Articles and stuff...

Interesting read on dating right here.  The lady that wrote this article came and did a Monday night devotional for the midsingles about a year ago.  I think I wrote about it then.  There were some points that were really good, but there were things that were just plain obnoxious.  It was so fake! People were rehearsing on each other in the social afterwards, and it was hilarious to observe!  There were some fun things every once in a while that she gave of "he has interest in you if he does..." and vice versa.  It was funny to see some of those very things happening, even with one guy that had come in afterwards.  It was funny!

It's funny, because I'm not one of those that follow her, or her website, but every once in a while there's an article that speaks to me or affects me in some way.  Like this one, for example, was sent to me once by a guy.  He searched it out one night after we had had a less than wonderful conversation, and posted it on his facebook page.  I thought the timing was funny, but he couldn't have possibly posted it in any relationship to our conversation.  Well, a few minutes later he sent it to my inbox.  It fit him to the T, and I could see myself in the girl in the article.   It was interesting.  Oh, and here's  the article for the women that are in these kinds of relationships.

Now back to the original article up there.  The "I'm anxious..." feeling fits me to the T, at least in my last relationship. Since that relationship, I've been confused about what I was feeling, if I was reading my feelings correctly, not that it matters anymore, but I was second guessing a lot of it.  So, when I saw this title on facebook, I wanted to read it to see if any of my questions could be answered.  Let's say upfront, I was the initial ender to the past relationship, but it sort of drug on and on until it dwindled.  Anyways,  I really liked the scriptural references in this article!

All of these experiences, whether they're happy or hurtful, are all teaching me many things!  I'm grateful for the lessons.  I know that we have to feel pain and agony in order to understand and feel the greatness and glory!  Wouldn't life be so boring if everything was the same?!

"Increase in Learning"

I've been reading this book, I'm not finished yet, and it's taken me some time.  I've just put reading off. I can't tell you how long it's been since I started it, but for a while I was praying for understanding of some things, and I decided I'd start reading this again.  So, opening the book to where my bookmark was, it said, "Understanding is the keystone that is erected upon the cornerstone of knowledge and precedes intelligence. Interestingly, the word understanding commonly is described in the scriptures in relation to the heart...." and then there was a big section on understanding.  Interesting, huh?! 

Then last night as I was reading, I really liked this part it said about prayer.  "We should be simultaneously persistent in and patient with this active process of asking, seeking, and knocking."  I like the word "persistent".  It's an action word.  There have been things in my life that I've prayed and prayed and prayed for, and then after a long time of not feeling like it's even being heard, I stop praying for that.  What's the point?  Well, in the above quote, and then the section following it in the book, he talks about being persistent, while being patient.

He says, "Simply saying the words 'Thy will be done' is not enough.  Each of us needs God's help in surrendering our will to Him.

'Prayer is the act by which the will of the Father and the will of the child are brought into correspondence with each other' (Bible Dictionary, "Prayer," 752-53).  Humble, earnest, and persistent prayer enables us to recognize and align ourselves with the will of our Heavenly Father.  And in this the Savior provided the perfect exaple as he prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane:

       "Saying, Father if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will,

        but thine, be done...   And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly"

Submitting our will to God's will is a theme often emphasized in the scriptures."  ("Increase in Learning, Bednar, 114)

I love that part in the Bible Dictionary.  My attention was first drawn to it reading this blog.  I can't find the exact post on there, it's been quite sometime, but reading any of the posts would touch your spirit. 

I'm grateful for the power of prayer, and that we have a loving Heavenly Father who knows us and loves us!  I'm grateful for answered prayers, and I'm grateful that I know that those seemingly unanswered prayers are still going to be answered, not in my time frame, but in His.

My conference is over and now my young women leadership meeting is over, so now I can think again.  I have to say that my brain struggled changing from being MidSingles oriented to being Young Women oriented.  I actually was wondering what in the world was wrong with me, and kept praying for direction on what I should do for the leadership meeting, and it didn't come until yesterday.  I guess that's the way it works.  I procrastinate, but eventually it works out.

