Life Lessons

Life Lesson #1:  Things ain't always easy
The last two weeks have been complete and utter chaos. So. Much. Going. On. Despite everything that has happened, the three constants are family, church, and friends. Life ain't always easy, but it's always worth it. 

Life Lesson #2:  There are some things you can't change
Like your age. Or your luck. Or sickness. Or death. Don't dwell on the things you can't change; dwell on the things you CAN change that will actually bring you more happiness. It's not easy. Of the things you can change, your attitude is the best place to start. 

Life Lesson #3:  Some things ain't fun, but you gotta do 'em anyway
Like having to find a way to talk about modesty and being lady-like in your young women's class without offending anyone, hurting any feelings, or making someone feel like they don't belong at church. Everyone belongs at church. If you don't know the expectations, you can't really do what you're expected. Teach the expectations. Then, love the people you teach them to whether the meet them or not. 

Life Lesson #4:  There will be winter, but spring always comes
The past two years I've battled a severe onset of winter blues. This year has been especially bad because as I type this it's stormy outside. Meh. As much as I love seeing the clouds over the mountains and skiffs of snow on the benches, it would be really nice to see some pretty colors budding on the trees and smell some pretty flowers. Winter may still exist, but eventually I know we will have spring. The Savior had a serious winter, and then a glorious spring three days later. Perhaps that's why our year is divided into quarters of three months .... Spring always comes. 

Life Lesson #5:  Sometimes they run ahead a little
Last night I learned that burying your 11-year-old nephew's dog (twice) that was hit and killed by a car in your skirt and Sunday shoes while it's drizzling rain is totally worth it. That makes no sense with the title of this life lesson, but let me explain. My niece, Erika, and I buried my nephew Ryan's dog, Rocky, last night after he ran into the street where an oncoming car hit and killed him while my 6-year-old nephew, Ben, watched it all happen. (The parents of the boys were supposed to be enjoying an anniversary dinner, darnit.) When I got to the house to help Erika bury Rocky, Ryan was in tears and very upset. We worked at getting the hole big enough and the boys pitched in on the shoveling. Ryan found a rock for a headstone and we buried Rocky. When the parents got home, it was suggested that we move Rocky to a better spot where the lawnmower wouldn't eat the headstone to bits. Yes, we buried the dog twice. But it was worth it. Totally worth it. After he was buried (the second time), Ryan was asked if he wanted to say anything. I'd asked him earlier (when we buried Rocky the first time), but he was crying too hard and couldn't say anything. He was still crying the second time he was asked, so my brother said something in Ryan's place. He said, "Rocky was a good dog. We loved him. The best thing about Rocky is that he was always ready to go. He'd run ahead a little and then turn around and wait for you to catch up." I pointed out to Ryan a little later that all Rocky had done was run ahead of him a little, but he was definitely waiting for Ryan to catch up. It convinced me even more that life goes on for every living thing after death. Whether there's one heaven for everything, or one heaven for every thing it doesn't matter. What we cared for and loved in this life, human or not, will be part of our heavenly existence in the next life. Heavenly Father loves us too much to keep Ryan and Rocky from being together again, whether it's daily visits for a walk or weekly visits for a serious game of catch. We will all have people and animals and lives we care about that run ahead of us a little. The important thing is that we will eventually catch up. And when we do, it will be a glorious, tear-filled, joyous reunion. And it will be worth every minute of waiting we have to do. 

Lessons learned.