Oquirrh Mountain Temple Open House

Today Christi and I went to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple open house. The open house ends on Saturday, so we were cutting it close. It is such a beautiful temple! Absolutely breathtaking!

It was pretty noisy as we walked through the temple (kids and adults talking, etc). I was kind of bothered, honestly. I wanted so badly for the ushers to tell people to be quiet. You can feel the Spirit more when it is silent.

It was so interesting to see the people who were in front of us through out the tour. It was obviously a young family that were members. They brought a non-member family. It was beautiful to see the man explaining things of the gospel to this family as we went through. I was silently praying the whole time that despite the noise this family would feel the amazing spirit and power of the temple.

I was overcome with the spirit. I couldn't hold back the tears. Sometimes I wish I weren't so emotional and sensitive. Being behind those families made me ponder about the true purpose of the gospel and temples. The gospel provides happiness for us here on earth. It gives us purpose and direction. We know we can return someday to live with our father in Heaven and our families forever, if we are righteous. But, also, we must receive the sacred ordinances of the temple. I just wish the whole world understood that we have what they need and what they are looking for.

It's so nice to go to the temple- to get away from the business and, at times, nastiness of the world. The temple is so quiet, so peaceful, so beautiful. I'm so grateful I have access to the temple. In fact, in Rexburg I live so close to it I can see it out my living room window. We who have temples in our midst are so blessed. There are faithful tithe payers in many foreign places who have never been able to even see a temple, let alone attend.

Shoe Deals!

So, I like shoes. A lot. I think it came from my Grandma Cox who had a thing for shoes too. I've recently scored some good deals on shoes and am so excited that I thought I'd do a post about it.

Left to Right: Like new Skechers: $6 at D.I., Cute red shoes: $3 at D.I., Gold sandals: $1 at D.I., New Black Heals: $1 at Walmart.

I am really excited about the sandals. I've been eyeing them at wal-mart for a while now, but couldn't seem to bring myself to pay $10 for them. But, someone already took theirs to D.I. (I think wal-mart just came out with them this summer) and I am very thankful.

Then there's the heals. Brand spankin' new. I love clearance!!!

Well, I think I am done shoe shopping for a long time now. :)

My Happy Thoughts

My former roommate Kelley and I used to do what we call "happy thoughts." We'd share something (or things) positive at the end of the day.

Well, I figured since I've been a bit negative in the past weeks, It's time I share some positive thoughts, which are:

1. My teacher kept a paper I wrote to share with the class. That just made me feel all fuzzy inside. :)

2. I am actually going to get good grades this semester. I've worked REALLY hard, so this makes me very happy. So far, for sure I know I am getting a B+ in my science class. That is miraculous, my friends! It was a really hard class for me!

3. The semester is over. I am very excited about my schedule and classes for next semester. I am taking less credits. I am doing what I can handle. Others could probably handle a lot more, but that's ok. I figure I do need to enjoy my college experience here, not just endure it. Unfortunately this semester has mostly been enduring, so I am going to change that.

4. I am excited to go home for seven weeks. There's nothing like free laundry, Mom's cooking, and just relaxing. Plus, my parents are getting a cute little puppy! I am not going to be lazy, I am going to be very busy doing fun things. :)

5. One of the things that I am most excited about is that I am hopefully going to volunteer at the MTC during my break!!! I love doing that!

So, there we have it. Amidst all my negativity, there are some happy thoughts.

Finals, finally!

It's been a long time coming (ok, so only 3 months), and now I am almost done with my first semester at BYU-Idaho (I'm a transfer student). This semester has been quite difficult for me.

Today is a good representation of what I've dealt with in the past weeks. I had an interview with one of my professors. It was pretty much our final and we had some things we had to prepare and print out for the interview. I was up until 2 in the morning yesterday working on it. I woke up this morning and went to print it out, only to learn that I had no black ink left. So, I hurried over to the library. Of course I got the slowest computer on the earth. Then, the printer there didn't work! By then it was 11 a.m., and that's when my interview was. There was absolutely nothing I could do. It was out of my control. I was beyond crying at this point, I was downright mad (although, the tears did come later)! Finally, at 11:30 the printer worked. I rushed over to my teacher's office. I sat outside and waited until he was done with his current interview. Thankfully, he had a few minutes before his next one and was able to see me. He was pretty understanding.

You know, I am coming to realize more and more that there are many things that are simply out of my control. I just have to do what I can, and do my best. I've struggled as I sometimes feel inadequate and that my best is not good enough. But, I'm working on overcoming that.

I still have probably a year and a half left of school, which to me is a really long time. It's all relative though. Someone asked me today how much I have left and then said, "Oh, that's not bad at all."

I'm not sure why it bugs me so stinkin' much that I am not done with college. Sometimes I have to step back and realize some things. I did serve a mission, which put me behind a bit. But, I'm so glad I went. I don't know...there's just so many factors and everyone is different.

The good thing is is that I am progressing. In just a couple of days I'll be able to say that I am now 14 credits closer to graduating.

Someone once reminded me about the Salt Lake Temple. It took 40 years to build. It was a slow work in progress. Look at it now- it's such a beautiful building. Perhaps that's like us- maybe we are a slow work in progress and it sometimes seems like we aren't getting very far, but in the end we will hopefully be able to look back and see what a beautiful life we have built for ourselves. :)

The 411 on My Life

Today, 07-08-09, marks six months exactly since I returned from my mission. Wow! I don't even know what to think of that.

