A Hard Plastic Seat at the Top of the Arena…

“…Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.”
Mark 9:24

I chose a hard plastic seat near the top of the arena and watched other young women living my dream. 

I had arrived in Provo, Utah a few months earlier, certain of my course.  However, immediately the harsh reality of my financial problems was nearly overwhelming.  Jobs were hard to come by, especially because the sole source for transportation was my own two feet.  With the desperation of a looming rent payment, I took a janitorial position with Brigham Young University.  My job responsibilities centered around scrubbing toilets at the football stadium after games, and an early morning shift at the basketball arena.  At the close of one shift, I heard the comforting familiar sound of bouncing basketballs on a gym floor, the screech of sneakers, whistles, and coach’s calls.  I entered from the hallway to watch for a minute. 

I was faced with a choice.  I could be angry and frustrated with my current course, or hold fast to the truths I had worked to obtain. 

How could I doubt?  And yet, In that moment sitting on a hard plastic seat near the top of the basketball arena, my sadness wandered to thoughts and images from the past year. 

My course still produced a very clear picture:

I saw myself standing at an open locker starring in prayer into the back of it connecting with my Father in Heaven and feeling His love and protection. I saw myself leaving Bishop McDunn’s office and my pause leading the way to see the love in his eyes. I saw myself pouring out my heart to God and knowing my course was to head west. I saw myself guarded and protected and strengthened by an unseen aide on my three-day bus ride. How could I doubt that I was exactly where God wanted me to be?

Peace and pure knowledge of unobstructed love from my Heavenly Father filled me as I silently prayed right there in that moment…

I began to work and draw from the enabling power made possible through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  I felt like I was in this with Him, and although I still lacked the ability to understand my purpose completely, I held tight in agreeing to just one step in faith.

-JC

Pretzel and M&M Cookies

½ cup soft butter
½ cup buttered flavored Crisco
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 ½ cups all-purpose flour 
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup mini M&M candies
1 cup broken pretzel pieces

Cream butter, Crisco, and sugars with an electric mixer on medium high for 1 minute or until fluffy. Hand stir in eggs and vanilla extract; don’t over-mix. Add dry ingredients all at once and mix until fully incorporated. Add 2-3 Tablespoons more flour for high elevation. Stir in chocolate chips and M&M’s. Gently fold in pretzel pieces. Scoop out approximately 24 2” balls of dough.  Gently roll and flatten slightly.  Place on greased or parchment paper on an aluminum cookie sheet. Press additional pretzel pieces and a few more M&M candies into the top of the cookie disc.
Bake at 375 degrees for 12+ min. Let set. Share!