Some Happy Thoughts

It's Sunday night. I have a had a busy, but wonderful Sabbath day. I am once again the first counselor one of the Relief Societies in my ward. At first I really felt I didn't deserve this calling, as I had some bitter feelings about being in a ward full of freshmen. I've had a hard time with that, but since I've received this call I've been humbled. I've spent a lot of time in prayer- asking the Lord to help me love these sisters. I have been blessed to feel his love. Age really shouldn't- and doesn't- matter.

As a presidency we were able to visit the sisters at their apartments this evening. I LOVED the sisters' enthusiasm and energy. Wow. It helped me, an "oldy moldy" have a fresh view on life. Some of us who've been in college a while just want to get out. It helps to have that excitement.

This past week I went to the temple twice. I had promised a friend from one of my classes over the summer that I'd go to the temple with her. I have been so busy and finally found a free night. Some homework came up and I was faced with a decision I never thought I'd have to make- homework or the temple? Remembering a talk I read by a general authority which said something to the effect of: "holding a temple recommend is more important than standing first in your graduating class," I chose to go to the temple. In so doing, I missed my evening deadline for the homework assignment. But, the temple was wonderful. My friend really needed me to be there with her at that time, as she was going through a certain trial.

The other time I went to the temple was Friday night. The whole week I encouraged my friend and roommate, Rachel, to come with me. This was because her fiancee and I were working closely together. He had not yet proposed to her. The rings came in at the beginning of the week. What happened was Rachel and I went to a session together. Her fiancee went to the session before us and waited in the celestial room to surprise her. I was so excited the whole time. It was very hard to keep the secret. I was filled with joy as she was soooo surprised to see him there. He quietly asked her to marry him. It was so beautiful! I'm so glad I got to be part of it!

In other news, this week my assignment for the Scroll was to take pictures for an article about the potato harvest. Well, being a suburb girl, I have secretly been wanting to know what this was all about. Lucky for me, I have a friend whose husband is doing harvest right now. She took me out to the field and showed me how it's done. I took lots of pictures. (I will post some when I get a chance and figure out how to get them into a smaller size)

I ran into another girl from the Scroll yesterday. She was helping work on the paper yesterday and cropped some of my photos. She said they were really good and everyone really loved them! That made me so happy! :)

Last night was the Relief Society General Broadcast. I really felt the Spirit. It was so apparent to me that this Gospel is for the individual. Each person is a child of God. I was really thinking about my calling and how I can magnify it. But, also, I was thinking of visiting teaching, as I had to teach the R.S. today about that subject. There was much said of that subject in the meeting last night, which was nice. In studying for my lesson and hearing the talks last night, I really realize that visiting teaching is very serious. It's not just an act- it's a lifestyle. As a visiting teacher it is my opportunity to be an instrument in God's hands. I have sisters to constantly pray for and think about. This is an area I am going to work better in. I'm pretty good about doing my visiting teaching, but I can do better.

Anyway, I've been very busy lately and those are just some of the things I am up to. School is going pretty well. Definitely keeping me busy!

Nashville Tribute

Friday night I had the opportunity to go to a concert here at BYU-I. It was performed by the artists that made the "Joseph: A Nashville Tribute to the Prophet" CD and "Trek." (These are the same people in the hit band "Due West.")

I love, LOVE those CDs, so I LOVED the concert! I listened to those CDs for about the first half of my mission. (After that my mission president wasn't too keen on us listening to them, so I decided I better go a little more conservative on my music choice).

Those CDs are very popular among missionaries. They are very motivating. I remember the first time I heard the "Joseph" CD. It was two years ago this month. Sister Chapman and I were on our way to play "Chicago ball" with the Elders in our zone. Also, Sister Strong, another sister in the mission, introduced me to "Trek" when we were on exchanges one time.

I was very happy to hear that this group is putting out a new album in January of next year entitled "Called to Serve." I'm sure it'll be great!

For more info visit: http://www.nashvilletribute.com
(I'm such a fan, I think they should hire me as a promotion and marketing manager for them! Lol.)

Scroll Photographer!

Ok, so, when I’m excited about something, it’s usually no secret. So, many of you already know that I am a photographer for BYU-Idaho’s "Scroll", the campus newspaper.

Last week the editor sent out an e-mail calling for “summer photos.” I went through my files and found some that would fit under that category. I e-mailed them. They were not even in the right format (RAW file), so I figured nothing would come of it. I just thought it’d be worth a shot (ha ha, no pun intended). Well, I opened up the newspaper on Tuesday to see THREE of my photos on a photo spread in the paper! I was so excited!!! It meant a lot to me. I tend to doubt myself and my abilities. This to me was a confirmation that, yes, just maybe, I am a good photographer and not a complete failure. It’s hard when there are so many people out there who are photographers too. So, I don’t want to come across as being boastful or prideful in this. It’s just a big accomplishment for me. (The pictures on top are the ones that made it into the spread.)

This week I was assigned to take pictures for an article about the swine flu epidemic. Yippee. I discovered I don't like taking pictures for random assignments. I'm used to taking pictures of whatever I want! But, this is good. It will stretch me. Who knows what next week's assignment will be. We'll see!

Back to School... my billionth semester

Well, I made it back to the 'burg. I came in on Monday. I was very thankful for a good friend of mine who picked me up at the bus stop with my luggage so I wouldn't have to walk uphill with it all. We also went grocery shopping at WinCo in Idaho Falls. WinCo is a great place! It has really good prices on food. It's comparable to Food 4 Less.

Monday night I was hanging out at my friend Breanna's place and she asked me to give the F.H.E. lesson for her ward. So I did that. Then I went to a birthday party for her roommate.

