Gotta Love a Sunday.

This whole weekend was amazing.

Today was especially great.

After being home all weekend I drove myself back up here to Logan so I could make it to the last meeting with my sweet singles ward. Let me just tell you, it was one of the most incredible three hours I have had in a long time. My ward is always pretty good; I always seem to get something out of each meeting. But today my testimony was strengthened and my heart is so full of gratitude.

In my ward we have Relief Society, then Sunday School, and last of all Sacrament Meeting.

 For the first meeting we were combined with the guys and our Bishop gave the lesson. He talked about prayer and how we need to pray morning, afternoon, evening, and night. He also talked about what those prayers should include and what we should be thinking about while we give those prayers. He related those prayers to our life in college. How we start out in the morning or beginning of the year sharing our plans with the lord and setting goals. In the afternoon or later in the year we should ask for help and support and readjust our plan based on the circumstances. In the evening or further in the year we should continue to ask for support and be aware of the support and help that has already been given to us. At night or end of the year we have our “final” and we should report back to the Lord what we have learned, the things we are thankful for, and how we have lived that day/ year. It’s important to look back and see what we have done right and what we need to improve on. Later on in his lesson he opened it up to all of us to come up and share what we have learned this year and what being at college has taught us about the gospel and ourselves. Of course there was a thousand people who went up (only in a singles ward, right?) so I didn’t get a chance to get up and share. But, I have been thinking about how much I have learned and changed over the course of the past 9 months. Here is just a few of the things that have come to mind when thinking about this question:

-I know that the Lord has a plan for all of us. I fight him a lot on what I’m supposed to do and I don’t always listen the first time. But, I know his plan is better than mine.

-The Lord will make his plan come to pass even if I have no idea how it’ll work. I guess what I’m trying to say is trusting in the Lord is key.

-I don't need to always have a plan for every step of my life as long as I am listening to the spirit.

-I can do hard and scary things like move 100 miles away from home.  

-The Gospel is a way of life. It’s not just a Sunday thing. I have seen lots of people lose their footing in college. It’s not easy to hold your ground and stand up for your values. You have to always be on guard and decided before hand what you stand for.

-Scripture study is a matter of life or death. It's pretty much the best things ever.

-I am discovering just how truly blessed I am. I still take a lot for granted and I am not anywhere near perfect. But, I have never felt more thankful to the Lord in my life. I have been so deeply blessed.

-(I know a lot of these sound the same. I have to share them though.) The Lord loves me and everyone around me. In those moments of disappointment and frustration he is there and always will be.

-The Atonement covers more than just sin. It covers all form of emotion that we will experience in life. If we take advantage of the priceless gift just waiting for us, we will save ourselves a lot of pain.

-The Lord puts the people in our lives that we really need at the time we need them.

-I can be a big girls and make big girl choices.

-When it’s too hard to stand I better get my knees or I may be in trouble. Prayer has been such a great blessing to me. I am not sure what I would do without it.

-I love my family so much. I have been so blessed to be related to such strong people. I have missed them all so much!

-I am honestly a tool in the Lords hands. He can use us to bless the lives of others in so many ways. We just have to listen to the Spirit.

-I know I said this before, but I am so blessed. I am so thankful for all of the experience I have had this year and all of the tender mercies the Lord has shown me.

Okay, I know you are sick me of spilling my guts out. But, I really am so thankful tonight. I can’t believe how fast this year has gone. I have had so much fun and met so many amazing people. Sometimes I’m amazed at how talented and strong people are up here. It’s almost intimidating to be around them.  But, I have been accepted and loved by so many and I am going to miss them all.

I Hope They Call Me On A Mission...

Today was one of those Sundays that are just perfect.

The weather was to die for, everyone seemed to be in a good mood, and church was beyond great.

In sacrament meeting a lot of the people who are in my ward who have their mission calls or have their papers in got up and shared their testimonies. I am pretty sure the world is in good hands. After those boys and a few sisters shared experiences and testimonies purely from inspiration I was blown away. The spirit was so strong in that meeting. It was such a cool thing to be a part of.

Don’t take this the wrong way, but I think it’s a miracle that 19 year old boys can go out and do so much good in the world. I look up to those young men. The sisters who serve too are an inspiration. I am so proud of the people I have been blessed to call my friends who are out in the field or are headed out there soon. I look up to each one of them.

Missionary work is a powerful thing. I guess today I was reminded that there is a lot of good in the world and we are spreading it one person at a time.

On a side note, good luck to my friend Josh who is leaving Wednesday. The people of Mississippi don’t know what’s about to hit them. You will be a wonderful missionary.

Lets all remember to keep those sweet missionaries and the people seeking their message  in our prayers.

day eight. finals.

Day 08- Short term goals for this month and why

I have one and only goal for this month.

Pass all of my classes and stay alive until the end of finals week.

Wish me luck. I need all the help and support I can get.

On the seventh day... a little council flashback.

Day 07- A picture of someone/something that has had the biggest impact on you.

Okay, I’m still a freshmen in college (only two weeks left!!) so I think I’m still allowed to look back to high school. And if I had to pick something that has left the biggest impact on It would have been my decision to run for student council. I know it’s nerdy and a lot of people don’t understand it. Honestly though, because I was able to serve for those two years as a class officer I gained some friends and had experiences  that have changed the course of my life.

I couldn’t write all of the stories down or name all of the people and explain why they were so powerful in changing my life because it would take days. But, I can tell you that I learned what true friendship is from those people and I learned the power of service and the impact it makes on the live of the person giving it. 

To this day most of the people I served with on council are the true friends I go to when things get hard. It’s been fun to watch each other grow up and see where people are now. Most of the boys are on missions, a few of the girls have found themselves husbands, but most of us are fighting though college and just figuring out life.

Here are a few of the highlights:

spirit bowl sophomore year

 Everyone my sophomore year

Freedom week sophomore year (we were so proud of the stupid ugly hall)

Barth's Poster.

My Junior Class Girls

(Yes, I know I look stupid in this picture.) Freedom week Junior Year

 This was when I ran for VP, I didn't make it but my elections team was worth it. Best week of my high school career for sure.

Senior freedom week with my sophomore council boys.

All of us grown up sophomore class officers. These guys were the best people I could have asked for as a support system. We have stayed friends long after our year of eating each others faces off. I'm not sure there will ever be a better group of sophomore class officers at Timpanogos.



Because of my years in student council and the people I have met I have been inspired to be a better person. Thank you to all of you who were a part of that.

six

Day 06- Your  hero and why

Hero is a strong word and honestly I can think of several people who I consider my hero. I have been blessed with many examples in my life. I have amazing people I get to call friends and family and I am so thankful for that!

If I had to pick just one though, it would be my Grandma. My Grandma is my best friend. She has been there for me through everything I’ve ever been though. She is the smartest lady in the universe and she loves me more than anyone in the world does. Honestly, she is the person who checks up on me the most at college (even more than both my parents combined.) She is also the one person I make sure I see when I come home.

My Grandma has had her fair share of struggles in life. She was a single mother who worked hard all of her life to provide for her kids and offer them everything she could. She is always doing something to help others and always knows just how to fix any problem.

I am so blessed to be her (favorite) granddaughter! I honestly don’t know where I would be in life without her. She is the reason I am who I am and doing what I am doing.