It's all about the small things

I'm not sure where to start this blog at. It's been a pretty self defining couple of weeks. When I had my interview with my stake president to get released as a missionary he told me that I had some big decisions to make in the next 24 hours. Not sure if he was talking about how I had to figure out where I was living and all the stress of moving so soon, I wasn't sure what he was referring to. He continued and said that my biggest decisions would be if I keep up all the seemingly small things. I never realized what big decisions those would turn out to be. It's pretty easy as a missionary to have a good study habit, to have really personal prayer, and to find time to serve God. You'd have to fight pretty hard to not do any of that. But now that I've been released and have been thrown back into the real world I see how hard it really is to keep that up. No one expects it of me and I have to make the time for it. All the things that I taught people before about making sacrifices and making God a priority are now being put to the test in my own life. I'm realizing now just how desperately we need to make the little things priorities. I was reading this morning in 1 Nephi when Lehi's father finds the liahona (the compass that led them in the right way) and how only through faith and diligence would it lead them in the right way. It was the small means by which the Lord could bring about great things (1 Nephi 16:28-29) 
Elder Richard G. Scott said "Be certain that every decision you make, whether temporal or spiritual, is conditioned on what the Savior would have you do.”

With all the decisions I am facing I agree with my stake president that the most important decisions I make are the seemingly small ones I make every day—to follow the Savior and keep his words always in my heart. He wants me happy and I know that the most happiness comes from a life given to a greater cause other than myself. This gospel is it. I will always serve this church, his kingdom, before anything else in my life.

Some days are harder than others and that's why I need to continue to study his words. The moments when I've felt lost in the last couple of weeks, every time I pray and open my scriptures everything becomes clear and bright again. 
President Brigham Young said, "I haven't seen a time in this Gospel but what I knew that the result would be beneficial to the cause of truth." 
It may be hard, we may not understand, but we can be certain there is always a higher reason and if we trust and push forward, we will one day understand all things. If we really trust Heavenly Father it really doesn't matter what we don't understand. 
Life is wonderful. I was able to see my brother get sealed to his wonderful wife and amazing 2 kids yesterday in the San Diego temple. Miracles happen all the time! I love this gospel and am so grateful for it. I can't wait for the day that all will know this glorious truth! Missions are life long, I know that now. My mission president told us before we went home that everyone would observe what we do and the church and the Savior would be reflected for good or bad. That's pretty humbling, but I feel so happy to be standing with Him and pray I will always be someone he is grateful for. "By the way you live the gospel you will reflect his light" (Elaine S Dalton). 
"Shine not so that others see you, but so that through you others can see Him."
He is there. He loves every one of you. He will never fail you. Trust Him. Seek his will. Find ever lasting life...

Never leaving the mission

I've received a lot of comments from people about missing my emails from my mission and the truth is I miss writing them, so to accommodate all of our desires I've decided to start a blog about my post-mission life. Many of you have seen me since I came home and so you know the experience I've had adjusting. When I first went to play tennis again, I was surprised how much I lost just by not playing in so long. With a little more time getting in it again, I know I'll be back to where I was and soon even better. I kinda feel like that's how life is right now. I'm having to remember what it was like to sit around and just hang out. However unlike tennis, I'll never be like I was before. Now it's all about making the Sister Stewart fit into to Trisha's life. This sister may leave the mission field, but I don't ever want the mission field to leave me .