RELISH THE MOMENT

Hello world!


So I am having one of the best Sundays ever and I feel blessed to live in a city that gives me a privilege to practice my faith. I woke up at 7am this morning to get ready for Music and the Spoken Word. For those of you who don't know what that is, I will give a brief explanation. 


The first broadcast of Music and the Spoken Word was on a hot summer afternoon in the Tabernacle on Temple Square, July 15, 1929. The announcer climbed a ladder to speak into the radio station's one and only microphone, suspended from the ceiling. He stayed perched on the ladder throughout the half-hour program. An audio engineer was alerted by telegraph when to start. Hand signals cued the announcer. He began, "From the crossroads of the West, we welcome you to a program of inspirational music and spoken word." Those words, first spoken eight decades ago, still open the program. Today Music and the Spoken Word is the world's longest continuing network broadcast, carried on more than 2,000 radio and television stations and cable systems. 


So, I went to the Conference Center at 8:45am and received a program. In the Program says,

"WHAT MATTERS IS LOVE"

by Lloyd D. Newell

Life is full of noble causes and worthy goals. Because one cannot pursue all of them, it helps to remember that simply opening our hearts in love and kindness to others is what makes all the difference. It's the primary pathway to healing, to happiness, to health. Harvard biologist and Nobel Prize winner George Wald once wrote: "What one really needs is not Nobel laureates but love. How do you think one gets to be a Nobel laureate? Wanting love, that's how. Wanting it so bad one works all the time and ends up a Nobel laureate. It's a consolation prize. What matters is love." All throughout life and at the end of our days, what will be remembered about us is the love we've shown, the kindness and concern we've extended to others. Instead of spending so much time on things that don't really matter all that much, why not spend effort on things of greatest worth--things of the heart. Such simple and steady acts of kindness are the essence of love, the substance of life. All of us need love; all of us want love. Everything else is a consolation prize. What matters is love.

I thought that everything in that program was beautifully said and the music beautifully sung and played. I  enjoyed every single bit of that 30minute program and it's something that I love doing on Sundays. I, then, went to Church at 10am and enjoyed my 3hour block and shed a few tears. Our very own first counselor in our bishopric has been released from his calling to be a part of either his home ward or stake. (I forgot!!!) But we had him and his wife speak today.

Sister Nielson stated: "We come from a valiant army. Heavenly father wants us to be joyful and enjoy each experience and every stage in our lives." By that she meant, as children of God, we learned to enjoy our childhood and then our teenage years.. Then when college came around the corner, we learn to grow up and be mature and independent young adults. Every single second of our lives must be enjoyed, make a few mistakes and learn from them. It's a cycle. We need to laugh more and cry less. Be obedient and keep the commandments! She also read the following:

THE STATION by Robert J. Hastings

"Tucked away in our subconscious is an idyllic vision. We see ourselves on a long trip that spans the continent. We are traveling by train. Out the windows we drink in the passing scene of cars on nearby highways, of children waving at a crossing, of cattle grazing on a distant hillside, of smoke pouring from a power plant, of row upon row of corn and wheat, of flatlands and valleys, of mountains and rolling hillsides, of city skylines and village halls.

But uppermost in our minds is the final destination. Bands will be playing and flags waving. Once we get there our dreams will come true, and the pieces of our lives will fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. How restlessly we pace the aisles, damning the minutes for loitering - waiting, waiting, waiting for the station.

"When we reach the station, that will be it!" we cry.
"when I'm 18"
"when I buy a new 450sl Mercedes-Benz!"
"when I put the last kid through college"
"when I have paid off the mortgage!"
"when I get a promotion."
"when I reach the age of retirement,I shall live happily ever after!"

Sooner or later we realize there is no station, no one place to arrive at once and and for all. The true joy of life is the trip. The station is only a dream. It constantly outdistances us. "Relish the moment" is a good motto, especially when coupled with Psalm 118:24: "This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." It isn't the burdens of today that drive men mad. It is the regrets over yesterday and the fear of tomorrow. Regret and fear are twin thieves who rob us of today.

So stop pacing the aisles and counting the miles. Instead climb more mountains, eat more ice cream, go barefoot more often, swim more rivers, watch more sunsets, laugh more, cry less. Life must be lived as we go along. The station will come soon enough."


