Blessings & Updates

I disappeared from my blog for a while. 

It's probably because I have been too busy being incredibly happy.

I love my life. I just want you to all know that.

 I love that people in my life. I love my blessings. I love that I am not perfect, yet it is still possible to be loved and forgiven. I love that I know who I am and why I am here. And that when I forget for a minute what I'm supposed to be doing, I can always be reminded by the incredible people who surround me. I love my Savior and the knowledge that He lives. That even though He was perfect, He suffered for our sins, our burdens and trials. He knows everything we go through and has a perfect love for us. He knows my name. He knows my trials, He knows my fears.

"Perfect love casteth out all fear" John 4:18

I have this favorite song right now, it's from my "churchy" playlist, but one day it came on shuffle while I was doing my make up. And it has changed the way I think and helped strengthen my testimony of God's plan. 

It's called Blessings by Mercy River.

The lyrics that stick out to me are:

"What if Your blessings come through raindrops?

What if Your healing comes through tears

What if a thousand sleepless nights

Are what it takes to know You’re near?

What if trials of this life

Are Your mercies in disguise?

When friends betray us, when darkness seems to win

We know the pain reminds this heart

That this is not, this is not our home

It’s not our home

What if my greatest disappointments

Or the aching of this life

Is the revealing of a greater thirst

This world can’t satisfy?

Basically we all have trials; we all have disappointments; we all cry and some nights we can't sleep. All those little trials, could be blessings, they could be mercies in disguise. And I believe that. A lot of the times I think the trials in my life are so hard, and then when all is said and done I see how much of a blessing it all was. In most of my trials, I can feel stressed and just want to give up, but as I keep moving forward I eventually realize how life would never be as wonderful without the trial I had just gone through.

Trials can lead to knew opportunities.

Trials can provide new strengths.

Trials can be blessings.

I was thinking about the trials in my life and the blessings that came from them. I was receiving joy from my trials and then it got a little bit worse. I saw the blessing from this trial and this trial... but then my faith got a little shaky when the trials kept coming and I wasn't seeing the blessings in them.

That is why this song is such a testimony to me. 

"The pain reminds this heart that this is not... our home"

"What if my greatest disappointments or the aching of this life is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy?"

Sometimes our trials cannot be readily recognized and blessings or mercies. However, sometimes our trials are just a necessary reminder that there is so much more than this life... that the pain we go through here and the suffering is a test. That joy we seek when life on earth gets hard, is the thirst for so much more, so much more that cannot be reached until we make it back to our Heavenly Father.

Life gets hard.

It gets stressful.

I know, because I keep getting stress-induced shingles that hurt like a mother.

And I'm probably going to have to see a shrink to deal with it.

I feel defeated and discouraged.

I feel anxious and nervous.

I go to bed scared and worried some nights.

But everyday I wake up and have to remind myself

that there is more to this life,

that trials are blessings,

that putting trust in the Lord

and faith in His plan

is the only way to find that joy.

.

Now for a little update on my life

Concerning work:

I work for a day care and I LOVE it.

And a couple hours every couple weeks, 

I will be cleaning for a cute 95 year old man.

Concerning health:

I am battling shingles. 

They went away for about a week and a half. 

And just recently the pain has returned. 

I think I just need to stop stressing (easier said than done).

Concerning my best friend:

It's her birthday week.

And I love her.

Concerning my other best friend:
It's time to play phone tag!!!

Concerning my family:

 I'm almost an aunt.

Concerning my love life:

It couldn't be better.

I was stalling this part.

There may be questions and concerns.

There may be opinions and gossip.

But as far as my personal life is concerned.

I'll leave you here to wonder for now.

Or maybe ask me personally perhaps :)

I am a little feisty, because assuming things...

or lecturing me with opinions out of no where

 is not appreciated by me (or my shingles). ;)

As helpful as some of you think you are...

Just try and remember that I am happy.

I am so beyond happy.

I honestly didn't know that it could be this good.

Day One

I am kicking myself for ever settling on anything less.

I am amazed at how blessed I have been 

to be with such a wonderful boyfriend.

He makes me better.

He makes me happy.

He is a reason I am loving my life.

One Month in :)

And that folks is all the juicy details I will reveal.

I love you all :)

Have a fabulous week.