The small and simple things...

This past weekend I was listening to a talk from our most recent general conference. There was a story told that got me thinking about my life and how I so often forget to focus on the little things in my gospel life. As I was pondering this idea, I realized that perhaps I'm not actively seeking for the righteous things in my life with the zest that I could be. Not that I'm doing wrong, but that perhaps I'm not doing as much GOOD as I could be.

So, today I decided that I would like to re-commit to making scriptures a priority EVERY DAY. To re-commit to making daily prayer something that I really put my heart and soul into. And to attempt to find a real purpose in everything I do. (Sidebar) I think I spend too much time in my life doing things, but not really thinking about the purpose behind them - this includes both spiritual and worldly activities... What is my purpose in reading the scriptures. What is the purpose in teaching my kids how to add and subtract decimals... What would my life be like if I asked myself the purpose of all my activities? Maybe it won't make a difference... but I'm going to try it out!

And, though I'm horrible at it, a few things I'm grateful for right now are:

1. My awesome family, who love me even when I continually choose the "Y"... (inside family joke going on here...)

2. Wonderful roommates who really and truly set an example for me - it's amazing!

3. Being able to enjoy my job because I have a very uniquely FUN group, and am not spending all my time stressing about completing my homework! YEA!

4. The gospel - particularly the atonement - it' allows me to CHANGE who I am, in order to become who I WANT to be, and not who I "naturally" am. It's the power to BECOME and without it, I'd be a pretty lame person.

5. Revelation - what an amazing gift

6. Having a steady income.

7. My "healthy" body. (yeah, I could cut back on the sweets...)

8. Being an aunt. It's pretty much the coolest thing in the world.

9. Repentance.

10. Vacations - yes. I need one, and will have a short one this weekend!

Here's to a "fresh start" and choosing to focus on the little things - to see and seek for a purpose in ALL that I do, and remember that it's the little things that make life so much better!

Still grateful, and becoming something...?

So I realize I am not too great at any type of journaling, and blogging is kinda like an "online" journal, or report on what's up with life, so naturally I'm not great at being on top of it - but for my grandma, who reminded me that it's been a while since I last blogged, I'm going to share some things that I've been grateful for over the past 2 months.

Gratitude...

1. I'm grateful for the ability to finish my ELS endorsement within 6 months. It's all over now! YIPEEEEEEEEEEE!

2. My roommate Haley got married - happy she found "the one", sad that I lost a great roommate! - and SUPER grateful that my good friend Kerri decided to take her place. We are going to have some GOOD TIMES!!!

3. I'm lucky (and have realized how lucky I am) to be surrounded with awesome family members. Not just my immediate family (though they are truly the best!) but my extended family are great examples, and wonderful people. I'm pretty darn lucky to have them, and to know that they care about me and are there to support me in all that I do.

4. To have the priesthood available to me when I need it.

5. To be able to work 4 hours a day with kids who are cute, and like school... makes it so much easier!

6. To be blessed with the Holy Ghost to guide me, to be with me as I repent and try to become better, to help reveal truth to me, and to comfort when necessary.

7. I was able to run and yes, even finish Ragnar, for the second year in a row...(Hoping there isn't a 3rd year, but I've decided to never say never...)

8. Grateful for employment these days. It's not an easy time to be looking for work, and I'm grateful to have been blessed with employment so I can attempt to help others who are not so fortunate...

9. I have recently been grateful for the words of general conference. It's such a huge blessing to be able to listen to the council given through the prophet and apostles in these latter days. What comfort those words are. What great guidance they are in my life!

10. The reminder that change is necessary if I am to become who I want to become... Through the atonement it's possible, but it's my choice to start making the changes.

