Know this, that every soul is free.

We sang this hymn is sacrament meeting on Sunday and the words really touched me, so I copied the lyrics below.

1. Know this, that ev’ry soul is free
To choose his life and what he’ll be;
For this eternal truth is giv’n:
That God will force no man to heav’n.

2. He’ll call, persuade, direct aright,
And bless with wisdom, love, and light,
In nameless ways be good and kind,
But never force the human mind.

3. Freedom and reason make us men;
Take these away, what are we then?
Mere animals, and just as well
The beasts may think of heav’n or hell.

4. May we no more our pow’rs abuse,
But ways of truth and goodness choose;
Our God is pleased when we improve
His grace and seek his perfect love.

Isn't that beautiful? My favorite verse is the first one, I love the sincerity and truth of the words. I have a true testimony that we choose our lives and what we will become. Yes, sometimes bad things happen to good people. But it is typically not the trial that is the test, it is how we handle the trial and rise above it. That is how we prove ourselves to our maker. 

This is what I have chosen, and together we have it all.

"An animal's eyes have the power to speak a great language." ~ Martin Buber

What to wear, what to wear?

You may be picturing me standing in front of a mirror alternating outfits on hangers trying to figure out what will look best. If this image or something similar is on your mind, you would be incorrect. A better way to describe my thoughts lately is 'what to write, what to write?' I have the desire to keep my blog up to date but I do not know what to write about.

Once I started my Thankful Thursday posts things got a bit easier.Certain things that happen from day to day make me think, 'I should write about this on the blog' But as time has gone by I now sit down in front of my computer and my ideas from earlier seem so trivial. It feels as if I am being boastful and gloaty and I don't like it. Preoccupying myself with the superficial things in life. There is one concept I have learned throughout my life that I find to be very true, 'things' come and go, but 'family' is forever. I am blessed with an understanding of the Gospel and the purpose of our life on earth, and that truly humbles me.

That being said, I would like to refocus my blog. Instead of all the 'awesome' stuff that happens to me that makes me feel grateful, I will center my posts on the more inspirational occurrences in life. I want my blog to demonstrate the beauty of the earth, of marriage, and of family. From now on (or until I change my mind) my posts will manifest the more important things in life. The stuff that makes me smile, the situations that make me laugh, and the deeds that make me feel loved.