Catching Up

So it has been quite a few days since I've posted last and, as usual, I am here to overwhelm this page with updates... This blog, after all, is not for your benefit but for the torture of my future kids. Mwahahah!!

This semester has already been a huge miracle. Every time I look at my planner I get completely stressed out but as I take it day by day I am able to recognize God's hand in everything I do. I mentioned how hard this semester has been in the homework department, I have yet to miss or turn in an assignment late... not to mention, my grades are nearly perfect. This is an impossible feat for me; not once in elementary through high school did I ever get such incredible grades (even my mom was amazed... how sad).

I got my results for my art history test: 95/100

Results for Astronomy: 90%

Shakespeare essay and sonnet memorization: A

Total grade for Marriage and Relationships: 97.9%

History:... to be determined after midterms next week...

What is going on?!?! This is too ridiculous. However, I am very grateful for the blessings that have come through hard work.

I strongly believe these blessings are coming about for 2 reasons: (1) I have been reading my scriptures and saying my prayers more than ever before, and (2) I am trying my best to magnify my callings. This year's General Relief Society conference was incredible. I had the great opportunity to go with my mom to our stake center to watch it, I am so grateful for the technology that allows us to watch and re-watch these great women speak. If you haven't had the chance to watch it, please take the time to. There was nothing more comforting than hearing Sister Reeves remind me that "the Lord has not forgotten you". I love this gospel.

Although most days I won't admit to it, I really do love living at home. Not only does it save money but it saves my sanity. A big perk of living at home is having the choice to attend my home ward. Don't worry, my bishop hounds me about going to single's wards all the time but I refuse. I will get married one day but for right now let me prepare for a mission and play with all the kids!

I miss my calling in the young women's a lot. I missed teaching them every Sunday and listen to the drama I am so glad I don't have to live with on a daily basis... that was until I got called to teach sunday school. Hahaha. I am once again to teach these wonderful young women and the young men.... This will be another adventure. Fortunately I have another week to prepare for this madness... thank heavens for conference weekend!

"For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things..." 

2 Nephi 2:11

This has been my motto for the past few days... In the midst of all these great blessings my family has experienced a great opposition to test our faith.

Besides my mother there is one other woman who has played a huge role in my life, my grandmother. My mom's mother has been there for us since birth. Every step of the way she has been here to support and love us, now it is our turn to do that for her. For the past couple years she has been having mini-strokes, or so they think. She will pass out, convulse, and finally lose her ability to move and speak for a while. Her memory is erased from that moment forward... The second time this happened my sister was the one who found her on the floor of our house early one morning. Despite test after test doctors cannot find anything wrong, only making this more frustrating for our family.

Monday was the third time that this happened. My grandfather, who usually leaves early in the morning for work, felt the need to stay home with my grandma... Miraculously he was able to catch her before she collapsed again. I got the "call me, its urgent" text from my mom and she delivered the news that they were rushing her to the hospital, yet again.

It is so hard to see someone you love in so much pain. Test after test was done and again nothing out of the ordinary was found. My poor grandma still can't remember what happened, who came to see her, or what she did earlier in the day... We can only hope she recovers and that doctors can find a way to help her. Through this time we can only hold on to our faith and trust that Heavenly Father will hear our prayers and bring comfort, patience, and understanding to our family...

The Kids That Hold My Heart

This is David, the sweet boy that has captured my heart. Okay, thats a lie--his brother (who i call Gus-Gus) also has my heart... and his sweet sister. These three kids, all under the age of 4, belong to my visiting teacher, Carla. (I wish I had pictures  Her kids reflect just how amazing this woman is, she is kind, warm, and very patient with her kids. I had the privilege of babysitting Gus-Gus and his sister Sophie while Carla was--ultra--pregnant. Although Carla was limited to how much she could do per day she still made sure she spent time teaching her kids. It was absolutely beautiful to see.

I grew up with a mom that I imagine did the same with me when I was young, but seeing how Carla teaches her kids step by step and by example is something truly beautiful. It is wonderful to see a mother-not much older than me-be so strong. This is a woman who married her best friend, who not only believes in this gospel but applies it and lives it 100%. I am grateful for my mother and women like Carla that show me what it is like to be a good mom. I pray I can be like them one day.


In other news,

I had a good day today, and by good I mean RIDICULOUSLY good.

I don't really know why but it was a good one. I shouldn't have had a good day because I was running late this morning and I had a test in my astronomy class--which by the way I got a solid 85% on, please hold your applause.

