Sunday Reflections

Today is perfect. My niece and second cousin are up in my room playing "college". I couldn't be more proud that 1. They know I love them enough that they can mess up my room for the gazillioneth time and I still won't mind and 2. They play college! What a great thing to play!

I just love life. Isn't life just splendid? Tis it is. 

Today was a perfect Sunday! I got to teach my Gospel Principles class. Oh it is fun! The class is very diverse, so it has been interesting trying to see what their favorite teaching style is. I haven't quite figured it out but I AM SO DETERMINED TO! 

Then during the third hour the missionaries came and gave a presentation on member missionary work. I LOVED IT! They had me fill out a brainstorm list! And I was determined to put as many names as I could! I actually surprised myself with just how many people I had on that thing. I have a bigger circle then I knew! 

Today I got to also teach the Young Women's in my home ward, and oh my heavens, I loved that!!!  I was asked to share how I decided to serve a mission and how it has changed my life. BEST TOPIC IN THE ENTIRE WORLD!!!!!!! I loved it. I so loved being able to share it with 12-18 year old. When I stood up to start talking the spirit really hit me about how important this topic is for this age group and just how much power they each hold to do so much good in the world. I may sound old saying this, but there is so much hope and goodness in the cute little rising generation! 

Besides that I have immersed myself in working! I worked every single day this week! Made me definitely ready for the wonderful sabbath day! Heavenly Father is so neat that He gives us this day of worship and rest. I don't see why some people complain against it! I worked 11 hours straight yesterday. What I love it the most is that I get to meet so many people! I love PEOPLE! I really, really, really love people! It is good to change your circle up! 

And let me tell you, I love work! I get to drive around all day, use my house finding skills from the mission. In fact, so many things from the mission help me with the pizza delivery process. But instead of bring the gospel to the homes of the people, I bring pizza, which even though it is amazing, it will never compare with the value of the gospel. Silly isn't it that people will pay for pizza to come to your door but when you offer them all the happiness (through Christ's teachings) in the world knocking on their door, they turn it down.

I am just basically really happy with life right now! I even got to use my Spanish at work yesterday! BEST MOMENT IN THE HISTORY OF EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!! OH HAPPY DAY! I went to deliver a pizza and a little boy opened the door with the money and what looked to be his grandma stood aloofly behind. From those clues I knew that they had to be able to speak Spanish speaking, and the grandmother must not know english and was having her grandson translate. So after introducing myself I asked the grandma in Spanish if she so spoke Spanish. The moment I ended the question her faced bursted with sunshine and relief. She looked so happy to see that she could talk to me about the money exchange. The little boy also got really, really, really, really excited and excitedly spoke to me in Spanish. There isn't a better feeling than seeing someone get so excited because you share their language. I love my life! She even gave me a tip "una propia" that I wouldn't have gotten without the language! 

EmRo

#BecauseHeLives

I love my Savior and Friend Jesus Christ. I know He lives and that He is here for us for every moment of our lives. There are special moments in my life where I can look back and identify where He was standing by me. My constant Friend is always teaching me and helping me to become better. Because He lives, I can live to be better than who I am each day.

What has changed in you because Jesus Christ lives?

Please visit this website: He is Here

A Wee Bit of a Thang. The Fitbit.

Ever since the day I got home from my mission, my amazing running sister kept on raving about something called a "Fitbit". It is this little device that you wear all day long and it tracks healthy stuff. Real technical definition, I know. You can now applaud.

Well this little Fitbit has many options to  help someone make goals and socially connect with friends to challenge each other to reach their goals. Amy kept on telling me I needed to get one of these things but it was one-hundred bucks that I didn't have around. So I lived without one....

Until Amy gave me one only over a week ago. It is so helpful! So much more so than I ever imagined! I have goals I have made and I try to meet them each day! So, tonight after work, I cleaned a bit with the extra energy I get from work. Then I realized I was so close but so far away from reaching my goals. I ran stairs for ten minutes. I reached my steps and stair goals doing that. But I still had a half-mile distance goal difference to make. So I then ran outside at 10:10 at night in my backyard. BEST PART!!!: It was raining again! Happiness!

So, now I have introduced you to the world of the Fitbit. It is a wee bit insane.

<Recent picture from MOAB trip. Rock climbing is fun as you see just how many steps and staircases you are getting on a Fitbit>

Running in the Rain

Today, after my morning study of the teachings of Jesus Christ, I kicked my day off with a run! Breaking news! I am training for a 10k. Try telling that to my middle-school self back in the day.

I remember when the, once a year, mile run day would roll around. I would grimace just thinking about "running" a mile. In my mind I might as well have been sentenced to conquer Mount Everest.

In fact, just to prove my point I will tell you this: the day of the run my P.E. teacher said the lowest grade anyone could get on the run would be a B. I panted away from P.E. that day with a D. Two marks lower than was supposedly possible.

But guess what. This morning I ran, in the rain, and loved it! And much more than a mile. And I cut off five minutes of my pace. Now my sister has printed off a neat training program and I will be running a 10k in June.

Take that middle school me.

You will one day run a mile and LOVE IT!

<Picture below was a gaggle of wild turkeys that crossed my path along the way>

What Do You Like To Do For Fun, Emma?

This week while at work, a fellow pizza maker asked me some "getting to know you questions". He reached one that for some strange reason seems to make me stumble.

He asked, "What do you like to do for fun?"

Simple enough of a question, one would think. But not for me. It stumps me every time!

This is always what happens in my brain:

Enter question.... <WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO FOR FUN?>

Brain computing...... Answer located.

SCHOOOL>>>> I LIKE SCHOOOLLLLL!!!! SCHOOOOL. HOMEWORK. GO LEARN. SCHOOL PROJECTS> HAPPY. SCHOOL. HOMEWORK!

Yep. How am I suppose to say that out loud? I mean, I definitely am not ashamed of my love for school, but people want to hear things they can share with you. SO I am stuck as my brain goes along screaming school.

I answer with one word. Music. I like music.

But then that leads to all new questions about what kind of music I like and I don't know how to define that either.

The one thing I do know is that I like more than what my brain gives me credit for during these "getting to know you" situations. Not too long ago someone labeled me as an appreciator. I just love loving things. I think it is true too! I don't usually let people label me, but I will take that one.

I appreciate so many things! I am a good seeker, Article of Faith 13 explains it perfectly. I want to fill my life with PRAISEWORTHY things. That is what I am going to do for the next few months, come here and share with you all the good things I am seeing in the world!

Hopefully along the way my brain can realize I like more things than school and music!

Love,
EmRo