Isn't it about Time?

(I finally took time to write what I wanted to write. I have homework awaiting me, however!)

I've had a lot of different thoughts about the subject of time on my mind recently. As pictured above, my beloved watch stopped working the other day. I have had this watch for over two years now, which could very well be a record! It was a $5 wal-mart special, which makes it even more significant. I wore it everyday of my mission. It's kind of symbolic of some things- like the time I spent in the service of the Lord.

Speaking of my mission, I recently went to check my missionary e-mail account, only to find that it has been shut down! I was aware that they close it down when you've been home for awhile, but that was just a slap in the face to me! It was a rude awakening. Like, "Yep, it's official. You're an old returned missionary!"

And then, at the end of last month my mission temple reccomend expired. Sheesh! I may as well have expired!

I've now been home from my mission for about 5 months. As each month passes, the sweet reality of my mission fades even more. I know it's over. I came to terms with that a little while ago. But, 5 months?! Can that be possible? What have I done with myself in that amount of time? That's nearly 1/3 of another sister's mission!

Something I am coming to learn more and more is that really, in a way, time doesn't matter. (Now, I know to a certain extent it does...) In the eternal scheme of things, it doesn't anyway. It doesn't matter that I am 23 and still in college. It doesn't matter if I'm not married right now, I will be married for eternity. That's a very long, long time! Alma 40:8 says that "...time only is measured unto men..." God's timetable is different from ours.

I am so intensely focused on school these days. That actually makes time go by really fast! I sometimes feel like I am in my own world, on my own little time table. I go to class, and come home and do my homework. That takes up 98% of my time. Then I stop to think about something, such as visiting someone, and realize it's been weeks since I've seen them, when it really feels like it's been days.

I would love to have more time, to do more things. I read something comforting from a talk by Pres. Eyring which states: "Some of you may feel overwhelmed by the lack of time. But there is another way to look at this. You can see it as an opportunity to test your faith. The Lord loves you and watches over you. He is all-powerful, and He promised: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33).

That is a true promise. When we put God’s purposes first, He will give us miracles. If we pray to know what He would have us do next, He will multiply the effects of what we do in such a way that time seems to be expanded. He may do it in different ways for each individual, but I know from long experience that He is faithful to His word." ("Education for Real Life", Henry B. Eyring, Ensign, Oct. 2002, 14)

I love that! There's so much I could say about the subject of time. It's important to enjoy the present, and just do the best we can. We have to trust God's timing. As it says in Ecclesiastes, "To everything there is a season..." It's so important to have an eternal perspective when it comes to time.

Much To Be Thankful For

For my COMM 111 class (writing for communication careers) I have to write what is called a "personality profile." Basically, it's an article about someone. We all have "stories," so to speak.

I chose to write mine on Kristen Linford. Kristen is from DeKalb,IL - an area where I served my mission. She now lives in Rexburg.

Three weeks after she got married last October she found out she had cancer. Can you even imagine that? Her story is so amazing. As of two weeks ago, she is now cancer free. She just started school again, after completing chemo and radiation. She and her husband of course have tons of bills. But, she has an amazing attitude. She even said that she's grateful she had cancer. She's seen many blessings come of it.

Talking to her made me so grateful for my many blessings. Sometimes we think we've got it bad, but there's always someone who has it much worse.

The Difference of One Degree

I saw this movie at a Auxillary leadership training meeting for my calling at church. I think it's pretty cool.

You can think of it in many terms, but it was really neat to think of it in terms of how much effort I put into my calling.



Go to: http://www.212movie.com

Just a Thought...

Walking on campus the other day, I saw a girl on crutches. She was with a friend. She told the friend "Ok, I am going to make it to that tree right there." She then proceeded to do her best on the crutches to get there.

It was a small, simple thing I witnessed. But, it made me think. How many times are we like the girl on the crutches? We are crippled by something and we feel like we just can't go any further- take any more steps. But, how beneficial it is to have a goal. We see something in the distance. We work hard to get there. For instance, sometimes in our lives it goes like this, "Ok, if I can just make it until Friday..." We have to take everything one step at a time. And, just like that girl had a friend there encouraging her, we have others there to help us along the way.

Just something to think about...

Grandma's Cookies and My Laptop

I thought that title would catch your attention. :) So, since I've started school again, I have been tempted way too much by Grandma's cookies. Mmm. They are my weakness. My laptop, well, that has become almost an extention to my body. I have it and use it all the time. I am so grateful that Mom and Dad gave it to me. It is very helpful, as I do a lot of writing,etc.

Ok, here we are. Week two of school.

My life =
-Eat (If I'm lucky. However, I've been trying to be better about eating- and eating healthily)
-Go to class
-Do homework
-Sleep. (Sometimes sleep in class.)

Wake-up and do it all over again. Welcome to the exciting life of me!

Well, life is busy, but good. I have a lot of homework these days! Really, I should be doing it instead of writing on here, but I thought I'd take a break and give y'all an update.

Also, this week I was called to be the first counselor in Relief Society Presidency A in my ward. I say "A" because there are three relief societies in my ward! I am excited about the calling. Before I was given this calling, as I sat in church, I felt strongly that I'd have opportunities to serve those around me.

My life has suddenly been filled with assignments, readings, quizzes, tests, journals, group assignments, etc. Really, it is exhausting! I am trying to squeeze in some time to go to the grocery store, post office, exercise (but since I was sick all last week, that wasn't appealing), do laundry, and have some sort of fun. Oh, yeah, I have to teach in Relief Society on Sunday too. And my Saturday afternoon is taken up by a conference I have to attend for one of my classes.