As a side note to the list above, I wanted to share a thought I've had recently. I have listened to some talks from our recent general conference addresses, and was reminded of the great blessing it is to be able "TO BE" something. I have recently decided that sometimes I "do" things, because I'm supposed to, but doing them doesn't mean that I'm "BECOMING" the person I want to be. For example: I try to read my scriptures each day, but if I don't let the word of God sink it, then reading is great, but it's not really helping me max out my potential as a child of God. In a talk give by the member of the 70 - he mentioned the idea that we create "to do" lists, but we often don't create "to be" lists, because they are a result of a process over a very long period of time... it's my goal in the upcoming weeks, to really ponder on, pray about, and come up with my own, "To BE" list... I may not share it publicly, because I most likely will be a personal thing, but wanted to share my thoughts about doing it. What if we all started working on "BEING" something... "To be, or not to be?" Isn't that what life is really all about? What do you think?

Gratitude...

Well, I've been HORRIBLE about writing down the things I'm grateful for, and even WORSE about taking any pictures of those things... but I have to post about the most recent huge blessing in my life...

This last week was fast Sunday for most people (who are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Saints), however because of the great changes in the world of singledom my ward had "stake conference". HOWEVER, my family was fasting for my two sisters, who have some major changes to take place in their lives... So, as a family, we all fasted. I don't know why, but as we fasted this time, I had great faith that all would work out the way the Lord would want, and that those things that would bless my family would follow in due time...

On Monday, I got an email from my older sister Jamie, which informed me (and the rest of the family), that they had a showing for their house scheduled for this week... though I don't know that this was the family to purchase their house, so they can move this summer, I belive it was the Lord saying I am listening, and I will take care of your family. Along with this, my other sister Paige, has set up 3 interviews for jobs down in Alpine School District, so that (when that time comes) she'll be able to work close to home, and be a Mommy. Up to this point, Paige had called and emailed principals, but had not even had a return phone call on any of her applications. Jamie and Steve also have had few showings with their home, and have been worried that nobody has really even looked at it.

I don't know WHY, or what is to come, but lately I have felt so very blessed in my life. I don't know if my attitude has changed, or if the Lord is blessing me for reasons that I don't understand, but life has been full of unexpected blessings. Weekly I'm blessed with time to complete homework, help at school, unexpected financial blessings, professors willing to add me to classes, health, and more. It's been amazing...

Now that doesn't mean that there are not "hard" things, (I've never been more stressed out!) but along with the struggles, and stress, have come great blessings, where I know that the Lord is aware of me, and is blessing me to be able to cope, and have good things in life.

I'm SO grateful...

One can dream, can't they? :)

So, this is lame, but I've been nominated for an award at school. If I win, I get a 2 year lease on a car - which would be great, since my car is getting close to 200, 000 miles on it right now. If you feel inclined to vote, click on the link below...

Vote for me here:http://www.burtbrothers.com/nominee/ and look for "Patricia Ellison"

Gratitude in a nutshell...

(Kerri, Brett & Me... we are cool)

So, this week was very busy! I had parent teacher conferences, had my last day with my student teacher, and therefore had little sleep, and little room in my brain to remember to write down the things I was grateful for... SO, I'm posting a "master" list that covers the week of gratitude and what little service I found time to do.

Grateful for...

1. I'm grateful for people who really are doing everything they can to fulfill their responsibilities. With parent teacher conferences, I tend to have parents who keep saying that they will do this, or that to help their child, but fail to follow through. Though I realize that people aren't perfect, I appreciate people who actually DO follow through - even when it's not completely consistent. It sure makes my life so much easier!

2. Fresh starts. New trimester, new beginning, with a blank and perfect slate. It's nice to have that once in a while.

3. Help. 'nuff said.

4. People with a happy and positive attitude. I've lacked that recently. I'm grateful when people tend to look on the bright side of life, so that I can be reminded to do the same.

5. People who LISTEN. Not just tell me what to do to make it better, but who really listen to what I'm saying - cause sometimes it's important to hear what I'm NOT saying as much as it is to listen to the words coming out of my mouth.

6. Reminders that I can do better... cause I can.

7. Good Friends. Particularly friends who take me snowshoeing with them, and bring me treats, and help me when I fall on my face and who are patient when i'm 20 min late and have forgotten my snowshoes. :) Those friends are pretty great.

