Blessing number 22

The Book of Mormon

I am so grateful for the influence of the Book of Mormon 

in my life and I always will be.

I know that Joseph Smith translated it

and that all the accounts therein are true.

I know that when I want to feel the spirit

all I have to do it pick of the BoM

and I will find that spirit that I need so desperately.

My favorite hero is Abinadi.

Probably the most impressive verse

of all the ones that talk about Abinadi

is Mosiah 17:20

"And after Abinadi had said these words

he fell, having suffered death by fire

for he would not deny the commandments of God."

I tried to quote that part from memory, so it might be a little off.

I love the conviction behind those words...would not.

I love him for that.

I am so grateful that he would give his life 

for something he believed in 

in the face of adversity.

Just like my Savior.

One of my favorite General Conference talks

of all time would have to be 

Jeffrey R. Holland's Safety for the Soul.

I don't think I have ever heard a more

POWERFUL

testimony that the one he bore.

It brings me to tears 

Every.

Single.

Time.

http://new.lds.org/general-conference/2009/10/safety-for-the-soul?lang=eng

I am pretty much as computer illiterate as they come, 

so I'm just going to post the link and trust that you will watch it

or read it

of your own free will.

It's amazing. 

I'm sure you remember, 

but you won't regret watching it again.

Blessing number 21

Memories ♥

Whenever my siblings are in town

we sometimes sit around for hours

talking about the memories we have

about growing up.

I'm grateful for all of these memories.

Good and bad

and for the lessons they've taught me.

This is Brianne and I at Bear Lake last summer.

This was the only time I've ever been to Bear Lake

and it was so much fun!

We flipped a canoe over and tried to stand on top

and rode the waves on inner tubes.

This is a picture from the Suns/Jazz game I went to with Bradyn.

This is the first and only professional basketball game I've been to

and even though the Suns lost, I think it's one of the best games I've ever seen.

This is a group picture from my junior prom day date.

We went to Logan and picked out ugly outfits for

our dates from DI. 

Then we wore those outfits

and went ice blocking down Old Main.

We scared sunbathers and started a stampede

and basically had the time of our lives.

I miss these guys!

So...

Let me explain this picture.

This is a poster at Marsh Valley High School

and every year during Nerd Bowl

someone on the team takes a picture of it.

Our team got a kick our of making fun of

this poster every year.

I miss Nerd Bowl!

This was my 18th birthday party!

I was planning my own party, but my friends

surprised me with one a few days before my birthday!

Carley told me that she and MaRhea wanted to

play games at MaRhea's house at 7

so I headed over without doing 

my hair or my makeup or getting dressed for the day.

(It was a lazy day)

I was sure surprised when I walked in to see

all my friends.

They're the best.

This is also from Nerd Bowl.

Shelby drew Superman symbols 

on all of our hands and we 

called ourselves Super Soda all day.

Then we lost...oh well.

Maci and I the day we were driving to Idaho Falls

all by ourselves.

We alternated the colors of our shirts and 

hair bows.

We got comments on it all day

and gave each other high fives 

whenever someone noticed!

Orange and purple! Represent!

We came home once to find a mountain

of snow in front of our garage.

Maci and I set out to clear it...

then we got bored.

So Maci would scoop snow into my shovel

then I would throw it over my shoulder.

One year at Girl's Camp we were Ireland,

so Carley and I wore Ireland boxers

all around camp all day!

So much fun!

And just like everyone else, I have my blonde moments too.

I don't remember how this happened....

All I know is one second the can of soda was next to the sink

and the next it was falling down the garbage disposal.

It was too far down to get our fingers around

so we just kinda left it there until dad 

came home and used the kitchen tongs to get it out....

we definitely should have thought of that.

I have tons more memories I could share,

but that would take YEARS!

I love my friends and my family and all of the 

memories we've made together.

Here's to many more!

Blessing number 20

QUOTES


I have always been a huge fan of quotes.

I have been known to sit in front of the computer for hours looking for new ones.

On Facebook this month I have been doing a Quote of the Day

In my notes section and I also write that quote on the white board in my apartment.

I have even started something that I call The Bad Day Book. Lame, I know.

I put a bunch of quotes in it that for some reason make me feel better.

I also put in pictures of my friends and family

And lyrics to music

And just some old inside jokes

And stories about things that I've done that show either accomplishment

Or gratitude

Or just how blonde I really am.

This bad day book has brought me a  lot of joy

And I would like to share a few of the quotes with you.

“Our lives are not determined by what happens to us, but how we react to what happens; not by what life brings to us, but by what we bring to life. A positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events, and outcomes. It is a catalyst, a spark that creates extraordinary results.”

~Anonymous

“Any change, any loss, does not make us victims. Others can shake you, surprise you, disappoint you, but they can’t prevent you from acting, from taking the situation you’re presented with and moving on. No matter where you are in life, no matter what your situation you can always do something. You always have a choice and the choice can be power.”

~Blaine Lee

“You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.’ You must do the thing you think you cannot do.”

