Highlights

So it's been a while. But sadly there really isn't much to mention going on in my life right now. Just lots of school activity. This last week alone I had a paper, a project, two assignments, and a test. I am SO ready for Thanksgiving break! I need a chance to relax a little and get a lot of sleep... although if I'm with my family (especially my cousin emily) I don't know how much sleep I'll really be able to get. Either way it'll be a great time. Anyways.... my life is pretty boring for the most part. But let's take a look at what has happened since I posted last.

1- Zack went into the MTC. He's doing great and loving it a lot, just as I knew he would. Shelby and I sent him a care package a while ago filled with things like snacks and sticky notes. Shelby and I had a lot of fun not only filling the box with small things and packing peanuts, but also decorating the out side of the box. Here are some pictures :)

2- I went up to Salt Lake City last weekend to spend some much needed time with my friend Brittni.  

We basically just hung out, took an adventure to City Creek Mall and worked on some homework. I loved being able to spend some time with her. She is such a wonderful friend! Whenever we get together we can go on for hours talking about everything. I love her so much! <3

3- I have started indexing! In the first week of my new addiction, I have done over 600 names. It is a great thing to do when I feel like not really doing anything... Giving service and ultimately helping people with their own family history work is rewarding in a great way.

4- I have continued playing the guitar a lot. Right now I'm working on learning "Home" by Phillip Phillips. :) It's challenging, but so fun!

Anyways... that's about all of my life for now. 

I am so very thankful for all the blessings in my life. My family and friends are wonderful and I don't know how I would make it through life without them. I am so thankful for scriptures, the Bible is wonderful and so is the Book of Mormon. I am so grateful for music. I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to go to BYU and learn both secular knowledge as well as spiritual. 

May the Lord always be with you and bless you with his love and peace. <3

Mostest Postest Friend

Today my mostest postest friend Zack Carnline goes into the MTC (Missionary Training Center). He is going to be serving the Lord for the next two years as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I know he is going to do an amazing work while he is in Florida.  

Saying goodbye is always hard and never fun. Zack has been a part of my daily life for the past two years. Every day he has been there to give me encouragement and to make my life easier. It will be hard being able to communicate only through letters once a week when we are used to talking on the phone and skyping every day. However I know he is where he is supposed to be and he will bless many lives through his service.

Here are just a few of my favorite pictures with my mostest postest friend :)

Some of you may be very confused about how I came up with "mostest postest friend." Zack's niece always says "love you mostest postest," which is greater than "most" or "mostest."  Because of that Zack and I decided a while ago that we were each other's mostest postest friend because we are closer than just best friends.

He makes me so happy no matter what else might be going on in my life. I am so blessed to have him in my life, even if we are separated most of the time because of school or missions. I know he will be a wonderful missionary.

Midterm Week

As many people know, midterm week is something to dread... and then during it, you just kind of want to die a little bit more as the week progresses. It is the week in the middle of the semester (which it is super crazy that we are already half way done by the way) when almost ALL teachers figure that their students have nothing better to do with their life than to take a test, write a paper, or complete a project. REALLY!?!?! Do they not realize that Halloween is just around the corner and some of us might want to do something fun and festive instead of just study, take tests, and write papers?!?!? This last week I had 2 tests, 1 paper, and 3 assignments/projects due. WHY!?!?!?!? 

Yes I know that it is the middle of the term meaning it is the perfect time to test your students so you know how well they are doing... and then you can have half of your information covered on one test and then the other half on the final..... but I still don't like it!!! I mean why can't all the teachers decide to be spontaneous and pick different and random weeks to have tests!?!? Only one test a week would be wonderful! 

Anyways.... in order to relieve my stress this week I have been doing a lot of guitar playing. I am SO happy I have a new hobby! I remember last year I went through piano withdrawals. I would go about once a week and just play for an hour because I missed it so much. This year I have my guitar right here in my room that I can play whenever I want to relax a little. I LOVE MUSIC!!!! How blessed we are to live in a time when music is all around us and easily accessible. 

Also, I have to say that having great friends who encourage and help me when I get a little stressed out is such a wonderful blessing! They always know what to do or say to make things look better.  They help me find the silver lining. And to quote one of my favorite songs, "Isn't it nice to know, that the lining is silver? Isn't it nice to know that we're golden?" (Relient K - The Lining is Silver)

I must also say that I have recently had a great amount of peace in my life. Life, apart from school stress, is so wonderful! I am so blessed to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It saves me so much heartache and provides me with information that is crucial to my happiness here on earth. It is this gospel, my belief in Christ, and his guidance that brings overwhelming peace into my life.

