All Together

My siblings and I all went and did baptisms in the temple the other day TOGETHER!!

It was pretty awesome!! I love the temple!

I can't wait till we all can be there together as a family in the Celestial room.

THAT will be pretty neat!

Don't Mess with Texas

Yep, I have now been east of Arizona. I've been to the great state of Texas. Last week, one of my absolute favorite families invited me to spend a week in their home with their four sweet kids! I have been looking forward to this week for a very long time!! I had so much fun seeing downtown and all the cute, quaint shops, and eating tons of delicious food!

The kids were so cute and I can't believe how fast they grow up!! I loved waking up two smiley twins each morning and then watching them excitedly wake up the older two kids. I loved hearing them sing-a-long to their favorite songs in the car. I loved how excited the older kids were to tell me all about camp. I loved bouncing around with the twins and playing Just Dance and making goo with the older kids.

I loved watching the twins race across this bridge over and over and over again! (I loved the tree covered streets there!!)

I loved taking silly pictures with the older two.

But my favorite moments most of all included giggling with the kids until my stomach hurt, and all the hugs and kisses I got...

and talking with the older kids right before bed about whatever they wanted, and having a family night lesson in a fort, and watching them help each other.

I was so lucky to get to spend a week with them and I already miss them again so much BUT the opportunity to go and spend an entire week with them was the best ever!

Fossil Springs

I went to one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen last weekend with a group of YSAs from the institute!!

This place is so close!

We hiked past waterfall after waterfall until we got to "The Waterfall."

(Look how clear the water is!!)

And I jumped off the top of it (the rock at the very top right side of the picture - about 35 feet high) and swam behind it and hiked back through the creek. It was seriously SO much fun!!

If you haven't been, and you live close, you are missing out!!

Halfway

I am officially a "Second Year"

I am halfway done with my program.

One year from today, I will start WORKING!

I am one year away from having a paycheck!

I only have ONE.MORE.FIRST.DAY.OF.SCHOOL.... EVER!!

:)

DISCLAIMER:

I have looked back at my blog and realized that it is full of all the fun and exciting things that I have done lately. I am so blessed to really have the opportunity to do so many great things!

DISCLAIMER:

I don't want people to read my blog and ever think "everything seems to work out for her - why isn't my life like that."

Things aren't always gumdrops and lollipops (or hikes and trips) for ANYONE!

("The very opportunity for us to face adversity and affliction is part of the evidence of [Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ's] infinite love." - Pres. Eyring)

But, I have found that I have tended to post the things that DO go right so that when I look back on it myself, I can be reminded how very blessed I am (because I am very blessed).

My stake president in Mesa asked us to be more vulnerable this year - to share those things that might sometimes be a bit more personal then we typically like to share BUT that have helped us grow tremendously so that others can learn from them!

So...

The one thing I want in life more than anything else is my very own family.

("There can be no genuine happiness separate and apart from the home. The sweetest influences and associations of life are there." - Pres. Benson)

I want to come home from a late night and know someone cares that I made it back safe.

I want to share the dinner I make with someone else instead of eat alone.

I want to hear the words (and say) "I love you" everyday instead of just when I call home.

I want to have somebody to get ready for each day.

I want to go to wedding receptions and baby showers without feeling a twinge of pain at the realization that I don't belong in those categories yet.

I want someone I trust and love next to me to help me decide where to go after grad school.

I want to have someone to love and surprise and serve.

BUT...

God has a different plan for me right now,

and He knows what is best.

For now, I am just trying to make the very best of where I am at.

And reminding myself that,

"Some blessings come soon, some come late, and some don't come until heaven; but for those who embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, they come." - as Elder Holland has said.

THEY COME!!

Until then, I'll be hiking!

Vulnerable enough?!? - but not desperate! - Promise :)

CaLiFoRnIa!!

My family had the family trip planned long ago and due to my summer school, it was looking like I wouldn't be able to go even for a day or two. I was super bummed and tried not to think about it too much... until my professor moved our final two days earlier than expected. The second he mentioned it, the wheels started turning and I practically had the trip planned before class was even over!

Kaitlin and I drove out to Anaheim on Thursday after our finals to get there and crash before the big day ahead of us. Friday, we got to go to Disneyland and California Adventure with my family! It was Kaitlin's first time at Disneyland and we were so excited that we couldn't contain our excitement!! (I'm still like a little kid and had a hard time falling asleep the night before! - I was too excited!)

Because my family had already spent three days there, they had our entire day planned out so that we could get in every ride possible! It was incredible! We seriously did every single thing that we wanted to and then some!!

It was so fun to be there with my family, to feel a part of the family trip, and to not let too many memories be made without me! I have the greatest family in the entire world!! I am sooo lucky to be "stuck" with 5 best friends forever!! My love and appreciation for each of them only grows stronger and stronger the more time we spend together!

Saturday, my family packed up and headed off while Kaitlin and I stayed and went to the Newport Beach Temple. It was breathtaking just as every temple is!!

Then we went and spent the afternoon at the beach: boogie boarding, surfing (more like attempting to surf), and soaking up the sun! It was even a bit chilly but SO fun! It was great to sit there on the sand and forget that anything else but the waves even existed! I LOVE the beach!! I could've spent a few more days there!!

That night, we got dressed up and went to a fancy Italian restaurant for dinner and then came back to Kathy's and turned on a movie! (Kathy lives in the best place ever!! - Thanks for letting us stay!)

Sunday, we found a Singles ward in Newport to go to and then drove home! It was an awesome weekend packed with so much fun!! It was a quick taste of summer and I am so so grateful I got to go!!

Committed

I do not get a newspaper every morning and so I have switched over to reading an article from the ensign every morning while I eat breakfast. It is a wonderful way to start my day and it has really helped me apply the gospel to my everyday life!

July's First Presidency Message has kept me thinking all month! (If you haven't read it yet, you should! It's called, "Brother, I'm Committed."

It talks about either being committed to what you do or not. There is no middle ground. Pres. Uchtdorf says, "Those who are only sort of committed may expect to only sort of receive the blessings of testimony, joy, and peace. The windows of heaven might only be sort of open to them."

The windows of heaven only sort of open?! - No, thank you!

So... am I only sort of committed to school? only sort of committed to my calling? only sort of committed to my personal health? only sort of committed to getting something out of my scripture study?

At times, I have found myself guilty of each one of these in the past month (and many more).

Pres. Uchtdorf continues by saying, "There is a difference between intention and action. Those who only intend to commit may find excuses at every turn. Those who truly commit face their challenges squarely and say to themselves, 'Yes, that would be a very good reason to delay, but I made covenants, and so I will do what I have committed to do'." (emphasis added)

I intend to study days and days before my tests, but it rarely happens. I intend to do something to magnify my calling and something seems to come up so much more often than it should. Iintend to workout daily and somehow I have days where I end up eating apple jacks and watching tv instead (ahem, yesterday). I always intend to get something out of scriptures but more often than desired, I find my mind wandering to things of less importance.

I am a pro at making to-do lists and goals.

Now I just need to learn how to be a pro at committing myself to them!

Pres. Uchtdorf ends with, "In some way, each of us stands at a decision point overlooking the water. It is my prayer that we will have faith, move forward, face our fears and doubts with courage, and say to ourselves, 'I'm committed'."

Are you committed?