When Life is Dragging

So my mom shared this with me a couple weeks ago. I really like it. I think it's self explanatory ;)

Our True Identity

Today you readers are going to do a little activity with me. Yay! (I know, you love it!)

If you want to leave your answers in the comments, that would be great! I know you will help others with your testimony! But if they are too personal to share, then by all means, it had better go in a journal or something. I won't be offended :)

Fill this out in your head or on a piece of paper (or in my comments. That's great too!)

(Alright people, don't quit! I promise this is an uplifting exercise! I'm not trying to be gloomy)

Wait wait! But this post isn't supposed to be gloomy!

Soooo..... What I like/don't like about myself______________________________________________

Names I have called myself in the mirror (keep it PG, kids) _____________________________

What I wish I could be like______________________________________________________

What I would do if I weren't scared_______________________________________________

Now do this part honestly:

Times I have complemented myself today (hard to remember?) ______________________________

Times I have thought negatively about my situation, appearance, skills, gifts, etc today _______________

If you are anything like me (and the rest of the world) then there are a ton of things you would change about yourself, tons of opportunities you hold yourself back from because of fear, little good about you that you see, lots you wish you could have, and there are more negative thoughts about your life than there are positive.

Why is this? It's sad really.

There is so many more uplifting things you can do than point out the wrong in your life. But we do it all the time, self-consciously. When you look in the mirror, give yourself a break! Nobody is perfect!

So, now, wipe all those negative thoughts about yourself away. (Thanks Eliza. You just made me unhappy. Now what am I supposed to do?!) It might take a little work. Need some help? Watch this video: (Please, it is only like 3 minutes long, and I promise it will help change those negative feelings to positive ones)

Okay, that was a tear-jerker. But it is so true! Who has ever felt like the ugly duckling? Like no one loves him/her, like they are unusually large (I am SO there with you, bro) or ugly or untalented. The world taunts you because of your imperfections. But that is because they don't know who we will be.

Heavenly Father sees us as we truly are and who we can become. When you look into the mirror next time, I hope you can see beyond imperfections, and see the true beauty that lies within you.

So try this again:

What I like about myself_____________________________________________________________

What I can do to remind myself of my true worth (like putting a sticky note on the mirror to remind you to not let those criticizing thoughts creep up on you, but that you are a child of God) __________________

What I will do now_________________________________________________________________

Things I am grateful for, reasons I am grateful for being me____________________________________

If I were to meet Uchtdorf, what I would say to him :) ________________________________________

How I can help others realize they are swans________________________________________________


I feel like I use this topic a lot, but I think it is really important. Remember that God made you who you are, that all trials will work together for your good, and that you are a swan. Even if you feel like an ugly duckling, you truly are a swan!!

<3 Eliza

Lessons from the Principals Office

So today during the last ten minutes of school, I find myself sitting uncomfortably in Mr. Fidelibus's office (isn't that an AWESOME name for a vice principal? Anyway...). This morning started out kinda stormy, I felt sick, seminary wasn't too great (I hate it when that happens), I had a quiz later that I hadn't studied enough for, yadda yadda yadda. The end of the day was the only part that was actually fun for me, hanging out with friends during activity period, and now I was missing it.

He was dealing with another student, so it gives the next victim (me) time to have the wheels in my head turning about what I did wrong. Frantically, I grasped about what I could've possibly done. I hadn't skipped fourth period lately (or ever), I didn't cus at a girl or punch a boy. But still, being in that office scares me. It felt like the walls were going to close down and tell me all the mistakes I had done and that I would have to stay after school for the forsaken detention. Scary, right? (I think I've actually had nightmares about the principals office)

Well, nothing was wrong! I was only being asked to stand as a witness in an act that I had seen happen. I had thought I was innocent, but to hear him tell me "you're not in trouble" was so nice.

I was thinking about that. Life is like this. It starts out a little troublesome maybe, there's some mistakes and trials we need to go through, but by the end we should be all clean and joyful, with a strong family and testimony and joy and peace because we've repented. Then all of a sudden, we are summoned away (however, it will probably be joyful, not "bummer I don't get to talk with my friends." Although... I guess we will miss our family members for a short while...). Anyway, we die. We go to the spiritual "waiting room" and then we finally get called into God's office. I don't know about you, but I think it would be the most amazing thing to hear "you're not in trouble" from my Father in a Heaven. I want to stand as a witness for Jesus Christ.

To make sure we can have that peace in this life and in the next, we need to constantly be reflecting on our actions and faith. Are we on the path God would have us be on? Are we praying? Is there anything we need to repent of?

I want to be ready.

I am so grateful for my Savior, who makes it possible to be forgiven of our sins and to have the peace and feel the Spirit.

<3 Eliza

Ps. Oh! And I finally added pics and memes to the pics and memes page! Thanks for bring patient. :D

Easter Eggs

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Didn't you always love Easter egg hunts as a kid? They were always super exciting and fun to race your friends t find how many sweet treats you can find hidden in tree branches, under rocks, or in the creek. I miss those days. 

It's cool how now Disney and Pixar put a bunch of "Easter eggs" hidden throughout their videos. Whenever there's a boring part, or we've seen the movie too many times, our family searches for these Easter eggs. Whether it's a hidden Mickey or Buzz Lightyear, we always get super excited when we find them. 

Sometimes our life seems dull. Boring. Overdone and routine and going through the motions. How are we supposed to enjoy life when we are in this drought? What if we searched for the hidden Easter eggs?

What are some little things that make life brighter? How have you seen God's hand in your life today?

I think he gives us more blessings than we could ever imagine. As you look throughout the day, maybe make it a goal to find as many hidden Easter eggs and treats as you can. If you feel like nothing is going your way (or the Easter eggs are too high in the tree), then make some Easter eggs for other people. I personally love making little 2 inch "warm fuzzy books" for people with each page having a picture or sticker and a word telling them how much I care about them. It's super sweet and they love it because it looks like it takes effort and it's thoughtful, but it's not too hard to make. Or writing notes and leaving them in special places for people. Or smiling at them in the hallway. 

Believe it or not, as you create Easter eggs for others, you will be doubly creating extra for yourself! Take every opportunity for good! Look for the tender mercies God has placed in your life! You never know how much brighter you could be!

<3 Eliza

I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go

Another day of moving blues. Seriously, if you have the chance to not move, take it.

There are so many times that I desperately wanna go back. Back in time, back to Virginia, back to old friends, back to memories. I hope that when we die, we get to watch all our old memories on a tv screen, or better yet, go into a simulator or something to relive good memories. Oh don't you wish!

I have this little book next to my bed. It's a gospel art book. I absolutely LOVE gospel art. The title of it is "Wherever He Leads Me." I bought it a week before moving.

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How I love this little book! Today, some of my old friends contacted me, and we talked a while. And it was just so sad. Because people keep living without you there. Life goes on. After that kinda ruining my night (it was great to hear from them, but it just made me sad ) I felt like I should listen to the hymn "I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go." I knew most of the words, but not all of them. This phrase really stuck out to me:

But if, by a still, small voice he calls
To paths that I do not know,
I’ll answer, dear Lord, with my hand in thine:
I’ll go where you want me to go.
So trusting my all to thy tender care,
And knowing thou lovest me,
I’ll do thy will with a heart sincere:
I’ll be what you want me to be.

I know that my Heavenly Father loves me and has power to do all things, including letting all things work together for my good. He knows what is best for me, even if I do not. And he will guide me step by step, holding my hand. So I need to submit to his will.

But why is it so hard in the moment?

I'm going to kinda piggy-back off of Marie-Rose's post here from Hope Always And Pray Constantly. I think the reason why life is so hard is because we don't see all the pieces of the puzzle. We feel so small, and we're trying to stretch really high so we can see what the final picture is supposed to look like, but it just isn't working. Our scope is too small, and we can't see all the puzzle pieces, much less envision what the beautiful picture will be.

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This is because we do not have an eternal perspective. But guess what? There is one person who sees all the puzzle pieces, and he knows exactly how they should all fit together and what amazing thing they can make in the end! Heavenly Father has a eternal perspective and knows what will best lead us to that happily ever after that we want. Sadly, it is kind of impossible to reach amazing things without going beyond our comfort zone.

We need to trust Heavenly Father. I need to. Sometimes I wish I was back in Virginia. I think of all the good I could be doing there, and all the comfort and love I would feel. But other times I am so grateful to live here, and thank Him for showing me love and peace and goodness.

I will go where he wants me to go. I will be what he wants me to be.

<3 Eliza

PS whew! That feels so much better, doesn't it?