I am so blessed to have my great family, who had an addition to it this week. That's right, I now am the proud aunt of 14 nieces and nephews!!! The newest addition is Spencer Mark Weed who joined us early Thursday morning. I am so blessed to have been sent here in a family. Family is central to happiness. I love my parents. I love my siblings. I love my nieces and nephews. I love my grandparents and other extended family. I love all of my ancestors and owe so much to them. Because of them and the work they did while alive, I am the person I am today and I have the opportunities I do. I cannot wait to one day have my own family and pass on the blessings I enjoy.

Jesus Christ, our Savior, lives. He loves us and wants what is best for us. With that, I hope you all have a wonderful week and you can try to see what blessings surround you every day.

Life is Good :)

It never ceases to amaze me how wonderful General Conference is!

For those of you who do not know, General Conference is an event in my church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (AKA: Mormon), that happens every six months. It is two days where we have the privilege to hear council and spiritually uplifting messages from the leaders of our church. Our church believes in living prophets. We believe there is a living prophet today, Thomas S. Monson. He and his two counselors, and a Quorum (or group) of Twelve Apostles, just as when Christ was on the earth, lead and direct us today.

The Prophet, Thomas S. Monson, (seated) and his two counselors Henry B. Eyring (Left) and Dieter F. Uchtdorf (Right)

The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

These men are so inspirational and I love them so very much. Even though I don't personally know them, they have helped me in many situations throughout my life because of the words they share with the world, that can at times seem specifically directed at only me. Their messages are centered around Jesus Christ and his gospel, and how it can help us in our daily struggles. These messages are broadcast all over the world and translated into many different languages so that everyone can have access to them. After they are televised, they are published in a church magazine and posted on our church's website, lds.org, so we can all watch or read them at any time.

But as I was saying... I LOVE GENERAL CONFERENCE! I come away with so many good ideas about how to approach situations in my life. God is real. God communicates with us through His chosen leaders today as well as through His chosen leaders from the past through the scriptures. Jesus Christ is our savior and redeemer. He died on the cross and suffered the atonement for each and every one of us. He did it so we would never have to be alone, so we could always have someone to turn to who can truly say "I know how you feel". He knows our pains, sicknesses, griefs, and sorrows... but he also knows how to make it better. He knows how to help us receive a fullness of joy in this life.

I wish I was a more eloquent writer so you could all understand how much this truly means to me. But I guess this post will have to do for now. Just as long as you know that I am so grateful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and for the joy the gospel and my belief in Christ brings into my life. "I am a Mormon. I know it, I live it, I love it." <3

A Day in the Life of... Me

Since we last talked... I have successfully taken 2 tests and I'm working on getting ready for my third at the end of this week. Pretty sure by this time last year I was maybe starting to think about starting to study for my first test. Oh well... I guess that's what I get for taking 17 credits this semester. :)

Life overall is pretty basic. Every day I get up, 

go to class,

 come home, 

  

and study.

 

  
Other than that... I hang out and talk with my awesome roommates. Shelby and I have had some interesting conversations while we lay in bed at night, I wouldn't trade her for anything! <3 We encourage each other and help each other as we face our tests and assignments that seem most daunting... I don't know what I would do without her.

Where is God's Perfection?

Heard this story today in my Intro to Special Education class... I love it so much. If you have a few minutes, please read it.

In Brooklyn, New York, Chush is a school that caters to learning disabled children. Some children remain in Chush for their entire school career, while others can be mainstreamed into conventional schools.

At a Chush fund-raising dinner, the father of a Chush child delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended.

After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he cried out, "Where is the perfection in my son Shaya? Everything God does is done with perfection. But my child cannot understand things as other children do. My child cannot remember facts and figures as other children do. Where is God's perfection?"

The audience was shocked by the question, pained by the father's anguish, stilled by the piercing query.

" I believe," the father answered, "that when God brings a child like this into the world, the perfection that he seeks is in the way people react to this child."

He then told the following story about his son Shaya:

One afternoon Shaya and his father walked past a park where some boys Shaya knew were playing baseball.

Shaya asked, "Do you think they will let me play?"

Shaya's father knew that his son was not at all athletic and that most boys would not want him on their team. But Shaya's father understood that if his son was chosen to play it would give him a comfortable sense of belonging.

Shaya's father approached one of the boys in the field and asked if Shaya could play. The boy looked around for guidance from his teammates. Getting none, he took matters into his own hands and said "We are losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him up to bat in the ninth inning."

