"Hope ya know I had a hard time"

I love Mormon Messages.

Who doesnt?

But I especially love this video and talk by Elder Cook, because I feel as though

I can relate to it easily.

Sometimes more often than not.

But I am grateful that I can because that

means that I have trials,

and trials help me to learn and grow from them.

But the past few days I have been really thinking about this video,

because I saw two really close friends celebrate exciting times in their lives.

One friend is getting married.

The other, leaving for his mission.

Both of these individuals have overcome huge trials in their lives.

As I was apart of the celebrations this past weekend,

I was overcome with so much peace.

So much happiness.

As I saw these two really struggle, lose hope and question everything,

it broke my heart.

But this past weekend, they were the complete opposite.

Filled with joy. Love for the gospel.

And the unerstanding of who they are.. their potential..

and Heavenly Father's plan.

Experiencing all of this this past weekend

reminds me of President Uchtdorf's talk in the October 2011 General Conference.

I dont remember the exact name of it,

but Presicent uchtdorf said,

"Please understand that what you see and experience now is not what forever will be."

and I absolutely love that quote,

because it gives such hope.

To anyone who is struggling in anyway I think.

That one day, I wont be struggling with what I am now.

Although I will have different trials,

because I got through ones in the past with His help,

I know that He will in no way hesitate to help me again.

I know my Father in Heaven knows and loves me personally.

He does not give trials that we would not be able to over come.

Even though it can be extremely hard sometimes to let him know

that we are having a hard time,

he always knows.

He is just waiting for us to go to him in humility

and to ask in faith fot help.

He will bless us.

In his time, good will come.

Until then, we need to have faith and patience.

The saying,

"When you feel like you cant stand any longer, get on your knees and pray."

keeps coming to my mind.

So that's why I love this video so much.

Because it reminds me that I am not the only one that is struggling,

and that in his time He will lift me up.

But life was never meant to be easy..

Turn to him. Reach for him.

Turn to others. Reach for them, and serve.

I love this talk and the challenge it gives each of us.

And I am grateful for it

 and I am so grateful that I was able to see the process of getting to where they are now.

And of course to celebrate with them this past weekend.

The entire experience has helped me to more fully understand the power of the atonement,

and how our Father and brother Christ want us to be happy and to return back to them.

I am overwhlemed with happiness and gratitude, I feel like I just cant even say that enough!

It really was such a great weekend. :)

My adventure Book - Chapter One

So you know how in the movie UP,

Ellie has an adventure book?

Well last Saturday, me and Emily had our first of hoprfully lots of adventure days.

An advenure doesnt necessarrily have to be something crazy,

just exciting.

Adventure days are days that neither of us work.

So some of the things we do may seem boring, but it was an absolute blast!

Our day started off with sleeping in, which was absolutely fantastic

conidering both us had extremely long weeks

as we were up at 5:00 AM every single day.

We made blueberry muffins for breakfast, and got ready for the day.

(Of course we had to look cute for the pictures! And let me tell ya,

I think the pictures are cute cute cute!!)

We then headed over to our great neighbors

Kerry and Kathy's.

They own a tandem bike and let us borrow it.

Gosh, those things are so hard to get the hang of, but
once you do get the hang of it,
its SO much fun!!
It takes so much teamwork, but you feel so great when you are successful,
because it takes so long to do!
We were out there for a good hour before we got it,
then at least another half hour once we got it
cause it was so much fun!
So just to show you a little bit of our experience,
here's a video and some pictures!

After a successful morning!

Even mom and dad took it for a ride and had fun!

Of course they were successful from the right from the start.. haha.

Oh and I totally recommend doing it,
cause its SO much fun!!

Next up on our Adventure Day,
shopping!
We went to Marshalls and picked up some canvas to do an art project.
Which look beyond awesome if i do say so my self.
Its tons of fun, so I would recommend it.
Although it does kind of get splattered all over the place. Just as kind of a heads up.


We went bowling for my bbowling clss which I thought was going to be a complete breeze,
bowling 18 games doesnt sound too hard right??
WRONG.
I have to get an average of 120 or higher in order to get an A in the class.
When we bowled, I bowled a 45..
I think its pretty safe to say that bowling is not my sport,
and that I will definitely be using bumpers!
(Shh! That'll be our little secret!)

Definitely, Maybe

OKay so i'm sure you want hear all about the new job.

Well, just as a fair warning, this post may or may not be very boring.

I absolutely hate the job.

Why you ask?

Well considering, I just finished a 40 hour week, (which was supposed to be a 50 hour week)

and only got paid $120.

$3.00 an hour.

I mean are you kidding me??

Anyways, long story short, when I brought it up

my boss was really mad and chewed me out for a good half hour,

about how irresponsible I am,

and ugh. It just went on and on.

The phone call ended in tears on my end.

Anyways, after all that,

I have never felt so accused in my life.

I do everything for her when I work,

and getting only $3.00 and hour.

I have been going back and forth about quiting.

One day I am definitely quiting,

and the next day I am maybe quiting.

