School is Over!!! Yes!

"It's not whats under the Christmas tree that matters its who around it..."

My Finals are official over and I am done until next spring. I am so glad to be done and have it over. I am also packed and ready to go, but it will be a couple of more days until I can go home. And soon I will be home with my family which is even more exciting. I can wait until I can leave. The only sad thing is that I don't want to leave my roommates. I am going to miss them so, so much! I just hope to be able to see them again soon.  They have blessed me in so many ways and I am a better person because of it. Heavenly Father is also watching out for me. He has surrounded me with wonderful people who love me and look out for me. They have done so much for me and I am so appreciative of them. I love them so much.

It's Finals Week Again!

                                        "Prayer is your personal key to heaven."                                                                                              ~Boyd K. Packer

So this is the last week of school! Yeah! I am so happy to be done with school. I hope that I do my best on my finals. Thankfully I have one done. I have four left to do. Yuck. I wish that I had no more. I also have to pack and clean my apartment, cause I wont be back for the winter semester, which makes me sad. I have to wait until next Monday before I can go home. I can't wait till I can see my family again. I will see my parents, siblings, cousins, Aunts, Uncles, and my Grandparents. I haven't seen them in nine months. It is about time. Like the song, "I'll be home for Christmas." I can't wait till next Monday!

There is one problem and it is kind of major. All the people here that I love, I wont see in the spring. I don't want to leave them. I am going to miss them so, so much. We have grown so close. They are apart of my family now and I don't know what I am going to do without them. Probably cry. I hope not, but that is what is probably going to happen. This last weekend, we went and took Roommate Pictures. It was a great time. I am so glad to have these memories, we could not stop laughing and having a great time. We also took pictures on the coldest day that week.

I am also afraid that I wont be able to get on the plane, because of whatever reason. I don't want to have anything that might stop me from getting home. Or that the weather will be bad and I will be stranded. I know that I am a goose and it is silly to worry now, but I can't help it. I have to tell myself that everything will work out in the end.

Wish me luck on my finals.

Thanksgiving Break

                  If you want to give light to others first you have to glow yourself.                                                                  ~ President Thomas S. Monson 

So this Tuesday was my last day of school for the week. Thankfully I can now rest so that when school ends in two weeks I am ready. I can't believe that it is that time all ready. Time has gone by so fast. I am ready to home though. To see my family and eat great food, spend time with my siblings. It will be great and I will be home for Christmas. It is also appropriate for me to now listen to as much Christmas music as I want too! Hope that I don't drive my roommates too crazy.

So my old roommate's parents asked me to house sit for them. Let me tell you most boring time this year so far. I feel like I am going to go crazy, because I feel like I don't see enough humans and you can only talk to the dog for so long before you feel too crazy. Yeah that's me. I have been talking to the dog. I can't wait till Sunday night. I am going back to civilization. Thankfully I have one faithful roommate who has come to see me everyday so far. Even though they don't stay long at least they are here for a little while. All this time does provide serious reflection of one's self. And time to day dream which is something that I haven't done in a while. I have also been watching a ton of TV show and movies. I am a little media out. Thankfully I have a book that I can start reading. I also got to talk to my family and my best friend on the phone.

 I also wished my many friends Happy Thanksgiving. My little brother, who is not so little any more, won in our Family Shoot-Out. That is where we have a competition to see who can shoot the most clay pigeons. I am proud of him. Wish that I could have been there. Then today is my little sister's birthday. I gave her a call and we talked for a little while. I also found out that my youngest brother was sick yesterday and today. Poor fellow. But isn't that what usually happens when you visit family. Someone gets sick and passes it along. I did two puzzles today, watched a ton of TV and did laundry. This is making for an exciting break.

Well that is my life story so far. Until next time.

Gratitude

"So much in life depends on our attitude. The way we choose to see things and respond to others makes all the difference."                                                                                                                                   ~President Thomas S. Monson 

My heart is full of gratitude today. I am thankful for my family. That I get to be with them for all time and eternity. I am thankful for their support as I went to college and make choices that will affect me in this life. I am thankful for their example of righteous living and love. I am thankful for their love that they freely give. I am thankful for my Grandparents and their example of going on a mission. I am thankful that my Grandma does work for our ancestors and lets me help. I am thankful for all those that have touched my life in little ways and in major ways as well.  I am thankful for my dearest friends and the laughter that we have shared. That I am  so lucky that I get to know them.

I am so lucky that I am able to go to college. That the Teacher's here are my teachers. That they teach me what they love. That I am able to incorporate the gospel into daily topics of conversations. That I am able to be so close to a temple of the Lord. I am thankful for uplifting music and movies. I am thankful for great food. I am grateful for learning how to cook. I am grateful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I am grateful for the gospel and how it has blessed my life for better. My life would be empty and lack meaning if I didn't have the gospel in my life. I won't have this overflowing joy or love, at least it wouldn't be this strong or I would also be searching for more. With the gospel I can do all the simple things and be fulfilled.

There is so much in my life to be grateful for and I can't express all of it. Thank goodness that this month is a month of gratitude.

Swamped

"In great attempts, it is glorious even to fail."