I love my major, however. I love getting an education, not necessarily attending school. I am learning a lot. The things I am learning in my field of study will help me the rest of my life (and, well, for eternity, really). (I am majoring in Communication). My classes are helping me be a better person.

Also- interesting fact- I recently read that 75% of employers rate communication skills (written and verbal) as the number one thing they look for when hiring (Source: Job Outlook 2006). While I am still not sure what exact career path I want to take with my major, I'm not worried about being able to get a job when the time comes. I have felt the Spirit's guidance and reassurance that this is the major for me. I am looking into some different career options such as editing, news writing, and organizational communcation.

Anyway, that's my life right now. BYU-Idaho is great so far.

P.S. One thing I really enjoy is the weekly campus devotional every Tuesday.

Birthday Celebrations

I am now 23!

(More info. to come...)

It's Cool to Be in School

Hello y'all. Well, I am FINALLY in school once again, after two years! I am now officially a student at Brigham Young University-Idaho in Rexburg.

Today has been a little crazy, but that's to be expected on the first day of class. I had to get my ID card and books. My first class today was at 10:15 a.m. My last class starts at 3:15. I have an hour and a half break in there. I am tired and have a minor headache, probably because I am not used to all of this busyness and sitting in class!

School here is really different from U.V.U. It's has a totally different atmosphere and feeling. I am amazed at how friendly everyone is. It's like some unofficial rule to introduce yourself to your classmates as you are sitting there waiting for class to begin. I looked all around the room in each of my classes and everyone was doing that. It's awesome! That never happened at U.V.U. I have had so many people talk to me and seem to be so genuine. When people are open like that, I have an easier time being friendly. I have to see that they are not closed off.

I just feel so right about being here. I feel like I can finally be part of my school. I never felt that at U.V.U.

I am definitely going to be busy with school this summer. I have been looking for employment, but I am realizing that if I do get a job, I don't know when I will study! I had forgotten that major detail in planning things- study time! I am taking 16 credits this semester. I was actually contemplating adding another two-credit class the other day, but I remembered that I need time to study- not just be in class.

From the classes I've already attended, I can tell I will have quite the workload. It will be a juggling game to try to stay on top of everything- it seems that there are reading assigments, quizzes, etc due every class period. It doesn't seem that the coursework will be terribly hard, but just time consuming. However, I think I will really enjoy my classes this semester, so that helps a ton. I really love my major (Communication). I definitely know it's the path I am supposed to be taking.

Also, I have been a bit iffy about my ward, etc. But, church yesterday was awesome. It has a totally different feeling than the previous month I was attending it. The people seem to be friendly and welcoming. Plus, we don't have freshman dorms in our ward this semester, so that is a huge bonus! (No offense to freshman...) Also, I am excited because I feel like I will have some opportunities to reach out to some people who may need me. I felt the Spirit bear witness of that to me as I was there in church yesterday.

I have recently had the reassuring feeling that I am where I am supposed to be- regarding exactly where I live, etc. I have had a hard time with the fact that Hillcrest is not social at all. It has made me really miss Campus Plaza. I have a really quiet apartment now -which I am loving; actually. I have been able to decorate it as well. I just feels so peaceful. I love that. I need my quiet time. I also love that so far it is staying pretty clean. That's big too!

Being busy definitely makes me happy. I finally feel like I have something significant and important to do. Not having that after the mission was really hard.

Boy oh boy. It will be interesting to see where these next months take me. I have just started anew. A new year of my life, new semester, new season, new people, etc. It's really refreshing and exciting.

P.S. My writing communication class is going to be all about writing concisely. As you can tell, I could go on forever! So, hopefully that class will help me....

Temple Visits on April 16th

Last year I went to the Chicago temple on April 16th. (It was a preparation day.) I remember it because it's the day before my birthday.

Today I happened to go the temple as well. It's becoming an unoffical tradition to go the day before my birthday. I went with one of my former MTC companions, Sister Kristin Oswald.

Also- I got my very own temple dress today! I'm very excited about that!

*The top picture is from April 16, 2008. (I have one of me at the temple, I just have to find it)
*Bottom one- me today. (Still working on losing that mission weight....)

Everyone's Got Problems

Ok, this is kind of part two to my previous post. I'm doing a lot better today. I think last night was a moment of distress where I wanted to let it all out and it was like 1:30 p.m., so of course no one was awake. I realize I should probably be careful about what I post on my blog. I don't want sympathy or anything like that. I realize everyone has got problems, not just me. We have no idea the burdens others are carrying on the inside.

I definitely have very good friends that do care about me, and I am grateful for that. I am going to try not to be so selfish as to just worry about my own problems and feel bad about myself. So, all you out there.. please let me know what I can do for you! Feel free to tell me your problems! I will listen. Thanks for your friendship and care. It means the world to me.

It Hurts To Be Hurt

*This is a modification to a previous post....

I have recently been hurt by someone I thought was a good friend. I've known her for years. I've come to realize that a friend who is not willing to love me and show that love to me is not worth my time. Maybe I should focus on spending time with friends who care about and love me. The Lord has blessed me with friends who do care about me, and I am so thankful for that. I put in a lot of time and effort to keeping in contact with my friends and showing them I care. If they don't show me that same love and care back, then I need to move on.

It hurts to be hurt. What happened to me cut me right at the core. I don't think this friend even has any clue. Sadly, I think it's because she's not thinking of me and how I feel. But, that's selfish of me to think that she should be thinking of me...

I'm thankful that I do not have to walk the road of hurt and pain alone, because my Savior did. He is the greatest friend of all.

I'm coming to realize that it's not the quantity of friends that matter, it's the quality. I have a few awesome quality friends whom I love and adore and am so thankful for.