On the Road Again....

We very irresponsibly decided to go to California instead of going to school!  So excited to go and see Audrey and Ian!  

Making sandwiches for the road

Sami and Matt are silly

Driving with Matt and Sami all night was so great!  Its great to hang out with married people, they just take care of me. We had lots of food and treats which is both a good and a bad thing :)  We were sore when we got to the gas station so we did some yoga....it helped calm our chi (or qi as Matt says its spelled :))

We also decided to keep a "quote board"- most of which were spurred on because of Matt's "over dose" on caffeine (which means half a bottle of Mountain Dew)

"Matt are you ok? Do you want me to drive?"-- Was said over and over each time Sami and I woke up.

Sami:  "Ya! My face!"
Matt: "No!  YOUR face!"......?

Sami:  "Matt!  Put your foot back down" (said while Matt was driving)

Matt: "I'm doing yoga breathing so shhhhh!"  -Said while Matt was twitching from too much caffeine  

Jessa is getting married!

Yay for old roomies! and Yay for weddings!  I love you guys so much! and I am so excited for Jessa to get married! So happy!  Wedding showers are so great!  Not to mention Chelsea flew in to Utah for it!  So great!  

Yay for Katie and her baby!

Recreation of old photos haha! They were talking and I was missing out on the conversation! haha 

This is what happened the later it got, I love cuddling with these girls! 

Puppy Benji!!

So Jacob loves puppies...so I surprised him on Friday (March 22)and we rented a puppy!  He was so cute and tiny! His name is Benji.   He was crazy puppy for a half an hour and we didn't know if he would ever run out of energy! Then all of a sudden he just collapsed  in Jacob's arms, it was adorable :)

Mission Friends

Justin Rupper, Spencer Kelly, Abby Clark, Me, Polina, Jacob

YAY for frisbee, and tree climbing!  

On the left is the best thing ever!  Abby and I eating Berry Toppers with the delicious granola!  SOO GOOD! (I thought of Chelsea the whole time).  On the right is a modern work of art on the 5th floor which I was told by the boys was the best ever.  It's like video behind a kaleidoscope thing.  Anyways they were fascinated and then I started getting sucked into it haha! Love these boys

Cousin Dinner

Stephanie, Pamela, Alicia, Ann, Mark, Devon, Me

Devon came into town and it was so good to get together and talk!  We went to Taqueria 27 and  had some delicious tacos with with chips and dip. It was just the right size and a pretty good price as well. We also ordered chocolate covered churros which were great. Thanks everyone!   I love you guys! 

Sunday at My Second Home

My aunt Michelle and uncle Tyler have let their home be my second home. I went over today and had a great time!  I love being in a home in a family setting.   I played Candy Land with little Avery, and then we played scum with the whole family!  Love that game! Love that family!  We also ate flavored jelly beans and popcorn.  We then made cookies and had them with ice cream :)

As I was talking with Michelle and telling her about what's happening in my life, school/classes, work, family, friends, church callings, social life etc.  What she said was, "You have such a full life".  She really got me thinking.  I really am so blessed, my life is full of incredible things, and amazing people.  I am so thankful for what I have and especially today for Michelle for reminding me of what I have. 

A College Saturday

College is a time for randomness.  First Brenna, Stef, and I went housing shopping for 2 hours!  It was pretty intense but we are confident that we will find the perfect place.  Then I went to hang out with Riley and then hung out with Brenna :)

"Lovest thou me?"

 Over and over I have been reminded of a particular gospel theme, and it has been this same theme for quite some time now.   And that is the purpose of my mission, what to do after my mission.  On a deeper level, learning to become a disciple of Christ and continuing to be that disciple.

I was at the MTC  for the well-known talk by Elder Holland that was based on John chapter 21 (it was incredible and life changing).  He gave a version of it in the October 2012 General Conference.  It is about leaving your nets, and leaving them forever.  Giving up what keeps us from being close to our Heavenly Father and being disciples of the Lord.   Taking upon us His yoke, serving Him by serving others, preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ always, everyday, with all that we have.

The main question in both talks, and the chapter that is posed to all of us is, "do you love me?".  Do we love the Savior?  We all, I would assume, would answer with a resounding "yes"!  But our love for our Savior needs to be more than just a feeling, it must be action.  The following is a quote from Elder Holland's talk:

  "Then Peter, why are you here? Why are we back on this same shore, by these same nets, having this same conversation? Wasn't it obvious then and isn't it obvious now that if I want fish, I can get fish? What I need, Peter, are disciples—and I need them forever. I need someone to feed my sheep and save my lambs. I need someone to preach my gospel and defend my faith. I need someone who loves me, truly, truly loves me, and loves what our Father in Heaven has commissioned me to do. Ours is not a feeble message. It is not a fleeting task. It is not hapless; it is not hopeless; it is not to be consigned to the ash heap of history. It is the work of Almighty God, and it is to change the world. So, Peter, for the second and presumably the last time, I am asking you to leave all this and to go teach and testify, labor and serve loyally..."