8. Finding money I forgot I had.

9. Opportunities to serve.

10. To live in place that is safe, and blessed to be fairly free of problems that tend to plague the rest of the world.

11. Warm and sunny weather.

12. People who are NICE. People who are NOT nice, make me grumpy and that makes me feel bad, which basically ruins my whole day/weekend!

13. Being prepared... or at least trying to be.

14. Taking the time to go OUT and do something fun. I need time away from "life".

15. The Atonement.

Service...

1. Helped create a "get well" package for a friend in need.

2. Cleaned most of the house!

3. Created an opportunity for friends to get out of the house and try something new for this coming weekend.

4. Tried to comfort a friend who has been having a hard time.

5. Wrote a thank you note.

6. Took flowers to my sister at work - so she could give flowers to someone else.

7. Went to the temple.

Sometimes life knocks ya down and you just have to laugh about it and get back up... :)

Sunday's...

March 6, 2011

I'm Grateful For...

1. Fast Sunday's because I don't have to be to church early! SO, I can sleep in as long as I want, and only have to go to 3 hours of church!

2. "open mic Sunday's" where anyone can get up and bare their testimony. In our ward we had some very good thoughts shared, and even had a quote from High School Musical. :)

3. Sunday Dinner with the Fam'. The food is always great, and the conversations are never dull.

4. CES Firesides. Yes, I'm almost too old to be involved in the intended audience, but the message is always a good reminder of what is important in this life.

5. Seeing people at church who haven't been there in a long time. It's so awesome to see my fellow brothers and sisters in the gospel, and know we are all working on being the best we can be...

Service:

1. Brought rolls for dinner.

I'm way to old for this...

(Us pretending we are young and can stay up until way late, watching television... we got kinda tired!)

Saturday March 5, 2011

1. Today I woke up feeling VERY sick. I took some medication, but in the past few times I've felt like this, no matter what med's I took (and I took more pain pills that it says to take on the bottle...) the pain wouldn't go away. I had lots to do today, so I thought about saying a little prayer. I've been listening to President Monson's biography, and on Friday night had heard a story about Pres. Monson telling someone to pray for a clear sky, and in faith, the brother did so - and it WAS so. So, I decided to pray in faith that I'd feel better, and with Faith I felt better within the hour. I love when my Faith is strong enough, and the will of the Lord matches my will...

2. So, after my soccer game, I went to Costco. I took Preston with me (cause he likes the free samples) and when we went back to my car, I had a flat tire. It was basically the straw that was about to break this camel's back! Preston, being the great friend that he is, made a quick call to a family friend who works for Goodyear on Redwood and 45th south. He told us to bring it over, and they'd take care of it. When we got there, I was just hoping for a discount on getting it fixed - but after taking care of the flat, they said, you're free to go. They fixed it for FREE! What a blessing!

3. The atonement. My roommate Olivia and I have talked in depth about what the atonement means in our lives, and in the lives of others. I think sometimes people think that taking our sins, and shortcomings to the Lord, means that He'll disown us, and make us "pay for our mistakes" in a way that is horrible. I, from personal experience, know that when we come to the Lord, and are truly ready to turn ourselves, and our mistakes over to him, He will love us, and HELP us through the rough process of repentance. Am I saying that sin is pain free. NO! But am I saying that it's WORTH repenting? YES! And is the Love of the Lord more powerful than the pain we'll go through - YES! What an amazing gift we've been given... I wish the world could understand THAT!

4. Other people's happiness... I love to see other people HAPPY.

5. Every Saturday, I TRY to get all of the "essentials" done, that I don't seem to have time for during the week. Like vacuuming, grocery shopping, laundry, etc. Today, I got most of it done. YEA!

6. Tonight a few of us got together to go to dinner, and watch some television. We ended up staying up WAY to late (like I did when I was young and in college), but we had a good time. I'm grateful for good friends who are willing to pretend that we can still act like we're 19. :)

Service:

1. I helped make our home a place of cleanliness!

2. I helped Olivia bring in her groceries, and put them away.

3. Invited a friend to participate in the evening's festivities.