The Secret to the Red Sox World Series Win

As I look back on the baseball season, I realize that all of my superstitions don't mean anything. They didn't help the Red Sox win.

I wouldn't wash any of my Redsox stuff from the first game of the season thinking it would wash away our luck. Call me gross...but baseball/Red Sox fans are hard core.

I also, had Fenway Park on my Facebook cover photo and believed if I changed it, that it would hurt their mojo.

All of those supersitions don't matter. Someone accidentally washed a shirt of mine, then I washed one myself, and then I just decided it didn't matter because we kept winning anyways.

When Andrew passed I didn't want to change my cover photo, but I thought better of it. I changed it. I knew it was just a picture and it didn't really matter. I wanted a picture of my siblings all together and that was more important.

What did help us win? What was the true key factor in this season? My family. We have been united in our love for the Red Sox for many years and even with the tragedies that have come, the Red Sox remain an uniting passion. (Of course besides our faith.) We watched as a family when they won in 2004, we watched together in 2007, and we watched together in 2013. The Red Sox are more than just a team we love, it's the uniting and love of a family. I will always love them for bringing us together whether we're all present or not.

Red Sox nation.... Boston Strong. Family Strong. Gospel Strong. 

I love you,

Arica

More Lessons to Come

I have learned one thing, okay two things:

1. You never ever know what is going to happen in your life. You can't make your own plans. Our life is truly in the hands of our Creator. We never know when we are going to leave this life.
Are you prepared?

My good mission friend and college roommate posted this on Facebook the other day:

I heard a knock on the door and instead of yelling, "come in" I decided to answer it. I opened it and saw my apartment manager standing there, she asked "is your apartment fit for a tour?" I hesitated as I saw a couple of pans on the stovetop and some dishes in the sink. I said, "Well we have some stuff here and there, but I can clean it up real quick" she said, "oh don't worry about it I will go check in another apartment"

As she left I was taught by the spirit this: "Is your life fit for a tour for the Savior? If He knocks, will you answer? And will your life be clean or will you always have some stuff laying here and a little there?" 

I am so thankful to know that my baby brother was ready. On October 10, 2013 Andrew, left this life. I have no doubt that he was living his life in the best way possible. Of course, I am so sad and I really really miss him. I do take comfort in those painful moments because of the type of person that he strove to be. This is one of those fastballs of life and it came out of no where. Now I'm thinking, and I'm thinking hard.

What do I need to change in my life? What is most important? Am I doing the daily necessary things that will bring me closer to Christ? How can I be more kind? How can I effect someone's life for the better? What would people say at my own funeral? How prepared am I?

So many things to ponder, and ways to be better, it's overwhelming. I take comfort in the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I know that I am forever being carried, sustained, and completed by Him. So the real question to ask yourself is: Am I effectively using the Atonement of Jesus Christ in my life?

2. The importance of keeping a record of your life.

Since the day Andrew passed I have cherished words by friends, family, and complete strangers in their condolences. Everyone has been so loving beyond what words can express, and I love you all. Just know that. All who have reached out, brought a meal, organized something, just sat with us, shared funny stories, and started a movement in his name...THANK YOU! There's really no other way to say it....oh wait...I like all of these to describe how I feel:

grateful, thankfulness, thanks, appreciation, indebtedness

The best things (and sometimes the hardest) to read are from Andrew himself. Rereading his emails, letters, and journal make me feel closer to him. He wasn't writing to any one person in his journal and didn't know his audience, but it caused a comfort that I can't explain. I remember reading my Dad's mission journal a couple years after his passing and it was amazing to get into his thoughts again. Their words leap off the pages and it's like they're in the room with me. Then the war inside starts after reading these things, I love feeling them so close, but it also makes it harder to accept that they're not here. I think over time it will get easier, but I still see the importance of writing. (Hence, the reason I'm writing on my blog again.) Take note of your thoughts, the people in your life, and what you learned from your experiences. 

Your posterity is NOW...not just with your great- grandchildren. 

I want to testify that I know that there is a God in heaven; He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to atone for our sins AND to succor us when we're hurt, alone, or sick. I know that it's through the power of that sacrifice that families can be bound together in the temple for time and all eternity. I will be with Andrew and Dad again. I know this because of the promises I've made with my Heavenly Father. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has so many answers to offer. If you have eternal questions,  PLEASE ask me or go to mormon.org. This experience has only strengthened my faith in Christ and it has changed the rest of my life. 

I love you,

Arica

The Wait is Over

I have been waiting, waiting, WAITING...for this summer. It's finally the second week into my summer schedule and I'm loving every minute.

Let's go back to February when my the parent of my student (Will) was talking to me about summer plans. His mother wanted to know if someone would be interested in watching Will from 1-5 after day camp. I immediately knew it was something I wanted to do. We hashed out the details and then we finally told Will this would be happening. He was stoked. (He even has a shirt that says that very word.) Then we started making all kinds of plans for this summer and guess what, this kid hold true to his word.

