It's Friday night.
My besties are all busy, therefore I have nothing to do.
Okay so in all fairness they did invite me to do stuff with them. So the fact that I'm alone with nothing to do is my fault.
I decided to go to TARGET.
I LOVE TARGET. I love buying stuff at Target. I love just looking at stuff at Target.
Sometimes when I don't really have anything to do, I go to Target and just walk around. I usually have something in mind to purchase but sometimes I don't.
I love to look at the house ware and home decor stuff. I pretend that I have my own apartment and tons of money so I can buy whatever I want. Then I wander around looking and deciding what I would buy for my apartment. Tonight I was stopped by the Shabby Chic bedding. I love Shabby Chic. I also love really big beds. Ones that you seem to sink in to with big comfy comforters and lots of pillows. Someday when I have a really big bed, I'm going to buy the white Shabby Chic sheets with the ruffles at the top. I'm also going to buy the white Shabby Chic comforter with the ruffles. And the matching pillows with the ruffles.
As I was wandering around Target tonight, I saw 3 or 4 couples with the registering guns. They made me laugh. They looked so young and clueless. I walked past one couple looking at cookware. BOY: "Should we get one of these?" (points to something) GIRL: (shakes her head) "No." BOY: "You sure? You don't think we'd need one?" GIRL: (shakes head again) "No." hahaha. They just made me laugh and grateful that I wasn't in their position. I'm too opinionated...and I'm the Princess. My poor future husband...
Whoever invented Super Targets I must thank you from the bottom of my heart. You are brilliant.
Tonight's Target adventure ended with me venturing to the grocery section. I caved and bought two guilty pleasures: Oh's cereal and chocolate soy milk.
I am now sitting in my PJ's, eating Oh's cereal without milk and drinking my chocolate soy milk in my sippy cup. I'm debating whether to go to a party with one of my besties or crawl into bed with my cereal and sippy cup and watch a few episodes of my favorite TV show, The Nanny.
If I had a really big bed with the Shabby Chic bedding...there wouldn't be any debate.
I'd be in bed.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
October Bestie Day
My friends and I call eachother BESTIES (it's an inside joke). One of my Besties decided that we should have a BESTIE DAY - a day that we spent together doing fun things. So Bestie Chad planned our BESTIE DAY filled with Halloween activities: a spooky lunch, pumpkin patch, carving pumpkins, and watch a scary movie.
Spooky Lunch: included mummies and swamp creatures
Pumpkin patch: well, it was POURING down rain...and we weren't prepared for rain (SO embarrassing since 3 of the BESTIES are from the Seattle area) but we got some yummy treats and took LOTS of pictures!
Pumpkin Carving: k so we had to get our pumpkins from the grocery store...and I don't have any pictures of us carving pumpkins (shame on me) BUT thanks to Bestie Keri, we have a few pumpkin carving pics:
Scary Movie: we watched The Others
BESTIE DAY was AWESOME! We decided that we're going to have BESTIE DAY once a month!
Don't test these BESTIES!
Spooky Lunch: included mummies and swamp creatures
Pumpkin patch: well, it was POURING down rain...and we weren't prepared for rain (SO embarrassing since 3 of the BESTIES are from the Seattle area) but we got some yummy treats and took LOTS of pictures!
Pumpkin Carving: k so we had to get our pumpkins from the grocery store...and I don't have any pictures of us carving pumpkins (shame on me) BUT thanks to Bestie Keri, we have a few pumpkin carving pics:
Scary Movie: we watched The Others
BESTIE DAY was AWESOME! We decided that we're going to have BESTIE DAY once a month!
Don't test these BESTIES!
Monday, October 25, 2010
Celebrating 1986
My roommate, Stephanie, had a birthday party this weekend. She was born in 1986 - the same year that the movie Top Gun was made. So to celebrate we had an 80's party and watched Top Gun!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY STEPHANIE!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY STEPHANIE!
Thursday, October 21, 2010
"Bluebird"
I love this song by Sara Bareilles. The video on youtube is stupid - but there isn't a music video for it yet.
I want you to listen to this song as you read this post...
Have you ever missed something? You're just going through your day and all of the sudden you miss something? You miss a past experience, people, places, etc?
That happened to me today.
I was driving home from work and listening to this song. And out of the blue, I missed playing the piano - more specifically - I missed singing and playing the piano.
I missed those times when I was home alone - no one else there (well, the dog was there). Anyway on those rare occasions that I was home alone, I would sit down at the piano and I would just play. Sometimes I would sing as I played. Since I was home alone, I could sing as loud as I wanted and however I wanted to.
