The Touch of the Masters Hand

Guys, I love this poem! Let's all let God touch our lives and help us to mean something more!

'Twas battered and scarred,

And the auctioneer thought it

hardly worth his while

To waste his time on the old violin,

but he held it up with a smile.

"What am I bid, good people", he cried,

"Who starts the bidding for me?"

"One dollar, one dollar, Do I hear two?"

"Two dollars, who makes it three?"

"Three dollars once, three dollars twice, going for three,"

But, No,

From the room far back a gray bearded man

Came forward and picked up the bow,

Then wiping the dust from the old violin

And tightening up the strings,

He played a melody, pure and sweet

As sweet as the angel sings.

The music ceased and the auctioneer

With a voice that was quiet and low,

Said "What now am I bid for this old violin?"

As he held it aloft with its' bow.

"One thousand, one thousand, Do I hear two?"

"Two thousand, Who makes it three?"

"Three thousand once, three thousand twice,

Going and gone", said he.

The audience cheered,

But some of them cried,

"We just don't understand."

"What changed its' worth?"

Swift came the reply.

"The Touch of the Masters Hand."

"And many a man with life out of tune

All battered and bruised with hardship

Is auctioned cheap to a thoughtless crowd

Much like that old violin

A mess of pottage, a glass of wine,

A game and he travels on.

He is going once, he is going twice,

He is going and almost gone.

But the Master comes,

And the foolish crowd never can quite understand,

The worth of a soul and the change that is wrought

By the Touch of the Masters' Hand.

Just some random thoughts...

Isn't it cool how we are all on the earth together right now? I don't think its a coincidence that we were placed on the earth at the same time, and that our lives connected. Or that we got to know each other and we've changed each others lives a little bit. There is some reason that you know everyone you know. There is another reason you're related to your family members. Everything happens for  reason and it isn't a coincidence. What I don't understand is why the world is in so much pain. Why do we try to fight with each other? We are all on the same planet with worries. We all know that being a human isn't easy, but it sure is amazing. We aren't against each other, life isn't a game. If it is a game, aren't we all on the same team? One big group of people trying our best to make our lives and our worlds better. I think that is  good example of a peer inspiring environment. If you want to have that inspiring environment you have to realize how special it is to be with the people you're with. It takes self control to realize that. You have to put away distractions of technology, and you have to step out of your comfort zone. There is a big world all around us and its beginning to fall apart. You probably can't change every single person but you can change yourself, and that's where it starts. After you've changed you can change your family and then your community. You can't force people to change, they have to choose, but you can give them some options and examples.

I went to a camp last summer where I didn't know very many people and the people I did know were not exactly people I wanted to spend time with. I really didn't want to go to this camp and I wasn't looking forward to it. We were broken up into groups, and I met my group leaders. One of my leaders was a young girl named Maddie. She is the happiest person I know. She immediately helped everyone feel welcome and inspired. My whole time at camp was great because of her and her happy attitude. It was incredible to see how many lives she changed in three short days just by being her happy self. She shared that she had decided to e this way because she was living a life centered around God and the gospel. She wasn't always like this but she helped everyone around her by just being happy.

In my opinion, a big changing point in peer environments is God. If He isn't a part of your peer environment how is it supposed to be inspiring? The problem is, it is so easy to put things in front of your relationship with God... or with people! We miss so many opportunities because we don't look up from our phones or our stress or our jobs and school. There is so much in this world that we miss. A problem that human beings share is the problem of trying to look good and normal and like there is nothing bad in our lives. Sometimes we miss things in our life because we are working too hard to look a certain way or act like someone who we aren't. What is the point of life if we have to pretend we are someone we are not. Being you is the best thing you can be, God created you the way you are for a reason, don't hide it, embrace it!

In order to embrace who we are we need to embrace the fact that we are weak. We are given weakness to build strengths. If we turn to God, He will strengthen us through our weakness'. God has placed people and trials in our way so that we will become who we need to be. He has prepared a way for us to obey Him and make it back to live with Him again. That is why its cool that God placed us here, together. We are here to help each other through this part of our lives. God has a lot in store for us, to live is an awfully big adventure.

