Happiness.

Happiness, you might say, can be a lot of things. Blankets and hot chocolate, a good book or a beautiful song, a handsome boy or a genuine smile. Yes, yes, it's all those things. But right now?

I would say that happiness is something you can only hold on to if you share it.

I find happiness in sharing the gospel; in smiling at someone because I love them; in holding her hand because I want her to know I love her; and giving him a hug because he means a lot to me.

Happiness.

And maybe it's not just a feeling. But an action.

"And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness." Mosiah 2:41

And just remember, that there are good and better things to come.

In other words, there is happiness ahead.

What? I'm not cold, I don't know what you're talking about . . .

The Montréal Arctic Blast.

Believe it or not, Utah’s freezing temperatures have been topped. Yes, my friends, Montréal just experienced a whopping daytime high of -22.

Once again, that’s a daytime high.

:)

But that’s pretty good, considering it’s their coldest day of the year so far. Unfortunately, with wind chill, temperatures drop to -40 degrees. The news reporter indicated that they're only 50 degrees below what they normally would be. No big deal or anything, but if you were to be stranded, you should have a warm coat and a blanket in your car trunk, or "it could mean death."

:)

There were problems on multiple train lines this morning. In this photo taken by Philip Risacher, people line up in vain at the Bois Franc station in an attempt to get on board. He said one train never showed up. Check out the coats.

Forward Ho.

Once upon a 19.

Today was a big day.

I turned nineteen today. Nineteen on the Nineteenth. 

:)

And if you count today, I also leave for Montreal in 19 days. It's exciting, really. Last year, I never would have guessed that a year from then I would be preparing for a mission.

But I guess I've been preparing my whole life for it. I've been preparing to serve the Lord for my whole life.

Looking back, I can clearly see how His hand has been guiding me.

Looking forward?

Well, let's just say it's full of snow and a lot of cold weather. :)

When You Least Expect It.

I feel like January could be summed up in one word:

January.

Yup. That's it.

January means cold, snow, bleak, starting over, cold, brown grass, and sore throats.

But that doesn't mean you can't find something to be happy about. That one little ray of sunshine that creeps out of the clouds and scares you  because you never would have thought it could make it. I would wager that  the most important thing to do when January looks bleak and hopeless is to"consider the blessings," and especially the ones you  least expect. Right now. Look back.

Remember when he opened the door for you?

Remember when you randomly flipped to the scripture that turned your whole day around?
Remember when you asked a blessing on your food, to strengthen you that day, and you actually made it?

Remember when you thought you would fail your exam, but you remembered at the last second the one answer that saved your score?

Remember when there were magically cookies in your cookie jar?

Remember when your mom gave you a hug and told you she loved you?
Remember when he asked you out on a date and made you feel important?
Remember when your best friend called you to tell you she was thinking of you today?

There, look at all those blessings. If it was so important for the Nephites to retain in their remembrance "what great things the Lord hath done for them," should we not do the same?

All I can say is that sometimes in this dreary wilderness of January, it's worth it to have faith and hope that surprises are coming soon. 

And often when you least expect them. 

In the twenty days I have left before my mission, I'm thankful for those little mercies and surprises, each one bringing a little ray of sunshine into a really cold day.

Moroni 10:3

"Behold, I would exhort you . . . that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it (the tender mercies) in your hearts."