The Quote That Made My Day

So, there have been a few things today that have made my day a bit stressful, and less enjoyable. There is no point, however, in complaining about things that I really have no control over for the moment. However, I must say, while I was browsing through the homepage of my facebook, I saw a particular man's sentiments that I knew were most likely (granted I do not know the full context of his question) directed towards the LDS Church.

Why do some people have opinions on how everything "Should Be" so engrained in their brains that they try to coerce everyone into their mold, especially when they claim to be non-conformists?

This man, used to believe in gospel doctrine, he used to understand and testify of the truth. I found, instead, him and his friends mocking such truths in the comments that followed his question.

The thing is, I don't think he is even searching for an answer, I think it's rhetorical and he is looking to be validated in wanting others to recognize that his way is the only way and it's the best way.

I realize, I am being judgmental of this man, but I am taking my chances - I feel rather confident that I am correct. His schema of the gospel has been twisted. It hurts me to see this be the norm for him. It hurts me that he thinks it's OK to say such things. He is letting himself give up and become defeated in the ways of the world. My only answer for him would be to pray about it, and I (and others) for him, but I don't think he would want it - he mocked the sacredness of prayer in his comments.

On the other hand, there is another young man, whose sentiments brightened my day by a large margin and it seemed to be the answer to my frustration with the previous comments, and this quote made my day.

"Not all will follow the map [Heavenly Father has given us]. They may look at it. They may think it is reasonable, perhaps even true. But they do not follow the divine directions. Many believe that any road will take them to a 'happily ever after.' Some may even become angry when others who know the way try to help and tell them. They suppose that such advice is outdated, irrelevant, out of touch with modern life."[Brothers &] Sisters, they suppose wrong."

(emphasis added)

This is a Daily Gem. "Daily Gems offer inspiration and increased gospel knowledge for both members and nonmembers with quotes from Church leaders on a variety of subjects."

Find the full article.

Anyway, this is a quick post, seeing as how I have class in five minutes or so, but I just wanted to say thank you, to those of you who share things that are inspirational, that others of us may have forgotten.

I hope you have found the quote as helpful as I have. I know I appreciated it.

I'm out!

~Holly Elizabeth

Still 'Hoping For You' and Missing Daddy

So, I was looking through my self-published poetry and there is a poem that was written about six months ago. The main thought about this poem, stayed the same, even though one of the inferred main characters has become faceless in my attempt to no longer remember he-who-must-not-be-named.

As a tangential, yet relevant, side-note, I was thinking about my Mom and Dad, I've noticed how much she misses him, how much it hurts her to not have him here with us. I know that we know the truthfulness of the gospel, that we will see him again, that he is in a better place. Though, it has almost been a year since his death, I feel lonelier than ever. I was thinking about Dad today, and how much things have changed - but yet not...

I sat in the pew today (two rows up from where I feel most comfortable) with Mom and Christine, it was strange, not having JoAnne with us this week (since she was still to brutally bruised from her car accident this last week), and again, it was still strange not having Dad there. I loved sitting next to him, smelling his aftershave, feeling the comforting texture of his suit coat, sharing stow-away candy with him, watching him play bubblet on his palm pilot that he had hidden behind a hymn book or sacrament program, hearing his soft dozing breaths...

I thought of him yesterday, as I attended the EAU conference and returned with a pin for his collection. Us girls joked that he wouldn't want to wear his Utah pins today since they lost poorly to TCU, but that he would wear the lavender pin on his suit coat to church and wear it proudly - he'd be happy to explain it to anyone who asked about it.

~*~

I've been thinking a lot about friendships, relationships, marriages, and families lately. I mean it's sort of hard not to when you are 21 years old, female, and go to school in Utah County. I am the maid of honor for an engaged friend and recently planned her bachelorette party. I'm a primary teacher in my ward, and I see dozens of young couples who look so happy together, some newlyweds, others with baby-bumps. I see growing families, where mom and dad look worn out, but they love each other and their children just the same. I see elderly couples who grasp each other's hand not only because they are affectionate, but because they are also taking care of the other person.

