spiritual battlefields

So right now in my Book of Mormon studies I'm in the book of Alma.  

Can I just say how much I love the book of Alma? It teaches about the Atonement of Jesus Christ, faith, trials and just makes complete sense to my mind and my heart every time I read it.  

Anyways, right now I'm in the war chapters. 

Long story short: it's a lot of battles, strategy, deceit, dead people, some good guys, and a lot of fighting. I used to think it was a real drag, until I understood WHY exactly Moroni included it in his abridgment. 

The war chapters are a type for spiritual battles today. 

In other words, it's a symbol, representation, prefiguration of what we go through today. 

With that, last night Chapter 49 hit me hard. I swear that chapter could be titled "To Christine Parks" 

Here's what I wrote about it:

"The war chapters in Alma came at a perfect time in my life.  In no other time have I needed to understand and defend against the adversary more than right now, as I'm preparing for a mission.  I'm a threat to the adversary's plan. Not only am I living the gospel but I'm about to go share it with the world; basically majorly thwarting Satan's agenda. 

But good thing Chapter 49 came along, because it perfectly lays out my counter-attack. 

The Lamanites were advancing. 

And because they had destroyed the city before, "they supposed that it would again become an easy prey for them." 

Hold up.

The adversary has won the victory over me before. 

There have been times when he made me feel bitterness, self-doubt, hopelessness, inadequacy. 

He's advancing again. He's won before, so easy prey right? 

"But behold, how great was their disappointment, for behold, the Nephites had dug up a ridge of earth round about them, which was SO HIGH that the Lamanites could not come upon them." 

Hold up. 

The adversary is going to be seriously disappointed pretty soon here; actually maddeningly frustrated when he can't influence me. He'll be livid that I've built my ridge SO HIGH that he cannot possibly overtake it. 

I will be "prepared in a manner which never had been known." 

My preparation will be just like the Nephites; stone walls, ridges of earth, towers, and bows & arrows. 

The formula: 

feasting on the scriptures + earnest prayer + service + the temple + church attendance + preparing to serve my mission 

And then..."Thus [Christine] had all power over [her] enemies." 

Happily Ever After? Not quite. 

Alma 50:1 "And Moroni did not stop making preparations for war" 

It doesn't stop when I go on a mission. It doesn't stop when I get back. He will always be there. But HE -- Jesus Christ -- will always be there too. And the higher I build my ridge, the further the distance between the adversary and I, and the closer the distance between my Savior and I. 

I am so grateful for Heavenly Father's perfect plan that gives me the agency to create my own life. The bad news: in this earthly life we have to battle sorrow, pain, and trials.

The good news: He gives us those experiences because He believes we can grow. He's provided a Redeemer of the world as our merciful intercessor. And following his plan brings more joy & fulfillment than we can imagine. 

Of these things I know to be true."

three day weekend >

Blogging two days in a row?...whaaat is this madness. 

(this perfect weekend just really deserved a spot in the archives)

chronological breakdown: 

-three hours spent in the temple; one of my favorite places in the world

-a complete surprise running into one of my favorite missionaries 

-accomplishing homework on a friday night 

-staying up until 3am with my girls discussing the names of our future children 

-lounging around in bed on a saturday morning reading letters from guatemala 

-running up stadium avenue on the most beautiful day

-Insanity: pure cardio edition with my girls #nikewomen

-more studying

-double date to café rio

-checking out the men's volleyball players

-sitting in the presence of taysom hill & his super attractive wife #hottestcouple

-Inception movie night

-a revitalizing 3 hours of church

-off campus homeade pizza & playing with babies 

-ultimate game night with said off campus family 

-food coma 

-staying up until 3am with my girls (again) talking about our childhoods, struggles, fears, goals 

-waking up early for a monday service project

-an awesome job shadow for 4 hours exploring the world of reporting and editing

-greek gyro from the food truck & swig diet coke

-finishing homework 

-peanut butter honey sandwich as per usual

-cleaning spree

And now quietly typing, not even dreading school tomorrow.

No seriously, I've had a change of heart after Professor Kearl's epic last lecture in December.

I'm learning to love learning. 

Good night! 

routine christine

Hey friends, I thought I'd share a little routine I've created to kick off my 2015! 

100 days of h a p p y

This has been popular on instagram with pictures, but I'm doing mine a little differently.  I wanted to create habits that make me a happier person, so I've started recording physical & spiritual thoughts at the end of each day:

Physical: 

I have 8 dance classes per week, training for a half marathon, and daily Insanity with friends, so I've started recording exactly what exercise I do and for how long so that I can prevent injury and keep things balanced. I also write down what I eat because I love finding new ways to eat healthy & creatively while on a meal plan @ college. More on that later..

Spiritual: 

I'm reading the Book of Mormon as I have many times before (also on track with my BoM class). I read one chapter a night and record my thoughts afterwards; sometimes it's just a verse that stood out to me, an impression, or sometimes I end up writing 3 pages about something I learned or received as personal revelation.  How awesome are the words of Christ? 

"For just as surely as this director did bring our fathers, by following its course, to the promised land, shall the words of Christ, if we follow their course, carry us beyond this vale of sorrow into a far better land of promise." - Alma 37:45

{included in the "words of Christ" are general conference talks and fantastic books like Jesus the Christ that I love} 

Overall, I've grown closer to my Heavenly Father and learned so much about myself.

Along with these I write about things like: what I'm grateful for, how I've seen The Lord's hand in my life, anything I'm struggling with, and new goals.  I do this when I pray as well, but articulating my thoughts on paper has helped me to recognize and create the h a p p y in every day. 

I could probably just call this "journaling on steroids", but seriously it has been the BEST. 

You're welcome self, and future posterity. 

t w e n t y f i f t e e n

- the year I will spend more months as a missionary than not

- the year I will finish my freshman year of college

- the year I will go through the temple for the first time

- the year I will run a half marathon (speak now to talk me out of it) #terrified

- the year I will survive my first Utah winter

- the year I will be a better me

here's to week #1 that felt absolutely rejuvenating & wonderful: 

^ possibly my mantra for the year..

 possibly. 

there are too many to choose from :)

Happy 2015! 

returning home

It was in the evening.

 I was on the couch wrapped in a blanket decorated in dog hair.

Two littles on my right and left, the rest of the Parks squad sprawled around the room. 

Scriptures out, someone was taking their turn reading. 

I wasn't looking at my Book of Mormon, I was looking at the Christmas decorations on the mantle. 

And I thought, "Home is a feeling." 

There was this warm, enveloping feeling in that moment reminiscent of so many nights pre-college spent reading scriptures as a family. 

Home isn't 4038 Cherry Lane. 

It's the feeling of being there. 

It's the feeling of being on Roxyann Peak, talking for hours with my homegirl Anna, Crater Performing Arts stage, Medford 6th ward sacrament meeting, the fields near my neighborhood, christmas traditions, the temple, and the individuals in my family. 

(to name a few) 

with that, here's 795,204 pictures to illustrate:

So going "home" for Christmas break was returning to those feelings, not a location.

And when I got on the plane to come back to Provo, it was coming home; 

Home to my lavender fuzzy blanket, snow-covered mountains, bells ringing around campus, the ballet studio, jamba juice, hundreds of people, friends who feel like family, & being on my own. 

I love being back home ;)