Pain

I have been making an attempt to take up running again.  It makes me feel good.  I was excited to get off the treadmill and out into the warm fresh air.  Then my foot started to hurt.  Enough that I couldn't run.  I even hobbled around as I walked.  I was so disappointed.  I went to the chiropractor and mentioned my foot pain.  He used his activator on it and wrapped it and told me to leave it on all day if I wished, but not sleep in it.  I didn't want to take it off.  It felt good.  The ball of my foot didn't hurt.  He also told me to try some new running shoes.

Last week I bought some new shoes.  They hug my foot.  It feels so much better when I run.  I have only been on the treadmill so far, because I have a trial time on the shoes and I can take them back if they don't help if I haven't run outside in them.  But I think it will be good.  I feel so rejuvenated today after running.  And so wonderful to walk without pain.

I also experienced spiritual pain recently.  I won't go into details, but it has been hard for me.  As I have sought guidance, it has come.

I read this quote yesterday from General Conference.  It helped me to gain a new perspective on the pain we suffer.

Orson F. Whitney wrote:
"No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted.  It ministers to our education, to the development of such qualities as patience, faith, fortitude, and humility. ...It is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the education that we come here to acquire."

I have a hope that as I listen to the instruction I have been given through whisperings of the Spirit, the scriptures, and general conference, I will find the peace and comfort and relief from pain that I seek, just as I have experience from listening to the instruction I received regarding running.

If you want to read or listen to the whole talk, it can be found here:
http://lds.org/general-conference/2011/04/the-atonement-covers-all-pain?lang=eng

Waiting...

We are still waiting for Spring to really arrive.

That is not something I would normally be grateful for, but I AM grateful for the anticipation that it has "sprung" in me.  I am determined to enjoy that warm (and hopefully some hot) weather when it comes.

My garden is in.  I managed to get that done on the one warm and dry day last week.  I took the opportunity between rainstorms yesterday to get a little more planting in, and I planted lawn seed in the dead spots.

And I got a garden gnome!  (Don't tell Ethan!)  I think he is kinda cute, and I had just been to Gnomeo and Juliet with Ashley, Sam, and Elizabeth.  The plants for my pots are waiting patiently beside the house, getting accustomed to our weather.  I think I will put them in tomorrow...

And then when it gets warm...

I will be ready to soak it all in!

Democracy

We in Canada had the opportunity to get out and vote yesterday.  

A new federal government was voted in.  The Conservatives were finally able to get their majority government, and there were some drastic changes in the rest of the parties.

I am always surprised at how many people are apathetic about this very simple right that means so much to us.

There are billions of people in this world that do not have the right to choose what kind of government they will be led by.  

They would give anything to have this blessing.   

I worked at the election yesterday. 

It brought such joy to my heart to see new Canadians come in and exercise  this right for the first time.  One man came back a few times, each time bringing with him another child so they could vote. 

Even when our chosen candidate doesn't win, our vote counts.  

It says that we care about our Country, that we are grateful to live in a land of freedom.  

I am grateful for the freedom to choose.