I thought that this story was very well written. It really does sum up life, the obstacles we'll go through, the mistakes we'll make, the lessons we will learn, the journey's we'll make, the dreams we'll dream... and the list goes on.. I have learned to love life as it is and take every little step to change one thing that I'm doing wrong. Life is all about change and becoming perfect like Christ. I'm humbled every time I know that through his Atoning sacrifice, I can get back up and try again. 


Brother Nielson then spoke and said: "Many of us fought with the toughest decisions and end up with a positive outcome." Many times we battle with the promptings and fight to do some thing else and then realize that things aren't going right... the way we think they're supposed to. So in the end we learn to follow those promptings and choose the right.
1. => Understand how much protection the gospel offers us. 
=> Prayer, Scripture study, temple attendance, Sunday worship, music, movies, have we had times we compromise our values?, internet, how are you conducting yourself?, the way you dress, act, talk. are you keeping your values? do you know your standards?


2. => Earn your blessings!!
=> D&C 130
=> If we're obedient, we will receive those blessings.


3. => Our Savior's Atonement encompasses our life.
=> Alma 34:10
=> I will return to my Father in Heaven molded in his gospel.
=> I wish everyone of you success in your life. Find joy and happiness in your life. Have much richer lives with the Savior in your life. I pray that each of you will stay on that path.


Brother and Sister Nielson, you will both be missed. We love your presence and I personally thank you for your kindness, love and your service to the Temple View ward. I'm thankful and blessed to have you both in my life. You both are like parent-figures in my life and I'm thankful for your love that you've shared to all of us. 


Anyways, my Sunday isn't over yet. We have a Relief Society meet and greet and dessert night are gonna be there!! YUM! There's gonna be cream puffs, ecclaires (sp?), ice cream, and more!


Then, we have a Pioneer Day Fireside thing tonight. It'll be great and I'm excited!


ONE MORE THING, I know I've been beating around the bush on Facebook about this... But I have been receiving a prompting that I feel that I have been setting aside because I didn't know what to do next. So, since January, I had this prompting that I should be going on a mission. People have been telling me the same.. Long story short, all those that have told me that I should be going, those are more and more promptings being built up that I've set aside. So, I finally talked to Bishop about it last Monday, and we figured a few things out that needed answering.. AND I HAVE STARTED MY PAPERS TODAY! eeeek! I am super excited! I know that this is what I'm supposed to be doing and I am willing to do this service so that other people can have the blessings of the temple and the gospel and eternity with their families in their life. I'm thankful for this Gospel and for Christ's atoning sacrifice and for President Monson, a true Prophet of our day. For the Book of Mormon and the truth that it holds. I know in my heart that someone out there needs me and I will go and do the things that the Lord would have me do. 

Have a great rest of the Sunday!


Love Always,
Trish

Day 7-11: CALIFORNIA

uhhm so this is kinda late but I'm gonna update it anyway!!

July 7th: My 21st Birthday

It consisted of cleaning the kitchen and taking a nap and seeing April Parilla and Chanelle Del Rosario for Lunch. We went to eat at Golden Dragon Chinese Buffet. YUM! It was soo good! I forgot how good that food tasted and an addition of good times with these girls! Ah the catching up from Meadow Homes Elementary and Glenbrook Middle School. I figured the only friends that want to catch up on good times are the ones that still talk to me on facebook. I'm so grateful for friends like them who still talk to me to this day through all the changes life has made. Then hung out with Derrick, Brandon, and Kaitlin Beckstrand watching Fresh Prince. Then took a walk and climbed a fence with Derrick. I had a great day.

July 8th: Friday, consisted of a chill day.

 I remember waking up and making a good breakfast and falling back into a deep sleep that had me waking up at 3pm. Then I cleaned the kitchen. Gina Glover and Francesca Enea picked me up to go swimming at the Glover Residence. I love catching up with these girls about Dallas Ranch Middle School and Deer Valley High School. All three of us played instruments and they still do to this day but I stay singing instead. I was also able to talk to Gina's Mommy who was my taught me voice lessons during my freshman year. I love, love, love her mom! She's another Mommy I look up to in my life. An inspiration in my life :) Oh you guys are amazing!! Thanks for an amazing night! Oh I almost forgot. We went to the Beckstrands after because Gina had to show Mommy Beckstrand her Bridesmaid dress for an upcoming wedding. And watched a little Fresh Prince again!

July 9th: A fun afternoon for the Antioch Stake Young Single Adult Ward. It was filled with eating tons of food, talking, and SLIP n SLIDE. 

