Thank you!

I have a lot of thoughts going through my head, but can't seem to find something to write about.

I have had a busy week. I spent all my break working. I don't know if that was a good idea because that meant that I didn't get a break between semesters at all. And I am now thinking..."I don't want to go back to teach!" I am really not ready to start a semester, nor do I want to. I can tell that this will be the longest semester I will have. Because I would be looking forward to it ending...See my sisters are coming at the end of July. So, I will be counting the days waiting for them which will make time go really really slowly. 

I didn't even do any yard work so I will have to do that next week. I went to Idaho Falls a lot and worked. I guess it was still good to have a week without teaching...

Spring seems to be finally starting here. It is nice to hear the birds sing happily outside...They came back to Rexburg (after being in the south for the Winter), but they came back way too soon (like early March). For a few weeks they just made painful noises (especially when it was below freezing) telling us they are freezing and I would respond "Well, what made you come back so soon?" You would think they would know that Spring in Rexburg starts really late. But, it lasts only a week and I guess they don't want to miss it so they come early. 

Around this time of year, I would sit outside in our garden with my mother and we would eat fresh lemons from our garden or oranges. The cats would be there trying to get our attention. I miss those sweet moments with my mother. 

I love being outside and can't wait to go camping and hiking and enjoying the areas around here in the summer. 

My book is selling well, I am happy the good feedback I get is more than the bad. I visited over skype with some women from Utah during their book club. They tell me there is a waiting list at the library for my book, and that list is 65 people long. 

For a short message today I want to remind you how important you are. If you are reading this blog then I probably know you or you know me. I want you to know that you have made an influence in my life. Whoever you are! All my friends mean so much to me. I never have time to keep in touch with all of you. I wish I did. I wish I could visit you all and see you often. 

Heavenly Father cares about all His children. We are all precious in His sight.  I wanted to thank you for being you! For the kindness you show others and for the person you are. 

My heart aches because I know too many that are depressed. They feel they are worthless because of what others have said about them or because they associate with the wrong crowd. Someone can step on a $20 dollar bill, but it is still worth $20. Nothing anyone does to you can lower your worth. You are a special Son or Daughter of God...and He loves you! You are loved by the most majestic being in the universe. There is divinity within you. Don't ever doubt that and don't ever doubt your great potential. 

If you are down or depressed, get on your knees and plead with your Father in Heaven. He will strengthen you and bless you. Your trials may not go away, but the Savior WILL share your yoke. "Come unto me," he says "all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you...for my yoke is easy and my burden is light." May we all come unto Him, the fountain of living waters, the source of peace, the source of comfort, even our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

I hope you all will have a great week!

Love not Hate

It is late and I am tired so this won't be long. I try to write a post weekly even if I have nothing useful to write. I think in a way it is like keeping a Journal. Sometimes I have a lot to say and other times I struggle. 

It has been a long day. Sunday is supposed to be a day of rest, oh how I wish I could rest. Somehow with my hip issue, I can't sit or lie down. So, that makes relaxing hard! Today I actually seemed to have aches all over, not just in my hip. I think I sat too long or something. 

I am trying to find a way to buy a foam chair that I can sit in without any problem. But, I just can't figure out how to do that. I may have to buy a foam mattress and cut it to make a chair ;)

I just finished listening to President Nelson speak at the Jerusalem Center. I wish I was there. It was an amazing meeting. I am working on translating it into Arabic. I don't know why I decided to do that...I think just seeing members from the Bethlehem branch in that meeting without any translation when there were Spanish and Russian translation going on made my heart ache. I still feel native members of the church in Palestine get lost through the cracks. I know how much they struggle and I know how much Heavenly Father loves them, but there are so many foreigners in the Jerusalem district that local members get pushed to the side sometimes.

Elder Holland said that the day of having President Nelson in Jerusalem was a significant day. It always is significant to have a prophet in Jerusalem. 

Sadly that same day, US troops were bombing areas in Syria. My heart aches for the Syrian people and I wish their suffering would end. It seems like every time the US decides to take down a dictator, half of the people are taken down with him and that country suffers for years after. It happened in Iraq, Afghanistan, Egypt, Yemen and now Syria. I think if you ask any of the people living in those countries they would say they would go back to the dictator's rule any day rather than go through what they are going through now. The few Syrians I know like Bashar Al-Asad, the few Iraqis I know adored Saddam Husein...I wish we could fix countries without killing innocent people.

I don't know why people fight. I never understood war. I understand fighting for your freedom and for justice, but I don't understand when people in the same country who are neighbors, fight each other. Then you have another country who thinks they can teach them not to kill each other by killing them. 

I should not say more on this...I just wish there was more love in the world! But, we may need the Savior to come back to teach us what true charity really means.

The semester is over and we have one week break before we start again! I need more than a week. That is NOT enough. I am so tired and I just want to rest. I did rest on Saturday...all day I did nothing. Just went shopping then slept. But, I feel that may be the only break I get. I need to get busy preparing my classes.