 But after this week,

which by the way was one of the absolute LONGEST weeks of my entire life.

I have decided to quit.

It feels so good.

But she thinks that I am getting a new job,

she put that own thought into her head too, I didnt even have to say anything.

Anyways, she said that she would call me tomorrow or Sunday

to talk to me about days and hours that she needs me next week.

So when she does call, I am going to tell her that

I cannot stay with them until they move, even if its only a few weeks away.

That I will be starting that "new job" that I call job hunting, which should actually

be considered a full time job in itself sometimes. Haha

That "new job" will be starting on Friday.

A week from today.

One week.

I can do it.. i'll just have to keep telling myself,

"I think I can, I think I can.."

and if Thomas the train is the little engine that could,

can make it the final stretch up the hill,

then I can finish out this job.

Seriously though...Pray for me...

Cause i'm really gonna need it, as i'm already not looking forward

to another extremely long phone call, about how I have commitment issues.

It should be interesting, but it needs to happen.

I would rather not even have a job,

then spend every waking moment in a job,

 that might as well be some kind of service project.

Anyways, pray that this will all go down smoothly,

AND that I will find another job quickly.

BUT IF NOT,

Then wherever my summer takes me will be fine,

as I am putting it all in the Lord's hands.

So here's to it. I'm gonna need all the prayers I can get on this one..

Cause not gonna lie, i'm pretty worried about it..

 

Quite the Addiction

OKay, so I think I have quite the addiction to blogging.

It's kind of sad.. because my life is so busy,

that when I do have down time, I think to myself

" I wish I had something to blog about."

Haha so hopefully, you get the picture that I am pretty addicted to blogging.

It's kind of pathetic.

So, basically, the first night that I dont have a life... Emily Does.

So im just hangin out at home tonight.

Mom and I are watching Gilmore Girls.

Which takes me to my next addiction!

Gilmore Girls!

I absolutely love this show! Caylee has all of the seasons, ans shes letting me borrow

them! I watched the whole first season in like 72 hours.. Crazy right??

Well that was also before I got a job.

Anyways, were on the second season.

Shoot. I even got mom hooked on the series!

So this week has always been one of the craziest and busiest weeks of my life..

At least it feels that way.

The nannying job ended up working out and so I have a job!

It sounds alot more exciting than it actually is..

in all reality, I kind of hate going to work.

At this point, im not sure if its because I have to be up at 6:00 AM

every single morning, or the fact that it completely consumes my life.

Or if it's both.

Hmm...I started on Wednesday, I went over to their house, and just kinda watched how their schedule goes everyday.. So their old nanny was there for the morning and just kind of showed me the ropes.

I had them for the rest of the day, but I was still like a deer in head lights!

The twins are busy busy BUSY!!

The one thing that I hate the most about it, is how even though this week I was

done by 2:00 in the afternoon, I come home exhausted!

It feels like its 6:00 or 7:00 at night!

So my days have been pretty long this week.

But good news!

My hours are gonna change a little bit next week.

Instead of working from 7:00-2:00 everyday.

Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, I work from 9:00-2:00, then I have a break while the twins nap. But I have to be back by 4:00 and I work until 7:00.

Tuesdays and Thorsdays I work only 4:00- 7:00.

So not too bad. But it looks like ive got some pretty long days ahead of me.

SO, so much for having a super relaxed and fun summer. 

It is going to be CRAZY!!

Working everyday,

taking two classes: bowling for my gym credit,

and business and consumer math for my senior matth class.

Both of which are through BYU.

Voice lessons, getting ready for my college auditions, and allstate.

Im even starting piano lessons.

Oh and girls camp, and family reunions.

It goes on and on.

Sister Reed told Emily and I a few days ago,

and she said that you can either,

Pay now and play later

or

play now and pay later.

I think I'll take the pay now and play later. It'll be worth it.

So bring it on, and let the

crazyness begin.

A Not So Big Sacrifice

OKay so I know that I just blogged but thats okay.

So my entire life people have always told me that by paying your tithing

you receive huge blessings. I know that I have received blessings,

but today may have been one of the greatest blessings

that I could have received.

The timing could not have been more perfect.

I have needed a job for what seems to be the longest time.

But finally, a job has come through!

Well at least I hope so.

I am going to be a nanny for a set of three year old twins!

Keenan and Kaiya.

Their nanny needs a replacement because she is having surgery,

so she can't work anymore.

So luckily for me, Sister Eads, knew about this a few weeks ago, and

so I called and she said that she would get back to me within about 24 hours,

and I never heard back from her..

SO I wasnt really holding my breath for it to go through,

just like every other job I have ever applied for.

[A little bit of background information, I have been saving my tithing for a while,

I've been either forgetting to pay it, or just waiting until I have more to pay.
BUT, I just kept getting the prompting to pay it,

so I paid it all on Sunday.

Like two months worth of babysitting,

dog sitting, allowance, etc.

and so I paid it all on Sunday.]

So anyways, I know that I got this opportunity for this job because I paid my tithing.

Heavenly Father was testing me.