Playing the piano is the one thing I can do without needing my brain. I don't have to think. Those are the times when my mind is just...there. I don't have to worry about my life. In those moments, everything is right in the world. It's just me - no thoughts, nothing - just me playing the piano.
I suppose I missed this today as I was listening to this song because this is a song that I would play if I had a piano and the sheet music. And if I was home alone, I would sing as I played it. And my mind wouldn't be constantly thinking or worried. Everything would be right in the world for a few moments.
"Ready to fly. You and I. Here we go..."
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
My Gramper...
It is my Gramper's birthday tomorrow.
He is the best grandpa in the whole world.
Gramper joined the Church when he was still in high school. He was the only member in his family. After high school my Gramper served a full-time mission. He married my Gramma after he came home and they raised an amazing family together!
Gramper started his own computer software company, ButtonWare, where I then joined the picture and was the company mascot ;) - just kidding. (But seriously I was in the company picture.)
Gramper's beard scared me. But then again, I was also afraid of Santa...
When I was little my grandparents lived on a island just outside of Seattle. Gramper would take us down to the water were we would throw rocks. He would always find little crabs under the rocks. I was too scared to hold them but Gramper was not scared so he would hold the little crabs while I looked at them. We always named them Sebastian.
I've been able to quote Monty Python and the Holy Grail since I could talk. That's because Gramper had sound clips from that movie on his laptop and would play them all the time.
He also had a fart machine. Gramma took it away.
Gramper has had 3 cars that I can remember: Wildfire, the blue jeep - Desert Storm, the green jeep - and the white car he has now. I don't know it's name.
My Gramper knows more about computers than anyone I know. He is the gadget man.
Gramper also loves to take pictures. So do I.
My Gramper loves me. He wrote me almost every day in the MTC. He would pick movie quotes from our three movies (Monty Paython, The Three Amigos, Rustler's Rapsidy) and then put them through an English to German translator and send me the quotes in German. He also emailed me frequently while I was in Germany.
Gramper loves German like I do. His grandparents are from Germany. They spoke German to him as a child. I served my mission where he wanted to serve. Gramper is also famous in Germany: Jim Knopf is a character in a children's book series.
Gramper is a great example. He and Gramma served a mission together in the Navuoo Temple. They've served in the Seattle Temple for as long as I can remember.
Gramper is a great friend. For Adam, Gramper was his sidekick when Adam thought he was a cowboy. For David, Gramper was his best friend and teacher when Dave was home schooled. For my dad, Gramper was his partner in ridding the world of evil playing computer games.
For me, my Gramper is the best grandpa I could have ever asked for. I feel so blessed and grateful that Heavenly Father has let him stay here, so that he can be apart of my life!
Alles gute zum Geburtstag Gramper!
Ich liebe dich!
He is the best grandpa in the whole world.
Gramper joined the Church when he was still in high school. He was the only member in his family. After high school my Gramper served a full-time mission. He married my Gramma after he came home and they raised an amazing family together!
Gramper started his own computer software company, ButtonWare, where I then joined the picture and was the company mascot ;) - just kidding. (But seriously I was in the company picture.)
Gramper's beard scared me. But then again, I was also afraid of Santa...
When I was little my grandparents lived on a island just outside of Seattle. Gramper would take us down to the water were we would throw rocks. He would always find little crabs under the rocks. I was too scared to hold them but Gramper was not scared so he would hold the little crabs while I looked at them. We always named them Sebastian.
I've been able to quote Monty Python and the Holy Grail since I could talk. That's because Gramper had sound clips from that movie on his laptop and would play them all the time.
He also had a fart machine. Gramma took it away.
Gramper has had 3 cars that I can remember: Wildfire, the blue jeep - Desert Storm, the green jeep - and the white car he has now. I don't know it's name.
My Gramper knows more about computers than anyone I know. He is the gadget man.
Gramper also loves to take pictures. So do I.
My Gramper loves me. He wrote me almost every day in the MTC. He would pick movie quotes from our three movies (Monty Paython, The Three Amigos, Rustler's Rapsidy) and then put them through an English to German translator and send me the quotes in German. He also emailed me frequently while I was in Germany.
Gramper loves German like I do. His grandparents are from Germany. They spoke German to him as a child. I served my mission where he wanted to serve. Gramper is also famous in Germany: Jim Knopf is a character in a children's book series.
Gramper is a great example. He and Gramma served a mission together in the Navuoo Temple. They've served in the Seattle Temple for as long as I can remember.