NOTE TO SELF: NEVER throw a water balloon at Derrick! He will get me back really good. He got me many times and even threw me into the SLIP n SLIDE and shoved me in a cooler... with some help. My grip is way too tight and I might've even scratched him. I know I bit him at some point so he'd let go but it didn't work. haha. But it was fun. I had an absolutely great time. 

July 10th: I had an absolutely great Sunday. I think this Sunday was an eye opener for me. So many things were taught, said, and understood. I'm thankful for those that had a huge influence in my brain that day. The prompting that was stressed out that night... Thank you! I have had that prompting since January from Derrick and including myself and I just kept on putting it aside... But I finally got around to speaking to my Bishop and I know now what to do... and I'm absolutely excited for what the future holds.. It was also a Bittersweet night :( But I know that it was reasonable and things happen for a reason and I hope and pray that whatever happens in the future will happen.... blessings!

July 11th: Started of way early and had me awake for over 24 hours. Thanks Mom for letting me cry to you about stuff.. :( I tried taking a nap after my flight back from California but all I could think of was talking to my Bishop.. And when I finally talked to him.. I was ecstatic! More in store about this..

Love Always,

Trish

DAY 6: CALIFORNIA

Consisted of Cristina Talavera Day. I absolutely admire this girl.  We go way back in 7th Grade, Sequoia Middle School. I had a great time Swimming, eating beef tacos, catching up on the good times, and talking. I also got my haircut today. A-LINE! Then Derrick finally came home from work and we played some pretty hardcore Dodgeball at the Stake Center! It was so much fun with a lot of singles ward people. Someone told me that I looked like a ballerina dodging balls! I thought that was kinda funny! Then we played Volleyball as well. Of course it never went my way which was good because I probably wouldnt have been able to hit it. lol

:)) I'm loving it!

-Trish

DAY 5: CALIFORNIA

So I was  kinda busy as in HAVING too much fun that I had forgotten to update the days I've been here.

July 5th was Derrick's birthday and it was an awesome day except for the morning part of it. I was a little and still kinda am bummed that I haven't passed my permit test yet... I guess not everyone's perfect. There's always a next try right?

So after that we went and hung out at Derrick's house and I played with Baby William and Cemberlyne, we talked and played ONCE..., then we went Bowling and to In N Out.

HARVEST PARK BOWL - The Birthday Boy

Baby William in his cute outfit

So then I spent the night at April Parilla's house and caught up with the good old days again and had Chanelle Del Rosario on the phone until I fell asleep talking to her. haha. We opened our 6th grade yearbook and started adding people to see if they'd talk to us on Facebook or if they'd even remember us! Some do and some don't. We went to Winco before we got to April's house and got tons of junk food. yeah I know it's very unhealthy but we had to do it once. And at some point her little sister Crisellyn and I put face mask on and believe it or not it was my first time doing that.. It felt weird and I looked funny!

That Red Velvet Ice Cream tastes like HEAVEN!

-Trish

DAY 4: CALIFORNIA

Yesterday was 4th of July and I had an amazing day and night!

Woke up early and bonded with my Mother. She's pretty cool if you ask me because she MADE my FAVORITE meal! Pineapple Chicken! It was scrum-dilly-dum-tious! Then we went to Bed, Bath & Beyond and Sports Chalet in Antioch. After, we went to the Great Mall in Milpitas. That place was packed with tons of Asians.. :) Tons of sales and tons of fun.

After that, I had no other plans and all of a sudden April Parilla, my long lost sister, came to my mind. We've been trying to plan on meeting each other for years and I just have been so busy everytime. So I got back in town and called her to hang out. It was like we didn't even stop to take a breath because we played catch up the whole night and I was at her house until midnight! I can't believe how big her siblings are now!! Her little brother was still a baby when I last saw them and her sister was shorter than me at some point and now she's an inch taller! Geeze how time flies by when you blink! We talked about all the craziness of 5th and 6th grade! Boys, drama, teachers, classes, and all that jazz. I definitely didn't remember half the stuff she said! and we started facebook stalking all our old friends and not friends and EVERY single one of them now looks different and all grown up. A girl that used to wear skirts all year round because of her religion, as we recall, now wears pants and shorts!! That was a crazy one and how some people have totally changed like you can't even tell that it's them until you take a good look at them!!

So anyhow, I hope I see her and Chanelle (hopefully next time) again.

Today's gonna be a crazy day. Will be updated tomorrow!!

Have a great day!

