Caramel & Compliments

These past couple weeks have been absolutely crazy! So many things have happened! I am no longer in Roseville, I actually moved down to Rocklin with a new companion. I am in a completely new area and I love it!! 

One thing that not alot of people know about me is that I have a chronic illness called Ulcerative Collitis. I found out I had it when I was around 14 years old. Through a year and a half of failed doctor's appointments, IV drips, feeding tubes, pills, and bathroom visits, I got through it. It was the toughest thing I have ever been through. I think the craziest thing is that my illness didn't just effect me. It affected me ENTIRE family, my parents especially. I am so grateful for them and their support and their worried looks.


I got through it because I got surgery done where the doctors removed my colon. Since I no longer have a colon, I got an Ostomy Bag! Ostomy bags are a little tricky but its essentially a medical device on the outside of the body. It essentially takes over what your colon would be doing with a couple more in's and out's. I am so grateful for it! Having an ostomy has never ever greatly effected my life negatively. Sure it has its days where its alittle inconvenient but without it I wouldn't be here today. I am so grateful for my parents especially as they empowered me in knowing that this doesn't have to affect my life or limit me at all and it hasn't!! I have done everything I have ever wanted to do, travel, become a life guard, get my EMT, go through the Fire Fighting Academy, go on a mission.... No Limits. 

Even on a mission having an ostomy bag doesn't really affect my life alot. One thing I do like doing whenever I get a new companion is telling them about it. Which often leads to alot of questions, some weird looks, but again so much support! I tell them because it is something that they need to be aware of. Even though it wouldn't really come up... sometimes it does. 

By coming to Rocklin, I also got a new companion which means having the talk. I learned that if I don't make it a big deal, they don't make it a big deal. So I told my new companion about it and she said something that I will probably remember for the rest of my life. She said: 

"You know that is cool but I am really sorry you had to go through that. Honestly though you should take it as a compliment." 

WHAT?? 

She continued saying that God knew I could get through that trial in my life and he trusted me with such a huge and hard opportunity to become better. 

What she said really resonated with me because I have never thought about it like that before. I am honestly so grateful for all the lessons I learned through that experience. I think it's weird to think about where I would be without going through that. I came out a different person but I came out on top. 

God knew how much I would grow, learn and change from that experience. It's sometimes hard to look at trials from that perspective though. I totally get that. I honestly have no idea why I am so postive about it now when at the time I was in the absolute darkest hole of my life. I don't know why I never questioned God or my beliefs in him. I guess it was because I knew God was with me. I knew God was right there next to my hospital bed along with my parents. God never leaves us alone. I know God hated seeing me suffering, as he does all of us, but he knew how much that experience would be essential to my life. 

I was reading in The Book of Mormon this week and a verse really jumped out at me. The Book of Mormon is a book of ancient scripture written by prophets just like The Bible! The verse was in a section called Alma, who was a prophet back in the ancient Americas. In this chapter Alma is just preaching the word of Jesus Christ to everyone! He says in verse 28: 

"But that ye would humble yourselves before the Lord, and call on his holy name, and watch and pray continually, that ye may not be tempted above that which ye can bear, and thus be led by the Holy Spirit, becoming humble, meek, submissive, patient, full of love and all long-suffering;" 

I loved this verse. I loved it because it says right there that God with NEVER give us harder trials than we can bare. Everything that you are going through right now God knows you can get over. God knows you can make it through on top. Sometimes the key and the hardest part is the "all long-suffering" but as we keep pushing through those dark moments, we will see the light. God also gives us His Spirit to always be with us. To comfort, guide, and bring peace to our weary souls. 

God gives us trials in our lives because he trusts us enough with them. 

God also knows though that sometimes we fall short, sometimes we think that those trials are too hard to bare so we falter a little. God knew that, that's why he sent His Son Jesus Christ to bare those burdens. 

"If you are prone to worry that you will never measure up, or that the loving reach of Christ’s infinite Atonement mercifully covers everyone else but not you, then you misunderstand. Infinite means infinite. Infinite covers you and those you love." - Elder Patrick Kearon

God knows you. God trusts you. God loves you. 

Anything you are going through right now, God knows. God knows you and knows you can overcome the them and the world. I guess all I can say is, take it as a compliment ;)

Keep going ❤️ 

Wanna learn more about The Book of Mormon? 

How have you seen God help you overcome trials? 

Message me or comment below!! 

Love,
Sister Pickett 

_____________________________________________
Last week was a hot one!! Here in Rocklin temperatures get up to 106°, which is crazy. So after a long day of missionary work and after finding a couple new people to teach my companion and I got ice-cream! We had no idea where to go so we just picked a random place on the map. 

We ended up at Salt & Straw!! It was a little shop tucked away in a strip mall, if you have ever been to Utah, I totally thought I was in Farmington Station! 

The shop had really really unique flavors, too the point that Adriano Zumbo would have been proud. I wish I could have tried them all because the flavor combos were super different. They totally would have let me, you can sample as many flavors as you want! Some of their signature flavors are: 

Coffee and Love Nuts 
Salted, Malted, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
Honey Lavender
Pear and Blue Cheese 
Arequipa Olive Oil
Peanut Brittle Caramel Fudge 

Plus dozens more!! All I am saying is don't knock it till you try it!! 

I got the Salted Caramel Ribbion ice-cream and it was so good!!!! The picture really doesn't do it justice. There was SO much Caramel and it was amazing. It tasted JUST LIKE THE SOFT WERTHERS CARAMELS. There was so much Caramel but not enough to be overbearing. Between the stringy caramel and the cold, smooth, rich icecream, I was in heaven!! 

10/10 recommend Salt and Straw Ice-cream in Rocklin, CA. 




 

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