Grateful

Sometimes I just can't help but laugh at myself. I start writing post after post and then delete them all... cause they just don't sit well with me. I thought I'd just tell you today about somethings that I am grateful for TODAY.

Today, I am grateful for the rain storm that is ensuing outside. The gentle sound of thunder and the tapping of the rain on the windows, combined with the beautiful music by Mindy Gledhill I'm listening to while writing this, are just so calming.- Heavenly Father loves us.

Today, I'm grateful for fasting. Fasting has brought on new meaning to me this summer. As I've felt inspired to fast, I feel so much peace and strength. Today, I just felt calmness. I felt clear. I felt Marla. Sometimes I feel like I'm constantly thinking or doing something- feeling anxiety, worry, or other busy feelings and I forget to just feel and enjoy the serenity of life. To feel what Marla feels. I forget to take care of myself. Today I felt more in tune with Marla- it is beautiful.

Today I'm grateful for Elder William Garrett Allen. There are some things about my good friend serving the Lord, that absolutely inspire me. One of those things is his love of learning. We were in the same Book of Mormon class last semester at BYU, and he would continually be thinking about those principles. He sought out learning, whereas I marked it off my to-do list. Because of him, I now have more of a love for learning. I went to Barnes & Noble yesterday and bought a fantastic book- just being there made me think of him. 

Today I'm REALLY grateful for experiences.There is the saying that Heavenly Father can see "The end from the beginning." I'm so glad that He can. However, He has given me the gift to see the beginning from the end. As I look back at all the sickness, hurt, and fatigue I've felt this summer, I can now finally see His plan unfolding. This summer has been an experience I will never forget. Having the gift to understand the reason for pains I've gone through is SUCH a blessing that I am so grateful for. 

To sum it up- I'm grateful to Live, Learn, and Love. Life is beautiful! :)

Blooming :)

Today I had some time before work and I decided to go to the temple to walk around. GREAT DECISION! I'm a firm believer that if there is ever a chance to spend time at either the Temple, the Visitor Center, or Deseret Book- then such an opportunity should be taken! 

I wandered into the Visitor Center. There is such a special spirit there.... it is SO peaceful. After looking around at the pictures, looking at the German Book of Mormon (one of my best friends is serving his mission there, and I soak in anything that has to do with German now :) ), just sitting and looking at the Christus for a while, and soaking up the Spirit to face another day at work, I started to walk back to my car while looking at the beautiful grounds and this flower caught my attention....

It made me start thinking.... I LOVE the process of watching a flower bloom. I think it is exciting and so fulfilling. I'm so grateful that flowers go through that PROCESS. It made me ponder about the relationship between myself and my Heavenly Father. I seem to always want immediate results. I want to get rid of that bad habit or flaw right NOW. I don't want a process, because of course that would take too long. But now I just have to wonder- does Heavenly Father find it just as fulfilling to watch us undergo the process of spiritually blooming? Does He find the process exciting and beautiful?

 I feel deeply that He does.

I firmly believe that the plan is not for us to all undergo immediate changes. I believe in BECOMING. I believe that Heavenly Father believes in that too. Just as the end result of a beautiful flower would not mean nearly as much, or seem quite as beautiful if it happened overnight-I believe that the person I end up becoming after many years of "blooming" will be more beautiful, then if one morning I woke up a completely changed individual.

Today... I'm grateful for that reminder.

I'm just going to keep Blooming. :)

Meet This Precious Little Girl

Miss Marla Jean....

So, I wanted to start out with an explanation for why I named my blog what I did. The inspiration for the name actually came from the desire to picture myself as a little girl. When I was young, I was called "Miss Marla" or "Jean Bean." (Quick side note: my friend on a mission actually caught onto those nicknames and titles each letter with a variation of those nicknames- this obviously adds greatly to the reason of why the nicknames are dear to my heart).

 Another reason for the name, is that in the last week I have been thinking a lot more about trying to get to know the REAL me. And more than that, learning to LOVE the real me- the little sweet girl inside of me.  I want to be completely honest on this blog and say that I'll be the first to admit that I have always had trouble loving myself. I know deep down that I am a child of God- I know that in my head... but sometimes I think the signal between my head and my heart doesn't always have the best reception. In the moments that I am struggling, I forget who I really am.
Someone who I admire, recently suggested that I start encouraging that "little girl" inside me- the Daughter of God that I am. So.... I want to introduce to you Miss Marla Jean- the little girl that I am, the little girl passions that I have, and the things about life that this little girl absolutely ADORES! :)

This little girl loves to be creative! And doesn't mind getting her fingers dirty in the process!

She absolutely loves to give and receive hugs from those she loves and cares about. And cares deeply about those family and friends that she has.

She loves the women in her life and the fact that she is a girl! She delights in getting dressed up for special occasions! :)

She is undoubtedly drawn to the Temple- and is for SURE "Going there someday" with the a righteous Man who loves the Lord. 

She is enchanted by the beauties of the Earth and loves to capture the skies that she sees and then just sit and soak it all in.

Sunrises and Sunsets are especially dear to her heart- as they remind her that each day she can start anew. 

She is SO passionate about music and fine arts- playing, listening, singing, performing, etc.... It is ingrained into her heart and through it, she feels closer to her Father in Heaven.

The Start of a New Journey

Well, It's official- I have a blog! Just recently I got more interested in blogs and then decided at the drop of a hat that I would just do it! I guess it was kind of like ripping off a band-aid, minus the band-aid. But anyway, I just felt like creating something that reflected my personality and a place where I could record my thoughts. To be quite honest, I don't even know how much I'll use this, or what I'll end up posting, but that's okay! We'll see where it all goes! For right now, here is just a little bit about me and my current situation in life....

1)I'm living at home with my parents for the summer, while working practically full time at a water treatment company called All About Water-Ecowater Systems. I feel extremely blessed to be working there and feel like I'm learning some great lessons from the job.

2) This coming September I will be returning to Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah to start my sophomore year. I sorely miss my friends who I met my freshman year. There were a couple of us who got to be really good friends and I am excited to go back to them! Among those friends, there are a few who have left to share the gospel as full time missionaries for my church- I am SO proud of them! 

Well, I thought that there would be more, but that is about it for now! This summer has been a trying time, but it has taught me so many important lessons. One of the maxims for my life right now is: "Current situations are not eternal." I've come to know that even if times are hard, if I search for a bright side- I will ALWAYS find one. No matter the situation. There are always things to be grateful for and a way to find happiness! :)