The beginning of an era

Remember when I said my life has been very void of milestones for a while? Well I, and everyone who watched general conference, just became a part of a huge one for our church(check my believe tab)!!!! Heaven sent, I'm still in shock.

I had been planning on serving a mission for a while now. I turn 21 in May, and so I was planning on turning my papers in in February. Now all high school graduate boys can go at 18(used to be 19) and all girls can go at 19(used to be 21)!!! I've been contemplating on not going to school next semester and leaving earlier, or start my papers sooner but complete the school year.

 Immediately at the announcement, this was the odds for my choice
     - 99%:leaving ASAP, 1%: stick to original plans.
Right after that session was over:
      -65%:leaving ASAP, 35%: stick to original plans.
After talking to my mom my original plans gained 5%
After talking to my R.A. who is an R.M.
25%: leaving ASAP, 85% start my papers ASAP but finish out the school year.

And that is what I believe I will do. I need to keep my head on my shoulders through all of this and not sprint straight for the MTC. I watched the Press Conference Elder Holland and Nelson held directly after the session, and Elder Holland said that he wants the missionaries more prepared ahead of time than ever. I have a lot of reading in Preach My Gospel to do.

But what I want you to know about this day more than anything else, is that I have a firm testimony that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the true church. I love my Savior and Redeemer, Christ so much. 
 I want to serve a mission not because I'm going on 21 without any marriage prospects or impending career goals. I want to serve a mission, because I have a burning inside me that is filled with light and joy. Everyone deserves the chance to know what it feels like, what I'm feeling now, to know that you are an Eternal being. That you are sons and daughters of a King, a GOD. Everything that I am, every fiber, is converted to the truth that my Heavenly Father knows and loves me and all of his children. 

If you are reading this, know that as I'm writing I'm not only smiling from cheek to cheek, but from flesh to soul. 

Every time I see someone happy together with their "other half," I don't feel jealous anymore. I'm excited; excited for my mission. I can't wait to take the next milestone step of my life preparing myself for an eternal companion. The best way to prepare for the spouse you desire is by being the person they deserve. Serving the Lord will not only be wonderful for the sheer joy of sharing the Gospel, but I will be preparing myself for the rest of my life. The last multiple milestones for me happened in a blur of just a couple months: graduation, first love, college, first true heartbreak. Everything after that really never amounted to the span of time between May-Octoboer 2010. I'm ready for my next milestone :). I'm ready for that milestone that will prepare me for eternal happiness :). I can't wait :).

I'm a Soph-ior

Yep I'm barely under the credits of a Junior so I'm a sophomore. But it's my third year and I'm less social than my sophomore year..(kind of) so I'm a Sophior.

And here's what this Sophior has been up to:

I've spent way too much time and calories at a wonderful Italian ice and custard place called Zeppes.

I dropped my math class. And it was the smart decision.
I'm now taking 3 PE classes(Big band swing, Celtic dance, and Pilates). Hopefully I'll burn off some of that wonderful Zeppes.

If you are ever in Logan you MUST I repeat must go to 2nd Damm in the wee-ish hours of the night.
There are campfires all around, guitar serenades that put Kumbuya to shame, a rope swing into the damm, and a boardwalk that reflects the moon and starlight. Yes you can even see the milky way.

Oh also you get to watch silly fools set themselves on fire.


So there's one last thing that has been a pretty awesome shining moment in my life..
Ute fans please dish up your humble pie....

WE BEAT THE UTES!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

And you wonder why you aren't an Aggie.

Beautiful blessings

Well if you read my post from last night, then you know I didn't have the picture perfect day I thought I would.
So coming on Sunday I felt a bit of unease.
I knew that I was happy to be able to teach a lesson my last week in the ward, but my normal amount of confidence in how well I might perform the lesson was uncharacteristically lacking.
Right as I was about to leave out the door I realized I had a wardrobe malfunction and had to change.
But enough about that let's get to the good stuff :)

So I came to church and the spirit hit me the second I opened the doors.
The congregation was just beginning the first verse of "The Spirit of God."
 I sang with power and conviction in worshiping my savior and I felt his presence
"Like a fire burning".

Then we had a powerhouse talk by the ward clerk.
Let's just say that I'll be on the lookout for more
"Wholesome recreational activities."

Then if I wasn't already on a high, the intermediate hymn was "Lead Kindly Light"
my all time favorite hymn.
The lyrics are all about trusting the lord blindly and giving in to let him guide your path instead of you guiding it."I do not ask to see the distant scene, one step enough for me.
I've been taking a lot of steps.

So 3rd hour came and it was my time to teach about observing and keeping the sabbath day holy.
This was an interesting topic for me, because my mom never really raised me with strict rules about the sabbath, in fact I don't there were any rules.
But I'll tell you that the impact of the spirit teaching the lesson was enough to almost knock you off of your feet.

Hours later my spiritual high was fading, and I was letting things get to me.
I started feeling like I wasn't really that worthwhile.

Then I found two papers taped to the door with my name. They were anonymous thank you notes for my lesson. I felt so grateful.
Then another one appeared on the doorstep with a similar message.

And then I got a text from a long lost married friend of mine just wanting to see how I was doing.

I saw the blessings of the Lord poured upon me in times of need.

My thoughts during the closing ceremonies

- Pet Shop Boys: Their choice of attire scares me. Between the pointy hats, scaly black outfits, and chariots, I felt like I was seeing a terrible combination of the hunger games and the klu klux klan.

-One direction is British?

- John Lennon <3

- The Salt Lake closing ceremony had so much more of a moral message. "Let Your Light Shine"

- More..music

-Russel Brand, I wonder if Katy Perry is watching.

- Octopus?

- Tell me you didn't just ruin a Bee Gees classic with a featured rap.

-SPICE GIRLS!!!!!!! "If you wanna be my lover" I'm so happppyyyyy.
Wait is that the only Spice Girls song I remember? Oh well that was fun.

-Monty Python is pure joy
     -Nuns on skates flashing their British Drawers aren't bad either.

- How long is the crowd going to repeat everything the Spanish chicken says?

- Brazil knows how to entertain. Not to mention I'd love to take lessons from their soprano superstar.

-Goodbye Olympic torch. I'll miss the Olympics.

Back to my roots

While in Wyoming, I was able to go to Fort Bridger.
If you are LDS, then there is a slight possibility that you
have heard of it (I hadn't). If you aren't then you might
have heard of it for its military camp purposes.

In any event, my designated friend and tour guide
and I walked around the grounds to see what
Fort Bridger was about.

It was fun to see all of the old Army houses
and old buildings.

To my surprise Fort Bridger was a place
the Mormon Pioneers stayed for years
until they were pushed out by the
government. When I read this my
heart just burned for these pioneers.
These were people who were willing
to give up everything to be able to
worship in their religion,
the religion that I am a part of.

My eyes welled up reading the history.
I am forever grateful to these brave souls.
I don't know what I would without the gospel
in my life.
I'm proud to be a Mormon.

How much are you willing to give up
for the things that are most important to you?

What is most important to you?

The cobble stone wall built by the mormons

Lika a bird

Driving on a dirt road
not a person around.
I roll down my window,
but the birds are the only sound.

I open the sun roof breaking free
as I stand up and throw my arms
behind me.

I close my eyes as the car glides
forward and think
I'm flying.
 
Wyoming was a short but sweet get away.
I suggest you try it.