Love.

Recently the principle of love has been re-emphasized heavily in my life. Loving others, being patient with others, being understanding and having sympathy and compassion for others. My dad is the most patient, loving, calm, laid-back, controlled and relaxed person I know, without a doubt. My mom is the perfect mom for me. She is also so loving, kind, selfless, nurturing, tender and caring. But my mom is also a very strong, hard working, driven, tough lil' fire cracker at the same time! The older I've gotten, the more I've become my dad, but I still have a lot of my mom in me as well. When I say my mom is "tough," this is what I mean. When I was 12, I broke my tailbone in a basketball game. My mom didn't see the incident happen, so she thought that nothing was wrong with me and that I was just complaining. After a year of complaining multiple times a day that my back really was hurting, she finally took me to the doctor. Come to find out, I did indeed break my tailbone which led to me having scoliosis which led to me having 4 surgeries on my legs/hips.... that's what I mean when I say she's tough :) Don't get me wrong, because my mom is my angel, really. She's just very practical. This is a trait I have definitely acquired from my mom. Having this trait can be a great thing and a bad thing. It's good because I can mentally tough my way out of just about anything physical, but it's a bad thing because I have a hard time feeling sympathy for others who can't.
But I'm not just talking about physical stuff, I'm talking about other aspects of life as well. I have a hard time putting myself in others shoes. I have a hard time understanding other people's thoughts and actions based on the trials they are going through. Make sense?
As I've been striving to turn this weakness of mine into a strength, my eyes have truly been opened! I can honestly feel how much the Savior loves each of us individually and perfectly. HE understands what it feels like to be in your shoes. He made the shoes for you and then wore them for you before you did. He wants you to have the most comfortable pair of shoes that are perfect for YOU! He "broke them in," worked out all the kinks and made them perfect for YOU so that you wouldn't have to do the tough stuff.
The only way I can describe the love I feel for people right now is like a motherly-ish love. Looking at someone and feeling so proud, humble, protective and thankful for that person.
I am not a perfect person. Not even close, obviously. I've just been working so hard to love others with no judgements or pre-conceived notions, and it really is working! If you have a weakness that you want turned into a strength, give it to the Lord, and He will work magic on you :)
The Lord loves you more than you know. I say this because I honestly feel it. If you ever doubt it, just pray to feel His love for you, and you WILL feel it!
Xoxo,
Alliecat

Carried By Love

LDC has been going for about 3 weeks now and it's already amazing! The songs we're learning are seriously the most beautiful songs I've ever heard. My personal favorite is called "Carried By Love." Chills everytime we sing it. Just read the lyrics to the song and you'll see why...

Far from the flock, far from the fold;
lost in the dark, frightened and cold.
Captured by fear, bound by despair,
crying for one to hear my prayer.

Search me and find me, lost and alone.
Search me and find me, carry me safely home,
safely home.

Out of the night, black as my shame,
I hear a voice calling my name.
Shepherd of Love, calling to me,
offering grace abundant and free.

Lifted by hands, gentle and strong,
into His arms where I belong.
Held by the one sent from above,
covered by grace and carried by Love.

Search me and find me, lost and alone.
Search me and find me, carry me safely home,
Carry me safely home, safely home.

"into His arms where I belong...." this is a perfect song :)
xoxo,
Alliecat

Megan Marie Madsen!!

It's about time I intorduce you to another one of my best friends, Freuben Rupert Toobin Doobey... more commonly known as Megan! Isn't she so beautiful??? Like all of my other best friends, Meg has been in my life for 15 years now and what a blessing that has been! Megan is just a good person. She has been blessed with a "guilty concious," that always enables her to know what is right and what is wrong. This is one reason why I have kept her around all these years ;) Meg is brilliant. She has always maintained fantastic grades, even in college now. She takes her education very seriously and we can all strive to follow her example of being so dedicated to her schooling. Meg isn't afraid to go after her dreams. If she wants something bad enough, she will do everything she can to make that thing happen. She doesn't let the fear of rejection stop her from chasing her dreams, unlike some people I know (....cough, ME,.... cough) I need to work harder to be more like Meg in this aspect of life. Megan has the gift of creativity! She is constantly blowing us away with her latest creations from being a phenominal dance choreographer (she has been choreographing for high schools all over since she was in high school) to starting a small headband making business (again, something I've been wanting to do but haven't had the time and have been too scared)!! She puts 110% into everything she does. She's kind of a perfectionist which can be a great thing because she refuses to do things half heartedly. It's all or nothing for her which is something else I admire about her. For all you boys out there, I guarantee Megan Madsen is a bigger BYU football than you are!! She is a FANATIC!!! She was fan of the year, and she went to that one game last year in Texas maybe? (this goes to show how absolutely clueless I am when it comes to football... lol) and she managed to make the cover of the newspaper while at that game (picture above)!! I really think her devotion to BYU literally runs in her veins.. hahaha! Whenever we hang out with a new group of guys for the first time and someone brings up BYU football and she starts rattling off stats and starts re-broadcasting the games, the guys are all dumbfounded by the fact that she might actually know more about the game than they do haha! She's crazy and I LOVE it!!
Now, I know I've said this about all of my girls, but Megan for really reals makes me laugh harder than anyone!!!!! My Grandpa Vern has the #1 spot, my parents are tied for second, and then I think Meg and Ali Lente are tied for the #3 spot for people who make me laught the very hardest!!! Meg also has a gift of story telling (another one of her fabulous gifts that I wish I had)!! I always looked forward to when Meg came home for the day because she almost always had a funny story for us! I don't even think I can start writing some of the most memorable funny moments with Meg because they are ALL so funny!!! Meg these are for you: the dirty rotten fish picture, "von, two, three four," CHUCKY, terri, "I tell you these things, so you know them" "Goodnight & goodnight," and now my new favorite, "I'm just here for the cookies!!" L O L!!! Oh my gosh, I can't wait to watch all of these memories in Heaven with you someday haha!
Meg, you know how much I love you. You are one of the biggest blessings in my life and I think my Heavenly Father for you everyday. You are such a great example and friend to me and I'm the most blessed girl ever that I get to call you one of my best friends! I love you so much.
Xoxo,
Alliecat