Cute

A couple posts ago, I said that if you wanted to, you could cast a vote for what I should write about next. I only got one vote (I'm glad no one actually reads this. That makes me feel better about the things I disclose here) and that one vote was for "a really cute boy." It's been a while and I haven't responded to that one vote, so I thought maybe it was about time. I also really don't want to study for finals so I'm writing instead.

Um, well... There is this boy. Well he's a man, really. Like a real man. He changes the oil in his car all by himself and he fixes his car problems all by himself and he even does some occasional plumbing work in the places he lives. He's thrifty and smart and strong. And he's kind. So kind. He's my best friend and what a great best friend to have. He's super forgiving (thank goodness cuz I make a lot of mistakes. Bless his heart).

Did I mention he's super funny too? Well he's funny. He's also quite the tidy person. His living space is pretty much always clean. Mine isn't. You should see my bedroom. On second thought, you'd probably cry if you did. My parents had warned him about how messy my bedroom is. My bedroom is right next to a big family room that we would hang out in sometimes. Whenever we were in that room I always made sure that I double checked my bedroom door so he couldn't see in there and see how messy it was because.. well it's really messy most of the time. Well one night we were watching a movie or something in the family room next to my room. We had both gone downstairs for something and while I was getting a snack, he'd gone back upstairs. When I went back up, he was sitting in a chair looking so nonchalant that I just knew he had peeked into my room while I wasn't there to see how messy it really was! I called him out on it and he just started laughing so hard. I started laughing too. Don't ask me how I knew that he'd looked in there other than that we are tight like that but I just knew without him even looking at me. Haha. It was one of the funniest moments ever. We laughed for a few minutes and then I asked him what he thought about it. His response was awesome: "Well, it really was as bad as everyone said it is. I thought some of them were exaggerating but they really weren't. There was no sugar coating to it." Haha. Ah, such good times with this boy. I mean man because he doesn't like it when I call him a boy.

Oh, he's also way good at ping pong. He beats me playing left-handed all the time and he isn't left- handed.

Now while these qualities are all true about him, I share them somewhat in jest. Though he is fun, funny, handsome, good at ping pong and manly, if I told you about who he really is even more deeply on the inside, you'd want to date him too and then I'd have a problem on my hands so I'll keep it to a minimum because I also don't want to embarrass him. I mentioned he is my best friend. Well he really is. He was before we ever started dating and that was a big deal to me. I am a comparer- I compare myself to other people. I've never once felt the need to do that with him because it's just not who he is. It's not something he does. He doesn't put the vibes out there about how amazing he is so that other people will look to him. It's just not him and I love that about him. He is humble and never showy. He is kind to everyone and so accepting of people. He's taught me a lot about being kind. I also admire his faith. It's straightforward, non-complicated, pure. He knows things will work out how they're supposed to and is helpful in reminding me of that too.

He's also really sweet. One night I was really sick and he brought me popsicles at midnight... after he'd already been asleep. And one time he went outside when it was cold and dark with me and my niece to do sidewalk chalk because she really wanted to do sidewalk chalk. She was wearing shorts for some reason and kneeling on the cement was hurting her knees. So he took off his nice clean coat and let her kneel on it even though that meant he would be cold and his coat would get dirty. I remember knowing in that moment that he was doing that because he cared about me even though sidewalk chalk in the dark and cold was probably not his first choice for an activity at that moment and it warmed my heart. I could go on but like I said, then you'd want to date him too so I should probably stop. But he's awesome. And really cute in so many ways.

Oh, and if it seems like I'm talking in past tense it's because we're living several states apart right now and I miss his guts like craaaaazy. :(

On Easter Sunday

I've been wanting to write this post since General Conference and finally have a few minutes that I feel I can justify spending on a blog post. :)

I want to share my witness of Jesus Christ and of the truths of the doctrines solidified by this holy day. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior. I know that He atoned for us. I know He suffered for our sins and for every other kind of suffering we would ever experience. I know He knows every tear we cry and every ache we feel, be it of sin or something else. I know that He laid down his life of his own will only after he had suffered to the utmost. Nothing was left unpaid for, nothing left undone. He himself said "It is finished" and by that he truly mean that the price that had to be paid for each of us to gain salvation had been completely paid. It is so amazing to think of it - to think of what he did and of who he is. I love him so much and owe everything I am and everything I have to Him. I cannot tell you all of the times that He has saved me and delivered me from darkness in my life. His light is so powerful, so pure, so good, that when it enters into me, I feel it burning away irrelevant things. I feel it making me more pure, more good and more holy. Though I am ever weak, I have felt Him make me strong. I have felt His power to change my heart and to make me new and whole.

In the General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints that took place just a few weekends ago, I felt the witness of the Holy Ghost on two very powerful occasions of the reality of Jesus Christ. I had the blessing of getting to attend the Saturday morning session in the conference center with my cute boyfriend and some of his family. I felt so grateful for the opportunity to be there (and it was def a plus to get to be there with my man ;D). During the first talk or two, the Spirit hit me so hard. I don't remember what was even being spoken about but I remember the feeling that came and it bore a powerful witness to my heart that Jesus Christ is real and that He lives. I knew it. I knew it, I knew it, I knew it in that moment. I knew that Joseph Smith saw Him and God the Father in a sacred grove of trees as a young boy and that they restored The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on the earth today through that young prophet.

The next day, Elder D. Todd Christofferson spoke about Jesus Christ's resurrection. It is a most powerful and hope-filled doctrine that has always resonated deeply within me because of the example and testimony my beautiful mother shared with me when I was a young child. She told me about how our family would be together forever and how my brother who had died as a toddler would live again. She told me of Jesus and she truly celebrated Easter. It was in her heart. She knew it because she had experienced His healing balm to her aching heart. She not only knew it but she lived it and continues to live it. So, with that background, I had dozed off for a moment and woke up to this beautiful talk about Christ's resurrection. This is what I wrote in my journal about it:

"I know Jesus Christ lives. As he spake about Jesus' resurrection, I knew again that Jesus Christ is real. I felt at home, safe, my worries were cleared as what is real and familiar filled my soul. All my troubles seem to be gone as I thought of Him. This talk answered my heaven-inspired question this weekend of "Who is Christ?" More firmly comes to my mind the declaration "I am the Way." I feel that more deeply. He must be made the focus of my life so that I am grounded always. He must be the focus of my home. His Atoning power must be part of my every day life. I may not be able to control other forces around me but I can control my devotion to Christ. This is my one desire. He is my desire. I cannot let things outside of His way into my life, for I want to always be able to be clean before him."

Though I am obviously far from a perfect disciple of Christ, it is true that He is my greatest desire. I love Him and I know that He lives. I have felt Him, His love and the power of the Atonement over and over again in my life. He has cleansed me, healed me, strengthened me, carried me, and stayed by me through all things and I love Him. I know that you too can know of His reality and His love if you so desire. All we have to do is ask and be willing to listen. :)

Much Love.