Crash!

My, my, my, yesterday was eventful..

I hadn't planned on going to the YSA Branch but I felt like I needed to be there. I drove to the car pool, debating the whole drive, but I wound up being glad I attended. Many of the talks and much of the Sunday School and 3rd hour lessons really resonated for me.

Then FHE was awesome. My friend Orla and her fiancee Travis gave the lesson and it was pretty sweet.
On my way home, I dropped by the Sisters house to drop off the umbrella one of them had forgotten in my car. We talked for a couple moments and as I was preparing to leave, Sister Houston says "Text us when you get home so we know you made it safe" - "I'm only 5 minutes from home, but okay... will do."

Little did I know...

The light had just turned green and I was making the left turn onto the road that my apartment complex is on, when a guy ran the red light in front of me. I literally had just enough time to take my foot off the gas and we collided, hard. I was only going maybe 15 miles an hour, but he had to be close to 60.

I just sat there in the middle of the intersection too shocked to move for a good minute or so. Then I slowly pulled forward and off to the side, so cars could go around me. My first thought was "Oh my gosh, I was just in an accident". I was trembling and my chest hurt so badly where the seat-belt had grabbed me.  A guy who was in the car behind me pulled over as well and came over to check on me. Once we determined that I seemed to be okay, he went to check on the guy who hit me. I still don't know if that other person is okay.

The police showed up and asked me a few questions. I gave them my info and they walked off. Then the initial shock wore off and I could feel myself becoming hysterical. I knew I needed someone to talk to or I was going to completely lose it and I needed to stay rational. I called the first name that popped into my mind, a set of Sisters I work with frequently. I apologized for the lateness of my call (almost 10 pm) and explained what had just happened. I just asked them to please talk to me. I needed to not feel alone. Sure, I handle claims for work, but it is very different being in the accident yourself. They stayed on the phone with me for about 20 minutes or so, until a couple minutes before the police officer told me I was okay to drive home (since I was less than a quarter of a mile from home).

As I was waiting for the police officer to bring me the sheet of info, I called my home ward Bishop, explained what had happened and asked if he would meet me at my home and give me a blessing.

I was so dazed that I didn't even get out of the car til I got home. Then I discovered just how bad the damage was. My drivers door barely opened enough for me to get out. I looked at the front end and saw that my driver-side headlight was gone as was half of my front bumper, the hood was crumpled up. I couldn't believe that I'd been able to drive it home. I immediately said a prayer thanking Heavenly Father for protecting me. Looking at the damage, I knew that I could have been injured so much worse than I was.

I was so grateful when Bishop showed up with his wife. The blessing of comfort truly brought peace to my soul. I know that the only reason I was and am so calm today about dealing with this, is because of that blessing. I truly don't know how I ever lived without the power of the priesthood in my life.

Today I just kept thinking about the events of last night and my reaction. I realized that I truly had changed. The me that is about to enter 2014 has very little in common with the me that entered 2013. To be able to immediately see His protection and blessing in a bad situation is something I have learned (the hard way) to do over the course of the last year.

I am so grateful for His protection and for all He has taught me over the last year. I am a little bummed to end what has been one of the best years of my life on a down note but all is well. I know that good things lie ahead and this is but another trial for me to learn from and grow.

Estoy muy agradecida por el amor y poder de mi Padre Celestial en mi vida!

One Year Ago...

I've been in a very reflective mood all day and was thinking how one year ago today, my Heavenly Father gave me a 2nd Christmas gift of eternal significance. He prompted my bishop to have the Elders put me in touch with the only Sister missionaries in the area. One year ago today I met with my Hermanas for the very first time... Little did I know when I first welcomed Hermana Schroeppel and Hermana Coleman into my home and my life, just how much things would change.

One year ago, I attended church a couple times a month and wasn’t really “there”…

Now, I may go to two wards in a single day and enjoy what I learn.

One year ago, I had not even begun to understand the Atonement…
            Now, I can barely comprehend how I ever lived without applying it in my life.

One year ago, I had no idea when I would be ready to be re-baptized.

Now, I delight in taking the Sacrament each week to renew the baptismal covenants I made on September 3^rd.

One year ago, I would have laughed at the idea of myself serving a mission…

Now, I am counting down the days ‘til I can apply for permission to serve, and I take every opportunity I get to help the Sisters with the work.

One year ago, I thought losing weight was impossible…
            Now, I have lost over 20% of my body weight.

One year ago, I had barely opened my scriptures a dozen times outside of church…

Now, I’ve read the Book of Mormon 3 times this year and am starting to make my own connections between the scriptures.

One year ago, I thought learning a language was beyond me…

Ahora, yo encontrar gozo en aprendiendo y estudiando español.

Twelve months seems so long and so short at the same time. I feel like I have lived several lifetimes in the last year; it doesn’t seem possible that so much can be lived in such a short time.

This life truly is a gift from God and I testify that it works best when we follow the instruction book that came with the gift.

On the bright side...

So I found out yesterday that I have to wait longer than I thought to put in my mission papers AND I may not even be able to submit them at all.

Stake President contacted me yesterday to let me know that he had spoken to Salt Lake. They indicated that I would not be even able to submit my papers until after my one year mark and that after my one year mark had passed, we would have to apply to the First Presidency for permission for me to serve a mission. If they grant permission (and I pray they will), then I would be able to submit my mission papers.

My first reaction was "Really? More waiting. Yay!" (and I'm not usually sarcastic.)

But then I stopped and thought. So many blessings have come into my life this year as a result of "His timing" playing out in my life.

If things had happened when I wanted them to...

I would not have learned patience. 

I would not have learned to trust Him even more. 

I would not have developed the strength to push through the hard times. 

I would not have made some of the amazing friends that I have, who helped me through the dark days and taught me to see the silver lining instead of seeing just the clouds,

I would not have learned that I CAN do hard things.

Today, I pondered more about the additional time to prepare that has been given me and I have become grateful for the additional time I have been asked to wait.

The extra time means...

I have more time to lose more weight as I strive to have a healthy body for my life and my mission.

I will have the opportunity to welcome most of my missionary friends home, and learn from them.

I can get even better grounded in the Gospel and become more comfortable with teaching, so that I can focus on who I am teaching because I am comfortable with what I am teaching.

I will get to go through the temple for my endowment and return to the temple several times before I put my papers in and then (hopefully) report for my mission.

As it says in Ecclesiastes 3:1

                1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

His timing really is the best, sometimes its just really hard to see that. I may not be able to see the itinerary for my life but I trust with all my heart the one who wrote it, so I am going to keep following the lead of my shepherd and know that He has my eternal life in mind, not just my mortality.