Trials

Ever since I decided to go on a mission, I've been striving to really strengthen my testimony and grow closer to Christ. It's amazing how hard the adversary tries to stop you from doing something that is so right. I was reading a book entitled 21 Days Closer to Christ and I got to this paragraph that really struck me. So, I decided to share it with everyone.

"There is a moment of epiphany after the soul has doubted all it knows, when it begins to reach out for solid answers and firm ground. This moment is defined by one emotion that sustains and creates a desire for change. Before faith or knowledge is found, before joy or happiness is experienced, before the healing begins, one emotion starts to stir from deep within the depths of despair. It is hope. Hope is the light that will begin to lead through the darkest hour, which will enable us to move forward along the darkened path."

So keep hope in your life and blessings will come. It will get you through.

Peer pressure

Well, I did it. I wasn't going to. NO, I wasn't going to be one of those people. It was a book about vampires for crying out loud. How ridiculous is that? I wasn't going to waste my time. I finally got sick of now knowing who Edward or Bella were. Maybe, just one chapter and I'll know enough about the characters to carry on a conversation and understand what all the flair people are sending me on facebook is about. Like a drug, as soon as I started, I couldn't stop. I just finished the first book of the Twilight Saga. Last night, I was lying in bed, reading...only 50 pages left. Then it happened, all the words on the pages started blurring. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, I thought. I could barely keep my eyes open long enough to turn out the light (Jasper must have been making me tired...for those that don't know what I'm talking about, read the book). I gave in and fell asleep. If only I were a vampire and didn't need sleep...I could get SO much done. Anyhow, I got up this morning, got ready for work. I got to the station and did all the morning duties, then I curled into a ball in the chair and sat down, determined to finish reading. First cardinal rule, never make plans when you work at a fire station. Just as it was getting good...my pager went off. A person was in booking at the jail and the police officers thought they might be "under the influence of something" (usually this means they are drunk as a skunk.) So, I made my way to the ambulance, taking the book with me (you never know when you'll be back to finish, so I could always read at the hospital when my partner writes their report.) We get to the police station, and there is my patient. Doesn't speak a lick of English (at least not to us anyway.) Boy was he surprised when I started speaking Spanish to him...then he answered. A totally different dialect then I'd ever heard. He would only answer or "understand" certain phrases, we call this "selective cooperation." You wanna know what was going through my mind?!?!?! I need Edward here to read this guys mind...Maybe I need to take a break from reading...hehe. We decided that he did NOT need to go anywhere by ambulance and the officers were fine with us leaving. I got in the ambulance and, as it's my partners turn to drive today, I picked up my book and tried to finish...as we got closer to the station, he asked me "do you want me to drive around the block a few times so you can finish? Now that's just silly...or is it? (insert mischievous laugh here). Anyways, if you haven't read this book, on one hand DO IT it's SOOOO good. On the other hand DON'T DO IT, you won't be able to stop.