Make the Choice

So I'd been feeling moody and emo for quie a long while... And recently it got to a point where I was really pondering through my feelings and I realized I was tried with being angry, I was tired with making myself miserable.  I missed the positive me that used to see the sun on a cloudy day.

One day I read this.  And I realized I had to answer to myself one question.

Who was I really mad at?

And I realized quite quickly it was myself.  I was mad at myself for not acting faithfully, for not meeting the trial of my faith head on and growing stronger from it, for not taking the opportunity to come closer to Christ through my suffering.  And then just like that, it all left.

I can see life clearly again.

Cause I also realized that yeah, I screwed up then, but I can do right now.  Repentance and the Atonement are awesome like that.

It also reminded me of how important choice is in our lives.  We have the power to choose anything.  Including faith and happiness.  It doesn't matter what has happened, what you're going through or if the entire world is falling into chaos.  You can still thrive and be happy, especially through trials and adversity.

You and I have the power to choose how we will react to our lives.  And the power to choose whether or not to be happy.

It all starts with choice.  Then taking the steps necessary to ensure that that choice will become a reality.  And then you have to do everything you can to maintain it.  You can't sit around and expect what you want to be handed to you.

For me, I needed to look at myself and clearly see what it was I was really feeling and how it was affecting me.  Then I prayed, repented, and got back on the wagon of prayer in scripture study.  I'm  most definitely not back to where I was, but I also realized something extremely important.

What was is in the past and will not be again.  That does not mean that what's to come can never be as good.  If anything it grants the possibility that the future will be more amazing that we can ever imagine it to be.

If you do all in your power to do what's right, good things will come.  Sometimes they won't be what you hope for, but it's always exactly what you need.  And sometimes the results of your faith and diligence will completely blow you away.

Last weekend were the Eastern Division Silver Dressage Championships.  I spent the night before nursing a bruised foot,

Courtesy of Belle.

reading the scriptures and watching Facing the Giants.

The morning of was crisp with a clear blue sky and bright sunlight.  I rode the best I've ridden all season, Belle was focused and absolutely fantastic!  For the first time all season I felt great after riding both my tests!  I didn't care how we placed, cause I felt we did the best we could.  (Now I was aiming for Champion, but that's the whole point of competing yes? :)

Right before going in for my second test, my coach tells me we placed 2nd in our first test.  I was like: Holy crap!  Belle we could win this!!!  So I went in for it with my game face and was like: Oh yeah, bring it on.  Our test went really well.  As we walked back to the trailer I was beaming and repeatedly saying: Thank youThank youThank youThank youThank youThank youThank youThank youThank youThank you (etc)!  We placed 3rd!

We won Reserve Champion for our division (Adult Amateur)!!  Seriously in awe and completely overjoyed!!!  Profoundly grateful and so happy for that!!

I was not expecting that on tuesday I'd recieve news that we won Reserve High Point of the entire show!!  Which means we had the second highest test score!!  Oh my gosh I'm still pinching myself!!

I'm so so so so so grateful and I know that as long as we put our trust in Him he'll bless us beyond our wildest dreams.  But we also have to put in the effort.

So proud of my awesome girl!!

Watch.