The things I know.

***This post has been a long time coming, and is taken almost directly from a journal entry on January 11.***

If there's one thing I know, I know that God is at work. If there are two things that I know, I know that God is at work and He is in control. My Heavenly Father allows things to happen for a reason, and everything that has happened to me and gone on in my life is what is supposed to happen. It always works out thew ay it is supposed to.

I was talking to my mom this week about not getting into a technique class I had wanted to, and she reminded me that God will make it all work out, that it always does, and that I know it's true. And I do know that it's true. It's truly hard to see in the moment that things aren't working out the way I want them to, but God has a better plan for me. And I always don't know what that plan is. For example, I still don't know why it was necessary for my partnership with AJ to end, or why I needed to start dancing with Robbie. What I do know is that whatever God has in the works is what is supposed to happen and I am coming to accept that.

I know that God's hand is in my life. He fixes the mistakes that I make - like with technique classes this semester. I auditioned for Gold II Ballroom at 9:00 and said that if I had to, I could be in the 12:00 class. I was put in that 12:00 class. I was a little upset at first, but finally resolved that it could be good for me and there was a reason I was put in that class. Then I realized that I have an athletic training lab on Fridays during that time. I rushed to talk to Lee as soon as I could, and fortunately he had a place in the 9:00 class for me to take. God answered my prayer that day, and fixed my mistake. I know His hands are in my life, and that He is in control. I think sometimes He might even allow me to make mistakes like that just so that I can see that His is in control and that He is taking care of me. 

One of my favorite quotes from this past General Conference (October 2014) is from a talk given by Henry B. Eyring:

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I can touch lives through my blog in ways that I might not ever know, and that is important to me. I think that that is my biggest dream and goal in life: to make a difference in the life of someone else. My goal is not about me, it is about others. If there's anything I've realized about what I will be doing with my life, it's that I want to be doing things for others and helping them. Countless people have touched my life, and I want to do the same.

My challenge to us all this week (including myself!) is to look past our own lives and our own limitations and our own weaknesses and our own stresses and see other people. See them the way God sees them, see what they are struggling with and trying to overcome, and try to do something for them that will help them on their journey. Life gets rough sometimes. We need each other and we need God. 

Happy Sunday!