for when things go wrong

life really isn't all that fun sometimes. that's not so surprising, everybody realizes that, i think. but we get into this funk where we think that everyone else's lives are perfect, and ours is just... not. glancing through social media, i can see where that idea comes from. people post pictures of themselves on vacation - ("soaking up the sun for dayssss"), at parties, at cutsie cupcake shops. it seems like this is literally all i am seeing from followers and network friends. i don't think we only get the idea from social media though - everyone around us has become adept at putting on a happy face when they are unhappy, and we believe it. every time. because we'd like it to be true. and sometimes it's a real struggle, to me, to feel like i have to keep up.

the honest truth is that nobody's life is that fabulous all the time. perhaps everyone really does know this and that is why we all try to make it look like life is grand. nobody wants to focus on the not so smooth aspects of anything. but friends, things go wrong all the time. there are good times, but it's ok to accept that things don't - and won't - constantly happen the way we think they should. so what are we doing when that happens?

i know how tough life can be. it knocks you down, picks you up, then knocks you down again. some days it is unbearable. it's hard to see the light at times and i even have to force myself to see it every once in a while. but i have to believe that there is hope. i have to believe that things will get better, with some effort. if i don't, my world might just completely fall to pieces around me.

so why don't we start by letting someone in? we need to be there for each other. after all, we really aren't that different. we all understand pain and sadness, we all want to be happy and joyful. most of all, the Savior of the world understands this. so why not help each other get there? the person next to you, at some point during their life, has stood where you are standing, or will soon stand there. we are not here to walk alone. and if nobody else will walk with you, Christ will.

"Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God." - 2 Corinthians 1:4

also look over my previous blog post, here

solutions. maybe just one.

you know those times in life when you just feel beyond stressed? and not just stressed but let's say, oh, a little depressed. in a very non-little way. yeah, that's been me for about the last few weeks. constantly, more than i've ever been in my life.

have you ever had those times where a psychiatrist calls you out on needing "more happy" in your life in public? and not the kind of public where you really know the people but they feel like they are basically complete strangers? i have.

do you ever feel like you are at a total loss of what to do? i do, especially lately.
do you ever find a solution for that feeling? even if it's only temporary? can i share mine with you?

+ i talk with god. even if i don't receive an answer right away, when i believe that i WILL receive an answer eventually, i at least feel more hopeful. in a way that is an answer. i'll take feeling hopeful over feeling lost and abandoned. that hopeful feeling doesn't always last a long while but it always comes back when i pray, so i keep praying. and over time i do feel myself getting stronger. the answers do come. so i keep doing it.
+ one "strategy" of prayer.
prayers don't always have to be formal. the second i let go of the idea that they had to be formal all the time is the very second i felt closer to my heavenly father that i ever have. i do think there are times when its alright for prayers to be formal but when i'm opening my heart to him, i don't think it always is. there are just too many times in life where panic sets in and all i want to do is vent and have you ever tried venting to someone "formally"? it doesn't feel natural. i've learned that if i'm putting too much energy into being formal with god, i'm not really focusing on being completely open. he is my father after all and i should feel close to him. i was taught growing up that i couldn't be casual in praying and it sort of frustrated me because i had a hard time connecting to god, someone who i'd been told loved me more than anyone else. it never really made much sense to me but that's how i learned prayer should go so that's what i did. it also made it easier to slip into a bad habit of not talking to heavenly father because it was that much harder. prayer is an extremely personal thing, so you decide yourself how you want to do it, if you even want to at all. i definitely won't discourage you from doing it.
+ i believe god wants to talk to us and wants us to talk to him and ask him for blessings. he has the power to bless us, he is the most powerful being in the universe. some things we ask for don't come but that is because maybe we aren't ready for them at that time or maybe because he has something better for us in mind and sometimes it takes a long time for us to see just what it is he wants for us. but he does love us so much and truly has our best intentions at heart. i've been guilty of thinking that isn't true because i feel like sometimes i know what is best for me. the truth is, i only know what i want and what i THINK is best. sometimes it's not the same as what he wants for me, sometimes it is. sometimes i don't even know what i want or think. it's about the journey to get to the place where you can accept that he really does know you personally and that he isn't out to punish you or mess with you. he loves you. he knows you better than anyone. bring your will in line with his. life is a journey. prayer only helps.

Tools

I've been thinking a lot lately about how the Lord uses us to accomplish His purposes. In my Book of Mormon class up here at lovely BYU-I, we read an article about Joseph Smith translating the Book of Mormon. How he did it, what was involved, basically everything there is to know about that subject. At one point in the article, it mentioned the instruments that he used in order to translate the gold plates from their reformed Egyptian into English.

The Lord provides ways for His purposes to come to pass. In this instance of translating the Book of Mormon, tools were provided to assist Joseph. Of course, it was all done by the power of God. Joseph a huge part to play and we, the rest of God's children, have a part to play as well.

There was a time while Joseph was translating the record that he entrusted a portion of it (the record) to his friend, Martin Harris, who wanted to show the manuscript to his wife. Martin then lost the manuscript as it was written so far. For this, Joseph was rebuked by the Lord, as he had petitioned the Lord multiple times for permission to give this portion to Martin Harris. The first couple of times, the Lord told him no. Joseph continued to ask, and so the Lord let him give it to Martin. In this was a valuable lesson. After the manuscript was lost, Joseph's ability to translate was revoked for a time. The Lord would use him to accomplish His purposes but only if Joseph would abide by the Lord's purpose for the Book of Mormon. This wasn't something that he didn't really already know. Before even obtaining the plates, he was told by the angel Moroni that if he showed the plates to any but those whom the Lord commanded him to show them, he would be destroyed. Joseph learned a lesson from this experience of the record being lost. He needed to have his eye "single to His glory," and after a period of time, Joseph was again able to translate.

