Home Dazzle

For approximately the past two weeks I have been abroad, well on a car trip. We braved long hours in the car, stopping in Colorado, New Mexico, and for the most time; Texas.
It was fantastic. And I mean it too. Vacation means a whole lot more when you live on a farm!
But there's something special about home. And right now I'm in what I have decided to call, the Home Dazzle. It's when everything about home is beautiful. Even doing chores to make it look cleaner. (The chickens still don't sound quite that fun to feed but I'll manage.)
It's difficult to explain, and my writing skills are rusty. (Vacation does stuff like that.) But nonetheless I'll try.

Karen Arnold

Upon hopping out of the car a deep blue sky greeted my eyes, the stars shining brilliantly, a sight I had missed dearly. Sadie whimpered till my Mom said hello, and I soon followed, petting her affectionately.When I walked into the house last night (or rather this morning) the lights were dimmed and the air seemed hazy. The floors were mopped and the counters cleared. I blinked a few times to make sure I wasn't hallucinating. I made my way to my room, laughing at myself when I saw the little messes I made in haste to pack and get out the door. I switched my tank light on and watched my fish swim around in the water, enjoying the small current from the filter. My bed was wonderful, crawling into it in clean pajamas and snuggling with my quilt as it still hung lopsided, shorter by the wall and touching the floor where I hop in. But it didn't matter, it felt exactly like my bed feels on a regular basis, and that was what I wanted. Truly "There's no place like home."

Scavenger Hunt for Happiness

In life we all experience different challenges. We all have different family and living situations, different trials, whether physically or spiritually. All of those things can build us up, or break us down. It just depends on what we decide to do with what we have.
Often times it is easy to wish for more. If only we had this, we would be happy. If only this happened, we would be happy. The very thing we want though is right in front of our nose. If we were to only take a step back, a deep breathe, and look, we would see that we can be happy.
I don't have a magical solution to make all  problems go away. I can't give instructions and tell people that everything will be perfect. But I do know this. I know that if someone is unhappy it is because they choose to be, whether consciously or not.

"When life seems just a dreary grind,

And things seem fated to annoy,

Say something nice to someone else

And watch the world light up with joy."

--Anon.

 Last night for a youth activity we put this into action. This is what I wrote about it last night:

 Tonight for mutual we went on a Scavenger Hunt. However it was unique. We had three challenges.
1-Find a youth in our ward who was not at the activity, invite them to come, and bring them along. 

2-Share your testimony with someone. 

3-Invite someone to church. 

Potato Chips by Junior Libby

For each challenge accomplished we earned an item of food afterwards at the campsite for dinner. We went to my neighbors house and invited Mckaylin, a girl my age. She was babysitting so couldn't come. Two of the other young women pushed me right up to the door then and told me to bear my testimony! Mckaylin and I both stood there a little awkwardly so I turned it around and invited her to church. Next we went to the people next door and ended up picking up both of their boys to join us for the activity. Last but not least we went to "Uncle Bob"'s to bear our testimony. We all ended up bearing our testimony. It was a great activity. Then we had a brother in our ward give a ten minute talk about it. It was a very special experience. I am very glad we were able to do that. It was fun, spiritual, and both physically and spiritually fattening. 

Everyone was in high spirits when we reached the camp spot. A young woman in a different car told us this experience, that is just too good to leave out. 

We were driving along and we saw this bicyclist (in our ward boundaries) so I rolled down my window and asked him if I could bear my testimony, and we could keep on rolling along while I do it. He said sure. I bore my testimony, said Amen. He said that it took a lot of courage to do what I did and thanked me. Then we dispersed paths.

I know that these principles work. For that short amount of time I was able to get my mind off of me and my problems and share happiness with others. I invite all people to do the same.

Quiet Happiness

This past week I have been learning the sensation of quiet happiness.
It is a feeling that has become dear to my heart. Even now, as I try to find words adequate to describe it, tears brim in my eyes. These are tears of joy and of sorrow; Sorrow because I was missing out on so much for so long, and Joy because I have finally found it.
People often talk of how some of their most touching moments weren't the "Wow!" moments, but the moments that came in increments, slowly piercing their soul and healing their hearts. I thought I knew what they were talking about, maybe at one point I did but I lost it, I now know once again.
Explaining sacred things like this are difficult to do. It really is something that needs to be experienced, and no matter how many articles you read about how people have felt it, the only way you'll know it is when you feel it yourself. When you do, you will know.
I am at a loss for words now, unable to describe the way I have felt this new blessing in my life. It wasn't in one moment, but I didn't have to wait eons for it to come either, I just started looking for it, and it slipped into a comfortable place in my soul, a feeling I don't want to lose.
I see things from a different perspective. I see things people do that are hurtful, and I sigh knowing someday I will do those things. So I make a mental note of the experience, hoping it will resurface when I face it in my life.
There is not much more I can say. Commands from my fingers will not transfer this feeling to the people reading this, but I do hope that it may inspire a desire, and that is all I wish to do.
This article feels so imperfect, but it is here, maybe someday I will find the perfect words to give you just a taste of quiet happiness.