A new song for today by Andrew Belle, who I completely fell in love with today, called "The Ladder". Enjoy!

It's a Safetysuit Kind of Day... (Extra Long Post, Beware)

To be more specific, it's a Life Left To Go kind of day--If you haven't heard it listen to it here.

I woke up late this morning and for some reason I still decided to straighten my hair (which I haven't done in a reeeeally long time), and of course it took way longer than it should have. I am happy to see that my hair is slowly coming back from the dead--quite literally. I have spent basically all summer with curly hair so it was a nice change to see it straight. For those of you who are curious, you are in trouble because (1) I am at school and I would look like a goof smiling at my computer for a picture, and (2) I already tried that and I'm wearing a black blazer--and my hair is black...

Anyway, I just wanted to jot down a few things that have absolutely nothing to do with above. I am taking a Women in the Scriptures class for institute with Sister Terry... For those of you who don't know her, you are 100% missing out. She is the most inspirational woman in this world, if she wasn't as humble as she is I'm sure they could have included her as one of the great women we talk about. Yesterday sister Terry taught us about Lucy Mack Smith, Joseph Smith's mother, and all the inspiring qualities she had. To tell you the truth, I was already having an emotional day (more like emotional week...), but I cried the whole freaking class. We talked about her strength, her faith, her support of Joseph. Her husband was equally as amazing, he had several visions that helped him prepare for what was to come. Joseph Smith Sr. even dreamt about the tree of life when Joseph was 6 years old! Lucy, the most inspirational journal writer ever, made record of it and many other experiences. What did I learn from all this? Well, first, I need to write more, not just about the good and the bad but everything in between. Second, I need to work on my faith... a lot. Last, being a good mother and wife is hard work, but there will never be anything more enjoyable than the blessing of being married forever and raising kids.

To get a glimpse of just how incredible this woman's faith was, sister Terry read from History of Joseph Smith by His Mother, I was so intrigued that I bought the book... Here is the story that we read in class: 

(Lucy's experience of the surgery performed on Joseph's leg)

"His leg soon began to swell and he continued to suffer the greatest agony for the space of two weeks longer. During this period I carried him much of the time in my arms in order to mitigate his suffering as much as possible; in consequence of which I was taken very ill myself. The anxiety of mind that I experienced, together with physical over-exertion, was too much for my constitution and my nature sank under it. Hyrum, who was rather remarkable for his tenderness and sympathy, now desired that he might take my place. As he was a good, trusty boy, we let him do so, and, in order to make the task as easy for him as possible, we laid Joseph upon a low bed and Hyrum sat beside him, almost day and night for some considerable length of time, holding the affected part of his leg in his hands and pressing it between them, so that his afflicted brother might be enabled to endure the pain which was so excruciating that he was scarcely able to bear it...

"The surgeon was called again, and he this time enlarged the wound, cutting the leg even to the bone. It commenced healing the second time, and as soon as it began to heal it also began to swell again, which swelling continued to rise till we deemed it wisdom to call a council of surgeons; and when they met in consultation they decided that amputation was the only remedy. Soon after coming to this conclusion, they rode up to the door and were invited into a room apart from the one in which Joseph lay. They being seated, I addressed them thus: 'Gentlemen, what can you do to save my boy's leg?' They answered, 'We can do nothing; we have cut it open to the bone and find it so affected that we consider his leg incurable and that amputation is absolutely necessary in order to save his life.' This was like a thunderbolt to me. I appealed to the principal surgeon, saying, 'Dr. Stone, can you not make another trial? Can you not, by cutting around the bone, take out the diseased part, and perhaps that which is sound will heal over, and by this means you will save his leg? You will not, you must not, take off his leg, until you try once more. I will not consent to let you enter his room until you make me this promise.'

"After consulting a short time with each other, they agreed to do as I had requested, then went to see my suffering son. One of the doctors, on approaching his bed, said, 'My poor boy, we have come again.' 'Yes,' said Joseph, 'I see you have; but you have not come to take off my leg, have you, sir?' 'No,' replied the surgeon, 'it is your mother's request that we make one more effort, and that is what we have now come for.' 


"The principal surgeon, after a moment's conversation, ordered cords to be brought to bind Joseph fast to a bedstead; but to this Joseph objected. The doctor, however, insisted that he must be confined, upon which Joseph said very decidedly, 'No, doctor, I will not be bound, for I can bear the operation much better if I have my liberty.' 