School started on Thursday. My classes this semester seem a lot better than the summer semester. I think I may actually be able to have a life! I know it will pick up, but it still looks pretty good.

In case you were wondering, my classes are the following: Advanced Technical Writing, The Theory of Language (English Grammar), Old Testament, Media Law and Ethics, and a practicum class, i-comm. For my practicum class I am going to be a photographer for The Scroll, the campus newspaper. I am really excited about that. I get to use the school's digital S.L.R.s. I really want one of my own, but can't afford it.

Also, I am going to be volunteering as an usher for the devotionals every Tuesday afternoon.

In other news, my ward is full of the freshmen dorms. That's definitely interesting. God never ceases to give me "growing experiences."

My roommate situation is also interesting. I can't really go into details here, but if you want more info, let me know, I'd be glad to tell you my stories. However... one of my roommates is getting married in April and asked me to be one of her bridesmaids! I am really excited and touched by this. It means a lot to me. I served with her in the R.S. presidency last semester.

And finally, in other news, Christi and Mom are coming up here to Rexburg on Tuesday!

That was quite the random post, but that's the 411 on me at the moment. Slowly, but surely, I am working towards graduation!

BYU-Idaho: the Road Less Traveled.

The Road Not Taken, by Robert Frost:

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

*Warning: REALLY long post about my life (my thoughts and dilemmas)... as usual.

For many of you, hearing that title might make you think, "What? There are a ton of people I know that go to BYU-I." Well, that's probably true. But, the fact of the matter is, more people attend BYU in Provo than BYU-I.

As many are heading back to school (myself in included- I head back to Idaho on Monday), many of my mission friends have headed to BYU. Also, interestingly, a great number of people from my mission are attending Utah State University.

Now, let's be honest, I sometimes feel left out on the party being up there in Idaho when so many people are down in Utah. However, I chose to be where I am at. It's it's important to choose to do what the Lord wants you to do. For me, he wants me in Idaho. And don't get me wrong, I do want to be there too.

The other day I was reading through one of my old journals. The date was November 16, 2003. I was a senior in high school- a critical time for deciding where to attend college. I quote:
"Some people have tried to talk me into going to BYU-I, but I don't think that would work for me. If I go to BYU or UVSC I can still frequently see my family, yet have some freedom as well. I've never really had the desire to go to BYU-I. I'm sure it's a great school, but I don't think it's for me."

How FUNNY! I think the Lord has been giving me nudges and hints for many, many years. I do think I was supposed to be going to UVSC and living in Provo at that time in my life. I had a lot of good experiences and made a lot of friends.

So, fast forward to my mission. The Lord started nudging me again. It always happened through other people. While I was on my mission my sister started attending BYU-I. Then, my friend I lived with in Provo (who had attended BYU-I before her mission) returned to school in Idaho. My mom told them they should talk to me about going to BYU-I. I just thought it was kind of funny and had no desire to make important decisions like that until after my mission.

The "after" came and I had a hard time figuring out what to do. I think part of the problem was I was denying the fact that I knew I needed to go to BYU-Idaho. I remember when it hit me. I started moving forward and things fell into place.

So anyway, that's just something that's been on my mind lately. When the Lord tells you to do something you do it. It's not always easy, but in the end it's always right. The hard part is that most of the time we don't know why. I still don't fully know why I am needed up there in Idaho. But, I am grateful for the opportunity to be there. I love being at a church school.

As a side note- I am currently wondering why I am in the apartment I am in. I thought a lot about moving somewhere else, but in the end I hate moving so I decided to stay. It'll be interesting to see how this semester goes. Also, I recently totally re-did my schedule, as I have felt strongly the need to look for a job. I've been vigorously looking, and am wondering how this will all work out. It's a very hard time to find a job, especially in Rexburg where it's small and there are so many students competing to get employment. I was on the BYU campus in Provo recently and happened to walk by their employment office. There were pages and pages of jobs available. I couldn't help but think: "Well, gosh, maybe if I went here I'd have a better chance of getting a job." But, I have to keep reminding myself to have faith and that things will all work out.

Satan works very hard on us to get us to doubt decisions we have made. But, the Lord does not work through doubts. If we have felt it is right, then it is right. I know I am where I am supposed to be and the Lord is in control.

P.S. I am off-track winter semester and was originally planning and hoping to do an internship in a warm place... like Arizona. It doesn't look like I will be doing an internship at all, I still have one or two classes I have to take before I can. Also, it appears that many internships are unpaid. Therefore, I need to earn some money to be able to live while interning. Right now the plan is to get a job in Rexburg this semester and continue working next semester. We will see....

You know, when it comes down to it, I think I am just a good girl who is trying really hard to do what the Lord wants me to do with my life. It's a struggle to align our will with His. I just want to live a happy, successful life. I think as long as I have that mindset and work hard, the Lord will bless me.

Connecticut

Fairfield Beach

Me at a lighthouse at Mystic Seaport.

View from the plane

I was fortunate to find a good deal on tickets to Connecticut on Southwest, so on the 25th I flew out here. I fly back to Utah late tomorrow night. It's been fun hanging out with my brother and sister-in-law and absolutely adorable niece and nephews.

While I have been here we have had fun going to the beach, Mystic Seaport,a Children's museum and just hanging out at home.

I must say, it's been soooo nice to just be across the country and not worry about school or other things. It's been a nice break from life and has helped me get my mind off of things that otherwise preoccupy my brain.

I'm going to miss everyone here, and I don't know when I'll be able to come back. :(

As a side note- I head back to Idaho on Monday and start school next Thursday. I am looking forward to a new semester of working hard, and playing hard too. :)