Dressman: Bubble

Huge theme this week:
Think big!

How cliched that is :) But let me explain. So much happened this week that has helped me to expand the way I think, but as most learning, it seems I'm fairly helpless to explain it efficiently. I will try.

Most of this lesson started with a scripture in 1 Nephi 11. Nephi is asked, "What desirest thou?" Such a curious question! The entire concept of prayer operates on that question. God knows our hearts, so clearly He is aware of what we need and want. Then why does He ask that we talk to Him? Why ask? Well, He needs us to think bigger than we do. I realized that in all that I do and ask for, I should really ask myself, "What are you really asking for here? What do you really want?" Do my desires stem from selfish motives or do I trust God enough to want whatever He wants for me? With that, something else clicked in my head this week. Where is the ceiling of my potential, and who built it? We live with Sisters Adams and Earl. Sister Adams was a dance teacher in Arizona before her mission. This week she told me about her decision when she was younger to get good at dance. She put aside other sports and dedicated herself to learning and practicing. Eventually she became what she wanted to become. My whole life, I have tried little bits of everything, assuming that if I was to be proficient at it that it would just come once I tapped in. The only time that wasn't so was with Spanish. In high school when I was told I would never been good at Spanish, I still felt a drive to continue to learn. In college I enrolled in classes and eventually thought, "Why shouldn't I be fluent in Spanish? Other people learn. Why not me?" That same concept applies across the board! Most of my life I've been content with what I felt has been allotted to me. I still think it's important to be happy in every circumstance, but whose to say I can't be a long distance runner or play the cello simply because no one told me to when I was 7? I have a lot of life left to live, and a lot of opportunity. Historically, talent is not only afforded to those with money. Learn something, do something, make something of yourself. I don't intend on being the best at anything, but why shouldn't I learn to be great at things?

Ok so that's all a lot of talk, right? Talk is meaningless without action, just like "faith without works is dead." (James 2:20) Therefore, goals for 2013:
-Learn to be good at budgeting. As in, make it a strength. Requirements: asking advice, self control, reading books from those who know more than me :)
-Becoming flexible. Starting with...being able to touch my toes. I've always been embarrassed that I can't do that! Every morning I've started stretching to try and slowly inch towards being able to do it.
-Learn (more) music theory. My abilities in music theory are really pretty pathetic. Sister Brown started giving me some quick 5 minute lessons, and on pdays I've started spending time practicing hymns from the hymn book. One day I'm actually going to be able to read sheet music and play in church. You'll see!
-Be (more) fluent in Spanish. This one is going to need to wait for real progress until I'm home from my mission. I'd like to look into getting some Spanish podcasts and CDs to listen to while I get ready in the morning to boost my comprehension. Right now my opportunities to learn are seriously limited, but I'd like to make the most of them once I'm home.

There is so much available to us in this age of information! Do you want to start learning Italian or how to play the guitar?
Mastery requires two things:
1. Consistency
2. Intensity

Both of those begin with the vision to see past today.

In some ways these goals and ideas aren't that big. I haven't made a plan to move to Australia or become a body builder, but rather I'm just tired of dealing with what has already been given to me. This week I learned that God has so much more intended for me than I have made for myself. This life is our chance to learn and to grow and to BECOME! I don't want to waste any more time.

The last few weeks have clearly been intellectually stimulating for me (thank goodness- I was struggling in Brighton) and so for more thoughts, there is a blog post I wrote this week that you can feel free to read. It's on my mission blog. I post there from time to time and it is open to anyone. I've talked a little about the same subject before, but a few more things clicked into place this week. Enjoy :)

This week it is expected to stay down in the single digits, but I'll be safe! Don't worry. I'm grateful to be out here. I still have a work left to do!
Love love love
Sister Raines

Fort Kie- Our snow fort way back when before Elder Hole left

Bro Kie- Sister Hausauer and I with Brother Kie! He fed the missionaries every Friday night. Such a sweet man. He's the one that helped us with our family history! We were cooking and Elder Hole bestowed hats upon us that he didn't want to pack