Learning the Lord's Way

I always felt cheated in having to give up going to BYU to stay in Pueblo for college. Not that I did not enjoy going to college and I feel like I got a good education, I just really wanted to go to BYU. So when my dad had a heart attack my senior year of high school I stopped applying to BYU and felt I needed to stay in Pueblo with my dad and brother. I left Pueblo after my freshman year hoping to go to Utah and work and then try to go to the Y. But I hated it when I got to Utah, and boy issues, and the fact I could go to summer school and be busy lulled me back to Pueblo having only been gone 2 weeks. What does this have to do with today; my reminiscent recalling of my college days? Aside from the fact that BYU kept my application on file for 20 years...

I was thinking tonight after having dug through an old box with college papers and such, how everything I have desired in righteousness has somehow found its way to me. Let's start with a Temple marriage. Had I not gone back to Pueblo after those two weeks I never would have met Elder Burila (I never call him that anymore). Dave was certainly an answer to my prayers. An unlikely marriage and not a path I would have taken had I not felt the Holy Ghost prompt that to me.

Personal progress. I always wanted to earn the Young Women's medallion, yes when I was a youth I struggled with personal progress. Had I had a little more insight I would have fulfilled this in my youth. But the Lord made that up with me. My first callings as a newly married girl was to the Young Women's Program. I was able to make up or earn what I had thought was lost to me, as a young woman.

Seminary. I had the hardest time going to early morning seminary. The boys teased me, threw papers at Brother Chin, made fun of the other sister so and so, and honestly I just didn't feel like I could go all the time. So I did not graduate from seminary. I always wished I had. Well here again the Lord made a way for me to accomplish a goal I had. I was able to teach seminary just long enough to finish all three years that I missed as a youth. I learned alot more as the teacher.

Babies. I always wanted lots of babies. I knew that was going to be a problem given some health issues. So sure enough we got Steve with a ton of prayer, fasting and medical interventions. But what a wonderful way the Lord brought our other babies into our lives. Each through prayer, fasting and the righteous desires of our hearts. Each is a blessing and a miracle in their own right. And the blessing of sealing ordinances more than once in the temple, certainly made up for any weakness this may have been.

Now back to my BYU desire. I may not be at BYU Law school, but I don't think I need that. I think I am getting the same learning experience at LDS Business College trying to earn a paralegal certificate. Prayer at the beginning of every class, (I can't imagine what it would be like if our kids had that at school). Being taught something that seems temporal, but in ever sense of what is being taught is spiritual. Having teachers testify of principles is an amazing way to learn. I really feel blessed to have the chance to go back to school and enhance my degree that I earned at USC. To build a foundation of being able to help our children understand what it means to "learn the Lord's way". I also am thankful for the chance to prepare, to help Dave financially, if need be. Our kids are growing up so fast, we are closer to a mission than we realize; five years flies by.

So I am thankful for the chance to make up what once seemed like a loss. I really have been blessed.