a cup that runneth over

“Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he’s been robbed. The fact is that most putts don’t drop, most beef is tough, most children grow up to just be people, most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration, most jobs are more often dull than otherwise. Life is like an old time rail journey…delays…sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling burst of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride.”  - Gordon B. Hinckely

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I've mentioned this before, but much of the last year felt just like that old time rail journey. It was delays and sidetracks, lots of smoke and plenty of dust and fiery cinders that burned and burned, and just all around BLAH. It really kicked my teeth in. We had plenty of moments that were sweet and beautiful, but most of the time I found myself teetering on the brink of being unhappy, and just trudging along because things were just plain ol' rough. 

This year started looking like it would feel much the same. When we lost our housing because our landlady decided to move, I was mad for weeks. I felt completely jipped because we had been working so hard and "why did things have to fall apart right as another semester was starting?!"

Fast forward a few months and I'm just beyond grateful for that little "derailing". It's truly been the biggest blessing for Christian and I in so many ways. It's hard living with family again, because we are really ready to just take off and do our own thing and not be tied to anyone because of our living circumstances. I guess Heavenly Father has been very aware of those desires (isn't He always?!), because this weekend we found a place to live come April, and we are absolutely thrilled about it. Then this morning, Christian got news that he was offered an internship at Goldman Sachs this summer, which has basically been his dream for the last year and a half. This internship will mean security, almost guarantee a job after graduation, and guess what else: The freedom to take off and do our own thing as the little Carter family, just like we've been wanting ever since we got married. I have been so overwhelmed by the "beautiful vista" and "thrilling bursts of speed" we've been feeling the last few days, and I'm doing my best to soak it all in and just revel in the happiness. President Hinckely was right when he said that much of life is hard. And even though we've been feeling elated and blessed the last few days, things will certainly start to feel hard again soon. 

(anytime! I'm ready for whatever you want to throw at me, life!)

But right now, I want pour out my soul in deep gratitude, and enjoy the proverbial vistas I feel completely surrounded by. The blessing of a place to live. A good job. A great education. Beautiful weather that just makes my heart sing. A sweet baby boy preparing to join our family. Wonderful friends and family who love us. A darling husband. Health. Happiness. 

Because in the end, the trick really is to thank the Lord for letting us have the ride, despite the dust that can so easily cloud our ability to see the breathtaking beauty behind it all.

the hand of the Lord

This weekend, Christian and I felt an outpouring of blessings.

They were very small and simple things, but they completely changed the way our weekend went.

Because of this, over the last few days. I've been thinking a lot about tender mercies.

The Lord's hand, and manifestation of His love for us, is FAR more prevalent in our lives than I think we will ever realize. Something as simple as safe travel to and from our daily destinations is a HUGE blessing from the Lord.

As I took time to realize this this weekend, I was overwhelmed by the love I felt from Him.

He didn't NEED to give us those blessings. They weren't things we were desperate for, they were simple luxuries that made life a little easier and a little happier. 

I felt so strongly that He was putting His arms around us in an embrace, saying:

"I'm doing this because I love you.

Because you are my precious children. 

And I know it will make you happy."

And to think how often He does this for all of us!

As I've thought about this for the last few days, I realized something. 

The more that we SEEK to notice the Lord's hand in our lives, the more that we will understand how much He truly guides us and the greater happiness and peace we will feel. 

I'm thankful that He loves me enough to keep teaching me simple lessons like this. 

a new brooke for a new year

I've been all kicks and giggles through the last few posts.

(nothing wrong with that right?!)

But I wanted to share something today that I've been thinking a lot about for the last several months.

So our last Sunday in D.C., right before Christmas, we had and AWESOME Relief Society lesson.

I don't remember what about specifically, but there was one part of it that hit me really hard. 

We were each given separate notecards with a picture on them.

This was mine:

On the back, there were several scriptures from Luke 7

Verse 47 is my favorite

It reads:

"Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven;

For she loved much:

but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little"

How amazing!

That hit me so powerfully.

Here was this woman who, by the world's standards, was a sinner, not worthy of any note.

And yet because she was bathing the Savior's feet with her kisses and tears, demonstrating her adoration for Him,

He recognized her as a woman who loved much.

"For she loved much."

I too, am like this woman. 

I am mortal.

I am a sinner.

But that does not mean I cannot love much. 

This is my motto for 2013. 

In the end, I want the Lord (and others!) to look at me and recognize this. 

Recognize that despite my MANY imperfections, 

I am capable of loving much. 

Of loving my Savior enough to serve Him.

To proverbially bath His feet with my tears. 

Capable of loving others enough to put their needs before my own. 

And it doesn't have to just be about loving people either!

I want to love school enough to work my very hardest. 

Love myself enough to take care of my needs when neccessary. 

Love my home enough to make it beautiful. 

Love my testimony enough to nurture it. 

Love my talents enough to let them grow. 

It is my FIRM belief that true happiness in this life is governed by our ability to love. 

If we love Heavenly Father and the Savior enough, we will do their will. 

And in doing their will, all other things in life fall into place. 

I would like 2013 to be my best year yet. 

And I want to make this happen,

all by loving much. 

candid conversation

Lately I've been reminded of some very important principles.

First: we CANNOT and WON'T EVER understand things people are privately going through. 

So we must not be judgmental, for better OR worse

(none of that "why does she act like that?!" and "his life is perfect" stuff)

And second: Christlike love for our fellow man is the best way to help us avoid the unreasonable judgement of others, AND to be happier.

Since we moved to DC, we've gotten comments from people about how fun and perfect 

our lives must be right now.

It definitley HAS been a blast thus far.

And certainly we are making memories that we will hold dear, for forever.

But just to keep things in perspective..... there have also been some very difficult days.

I've been having a bit of an identity crisis, in a lot of ways, since Christian and I got married. 

The last few weeks have been especially trying. 

You know like when you wake up from a really long nap in the middle of the day, and you are really grouchy and you can't figure out where you are for a good 2 minutes?

Yeah, well basically that's been me for the last 6 months haha!

So I guess all I'm trying to say is everything is NOT sunshine and rainbows over here all the time.

There are days I would like to kick Christian in the shins, and I'm sure he'd like to put on a nice pair of soccer cleats and do the same to me. 

And maybe there are other days when I just want to quit life and move to a remote island and be a fisherman for the rest of forever.

But we all have days like that.

And that's just real life, isn't it?

And as I evaluate ours from an insider (mine) and outsider's (yours) perspective, I've come to appreciate the lives of everyone else around me.

Does that make sense? 

I'm learning more and more to be patient with other people's "craziness", including my own.

And just as equally to be patient with other people's perceived "perfection".

Because no matter what, no matter who you are and no matter the life you live......

Everyone is struggling. 

And everyone needs to feel a little less judged and A LOT more loved.