It's all in your perspective

Looking back on this summer, it has honestly been a really good one.  I'm happy and I've had a lot of fun.  I went on a scuba diving trip, hiking in Saint George, had family vacation in Utah, went to Canada and back, went home to visit my family in Texas, started a new job..... and the list goes on! :)   I've also met a lot of people, especially in the ward/institute, some of which I'm sure I will remain friends with for a good while :).  School really has crept up on me though - as I have focused on enjoying my summer and taking advantage of the hours I am not at work, I've put school to the back of my mind.  Just a few more days though and it is here!  I can already tell you that it is going to be a super busy semester, and to be completely honest, I'm not really looking forward to it at all!  This semester seems like it is going to be exhausting and I'm already feeling tired.  I mean, I'd take a nap right now if I could!

This was the start to a post I was writing a week or so ago, but never actually finished.... but due to my being so NOT excited for school, I decided to do something a little different to change my attitude.  Starting on the first day of classes I began to keep track of all the good things that happened throughout the day - all of the things that I was grateful for.  I wouldn't go to bed until I had written at least ten things down.  Well come Friday, I had somewhat of a hectic day.

It began well.  I woke up, only had two classes to go to instead of the usual four and was out by eleven.  It also happened to be the day when I switched shifts with someone at work and was SO excited to be able to have the day off and go to the rooftop concert series!  It was a good morning! :)

In the afternoon, I decided to head over to David and Bailey's to pick up a couple of things that I had left as I was living there.  It started to rain.  And then it started to pour.  Then the hail began coming down at some point.  I was driving around a curve and all of a sudden, my car started slipping and well.... wouldn't stop.  I tried to straighten it out, but... to no avail.  I slammed into the guard rail and the car spun around until it was facing perpendicular to the direction of traffic - a 3/4 turn.

This was the outcome of it all:

my poor car

I walked out of it A okay.  I didn't feel anything at the moment, but later bruises kept popping up and I had a major headache for a couple days, but everything is great now :).

Back to gratitude though.... Even though Friday was CRAZY with the accident and everything, I more than doubled my list of things that I was grateful for: seat belts, that I was alive, my dad's loving reaction, david and bailey for helping me out and then even letting me borrow their car, bailey for the medicine, water and popsicle, pizza without cheese,etc :), the angel girl who was the first to stop at the wreck and who talked with me - that was a big comfort.  These are a just a few of the things that I found to be grateful for.  Sure, the event jostled me for sure, but I'm okay.  God lives and watches out for us though, that I know.

Peace is not an absence of conflict, but is what comes in the midst of conflict when we are striving to follow Christ's example.