Gramper is a great friend. For Adam, Gramper was his sidekick when Adam thought he was a cowboy. For David, Gramper was his best friend and teacher when Dave was home schooled. For my dad, Gramper was his partner in ridding the world of evil playing computer games.
For me, my Gramper is the best grandpa I could have ever asked for. I feel so blessed and grateful that Heavenly Father has let him stay here, so that he can be apart of my life!
Alles gute zum Geburtstag Gramper!
Ich liebe dich!
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Transfers
Those of you who have served missions understand exactly what I mean when I say: transfers.
Being transferred to a new area on the mission involves a lot of emotions. For one: you may or may not love the area in which you are currently serving. If you love your area you may feel sad or upset about being transferred somewhere else. If you don't like the area where you are serving, transfer day can't come any sooner. Second: you may or may not like your companion. If you love your companion you're sad to get transferred and run the risk of serving with someone you don't like. Or if you don't like your companion then again, transfer day can't come any sooner.
Whether you love or hate your area, like or dislike your companion, transfers always bring a fresh start. A time to reevaluate. Set some new goals, develop better habits. A new beginning, where you take everything you've learned from your previous area and former companion and build upon those things.
I served in my second area of my mission for 4 transfers. That's 24 weeks of the same area. The same surroundings, same ward, same investigators. I loved this city. I loved the ward. I loved our investigators. I could have stayed another transfer or two without any complaint. But the day did come and I did have to leave. 
A new city, new ward, new companion, new missionaries, new investigators. It was the end of November and I was going to be here for Christmas. My one Christmas in Germany. I was sad to leave my area but I was excited and looking forward to some new adventures.
I had been in my second area for so long that I had forgotten what it was like to be in a city and not know where anything is or how to get anywhere. I hated it. I didn't like not knowing where I was. It was cold and got dark early. We lived in a sketchy part of town in a nasty, little apartment that smelled like smoke. The ward was strange and the Elders were completely unmotivated. And, we had no investigators. It was a depressing 6 weeks but we did what we could to keep happy. Feeding the ducks who lived at the pond behind the palace brought us great enjoyment.
And the palace there is BEAUTIFUL!
I also have to mention that I had probably the most amazing Christmas day EVER: a member of our ward took us hiking in the Black Forest. Yes, THE Black Forest.
To this day I still can't quite figure out why I was transferred there. The whole six weeks we had one person that we kind of taught. I felt like my time there was kind of a waste. I was happy when transfer calls came.
As you can probably tell I've been thinking a lot about this time in my mission. About that transfer in particular. Probably because I still don't understand it. Just as I don't understand what's going on in my life right now.
I've worked for American Eagle for almost 2 years now. And I've loved every moment of it. I love everything about working there: except for letting people into the fitting rooms. I can't explain it but it puts me in the worst mood and I can't stand it. Anyway, to make a long story short, just after the back to school season my hours got cut. Mostly because business died down, but for other reasons as well. I was so upset. I've given pretty much everything for my store (just ask my friends). I'm good at my job. I know everything about the store. I know everything about the clothes. I can tell just by looking at someone what size jeans they'd wear. My life revolved around AE - I seriously lived my life at American Eagle. And I loved it. I usually came away from work feeling better than I had when I got there.
So my hours were few and I needed a new job. Let me tell you, I cried over this. But a miracle came along and within a week I got a job working at Crazy 8 (children's clothing store) as a manager. More hours doing the same thing, just at a different store. I feel like I got transferred. Working with different people, different customers. And you know what, I feel like something in my life is missing. I feel so incomplete. I miss my store. I miss the people I worked with. It's like I transferred myself to a new area and miss the familiarity and comfort of my old area. I know that this new job will bring me new experiences and challenges that will (hopefully) help me grow and learn. I've learned one thing for sure: I miss living my life at AE.
So just like was I feeling when I left my second area, wondering what it is that Heavenly Father wants me to learn, I'm sitting here wondering what I need to learn this time. Hoping and praying that I can be happy again and that my experience here won't leave me feeling like I wasted time.
One thing for sure...I probably won't go hiking in the Black Forest again this Christmas...
Being transferred to a new area on the mission involves a lot of emotions. For one: you may or may not love the area in which you are currently serving. If you love your area you may feel sad or upset about being transferred somewhere else. If you don't like the area where you are serving, transfer day can't come any sooner. Second: you may or may not like your companion. If you love your companion you're sad to get transferred and run the risk of serving with someone you don't like. Or if you don't like your companion then again, transfer day can't come any sooner.