Shaya's father was ecstatic as Shaya smiled broadly. Shaya was told to put on a glove and go out to play short center field.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shaya's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three. In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shaya's team scored again and now with two outs and the bases loaded with the potential winning run on base, Shaya was scheduled to be up. Would the team actually let Shaya bat at this juncture and give away their chance to win the game? Surpassingly, Shaya was given the bat.

Everyone knew that it was all but impossible because Shaya didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, let alone hit with it. However as Shaya stepped up to the plate, the pitcher moved a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shaya should at least be able to make contact.

The first pitch came in and Shaya swung clumsily and missed. One of Shaya's teammates came up to Shaya and together the held the bat and faced the pitcher waiting for the next pitch. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly toward Shaya. As the pitch came in, Shaya and his teammate swung and together they hit a slow ground ball to the pitcher.

The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could easily have thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shaya would have been out and that would have ended the game. Instead, the pitcher took the ball and threw it on a high arc to right field, far beyond reach of the first baseman.

Everyone started yelling,"Shaya, run to first. Run to first." Never in his life had Shaya run to first. He scampered down the baseline wide-eyed and startled. By the time he reached first base, the right fielder had the ball. He could have thrown the ball to the second baseman who would tag out Shaya, who was still running. But the right fielder understood what the pitcher's intentions were, so he threw the ball high and far over the third baseman's head. Everyone yelled, "Run to second, run to second." Shaya ran towards second base as the runners ahead of him deliriously circled the bases towards home. As Shaya reached second base, the opposing short stop ran to him, turned him in the direction of third base and shouted, "Run to third." As Shaya rounded third, the boys from both teams ran behind him screaming, "Shaya run home."

Shaya ran home, stepped on home plate and all 18 boys lifted him on their shoulders and made him the hero, as he had just hit a "grand slam" and won the game for his team.

"That day," said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, "those 18 boys reached their level of God's perfection."

The Up's and Down's of College Life

Monday: 

Up ~ NO SCHOOL!!!!

Down ~ Stayed in bed all day feeling like my head was about to explode because of a cold. 

Although this is not me.... this is what I felt like.

Tuesday:
Up ~ I got to see my cousin Emily and my aunt Dana. They were driving through Provo on their way to take Emily to school up at BYU-Idaho. I got to show them around my apartment and also go to dinner with them. After that Emily came over and hung out for a while. 

Another up is that I got to say good bye to Kaleb Lawless, a long time friend from home, the night before he entered the MTC. This means he was already set apart as a missionary... you know what that means? Epically awkward hand hug goodbye. For those of you who don't know what that is... see picture --> I know he's going to be a great missionary in Tampa, Florida. :)

Down ~ I scratched my car!!!! Let me explain. So at my apartment building there is underground parking. When you go to sign up for a permit they give you a permanent parking spot. Firstly... the spots are TINY!!! Secondly... I park right next to a wall. So yes trying to park my car, I scratched it on the wall. Also, the spots are so small that I cannot get in or out of my car by simply using my driver-side door (because that is where the car is) Oh no, I get to crawl in and out through the passenger side door every time. Let's just say, it's an adventure. :P

Wednesday:
Up ~ I signed up to volunteer in a Special Education classroom at an elementary school just a few blocks from where I live. 

This was also the first time I received flowers from a boy.<3 My boyfriend/ mostest-postest (AKA BEST) friend Zack was in cahoots with my roommate Shelby. I received a beautiful bouquet of roses to celebrate almost 2 years together. I am so blessed to have Zack in my life. He is ALWAYS there for me no matter what I may be going through. And he has truly made me into a better person.

Down ~ Had to go to a review session for my first test of the year... let the stress begin. :P

Thursday:
Up ~ Guitar lessons! I love my teacher and I learn so much in our short lessons. I'll be jamming away in no time! :)

Down ~ I had to make an embarrassing video of myself signing for my ASL class. Luckily, it wasn't any worse than anyone else's.

Friday:
Up ~ I got to spend the day with Natalie and Aubryann as we drove down to Price, Utah so they could run a MARATHON Saturday morning. I love these girls so much! <3

Down ~ I was supposed to take a test that day... but decided I needed the weekend to study.


 
Saturday:
Up ~ Again spending time with Aubryann and Natalie. They did an awesome job on running (yes they ran the WHOLE 26.2 MILES) I look up to them so much for being able to do that. <3

Down ~ LOTS of studying. :P




Sunday:
Up ~ Going to church of course! I love getting to go to church and learn more about the gospel each week. There are so many wonderful people in my ward for me to learn from this year. 

Down ~ Stress settling in as I planned out my week, but I know I can conquer it! :)