"'Then,' said Dr. Stone, 'Will you drink some brandy?' 'No,' said Joseph, 'not one drop.' 

"'Will you take some wine?' rejoined the doctor. 'You must take something, or you can never endure the severe operation to which you must be subjected.' 

"'No,' exclaimed Joseph, 'I will not touch one particle of liquor, neither will I be tied down; but I will tell you what I will do—I will have my father sit on the bed and hold me in his arms, and then I will do whatever is necessary in order to have the bone taken out.' Looking at me, he said, 'Mother, I want you to leave the room, for I know you cannot bear to see me suffer so; father can stand it, but you have carried me so much, and watched over me so long, you are almost worn out.' Then looking up into my face, his eyes swimming in tears, he continued. 'Now, mother, promise me that you will not stay, will you? The Lord will help me, and I shall get through with it.' 


"To this request I consented, and getting a number of folded sheets, and laying them under his leg, I retired, going several hundred yards from the house in order to be out of hearing. 

"The surgeons commenced operating by boring into the bone of his leg, first on one side of the bone where it was affected, then on the other side, after which they broke it off with a pair of forceps or pincers. They thus took away large pieces of the bone. When they broke off the first piece, Joseph screamed out so loudly, that I could not forbear running to him. On my entering the room, he cried out, 'Oh, mother, go back, go back; I do not want you to come in—I will try to tough it out, if you will go away.'


"When the third piece was taken away, I burst into the room again—and oh, my God! What a spectacle for a mother's eye! The wound torn open, the blood still gushing from it, and the bed literally covered with blood. Joseph was pale as a corpse, and large drops of sweat were rolling down his face, whilst upon every feature was depicted the utmost agony! 

"I was immediately forced from the room, and detained until the operation was completed; but when the act was accomplished, Joseph put upon a clean bed, the room cleared of every appearance of blood, and the instruments which were used in the operation removed, I was permitted again to enter...

"Having passed through about a year of sickness and distress, health again returned to our family, and we most assuredly realized the blessing; and indeed, we felt to acknowledge the hand of God, more in preserving our lives through such a tremendous scene of affliction, than if we had, during this time, seen nothing but health and prosperity."

What a wonderful lesson this was. This woman's great faith was reflected in her children. Joseph, being so young, was so incredibly faithful. This, young yet trusting, side of the prophet is one we rarely get to see... This woman taught her children well, so much so that they trusted the Lord with all their heart--like she did. I pray that I can be a fraction of what this lovely woman was; if we all strive for this kind of love and faith we can change lives.

I am so grateful for this gospel, for the opportunity to become better than I was yesterday. I am grateful for the examples of great women, like Lucy, that have brought children to this earth and changed our lives...

My Little Miracle

This is the definition of 'Miracle' in a regular dictionary: 

Miracle: miracle |ˈmirikəl|

noun-a surprising and welcome event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws and is therefore considered to be the work of a divine agency.- a highly improbable or extraordinary event, development, or accomplishment that brings very welcome consequences

And this is what the Bible Dictionary says: 

"Miracles are and were a response to faith, and its best encouragement. They were never wrought without prayer, felt need, and faith.

"It is important to notice the different names by which miracles are described. They are called signs, as being visible tokens of an invisible power; they are powers or mighty works, because they are the acts of One who is almighty; they are simply works, or the natural results of the Messiah's presence among men; they are wonders, marvels, because of the effect produced on those who saw them.

"Miracles are a part of the gospel of Jesus Christ. If miracles cease it is because faith has ceased."

I mentioned in my last post that I have been trying a bit harder than usual when it comes to school... Well, I feel like it is finally starting to pay off. Math has been one of the hardest things for me to study. Senior year in high school my graduation depended on my math grade, last year I had the hardest time. Again. I ended up missing a C by 3 points, resulting in me having to take the class again this year in order to make it to 1050. Those who know me pretty well (and even those who don't) know that I absolutely DETEST math. I hate it with a deep and burning passion....

[rewind a couple months]

While choosing classes I ran across an interesting scenario.

I know that the nursing program requires a very VERY high GPA during generals in order to make it through.... How high? well like 3.8 high. I know I struggled quite a bit last year. I was definitely not dedicated to school like I should have been. Now, now, I didn't get horrible grades but I didn't do as well as I should have. Push comes to shove, turns out that without retaking classes from last year I would need a 3.99 this year to make up the difference.....

After half a heart attack and a bit of hyperventilating I decided there was no way I could do that. I absolutely HAD to retake math. How in the world could I manage a 3.9? Maybe if I busted my tush on all my other subjects I might scrape by, but definitely not with math in the picture...

[aaaand we're back...]

I've had several tests and quizzes this week. All of which I've done relatively well. I have yet to find out about my Anthropology test but besides that I have averaged nothing under 90%....

A couple math tests  and a few quizzes have also been handed back...

Quiz 1: 5/5
Quiz 2: 5/5

TEST 1: 93%..... complete shocker.

and the result for the test I was stressing over this past week....

TEST 2: 99%..... may or may not have almost passed out.

I missed one point. Not even one QUESTION. There is NO way I could take all the credit, at all. I think part of being human is thinking that we succeed on our own. We forget that there is someone above that looks out for us, that places trials in our life for learning and growth and someone that pours out more blessings than we can even begin to imagine.

I am very grateful for the help of Heavenly Father. I know that without Him I would be knee-deep with school by this point. I have made a conscious  decision to let Him help me, I have chosen to do my ABSOLUTE best, then and only then, do I trust in leaving the rest to Him.

Let's not forget to see all the miracles in our lives. Whether little or big, a miracle is a miracle (anyone else think of Dr. Seuss with that one?). If we take the time necessary to see these life-changing experiences we will live a life full of gratitude and eternal perspective. 

So Are You To Me..

I think we often take our friends and family for granted. I know I definitely do. I am so SO lucky to have people there for me when I need them. Although running away from problems is never the answer, sometimes we have to take a step back and put things into perspective. This life is only a moment compared to the rest of eternity, it is amazing to think that the choices we make now will influence that. Whether it be choosing to do something stupid because we are mad or helping other's see their worth... It is all accounted for in the end.

I am grateful for a lot of reasons. I am thankful for my family for the support and love they give me. I am grateful for my sister, although she is a pain in my "tuckus" some days, I proud of her hard work with school and her caring nature. I hope she doesn't grow up like me :) I hope she sticks to her decisions and pursues her dreams.

I'm grateful for those words of advice. Sometimes there are things we don't want to hear when we are mad or disappointed but that's what our friends are for. They are cool-headed during the times when we are struggling, they see what were can't. I am grateful for those late night talks *hint, hint*. I am grateful for people I can run to.

Something else I take for granted: my calling. These poor girls have to put up with my shenanigans every week, and yet they do it without falling asleep in my class. I love it. They are always so willing to help out. Out of all the young women I definitely have the best group. The most obedient, the funniest and the sweetest. I feel bad that often times I don't prepare my lessons with enough time to make them truly great for my girls, but they are forgiving and patient... It seems like they like them, I haven't had any try to ditch or miss church. I am proud of them.

Although I feel like I have no room to complain about school (some don't have the opportunity to attend or some are taking 18.93483487q273642834034 credits..), it is often a challenge for me. I need to be better at putting in more effort. I have quite a bit of time to do the things I need to do. I just have a slight problem with procrastination. HOWEVER, I am quite proud of myself. I have not missed a single assignment. I make sure everything is turned in on time and that I'm at school when I am supposed to. I did miss one class last week but I will try my best not to let that happen again. A wise soul once told me that attendance influences whether you pass or not. You can do the assignments but if you don't understand the material it's definitely harder. Man, I have wise friends...

I hope we start this week with a prayer in our hearts and the desire to do the things we need to do. Let's not forget that there is a higher power. It is there to guide us, teach us, and bless us more than we can even imagine. Don't take anything for granted.

Until the next time I decide to blog :)

Fare thee well.

Brick By Brick- Train

This week has gone by pretty fast and I don't really know why. I feel like the hours go by slow but the days just fly by.... (does that make ANY sense at all?...) I had to work Monday and Tuesday, maybe that's why the hours seemed to go by so dang slowly. However, I was very happy to finally be home, nothing beats the feeling of sleeping in your own bed. I made dinner Monday night, thanks to Leandra Stromberg's casserole recipe it's one of the few casseroles I actually really enjoy..

Tuesday I went on a date to Nickle City with Abner and some of his friends. We had a lot of fun trying to get enough tickets to get fake moustaches, those came in handy Wednesday after Tina's incredible choir concert at Orem Junior...

