Faith is trust

This past week got really busy. My weekend was full of "extra" school activities - they are important, but also take up a lot of time!

On Monday we were all freezing in class. After class I went outside and it was overcast and felt so nice (even though it was still like 98 degrees). I sat in a lawn chair for about 30 minutes just enjoying the warmth.

Then on Thursday I had a special assignment. I had to be in a wheelchair for 24 hours. That was definitely an eye-opening experience. I went into it knowing that it would be hard and that I would have to adjust some things, but until you're in the chair you don't realize how little functional abilities you have. And my apartment is NOT suited for a wheelchair in any way. My room is upstairs and I couldn't get into my closet, the bathroom, or our pantry. My kitchen is also tiny and narrow. Basically it sucked, but I learned a lot. I also had to go out into the community and so I took my roommate and she acted as my "aide" and we went to the movies. People really do look at you and treat you differently. I was really grateful to turn in my wheelchair on Friday morning and have the liberty to walk around normally. It hit me though that that is not normal for a lot of people.

It also rained on Thursday. So that was a happy.

Literally no room upstairs for this chair.

My roommate kept taking pictures of me. I got into my room and didn't even know what to do with myself.

At the movies.

On Friday afternoon I went to the ArizOTA conference, which is a conference for OT's in Arizona to go to if they want to register and hear presentations about occupational therapy-related issues. I got to listen to a couple of speakers and it was cool to be surrounded by OT practitioners.

On Saturday morning I participated with 11 of my classmates in the Walk for Homeless Families at the Phoenix Zoo. That was a fun activity and it helped me to get to know some of the other students in my group a little better.

I went to Costco with the intent of buying one thing, but instead bought like 6. #whatelseisnew

There was also the women's session of General Conference yesterday, so I watched that and it was amazing. Some things that stuck out to me:

• We can't direct the wind, but we can adjust the sail.
• Embrace improvement in everyone. Encourage and allow others to change.
• There are more ways to feel than with your hands, see than with your eyes, and hear than with your ears.
• FAITH IS TRUST. God sees what I do not and cannot see. In the end, everything will make sense.

General Conference is next weekend. To be honest I'm a little worried about the timing because I have 5 tests and 3 assignments due the week after, but I know that I need the words that will be spoken. I'm always excited to hear General Conference anyway. :)

I had some cool thoughts during Sunday School today at church. We were discussing 3 Nephi 1 in the Book of Mormon and how the believers were not receiving the answers that they thought would come - the sign of the Savior's birth. The nonbelievers gave a deadline and said they would kill the believers if the signs didn't happen by then. Talk about stress.

• When we are waiting for promises to be fulfilled and feel like they aren't being fulfilled and prayers aren't being answered in a timely manner, if we allow it that is when we can feel closest to God because we are humble and seeking that closeness. You can get angry becaus eyou think He isn't listening or doesn't care. Showing faith is having trust in the Lord and means we need to seek that closeness to Him in the times of trial.
• It's interesting that we are so often pushed to our very limits. But it's also interesting that we always get help before it's too late. He doesn't give us more than we can handle.
• I've seen in school that people deal with challenges very differently from one another. Stress affects us differently and it hits us in waves. I do feel that I receive strength when I am weak and when I need it most. God tailors His help to us individually and in the ways that we need. No one is exempt from His blessings if we seek for them.

I just really feel right now that even when things are hard (and it doesn't even have to be a huge trial like a sickness or being homeless), God is aware. Everyone is dealing with hard things, even the ones who look happy all the time. But we need to turn to Him to make it easier. He doesn't force us to be close to Him or to talk to Him. I know that when I humble myself a bit and make that step, I feel better.