Now, not all of us are called upon by God to translate an ancient record but He does call us to His work. And just as He provided tools to help Joseph, He provides us with what we need in order to do our part. By extension, we also become tools in His hands. God's purpose is "to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man" (Moses 1:39). There have been many times, particularly on my mission, where the Lord used me to help another of His children. There are also many times every day where He uses me to bless others and help them. This is a more small-scale example of accomplishing the Lord's purpose but it is no less important. Heavenly Father wants all of His children to return to Him, and us helping each other moves us along in that direction. I've noticed that when I'm not willing to help, the Lord will use someone else. If I don't have His purpose in mind, I can't see the bigger picture as easily. I'm blinded to what I want. But when I am willing to help Him, that is when I witness miracles all around me.

I have been given gifts and talents from God that I am to use to help others. My musical ability is one example. I've always been more of a natural when it comes to music, and over the years, I've shared my music at church meetings, functions, and other venues. Those who hear my music are able to feel the Spirit. A less obvious example might be my ability to listen. As a more reserved personality, I spend a lot of my time around others just listening. It has helped me to be very aware of what is going on around me and of how people are feeling. Many times I have listened as someone poured out their heart and when they are finished, they tell me something like, "Thanks for listening, that's all I really needed." In some cases, I've been able to lend advice and help when they need it because I've taken the time to understand them. These are two examples of gifts God has blessed me with from the beginning. What I find more interesting are the gifts He gives me in the moment I need them, and also the gifts I'm given after hard work. We can always acquire different gifts from God than the ones we've had all our lives. I've developed different skills lately that I didn't necessarily need earlier in my life.  It is so amazing how God endows us with power when it is needed. He gives us what we need so we can help someone else. It's always incredible when I walk away from a situation and realize, sometimes after a long while, that God had put me there at the right time for a reason.

The scriptures are full of instances where someone is in the right place at the right time, placed there by God. One example is in the Book of Mormon in 1 Nephi 4:6-29. In this passage, Nephi is trying to get the brass plates which the Lord commanded he and his brothers retrieve from Laban. He is led into Laban's house by the Spirit and doesn't know what he's going to do in order to get the brass plates. When he walks in, he finds Laban, drunk and passed out on the ground. Nephi is then told by the Spirit to kill Laban, which he does. When he puts on Laban's clothes, Laban's servants think Nephi is Laban and he is able to obtain the plates. To me, this example outlines perfectly how the Lord uses us to accomplish His purposes.

The Lord will use us as His hands if we are willing and worthy. Joseph Smith learned that lesson early on. I have learned that lesson for myself also. It's an amazing thing to be a part of and to play a role in God's plan.

HOW TO DIY gel manicure for CHEAP in just 6 STEPS!

ladies, this is a MUST TRY DIY nail hack. i confess, i did not discover this on my own. i'm a pinterest junkie and that is indeed where i stumbled upong this most amazing of all amazing ways to get a gel manicure on your own without paying out your ears. i've tried this trick myself multiple times already and it definitely works! our poor finger nails go through so much in a day, from showering to washing the dishes to whatever miscellaneous task we put our fingers to, which usually ends badly pretty quickly for our recent polish job. but with this, no chipped nails for AT LEAST a week and it lasts until you choose to take it off. i can't believe i didn't think of this myself - i have had the "key ingredient" in my nail polish collection for years. literally, years.

here's what you'll need:

+ your choice of polish, whatever shade strikes your fancy {china glaze and sinful colors seem to work the best as far as brands go}

+ "Gelous" advanced nail gel coat {THIS is the key ingredient}you can find this at sally's beauty supply for about $5.00. it goes a long way

+ any clear top coat

that's it! now, here's what you do:

step 1:  make sure your finga nails are clean and free of any lotion or oil

step 2:  begin with a thin layer of the gel coat, and I MEAN THIN. don't you dare glob it on. think "so thin you're not quite sure it is even there". alright, not THAT thin but make it a thin coat. wait at least 45 seconds to dry.

step 3:  apply 1 coat your color polish. make this a thin coat too. again, be patient for at least 45 seconds. you might as well make it a minute.

step 4:  repeat step 2

step 5:  repeat step 3

step 6:  when you've finished applying your two layers of gel and two layers of color, seal the deal with a nice top coat. your nails have never looked shinier.

happy manicure-ing!

love, MACK

want to know what i miss? letters. long, thought-out, handwritten letters. we've had all sorts of technological advances throughout the years and that's fine. i just miss actual letters. taking the time to physically write out every word used to mean something. there's something about having a piece of paper that you can save and touch and open again just because you want to visit an old memory. like those notes we used to pass around in elementary school. i miss that.

maybe i've just been watching too much pride and prejudice.

round three

i should really be so much better at this than i am. i'm horrible at keeping a journal but this method seems to work for me -at least it has in the past- so here we go again. i know we're all so excited. while we're on the topic of things i am horrible at, here's a list (big fan) of all things i want to improve upon:

feel free to hold me accountable.

+ waking up at an acceptable hour of the day

+ reinstating baking as a daily -okay weekly- staple at my place

+ discovering hidden hobbies

+ crafting

+ writing mission friends ACTUAL HANDWRITTEN LETTERS ... because missionaries die for that sort of thing

okay, five seems like a good number, lets stop there.

welcome back (: