Happy Birthday BFF

Once upon a time I moved into a scary big house with a bunch of girls I had never met.  Two months later these girls had become some of my best friends!  Tomorrow is one of these girls birthdays.
McKinsey Crabb is a hoot.  She has been such an amazing friend and I am super excited to live with her in the fall.  This is a shout out to you Crabbikins!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Beauty for Ashes

What a glorious day today is.  I can't believe how blessed I am to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Through being a member of this wonderful church I have been blessed with the knowledge of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and the Atonement.  Through the Atonement I have the hope of someday living with my Father in Heaven and Savior.  What a miracle it is that I have a way to be forgiven of my sins and through the grace of the Atonement become a better person.  I am truly in awe of the plan.  Today is also a wonderful day because we celebrate the Resurrection of our Savior and the blessing that will come to all of us.  In Alma 40:23 is says, "The ^asoul shall be ^brestored to the ^cbody, and the body to the soul; yea, and every limb and joint shall be restored to its body; yea, even a ^dhair of the head shall not be lost; but all things shall be restored to their proper and ^eperfect frame. "  I can't tell you how much this promise means to me and my family.  I am so excited for this day for many reasons.
 There are 4 main reasons I can think of.
1. My sweet mother.  As some may know she has had many health challenges that have resulted in her inability to do many activities she loves.  For her I am excited for the day when she doesn't have any more pain and can do what she loves.
2 & 3. Are named Clark and Dee J.  Without going into tons of details I can say that they are two of my uncles who are mentally and emotionally challenged.  I am so excited to get to know each of them personally.  4.Is Kyle, my best friend and brother.  I can't wait for the day when I will get to see him walk and hear him talk.
I just couldn't let today pass without sharing my testimony of Easter.
Happy Easter!

Sweet Clark and Dee J

A drawing by a great Family Friend of what our sweet Kyle may look like someday.

Kyle on his 18th Birthday.

RUDY

Nothing says Saturday morning like watching your favorite movie after a long run.  Naturally it was a toss up between Glory Road and Rudy.  Rudy won out today.  Of the many many MANY times I have watched this movie I have never picked up on the following conversation.
The back up to this moment is that Rudy is applying for the last time to try and get into Notre Dame after many rejections.  He is praying in the church when he is approached by Father Cavanaugh.

Rudy: Maybe I haven't prayed enough.
Father Cavanaugh: I am sure that isn't the problem.
Praying is something we do in our time, the answers come in God's time.


Talk about exactly what I needed to hear.  As I have been studying the last General Conference messages I came across one entitled, "Waiting upon the Lord: Thy Will Be Done" by Elder Robert D. Hales.  This talk has brought me much comfort in coming to know that I am not going to know the answers right now.  I must learn to wait, it the talk it says,

      "What, then does it mean to wait upon the Lord? In the scriptures, the word wait means to hope, to anticipate, and to trust.  To hope and trust in the Lord requires faith, patience, humility, meekness, long-suffering, keeping the commandments, and enduring to the end...Waiting upon the Lord means to "stand fast" and "press forward" in faith, "having a perfect brightness of hope".

This is why I love hearing from the apostles of the Lord and why I am so excited for General Conference this weekend.  They say the things that I need to hear and that the Lord wants me to hear.  I am so thankful for a living Prophet and his apostles and the opportunity I have to hear their words.

Spring Break

I was just lucky enough to have a WONDERFUL Spring Break.  After a super fun week in Boise I left on a cruise with four great girls!  Here it is in photos.

Our journey began in the Beautiful St. George.  

We boarded the Carnival Inspiration and sailed away in style…drinking CHOCOLATE MILK.

Catalina our first port.

I conquered a fear and checked off a bucket list item by going parasailing at 1200ft.

Tandem biking around the island.

Yummy yummy churros.

Wishin’ Big.

They made us such pretty food.

Beach in Ensenada.

Dinner group.

5 girls … 8 suitcases…1 room.

Besides getting to go on an awesome cruise and tend the best three kids I got to end my two week break with my besties.  Becca provided a legit tea party for Hannah’s birthday.  It was so fun!

As you can see I am one lucky girl.  These past two weeks have given me the opportunity to really think things through.  I am excited to finish off this semester with success and then spend another awesome summer in Logan! 

The Faces Of My Week

   Spring Break Update:

 These are the adorable

faces I get to see every day!

Current Favorite Song:

Thankful.

I just need to give a shout out to some of the lovelies around me.  I have been so blessed we such great support and was reminded of that yesterday as I celebrated the big 20!  This weekend my family helped me have such a wonderful time.  I love my Boise family they are so fun to be around and I can't wait to tend the kids during my first week of spring break.  I was treated to such a great time with my family being treated to great meals, birthday cake, shopping, gifts, movies, and advice!

On the day of I woke up to Chocolate milk kindly delivered by my bestie Kinsey Crabb.

Later that night Kinsey, Callie, and Elise took me to dinner.  Post an awkward encounter with the saddle at Texas Roadhouse we painted nails (a favorite pass time) and ate my favorite caramel brownies.  It was so great!  Thanks girls.

I loved the sweet texts, phone calls(Anner & Hann), and posts(Bec) I got to read and listen to throughout the day.  Holy Cow am I lucky to have such thoughtful and sweet people around me!

Also one of the most touching things ever happened to me.  My little sister and best friend sent me texts throughout the day telling me why she loved me.  She will never know how much they touched me and helped me have the best day ever.

I am so blessed!

Bring it on TWENTY it is going to be the greatest year ever!




P.S
I would like to introduce you to one of my new favorite artists!  BrittneySnyder.  She just came out with her first Album “Stronger Than You Know” on iTunes.  She is amazing.  If you want to hear music that means something this girl is the place to go.  She sings with her entire heart.  Music can make or break your day.  Let her lyrics and soul make your day better!

Take It Easy

Today I was reminded that life is beautiful and simple.  Sometimes I think one of Satan's greatest tactics is complication, business, and confusion.  I know I am constantly feeling like I should be working for something more, moving in a new direction, or doing better than I am.  This isn't always true.  It is in the slow simple moments when we see the beauties around us.  It is in these quiet and still moments that the Spirit has the opportunity to really dwell with us.  

The moment when...The boy with the disfigured leg wins lightening.

Life comes back into perspective.  

I am where I am. I can love it.  I can hate it.  I choose.....

but, the good ole' Eagle's say it perfectly, "Just find a place to make your stand and TAKE IT EASY."

HAPPY FRIDAY