Humbled and Happy

I was able to spend some time with Sara, Chrissy and my dad last night because Dad came up to Salt Lake for a meeting. Sara made a yummy dinner and we sat around and laughed about stupid boys while we ate. Sara had just moved into her new apartment and wanted it blessed by the Priesthood so Dad, of course, stepped in willingly. It was an amazing experience as he exercised that power. It was too special to share, but very powerful. Then we went and wandered walmart... us girls in the girl section and dad in sporting goods. :) We got back and helped Chrissy decide on what to do about her overwhelming semester schedule... especially now that she has been called as the Relief Society President in her ward. She has such a golden heart and longs to do the very best she can... almost to the point of completely wearing herself out. We hugged her and loved her, pick her up, motivated her and shared some more tender and spiritual moments.

I am so incredibly blessed beyond words. I look around me everywhere and there are families being ripped to shreds and suffering in agony as they hold on to what little they have left of 'home'. I am so overwhelmingly humbled to realize how rare a thing I have in my family. I feel so much peace and love; a thick, pure, real and lasting love; a true and eternal love for my family. It's something so deep and strong, that when I really try to comprehend it and think about it, I feel a small and uncontrollable giggle rise from the very depths of my heart and ring out of my voice, accompanied by a tear or two of absolute joy. I start to wonder, "How did this happen? How did my family survive the horrible temptations, enticements and distractions that the world has to offer? How is it that we are the way we are?" But almost without hesitation, the memories come flooding back... Memories of the battles over getting everyone knelt down for family prayer. The eyes that rolled when mom would tell us it was time for scripture study. The unexpected fights that would erupt-- just before a special moment would come along; one that could have kept that good experience from happening, but didn't. These simply vital moments kept us close as a family, no matter how 'painful' and exhausting they were.

I have a testimony of the 'small' things. Pray with your family. Go to church. Share your testimony in the most random of moments. Have family home evening every week. Serve together. Be a real true family and don't be afraid to say 'I love you.' It's THOSE kinds of things that have helped me and my family get where we are. This doesn't do them justices, but I LOVE MY FAMILY. It is this kind of a family that I am going to fight for in my future as well.

New Lesson Learned/Learning

Church was great yesterday. But the lesson I've learned, or that I'm learning is not one that was learned in one day or during one meeting. Its something I've been slowly realizing and learning throughout the last year or so. I am learning that most of my life really isn't about me. I am learning that most of my life is about how I use it to serve others. Here is my thought process:

We are here to follow the example of Christ, to do our best to be like him so that we can return to live with God. The scriptures say that He and God are one. We know that this refers to them being one in purpose. Soo....

If I need to be like Christ, to be one with Him and God, to have the same purpose (Moses 1:39), I need to know what He was like and how he did it. What was he like?: Selfless. How did he do it?: Service. Done. The end. To obtain the reward I desire: Exaltation, I need to forget about myself. I need to focus on those around me because it is through service to them that I will get what I came here to prove myself worthy to receive.

Of course there are many other dimensions and things that must happen, but all of them seem to maintain a connection with this concept. Correct me if I'm wrong. :)

Thoughts? :)

Hmm...

Should I chop off my hair? I'm kinda bored with it. Just wanna do something different. What are your thoughts? Maybe more layers? I would love to highlight it but that's too much $$. Hmmm....

I did NOT feel good about my stats test... Pretty sure I'll be retaking it this summer. Good thing Brad will be in that class. He's a great study buddy and an even better friend. That makes things so much easier. But retaking stats will put me at 17 credits for Summer Semester. Whew! It's gonna be intense but way exciting at the same time because that means I'll be graduating in the Spring next year instead of the Fall. Yay!!!

Almost a year!!

Ha ha! So it looks like it's been a while since I last did anything on this blog. But I thought I'd start to try... again... to do better with it. I was all worried about making sure there were plenty of pictures and such to go on it but I won't worry so much about that as I will just simply updating it.

So... Life is different and a lot has happened within the last year. So if any of you want details you'll have to just ask because I'm going to just start from here on out. Currently I'm in the stress phase of preparing for finals. I have my worst one tomorrow... STATS. Cursed Statistics of Social Research. I have never hated a class with so much of my soul as I do stats. But tomorrow it's the final. I've done so horribly that I just might not pass it and will have to retake it in the summer. However, I am already enrolled in a class with a good teacher and will be taking it with a really good friend of mine. So I am already prepared for the worst. But I'm still crossing my fingers that I will pass and not have to worry about it at all anymore.

I am also on the last few weeks of my calling as Relief Society Secretary. I have mixed feelings about it. It will be really great to have my Sundays back and not have to worry about so much added to my already busy schedule. But then there is the fact that I won't have the opportunity to get to know the girls the way I do now. Well, I will. It will just take a lot more real effort on my part in order to make it happen. I like my calling even though it uses so much time and work. I enjoy caring for the girls on a more personal level.

As far as the dating side of things, I am newly single and ready to get back out there and have some fun, get to know plenty of people, and make more memories. Dating is exhausting. I'm sure ready for my Prince Charming to come riding up on his white horse... Wait... Is there such thing as prince charming anymore?? I'm really beginning to think not. :) Just like there really is no such thing as a perfectly beautiful princess!!