Understanding

I've always wondered why the hardest things happen to the strongest people. I've often thought things like, "Why should they have to go through that? They have already learned that lesson or experienced that." I guess I've always thought that trials are only for the people going through them to learn from. But over the last three weeks, I've gained an entirely new understanding. 

God doesn't always use trials to change the direct recipients. Rather, He may use the strongest people to teach and be bright beacons and examples to those of us who don't quite understand or always remember the important things. God knows what we can bear, and will never give us more than we can handle. He may push us to the edge, or out of our comfort zone, but He is always there holding our hand, ready to pull us back in as soon as He knows we are ready- whether that be before we think we are going to fall, or when we finally understand what he is trying to teach us. 

My brother, Jeff, and his wife, Rachel, have been the bright beacons and examples to me during this time of trial for our family. Jeff and Rachel were expecting a baby girl on November 3, but instead, she was born on July 15, at 24 weeks along. Her name is Lacey Elaine, and she weighed 1 lb. 2 oz. She is 10.5 in. long, and is the most beautiful and perfect angel you could ever meet.

Lacey was stable for two days before they found a bleed in her brain. A few days later, they began to see signs of other complications and illnesses, and on Sunday, July 28, 2013, Lacey Elaine returned to live with her Heavenly Father. 

I have learned so much more from Lacey in the two weeks that I knew her here in mortality than I have learned in a very long time. Lacey reminded me how important Eternal Marriage is, and living righteously so that you can receive the blessings that come from Temple Marriage. 

Lacey reminded me that mortality is such a small part of our lives. Mortality is just a bump in road between being created by our loving Father in Heaven, and becoming loving fathers and mothers of our own kingdoms and spirit children. Lacey also showed me how pure and true the love of Christ is.

As I sat and held Lacey in the hospital, I was reminded just how thin the veil is that separates us from our loved ones who have passed on, and from all of that eternal knowledge and understanding that is temporarily withheld from us in this mortal state. I held Lacey close in my arms, and told her how much I love her. I kissed her forehead and promised her that I will do all that I possibly can to come join her in the highest kingdom of Heaven. I know that she is up teaching the gospel and comforting all of her family that are still here on earth, still trying our best to understand and become as spiritually perfect and prepared as she is. 

I will love Lacey forever, and will always miss having her with my family here on earth, but I know that no matter what, she its still getting the better end of the deal, and that's what I want for her- to not be hurting or sick or weary. I love you Lacey Elaine. Thank you for your constant example and living proof of the truthfulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is one of joy and strength. How grateful I am to know that my God is a god of mercy and of love, of infinite goodness and of comfort.  

Way to my heart:

Give me a man in a sweater vest, and I'll be set for life(:

Dedicated to: Abbie...Abby Skousen(:

uhhumm(: I, Natalie Mortensen, am the worst blog owner in the world. In fact, my blog should probably be taken away from me because i'm so inconsistent. But,, since there are no such things as blog police, I will most likely continue to be very inconsistent.

I talked to my dear friend miss Abbie.. Abby Skousen today, and promised her that I would blog a post for her (: soo, here I am, 2:23 a.m. Friday morning. I just finished doing AP US History, and writing my argumentative paper for English.

So, my dear Skousen friend. This is for you.

Me and you are cousins.

Like in a super cool way.

Nothing rhymes with cousins,

Or at least not today.

I have Alesha's notepad,

And I will return it tomorrow,

And yes, this poem is bad,

I'll give her the pen you did borrow.

Now sadly it is 2:32,

I'm tired and so are you,

from reading this short poem,

that was so very doemb.....(dumb...)

