:::spt -- hope:::

i offer you a very dorky smile:

in my church we are taught that hope is more than merely wishing. hope is believing, with faith, that what you so dearly, dearly want to happen will happen. wishing is for wells and stars, but hope is anchored on a belief in the goodness of the Creator and His plan of happiness for His children. hope takes faith and optimism, testimony, and the act of doing what you can to bring about your own miracles while realizing that it is the Lord who truly makes all ends meet.

i have never said goodbye to an old year with anything more than sorrow. 2008 was tough, but for some reason at the end of this year all i can remember are the fruits of the growing pains, the lessons from the trials, the conquering moments after the hardships, and the peaceful healings that soothed heart breaks. these mercies were the greatest gift i received this year, and probably have received in my lifetime.

little, tiny, microscopic seeds of hope have been growing in my heart for a few years now. in the beginning i could offer no more than the desire to believe that Alma asked for. now, after struggling to understand the very basics of this concept (optimism? faith? my life?) the witness of hope has finally wrapped itself around me like a warm blanket. sisters, hope is good. it feels good. it tastes good. it smells good, looks good, sounds good. it is the best way to say goodbye to 365 days and ask for 365 more.