The beginning of an End

These few months have been the beginning of an end. For years we have had a group of cousins that have been very close and have done just about everything together. Sunday game nights, random movie excursions and random visits to each other late at night, Sunday cookie-making, love, support, friendship... We are each others best friends and, for the most part, have been our whole lives. We have been each others support in hard times (and trials in others... :D). Now, things are changing.

Two days ago (Tuesday) my cousin and one of my dearest friends was married for time and all eternity in the LDS Timpanogos Temple. I was so happy for her. She and her husband absolutely glowed the whole day. My cousin Jake and I are leaving on missions. Jake to California, and I'm off to Brazil. The boys and Kimmy are graduating from High school next year which means off to college and, very soon after for the boys, their own missions. The dynamics are changing.

We are The Cousins. That is not just a general phrase anymore to us. When we say it we see faces. When we hear it, we feel loved and happy. Now when I hear it I feel sad this wonderful era is ending, but excited to see what the future holds for all of us.

A lady here at work is listening to a song I believe fits my feelings very well... "You'll be in my Heart" from Disney's Tarzan. You will all be in my heart forever, no matter what happens or where we go. I love you guys. Thank you for everything you've done for me.

Infinity and Beyond... In Talent

This week I attended the show "110 in the Shade" at the Hale Center Theater for the second time. The first time I saw the show I was amazed by the talent and enjoyed the show, but this time was even better! The talent and energy onstage absolutely blew me away! All of those in lead positions had voices for Broadway and their amazing acting made the experience complete.
Amazing!

Up Down Turn around...

Through my many different decisions I have had to make in the past few months I have come to realize a lot of things. One thing I have noticed is that the Lord very often waits to give us an answer until we have had the experiences that will help us to understand the answer and come to the point where we know enough we would choose His will. He puts more trust in our ability to make decisions than I had ever before realized. As we come to the point of making a pinnacle decision, we can pray, fast, and do all the things we have been taught and though the Lord will provide us an answer, many times He requires us to go through related experiences in order to make a decision, then He provides His stamp of approval on that decision if it is in accordance to His will. But the answers do come. It is through these trials and challenges that we come to understand more who He is and the role He plays as our Savior and Redeemer. He lives. He loves us. He answers our prayers, and if we do our best to follow Him, He will not let us fail. Of this I testify in His sacred name, even Jesus Christ, Amen.

The Sniffles

Life is an interesting thing. One day you feel like you know how your whole life will play out, then the next day you get a cold. Don't ask, it just sounded good. So I have a cold. Why do they call it a cold when I feel very hot? They should call it a hot. I have a hot today. It flew in ever so stealthily Saturday night and grew gradually worse throughout Sunday. Today I have used almost an entire box of Kleenex by myself... Oh dear. I cannot complain too much, however, because I was so paranoid about getting sick during those weeks of misery (aka end of school and finals), but this hot was kind enough to hold back until all of that was over. Very kind of you hot, thank you. Today I feel much better, though incredibly exhausted and very stuffy (embarassingly so), but I feel 20x's better than I did yesterday afternoon. What a blessing. I had a friend tell me to eat onions when I'm sick. I ate spaghetti sauce with onions in it last night. Maybe that's the reason for this miraculous somewhat recovery! What a discovery... For me... Yes, that did rhyme. Can you tell I'm sick? Probably not. I'm very good at hiding it when I can't think clearly. The thoughts seem to come out of their own accord. A nice break for my brain. Tonight I am going to a Barbeque. Am I excited? Of course. Friends, food, movie, more food, friends, what a night. Awesome. Excited! Well, my rant for today is finished. Almost time to go home. Another blessing. Jolly good. Goodbye for today, and until tomorrow, adieu.

The gift of Friends

The sweet smell of newly fallen rain, cool air, and a walk through the night with a dear friend. My life is one of great joys. Last night was an interesting night. After finals finished I had a let-down crash-down and was sick. I was exhausted and at the end of my line physically, mentally, and emotionally. Yesterday I played volleyball with some friends and as I slammed the craziness out of that ball, I began to feel better. The laughter and sight of friends all around me, living life in such a way that joy was often present, I felt better. Then something changed. I'm not sure exactly what, but the joy faded, the excitement diminished, I was tired, and my shoulders drooped once again. I didn't know what to do. I sat in front of my house, despising the thought of going to bed with such a feeling, yet desiring so much to just sleep and shut out the world. I texted a friend and requested an audience in the cool night air, just to get out and walk. This dear friend, though it was late, and cold, I think could sense my mood (this friend had been playing volleyball earlier as well), and accepted. We walked through the cool, damp air and talked. We joked, we laughed, my shoulders lifted, my heart was light again. The blessing of having true friends, who listen to the spirit and are willing to serve, is, to me, one of the greatest gifts given to us here in mortality. To feel that love and safety in the company of others... This is joy.

Lost and Found post...

Each time I get a chance to think I'm reminded harshly of the reality that I won't be living in my apartment much longer. It feels like I've lived there forever, but at the same time it feels like I just moved in. I can remember the emotions and thoughts that flooded my mind as I moved in back in January. I was so afraid I would have roommates I didn't get along with or that wouldn't like me. I was also afraid we would hate each other by the time we moved out. I have experienced running on thin ice at the end of the sememster with a roommate before, and for this specific reason I refused to move out with friends for fear it would destroy our friendship.

I am here to say I have been blessed. I have the most amazing roommates, we got along from the beginning, and, 3 weeks away from moving out, we not only still like each other, but we're all dreading having to move out.

There are a lot of things that I believe have contributed to this experience being so different than the last. I wanted so desperately to have a different experience than last time, and I knew there was a lot I needed to improve about myself to make that happen. I prayed over and over again and had the thought enter into my mind: the more you serve someone the greater love you will have for them. I took this to heart when I moved into this apartment. Every chance I got I tried to serve my roommates. It wasn't much, but I did what I could. As I did, it helped me love them and want to do even more for them. After a few times my roommates started to "fire back" and do things for me. It turned into a free-for-all war of service. The feeling in our apartment changed from awkward beginnings to trust and love for each other. We wanted to help each other in any way we could; we began to care about what was happening in each others' lives and shared laughter, tears, and many spiritual experiences with one another. The difference between my last experience and this one have been indescribable, and I know the Lord blessed me because I asked. He does answer prayers, always. We still have to do our part and follow the council He provides, but He will bless us.

It has been a fabulous experience! I'm sad it is almost over, but so grateful I had it at all.

Prophets, Seers, and Revelators