By sacrificing only 10% of my income,

I will be blessed.

10% really has never seemed that much. I have never wished I didnt.

I have always received blessings from Heavenly Father, and suddenly..
10% doesnt seem like so much..

But my testimony of tithing has grown so much from this experience,

I know that by giving only a little bit,

my Heavenly Father just gives me more in return.

I am grateful for the law of tithing in my life.

Even if this job doesnt go through, I know that I am always blessed for paying my tithing.

Pray that this goes through. I really need the job.

Examples

I am so grateful for the examples in my life.

My mom and Dad are really great.

Yesterday we walked into church and these four guys were sitting on our row,

at first me and Emily were like,

"Man. Too bad none of them are cute."

But man, were we wrong.

Haha so right after sacrament meeting, one of them turned around and was like

"Who was singing alto??"

And I was like "I was"

and he was like "That was really amazing"

and I was like "Oh thanks,"

haha keep in mind that we were pretty sure that they were all returned missionaries.

So anyways we knew they were just traveling because Bishop Hart had talked to them before

sacrament meeting had started and they travel for work,

so they were just here for a few days.

Anyways, so after the one turned around, my dad stood up

and was like "So you guys are traveling huh?"

He got talking to them about what they do for work.

So then my dad said "Well do you guys wanna come over for dinner tonight??"

Emily and I looked at each other like "what??"

But anyways the night was alot of fun, and those guys were awesome.

But I'm really grateful for the examples of my parents.

For helping people around us, and always inviting others into our home for dinner,

or game nights or movies, etc.

I'm really greatful for their examples in my life. :)



Oh Remember, Remember

Today was the last day of seminary and as we were wrappin things up,

Brother Goss (only the greatest teacher on earth). He explained that in his opinion, Alzheimer's was one of the worst ways to past away. He then went on to talk about spiritual Alzheimer's, 

he encouraged us to remember throughout the summer what we have learned this year, 

and to apply it to our lives and to never forget.

So I thought I could reflect alittle bit about a few things i've learned.

The book of Job: Every cloud has a silver lining.

Job lost everything. His animals, and his kids,

and never once did he blame or turn away from God.

To apply this to our lives, we were all given a sticky note.

And on our sticky note we had to write our "Job" trial.

Once we were done writing, we were asked to put our sticky notes up on one of the walls.

Then we walked around the room reading some of the sticky notes,

and let me tell you.

I was so overcome with the Spirit as I walked around,

and read others trials, I realized just how truely blessed I am.

Suddenly my trials didn't seem so bad.

I feel like we have these reminders alot.. But I feel like we all need them,

to remind us that we don't have it so hard,

and sometimes it's kind of nice to have that little kick in the butt, to remind us to

"mourn with those who mourn, and comfort those who stand in need of comfort".

So we all left seminary that day, pretty depressed actually,

but our next day in seminary, we continued with Job.

We were each given a picture of Christ, in which we all taped over our trials.

It was to symbolize Christ is always there through our trials.

So think about some of your "Sticky note" trials and remember that Christ will always be at the center of them. 

It was a really cool lesson.

Another lesson I really liked, probably one of my favorties was:

Trust in the Lord in Every Footstep.

We were talking about how our faith is always on trial throughout our life. But how we need to put our trust in the Lord in every footstep. This was the last lesson we had before Spring Break,

and so we were each given a penny because

 on every single penny it says "In God We Trust".

So we were challenged to keep the penny's in our shoes until the Monday after Spring Break.

So that in every step I took, I would feel the penny in my shoe and remember that

I TRUST IN THE LORD IN EVERY FOOTSTEP.

I still have my penny, it is a 1980 penny and sometimes I still put it in my shoe if I remember.

Over Spring Break, Krista, Emly, Allison, and went to Manitou Springs for the day,

and after we went to lunch, we went around the corner and found this!

It was awesome! So we took a picture and gave it to our seminary teacher Brother Goss.

It was totally awesome. :)

Another really really great lesson was:

"But If Not"

Brother Goss started the lesson off by asking us what are three difficult words for us to say,

just a few that were thrown out were

I love you

I am Sorry

Please forgive me

I forgive you

I miss you

But Brother Goss said,

But If Not.

And he went on to explain that we always pray to our Heavenly Father asking him for things,

but we often forget to say "but if not"

He gave the example of a student preparing for a test, asking that he/she will pass it.

But thats all they say.

He explained that having "but if not" faith is saying but if not.

Im not sure how to explain it. Haha - cause maybe passing that test is not the Lords will.

So when we pray we need to say
"but if not, then help me to cope with it patiently."

Or something along those lines.

And let me tell you, those three little words are really hard to say

But the Lord has a plan. He can see the whole picture.

So I really liked that lesson because it was the reminder that we all need "but if not" faith.

So even though there are so many other really great lessons from this past year of seminary,

I just wanted to bring up a few. So as our lives are always moving forward,

let us always remember what we have learned each Sunday at church,

and at conferences, and seminary, etc.

These programs are inspired from God, and I am grateful for them.

So let us never forget to remember. :)