how quickly life can change...

It amazes me how you can just be going along living your life, and then all of a sudden, out of the blue, something happens that will completely change the way you live forever.

One of my really close friends, Kira, has been diagnosed with cancer. I don't really know much, they found out on Friday, but it was shocking to hear that. She's only 21 and she is going to BYU-Idaho. She's home right now because she's off-track. Anyway, I don't know what's going to happen, but I know that everything is in the Lord's hands and everything will be okay.

I am teaching in Relief Society tomorrow, and the lesson is on the talk "Good, Better, Best" by Dallin H. Oaks. I really love this talk! But I was thinking about how this concept of "good, better, best" applies to everything. I was thinking about the trials that I've faced so far in my life, and then I was thinking about Kira and the trial that she is now facing. We often talk about our trials and how we know that will give us good experience and make us better people. We also know the Heavenly Father would never give us more than we could handle. Heavenly Father loves us, as His sons and daughters, and He wants us to succeed. Don't you think He would give us the "best" trials, so to speak, that would give us the most experience? For example, we are not asked to die for the church as the early saints were, but we live for the church.

I'm simply grateful for the church and all of the things I know because of it. When life gets hard or even when it's easy, it's comforting to know I have a Heavenly Father who loves me and a Savior who suffered for all of my sins, sorrows, pains, etc.

I'm so grateful for all of the people who have been in my life. Friends are such blessings.