A lot can happen in a year.

It's true. A lot of good can happen in a year! At this time last year I had a broken heart, my applications for graduate school were in and I was anxious to fly home to Georgia for Thanksgiving. This year my heart is mended, I'm finishing my first semester of graduate school (with flying colors), and excited for spend time with my extended family for Thanksgiving. It's been a bit of a bumpy ride, but think about what bumps do. When I was in high school, Doyle would drive me and Ben home in his jeep. He would hit the speed bumps and we would fly. Yes, speed bumps are there to get us to slow down, but they can also take us really high. That's what they can do for us. Speed bumps can help us slow down, get perspective and take us higher.

I'm pretty sure my speed bump days aren't over, and I don't think they ever will be. This is how we grow and progress. So, if your dealing with a broken heart, let it mend. If you're waiting for word back about graduate school, wait actively. If you're anxious to leave, take a minute to enjoy where you are. Let speed bumps take you higher to our Heavenly Father. 

Chastity

There has been a lot of talk out there about who is responsible for chastity before marriage. Guess what? "(Men and women) have a sacred responsibility to rear their children in love and righteousness." This righteousness does not magically appear when two people are married. Even when they are married in the temple of the Lord.

Instead it comes through preparation as individuals and a couple commit to one another. It continues long after the marriage has been performed as these two people strive to become celestial. So men and women can both prepare to rear their children in love and righteousness when they live chaste lives before marriage. Some people would say this is "old fashioned". Guess what, it is! Marriage was ordained by God. That means it has been around for a very, very long time. So, be chaste. It isn't a matter of gender, but instead genealogy. Because you are a child of God, you should treat yourself, and others, as the children of a King.

P.S. Doesn't that temple look like a castle? This is "The house of the Lord"- the house of a king. Because we are His children, THIS is where we go to become like Him. I love that. 

What I learned about relationships today: Communication

I realized something today. Sometimes, even when you do your best to communicate, it doesn't seem to work. Even when you mirror what the person is saying, explain yourself clearly, stay calm express your desire to understand their viewpoint, it still doesn't "work". So, here was my question: What is considered a successful communication? Joining the Gospel and secular research together, here is my answer: 

1. "The real challenge that we face in our communications with others is to condition our hearts to have Christlike feelings for all of Heavenly Father's children. When we develop this concern for the condition of others, we then will communicate with them as the Savior would. We will then warm the hearts of those who may be suffering in silence" - L. Lionel Kendrick 

We communicate out of love and concern for other people. We want to see them as God sees them and we want to better understand their point of view. We cannot control others' reaction to our communications, but we can try our best to effectively communicate our message so they will understand. We CAN control our reaction to their reaction. 

2. In our communication, there are filters that we have to pass through. Here is the sender-receiver communication model. 

                                                                            Source: Studyblue.com 
So, multiple things can happen. We can either not convey our message correctly because of an inability to use the right words, we can use the wrong body language or the other person can have a negative view of us that distorts the message we are sending. No wonder communication is so difficult. 

But there is hope! I am weak in my communication skills with others and it wouldn't surprise me if other people are too. Remember the promise give by a loving Father in heaven:

"I would show unto the world that ^afaith is things which are^bhoped for and ^cnot seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no ^dwitness until after the ^etrial of your faith... 
 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their^aweakness. I ^bgive unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my ^cgrace is sufficient for all men that ^dhumble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make ^eweak things become strong unto them."

A quick update

Life in Logan has been wonderful, albeit a little stressful and tear-filled. Last week I grabbed a couple of people and went to peach days in Brigham City. It was a cute parade, although apparently Aunt Chris said it was unimpressive in comparison to most years. 

Flags honoring Utah.

What parade is complete without some beautiful Palominos?

We had a great spot by the temple to watch the storm move in. 

 Down near the vendor booths

For my birthday my brother made me a Georgia cutting board. I miss Georgia, so I pull it out every now and then. It smells so good! 

 A beautiful Logan sunset. I get to see these, or city lights, as I come down from school. Just a reminder of God's tender mercies to a graduate student. 

Utah State Game!

The first Utah State home game was so great. We had a down pour, which sent many people home. But that's okay, because we took their seats and ended up in the third row by the end of the game. We creamed Weber State, it would have been embarrassing if we hadn't, but they did score a touchdown in the last 2 minutes of the game. Jumping in puddles on the way home and drinking hot chocolate at the nottingham house put the cherry on top of a pretty great game. 

 On our way to the game.

 Courtney, Aubree and Emily. 

 I actually thought of the BYU fight song: "We will fight, day or night, rain or snow!" We had quite the sprinkling during the game, but it was so worth it. I feel like a real Aggie. 

Right before Weber scored. We didn't get to 100, although the fans were chanting it during the last ten minutes. 

