Today was the first official day of "The Bill and Julie Herlin's First Family Reunion." It was super fun!
We walked around DC and spent hours soaking up sun, heat, and humidity. We are all sunburned and tired.
I don't have access to my pictures yet because I can't use my own computer to post this.
So, some adventures of the day were:
1. Seeing a very tanned man with long white hair and beard in a white loin cloth.
2. Touring the White House.
3. Touring the Capitol Building.
4. National Museum of Natural History (this may have been my favorite).
5. Going into the National Archives
6. Running home in the rain from our Italian restaurant we went to for dinner.
Pictures and more details to come!
Ben and Kilee
Friday, June 29, 2012
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Stretching
I recently bought two books I have been desperately wanting to read: Heaven is Here by Stephanie Nielson and Be the Miracle by Regina Brett. Ever since I have discovered these books, they have been at the top of my mental to-read shelf because I know they will inspire me and uplift me.
I was right. I started both books yesterday. Be the Miracle is more like 50 short essays that each focus on teaching some kind of life lesson for "making the impossible possible." I read the introduction and the first four lessons and have already been really touched by the stories shared and my hope for personal growth as I read this book. Heaven is Here is a memoir about a woman who suffered more than I can even imagine (surviving a fiery plane crash that burned 80% of her body) and how her faith and hope helped her stay alive and regain her joyful life. I haven't finished it yet, but I have already read through her getting released from the hospital.
So far, I feel that I am accomplishing what I was hoping for as I read these two books: a personal gratitude for my life and an increased faith and strength for my own life. As I have been reading these two books, I have also been studying articles from this year's April Ensign, which focus on Christ and the family. I have learned a lot, which I would like to share with you all.
Through my own trials, I have gone through phases of optimism but also questioning why this is happening to me. Sometimes, I get angry that God has allowed certain things to happen to me. Sometimes, I develop a deep humility and gratitude for the life lessons I am learning. Sometimes, I'm just here and don't really know what I am doing, but I am simply trying to rely on the Savior's Atonement to give me strength to get through another day. I don't always have the best attitude, but sometimes I surprise myself with great optimism.
I have realized through my own course of study, along with reading these books and the Ensign recently, that sometimes we are stretched, even when intensely painful, to grow better. It's like physical therapy. When you have an injury, you have to endure painful stretches that you don't want to do. Because. They. Hurt. But the only way to get better and develop more flexibility is to stretch yourself, even though it hurts. God knows what He is doing when he challenges us with trials. If we are faithful, He will not give us challenges beyond our capacity to bear. Praying for the trial to be taken away doesn't always work. What will always work is praying for God to bless us with the strength to bear the trial and strength to keep enduring. The strength He blesses us with will help us get through it. God loves us. He hears our prayers. Sometimes we have to go through hard things, but that's what makes us better. It's part of the test of mortality.
Sometimes, I think to myself, "I don't want to be here. What was I thinking when I agreed to come to earth and do all these hard things?" Then I remember that my spirit in the pre-mortal world had much more knowledge than I do now. I knew what I was getting myself into, and I knew that this was the only way to gain exaltation. I knew that God would not leave me alone and that Christ would always be on my side. In this life, I blindly follow them because I know that if I had all the knowledge I would follow them no matter what.
I know that life is hard. It's meant to be hard. I am eternally grateful for the gospel and the knowledge I have of God and Jesus Christ. I am grateful for all the tender mercies that God blesses me with and the strength He gives me to keep going when I barely have the courage to face another day.
And I'm so grateful that I married my best friend and one of the nicest men in the world. He is a blessing to me from God. God knew all along it would take someone special to handle me, and I'm grateful that He shaped me and led me right where I belong.
I was right. I started both books yesterday. Be the Miracle is more like 50 short essays that each focus on teaching some kind of life lesson for "making the impossible possible." I read the introduction and the first four lessons and have already been really touched by the stories shared and my hope for personal growth as I read this book. Heaven is Here is a memoir about a woman who suffered more than I can even imagine (surviving a fiery plane crash that burned 80% of her body) and how her faith and hope helped her stay alive and regain her joyful life. I haven't finished it yet, but I have already read through her getting released from the hospital.
So far, I feel that I am accomplishing what I was hoping for as I read these two books: a personal gratitude for my life and an increased faith and strength for my own life. As I have been reading these two books, I have also been studying articles from this year's April Ensign, which focus on Christ and the family. I have learned a lot, which I would like to share with you all.
Through my own trials, I have gone through phases of optimism but also questioning why this is happening to me. Sometimes, I get angry that God has allowed certain things to happen to me. Sometimes, I develop a deep humility and gratitude for the life lessons I am learning. Sometimes, I'm just here and don't really know what I am doing, but I am simply trying to rely on the Savior's Atonement to give me strength to get through another day. I don't always have the best attitude, but sometimes I surprise myself with great optimism.
I have realized through my own course of study, along with reading these books and the Ensign recently, that sometimes we are stretched, even when intensely painful, to grow better. It's like physical therapy. When you have an injury, you have to endure painful stretches that you don't want to do. Because. They. Hurt. But the only way to get better and develop more flexibility is to stretch yourself, even though it hurts. God knows what He is doing when he challenges us with trials. If we are faithful, He will not give us challenges beyond our capacity to bear. Praying for the trial to be taken away doesn't always work. What will always work is praying for God to bless us with the strength to bear the trial and strength to keep enduring. The strength He blesses us with will help us get through it. God loves us. He hears our prayers. Sometimes we have to go through hard things, but that's what makes us better. It's part of the test of mortality.
Sometimes, I think to myself, "I don't want to be here. What was I thinking when I agreed to come to earth and do all these hard things?" Then I remember that my spirit in the pre-mortal world had much more knowledge than I do now. I knew what I was getting myself into, and I knew that this was the only way to gain exaltation. I knew that God would not leave me alone and that Christ would always be on my side. In this life, I blindly follow them because I know that if I had all the knowledge I would follow them no matter what.
I know that life is hard. It's meant to be hard. I am eternally grateful for the gospel and the knowledge I have of God and Jesus Christ. I am grateful for all the tender mercies that God blesses me with and the strength He gives me to keep going when I barely have the courage to face another day.
And I'm so grateful that I married my best friend and one of the nicest men in the world. He is a blessing to me from God. God knew all along it would take someone special to handle me, and I'm grateful that He shaped me and led me right where I belong.
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