We've also gone on adventures! Will mentioned he wanted to get a smoothie, I was totally down for that, so we went to Smoothie King and the walked around the shopping center. He mentioned to me that there was "treasure" by a lamp post. I told him to lead the way and show me what he was talking about. We went up to a random light post in the parking lot and he lifted the cover on the bottom and a pill bottle drops out. I'm thinking 'DON'T TOUCH THAT! RANDOM PILLS!?! HOW DOES HE KNOW ABOUT THIS!' But before I voice any of this, I see that its an official Geocaching Game Piece. Inside the bottle is papers filled with peoples names who have found it. Will showed me where him and his sister had written their names. It was pretty cool to see and made me wonder where other things like this were hidden. So we found treasure, he knew what he was talking about.

Another thing I discovered about Will these last couple of weeks is that he knows directions so well. If you asked him to get a place he's familiar he could direct you right to that place. He needed a haircut so he directed me to his normal barber shop. I needed to get some bread and he directed me to his neighborhood Food Lion. This kid has it down.

Will has discovered things about me as well. He came to my house, found out we have two Wiis, a lot of movies he approves of, and apple juice. He helped me cook dinner for me and my roommate one night and came back over another day to play some games on the Wii. Watching him play "Starwars: The Force Unleashed" is probably one of the funniest, cutest things I've seen him do.

Will and I just jam. We jam in the car on the way to every place and I set up his very own playlist on Spotify. Mostly we listen to the main title song from Superman The Movie. I heard it at least once a day. The best songs we've jammed to are from High School Musical 2. We both know all the words and it's amazing. Plus, we have car dance moves that we do with each song.

My favorite picture of Will. 

He loves catching "lizzies" when we can find them.

Funny quote: As I was watching him a little later than usual this week, I asked him if he had a bedtime and he said "It's like on High School Musical 2." I believe only I would have gotten that because there's a lyric in one of the songs that says 'We can stay up as late as we want to...' HI-LARIOUS!

More Will stories and adventures to come,
Arica

On A Totally Unrelated Note

Haters can hate...but I'm watching "Ready For Love" on it's first season. The only difference in this dating show is the matchmakers they use to really try and find the best match for these three men. The rest of it's the same, the girls all seem desperate and are just vying for some attention from this one guy that is being spread thin by the number of women around him.

Here's what I think they need...a spin off version:

Ready For Love: The Middle Class.

Give 3 average guys who are hard working, good people, who haven't found love yet, a real chance. The chance of a life time to where they can't afford a match maker and these amazing date ideas they might have, but they can finally experience and share with someone. That would be more real and genuine to me. All three guys are loaded.

Next, the girls all have long flowing hair and are dressed in their high-faluting heels and strapless dresses. Let's get some girls on here that are average too. They weren't Ms. Puerto Rico or USA or they aren't super successful business owners themselves. I'm not saying let's have rednecks and hillbillies on the show, but there are plenty of nice people who aren't super posh and snooty that are "ready for love" too. 

Give people a chance who would never be able to afford it. Then I'd feel like you were REALLY helping someone. 

Ready for Happiness,

Arica

One Pearl and Five Stones

I feel that we often get in the way of our own happiness. We look around for things that are imperfect, misplaced, or not up to par with what we think our life should be. I was able to attend at fireside tonight where Elder Trip Meredith spoke and he spoke about the most important things. Things that can make us the happiest, if we will do them.

First he spoke of the Pearl. The doctrine of the Church of Jesus Christ is the pearl of the Gospel. The Atonement of Jesus Christ is the gospel. By faith, repentance, baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. That is the Pearl. It's what we are most focused on.

But like David who was going out to slay Goliath...we have five stones. The way that David slew Goliath was very simple. It was a stone to his head. Elder Meredith pointed out that there are five stones in our lives, simple things; that if we do them, our life will fall into place. Often times these five stones are simple acts or ideas that can make a big difference. We hear about a lot of these things and just think "oh that's too easy to work".

Much like the example of the Children of Israel who were bitten by the snakes. The Lord told Moses to make a staff and carve a serpent into it, and if the people look they will be healed. Many did not look, thinking that it was too easy of a solution.

Much like the example of Naaman who needed to be cleansed, was told to bathe seven times in the river. He thought this was too simple of a request. He can't be blessed that easily. Sure enough when he went off and did the thing required, he was healed.

Much like the five stones we carry in our life will be able to heal us. Five simple things that will make it easier to live the gospel; to focus on the Pearl.

You might think the five stones are "read your scriptures, say your prayers, go to church..." Elder Meredith says that the five stones (those simple things) are different for everyone. He did ask us to make one stone the Book of Mormon.

So here's the challenge:

Choose 5 simple things that you can do in your life to make things easier to focus on the Pearl. 

1. Read the Book of Mormon
2.
3.
4.
5.

The rest are up to you. They are private and they are personal. They are between you and the Lord. You may feel comfortable sharing them, that's great too!  I will share my five with you for examples sake, and because I'm okay if you know my stones.

1. Read the Book of Mormon
2. Pray Morning and Night
3. Stop Complaining
4. Be Where I Need to Be, When I Need to Be There.
5. Get Enough Sleep to Be a Functional Servant of the Lord.

These are five simple things I can do to be a happier person, and stop getting in my own way. Distractions come so easily. I want to focus on the Pearl.

Simply Happy,
Arica