I don't remember what I posted prior to the conference, about the conference, so I hope I don't bore you with stuff I've already said.

There were moments in the planning of the conference that I questioned what I was doing and why; whether I was being directed in the right direction or if it was just me.  You all know those doubts that creep up.  It was so inspiring and amazing to see how everything pulled together, and be able to see that we really were being guided in what we had planned. 

The friday night activity was going to be night games, but the weather didn't cooperate, it was way too cold.  We ended up doing games inside, though, and it was way fun!  Not all people participated, but it was fun for the ones that did. 

Saturday was full of workshops, service projects, games, a keynote speaker in the morning, food, a Greg Simpson Band concert and a dance with karaoke, video games and a photobooth.  It was awesome!  Elder Fluhman of the Seventy was our keynote speaker.  When I had told Cyd about him, she said that I needed to have his wife speak, as well, because she is a great lady.  I didn't know about doing that, since I hadn't had any contact with him, but I thought it was a great idea.  Well, that morning he walked in, was introduced to me, and said, "Now, Pyper, my wife is here, and I think you need to have her share something."  It was so cool!  She said she'd be fine just listening, but ended up sharing some stuff.  It was great!

The workshops that I got to attend were amazing, and exactly what I felt they should be, when I asked these people to do it.  My stake is great!  I may have mentioned this before, and maybe I'm biased, but we had Louise Sill and Pres. Downs come and present, and I heard comments all day about how their messages had inspired people.  My favorite quote from Louise was that the scriptures always say, "And it came to pass..." they don't say, "And it came to stay..."  It's so true!  All of our trials and struggles come, but they pass, unless we dwell on them.  Then, they won't pass as quickly as they may have.  Our lunch was provided by a guy in our stake, and then the deejay was from our stake.  I sure hope that the stake isn't tired of helping me out, because I already have people in mind for the next time :)

On Sunday night, S. Michael Wilcox did our fireside.  It was amazing!  I have always loved the story of Jesus walking on the water, and coming to save the apostles in the fourth watch of the night.  (http://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/mark/6?lang=eng).  That's how He is, He could save us at the beginning of our trials, but he doesn't.  He comes in when we feel we can no longer handle it.  Bro. Wilcox said we have a fourth watch God, and we're a first watch kind of people.  It's so true!  At the beginning of the fireside, we had the choir sing Precious Savior, Dear Redeemer, arranged to the melody of Homeward Bound.  I have always loved Homeward Bound, however, I have not loved the hymn book arrangement of Precious Savior, Dear Redeemer.  Oh, my word, it was beautiful!  The choir number was a stress for us for quite sometime, but then it just worked out, and I'm so thankful for those that were able to pull it together.  Bro. Wilcox said that there are many songs that remind him of his wife, but there are three specific songs that make him feel her, everytime he hears one of them; and it just so happened that that was one of the songs.  People were close to the spirit when they picked that out.

On friday night, I was so tired, I was laughing uncontrollably.  It was so funny!  I don't think many of the midsingles, if any, have ever seen me like that.  Then, on Sunday during the closing song at the fireside, I just started bawling.  It was so funny, too!  I felt this huge weight lift off of my shoulders, that I hadn't even realized I was feeling. 

There were so many great experiences, even down to having lost my keys, and had many people looking for them.  Then, someone suggested we pray, and within 8 seconds (and I'm not even exaggerating) my keys were found, right where we'd already looked for them.  The turn out wasn't as huge as I was hoping for, hopefully, it will be better next time.  I do know without any doubt that all of those things were meant for someone, if not more than one, and that makes it all worth it!  I'm so grateful for all of the people that helped with everything.  I can't even put into words how grateful I am.  It was such a neat experience, and very educational.