Sweet Sixteen

I always imagined my 16th birthday to be big and exciting. 16 is a pretty important age after all. But now that it has finally come, I'm not as excited as I thought I would be, I'm not as smart as I thought I would be, I don't have as many friends or pink jackets as I thought I would have and overall it seems to be a pretty disappointing birthday. But my life is definitely in the middle of some big changes.

Last week my mom got a phone call from a friend in the ward asking if I was looking for a job. My mom told her that I was and she gave us the information that Wood Connections in Layton was looking for a 16 year old girl to hire. So the next day I went down to Wood Connections with Sister Haruch and met Dawn, the franchise owner. This is pretty big stuff! I'm also going to be nanning for another family in the ward, Brother and Sister Charles.

I finished my drivers ed. course and now am finishing up the drivers portion with an instructor. My final test is on Friday and I am pretty nervous. Driving is not really my thing, I see the need for it but I don't see why I need it. However I should have my license a few days after my birthday.

Last month my mom and I put on a performing arts camp, it was a huge success and I got to work with a lot of awesome youth. One of the young men I was privileged to work with was Joseph Hampton. His mother, Cindy, contacted my mom this week and asked if I had turned 16 yet, my mom said no but my birthday was on Wednesday. She responded with regret that Joseph had wanted to take me on a fun group date that was planed for Tuesday. I'm nut sure whether to be relived or regretful but either way it surprised and flattered me, that was not something I was expecting to happen.

The Biesinger's and Moore's are moving this week, to New York. I really can't bring myself to believe that they will be gone and I won't see them again. Having them back in Utah after they went to Hungary was really amazing, we had a lot of good times.

That's it for now, one week at a time.
-Color Girl

Why aren't compliments a thing?

I don't know very many people who...actually I don't know anyone who doesn't like to receive a complement. Do you know someone who just overflows with compliments wherever they go? I love those people :) they always inspire me to give compliments (which is something I struggle with...) I always think the compliments but I never say them-I think that happens a lot. But why?

What makes us 'shy' to tell someone they look nice? Why do we hesitate to tell someone we liked their paper or hair or singing or dancing? 

I know that not everyone struggles with this and if you don't then you deserve a prize because sincerely complimenting people, is really a gift! And I have a lot of awesome friends who are really good at it.

Another important thing! Please, please, please:

It ruins the compliment and makes the person not want to give compliments. They said somthing nice about you-if you don't know what to say then just give a compliment back!

There are lots of problems in the world. No one is perfect and we all have a lot of different opinions and ideas-it makes it really hard to connect to each other! But when you give/receive a complement from someone, don't you feel connected to them? So what if we all tried this and told the people around us that they looked nice, or that they do a good job? Isn't that one way we can relate? AND when we compliment others aren't we praising God in His creations? So what's the downside to this? I think it sounds great! Let's make compliments a thing-if you don't give compliments often look for opportunities to compliment people and if you already do that then look for ways to make them super sincere

Remember how good it makes you feel, how awesome to have the power to make someone smile, to make their day, to compliment them and to connect to them even for just a second. :)

-Color Girl

What's around you?

Close your eyes and listen. 

What did you hear? Cars, children, music? A page of a book turning? Your own breathing? Someone cooking in the kitchen or playing with blocks? Are you thankful to hear?

Open your eyes, look around you.

What did you see? A bookshelf, shoes, a computer screen? A window? Did you look out a window, and see trees and cars and pets and growing plants? Are you thankful to see?

Feel the things around you, what do you feel? Take a deep breath, do you smell anything? There is so much going on around you, what are you missing? 

Lately I have noticed that everyone is looking down...usually at their phones. :) We might be walking around, in the store, at the park, in cars or at play performances and yet what are we doing? Talking or texting or playing on our phones. For example, as I write this blog post I am sitting in a room with two other people who are, like myself, on their phones. (I would gladly talk to them if I wasn't finishing an assignment that needs to be finished.)

So my question is, what are we missing? What conversations or learning experiences are we not having? There is so much that we aren't appreciating because we are not recognizing it.

So how do we change it?