Covenant to do His will

Sometimes Satan really gets on my nerves. We know, through revelation, that God will allow Satan to tempt us. It is part of God's plan for His children, that we are tried and tested and made stronger. But God will not allow us to be tempted above that which we are able to bear. But think about it. I mean, really think about it. If we are tempted, and able to bear that, we are tempted again. This whole time, we are building spiritual muscles, until one day we are able to "endure all things". All things? Right now, as Becca would say, "I am doing life. I am not necessarily doing it well, but I am doing it." Today was one of those days where I prayed in the temple, dropped to my knees in my bathroom, living room, bed room and prayed as I exercised. It has been a day with a loving Father, because no other solace seems to be working. I tend to have to learn the same lesson over and over again. 

I have recently been struggling, trying to figure out why God would uproot a girl, firmly planted in the soil of Provo, Utah and just putting down baby roots in Athens, Georgia, in Logan, Utah. Everyone seems to be from Utah. Everyone seems to know the traditions. Everyone seems to be so sure of themselves. Everyone, except me. Why does He need me in Logan? For anyone who says, "To get an education", I know. But I firmly believe that there is some other reason. If the only reason was to get an education, it wouldn't really matter where I went. But, for some reason it did. 

So, I've been searching for an answer. Nothing spectacular has come yet, but I found comfort in the talk given by Sister Pingree.  She said that she "feared (going to a new land), but I realized I hadchosen to make personal, binding, sacred commitments I meant to keep." At first I thought only of marriage covenants because, let's be honest, that's what I worry about. Not making those covenants in this life. But I then thought about how in the pre-mortal world we made a decision to come here and be tested and tried. Now we have the opportunity to make a covenant that we will continue to do that. This is my mission. Remain faithful to the covenants I have made, continue to make covenants and look forward to new covenants. 

Yes, I will work hard in school. But I will also find the Lord's will for me here in Logan, Utah. 

I needed this yesterday

Yesterday was wonderfully humbling. I woke up tired, missing my family and my friends Ryan, Becca, Davina, Beatriz and Camille and feeling a little defeated as I realized everything that needed to be done before the day was over. Don't get me wrong. I would rather be struggling with graduate school than struggling to work a full-time job that didn't pay well or, right now at-least, be a mom. There is a time to everything, and this is my time to enjoy, not just endure graduate school. Anyways, of course we had to sing, "Master the tempest is raging" in my institute class and of course I had to start crying. "Awaken and save I pray" the song said. That's exactly how I felt? Where was my redeemer? Hadn't he promised to save me? I was mistaken. He had already reached out, I just had to stretch forth my hand as well. Like Peter, I had walked on the water. I just had to keep my faith.

Back to the story. Of course my teacher had to come looking for me, and of course a girl came and located me in the bathroom. Guess what? She was in my LDS Stake. Like my mom said, "It seems like everyone is in your stake. Probably a reason for that".

So, this morning when I woke up, as I was running to the temple, I remembered a poem that I wrote a few years ago and I realized I wrote it for now. Now, when I was tired. Now, when I was missing my family and friends. Now, when I was feeling defeated. I needed a gift that God gave me. He is so wise and loving, and for that I am grateful. I love my Heavenly Father.

Stand

Sometimes He lets your heart break
Sometimes He lets you cry
Sometimes you feel as if,
the world's going to pass you by.

Sometimes the grief comes down
in sheets of torrent rain
and you wish for comfort, peace and still
that would take away your pain

Reach upward
Reach outward
Reach for His hand
Reach for His mercy,

Get up and stand.

Stand for something
Stand for what's right
Stand with power,
Stand with might.

Stand with the wisdom,
Stand with your will
Stand with your virtue,
but never stand still.

Time to get moving. There are people to be served and things to be done. 

A little bit of wonderful

That title pretty much sums up my life right now. I'm in a new ward and loving every minute of it (mostly). I'm slightly terrified at all these new experiences I'm having and all the new people I'm meeting. Most people don't think of me as shy, but meeting new people causes panic to well-up in my chest. Will they like me? Will I like them? Will they think I'm weird? Do they think people from the South are crazy? Will I come off as too religious? Most of the time I just have to decide that it doesn't matter and just go for it. And always, so far, people have been kind and understanding of my tears in relief society and my over-enthusiam as I talk about my major.

When my parents were still here, we went on a beautiful hike in Logan. That's when I fell in love. Just don't tell Georgia.

Dad hiked the Crimson Trail!

Aren't they just adorable? 

Beautiful Utah Scenery 

             



And look what else I found in Logan? I had so much fun hanging out with Josh, Tami, Keean. Go Dawgs!

And in other news, my little vacuum/broom thing does a wonderful job of cleaning up after itself :) I really like my apartment. Lots of people think it's crazy that I'm living alone, but I enjoy the solitude and I think it is actually making me more social.