What I got from 3 weeks ago

3 weeks ago, we have a stake conference. It was great to get a chance to go. It was sprinkle a little bit but I walked there anyway. Most of the speakers were from the 1st ward, the Deaf Ward. It was one of the most spiritual experience I've ever had. It was probably because I was in a hard time of my life, decision making situation, loneliness, discouragement in life. The talks from the conference did really lift me up. The speakers, of course, used the sign language. It was the most beautiful language to me.

The speakers reminded me about one of my trip during Christmas 2007 holiday to California with my friend, Esther, from Malaysia. On our plane back to Boston, we saw a family a row behind us. They looked just like all other families on the airplane. They have a 4 yrs old girl and 6 yrs old boy. Very very cute family, I must say. I had notice that this family has something very special and sweet. Yes! They are special and incredible or remarkable. Why?!? The parents are both deaf but the kids aren't though. And this is incredible about this family is that the kids know how to use sign language and communicate with the flight attendants for their parents. They were the happiest family I saw on the plane. They laughed & smiles. while communicated to each other with the sign language. I can feel their love to each other.

Anyway, here are some what I got from the talks:

" When things get difficult, Heavenly Father is not going to remove those trails immediately but he will give us strength as we are moving through the trails. " the 1st speakers from the 1st ward.

They had been talking a lot about the Atonement of Christ because it was a week before Easter. How after the tribulation of life we will become strong.

One of the speakers mention about the prayers: he said when we pray for
             Strength the Lord will give us Difficulties to learn
             Wisdom the Lord will give us Problems to solve
             Love the Lord will give us others to serve

 We never get what we want, but we get what we need.
With my own weakness, it's hard to understand and to endure and move through those trails in my life. But there is no other ways for me to escape from my own trails or hard time. There is the only way or one way to conquer them is to face, accept , and go through those with faith and never give up. Life is difficult but it is also beautiful too,  don't you think?

Temple Day with my friends :)

Me and Brittney, my companion I trained on the mission

Me & Kitty, my younger sister's friend

Today I spent my day with 2 friends at the Provo Utah Temple. It always feels great to be at the Temple. You are closer to God that way as you are going through the ordinances and always remember the covenant that we made in the Temple. I am so blessed to have many Temples that are close by, unlike other countries that the members have to travel very far to attend and worship at a temple.

Life is just beautiful and great as it is. You just need to be optimistic about it. I am looking forward to go to the temple again next week.

Anyway, certain is uncertain. Many things come and go. People come and go. You may have many friends in your life and then go from your life. There's always a purpose. Someone may have come to your life just to help you feel better and then they go and then you have new people come in your life again. Some may stay friends with you and some may not. We may be happy or may be hurt but we learn from people who have come to our life.

For the past month, it was sad to see my friends move away because I miss them so dearly. But I can't hold them to be with me because they have their lives and family. Brittney may be moving back to California and I will miss her too even if we didn't get to talk much. Susan, my friend from Boston, will move to Cali. as well for work. I will miss her.

Talk to mom tonight. It's great to hear that she and the rest of the family are doing good. Jan's husband is sick. I hope that he will get better soon.

Wow, it's late now but I still not sleepy yet. I really need to get back to a routine to sleep early (I wish).

Back to blog again....

I've been away for a few week from updating my blog. Is it because of my laziness or something that takes me away from blogging (I ask myself)? I just have nothing to share, maybe. Actually, I would like to update my blog everyday; but how I could make it more interesting. I just want to share what I see in this planet earth everyday which others probably not care at all. I don't blame them. 

The pic I took on the way to Burma. (Northern Thailand)

Anyway, I love spring but I don't like the rain. It's freezing cold rain; it's definitely different from Thailand rain. I had been reading a book called "Naked in Eden" recommended by my dear friend. It's pretty much have made me missing my childhood and all the green in my hometown. It is amazing how God had given us this beautiful nature for us to experience and to live in. There are many things that I like about the book but probably not gonna be able to put it all in here. Well, here is one of the quotes that the author has said in the book.

" I had so little time and too much to learn. One life time to know Mother Earth."-Robin Easton-

 There are so many things that we could learn from this world but how many of us recognize about that. It seems to be like we are damaging our presents from our Heavenly Father. It's sad to talk about it.

Other than reading the book, I am now trying to complete what I have listed last year for my 101 things to do before I die. I have started to do some of them but there are more of them that I will have to plan according to accomplish my dreams on the list. Going to the temple regularly become my important part in my life. The temple is absolutely my safe and secure place where I am comforted and feel that I am loved. 

Today I just finished applying for the Fedloan and next have to see my academic advisor and then register for classes. It is my excitement to go back to school and pursue a better education. It's been 10 yrs now since I graduated and got my bachelor degree. Now I am pursuing the 2nd one but in the totally different field of study. 

I just got another book called " The Hiding Place" by Corrie Ten Boom. I am excited to start reading it. :) Reading good book is also in my 101 things to do before I die.

With the 101 things to do before I die list, I decided to not finish the list. I think half of the list will be the dreams of someone who would share the rest of his life with me. I don't know who he is but I want to make the lists to be both of our dreams together which his dreams will be my dreams too.

 

My name: Thitiporn Butwong ฐิติพร บุตรวงศ์

Me when I was a baby!

There are so many people look at me in a weird way when I told them what my first name is. THITIPORN (that is how it spells in my passport) Thiti + porn. What a name huh? I should have them changed last time I went back visiting Thailand but if I do that I have to change the name in my Permanent Resident Card too.. well, I didn't do it. But if you consider how it write in Thai or consider the meaning of it. It is a beautiful name though. My first name was given by my father's friend. I am trying to break it down what the meaning is.

Thiti (ฐิติ) means Enduring Forever, Keep the rules and the law steadily.
Porn (พร) R is silence. It means Blessings.

So Thitiporn means the blessing of enduring in keeping the law forever.

Well, most of the time, everyone will call me by my Nickname, Jul (from July my birth month) that's what my mom gave me.

I love my name but not like how it spells in English though.

My dad friend might have given my name for a reason. He might want to remind me that no matter what happen, I need to endure to the end to have the blessings to be happy.

Today was not a good day for me even though the weather is good. I just feel so lonely, well, we all have time in that moment in life of being lonely. I have to endure and hope that I will pass this test, pass this moment, pass this hard time of life. There are more things for me to endure in the future which I will never know until it comes.

Life is beautiful! I just need to learn to appreciate this more.

Start doing photography again

it's been a while that I stop taking pictures. I feel good to get back to do what I like. During the General conference weekend, my roommate's father, older sisters, and her two teenage nieces from Colorado  came to stay over at our apartment. I took this opportunity to get back to do what I like, photography. Here are some pics from the weekend. I love to see smiles and laughs in the family. They just make me happy too.

I need to admit that the Grandpa is very funny. He never stopped talking while I was at home. He always made some funny jokes.

The pics were taken in front of our apartment. I wish we could see Cheery Blossom clearer in the back.