Where Is Your Heart At?

I just joined Tumblr.
rachaelrae.tumblr.com
But don't go there right now because it won't have anything on it. :-)

Today has been a day of reflecting for me. My heart is pretty smiley right now and I'm very happy with the life I have right now. I just want to share it with everyone! I have FHE in a half hour though so I have to hurry. Ha.

Okay so I had an incredible Sunday yesterday. I taught Gospel Doctrine (my favorite calling by far!) for the first time this semester (yes I have been called all semester long but I just haven't had to teach. weird.) and it was on Temples and Family History. I kid you not, every lesson I have taught since having a teaching calling has been for me. It makes me smile thinking about all the lessons I've given too, and how I lovelovelove each one. Anyway, this was such a good experience because it talked about how much we can do and all the tools we have at our disposal. One of the things we talked about was writing in a journal. Everyone struggles with this. Seriously. I definitely do. I try to write in my journal as often as I can (usually once a week) and for the first time in my life I have almost filled an entire journal. Cool right? So my roommate, the baller that she is, is best friends with President Eyring's granddaughter (or great granddaughter I'm not sure) and she went over to their house once because he was in town visiting his son (who actually used to be my stake president!) and she shared this awesome experience...He gathered the family together in this library room or something and what he does, every day, is does a journal page on the computer. He does a picture, shares spiritual experiences, feelings, everything he did that day. The picture he takes with his iphone. He types it all up on the computer, and then emails it to EVERYONE in the family. How amazing! After hearing that, I really want to be better at journal writing. I guess having a blog helps a TON. Let's be honest. Typing 3 pages is a lot faster than hand-writing 3 pages. Ridiculous. I love my ward too by the way. So many nice people. Especially our leaders.

Another thing I wanted to tell everyone about was my Eternal Marriage class today. We started talking about the natural man and how to overcome it by having divine qualities. And of course we started the movie Tuesdays With Morrie (which is also an amazing book and I highly recommend you read it if you haven't!). My teacher assigned us to take notes like mad which was very easy to do considering the content of everything. Basically, for those who are wondering, its about a guy named Morrie, who was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS), who teaches a previous student of his about living life as he begins to die. It's a real eye-opener because it teaches you also about the meaning of life and how to live it to the fullest. How unimportant all the games are and how we just need to be honest with each other and not protect each other's feelings when it's important to share them. Okay really I'm just going to share my notes. I think that's best in order to get my point across. Haha.

The last great journey is dying and something of value can be learned from it.
Find time--make time--to thank people, to talk to them.
What is it about silence that makes people so uneasy?
Dying is just one thing to be sad about, but living unhappily is another.
Are you giving to your community?
When you know how to die, you know how to live.
Catch your breath every now and then!
How do you see time?
We must love one another, or die.
Aging is not just about decay, it's about growth.
Mourn, and then detach. Don't give yourself time to self-pity. It's not worth it. You have a whole day of living ahead of you.
Don't ever lose the desire to be touched--Don't be scared to let people in--Don't spare people's feelings by denying them.
Did you ever stop to think about what you're running from?

We didn't even finish the movie and I'm already pondering on how I can make my life better. What am I holding back from? What can I change? Who am I not letting in? What am I running from? How am I living? I really want to be a better person. I love my family so so much (every part of my family!!!!) and I want them all to know it. I know I don't know everyone in my family as well as I could or am able to, but I really do love my family so much. I wish I could see all of you all the time and I hope with all my heart that one day we can all live closer and I will be able to devote more time. I don't like how school envelops all my time right now. It is so so hard, but I know this is where I need to be. I want you to know I'm sorry I don't keep in touch as well as I should and I don't see you all as often as we all would like. I do love you all so much. You have a huge part of my heart and soul...