Apostles, Prophets & Dinner Parties

Yes, I know, it's been 3 weeks since my last blog post. The last 7 weeks have been a very hard period of sicknesses, one after another. I've gone to 3 doctors and taken 5 different medicines (more than I've taken in my whole life!), gotten 3 Priesthood blessings, missed dozens of social activities, etc. etc. Every time I think I'm getting better, I go out and do stuff, then get sicker. Apparently, I don't know how to rest because I have F.O.M.O. (Fear of Missing Out)! It's a bigger problem than I thought because I'm sure I would've healed sooner if I would just slow down long enough for my body to recover.

But lest you think post is a Linda pity party...you are wrong! I'm an optimist by nature (and by faith). The Lord has been really patient with me, granted me many tender mercies, given me opportunities to serve (i.e. blind man), strengthened me to go to work/school, allowed me to deepen relationships, and helped me magnify my faith. I don't know when this trial will be entirely over, but I'm determined to learn all the lessons I'm supposed to and come out a better person.

I haven't been out on the town as usual but I'm grateful I still had opportunities to socialize! I've been really touched by the friends & family who are continually visiting and checking up on me. There's also been this funny pattern of dinner party, church conference, dinner party, church conference...

Dinner Party #1: Mariaby's (roommate) Birthday

We had tacos

She also got engaged that weekend - what a great birthday!

Roommies plus some

Conference #1: General Conference!!!
This is our twice-yearly worldwide Church broadcast from Salt Lake City - 10 hours of glorious prophetic revelation. It is a big deal for Mormons. We get pretty dang excited about it :)

Funny story - On Saturday, I walked to the Church building with a stack of music books, planning to play piano in between sessions. But no one had unlocked the building! People who had come in cars started speeding off and I didn't know what to do because I knew I would miss the beginning of Conference if I walked home. Luckily, Jason, who lives 2 blocks away, came to watch it at the church building too and said we could follow him to watch it at his house. So that's how it ended up with me and 5 guys haha!

It turned out that Tyler has a nice keyboard, so I stayed to play afterwards and watched the afternoon session there too. I got to watch the Sunday morning session at home with my roommates and the afternoon session at the Church building.

My 3 favorite talks/messages were from the members of the First Presidency:

Thomas S. Monson (president) - focus on the blessings instead of dwelling on the negative, be grateful and optimistic
Henry B. Eyring (1st counselor) - when we have faith, we'll have trials of faith, and then even stronger faith if we endure it well
Dieter F. Uchtdorf (2nd counselor) - don't let our external circumstances determine our happiness; choose to be happy now

Read/watch/listen for yourself! :)

Dinner Party #2: Friend Exchange (I just made up that name ha)
My roommates and I invited friends the other roommates didn't know.

"Funny picture"

Played a few games afterwards, including this fun awkward staring game called "Ooga Booga"

Leslie performed some gymnastics for us before she left (we met on our high school gymnastics team but I never did competitive club gymnastics like she did)!

Conference #2: Stake Conference (local version of General Conference)
Got to watch it with my visiting teachees, and Michelle :)

Favorite message: the world is telling us to be complacent being ourselves; God tells us to become more like Christ.

I also happened to cook alot during my "rest" period.
Turkey meatballs in cream of chicken with broccoli & cauliflower

Chicken sausage w/ zucchini & mushrooms

...w/ spaghetti sauce

Hoo Roo Rook w/ mushrooms & green onion

Curry shrimp w/ onions & green peppers

...and started my fall/winter shopping. Purse - check. Boots - check. Cardigans - semicheck. Professional jackets/blazers/sweaters - pending.

I know I need to learn how to slow down but it'll be so great to be well enough to start being physically active again! Meanwhile, I'll get ahead on homework...