Love,
Trish

DAY 3: CALIFORNIA

Today is Sunday and it's Fast Sunday! I had a great time during my parent's Sacrament meeting hearing the young men and women's testimonies about Camp. They were so cute and very spiritual. Then, the lovely, Gina Glover picked me up to go to the Antioch 5th ward AKA the single's ward. Today really felt like I was in college when people ran up to the front to bare their testimonies. It was all nice and sweet. I was spiritually fed well today. I learned a lot during Relief Society about Visiting teaching and what I could be doing wrong. So I realized that when the Teachee doesn't respond to your calls or your visits... try a little harder, they'll eventually let you teach them.

So, since it was Sunday.. it meant Sunday dinner at the Beckstrands and we had some scrumptious and delightful dinner. I love being in their presence. They're one of the most righteous family that I know and I got to see how thankful Derrick was today of his parents and his siblings.. PURE sweetness! He never seizes to amaze me.

I love and am very thankful for being a part of an amazing family... I actually honor my LAST name. It's pretty  much a blessing to be a daughter and a sister in my family. I can say that I'm lucky to be my parents daughter because they have taught me all the knowledge that I know today about life. I am thankful for the many times they have disciplined me because I thanked them for it in the long run. So I love you Mom and Dad. You mean the world to me!

So the night ended with playing ENCORE and chatting. That game drove me insane because I am now constantly singing songs about a particular word. We ended up with a tie. It was a fun night. I always have a great time with the Beckstrands.

Anyhow, I hope every one had a great Sabbath day and I shall post or maybe get tagged on some pictures.

Goodnight!

Love,
Trish

DAY 2: CALIFORNIA

Yesterday was a lovely day! Woke up and made breakfast and stayed in the kitchen cooking all day. I love cooking when I'm home and for parties. It was so much fun.

We celebrated Derrick and my birthday yesterday at the Beckstrand's home. It was decorated with balloons and purple and green streamers, our favorite colors. Derrick's birthday is on the 5th and mine is on the 7th. We had his Dad's famous burgers and spring rolls (Lumpia) and Filipino style chow mein. SO GOOD! We invited 6 missionaries and one of my favorite RM's who served about 3 years ago when I got baptized. I love those Missionaries. The entire time was just laughs, smiles, and giggles. Their home pretty much says M.U.S.I.C. all over it. So we sung songs and played instruments and fooled around. At the end of the night we played UNO and this family has their own rules for every card game... which means that I will NEVER win! haha.

It was a chill and fun day and maybe a little crazy at some point. But it was definitely one of the best birthday celebrations I've had in a long time. Last year, I was sick on my birthday because I ate sushi with Avocado and it was just all bad.

Today, is Sunday the 3rd and HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my Aunt in Philippines :)

Time to get ready for church..

Have a great day!

Love,
-Trish

DAY 1: California

So, I flew out of SLC and my Roommate always warns me that plane trips are ALWAYS the longest days. But somehow yesterday during the entire wait I was preoccupied by Babies and how cute they are and listening to JB. Yeah the simplest things make me happy! The innocence of a child and how excited they can get makes me my heart smile.

So when I flew into Long Beach... It was HOT and that airport gets way crowded. I had a 30 minute delay but somehow the plane still managed to arrive at San Francisco only 5 minutes late!! It was crazy. One of the things I'm terrified of and I hope never happens to me, is that I hope I never lose my Luggage. I fly too often that I've always prayed I never lose my stuff!

So anyhow, I got to San Francisco and it took forever days to get home to my parent's home because Derrick hit traffic on the way to come get me and we hit traffic on the way home.. It was seriously one of the best moments, fun times sitting in traffic with this boy. Yeah he made fun of me a little.. okay maybe a lot.. But I got him back! Usually it takes about an hour to come home from San Francisco but it took a little over 2hours because of traffic and what ever else...

I got home finally. Safe and Sound. Started making egg rolls and a few hours later hung out with Derrick at his friend's house. It was another great night. We took his Motorcycle for a night ride. I LOVED IT! the breeze felt so nice.. except for it smelled like cows and ultimately moisturized fruit fields or whatever it was. And a few bugs on my arms... No big deal. haha I had a great time.

Came home about midnight and bonded with my Mother. I absolutely don't know what I would do without this woman!! She's just amazing. We talked and she marinated the chicken while I finished making egg rolls. Did some catching up on our crazy busy lives.

And I passed out in my parents room. I had a tiring day and it was a well needed 8 hour sleep.

-Trish