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Love, Loss, Hope, Repeat- Looking forward to 2014!

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Looking backward on 2013, I have learned so much. Last year my New Year's Resolution was to "Pray Always." I think I did a decent job.

Something I've noticed about people who are led by God... their lives are not predictable. They are happy, but not necessarily following a prescribed plan that they made up in 1st grade, or even in high school. When you turn your life over to God, He can make so much more of your life than you can. I have felt so tossed around in love, decisions, work, and my spirituality this year. But one thing I can say, is that I have done so because I feel like I'm following God's path for me step-by-step. 

Things I've learned in 2013: 
  • How to sew! 
  • How to sing for small crowds of people and look them in the eye, instead of at the back wall.
  • How to put together a musical number in 30 minutes.
  • My primary love language is "Quality Time."
  • Heavenly Father really listens to our prayers and will grant us the sincere, righteous desires of our hearts. He wasn't kidding when He said "Ask, and ye shall receive."
  • Happiness isn't a destination... it is the attitude you have toward your current circumstances.
  • I can maintain a voice studio while being in school!
  • How to teach Senior Missionaries. It is SUCH a joy, and I love staying in touch with the couples who live all around the world. Italy, India, Romania, Estonia, Ghana, Uganda, United States, Chile, Ecuador, Australia, England, Taiwan, Germany, Spain, France, Hungary, Russia, Brazil, and Dominican Republic are the countries that I can recall sending missionaries to! These couples are so full of faith and they help me realize what I want in marriage, and where I'd like to be in 40 years from now! On the flip side, there have been times when I've felt like a marriage therapist. One of the hardest evaluations I had with a couple, I could sense a lot of tension and lack of communication in their relationship. I got very REAL with them and said "Do you believe it's possible for each other to change? Do you trust the Savior to help you change?" I realized in that moment that often times we are held back from our potential because all we can see is the past-- we define ourselves by what our past experience has been, and therefore decide that further growth is outside our control. But it's totally not true! People can grow, people can change.  That was an interesting experience. I'm grateful for it!
I'm not sure exactly what New Year's resolution to put in for this year... I'm thinking something like "SING".... haha! That way I absolutely cannot fail! It looks like there's nothing but singing coming up for me. January 2nd is my first rehearsal with the MoTab training choir! I couldn't be happier (thank goodness!).


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