So, what's up with me, you ask?

This weekend I am going to Las Vegas for a mini mission reunion. My mission president and his wife got home last week. I am really looking forward to a fun weekend.

The semester ends on July 23rd. Then I head back to Utah for seven weeks, before fall semester. My plans are the following:

Sleep. Have fun. Have fun with friends. Hang with the fam. Online religion class. Temp Job (currently looking).

We'll see what goes down. Traci, my sister, is having her second child at the end of August, and I am hoping to somehow go down to Arizona to visit and meet the kiddo, if they will allow me to.

Then, at the beginning of September I will return to Rexburg to embark on Fall semester. I am hoping it will be a better semester than this one has been. Believe me, a lot of things have been hard.

Well, really, life has been hard. I guess many people expect things to suddenly be perfect after serving a mission, but they aren't, atleast not for me. I am over the loss of my mission, and not in mourning anymore (in case you were wondering). But, I face other deep, personal life struggles. I know others do too, but really, don't you just feel like life is so dang hard at times? We all have our struggles.

It's really hard to want to move on with life (be done with school, etc), but you can't because that's not what God has in store for you. There are lessons he wants me to learn now.

So, I am doing the best I can, and trying to enjoy life to the fullest.

My Claim to Fame

I was flipping through BYU-I's newspaper, The Scroll, and was surprised to see this:



I am the one in the yellow shirt. I realized that my hair still looks really short! I thought it was getting longer. (I guess it is, but I had a false idea of how long it looked).

Anyway, interesting, huh?

My Pet Peeves

This list is a lot longer, but here's what I can think of right now...

1. Slow drivers. People who drive UNDER the speed limit.

2. People ignoring me! You know how you KNOW you've met someone (like they are in your ward or one of your classes) and you just want to be friendly and say hello, so you smile and/or say hi. And, what do they do? They avoid looking at you and of course don't say a thing. How rude! This happens to me all the time- with girls and guys. Dude, really, I'm just trying to be nice!

Thoughts on Loving and Being Loved by Friends

I have a lot of thoughts on my mind that I feel like posting about. (This is "Carrie's Reflections," after all....)

First of all, I am grateful for friends in my life. The Lord has blessed me with a lot of friends. I am making more and more friends all the time. I've never really been friends with people in my classes at school before, but this semester I've been blessed.

In my public speaking class I sit next to a girl named Jenny. She has a really fun personality. We talk and have fun. She told me that I make that class worth it. That really touched me. Then, in my writing comm. class, I sit near two girls- Morgan and Lisa. Somehow we all bonded. We have started doing stuff together outside of class. There are a couple of girls in my organizational comm. class that I have "bonded" with.

I am starting to recognize a pattern in my life. Most of my friends are girls. I am surrounded by girls. I serve in the Relief Society. I think this is because God knows I can bless other girls because of who I am and the skills I possess. Perhaps further down the road I will serve in R.S. or Y.W.s (Or, maybe I will have a bunch of daughters and God is trying to prep me for that!)

Ok, on to something else that is kind of related. In my religion class the other day our teacher encouraged us to pray for opportunities to be placed in the path of someone who needs us. Also, to recognize those opportunities when they come.

Well, I decided I should do that more in my everyday life. I did it today. I prayed for that in my morning prayer. Sadly, however, as the day went on and I got busy, I forgot about what I had asked to have happen.

Interestingly, the Lord still blessed me with opportunities to be an instrument in His hand. He helped me recognize them after the fact.

One opportunity that came was that Breanna, my friend (and former mission companion) asked me to edit and review a paper she wrote. I've actually done this for her before. It's really flattering. She told me she asks me to do it because I am so good at writing and editing.

Then, in my organizational comm. class I was talking to a girl I often sit next to. I told her my plans for the weekend included going to the temple. She got excited and asked if I would go with her sometime. She's married and has been endowed for 8 months, but has only gone twice in that time. She started to get teary-eyed. She's had a hard time, as it is a new and different experience. I can really relate. She was so grateful that I will go with her. When then decided that we also want to go see the movie "The Proposal" together. Her husband doesn't like chick-flicks. :)

Ok, there's more. So, I'm staying in Rexburg this weekend to get some things done. I was afraid being alone on the 4th. But, I now have two different offers from friends!

Also, last night I was able to chat online with my friend Lois. She is so good at listening to me vent about my problems. And, tonight I got to talk to Nicole for a long time. That was so good! We haven't talked for a little while.

One more thing... this week I've had two girls in my ward ask me if I'd be ok with them being my roommates in the Fall! That made me feel really good. People want to live with me! :)

I'm just really grateful for the blessings God has given me. Sometimes it's easy to feel like no one loves us and that we have no talents. But, because God loves us, He places people in our path that help us see we are loved and do possess amazing qualities.(He also gives us plenty of humbling experiences so it doesn't get to our head, though!)

I am a very sensitive person. Have you ever heard of "the languages of love?" Well, I am the type of person that needs to know she's loved. I need to know I'm thought of and that people care about me. I try my best to show that same love to my friends-whether it be through a small note or what not (I do realize I can still do a lot better...) So, I am thankful that God does show me through His tender mercies that I am in fact loved.