I am quite impressed as to how far they have come from the beginning of the school year. Way to go OJH! Being inside that school brings back so many memories, both good at bad. And apparently it makes me act just like I used to in Jr. High... I was a bit of a snot to the janitor that asked Natalie and I to head back to the commons.. Oh man, I was so embarrassed afterwards... I need to stop going there.. After we got all moustached up, we stopped by the Borders to take ice cream orders, then made a quick run to Farr's for ice cream-- in our "Banditos" outfits... Haha. Get ready cause these pictures are Epic.

Natalie didn't have to work on Thursday so we took advantage of that and went out for a morning run. We decided to meet half way at a park here in PG. I have never had so much fun running in the rain, my dog however, was not as happy. Poor Lady got cold on the way back so I had to carry her. Oh, and my shoes hated me... I had fun though, can't wait to run again! My lungs seem to be getting stronger so I will definitely be taking advantage of that and keep working out outdoors instead of at the gym.

**A little shout-out to my aunt Liliana Thompson, happy birthday! They say you shouldn't have favorites when it comes to family... but I say that's bologna, we all have favorites no matter what. This is a great example :) My aunt has been through so much, she is a great example and a wonderful mother. I love youuu!**

_______________________________________________________________________

Yesterday, after picking my sister up from school we got home, turned on the T.V. and Oprah was on. I can honestly say I have never watched a single episode, ever. Something about this particular one caught my attention though. As many people probably know, next Wednesday is her last episode ever. Apparently she's been doing her show for 25 years and has had like a billion people on it (who knew? Not me..). She was going over some of her most memorable reunions and favorite guests on the show, so I left it on for a while just to see who it was... I had no idea I would be crying the whole hour..

The first story was of two sister who miraculously survived the genocide in Rwanda. In 100 days 800,000 men, women and children were killed by machetes... Claire and her younger sister of 6, Clementine, hid in a banana tree while their home burnt down with their grandparents inside... They thought their whole family had died. They spent the next six years in refugee camps, hoping to catch a glimpse of a surviving family member. After a time, an American church brought the girls over to be adopted by foster parents. Years later, Clementine was on the show because of an essay she had written about the book titled "Night" by Elie Wiesel that tells his story of surviving the Holocaust, she wrote about the similarities in her life... Oprah called the sisters up on stage to hand them a letter from their parents... before they could read it, she had another surprise for them... The doors opened and out came the two sisters' parents and siblings... As the sisters rushed to their family after 12 years of separation, I couldn't help but cry. The pure joy and gratitude on their faces was something that cannot be described. They talked about the girl's lives today. Claire is attending Yale University and doing really well despite her initial complications learning the language... She doesn't know exactly what she wants to do with her life when she graduates in 2013, but she knows she wants to help others, help people share their stories of tribulation and how they surpassed their challenges...

The second, and by far the most uplifting story, was of a woman named Erin Kramp. At 36 years old, Erin was dying of breast cancer. She had one daughter, Peyton, only six years old. Whenever Erin had a moment to herself, she would pick up the video camera and record messages for her daughter. She recorded advice from picking out makeup, to how to pick a husband and everywhere in between. She had no idea how long she had left, she still had so many things to teach and tell her daughter. They showed bits and pieces of Erin's recordings, one of them was definitely my favorite. She says:

" I have been up for three hours, in the middle of the night, just thinking about

how much I love you, I couldn't stand it. I couldn't sleep. So finally I decided, I'm just

going to get up and record how much I love Peyton!

Mooore than infinity!"

(she says with arms stretched out)

Six months later, Erin lost her life. She left behind hours and hours of messages for every milestone of her daughter's life.

John, her husband has now remarried and has two kids of his own. Peyton is now at Duke University. Although Peyton only spent six short years with her mother, she knows what kind of mom she had. She knows how hard her mother fought, she knows how much she was loved...

These two stories were uplifting in their own way, however, they both taught me to be grateful. Although we all have challenges, some definitely have it harder than we do. I look at my family and realize how lucky I am to have a mother who not only supports us in all we do, but provides for us above and beyond. The second story help my love and appreciation grow for my mother. Without her, I have no idea where we would be. She is the source of strength in our family. I know I don't show my love for her enough, I can only hope that she knows how much she is loved.

Thank you mom for all you do, you are a great example. I love you.

Through this I realize how important the Plan of Salvation really is. Without it, many people leave this earth and have no idea that they will see their loved ones again. I am thankful to have this knowledge. Erin taught people to live life to the fullest, to not fear death, to embrace it. Oprah said it best:

".... to dying, letting go, and leaving love behind.."

-Oprah