Carried, Lifted, and Supported

When thinking of New York one of the first things that come to mind is the Subway. Of course, there is always the old-fashioned way of getting around on your two feet, but taking the Subway can save you time and energy. Another interesting way to get around New York is to use bike carriers. This is where a trailer with a seat for two is behind the biker and you sit and ride while you are carried around the city. Both modes of transportation bring to mind the importance of allowing others to lift you and carry you when needed. While there we walked 6 to 10.62 miles a day and climbed 23-30 flights of stairs some days. We did all this and we took the Subway often. I can't imagine how exhausted I would have been if I hadn't used the resources available! While we never used a bike carrier, they added an interesting dynamic to the city.  

Another lesson in being lifted comes from our hotel. The hotel we stayed in had two elevators and 26 floors with about 4 rooms per floor. On checkout day, one of the elevators was out of order. Imagine the headache when nearly one hundred guests (our choir tour group) checked out. With all my luggage in hand (my suitcase was NOT small) I waited over 15 minutes for an elevator that never arrived. Because of the delay and my concern that I wouldn't make check out in time, my son and I carried my luggage down 24 flights of stairs. It was exhausting and made me realize how blessed I am to be lifted, carried, and supported in life! Also, I CAN do hard things...but sometimes it's just nice to be supported by modern conveniences! 

You are remembering a moment before you were born

Today on my walk, I listened to the April 2024 conference talk by President Henry B. Eyring entitled, All Will Be Well Because of Temple Covenants. Speaking of seeing the Celestial Room for the first time I heard him say, "I looked up at a high white ceiling that made the room so light it seemed almost as if it were open to the sky. And in that moment, the thought came into my mind in clear words: “I have been in this lighted place before.” But then immediately there came into my mind, not in my own voice, these words: “No, you have never been here before. You are remembering a moment before you were born. You were in a sacred place like this where the Lord could come.”

As I contemplated those words I realized all who are on this earth were in that sacred place called the pre-existence. We each were obedient to our Heavenly Father. We all loved Him and felt His love for us. Just as a young child loves and follows its parents we also adored our Heavenly Parents and had a desire to follow them. The greatest challenge we face is remembering that desire when we are so bombarded and distracted by the things of this world. We must always remember!

"And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall." -Helaman 5:12 

Cedar City Utah Temple Celestial Room

Don't Sit on the Floor

 Every place you go has rules that don't make sense and New York has one that made no sense to me, at the time. While waiting there were moments that benches weren't available. One moment was waiting for the Subway and the other time was waiting for others to finish up an event. When I heard someone say not to sit on the floor of the Subway I figured it was for sanitary reasons. Those floors look like they are rarely mopped. When we were in the neat and tidy building at One Vanderbilt and the security guard asked the kids to stand up I had to ask. Why was this a rule? I mean these kids were exhausted and there were NO benches. Why couldn't they sit on the floor and relax if they wanted to? The answer surprised me. In a city with so many people, in the case of an emergency and everyone running, the kids would not have time to get up. It was literally a rule because it could save their life. This made me realize that there is no harm in asking why. Sometimes knowing why makes it easier to be compliant! 

I chose to share this lesson from New York today because I watched stories about 9/11 this week and that lesson was understood on a deeper level. Some of those who died on 9/11 were trampled as people ran to safety. It's amazing how many changes came from 9/11. I am truly thankful for the opportunity to see the memorial while I was in New York!    

9/11 Memorial Pools

One Vanderbilt

Finding Myself

For nearly four years I was working in customer service and for the last two years I have worked five days a week. Three weeks ago I made a job switch to being a teachers aid and I LOVE it! For a long time I've felt lost and stuck. I didn't know what to do, but I knew I wasn't loving my life. Whenever I discussed changes with my husband I could sense the fear and weight he was concerned about carrying alone, yet I knew I needed something different. I knew I needed something that would give me more time with my boys but still allow me to help with the financial responsibilities of my family. 

I feel truly blessed to have made this shift. I've missed having the time to share my thoughts. I've missed having the mental energy to clean my house. Thank goodness for help from my boys over the last four years. Yesterday my husband asked where all this energy came from as I kept organizing and cleaning. I realized that while working only part time my energy was drained from trying to solve others problems and when I came home I had very little energy or ambition to give to my family or my home.

I am eager to give this platform some of my time and energy as well, because with this shift in my life I feel the sun is shining brighter. I have a greater purpose in my work away from home and I have a greater capacity to give to the people in my home. Thank you for supporting me in my efforts to bring sunshine and light to others! 

Next week I am looking forward to sharing some of the lessons I learned from my trip to the Big Apple back in May! See you then!