A School Girl

The summer days are over and it's back to the typical school days! I will be honest, after 15 straight years of school, I have had the hardest time getting excited about this semester! I have had to drag myself out of bed and into class starting from day two. That is never a good sign!!

Then, the other day I was listening to one of the cd's I have in my car. A song by Rascal Flatts came on called "Love Who You Love." The lyrics to one verse go like this:

Why do we take it all for granted

Until it's gone,

Cause then it's gone.

Love who you love

With all that you have

And don't waste the time that flies so fast.

The song is talking about the ones we love, but all I could think of was the great opportunity I have to gain an education. Why do I take it for granted? I can't even tell you how many people have told me to "soak up the college years!" And time does fly so fast! I need to be SO EXCITED to get up and go to class every single day!! :)

In my quest to get excited about school, I have read a few talks about the importance of education and learning. President Monson gave some great advice. "When faced with a lengthy period of schooling, there appears at times to be no light at the tunnel's end, no dawn to break the darkness. At such times, you need the light that comes from becoming acquainted with the lessons the scriptures teach."

That quote couldn't be more true! I am taking an institute class about all of the prophets of the church (I LOVE my institute classes). We spent 2 weeks studying the life of Joseph Smith and now we are studying Brigham Young. These men loved learning. They didn't take it for granted or waste their time!

When testifying of Joseph Smith, Dallin H. Oaks said, "The Prophet Joseph had no role models from whom he could learn how to be a prophet and leader of the Lord's people... [yet] the Prophet's growth was extremely rapid." He valued knowledge and truly took the time to learn. Brigham Young only had 11 days of formal education, but he understood how important education was - hence the reason he started BYU. He said, "Put forth your ability to learn as fast as you can, and gather all the strength of mind and principle of faith you possibly can, and then distribute your knowledge to the people."

These stories and especially that quote made me realize that now is the time for me to love learning! So, I LOVE SCHOOL!!! (Or at least I am working on loving it!) I am so blessed to go to a great university! I am grateful that I have been blessed with the ability to learn. I am grateful for professors who are there to help me. I am thankful for friends that encourage me to try harder in school! I am especially grateful for modern-day prophets and their examples! And I am grateful for the scriptures that provide lessons of enduring to the end and enjoying the journey!

Especially for Youth

Where to start... I don't even know where to begin!!  I have had the best summer ever so far!  I have been a counselor for 3 weeks, and I have 3 more to go... week 4 starting today! I have had some of the most amazing experiences as a counselor.  Our week starts with a fireside Sunday night and the kids show up on Monday and leave on Saturday.  The week is packed to the seems with activities such as devotionals, dances, games, classes, etc!  From 6:30am to 11:30pm we never stop going, but it is worth every moment of work!  The youth of the church are AMAZING!  

Although I spent quite a bit of time preparing before my first week, I still felt so inadequate on day one! I was so worried that I was not good enough!  But, our coordinators encouraged us to "set aside fear" and pray for Heavenly help!  That is exactly what I did... or tried to do (fear still sneaks in at times).  I have seen the hand of the Lord in my life as I have had more strength than should be possible while living on a cafeteria diet, no sleep, and no exercise!  I have felt the Spirit prompt me with what to teach the youth each week!  I have no doubt that Heavenly Father knows each of these kids and has a plan and a purpose for them!

I have been blessed to meet and work with some of the greatest people.  The other counselors and leaders at EFY are amazing!  It is so neat to constantly be surrounded by others who share your standards and lift you up!  And, yes, one of the benefits of being a counselor is spending lots of time with amazing single guys! =) I also get to attend the classes each week with the kids where we are taught by some of CES' best teachers!  I sit and just soak it all up!  

I have learned to better appreciate the strong, active family that I was raised in that many of these youth do not have.  Some come from very difficult circumstances and yet they are so strong and positive!  I learn so much from the youth - sometimes I wonder if they are learning anything or if I am the one who is getting all the benefits.  On Thursdays, we have testimony meeting, or what counselors call "pay day."  It is the night where we get to hear them testify of what they know and what they have learned!  I have seen kids recognize their own testimonies right before my eyes!