                                    ~Vincent T. Lombardi

This is a really busy week for me. I have a ton of homework to do and I feel like so little time in the day to get it done. I have to go to these Gateway Seminars that are for my Foundation classes. I have two to go to and I went to one yesterday and I have another one today. Why do I cram so much into one week I will never know why.

So on October 19, I had to give a lesson in Relief Society. I got there early and was a little apprehensive about giving my first lesson. When the time was turned over to me, I said the first sentence and then started the second sentence. That's when it happened...I started crying. I could not stop crying the whole time. It was so mad at myself. I hate, HATE crying in public. With everyone looking at me. Everyone told me that it was a really good lesson and that the Spirit was there. I can testify that the Spirit was there! I know it. After that class, I went to the bathroom and make sure that my make-up wasn't running. My eyes were so red. I mean red. I didn't want to make eye contact with anyone. After that class, in every other class I wanted to cry as well.

Then this last week Meaning the days between October 20-25, on Monday for FHE we went to The Haunted Mill. Oh my goodness, it was so much fun. I did scream a little but I wasn't as bad as some others that where there. I also saw a friend there with her family. It was really nice. Luckily this week wasn't too bad. I had my half birthday this week. I made breakfast for myself and Brandi. It was really good. I made French toast, but it was a Nutella Sandwich and we had Bacon. I have missed bacon so much!

Well that is the last two weeks. Nothing much is going on, except is it Midterms, tests and homework. I hope that you all are doing good.

A Great Opportunities

"The time is now to rededicate our lives to eternal ideals and values, to make those changes that we need to make in our own lives and conduct to conform to the Savior's teachings."

                                                                                             ~David B. Haight

So I have made it through the second and third week of school. They weren't as long as the first week, thank goodness. Classes are going good. I got to hear from Jeffrey R. Holland on Tuesday September 23rd at devotional. It was a great talk about how we are in charge of our own happiness That we have to pursue after our own happiness.

Then that Saturday I got to go to the Temple. As I was walking with my roommate up to the Temple in the rain. There was a car who stopped and asked if we needed a ride. We took them up on their offer and didn't have to walk in the rain. Heavenly Father blessed me and my roommate for going to the Temple. Then later that night, I went to the General Woman's Broadcast. It was beautiful! I am so thankful that I went.

More beauty and joy has come my way. On October 4th and 5th, I have the opportunity to listen to living Prophets, whom serve God will all their might, mind, and strength. The counsels that they have given are beautiful and cause reflection of myself. I was spiritual edified and uplifted. My dedication to live and obey the laws was renewed. Questions were answered and ways provided for me to be able to achieve all that I wish to achieve. The wonderful thing is that its only the 4th. I haven't heard all the wonderful talks that will be given tomorrow and yet my soul rejoices in the truth of what has been spoke today. My testimony has grown and will continue to grow through out my life.

My thanks and gratitude fill my heart with joy and thanksgiving. That Heavenly Father has blessed His children with a living prophet who will lead and guide us to the truth of His Gospel. It is a truly glorious. I know that President Thomas S. Monson is a Prophet of God! That He holds the priesthood keys that have been restored to the earth. Listen to the call of the prophets voice, I beg you. Answer the call that will touch your soul and awaken it from sleep. They will bring you to the light and the way to be with Heavenly Father again for all time and eternity. The love of God is made manifest in the words they speak in reminding, pleading, chastening us to remember our Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. Again, please listen (https://www.lds.org/?lang=eng). They know the way!

The First Week of School

"Other people may not have high expectations for me...but I had high expectations for myself"
                                                                                            ~Shannon Miller

It was crazy busy here. So this past week was the first week of school and I am glad that it is over. Thank goodness for the weekends, right? I feel like it has been at least a month or something. Other than that the week has been really good. I am taking five classes and one class is online and that it new for me. I am taking Family Foundations, Math for the Real World, Advanced Writing and Critical Thinking, Science Foundations, and a beginning Piano class. I really like my classes so far. I am excited for this semester and hope to be able to do my best in all of my classes.

My goals for this semester is to make sure that I get all my homework done before the weekend if at all possible. Sadly I don't have all my homework done for the week so this Saturday will be a fun day getting that done. l also want to go to the Temple every week if possible, at least once a week. Like today, I went to the Temple and did some family names that my Grandma sent me. I am going to reread the Book of Mormon, I am actually about to start Alma tomorrow. So that is exciting. I am so excited for General Conference. I can't wait to hear what the prophets have to say!

More exciting news is that I have bought my bus and plane ticket so I can go home!!! I know that I have three months before I get to go home but I am still excited. Also great news is that I got a new computer!!! (I am using it right now to write this blog.) I am so thankful to my Father who loves me! I miss him and can't wait to see him! And everyone else who is back at home. Three moths will fly by before I know it.

Also I got a new ward this semester. The guys seem really nice and fun. I think that it will be a good semester. I also met my FHE brothers this Monday. FHE will be fun. I can't wait to get to know the people in my ward. The Bishop as well is really nice and he knows that it will be a transition but is confident that soon everyone will be comfortable and okay with it.

Well that's all I have for now. I'll write soon.