So I Don't Waste Time

Quick post today!

This morning I woke up, and while still half asleep, had the most solid spiritual thought come into my head.

Jesus Christ did all that He did, so you wouldn't have to waste  time with Satan.

Sounds like a weird spiritual thought to me.  But I wrote it down anyway so I could ponder it later and see what it meant for me.     As I have thought about it this morning I realize what it meant for me.

We all waste so much time on Satan. We give him too much power. 

We ask "how far can I go?"   Instead of having the desire to choose good.   We are focused on not losing ground instead of focusing on gaining ground.   We spread controversial topics like wildfire on the internet instead of using that same power to share the message of Christ.    And even more simply, we endure sin and pain, pride, and all manner of heartache too long before we turn to Christ and ask for His healing power.   

I know not everyone wastes time with Satan...but I am seeing too much of it within myself, and seeing too much of it within those around me. 

We have Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father on our side.  We can do amazing miracles for this world. We can heal and help and uplift.

But first, we have to stop wasting time with Satan.  Stop giving him the minutes of the day that you could be using to bring you closer to Christ, and to make this world a better place.

Looking Back on the Mission....

A tribute to Lex's Mission that is.   

Today marks 3 years since Lex got home from his mission!  I kind of think of it as my mission too....except a lot less work than he had to do.   This post is going to be all over!  2 years of memories in one post!

Missionary Girlfriends kinda get a bad reputation...  mostly because some are crazy.  Luckily, I wasn't crazy.  (Ask his parents and you'll probably hear a different story...)      It has been 3 years today since Lex stepped off the plan...and let me tell you... it is just STARTING to get to the point where we can talk about the aspect of being away from each other that long without feeling sick to our stomachs.

I had made the decision to wait faithfully without dating.  There are many types of "waiting" but I chose to not date.   I wrote every week, and sent him packages whenever I could.  He did the same.  We also sent tapes back and forth where we just talked without having to send a 10 page letter!

So lets start at the beginning.  For those of you who don't know, 24 is "our number".  We became "official"  on the 24th and after that....it was just our special number.    On our first date (I'll have to write a whole other blog post about that!) we went to Mandarin Palace and it was the first time I had ever eaten Chinese like that.  I loved it and became addicted to egg rolls immediately.   It was our thing to eat there every month on the 24th.    And I continued that while he was on his mission.  I didn't miss a month.  It was my official countdown!

I also have a box of all the fortunes I got.... but that makes me sound weird.... so we'll just move along.

Anyway....  He left for his mission June 24, 2009.  God blessed us from beginning to end.  The two weeks before his farewell,  I was going to MDA camp with my cousin for a week, then I would be home one day... and then fly to Colorado for Drum Major training and I would get back the morning of his Farewell talk.  Then he would leave 2 days after that.   Ugh... still kinda makes me sick to think about.    So I went to MDA camp and that was a good trial run for us.   I even wrote him a letter from the hotel.   

Then when I got home we spent the entire day at This is the Place in Salt Lake.  I was communicating with my friend Torie the whole time because something had gotten messed up with our drum major tickets.   Long story short,  we were both thrilled when the trip got cancelled and I gained another 3 days with him before he left!!

Ah... so many memories.. I could write a book instead of a blog post... so I'll skip to his mission. We won't dwell on the goodbye.       It is sufficient to say I cried a lot.

I kept busy while he was gone and we served as a support for each other.    I checked the mail religiously.  Often making my mom text me the SECOND something arrived.

Then it was time.  HE WAS COMING HOME!!    His original arrival date was June 29, 2011 but because his mission president was leaving for home as well they changed it to June 22!!

Not that I was counting....

This change was a miracle in Lisa land because that meant he would be home for June's Chinese food date :)  No more dates with my mom.  (I mean that in the nicest way possible mom!!)

I drove to the airport with his family and as we pulled into the parking garage I couldn't even believe it.  In fact, I stepped out of the van and my MIL looked at me with this concerned look and said ... um Lisa...  Lisa... ?    Then I kinda teetered and then jumped out of it and realized I wasn't BREATHING!  She was like LISA KEEP BREATHING!!    His siblings got a good chuckle. I literally stood there and forgot to breathe.    After what seemed like longer than the mission itself.... we saw him!

Lex coming off the plane!!

It was the best day of my life! (up till we got married of course SPOILER!)

We went to the bird refuge the next morning and we haven't been away from each other since.  Literally....have not spent one day apart since he got home.   And I'm trying to keep it that way. 

So go away scout camps. 

Lex is the most amazing man I've ever met. He is honest to the core and just GOOD.  I am so lucky that not only did I get to marry him.... but I got to share his mission with him and his family. 

Spreading Good

 I have some confessions... lets get started.

• I have been struggling lately with keeping my anxiety and depression at bay.   Its exhausting pushing out negative thoughts every minute of the day. 
• I'm tired of seeing controversial subjects lighting my newsfeed
• (I even shared one yesterday in hopes people would shut up. (p.s. it didn't work)  )

So what do all of these have in common???

My dear husband shared this yesterday and it was an answer to my prayers.    I was reminded of so many conference talks...so many quotes... and tons of advice that told me to simply worry about adding GOOD to the world, not fighting the bad.

I may not be able to fix all the bad...but I can choose not to contribute to the bad and controversial.

Instead of focusing on pushing out my negative thoughts -- I am going to proactively seek out good thoughts.

Instead of sharing my two cents on the latest controversial topic-- I'm going to share truth, enlightenment and joy.

Who wants to be reading about controversy all day??  Seriously....its depressing.   But then again, I don't even watch the news.   There is so much pain and sorrow in this world, but that isn't what I want to focus on.  I like to keep my focus of concern on things I can change.

Lets have our newsfeeds reflect GOOD.   And I'm not only saying religious.  I'm talking about pictures of nature, of family, inspiring quotes and articles, compassionate stories, stories of hope.....

That is my new focus.   Yes, my blog will document the challenges I face, but I share in hopes of inspiring.    It is time to pull up my boot-straps and get to work in making the world a better place instead of letting my pride try to "win the arguments."

I sometimes wonder if we spent as much as uplifting people as we did trying to prove we're right...how much better would the world be?

What if we spent as much time selling people on the goodness of Christ instead of the goodness of the latest movie.  The same could be said for tons of things we "sell" or focus on.     What if all of that time we spent arguing about things the media tells us is important was spent on actually helping people?     Again, wouldn't the world be a better place??

I think it would.



Whether it is in our brains, or on our newsfeeds.... lets commit to bringing light into the world instead of contributing to the darkness.    Don't wait for good things to come,  seek them out.

Articles of Faith 1:13