Graham Crackers

This year, a new tradition of sorts started in my house. A lot of times, I get caught up in homework and being stressed out. But I'm not the only one in my family who has a stressful life. My dad often works harder than I do and still finds time to be happy and loving and kind. What a good dad.

My dad loves graham crackers. And here is where the tradition of sorts became a necessary part of coping with life.

One night I leaned over to my dad as we were sitting downstairs working on the computer. I said, "Dad, do you want to go have a treat with me?"

"Sure! Let's go have some graham crackers and milk. That sounds good."

Immediately the image of soggy graham crackers and milk with floating crumbs came to my mind. "Well, I was sorta thinking doughnuts. . . "

Nevertheless, we trooped upstairs and got out the said condiments and endulged in a happy light-hearted and enjoyable snack together.

This is one of my most favorite memories ever. I highly encourage each of us, amidst the rush and stress of the day, to take time to spend time with those who need our time. Whether this is time spent with yourself or your family, you will build memories that one hundred pictures can't capture and one hundred dollars can't buy. They are priceless.

In honor of this concept, I wrote a poem. I hope it makes you smile :)

Graham Crackers.
When it becomes tough to understand math
And physics and English and classes like that;
When you've crumbled up homework, thrown books at the wall,
Sealed with the statement you don't like them at all;
Then it's time for a break - a well deserved snack.
One that can give you your happiness back!
Graham crackers and milk is the best kind of treat,
For nothing like this gives you strength as you eat!
With each tasty crunch and milk on the side,
You won't be so stressed when on crackers you ride.
Each morsel and crumb and honey-like bite
Will help you in setting your hardest day right.
So when you feel lost in hopeless defeat,
It's time that you get a graham cracker treat!

Well, there it is :) If you feel like any of the afore mentioned emotions, maybe it's time for a break :)

And with one closing thought from Elder Holland, I leave you with my personal testimony that, no matter how hard or dismal life can be, happy days await you. Oh, so many happy days.

"Don't you quit. You keep walking. You keep trying. There is help and happiness ahead. Some blessings come soon, some come late, and some don't come till heaven. But for those who embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, they come. It will be alright in the end. Trust God, and believe in good things to come."

Love, Sunshine

Call me a Red-head Cougar-going Caveman

You know how sometimes you feel good about something and don't know why? Like when something makes

no logical sense

(besides that you've dreamed it your whole life),

but you still know it's what you should be doing or where you need to be?

Something I've learned about fear and faith.

Faith is a principle of action and power.

Fear causes you to stop acting, and therefore lose faith. If you are ever confused about whether you are feeling fear or having a "stupor of thought" (D&C 9:9 - which is the feeling the Holy Ghost gives you to warn or tell you not to do something), think about if it's stopping you from acting.

Fear and faith cannot coexist.

Allowing fear to govern your choices limits your potential and power.

Exercising faith endows you with power.

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power,and of love, and of a sound mind."

2 Timothy 1:7

So here I go. Brigham Young Univeristy, here I come.

:)

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Radiant Tales: Chapter Nineteen

(Disclaimer: I kinda wanted to title this post "The magic powers of almonds and chocolate chips" because guess what? That was basically my diet this week. Truth be known, almonds keep me awake when I want to fall asleep. And who can argue with chocolate? It was just there for the yummy aspect.)

Monday: Had last ever UVYSO concert. :(

Tuesday: Um . . . didn't go to school until it was out for the day :P Failed first ever AP Calc Free Response test. Drat.

Wednesday: Ventured once again to BYU Library. Sat with a best friend all knowledgable Chloe and went on way too many treasure hunts to find stupid Wuthering Heights critiques.
Got home at Twelve Forty Five. New dislike of primary song, "Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy and wealthy and wise." Hate it.

Thursday: Passed my first ever AP Calc multiple choice test. :) happiness.
Had a very spiritual evening with best friends Christina, Katelyn and Melissa (who I accompanied for the Hymn "Our Saviour's love.")

Pulled my first EVER all nighter.

Friday: Took a nap from two a.m. to three twenty four a.m. and finished research paper at seven a.m. Whoot WHOOOOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! High fives all around.
Stood for upwards of an hour at the hospital. Felt ready to faint.
Heard Miss Apeszteguia speak on her own little parable of the flowers. Very Cute.
Wrote lamest ever AP french essay. Fell asleep five times. (and I thought I wrote weird stuff in English. It definitely gets worse in French.)
Took nap from four till seven, ate a Chick-fil-A dinner, attempted math homework. Fell asleep.

Saturday: General Conference. LOVED it.
Took blood pressure readings from my family :) oh man it was fun to make spencer's arm go numb. :) and he couldn't do a thing about it. HAHA.

Sunday? Well, let's just say it's a well earned and extremely thankeful for-ed (?) day.

Quotes of the week:

"You are the Fr to my non-existent ench." Christa

"God helps me. That is what I think, and then I am calm." Carl Bloch.

"For behold, God is my savlation. I will trust and not be afraid. For the Lord, JEHOVAH is my strength and my song. He also is become my salvation. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation." Isaiah 12:2-3.

"It says 'Fear not' 365 times in the scriptures. What an awesome daily reminder." Laura.


"I love you." Friends, family, Heavenly Father.

Love, Sunshine

Question.

Why is it that when you are so close.

SO STIINKING CLOSE
to your goal . . .

You feel like giving up?

(that was a general 'you.' English just isn't cool enough to let people know that. In french I would say 'on' but that's beside the point.)

Senioritis is killing me.

Remedy anyone?

Utter Serendipity

Serendipity : (noun)

1. an aptitude for making desirable discoveries by accident.

2. good fortune; luck.

 

While this is a stupendous word, and a lot of the world probably believes in it,

 

I don't believe it . . . exactly. . .

I believe in spiritual serendipity.

 

:)

 

the words I am looking for are

 

tender mercy: (noun)

1. A person, place, thing, or idea, not extremely noticable until, upon pondering over the day, you realize you couldn't have made it through the day without that one, small surprise.

2. "The Lord’s tender mercies are the very personal and individualized blessings, strength, protection, assurances, guidance, loving-kindnesses, consolation, support, and spiritual gifts which we receive from and because of and through the Lord Jesus Christ. Truly, the Lord suits “his mercies according to the conditions of the children of men” (D&C 46:15). David A. Bednar

 

Today, I almost didn't make it.

 

Today, I almost cried because of a lot of little insignificant things.

 

Today, I learned something.

 

If something matters to you, then it matters to Him; even if it is a math test, He cares. 

Even if it is a boy, He cares. Even if it is a French homework, a job, college, a dorm, a lost wallet, or a really tired girl, He cares.

 

"God helps me. That is what I think, and then I am calm." ~carl bloch.

"For behold, God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid, for the Lord, JEHOVAH, is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation." Isaiah 12:2

 

Yesterday may have been plain awful, but the sun will come out tomorrow.

 

~sunny