time will be devoted to recovering from a brain surgery. I could really use a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils--school supplies never looked so good. Take advantage of learning. It's sooo important.

Chiari Malformation

So, I finally got a hold of my MRI films... check these out! Kind of cool if you ask me. Look at the cerebellum; it's slipping into the spinal collum.