Seasoned to Perfection

I am learning the desert country of Arizona has a different temperature gauge than Utah. Summers are sizzling with a gradual cool down to a warm winter. My mind checks in with the calendar to remember the month instead of the thermometer. I have enjoyed the sunshine and warmth, but miss the traditional change of seasons in Utah: fall’s falling leaves, winter’s glistening snow, spring’s popcorn trees, and summer’s glows of green. Besides the seasons of home, I miss celebrating traditions, milestones, and making memories with loved ones.

My heart was filled with hope this week as I realized seasons are more than just changes in the weather four times a year. A season is a time period. Life is filled with seasons: childhood season, softball season, college season, newlywed season, motherhood season, nana season, nursery leader season, teacher season, and much more.

It can be difficult sometimes to wish too soon for a drastic change of seasons. When so doing, we miss the small, insignification millstones that make milestones of change. In the twilight of the season it is then we wish we would have enjoyed the journey more. As a nursery leader, I am amazed at the quick changes the little ones show each week. Yet there spirits hold true to who they are. I love the way they cuddle with me and often hope that quick season does not have to end at the end of church. They are so sweet to learn and grow from, even admist the challenge of the calling.

I continually work on remembering to live life one moment at a time. I've seen a quote once that says, "Life is measure not by the number of breaths you take, but the moments that take your breath away." Each morning as I drive to work, I am in awe at the gorgeous sunerise. In this moment, I think how wonderful it is to find peace knowing that same sun is shining on my loved ones far away.  The light of love knows no distance but connects eternally.

One thing I have found to be the same in Utah and Arizona is the sunshine’s transformation through the seasons. In my perspective, I feel the warmth and glisten of the sun adapts to the season. Yet though the length of the sunshine adjusts to the season, it is constant. To me this emulates God’s everlasting, unconditional love.

Additionally, though I miss the change of relationships with my loved ones, I am grateful for the growth distance provides. It seems it would be a paradox, but in this season of change my heart cultivates love near and far. God’s promise holds true in the way he sends people and angels in our lives at different times. Each expands the shimmer of seasons.

The beauty of the season is not found with stagnancy, but rather the change. Like the four seasons, hope is found in the promise for another one. Seasons bring treasured glimmers of growth. I believe these are God’s magical moments of transformation into our divine self. Though the change between and in seasons is difficult, new insights, love, and faith is formed. By such, we become “seasoned to perfection.”

O Remember, Remember

As everyone is well aware, Arizona is known for the HEAT! Since moving here at the beginning

of September, my body has felt summer has draaaagggged on! Usually in Salt Lake you can feel the change of months with the season changes. In Arizona, I missed that feeling. I kept looking for signs of fall with trees changing and cooler temperatures. However, the 90s continued on. That is until this weekend. I "cold front" came in with a HUGE dust storm. We were grateful for the rain to clear the air.

Now the breeze brings a feeling of fall here. We turned on the heater for the first time yesterday for a few minutes with our apartment only 65. The temperature is just about right, not too hot and not too cold. I love watching the grass turn from brown to green. I guess green grass does grow anywhere :).

Nelson is working hard at school. He will finish the semester the first week of December. It is
fun to see him excited about what he is learning, even though he dreads the common things of school - tests and papers. I am very proud of him!

I am still working at American Leadership Academy. On Tuesday I finished my long term
English middle school substitute position. On Wednesday I was supposed to start as an instructional assistant helping teachers with planning and building the curriculum. However, due to an expired fingerprint card, I am a long term substitute in a 5th grade class until just before Christmas. I am glad to be back with elementary students, yet glad to learn about middle school kids. Most of all, I am grateful for God's watchful care to provide a work opportunity.

We are counting down the days until Christmas break to visit family and friends. We miss and
love you all! When you have a minute we would love to hear from you:D.

This past week I thought about my passion for writing. This is part of a journal entry. . .

Writing has become such an outlet for me during the past few years, especially journal writing. I love the way letters combine to make words that dance together to express inner feelings. At first writing was a way for me to speak when Ed wanted me to remain silent.

This past week, I realized that journal writing has now become a way to speak to Heavenly Father. It is a time to reflect and capture the twinkles of God's miracles in my life. Then as I reread my entries I find strength and glimmers of growth.

President Erying gave a talk in the 2010 general conference entitled, "O Remember Remember." He taught about the importance of remembering God in our daily lives, including journal writing. I connect with the feelings he mentions. I am so grateful for the treasures of blessings God shines upon me each day.

"I wrote down a few lines every day for years. I never missed a day no matter how tired I was or how early I would have to start the next day. Before I would write, I would ponder this question:

“Have I seen the hand of God reaching out to touch us or our children or our family today?” As I kept at it, something began to happen. As I would cast my mind over the day, I would see evidence of what God had done for one of us that I had not recognized in the busy moments of the day. As that happened, and it happened often, I realized that trying to remember had allowed God to show me what He had done. . . .

More than gratitude began to grow in my heart. Testimony grew. I became ever more certain that our Heavenly Father hears and answers prayers. I felt more gratitude for the softening and refining that come because of the Atonement of the Savior Jesus Christ. And I grew more confident that the Holy Ghost can bring all things to our remembrance—even things we did not notice or pay attention to when they happened. . . .

Tonight, and tomorrow night, you might pray and ponder, asking the questions: Did God send a message that was just for me? Did I see His hand in my life or the lives of my children? I will do that. And then I will find a way to preserve that memory for the day that I, and those that I love, will need to remember how much God loves us and how much we need Him. I testify that He loves us and blesses us, more than most of us have yet recognized. I know that is true, and it brings me joy to remember Him.