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.