Sunday (:

Easily the most magical, memorable Sunday of my entire mortal existence. It's the first Sunday of the month of May, Fast and Testimony meeting and I had the 9 o'clock hour for church. I wake up with the most psyched, excited feeling. At 7:00 that night I was going to receive my Patriarchal blessing from Patriarch Jarvis, who lived my by Dad's parents. I went to church with a strong sense of the Holy Ghost's presence. I spent most of sacrament meeting oblivious to the testimonies, while I prepared for my blessing by reading some passages Patriarch Jarvis had recommended. The scriptures helped me gain a greater knowledge of the gifts I have been blessed with, and my sacred lineage. Through Sunday School I also studied for my blessing, seeking the knowledge to understand what I can expect from it. Young Womens started and we went to the Relief Society room for beginning exercises, then we returned to our class room. Sister Drier, my Miamaid leader, taught us about Father's blessings, and the priesthood power, PERFECT for my day. When third hour was over, I walked home with my sister Shannon. I got inside and debated breaking my fast to eat something. Lydia Andersen had told me that being extremely hungry was very humbling and was a good way to approach your Patriarchal Blessing. That's when the nerves hit. I started worrying about my blessing, and what he would say to me. What if I didn't get blessings? What if He didn't have a plan for me? Clearly ridiculous questions, but I was getting overwhelmed. My mom told me to break my fast, eat lunch and then we'd be having French Toast for dinner around 5 o'clock, and then a get together with my relatives at 6. From there we would proceed down the street to my Patriarch's house and get my blessing. She said if I said a prayer and dedicated this fast to my blessing that I would have the spirit with me. Sure enough, she was right. The day proceeded and my mother, father, and I excused ourselves from the gathering to go receive my blessing. I handed him my recommendation and stepped into the room. It was white, with pictures of the Savior, a green couch, and a cushy pinkish chair in the corner, after a short discussion to welcome us, we began the process. We started with a prayer on our knees in a circle. The spirit was overwhelming and I was already in tears as my Father prayed for us. When the prayer was finished, I sat in the soft chair and he turned on the recorder. When the blessing began, I closed my eyes and I felt Christ's presence in the room. I was tempted to check and see if He really was there, but I resisted and focused on the words Patriarch Jarvis was saying aloud. Within the first line of the blessing, my doubts of self worth and importance in God's plan were chased away, and I was told that this blessing would help strengthen me, guide me, and help me recognize my self worth as a daughter of God. I imagined God talking to me, He had His hands on my head, and I could feel his love encircling me. I was crying of course as Patriarch Jarvis continued through the blessing. At moments when he would go silent, pondering the words of God and the Holy Ghost, I felt like I was submerged in a pool of His presence. Like God was there, and maybe He was, I was so tempted to check.. There was so MUCH of His spirit in the room, it almost felt like a vapor, or a substance. Definitely not a feeling I will ever forget, and some of the things he said will always be in my mind.

Now that I know what God has in store for me, I have the greatest desire to live up to my greatest potential, and receive all of the blessings and promises that He has made. I want nothing less than to be an instrument in God's hand and to return to Him someday, worthy of His presence.