One of my daughters-in-law said something cute to me the other day. She said, “I like how you call your trials ‘adventures.'”
When I was young I wanted to have adventures. I read lots of books and envied all the 
excitement experienced by the main characters, especially considering how humdrum and boring my small town routine was.
Then as an adult, I learned there wouldn’t be adventures after all. Instead I’d have “trials” and “difficulties” and “struggles.”
Well, I love my church but seriously I wish we Mormons would tone down all this talk about trials. It has the young people like my daughter-in-law worried sick about what her future might hold. In fact, I think my Mormon brothers and sisters need to change that word altogether, delete it from church vocabulary. Why not say adventures instead of trials?
When we were young married students at BYU, Bruce and I went to a Fireside where a man in his 40s or 50s was speaking. He said, (and I remember this so well because it chilled my bones): “Don’t think you’re going to get through life unscathed. Trials will come to you. I guarantee it. None of us are exempt from the difficulties of life.”
Great thing to say to newly married couples. I went home and cried to my husband, “I don’t want trials! What’s that all about anyway? What horrible things are we in for?”
Poor Bruce, here he thought he had married a sensible young woman ready for adulthood instead of someone who cried at the drop of a hat. Still, I’m sure he said something wise and comforting like he always did to get me through whatever trauma I suffered in those early years.
Just think how much better it would have been if that speaker had said: “Don’t think you’re going to have a boring life, because you’re not. Adventures will come to you, I guarantee it. None of us are exempt from the thrilling adventures that life promises.”
Now that’s more like it!
Bruce and I all dressed up and ready for our next great adventure.
karenjonesgowen 
In my later 60’s now, I keep having adventures, and mis-adventures. And they are part of life, as you have indicated, Karen. With faith, family, and friends, I rejoice in the adventures and get though the misadventures. Thanks be to God!
” ‘I don’t want trials! What’s that all about anyway? What horrible things are we in for?’ ”
Why am I reminded of the joke about the woman who while giving birth cried, “I don’t want a baby, I want an epidural!”—
You and your husband look beautiful, and have a life full of adventures. I don’t know about reforming religious language, because churches are not inclined to do this. Popular culture always promise “fun” and deliver some, with a dose of emptiness. I like “adventures,” because they can be of any flavor.
I ove this new site, Karen. And that’s such a lovely photo. And yes, adventures is a much better word.
I agree – adventures is a much better word!
I love this post! I will probably read it over and over again to remind me of all the great adventures I have had and will have! Thanks Karen!
“Adventures” sounds so much nicer! I’m just like you; I don’t want to think about how hard something will be or about the next “trail” God will pitch my way.
We have adventures all the time. Whenever me and John go someplace or do something, I think of it as an adventure. That’s probably because we’re still in our first year of marriage, but making the little things fun and thrilling helps spice up the small town life. 😉
I’m not as adventurous as I once was. Too much adventuring makes me tired.
Lee
A Faraway View