Bucket List: Aerial Ribbons

Sara convinced me to try aerial ribbons. I put it on my bucket list so I could check it off. It was hard! But I'm like the weakest person ever, so the good news is that you can probably do it, too! 

We did it here: http://playatagora.com/

Maybe belly dancing will be next? ;)

Texts with Sara: Just Say How You Feel

Texts with Sara: Bible Stories

I texted Sara, inviting her over and bribing her with crepes. She didn't respond until the following day:

And then a week later...

Texts with Sara: Cupcakes

We were appreciative.

Well doesn't this just put a smile on your face.

Sunday

Often, going to church on Sunday is just habitual. It's the "good" thing to do; it's what I'm accustomed to. I go.

And then, at some point during those three hours, there's a moment of clarity, peace, or profundity. And I'm reminded how much my mind and soul needed that enlightenment after the bombardment of the week. That simple purity is an anchor.

From the Dec 2014 Liahona

Not Fitting In

Zacchaeus climbed a tree to see over the crowd as Christ passed through his city.
Zacchaeus, Make Haste, Come Down, by Gary L. Kapp

I joined the Church when I was 13 years old. I had a testimony of the gospel, yet I had a nagging feeling that I didn’t quite fit in at church. Everyone else knew the songs and the scripture stories; I didn’t. Everyone else had memories of Primary activities or family home evening lessons; I’d never done either of those things.

But beyond that, everyone seemed to have the same interests and opinions—sometimes very strong opinions that were the opposite of mine—about everything from movies and politics to the interpretation of certain scriptures. I would look around at all of the nodding heads and think, “You’re nice people and I am a nice person. But we are just too different. I don’t belong here.”

I struggled with those feelings for several years. Then I recalled and reread the story from Luke 19 about Zacchaeus. Because he was a publican, he was unpopular and considered a sinner. But when Jesus passed through his city, Zacchaeus climbed a tree to see over the crowd. He didn’t care what others thought of him. It was this act of climbing the tree—separating himself from the crowd—that enabled him to have a very beautiful and personal experience with the Savior. As I read, I recognized that my feelings of being an outsider were not coming from Christ. Jesus was inclusive and forgiving. He actively sought those who were judged and cast aside—those who seemed different.

I can’t say I’ve never felt out of place again. I have. But I’ve learned that the things that make me different—the way I look, the way others look at me, the things I’m passionate about, the way I think about the world—these are not reasons to fall away. These are the reasons the Church needs all of us, with all our different talents, strengths, and perspectives.


Elaine Vickers lives in Utah, USA.