I have also gained a great appreciation for the weekends - especially Sundays!!  I think I spend all day Saturday doing laundry and sleeping - really, I take day long naps!  And Sunday is a day to prepare for the week ahead and rest from your labors.  Yep, that means I nap on Sundays too!  

I am so grateful I have been blessed to have this opportunity.  It is like a mini mission where we work to help instill testimonies in these youth.  I love EFY!  I love that I get to go to 6 weeks of it instead of 1!

Family Update

I have been meaning to do this for awhile now.  I always say, "I'll do it next week when I have more time." - Ha!  I have come to the conclusion that there is only so much time, and if you don't make something a priority, then it won't happen!  So here is a little update on what my family has been up to...

We all made it through another year of school!  D ended up participating on 3 teams this year at his new school: track, tennis, and academic decathlon.  His academic team competed in the national championships and won, so he is a national champion! (In case you are wondering, academic decathlon is kind of like jeopardy.  It tests how much you know - both as an individual and as a team!)  He grows half an inch a month still which currently puts him at 6'3.5'' making him now officially taller than dad.  He is going to be a sophomore next year!  Can you believe it?!?  He recently got his driving permit and has obviously played too many driving video games.  He forgets to share the road and keeps looking for the reset button.  (Ok, he isn't THAT bad... but it is obvious why insurance for boys is more expensive than girls!)  

J played basketball and baseball this year and started really picking up the piano.  Where did his determination to play the piano suddenly come from?... He wants to "impress the ladies!" Haha!  He is now 5'10'' and claims that he shouldn't have to sit in the back of the car if he is taller than me.  (I claim first come, first serve... I was born first, I get to choose where I sit first, right?)  He asks if he can drive almost daily.  Thank goodness he has 2 more years before we have to worry about him driving!  

A took dance, piano, and basketball this year.  She came home the other day and said, "Mom!  Guess what!!  My friend has to be in bed by 8pm!"  Well, in a normal family that is not too surprising but seen as we are usually just finishing dinner at 8pm, she couldn't even imagine going to sleep right after eating.  Lets just say that bed time has never been a battle worth fighting in this home!  She is consistently awake PAST 10pm and still wakes up happy and ready to go... at 7 am.  Can you say energizer bunny?    

My mom and dad and D spend the past weekend up at youth conference with the rest of the stake.  They loved the break from the warm weather.  J, A, and I stayed and enjoyed a fun weekend of relaxing.  We had a ton of fun activities planned and then... I got the flu!  So J and A got their dream weekend: all the video games and TV they could have.  After about a day of that, A came to me and said, "I don't want to watch ANY MORE TV!"  Neither of them have really wanted much of TV or video games since.  Who knew the cure was giving them an entire day of it!?!

Well, we are looking forward to a fun-packed summer full of all sorts of activities!  I absolutely love my family.  There is never a dull moment at home, and to be honest, that is the way that I like it!       

EFY - Here I Come!

After 5 summers of the exact same job, I decided to try something new! And...I got it!  After 12 weeks of waiting to hear back from EFY, I finally heard from them this week!  I am officially going to be an EFY counselor this summer!  I can't even wait!  I loved EFY when I got to go as a participant, and I looked up to my counselors so much.  I know that I have a lot to live up to, but I am excited for the challenge!  It will be so much fun to spend a few weeks with great kids and enjoy the Spirit that is present there!!  For awhile there, I worried that I wasn't going to get the job, but I learned a great lesson about "AFTER the trial of your faith."  It took turning down my previous job and waiting with PATIENCE to receive the blessing.  I feel so blessed to be given such an amazing opportunity!  EFY, here I come!!  

Family

The past month or so seems to have flown by.  I am still enjoying school - or at least enduring it!  The countdown to summer has begun!! ;) I have started a new job as a nanny to 4 adorable kids, including twin boys who are only a few months old.  Nothing beats getting paid to play don't brake the ice, hold little babies, jump on the tramp, make paper airplanes, and... leave when it's time to go to sleep!  I absolutely love it!  It amazes me how trusting, loving, and innocent children are!  They remind me constantly that "except we become as a little child, we can in no wise inherit the kingdom of God."  Boy, I have some qualities to work on!! 