I feel like I'm missing out. Caught in the space of time between adolescence and adulthood. I mean, yes, I am of legal age - considered an adult. But it is that label "young single adult," where I am classified into living. It seems though, in local society, you aren't really an adult until you've gotten married and been married for at least a year.

Don't get me wrong, I am absolutely thrilled to be the maid of honor for my friend, I had a ton of fun planning her party, I love my little sunbeams, and it makes me smile to see couples together.

So what am I doing wrong? Probably complaining about it here isn't really helping much. I've heard the advice said that I need to be patient, live the way I'd want him (future spouse) to live, and do what I love to do - that he'll find me that way. But, what if he is thinking the same thing? What if he is being patient, living the way he'd want me to live, and doing what he loves to do? What if we are both just going through life waiting for each other to find the other person? What then?

Personally, as much as I appreciate feminism, I don't think it's the woman who should have to be searching for a man, why can't he search for me? And also, what has society come to that girls get excited about text messages and IMs? What happened to letters, phone calls, walks together and cheesy poems? What happened to emotion, feeling, and expressions?

Ah, well, "...someday my prince will come..."

Let me know what you think, and if you have any advice for me.

~Holly Elizabeth

Roadtrip (Again!)

I am going on a roadtrip with my sister, Christine, to participate in the Hill Cumorah Pageant. I will be at the Hill Cumorah, in Palmyra, New York, from July 4th until July 20th but since we are driving we are leaving on the 28th or 29th of June and we plan on being back by the 29th or 30th of July. Before and after the pageant I can use the internet, if we find hotels with WiFi and I will be able to post updates. During the pageant I can write postcards to anyone who wants to receive one. If you want me to write to you let me know. I will be posting the address where you can reach me from July 4th to July 20th (the last day you can send something is on July 15th and the first day is July 1st). I would really appreciate a letter from you while I am gone and I would be happy to write to you as well!!!

Hill Cumorah Website

Please note, that while I can receive text and voice messages on my cell phone, I may not be able to respond quickly during this time.

IF YOU WANT TO WRITE ME, you can reach me at the following address:

Holly E. Ferrin
The Hill Cumorah Pageant
P.O. Box 403
Palmyra, New York 14522

Please note that letters sent after July 15 run the risk of arriving after we leave the Hill Cumorah.

I'd love to hear from ya!
~Holls

The Wheel of the World

I am in total shock... there is no other way to describe it... I cannot believe that President Gordan B. Hinckley just died less than 2 hours ago today. He is the only president of the church that I ever knew and really remember. I don't remember very much of President Kimball, since I was only in first grade when he passed away...

I suppose I took his being here on earth for granted. I mean, I knew that one day that he would die, considering that he was nearly 100 years old and that he was suffering some health issues that are normal for a person his age... but...

I really don't know what to say... I know that this is part of God's plan, and I am not shaken in my faith from what has happened at all. I know that President Hinckley is in a better place, he is with his wife and he is free from earthly pains and stresses. In a way, I am happy for him, that he can be with his wife, Majorie P. Hinckley.

This just makes me want to stop and think about how much he has impacted the world, how many lives he has touched and even though he is gone now, he will still continue to touch more lives by way of remembrance.

Right now I am listening to Carrie Underwood's "Wheel of the World," here are some of the lyrics...

God put us here on this carnival ride
We close our eyes
Never knowing where it will take us next
Babies are born and at the same time, someone's taking their last breath

It's the wheel of the world
It's the wheel of the world turning around

In the blink of an eye
It can change your life
And it never even slows down

It's the wheel of the world

I don't know what it is
I'm flying high
Then I'm wondering why I'm sinking on this ship, going down
Life keeps on moving anyway

I suppose I will be posting more on this when my thoughts are more settled...

"We thank thee, o God, for a Prophet..."