Humbled

You know how sometimes when we are struggling on our path, God just picks us up and carries us to the next point, even if we don't deserve it?

Today I felt Him do just that.

His hand is guiding my life.

And I see His hand guiding my family.

Today I attended church with my family and watched my dad get called to be a new bishop. I realized how much the Lord blesses my family over and over, helping us grow and be so much more than we are. I realized--the Lord never lets us be who we are, because he knows who we can be.

Sometimes it hurts. Sometimes it is a refiner's fire. Sometimes it is a molding process that seems like it will never end. Sometimes we cannot figure out why it has to be as hard as it is.

But then you realize that the Lord is in it all, and with Him you are safe.

When you see that He is the refiner, the sculptor, the creator, the master craftsman of your life...it doesn't matter what you will face, because He will guide you through it.

He will carry you through it.

The Happiest Place on Earth

I recently went to the happiest place on earth--Disneyland.

And it really is a happy place...but the happiest? I don't know about that.

Here are the details:

How many people? Me, five brothers, two sisters, two parents, two uncles, two aunts, seven cousins, and two grandparents for a grand total of 23. Yes, Mr. Ride Operator, that's a group of twenty-three for you to fit in.

Were there family t-shirts? Of course! All different colors...we looked amazing.

My favorite ride ever: Definitely Soaring Over California...the smell of orange orchards, the rush of the wind, and the feeling of flying over some of the most beautiful places on earth...

Favorite ride in Disneyland: Space Mountain. What is cooler than traveling through space with cool theme music in the background?

Favorite little kid ride: Peter Pan...I always wanted to go to Neverland!

Favorite treat in Disneyland: The pineapple spears. There is nothing better than fresh pineapple on a hot day.

Least favorite ride: The orange ride in California Adventures. The sound of buzzing bees combined with the fact you are going around and around while you are looking up at the cords that are holding your seat only and wondering what the chances are that your particular cords would break...I don't know why, but it just didn't do it for me.

Scariest Ride: Tower of Terror. But really cool too.

Funniest moment: When the photographer told my family that we were doing pictures of single families (not multiple families) and my mom told her "this is one family." (Having eight kids in one family kind of throws people off...)

Favorite moment: Maybe sitting by my little sister on the edge of the New Orleans boat and watching mallard ducks...or maybe it was seeing all my extended family sit together for the Fantasmic show...or the magical look in my little brother's eyes when he got to talk with a real princess...or it could have been seeing my grandpa and grandma hold hands as they walked together through Disneyland...I really couldn't choose...

Okay, I admit it...Disneyland really is the happiest place on earth...if you have your family with you!

Kings Who Eat Their Good Grains

Tonight my little sister asked me, "So you know Shavashti?"

"Who?" I asked.

"Shavasti."

Thinking maybe she was talking about a certain crab on The Little Mermaid, I said, "Oh, Sebastian."

"No, Shavashti...you know, the queen...and the one that saved her people?"

It took me a minute, and then I realized she was talking about Vashti in the book of Esther.

She then energetically told me all about how Esther saved her people and then stopped in mid story and said, "You know Daniel? Well, he wouldn't eat the kings food 'cause it wasn't healthy" and then she told me the story of Daniel.

I had my scriptures nearby so I started reading her the story of Esther in the Bible. As I was reading the part where Queen Vashti disobeyed the king she stopped me and said confidently...

"Well, I wouldn't obey a king who didn't eat his good grains."

I erupted with laughter. She turned to me and said quizzically, "Why's that so funny?"

Somehow she had combined Bible stories with the king in Daniel and the king in Esther.

Maybe Vashti was just sticking to her "good grains" when she got kicked out of the palace.
Who knows?!

Sweet Kiss

Today I was awakened by a kiss on my cheek from my little sister. As I opened my eyes I saw a two wide eyes and a five-year old body full of excitement, wondering why I was still asleep. She giggled as she crept under the covers with me and told me how she could count to 900 and how many friends she had.

It's good to be home.