Selfie

K and I take my favorite pictures. The bottom one is of us canyon girlies after C's choir concert. 

Fall Break

I LOVED fall break!! We went fishing at Strawberry Reservoir. Dad brought the Pontoon and Grandpa brought his boat. We had our immediate family, S's in-laws, Grandparents, Uncle R and J, Aunt T with K, L and their new baby E. We left early Thursday morning and we were on the lake by 9 am. We stayed at Strawberry Bay Lodge. Each morning, whoever wanted to go would get up early while the others slept in and they got a head start on the fishing. We caught Cutthroat, Rainbows, German Brown, and Cutthroats, mainly Cutthroats. The rules are; you must throw them back if they are between 15-20 inches. Most of what we caught were in that range. Dad and Grandpa were hurting every time we let them go. We went trolling most of the time.

Love is helping with suspenders

 

You'll Be in My Heart

One of my favorite Disney movies is Tarzan. I really LOVE the music. Today the lyrics from, "You'll be in My Heart" came to my mind. I hadn't previously watched it or listened to any of the music but it came to me and I think it's for a reason. As I thought about this song I thought about relationships. I thought about the relationship I have with my Father in Heaven, my family, and my friends, new and old. I am so blessed. I can see how each of these relationships apply to this song in one way or another. This song is probably one of my favorites. It talks about both the good times and the tough times. We are children of our Heavenly Father and He loves us very much. He loves us unconditionally and I truly know He understands us. I am grateful for my family. They lift me when it seems no one else can. Thank you for ALWAYS being there for me. I am grateful for the people that are placed in my life that I call friends. I am privileged to know you and you strengthen me by your examples. THANK YOU!!

College Life

No college kid has the same experience. I like to think that we find adventure in the small things. Here's what we've been up to.

After the Homecoming Football game S, P, M, and me went to play on the fun blowups that they had. There was an obstacle course, this wrestling thing, and one that you hook yourself on a harness and then you run as fast as you can and then it pulls you back. It was super fun. S beat me at the wrestling blowup and I'm sure he wasn't even trying. Those are heavy to hold and then you swing them. The top one is S and P and the bottom one is P and P. P also versed me a couple of times at the obstacle course and sadly when I jumped over the last hill, I fell on top of him. M was tired so she didn't join us but it was super fun.

Last year we played Frisbee and we went to cemeteries. It's was just what we did. This year we play volleyball and we do bonfires. One time we burned a garbage bag full of cold expired popcorn. It was also part of one of S's photography projects. In the group shots the top one has S on the right and the one under has me on the right. 

I am the Relief Society President in my ward and the Stake Relief Society took all the presidencies on a retreat to a super nice house. We were fed really well both physically and spiritually. I walked away less overwhelmed. I also didn't think I'd ever be able to eat again for the rest of the semester. 

The school sponsored a "Coca Cozy" where they gave us donuts and cocoa. 

One weekend we went to the LTI Show/Improv Show. From front to back there is S, B, M, Me, B, and P. 

On Saturday in between conference sessions we saw sheep on the road, it was pretty cool.

This is us getting a Snow Creme. Of course we signed the book.

S and P wanted to do something for K to surprise her since she left for the weekend. It looked great after but if you read the wall on the second picture, you'll notice they spelled "Welcome" wrong. On each sticky note we wrote compliments.

 Well, that's what we've been up to. I truly appreciate my friends. I am so blessed with my old friends and I am equally blessed to have met my new best friends as well. More adventures to come.

Payson Temple

What a wonderful experience!! Yesterday I went through the temple for the first time. It was really beautiful. I was super overwhelmed with love, at the support I had. Family from both sides came as well as my friends. I met Mom early at 4 and she was my escort. I feel so blessed that she is my mom. She is beautiful. The whole experience was amazing. They did warn me I would be confused a little bit, which I am. I just can't wait to go back again. Some thoughts: I can't wait to see those in heaven again. My sister M, was so sweet and let me take my Grandma B's leaf necklace inside with me. I kept it in my pocket and held on to it sometimes. I remembered Aunt S. Boy, I can't wait to see them again.
After the temple we went to Zupa's Cafe and we had dinner. When it was time to go, I didn't want to say goodbye. It was such an amazing day. On the way home, we stopped by Z's and he showed us his new house. I hope I never forget this day. (I do have more family pictures, but friend pictures are the only ones I have personally right now. So more pictures to come. They were sweet and stayed with me until Mom came to take me in)
The Lord loves us very much. He knows us and understands us. He hears our prayers. He is merciful. He gave us this gospel and His Son so that we could make it back to live with Him again. He blesses us every day. He gave us people in our lives like family and friends to help us through life. He knows who we need. Families can be together forever. We will see our loved ones again. The Lord will NEVER abandon us. He guides us through the Holy Ghost and his prophets. Temples are His house. They are beautiful and each is unique. We are His children. He sacrificed His Son, Jesus Christ, so that we can be better through His son's example. Are we not blessed? We are extremely blessed.

Lumberjack Club

Come to find out, my roommates signed me up to be in the Lumberjack Club. We met for our first meeting and we quickly realized that it was a great club to join. We dressed up in plaid and really, I felt like we were the only ones. Maybe we were just being stereotypical. We meet Thursdays. We watch movies. We get free pancakes (chocolate chip and blueberry I might add, with Nutella!) The club has no fees except a shirt cost of $3-$5. B and K left shortly after getting their pancakes to go to a Rodeo in the next town over. M and I stuck around for a little bit. It's going to be a good club.

Stress

“We were not placed on this earth to walk alone. … [God] has assured us that He will be there for us to provide help if we but ask. … I promise you that you will one day stand aside and look at your difficult times, and you will realize that He was always there beside you.”

President Thomas S. Monson, “We Never Walk Alone,”Ensign, Nov. 2013, 121, 124.

Sometimes I just get so overwhelmed and I get so stressed. I feel so alone sometimes (especially when I am at college) and I just wonder, "How come I feel like I am the only one who is stressed?" Sometimes I try to get by and try to focus on other things and it is so hard. This picture tells all. I just try to live day to day and moment by moment. 

My role-model and example is my Mom. She is super patient with me and listens to me. Sometimes I feel like she could hang up the phone at any moment but she stays and listens. She gives me super great advice and talking with her seems to make everything right. She is such a blessing in my life.

"Life by the yard is hard but by the inch, it's a cinch." - President Thomas S. Monson