~Eleanor Roosevelt

“There comes that mysterious meeting in life when someone acknowledges who we are and what we can be, igniting the circuits of our highest potential.”

~Rusty Berkus

Title match game. Final set. Down by two. Dig deep.

The surest way not to fail is to determine to succeed.
~Richard B. Sheridan

As long as there is breath in me, that long I will persist. For now I know one of the greatest principles of success; if I persist long enough I will win.

~Og Mandino

Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough.

~Og Mandino

These next couple are a couple that I've made into a full page. I guess you could say that they are a few of my favorites.

If I feel depressed I will sing.

If I feel sad I will laugh.

If I feel ill I will DOUBLE my labor.

If I feel fear I will plunge ahead.

If I feel inferior I will wear new garments.

If I feel uncertain I will raise my voice.

If I feel poverty I will think of wealth to come.

If I feel incompetent I will think of past success.

If I feel insignificant I will remember my goals.

Today I will be the master of my emotions.

~Og Mandino

All your life you are told the things you cannot do.

All your life they will say you’re not good enough

or strong enough

         or talented enough;

 They will say you’re the wrong height

or the wrong weight

or the wrong type to

            play this or

         be this or

                 achieve this.

                  THEY WILL TELL YOU NO,

                     a thousand times no,

             until all the no’s become meaningless.

All your life they will tell you no, quite firmly and        very quickly, AND YOU WILL TELL THEM

                         YES!

~Nike ad

Blessing number 19

A nice hot shower!

I have decided that I am very expressive with my emotions. People can read them on my face and especially by my actions. The following behaviors have surfaced over the past semester:

Happy/ Excited. Surfaces...pretty much all the time: Jumpy, Hyper

Mad/ Sad. Surfaces when insulted or hurt: Clean my room or ESPECIALLY do the dishes

(Mom is thinking, "That's a lie! She was mad at Maci all the time and my dishes NEVER got done and her room was ALWAYS a mess!")

Confused. Boys. Nuff said: Take a really hot shower.

It's crazy what a little hot water can make you brain do! Yesterday I hopped in the shower at about 1 o'clock and within 10 minutes everything sorted itself out and I was feeling good again. I'm grateful for that.

Not to mention, there are so many people out there who don't have the luxury of a hot shower every night. I am grateful for the many things that I enjoy. I lead a privileged life.

Also, I am super duper grateful that I get to travel back to Soda Springs today (T minus 1 hour and 30 minutes). 

I am HOMEWARD BOUND!

Blessing number 18

Sorry Mara, but I'm mooching off of your idea...

Blogging

I have a lot of family and friends in a lot of places and if it weren't for this blog, I don't know how I would ever stay caught up with what's going on. 

I am a huge journal fan. I have been keeping a steady journal for almost 3 years. I'm on day 914 (of writing in my journal, saying my prayers, and reading the scriptures) if I remember correctly. I can't even tell you what a change it's brought to my life. I make it a point to take President Eyering's challenge and write down the hand of the Lord in my everyday life at the end of every entry. Blogging is just like that...only on a computer...with a whole heck of a lot more readers. I'm going to try to do better with my blog too so all of you know what's going on :)

I used to think my brother Nathan was such a slacker for not calling mom every sunday like Logan and Brendan, or every other day like Linz, but it turns out that I am following in his footsteps...sorry Mother, I still love you! This blog is a lifesaver in that respect. Mom can get on and see what I'm doing (as long as I remember to update).

I'll still try to do better with the whole "phone call" thing though...

I hope my 3 readers out there are enjoying what I have to say so far! Thanks for following :)

Blessing number 17

Seminary/Institute


I love institute! It's seriously a blast, but I miss seminary. Brother Hegemann sure made me get interested in the scriptures and made me want to read them and find out new things.

Most of the seminary graduates and Brother Hegemann.
Shawn was basically the only guy who stuck around.

Last year in seminary we studied the Book of Mormon, which I thought was the best possible way to end my seminary career. I learned so much and even read the BoM cover to cover a couple of times.

This year when it came time to sign up for institute, I was going to sign up for a Pearl of Great Price class, but I found myself looking at the BoM classes and found myself signing up. Oh well, it's not exactly a bad thing is it?

I spoke in Stake Conference awhile back about seminary and its importance in my life. I definitely have a testimony that seminary helps students find who they truly are. It brings them closer to the gospel and helps them stay strong in the face of adversity. I believe the LDS kids who take seminary are more focused in school, especially if they play a sport, because they literally can't graduate if they fail a class. Brother Hegemann couldn't have been a better teacher. He was amazing at bringing the spirit into class and sharing examples and really helping us to understand the material.

I am so grateful for "all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and...He will yet reveal many great and important things" to me through the institute program.

Blessing number 16

Reed's Dairy :)

I can't tell you how much I have missed living a mile away from Reed's Dairy.

They have the world's best ice cream/chocolate milk/cheese curds!

Every time my family is in Idaho Falls we make a special stop

to get some of their scrumptious ice cream :)

This particular flavor is Pumpkin Pie!

Heaven on Earth!