(:

Reunited and it feels so good(:

As you may know, I got foot surgery over the summer- a much needed surgery. This lovely beauty knocked me out of running for a few months.. which is kinda a big deal. I went from being able to run about seven miles in the beginning of June, to struggling to even jog a mile by the beginning of August. I don't know why, but it really irked me... a lot. Andd, instead of being all strong willed about it and pushing through the pain until it got easier, I gave up. I didn't run for about another month and a half...way to be an example of personal motivation, right?? So I was pretty much a slacker.. I hated the way I felt not exercising. I felt lazy and like I couldn't eat so much junk because I knew I wasn't running any of it off... dramatic, eh? Then one night, my sister was going running, and instead of continuing my self pity, I decided to join her. We went for a fifteen minute jog that night, then gradually built up. Today, I can FINALLY say that I, Natalie Mortensen, can run up to 4 miles(: without stopping(:

Time flies by when you're having.... Ap U.S. History??

Two months?? What a wonderful bloggerett I am(: Bloggerett? Sure(: Well it's just about a term into the new school year and things are going stupendous. I think that means great.. I hope it does. School is keeping me anxious, friends are keeping me laughing, and homework is keeping me sleepy(: But I wouldn't have it any other way. I would rather be busy and accomplishing hard classes than sitting in a good-for-nothing Easy-A course. (Ya.. I just said course. It's a fancy word for Class) Anyway, this opinion of mine led me to a now seemingly sinful decision of taking AP U.S. History, my sophomore year. The class is killing me. I am not joking. This is no "oh ya... I've got lots of homework" kind of class. This is a "I had a nightmare that I failed my AP History Exam, and got shunned from the world" kind of class. That's the kind(:

And now that I have gone on for a lengthy paragraph about my fear of Ap U.S. History, I will end my nerdy post by saying that I love my APUSH buddies(: I love study parties at Haley's house and I love getting random bursts of intelligence(:

ANDD, I love life(:

I Can Do Hard Things (:

This last week I had the AMAZING opportunity to go on Trek with the other youth and adult leaders in my ward for youth conference. The days leading up to our Trek departure , I was really excited, and I didn't really know why... I found out who was in my "family" one week before we left, and that made me even more excited! But I felt like there was something waiting for me on that Utah-Wyoming border, hidden in the beautiful, mountainous 235,000 acres owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Something that I would only receive and experience at that place, with the people I was privileged to go with. I had three great brothers, two wonderful sisters, a baby sister Sophia Emmie Rose, and my awesome Ma and Pa(:

I loved loved loved Trek(: I would do it again in a heartbeat(: I learned so much about the early pioneers, and my respect and love for them grew bigger than I ever thought possible(: I'm so grateful for my ancestor, Rachel Ford, who crossed the plains so that I can be sharing my testimony and love for this gospel right here, right now(: While on trek, I had a mighty change of heart(: I don't know how it happened, but I know that it did. I felt lighter and happier and stronger than I ever have! (: And I know that that kind of happiness- that true happiness, can only come from a higher, more glorious and perfect being's love; and I know that more glorious and perfect being is my Father in Heaven. From him, I can gain my fondest dream(: I know this because of a book. A wonderful, perfect, inspiring book called The Book of Mormon. A book that I know if we read with a sincere heart, we can feel our Creator's love. The joy that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints can bring into your life can be stronger than anything you will ever feel. (: I know that a positive attitude can make all the difference in the world. It's not the trials that we are given that affects us as much as the attitude we have toward those trials. The way we react to things shapes us, and gives us experience. I know that through the Lord, Jesus Christ, we can do anything. He can give us the strength to do the "impossible" if we ask for his help and his strength, through prayer. I know that with his help, I can do hard things(: I know this gospel is true, and it's the most true and important thing in my life, and it can be in yours too. The gospel gives me motivation and hope to become better, because I am far from perfect. I know that the power of prayer is amazing(:

I know these things(:

Mother knows best(:

Today I had the realization that my wonderful mother has permanently rubbed off on me. I woke up, got ready, then looked in the mirror. My shirt had wrinkles. Lots of them. I tried to ignore it, thinking that they would flatten themselves out. After about twenty minutes, I gave in.

I ironed my shirt. Without my mother telling me to.

Mama, you should be so proud(: