Prepare Every Needful Thing

“Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God” (D&C 88:119).

For some reason, I have felt very impressed to obey this particular council lately, especially the past couple months. Quotes, advise, random things that would help me prepare every needful thing and establish a house of God, has popped from the pages, things people would say would stand out to me or stick with me until I wrote it down on my goal sheet. 

To get my little family in order and to prepare every needful thing . . .  keeps penetrating in my mind and my heart. I don't know why, besides the fact that I know it is a good thing and it's something that I want. But what I know for sure is that my loving Heavenly Father has a plan for me. :)  

{Forever}

If you want something to last forever, you treat it differently. You shield it and protect it. You never abuse it. You don’t make it common or ordinary. If it ever becomes tarnished, you lovingly polish it until it gleams like new. It becomes special because you have made it so {referring to marriage}. - Howard

The Lord's Timing

I got married the same month that I turned 20. When people would find out that I was getting married at 19 I could see their worry cross their face, like it once did in mine. I never wanted to get married at 19, I told my self that I would never do it. But because of the situation that I was in, it was the best thing to do and it felt right. I told myself that 3 weeks {or even 4 months} is not going to be the determining factor of weather I have a satisfying and quality marriage or not. It was a great learning experience to trust the Lord, His timing, and to have the courage to marry "at the right time."

Last week, however, I heard the statistic again: the number one risk factor for getting a divorce is getting married as a teenager. This made my heart begin to race again, questioning if I should have just waited those 3 weeks. I reminded myself of all of the many reasons we chose the date that we did (housing contracts, pell grants, school schedule, finals week...).

I tried telling myself that everyday during my marriage preparation class {the SFL one that really digs deep and incorporates the secular and spiritual -- in my opinion it's a lot better than the religion one} I was impressed by Sam and my relationship. As the teacher would discuss how to effectively solve conflicts, how to have mature love, how to have the best communication patterns, what foundations make marriages last {the list goes on and on}. As I would sit there and feel the spirit {day after day} I knew that moving forward with Sam was the right thing to do. We really did {and still do} have great interdependence and resiliency.

As it is well known, a 19 year old can be as mature {and even more mature in some cases} as a 21 or 23 year old. The "dead-set" cut off is an average for the population. There are people that get married at my age that are successful that balance out the people that get married a little later and are unsuccessful. This helped but my soul was still seeking more.

I remembered when my mom told me that I am still more immature in some aspects but that I am also very mature in other aspects that exceed that of my peers. Like being self-reliant, responsible and independent {i.e. doing well academically my freshman year where as most people did not see the long term impact and consequence of 'partying' too much that first or second year & not relying on her to do things for me that I could do myself}. She also tied this into being self-disciplined and being motivated to do things {i.e. homework} even when I did not want too. I also thought about how a lot of my good friends are a year in school older than me because that is what I am comfortable with.

These things helped, but what really gave me that piece that I was looking for was when I remembered that social scientist statistics only apply to the majority of that specific population. When I applied this to me I got the impression that I may or may not fit into that population. Because of my family demographics I feel that I was prepared and reared differently than the majority of the population that would have prepared me more for marriage.

I also thought about the fact that I am an outlier in many other statistics like people get worse grades if they work more than 10 hours a week, {see post "I thank you Syd"}. I am definitely an outlier. By connecting the dots from my secular learning to my spiritual knowledge-- reminded me once again the peace and comfort I felt that it really was the right thing to do. I'm not saying that I do not apply to the said "rule" to myself. I just feel like I was given a very special opportunity, to a very special guy, at a very special time . . . One that cannot be mistaken.

I am so glad that I followed the Lord's timing and not my own. I has been a humbling experience for me yet I feel closer to my Savior because of it. I never thought that being an outlier would make my faith increase and draw me closer unto Him. I am grateful for not being the "norm" and for my Father in Heaven that loves me more than I ever thought possible {and knows what is best for me and my family}. That He know what is best for me, even when I may not be able to see it at first.

{Side Note: A benefit of the day that we choose is that I had another month that I got to spend married with my husband, (and not single) and receive more of the blessings from making this covenant when following the right precepts.}

New Friends

Study, Work, Eat, Sleep. That pretty much sums up my life. When I would hear people talking about being a friend or making friends... I always wondered if I am good at making new friends. As you can tell my "work, study, eat, sleep" does not entail making friends... Therefore, I don't think of myself as someone that makes new friends or is very social.

Background: When Sam and I would be out and about we would always run into someone I went to high school with or someone I knew from a class. He would always comment and asks how is it possible that I know so many people or say that i'm "so popular".

However, the other day Sam and I took a break from homework and went on a run. We ran into a friend that I made in one of my classes. And I finally realized that contrary to my popular belief that I do my homework so much I don't socialize--I do. It made me so happy!! I realized that I am actually very social... Some how I managed to forget that for a while.

I thought about how many friends I have made since coming to college. I barely go anywhere without running into someone. I would meet someone in class and find out they were struggling and I would offer to have them study with me so they could improve their grade. Or I would talk to the person I was sitting by until class started and then it became every time we had class we would catch up. I would also put together study groups where I would share different ways that have helped me to remember lots of different terms or concepts.

I realized that I actually do make friends! I know that sounds silly but I am so grateful for all of the friends that I have here at college and how we still keep in touch.

Sacrifice and Laughter

This morning I woke up a half hour early so I could make lunch (what Sam normally does in the morning while I finish getting ready) and breakfast (what I normally do). Sam tries so hard to do well in school, and I knew he would be tired in the morning (I went to bed before him). So I sacrificed some of my sleep so he could sleep in more. I took his alarm clock so it wouldn't wake him up and I waited for the last possible moment to have it go off. I hid the food and so when he saw it he would be so happily surprised. My husband likes to have a lot of food with him through out the day and I knew this would make him so happy.

We had a morning full of laughter! Since I knew we were going to be fine on time I was pretty relaxed.

So as I observed Sam find jeans just lying on the floor and as he, without a second thought, shoved one leg in after the other as fast as he could... I had to laugh and comment "Perfect! Jeans!" as I did Sam's frantic motions.

Sam started to laugh as well. As he did up the belt that was already on the jeans I said, "Bonus! Belt!"

Sam started to burst out laughing!! "Stop saying exactly what I think!" We were both laughing so hard.

The lack of sleep and sacrifice to do something special for the one you love the most, was such priceless gift that makes moment so precious.

"If we seek opportunities to work in behalf of others, the atonement working in our lives will produce in us the love and tenderness we need." - Elder Eyring

{Our First Car!!}

Sammy and I got our first car. Through much though and prayer we decided it was time. And he didn't want me to see me walking in the -2 degree weather anymore, what a gentleman! :) 

Pip Squeak Engine

Last semester Sam was in a manufacturing class and built a Pip Squeak Engine with a group of three. They drew it, constructed its design sheets, made the dimensional drawings, made the process sheets that explains how to manufacture the parts and then they made the parts by hand. Sam is awesome!