About a week ago, I went to the Easter Pageant with my ward.  What a great reminder of the true purpose of this season!  For General Conference, I got to drive up and spend the weekend with cousins and grandparents.  We were blessed to have gotten a hold of 16 tickets to the Sunday Morning Session in the Conference Center.  And, much to our delight, we could see the speakers better than we anticipated!  As Jake put it, "Look, they are a blob, not a dot!"  It was so neat to be gathered in the conference center with thousands of Saints listening to the words of the prophets.  There is definitely an added power when we gather together!  It was a very spiritually-packed weekend, and I am looking forward to studying the talks at a much slower pace!  I had so much fun catching up, playing games, and laughing with family and friends!  

If there is one thing that I have been exceptionally grateful for the past few months, it has been my family!!  There is nothing better than family!  They have helped me through the tough times and been excited with me through the good times!  I am so lucky to have great parents, wonderful siblings, and the greatest extended family!!  Here is a quote that explains it well... "Family is the most important part of your life.  Treasure the tears, treasure the laughter, but most importantly, treasure the memories." -Unknown  

My Grandpa, My Hero

About a week ago, a good friend asked me, "Do you have a new man in your life?  Because we haven't seen you in weeks!!"  Actually... I have one less man in my life... for now.  Close to the time when I was born, my Grandpa Garner was diagnosed with cancer.  For the past twenty years, my family and I have seen miracle after miracle as he has been blessed with health and strength despite the cancer.  Then, on February 23, my grandpa passed away.  He was and is an amazing man!  He always took the time to talk to people.  He was genuinely concerned about others and made sure they knew it.  I can recall numerous experiences in which he would stop me and quietly tell me that he loved me or that he was proud of me.  He wanted nothing but the best for each of us and frequently gave us advice and counsel on how to find happiness.  He had a great sense of humor and always found the best in every situation.  I could go on and on about the great qualities that he possessed but there is one thing that I think of most when I think of my grandpa.  He had such a vast knowledge and love of the gospel.  His face would light up as he taught from the scriptures.  In honor of him, I want to share what I have learned this past month.  I know with greater knowledge that families can be forever.  I know like Elder Holland taught that there are "angels dispatched to bless us in time of need" -seen and unseen.  But most importantly, I learned that when we ask the Lord to help us "bear our burdens," He does not take our burdens away.  Instead He makes our burdens SEEM light.  The Savior carries us as we carry our burdens.  I am so thankful for the gospel in my life and the peace that it brings me!  I love my grandfather.  He truly is one of my greatest heroes and I will miss him!!   

I DID IT!!!!! I Ran a 1/2 Marathon!

I have always had a place in my heart for running.  Throughout high school, I ran 2 miles almost every single day!  Then college started and I got out of the habit.  Many of my aunts and uncles have always been runners, and they always talk about their races and events.  For the past few years, I have had the urge to participate in the Turkey Trot with them, but I was too afraid to try!  Well, this year, I finally just registered months in advance knowing that I wouldn't let my money go to waste!  After running the 10 k (6.2 miles), I felt so accomplished!!   I didn't stop there; my aunt and uncle convinced me to run a half-marathon.  I started training with them, but it took me much longer to commit this time as I still doubted if I could do it!  Like Nephi, sometimes we have to "go and do" before we really even know if we can do it!  It wasn't until many weeks after I committed, that I realized I could run a half-marathon!  At a weekly Saturday practice we ran 10 miles, and when I finished, I thought, "10 down, what's 3 more?!"  So last weekend, I did it!!  I RAN A HALF-MARATHON!!  I ran 13 miles in just under 2 1/2 hours!  It is amazing to think that just 3 months ago, I had never run more than 4 miles at a time!  I am so thankful for my aunt and uncle's encouragement and support! 

It has to be one of the most physically and mentally challenging things that I have ever done, but I am so glad that I did!  I learned many lessons through the entire experience!  On the very last mile of our long runs, a quote from Elaine S. Dalton's recent conference talk would run through my head: "I can do hard things, [but] in the strength of the Lord, I can do all things."  A half-marathon was a hard thing for me, but I learned that I can do hard things.  Although I can do hard things, I can't do everything!  When my best is not enough, I can rely on the Lord to make up the rest.  With Him, I can do ALL things!  I am so grateful for my Savior and for the lessons that I have learned from running!