Whether you love or hate your area, like or dislike your companion, transfers always bring a fresh start. A time to reevaluate. Set some new goals, develop better habits. A new beginning, where you take everything you've learned from your previous area and former companion and build upon those things.
I served in my second area of my mission for 4 transfers. That's 24 weeks of the same area. The same surroundings, same ward, same investigators. I loved this city. I loved the ward. I loved our investigators. I could have stayed another transfer or two without any complaint. But the day did come and I did have to leave. 
A new city, new ward, new companion, new missionaries, new investigators. It was the end of November and I was going to be here for Christmas. My one Christmas in Germany. I was sad to leave my area but I was excited and looking forward to some new adventures.
I had been in my second area for so long that I had forgotten what it was like to be in a city and not know where anything is or how to get anywhere. I hated it. I didn't like not knowing where I was. It was cold and got dark early. We lived in a sketchy part of town in a nasty, little apartment that smelled like smoke. The ward was strange and the Elders were completely unmotivated. And, we had no investigators. It was a depressing 6 weeks but we did what we could to keep happy. Feeding the ducks who lived at the pond behind the palace brought us great enjoyment. 
And the palace there is BEAUTIFUL!
I also have to mention that I had probably the most amazing Christmas day EVER: a member of our ward took us hiking in the Black Forest. Yes, THE Black Forest.
To this day I still can't quite figure out why I was transferred there. The whole six weeks we had one person that we kind of taught. I felt like my time there was kind of a waste. I was happy when transfer calls came.
As you can probably tell I've been thinking a lot about this time in my mission. About that transfer in particular. Probably because I still don't understand it. Just as I don't understand what's going on in my life right now.
I've worked for American Eagle for almost 2 years now. And I've loved every moment of it. I love everything about working there: except for letting people into the fitting rooms. I can't explain it but it puts me in the worst mood and I can't stand it. Anyway, to make a long story short, just after the back to school season my hours got cut. Mostly because business died down, but for other reasons as well. I was so upset. I've given pretty much everything for my store (just ask my friends). I'm good at my job. I know everything about the store. I know everything about the clothes. I can tell just by looking at someone what size jeans they'd wear. My life revolved around AE - I seriously lived my life at American Eagle. And I loved it. I usually came away from work feeling better than I had when I got there.
So my hours were few and I needed a new job. Let me tell you, I cried over this. But a miracle came along and within a week I got a job working at Crazy 8 (children's clothing store) as a manager. More hours doing the same thing, just at a different store. I feel like I got transferred. Working with different people, different customers. And you know what, I feel like something in my life is missing. I feel so incomplete. I miss my store. I miss the people I worked with. It's like I transferred myself to a new area and miss the familiarity and comfort of my old area. I know that this new job will bring me new experiences and challenges that will (hopefully) help me grow and learn. I've learned one thing for sure: I miss living my life at AE.
So just like was I feeling when I left my second area, wondering what it is that Heavenly Father wants me to learn, I'm sitting here wondering what I need to learn this time. Hoping and praying that I can be happy again and that my experience here won't leave me feeling like I wasted time.
One thing for sure...I probably won't go hiking in the Black Forest again this Christmas...
Monday, October 11, 2010
Dear Utah...
Dear State of Utah,
Now we know that you and I are not the best of friends. Sure, your mountains are sometimes pretty and I thank you for the few days last week that you rained water and not pollution. But most of the time you are brown, rain dirt, and your people do not know how to drive. I would now like to add something to my list of things I do not like about you. Utah Starbucks. Today I decided to begin my Fall/Winter ritual of drinking Carmel Apple Spice from Starbucks. First of all, your Starbucks do not come equipped with a drive through. This needs to change. Also, I waited too long for my drink. There were 3 workers and only one of them making the drinks. And when I say "no whip cream please" I'd really appreciate it if they didn't put whip cream on my drink.
Thank you Utah for giving me one more reason to dislike you and for making me just that much more homesick.
I wish you were more like Washington.
Sincerely,
RACH
a Washingtonian for LIFE
Now we know that you and I are not the best of friends. Sure, your mountains are sometimes pretty and I thank you for the few days last week that you rained water and not pollution. But most of the time you are brown, rain dirt, and your people do not know how to drive. I would now like to add something to my list of things I do not like about you. Utah Starbucks. Today I decided to begin my Fall/Winter ritual of drinking Carmel Apple Spice from Starbucks. First of all, your Starbucks do not come equipped with a drive through. This needs to change. Also, I waited too long for my drink. There were 3 workers and only one of them making the drinks. And when I say "no whip cream please" I'd really appreciate it if they didn't put whip cream on my drink.