I think something really important is being aware of what's going on around you which means we have to put down the phone. The phone will always be there and wouldn't it be cooler to talk to the people around you or at least smile to them? 

In my previous post I talked about connecting by compliments but I think this is another way to connect to the people around you.

And last of all be thankful! There is so much we have been blessed with so get out in nature, look up from the phone and look out to the world. This is for us to enjoy!

-Color Girl

P.S. Here is a link to an awesome video about this!! https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7dLU6fk9QY

The gift

Imagine you are in a group of people and you are each given a gift. Each gift is the same type but is incredibly personal and special. You all are told that in order to keep the gifts, one person in the room must give theirs up.

What would you do?

In life, few of us realize that every breath is a gift, that every time we pull into the drive way its a gift; or that each family member or friend is a gift. There is so much around us to be thankful for, so much to enjoy, why waste life on worrying? Why waste it doing something you hate to do? Why be full of discontentment or sorrow? Live life to the fullest!

In Heaven we all received a gift, the gift of life, each life was personalized to fit each person. But in order for us all to keep the gifts and one day return to Heavenly Father someone had to save us, someone had to completely give up their life-their gift- so that we could have ours.

So who did?

Christ did. He volunteered because he loved us. He didn't want any of the glory, He gave up his gift so that we could all live and live again. What a miracle.

But some threw away their gifts. Satan and his followers threw them away in pride and foolishness. And even though we all chose to come to earth we still must make the choice to 'live' everyday. In order to live we must repent, try harder, listen and obey. Just because we are on earth doesn't mean we are done. And though our job is not easy, do you think His job was easy?

He was born in a stable
He learned to work hard
He fasted for 40 days
He was hated
He was ignored
He saw much pain
He paid the price for everyone's sins
He felt the pain, sorrow, sickness, quilt, and so much more for the entire world
He has nails pierced into  Him
He was cut
He was spit upon
He wore a crown of thorns
He was mocked
He was put on a cross
He forgave them
He forgave everyone
He died for everyone

And that's not all. So tell me now, how hard is it to go to church? How hard is it to pay tithing? How hard is it to simply do what you know is right? Keep the commandments and covenants and standards? How hard is to to say kind things? How hard is it to live?

Is it not wonderful to know that He conquered death? That He lives now? That He is the one we can trust in, the truth and the light the one we must believe in? The Savior, the Redeemer?  And all because He loves us.

Because He gave up His gift we can have ours. Because He died we can live again.
-Color Girl

People are awesome!

When you were a kid, did you have a hero? Someone you looked up to, who you wanted to be like, who had adventures and trials but always ended up standing on their own two feet. You know, the hero type.

Do you have a hero now? Real or fictional, present day or past, who do you look up to?

Heroes are people who change the world, they stand-up for themselves! Sometimes they are alone, and we forget that. Being a hero isn't easy, and even after you have accomplished something no one else could do, you are often still alone. Think about it.

But heroes are awesome! They make life better for people, they make life possible, who are our heroes? Who are they now? Where are they now?

Who are you? A human, a teenager, an adult, a child? A teacher, friend, sibling, parent, person.... Who are you?

When you wake up in the morning, what do you think of? Food, activities, people? When you look in the mirror who do you see? I mean really?

That person in the mirror, is that you? Is that what you look like? Is that who your friends see? Do you see a reflection of someone you know, or who you don't know? Have you figured out who you are? Probably not completely... Not very many people do at first.

What if no one knows who they are? What if we are all going through our individual life's, driving our individual cars, listening to different songs, learning different things, seeing different reflections in the mirror.

Who will change it? We need heroes, and fast! We need to change the world, so who is going to do it? When they wake up, who do they see in the mirror. Cause the only person you can change is you. So the only person who can change the world is you.

When you look in the mirror, do you see a hero? That's who you are, or rather, who you can be, could be, should be. I should be too, but how?

Being a hero isn't easy, remember? Being alone, standing up, pressing on, are you up for it?

 When heroes get up in the morning who do they see in the mirror? Someone who is awesome? Someone who wants to change the world? Someone who will? 

Will you?