Last night, I was out with Dan and he said something about the mission not being the end, how there are other ways to serve and to preach the gospel. He told me his dream of using what he has been giving in order to help and lift others up.  This got me thinking about what I could do and how my mission helped me to become a true disciple of Christ.

As I was studying and talking with Heavenly Father about this topic I came upon a chapter in the Book of Mormon, Alma:38. It is Alma's advice to his son Shiblon who has been serving on a mission.  He basically said, good job, you have served the diligently, now keep going! Keep teaching and be diligent.

One day we will be asked, "Do you love me?".  We can answer with the affirmative if our lives show that we have loved Him by keeping our covenants, always living as missionaries, witnesses, and disciples of the Lord.  Everyone says that the mission was the best two years of their lives, what it really needs to be is the turning point in our lives toward the Savior, when we learned how to become His true disciples and after that continuing to make each year the best year of our lives and becoming more and more like Him everyday.

Федор Достоевский

 "Если бы кто мне доказал, что Христос вне истины, и действительно было бы, что истина вне Христа, то мне лучше хотелось бы оставаться со Христом, нежели с истиной..."

 

The Morning

For those who don't know the peace and beauty of the mornings, here is a little snippet of what it looks like and how it feels.  Cool crisp air, the whole world is still asleep, the sun is rising, and everything is getting warmer and brighter every moment. 

Sunday with the Roommates

                                             


Computers, a nice Sunday show with a moral, and a WHOLE pan full of brownies with peanut butter on the side, all squished on Mckell's bed in her and Steph's room!  This is how me, Steph, Mckell, and Brenna spend quality time together :)

I Know...

 There is power in the words, "I know...", I have felt this power and I know that it brings the Spirit and testifies of truth with power.

Mission Story

One day, as I was talking to a lady on a bus telling her about the gospel and what we believe she kept asking me, "Do you believe, or know?". Over and over throughout our conversation she would interrupt me and ask this same question.  I would always answer with, "I know".   I was annoyed at first that she would put so much emphasis on my word choice but I am now grateful for the lesson that she taught me of the power of word choice.

Today's Testimony Meeting

I have noticed that in our testimonies, we tend to use the phrases, "I am thankful for...", and "I believe...", which are very true statements.  We are thankful for what we have and what the gospel gives us and we do believe.  BUT, while listening to all of the testimonies, the strongest ones that brought the strongest Spirit were from those that began with, "I testify...", or "I know...".

I am so grateful for my opportunity today that I had to share what I KNOW to be true. I love to share my testimony with others because I feel it confirmed to me as I say it and realize that I truly know that what I testify of are true eternal principles. 

I know that God is our Father, He is near and He hears us.   I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior, my best friend and my hope, I know that through His atonement I can overcome my weaknesses, sins, trials, and shortcomings and become as He is.  I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and road map to my life. I know this because I have received guidance and direction from it.  I know that the temple is the House of God, I feel His presence when I serve Him there.  This gospel brings joy and happiness, it is the only way to a successful life, I have come to know this is true by living the gospel and applying the principles in my life. 

Running :D

So happy that I went running today.  The addiction has begun again, I got out my crazy toe shoes that I love so much (running barefoot is the best, this is second best) and ran the neighborhood hills.  Love love love! 

Reasons to love Running:

-The world in the morning is so quiet and beautiful, I love the morning air.
-A good way to start out the day, I feel accomplished, awake and energized.
-A way to push myself, I think we underestimate the capacity of the human body.  It's alll about mind over matter, and spirit over body. 
-Time to get away from the worldliness of the world and be close to the nature and earthiness of the world.
-A time for revelation.  My mind is clear and I am alone. It is a perfect time to feel close to my Savior and to have a conversation with my Heavenly Father. I can better remember what is important in life and to find out His Will. 

What are your reasons for doing what you love?

Abby and Jessica

Abby Clark!  

We pretty much spend most of our time together!  Don't know what I would do with out her.  One of my favorite things that we do is eat Tomato Pesto/Basil Soup form the Cougar Eat...Oh man it's so good!  So I thought we should document it. Also depicted is our new favorite pastry, it is a raspberry fritter. Just a hint to all you business people, we got hooked on this delectable delicacy because of a sample and now we buy it all the time!  Samples work, just sayin. 

 

Jessica Snyder!

We have become great friends because of our four classes that we have together! I guess that's what happens when you get into your major. We make classes fun and crazy haha we probably have a little too much fun.  This picture is one of the perks of having married friends and studying at their house is that it's quiet and she made me a scrumptious healthy meal of curry chicken on rice. She is pretty adorable right? And plus she makes me laugh till I cry!  Thanks Jess!