Thank you Utah for giving me one more reason to dislike you and for making me just that much more homesick.
I wish you were more like Washington.
Sincerely,
RACH
a Washingtonian for LIFE
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Fall is here!!
The leaves are changing colors. It's raining and cloudy. The wind is blowing and it's a little chilly outside - I believe Fall is finally here!
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Monday, October 4, 2010
Why am I still up at 2am?
I was reading in Alma chapter 22 this evening in German (hence the reason I type out the verses in German as well as in English). In this chapter Aaron is teaching King Lamoni's father, who is also a king. Aaron teaches him about the creation, the Fall of Adam, and the Plan of Salvation which is made possible through Christ's Atonement. After this, the king asks Aaron what he needs to do to obtain eternal life. In verse 15 the king says: "...I will give up all that I possess, yea, I will forsake my kingdom, that I may receive this great joy." (which in German reads)...ich will alles hergeben, was ich besitze, ja, ich will meinem Koenigreich entsagen, damit ich diese grosse Freude empfangen kann.
In the next verse Aaron explains to the king what it is that he should do: "...if thou wilt bow down before God, yea, if thou wilt repent of all thy sins, and will bow down before God, and call on his name in faith, believing that ye shall receive, then shalt thou receive the hope which thou desirest." (which in German reads)...wenn du dich vor Gott niederbeugst, ja, wenn du von all deinen Suenden umkehrst und dich vor Gott niederbeugst und glaeubig seinen Namen anrufst, im Vertrauen darauf, dass du empfangen wirst, dann wirst du die Hoffnung empfangen, die du wuenschst.
I got kind of confused. In verse 15 the king says that he desires Freude (joy) but then in the next verse, Aaron teaches him what to do so that the king can receive the Hoffnung (hope) that he desires. But I thought the king desired joy? Then I asked myself: how do Freude (joy) and Hoffnung (hope) relate? Are they connected in any way? Of course then I had to do some research:
After making sure that I had translated the words Freude and Hoffnung correctly, I looked up the English words on dictionary.com. This is what I found:
Freude = joy = the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying
Hoffnung = hope = to believe, desire, or trust
As I read the definition for joy I thought about what it is that is exceptionally good or satisfying. I think that having hope, in the gospel sense, is exceptionally good and satisfying. But what does is mean to have hope according to the gospel? I could go on a whole other tangent about what hope means but I'll explain it with a quote and a scripture:
"The gospel is the good news of Christ. It is the revelation that the Son of God came to earth, lived a perfect life, atoned for our sins, and conquered death. It is the path of salvation, the way of hope and joy, and the assurance that God has a plan of redemption and happiness for His children." - Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "The Way of the Disciple", Ensign May 2009
Ether 12:4 - "Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God."
Continuing on the topic of hope, I found another quote which teaches more about how hope and joy are connected. The author had been talking about the pioneer Saints and then said, "These early Saints were indeed homeless, but they were not hopeless...They had learned a profound and important lesson. They had learned that hope, with its attendant blessings of peace and joy, does not depend upon circumstance. They had discovered that the true source of hope is faith - faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and in His infinite Atonement, the one sure foundation upon which to build our lives." Wilford W. Anderson, "The Rock of Our Redeemer", Liahona May 2010
So here we learn that the 'true source of hope is faith'. In 2 Nephi 2:25 we read, "...men are, that they might have joy." How do we have this joy? From the quote we learned that one of the blessings that comes from having hope is joy. In "True to the Faith" we also learn that, "With hope, you can find joy in life."
So by having faith in Christ, we obtain a hope, which gives us peace and joy.
After all this research, I thought about what had triggered this whole thing. I was confused as to why Aaron told the king that he would obtain the hope which he desired when really the king had said that he desired joy. Aaron was promising the king more than just joy. He promised him that if he would: bow down before God, repent of all his sins, call upon God's name in faith, and if he would believe that he would receive these things, then the king would receive hope. Which we know that one of the many blessings of hope is joy.
