Spring Cleaning

I must say that there is nothing so inspiring as a spring snow to make one want to clean their entire house...not to mention the fact that one's mother is coming to see one tomorrow. :D Indeed, my house always could use a cleaning, but I'm not cleaning out of fear so much out of respect for a coming guest. I love my mom and want to show that indeed I did learn how to clean and do it well. I've been looking forward to this visit ever since she mentioned coming a few weeks ago...it will be nice to show her how we've arranged furniture and pictures. I love my little home (although I am very very excited to move in May) and I look forward to showing it at it's best.
Isaac and I recently bought new furniture...a sofa and love seat. It is so refreshing to have somewhere to sit or lay in the front room that doesn't require too much upkeep. The $8 love seat we owned before this was dirty even though I cleaned it and always was a pain to get to recline. Now we have some sitting space that is genuinely comfortable and we say to one and all come visit!

Housewife Tendencies

Married life has been an interesting transition for Isaac and myself. We have been learning all kinds of things, including how to go through loss together, how to argue then make up, how to deal with finances, how to support each other while maintaining different opinions on things, etc, etc, etc. It has been an uplifting and challenging experience, but I feel like we have made some beautiful progress in the building of our marital relationship. I'm immensely blessed by the fact that Isaac is my husband. I love him more and more every day and it's simply amazing to me that it's possible to love someone as much as I do him.
Anywho, back to the reason for the title. All the transitioning is coming to a head in the last few days and I am beginning to make real changes in my activities at home. I am now dedicating more and more time to cleaning and maintaining my home at the level I want it to be. I want to invite the Spirit into my house more and more abundantly. It has been amazing to see how just organizing the important papers has created an inclination for cleaning the rest of the house...yup. I'm breaking out of the rut I was in and it is showing not just today but has been showing over several days. Yay for me!

Temblores Chilenos

Late last night I was reading the news and that is when I first encountered the news about the earthquake in Chile. It affected the areas in and surrounding my mission. My prayers are with Chileans everywhere...may you be comforted in this time of distress!

Anoche estaba leyendo las noticias y encontre un articulo sobre el temblor en Chile. Pienso en mis amigos Chilenos y los demas que viven por alla. Oro por todos uds...que el Senor les de consuelo en este tiempo de angustia!

Musings on Religious Freedoms

Today as I was watching country music videos on youtube (and enjoying myself immensely), I noticed some of the comments below one of the songs. One person chose to express how the song made him feel closer to God and how God is there for anyone. I thought that was very appropriate because it was how I felt. Immediately below the comment one man responded something very snide and rude about the person who expressed hope in God. I was taken aback by the ferocity of the attack. I wasn't the only one, as someone else responded to the attacker, suggesting that he had some things to figure out in life. The attacker then responded that he had his life sorted out and had a realistic view of things and then said something to again attack and debase religion. At this point, I couldn't resist the urge to post a response to the poster of the ridiculous outbursts and attacks. My response was clear and concise. I stated that everyone is entitled to an opinion but verbal abuse against people who express something that is different from one's own opinion is childish and as he was an adult I felt no qualms about telling him to learn to be open-minded and leave behind the playground antics.
Pondering this, after posting my response, I can't understand what makes people think that they individually have the right to squelch religious expression. I mean, the original comment didn't say anything about believing in God or go to hell. He merely stated how God gave him hope. Why are people so eager to put out the sparks of hope around them? All I can think is along the lines of 1 Nephi 16:2...Wherefore, the guilty take the truth to be hard, for it cutteth them to the very center. As much as the light of hope illuminates our beings and brings us joy it also exposes the wounds of the soul. The pain that such exposure causes then leads to angry outbursts as the feeling of hurt causes in turn a desire to hurt. It makes sense, but not in a happy way. Growing older and learning to understand the various facets of life and choices and consequences has lead me to better understand the scriptures like the ones where the Savior says 'How oft I would have gathered you as a hen gathers her chickens, but ye would not!' (paraphrased, of course). They would not because they couldn't handle the pain in their own wounded souls...and if the soul had been wounded until it was dead...I hate to think of it. How grateful I am for the gospel. How grateful I am to know that there is hope for me even when I am wounded. The Savior's infinite atonement has healed me time and again in so many different ways I can't help feeling sadness for those who don't have that hope and who shun it because of the pain that is exposed in their lives.
Anyways, sorry about the long rambling, but it's my blog and I have the freedom to write what I want...religious freedom granted by the founding fathers in the constitution and not to be taken away by any one.

The New 'Do

Recognizing Myself

I was sitting here, browsing the various events in people's lives...especially my friends...and a dawning realization came over me. I want to get pregnant again. This is the first time since the miscarriage that I have felt a true desire to have a baby. I guess it stems from the fact that every time I read about someone else's experience with pregnancy (and it seems like ALL of my friends are pregnant or have recently welcomed a new baby into the world) it makes an impression on my thoughts about where I am now. Of course, the doctor said to give it six months, and then I've also heard that sometimes a temporary infertility settles on the woman post-miscarriage, but I guess it all depends on what is right for Isaac and myself.
Speaking of Isaac we have had a beautiful day together. We got up early and went to institute at 8 a.m. (yay me for not sleeping in!!), we played a couple games of pool after the class was over, then he took me to the Jordan River Trail and we got out and walked a portion of it. We then tried to go see a dollar movie, but the only movie we were interested in was listed on the internet but not yet showing at the theater. Weird. So we rented Bride Wars and enjoyed some lighthearted comedy together (after a funny incident with a broken dvd player). Isaac said to me afterward that he would like to make Wednesday day our date time...especially since we don't get any evenings together. I appreciated that sentiment as it hadn't even crossed my mind to worry about date time. Guess I get too caught up in the present sometimes. But I am married to a wonderful man. :)

And Life Continues...

I cannot believe that Isaac and I have been married just short of seven months...and my ring still doesn't fit. Ha ha! Our life together has been interesting, full of love, laughter, occasional fights and the inevitable make-ups. If I was asked right now if I would do it a different way if I had the chance, I would have to respond that I would not. Worries I had prior to our marriage on our 'compatibility' have been completely overturned and I am now grateful that I sought and acted on inspiration. And inspiration continues to play a part in my love of my husband. What could be considered as more inspiring than the inspiration that promotes love? Who and what we love defines us. Inspiration plays its part when it whispers to not say that retort you were working up towards in an argument, to make a special trip to the temple, even to prepare a meal late at night so that when your spouse comes home from work, he comes home to a lovingly prepared dinner. Where would we be without such divine whisperings to the heart?