Going at your own pace...

I love to go swimming! I love almost everything about it. But every time I go swimming I am faced with a question. Jump right in or go in at my own pace. It is a good question to ponder life with..

We had a pool growing up and my family were all jumper's. A little water on the back of the neck and we were set! I was safe, I was resilient and it was one of the very few endorphin rushes that I was happy to experience. Some would say that jumping right it in ALWAYS the way to go. "Just get it over with" is heard around water along with "hurry and dunk your head under that is the worst part" and "it's like ripping off a band aide, it only hurts for a minute". In fact we were such a family of jumper's that when anyone came over and tried to ease in... those tauntings were coming from us.

Funny enough over the years I have become an "ease your way in" kinda girl.

Easing into the water inching down, planning in my head how far up my next step into the deep will take me, sorting out just how quickly or how slowly I need to go to let the cold of the water ease into my body thus preventing shortness of breath, goosebumps and the anxiousness of being too cold too quick? In that moment I focus on the warm sun on my back and how it can camouflage the cold of the water rising over my thighs. It is enjoyable and relaxing. I smile and I laugh at the wave that takes me by surprise. I am safe and although not so resilient, still an occasional rush.

As someone who now goes at my own pace, I have learned a valuable thing. There is nothing, Nothing, NOTHING worse than being in my zone, easing myself in, and a "Jumper" coming along and trying to dunk you! As a former jumper I understand their point of view. Jumpers honestly think that it is fun, and for the best and that if they can help you get wet faster you can come and enjoy the fun! WRONG... Once the dreaded dunk has occurred, all that I want to do is RECOIL!

I guess I think that in life there are times to jump right in! Jump into that new job! Jump into the gym! Jump into reading scriptures, eating healthier, praying every day, and into being positive. But there are also times when it is OK to go at my own pace. When I need to feel safe, when my heart is out for others to see, when I have been burned before....

So please, If I tell you I am going at my own pace don't try to dunk me!

We are... Back!

“Every person should keep a journal and every person can keep a journal. It should be an enlightening one and should bring great blessings and happiness to the families. If there is anyone here who isn’t doing so, will you repent today and change—change your life?” Spencer W. Kimball

“Your journal should contain your true self rather than a picture of you when you are ‘made up’ for a public performance.... The truth should be told, but we should not emphasize the negative” (Spencer W. Kimball, “President Kimball Speaks Out on Personal Journals,” New Era, Dec. 1980, 26).

So, here I am repenting... I have a lesson to give this Sunday about journal keeping. In preparation for my lesson I came across these two quotes and they hit home, HARD. I have never been good at keeping a journal. I have tried many times and end up writing for a few days and then stopping. So, here I am... repenting. My new online journal.

I came home from youth tonight and was talking to Eki about what I was feeling and wanting to be better.. He could hardly believe what I was saying. I would never believe it, he told me, but just yesterday he had the thought come to him at work that he needed to start a journal. I do believe him. We are married, connected and Heavenly Father wants us to grow together. Of course he would prompt both of us for the same thing. This is not the first time it has happened nor will it be the last.

We were talking to each other about what my journal should include. About the possibility of ANYONE reading it. We spoke of wanting to be honest and yet always positive. In the midst of all of this I thought to myself, whatever would I write my first entry about? Just then it started to rain and we had to hurry down to our house before we got soaked! On the way down the path to our house, after my fourth step, what do I see? A HUGE Possum!! Just chillin in the middle of the walk! I scream. It stares at me. I jump back and yell for Eki. It still stares. Eki throws a rock at it. It STILL stares, and right then it hit me.. My first subject! So, thank you, possum that made me scream on the way home.

How often are our trials in life like that possum? We cruise along thinking everything is dandy and as we turn a corner, BAM! TRIAL! It could be anything.. And of course human nature we think just by spotting it, it should go away.. but no, it stays and stares. So then we get upset and maybe a little scared and scream for it to go away.. but no, it isn't scared by you, it just stares back. Throw a rock at it... sometimes this works.. but sometimes... more staring. SO what can you do? Well tonight, I took a few minutes.. Got up my courage! Made sure that Eki was in between me and the possum the whole way down and I slowly made my way past it to the security of my home. What more can we do? Get up our courage face our trials put Christ in between as a buffer and make our way safely home.

Yup, like I said thank you, possum that made me scream on the way home. I like the thoughts that you brought to me.

P.S. Anyone know what to do about a possum problem?