How Switzerland Happened

image here

I hadn't planned on going on a hike on that particular day.
It was just an inkling I had while driving home that morning.
A little thought that popped into my head.
I almost didn't listen to it.

Not because I didn't want to.
It was a perfect day for a hike, a beautiful sunny spring day.
But I hadn't planned for it and I didn't have a water bottle.
And I was parched just thinking about how hot and dry it can be hiking in Utah.
So instead I turned to go home.
"I'll just grab one," I thought, "and then be on my way."
But the inkling was a persistent one.

The hills and mountains seemed to be calling me, beckoning me to them.
And so I u-turned right in front of the Aggie Ice Creamery.
Smiling and delighted at the thought of an impromptu hike, I drove happily along to a little trail I love.
How clever I was, I mused, to have come up with this idea so suddenly.
And hike I did. And it was indeed hot. And I was indeed thirsty.
And after about 10 minutes on this windy, root stridden, tree covered trail I happened upon a friend from school.
A friend hiking with her dad.

They had just happened to think a very similar thought a little earlier in the morning.
And then had just happened to hike this particular trail.
And had just happened to be discussing language teaching right before we stumbled upon each other.
And then she just happened to mention in passing my recent graduation from this very program.
And he just happened to inquire about my future plans in the field.
To which I just happened to respond by expressing my hopes of someday teaching abroad.
To which he just happened to mention an opening for a teaching position in the department where he worked at a prestigious boarding school in Switzerland.
And then the principle just happened to be coming through Logan Utah the following week.
And we just happened to be able to sneak a quick interview in during his family vacation.
And thus was born our Switzerland adventure.

Tender mercy indeed!

Prophetic Counsel

This last weekend was our church-wide general conference.

Ryans grandpa got us tickets so we watched the Sunday afternoon session live. 
I didn't take any notes, just sort of basked in everything, trying to internalize it all as much as possible. 
Some of my favorite little tidbits from it are:

Family time is sacred time and should be protected and respected. - President Boyd K. Packer

Some have come to think of activity in the Church as the ultimate goal. Therein lies a danger. It is possible to be active in the Church and less active in the gospel. - Elder Donald L. Hallstrom

Envy is a mistake that just keeps on giving. Obviously we suffer a little when some misfortune befalls us, but envy requires us to suffer all good fortune that befalls everyone we know! What a bright prospect that is—downing another quart of pickle juice every time anyone around you has a happy moment!  - Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

Coveting, pouting, or tearing others down does not elevate your standing, nor does demeaning someone else improve your self-image. So be kind, and be grateful that God is kind. It is a happy way to live. - Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

So don’t hyperventilate about something that happened at 9:00 in the morning when the grace of God is trying to reward you at 6:00 in the evening - Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

Surely the thing God enjoys most about being God is the thrill of being merciful, especially to those who don’t expect it and often feel they don’t deserve it. - Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

However late you think you are, however many chances you think you have missed, however many mistakes you feel you have made or talents you think you don’t have, or however far from home and family and God you feel you have traveled, I testify that you have not traveled beyond the reach of divine love. - Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

Exercise, reasonable amounts of sleep, and good eating habits increase our capacity to receive and understand revelation. We will live for our appointed life span. However, we can improve both the quality of our service and our well-being by making careful, appropriate choices. - Elder Richard G. Scott

When the Lord requires that we forgive all men, that includes forgiving ourselves.  - Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

When it comes to hating, gossiping, ignoring, ridiculing, holding grudges, or wanting to cause harm, please apply the following: Stop it! - Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

I don’t know exactly how to articulate this point of not judging others with sufficient eloquence, passion, and persuasion to make it stick. I can quote scripture, I can try to expound doctrine, and I will even quote a bumper sticker I recently saw. It was attached to the back of a car whose driver appeared to be a little rough around the edges, it read, “Don’t judge me because I sin differently than you.” - Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

The people around us are not perfect. People do things that annoy, disappoint, and anger. In this mortal life it will always be that way. Nevertheless, we must let go of our grievances. Part of the purpose of mortality is to learn how to let go of such things.  - Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Heaven is filled with those who have this in common: They are forgiven. And they forgive. - Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Be we reminded that a perfect body is not required to achieve one’s divine destiny. The attributes by which we shall be judged one day are all spiritual. - Elder Russell M. Nelson

conference with my lady friends

Tonight I was lucky enough to join with the other 20,000 or so women (as well as some very sweet friends) in the conference center, where I admired the incredible architecture, was inspired by the beautiful words, and moved by the glorious music.

And the words that I just can't forget are these:

"Appearances can be so deceiving, such a poor measure of a person."

They were spoken by our prophet President Monson.

(his full talk can be watched, heard, or read here. it begins at 58 minutes.)

These words more than any others resonated with me.

Because they are true!

Because they're so contrary to what we hear daily from the world around us!

Because our society is completely obsessed with appearances!

Because beauty seems to be the be-all end-all goal of almost all women!

Because I have both judged & been judged by appearances!

And because it's something I desperately want to be better at!

I want to always distinguish between a person and what they look like.

recognizing that what I see falls short in so many ways.

And that appearances really are such a poor measure of a person.

Also, Cafe Zupas for dinner was our delicious end to a fantastic evening.

  

and i too will survive.

i have not met her.

but i kind of feel like i have.

because as i watch this video i feel a keen sense of... what's the word?

kinship!?

perhaps because i can relate to her.
and to what can sometimes feel like overwhelming trials in life.

and i know mine are miniscule in comparison.

that those things that seem insurmountable to me are dwarfed by her daily challenges.

but seeing how stephanie copes with her hardships helps me feel optimistic that i can, hopefully just as graciously, cope with mine.