I've been thinking about why this caught my attention (and why after midnight which has lead me to now...almost 2am). I've probably read this chapter in Alma almost a hundred times. Lately I've realized that I'm not as happy as I would wish to be. It's not that I'm unhappy, because I'm not not happy. I've been happier. I've also been less happy. Anyway, as I was doing my research about hope and joy, I read this:
"Love is the fire that warms our lives with unparalleled joy and divine hope." Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "The Love of God", Liahona Nov 2009
I then thought, when was the last time I felt the love of God? I need to do more than I have been. I need to stop just going through the motions of praying every morning and night, reading my scriptures every day, and going to the temple every week. Those aren't bad things. But just going through the motions of doing them because I'm suppose to probably isn't the best. In General Conference this weekend I learned from Elder Scott that you get what you pay for. If I want to feel this 'unparalleled joy' that comes from love (which for me right now means the love of God) then I have to put forth the effort to feel it.
"Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God." Psalm 146:5
In the next verse Aaron explains to the king what it is that he should do: "...if thou wilt bow down before God, yea, if thou wilt repent of all thy sins, and will bow down before God, and call on his name in faith, believing that ye shall receive, then shalt thou receive the hope which thou desirest." (which in German reads)...wenn du dich vor Gott niederbeugst, ja, wenn du von all deinen Suenden umkehrst und dich vor Gott niederbeugst und glaeubig seinen Namen anrufst, im Vertrauen darauf, dass du empfangen wirst, dann wirst du die Hoffnung empfangen, die du wuenschst.
I got kind of confused. In verse 15 the king says that he desires Freude (joy) but then in the next verse, Aaron teaches him what to do so that the king can receive the Hoffnung (hope) that he desires. But I thought the king desired joy? Then I asked myself: how do Freude (joy) and Hoffnung (hope) relate? Are they connected in any way? Of course then I had to do some research:
After making sure that I had translated the words Freude and Hoffnung correctly, I looked up the English words on dictionary.com. This is what I found:
Freude = joy = the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying
Hoffnung = hope = to believe, desire, or trust
As I read the definition for joy I thought about what it is that is exceptionally good or satisfying. I think that having hope, in the gospel sense, is exceptionally good and satisfying. But what does is mean to have hope according to the gospel? I could go on a whole other tangent about what hope means but I'll explain it with a quote and a scripture:
"The gospel is the good news of Christ. It is the revelation that the Son of God came to earth, lived a perfect life, atoned for our sins, and conquered death. It is the path of salvation, the way of hope and joy, and the assurance that God has a plan of redemption and happiness for His children." - Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "The Way of the Disciple", Ensign May 2009
Ether 12:4 - "Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God."
Continuing on the topic of hope, I found another quote which teaches more about how hope and joy are connected. The author had been talking about the pioneer Saints and then said, "These early Saints were indeed homeless, but they were not hopeless...They had learned a profound and important lesson. They had learned that hope, with its attendant blessings of peace and joy, does not depend upon circumstance. They had discovered that the true source of hope is faith - faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and in His infinite Atonement, the one sure foundation upon which to build our lives." Wilford W. Anderson, "The Rock of Our Redeemer", Liahona May 2010
So here we learn that the 'true source of hope is faith'. In 2 Nephi 2:25 we read, "...men are, that they might have joy." How do we have this joy? From the quote we learned that one of the blessings that comes from having hope is joy. In "True to the Faith" we also learn that, "With hope, you can find joy in life."
So by having faith in Christ, we obtain a hope, which gives us peace and joy.
After all this research, I thought about what had triggered this whole thing. I was confused as to why Aaron told the king that he would obtain the hope which he desired when really the king had said that he desired joy. Aaron was promising the king more than just joy. He promised him that if he would: bow down before God, repent of all his sins, call upon God's name in faith, and if he would believe that he would receive these things, then the king would receive hope. Which we know that one of the many blessings of hope is joy.
I've been thinking about why this caught my attention (and why after midnight which has lead me to now...almost 2am). I've probably read this chapter in Alma almost a hundred times. Lately I've realized that I'm not as happy as I would wish to be. It's not that I'm unhappy, because I'm not not happy. I've been happier. I've also been less happy. Anyway, as I was doing my research about hope and joy, I read this:
"Love is the fire that warms our lives with unparalleled joy and divine hope." Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "The Love of God", Liahona Nov 2009
I then thought, when was the last time I felt the love of God? I need to do more than I have been. I need to stop just going through the motions of praying every morning and night, reading my scriptures every day, and going to the temple every week. Those aren't bad things. But just going through the motions of doing them because I'm suppose to probably isn't the best. In General Conference this weekend I learned from Elder Scott that you get what you pay for. If I want to feel this 'unparalleled joy' that comes from love (which for me right now means the love of God) then I have to put forth the effort to feel it.
"Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God." Psalm 146:5
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