Okay, Okay...I Get It!

I hate when my own words come back to bite me right in the bum. At that point what can you do but accept it and move on? I had one such moment this last week which I ALMOST didn't admit to. I am staying with the Stokes family during my summer in Overland Park and have had the opportunity to spend quite a bit of time with them for dinner, birthday parties, going to the theatre, and even voice lessons and dance class. After Dance class last week Adelyn (the eleven year old) was commenting that her least favorite part of dance was the stretching.

"What?! That was one of my favorite parts!" I remarked, remembering that great feeling of warming up and feeling lithe and limber in my younger days.
"But it hurts because she's trying to make us all be able to do the splits." Adelyn reasoned.
"Its a good hurt though. Just think how cool it will be when you can do the splits...ya know, I can do the splits!" I thought maybe the fact that old and chubbilicious Halley could bust out the splits might encourage her to keep pushing through the pain.

The next day or so as I was doing some studying I read a talk from Elder Richard G Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles entitled "Trust in The Lord." As I read his counsel and advice on where trials come from and how to face them I contemplated where I am in life, how I got to this point and how I could possibly get to where I want to be and then he said this:

"Just when all seems to be going right, challenges often come in multiple doses applied simultaneously. When those trials are not consequences of your own disobedience, they are evidence that the Lord feels you are prepared to grow more. He therefore gives you experiences that stimulate growth, understanding and compassion, which polish you for your everlasting benefit. To get you from where you are to where He wants you to be requires a lot of stretching, and that generally entails discomfort and pain."

OKAY OKAY I GET IT! My excuses of it hurting, being uncertain that I can handle some of these issues (or at least not wanting to) suddenly hold no water. I am constantly reminded that "Stretching" is one of my favorites...and to think how cool it will be when I can do or be whatever it is I am stretching towards.

Oh HI! I remember You!

Surprise! Its a post for Halley! What what what? Its true!

I have started a few posts in the last 6 months and abandoned them due to time constraints or the fact that there was simply too much to talk about and I didn't want anyone to feel overwhelmed--including myself. So now that I am mainly feeling just plain whelmed (I've travelled to Europe so I think this is OK) I thought I would do a quick update.

I finished my first year back to school with mixed success. Nothing below a B but some of the B's disagree with me. But I am not complaining. I am trying not to complain about most things these days because last Sunday as an EF5 tornado swept through the area of my hometown I realized that I have way more to be grateful for than I have thought about in a long time. I am so extremely blessed! My family and friends are all safe. The tornado passed right behind my brother's house but thank heavens he was headed to his girlfriend's in Carl Junction or he would have driven head on into it and I would probably be attending his memorial.

I am grateful for the thousands of volunteers that have come from all over to helpo Joplin dig out. Including the Elephats...yes ELEPHANTS from a circus passing through town that stopped to help move larger rubble and cars.

I am grateful for my amazing friends and those whom I have not seen in a long time. You are all still part of my life and part of my heart.

I am grateful for technology which has allowed me to stay updated and in contact with my friends at home while I am working in Kansas City. And I am grateful to be working and be with my dear friends from my time in Overland Park.

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday weekend and were able to thank a soldier who has had an impact in your life.