Walmart.

You may be wondering why this post is title "Walmart" ...yeah. It'll make sense in a minute, hopefully :)

This holiday season has been the best-beautiful, busy, blissful, and blessed (I hope you appreciatively noted my use of alliteration, k thanks). However, the holidays seem to magnify the feeling that there is so much to do, and so little time. But this has always been a problem and always will be! As I've looked, I've noticed so many Divine Signatures this season. One particular instance occurred at- Walmart -you guessed it!

I was last minute Christmas shopping. I was a little tired and stressed, and then a lady stuck out her hand and grabbed my cart to stop me. Huh? She looked at me and said, "Can I just stop you for a second and tell you what I thought when I saw you?" This is where I got nervous, wondering what I had done wrong and if this lady was crazy, and worried for what she was going to say next. I said of course that would be fine, to which she so kindly gave me such a sweet compliment that meant a lot to me.

This happened at Walmart!

I was a little taken aback, but so thankful for this woman's courage, thoughtfulness, and kindness. Over the past few days, my mind has continued to linger on this Divine Signature.

This woman went out of her way to tell me something she thought would make my day. It really hit me- am I treating others the way I would want to be treated? We hear this ALL the time, from when we are little children. But think about it. 

• Do you like getting compliments? 
• Do you like getting random kind little texts from your dear friends? 
• Do you like when someone helps you with something you're working on?
• Do you like it when someone smiles at you and treats you well?
• Do you like it when others give you the benefit of the doubt? 

These are just some of the simple things I could think of. But if we like these things, odds are that so do others. So why not stop some random stranger in Walmart and give them a compliment? The smallest acts of service can make a difference.

"We live in deeds, not years, in thoughts, not breaths, in feelings, not figures on a dial and we really should count times, by heart throbs."

-Elder Maxwell, A More Excellent Way

So. "Don't wait for happiness, seek it out." 

     -Elder Dallin H. Oaks

Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!

Ha. 

Moments

I feel like I could post this video and comment, "nuff said" and get my thoughts across today. 

I'll share some of my thoughts anyway :)

The months of November and December are always so busy. Everyone's getting ready for and anticipating Thanksgiving and Christmas, finals are coming, and it's always harder for me to be productive when it's cold and snowy outside and I just feel like drinking hot chocolate and watching a movie. 

But the past few weeks, I've been noticing that my Father in Heaven sends so many Divine Signatures in order to remind me what's truly important. 

Whether it's taking time to play with my little siblings while I'm visiting home, realizing a Relief Society lesson was just for me, taking advantage of spur of the moment roommate ice cream runs, it's usually the little things that make my week so much better! 

I think one of the reasons why Prophets and Apostles often counsel us to find joy in the journey is because it is a challenge for us to recognize the blessings and opportunities God pours out upon us. 

"Sometimes we become so focused on the finish line, that we fail to find joy in the journey." 

-President Dieter F. Uchtdorf