Different shades of green

Dearest family,

 

I love Sundays because you can go to church and mingle with others that share the same beliefs as you, and it's just good to know you are a part of a wonderful entity united in the same cause. It's also good to know that wherever you go, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints will always be the same church founded upon the teachings of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

There were more people at church today in our small branch. Many new students here for the first time, and many returning students back again for school. I met another Library Science major today, and a couple returning undergrads in music, as well as a cute boy entering into his first year of the masters program in music. Wasn't able to really talk to him, but I'm going back for mingle in a half of an hour, and I'll be sure to introduce myself. :) There are many wonderful people here in Bloomington. I feel more comfortable here every week.

 

As I was driving home from church today, the beautiful scenery caught my eye as it always does, but it was particularly pretty today for some reason. Maybe because it's the sabbath, and the world seems to just have a special glow about it on this day. Whatever the reason, I was once again reminded of the abundance of greenery we have here in this beautiful part of the state. 

 

As I drove down a small neighborhood street around 4:00pm, the sun was shining through the thick brush and pushing through little pockets of space between the leaves, trying to shed as much light as was permitted. In it's efforts, the sun reflected it's golden tones on the leaves creating many shades of green, and even occasionally changing the leaves hews to gold. This natural phenomenon was no doubt beautiful to behold, and although I wished I could have captured it with a camera, it is a regular occurrence here in Bloomington, so instead of pausing with amazement, it caused me to think deeper and ponder about this particular moment of the day when the sun shines on the leaves. 

 

As these beautiful trees reflected the sunlight it caused me to think how there are many different shades of green in life. There are different shades in people, there are different shades in situations. There are different shades that are reflected at different times and seasons in our lives, and each one of us has experienced these moments. We've all experienced the deep green moments, the moments where the leaves are in the shade and so the light has a harder time reaching them. We've all experienced the bright green moments where we are basking in the sunlight, happy and comfortable. Then there are those few, occasional special moments when we've felt our shade of green change hew altering the color into a golden tone as it's met with the sunlight.

 

It's in each of these different moments that we continue to grow. Leaves need sunlight to grow, but they also need a certain amount of shade. If a plant is in direct sunlight too long, it will die, but in contrast, if the leaves never see the sun, it will not and can not grow. I guess what I started thinking was that we need all different shades of green to live, and that our lives are made up of these different shades. We need the sunlight as our source of energy, but if we were constantly being fed only sunlight with no opposition of shading or the night, we could not grow, we would ultimately quiver and die. (I hope this is making more sense.)

 

We have the "Son" as our source of energy here on this earth. He feeds us so we can grow, but He also knows we need the shade every now and then in our lives as part of the growing process. If we were basking in His light at all moments of the day, we would cease to be, spiritually speaking, because we would not have the opportunity to learn and grow more. I'm not saying that we shouldn't look to Him at all times and in all places in our lives, but He is all knowing, and is wise enough to bless us with ease and happiness during certain times in our lives, but to also challenge us and let us have those deep green moments where He may not be so apparent. Even in deep green moments He is still there, because you are still able to see the color of the leaf.

 

Trials are what make us men and women of God, because we can face them fearlessly, trusting in our maker to lead us back into the light where we can enjoy the warmth again. And oh how sweet those special moments when our leaves are engulfed in His rays, changing our hew to a golden tone, reflecting Him.

 

I love you all,

 

Angela

Dear family...

I hope you are all doing well. I trust you've already received my previous email to all my friends and to you as family as well, but I'd like to start writing exclusively to the family every Sunday copying the write-to-your-brother-on-a-mission-every-Sunday tradition. I have to admit I was never good at this tradition, although I think it's an excellent one not to be lost, and I'm sure Mom would agree we need to keep the traditions alive in our family regardless how often we change them or make up new ones, it's all the same. TRADITION!

With this in mind, I'm proposing we keep it real here in the Brower fam by writing to each other at least one Sunday a month if not every Sunday. For those who don't feel comfortable using the computer on Sundays, you can opt for an alternative day of the week. It doesn't matter when you do it, the whole idea is just to do it.

By writing to each other each month, we as a family can better stay connected. As our family expands, we will be seeing less of each other due to new schools, new jobs, new locations we may all adopt whether it be now or sometime in the future. I believe this will draw us closer to each other as siblings, in-laws, and parents allowing us to share ideas and thoughts on life, and unify us in our efforts to build the kingdom here on this earth. That's what families are for, right? Use it as you may, this can be a very strong tool to build better friendships and lasting relationships. Hey- we've got eternity together right? Why not start getting to know each other better in this life so we can have that advantage in the life here after. I know as married couples you have your own families and your own lives, but I still care about you and am curious how things are going in your lives.

I hope we may all implement this concept in our lives. I love you guys. You truly are my friends. Thank you for always being there for me. I wish you all well, and miss you and your dear children. Life is good- challenging but good. How wonderful it is that we have the gospel in our lives to help us live better and have more joy as we do our best here.

Your sister, daughter, and friend,

Ang

p.s. I need Stephen's email and Thomas' as well as Meagan's and Dawnette' s and Lily's if you'd like me to write to you. Take care!

My INDIANA adventures have begun!

Hello friends, family, professors, and wonderful acquaintances,

Well, I've finally made it to Bloomington, Indiana! This is the first of I hope many emails to keep me connected with everyone. Although this may not be an email addressed solely to one person, I assure you while I write, I'm curious to know how each of you are doing as well. So please feel free to email me back just so I know you're all still alive and well. I hope this will be a good way for us all to stay in touch.

For those of you whom I haven't talk to in a while, let me explain what I'm doing here. In May of this year, I graduated from Arizona State University with my bachelors degree in music, in the area of Vocal Performance. During my last semester at ASU, I was encouraged to apply for graduate school by several good friends and family members. So after a couple of auditions and weighing the pros and cons of two universities to choose from, I felt really good about coming here to Indiana. I will be starting my graduate studies here in approx 3 weeks. My field of study is of course Vocal Performance, and I couldn't be happier.

To be quite honest, I have been experiencing many emotions from excited to nervous, to scared out of my mind, but when I think it through, I know this is where I need to be, and I'm mostly curious as to where this choice will lead my future.

I love this town. It's so green! (Something that an Arizona girl is not used to.) The people are so kind and wonderful here as well. There's such a warm feeling about this place. I'm glad of that, because it makes being so far away from home more bearable.

So that's basically my story. I look forward to hearing from you all and what you are all up to as well. Please feel free to drop me a line- even if it's just a couple of words to say hi.
Thank you for your friendship and support. May God bless you in your lives, and keep you safe and happy.

Take care,

Angela Brower