spiritual high

I have been on such a spiritual high this week.

While sitting in my oh so comfy middle seat on the airplane, I was falling in and out of sleep. My thought processes were flowing. Our flight home was delayed a couple of hours and I began complaining.

...I am going to be so tired for work tomorrow, ugh.
...I will have so much to catch up on, ugh.
...I feel fat from eating like a crazy person this weekend, ugh.
...and so on, ugh.

Snapping me out of this limbo sleeping state was an announcement from the pilot. As soon as I quickly disregarded whatever he was saying, I realized what had been going through my mind. I was complaining. A lot. I feel like that is a weakness of mine because I am really good at it haha. This time it was different though, it was like something zapped me and awoke me from this state of selfishness and ungratefulness.

I just had an amazing trip to New York where I was able to travel with my roommate and spend time with my best friend from elementary school. I was able to see sites that I have only ever heard about and view other peoples lifestyles. Central Park was beautiful, Times Square was a mecca of people, the subway systems were unreal. I ate and ate my little heart out trying new things and it made me happy. I then was able to return home to a job and a roof over my head.

In that moment I vowed to make a conscious effort this week to not complain, but to be optimistic and positive. This has led me to reading more of the scriptures and talks from the Ensign. It has made me so happy! There is no greater happiness than directing your life towards Christ.

With a few slips here and there, I have done better at straying my thoughts from complaints. I really find the need to serve right now, so I am looking into hopefully finding some things especially around the holidays. I am grateful to have my family at home who is always so supportive and that I can feel their love even from a distance. I am grateful for my Utah family and my roommates, and the amazing examples they set.

It's funny how the mind works. Its so wonderful how strongly you can feel the spirit when you are on the right path. I love that we are able to communicate with our Heavenly Father whenever and wherever. I am grateful that we have the scriptures and living prophets today to help guide us! All we need to do is make the effort and reach out to them because they are there, always. Here are some things that have really helped me throughout this week.

Red Eye Night

I went to New York last week. It was awesome.

Since so much was seen and filled this little mind of mine to the brim, I think I am going to do, day by day posts.

It all started with the venture to the SLC Airport. Upon arriving, checking our bags, going through security (where Becky was yelled at for standing on the yellow feet thing wrong) we ran into some people we knew! Which was a surprise since our flight left at 11:30 PM. Luckily, her friend Cole has family in NY and knew his way around because we would have been chopped liver trying to figure out the air train and subway system. Probably would have taken us hours and hours to get to Marys! Note: subway rats are real, and you actually need to hold onto the subways poles...or. else. you. will. fall.

So the entire flight, neither of us slept. I took the window seat (which I absolutely love) and Becky had the middle next to a guy with bad breath. By the time we arrived in Brooklyn we were exhausted! We quickly took a 2 hour nap (thats enough time right?) and made our way to downtown Manhattan. There was some damage from Hurricane Sandy and a lot of the building were still being drained of water. Credit card machines didn't work either, so we quickly realized we wouldn't be buying anything.

Just walking around New York and exploring was a dream. You can turn any corner and find a new world. I probably walked a jillion miles throughout my trip, but me eating like a fat kid the entire kid probably balanced it out.

Somehow we wandered to the Hudson River which was beautiful. Never been to New Jersey but now I have seen it from a distance! Could see lady Liberty too. The walk along going towards upstate was beautiful. To the left was the River and to the right I passed countless basketball courts with kids playing.

After touring part of NYU's campus (the school that Mary goes to), we made our way home and called it an early night. A full nights sleep was in order.

***Side note: this trip was all because of my first best friend in elementary school. Mary and I have been friends for almost 20 years now! And I know that is a lifelong friendship because we have always kept in contact no matter the distance between us. Us California girls now living in New York and Utah. I was so ecstatic to spend some time with her and so grateful that she let us visit and stay with her. Even sleep in her bed (which is huge).

my election post.

President Obama was re-elected and I don't know what is going to be the result of that. All I can hope is for a turn around for our country.

I am not huge into politics and therefore I don't argue back and forth with people, but this did leave a weird pit of a feeling in my stomach. I can't stop reading all the posts and opinons of people in relation to the election. It's like crack and is keeping me from sleeping.

That is all for now.