Today I did my first 5k! Are you proud cause I surely am! I did this with no prior training, besides going on very short runs every once in awhile! The 5k was a fundraiser for this adorable little boy Jacob and his family! Jacob just turned six and has recently been diagnosed with Leukemia! Sad huh! I read the family blog every time they post something new. It really makes me sit and think about my life and how insignificant my problems are compared to the ones this boy is facing! I can't even imagine going through that! My sister and her family are in Jacob's ward! So we all did the race together! It was at 8 am this morning and let me tell you, IT WAS FREEZING!!! My sister and her husband and my niece walked/ran it together and I walked/ran with my nephew Robby! I let him choose whatever pace we went. Sometimes we would walk and sometimes we would run! Most of the time we ran though! He is awesome! At the very beginning he decided we should run while holding hands, cute huh! We stuck together until the very end and I told him to sprint to the finish! He finished before I did! =) Then we went and waited for his mom and dad to finish because he wanted to run with them to the end. When they got their my niece Zoe was crying and decided that she wanted me to hold her, but that she wanted to run! So I picked her up and we all ran across the finish line (can I tell you that it is very difficult to run with a crying 3 year old in many layers in your arms!) This was such a great way to do my first 5k! It was very low key, for a really good cause, and it was with my family! I actually had a blast. There could be more 5k's in my future, but I think I will prepare for them!
Freezing before the 5k! Everyone but my sis (she's taking the pic)
I love these quotes down below!
I will make a prayer.
I will make a prayer to ask what I can do, I will make a prayer to ask for courage to follow the light as it is given to me.
You gain courage and strength every time you look fear in the face.
You gain strength you gain courage and strength,
you gain courage and confidence every time that you are forced to look fear in the face. You must do the thing you think you cannot do.
I will make a prayer
Life must be lived! Life must be lived!
Cast out fear, we must cast out our fear and face the unknown,
Face the unknown with courage and integrity and a high heart.
You must do the thing you think you cannot do.
I will make a prayer.
Believe in your dreams, believe in the beauty of your dreams.
The future belongs to those who dream,
tho those who do believe in the beauty of their dreams.
I totally understand that quote! I need to relax but there is 0 time for it! Hmmmm
This is how I feel right now at this moment!
Today was one of those days. You know what kind of day I'm talking about! The ones that you think are going to go great and they do for the most part, but you have a ton of stuff thrown on you all at once! Yep I had one of those days! I was almost in tears multiple times today! I have a ton of stuff to do, a ton of stuff to think about, a huge unit plan due, church stuff, school, friends, New Zealand stuff, family, etc... You know the usual giant mound of things to do! I already run on a limited amount of sleep and food, but so far this week seems like it will be the worst!
Today I started a block class. As if I didn't already have enough to do. This class is for my New Zealand study abroad and can I tell you that it totally overwhelmed me! So much to do, so much to think about! Yikes! I called my mom after and told her about my day! I was almost in tears as I walked to the library! Tears seem to come very easily today! I've been on the verge of having a breakdown all day! But, I don't have time for that. I have articles to read, lessons to plan, debates to prepare for, work to do! I live in the library (I have for the last 2 weeks). I usually spend on average about 24 hours every week in that place! Luckily I have a really good friend that is always there with me! I think we keep each other sane!
Anyways! Rant over! Life is stressful but so is everyone else's. My problems are insignificant compared to those of others! Life could be a lot worse than it is! I just need to embrace what is going on. It will only make me stronger! Right?!
Sunday was Stake Conference! It was amazing! Elder Ballard came and spoke to us! I went with a list of questions and they were all answered! I love that! Here are some random things that the speakers said that stood out to me.
* Always rely on the Lord (even with the small things) * The small things you do everyday are what make you GREAT! * Prayer!!!!! "Let the Breakfast Go and Pray!" * Look Forward! Think about the Future! (this one has been on my mind all day because I have so many decision to make in the next few weeks! I have to be an adult soon and I don't want to be! ) * What are your expectations? Where are you going? Where is your future taking you? * We won't stop talking about dating until you actually start dating! =) haha loved that! * Disappointments with come! You will not always be Right! (AHH man!)
It was an amazing Stake Conference! I really got a lot out of it! Oh and I got to shake Elder Ballard's hand! That's right! I now have met 2 apostles (I met President Eyring in the temple one year!)
Have you seen this video? If not, I highly recommend it! A friend showed it to me last night in the library! It is exactly what I needed. I've seen in like 5 times since then! I love that this friend always seems to know exactly what I need, when I need it! It just amazes me! I don't think they know that, but it is true!
Isn't it amazing how crazy life can get! I can't even begin to tell you how different this semester has been from all the other 6 semesters I have been at BYU. (wow 6! Really?! I've been here a long time! still got 3 more (counting this one) to go!) This semester is just an odd one! Don't get me wrong I love it! I wouldn't trade anything that has happened for the world! It has definitely helped me become the person I am now! Who knows, maybe this semester is different because I know I am leaving the country in a few months. Maybe I just have a different outlook on life and a different take on what happens. Maybe I have a better attitude and am better at accepting whatever happens! One thing I have learned a great deal this semester is about becoming the person you want to be! It seems as though every single one of my classes talks about that! I can tell you right now, I am working on it! I am changing some things and trying to learn some new things to help me get to the point that I want to be at! I feel as though it is an ongoing and never ending process! Here is to whatever the rest of the semester has in store for me!
Watch out world! I am coming for you and I'm ready for whatever you hand me!
I have the best friends and family in the entire world! Seriously I do! They know exactly the right thing to say at the right time and they listen to me ramble on about anything and everything! I just love them so much! I've been trying to spend as much time as I can with my friends and family because in 83 days (HOLY COW) I will be on my way to New Zealand! (Yikes, that number is quickly getting smaller). A lot of my friends will be gone after next semester and that makes me really sad. This study abroad trip couldn't have come at a better or a worse time! I'm going to miss everyone that is graduating and moving on so much. But that is life I guess, and thankfully we are good enough friends that we will all keep in touch (PHEW)! There are also my friends that will still be around when I am back! Wahoo! I'm so excited that I will get to spend extra time with them! Who knows how everything will work out. However it does it is meant to be! We are all in the right place at the right time, doing the things we are suppose to! I'm excited to see the direction that life takes us all! It will be a grand adventure!
I just want to finish this off with a few quotes (cause you all know that I love quotes) and a song that has been stuck in my head all week! It won't go away.
"The longer you wait for something, the more you'll appreciate it when you get it. Cause anything worth having, is definitely worth waiting...."
"Never give up on anybody. Miracles happen every day!"
"If it is important to you, you will find a way. If not, you'll find an excuse."
On another blog post I added that my motto was "I CAN DO HARD THINGS!"
I have another one to add to that. My other motto is now, "She Believed She Could, so She Did!"
like I said, this song has been stuck in my head! I do love it though !
One more random thought. Yesterday at church I went to marriage prep cause that's the cool thing to do. haha it is a great "life" class, anyways we talked about how important it is to right now, be the person we want to be when we are married! That really made me think! There are some major things that I think I need to change. First off I need to learn how to cook. I don't think that my future husband will be thrilled to have frozen pizzas or Ramen every night for dinner! I'm going to work gradually at becoming the person I want to be! First off, cooking a real dinner, but not tonight! haha. Off to the library I go! Midterms are upon us! UGH!!!
“The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson
I love music! I thought I would post some of the songs that came on my iTunes today!
All My Loving: The Beatles
Ready to Run: Dixie Chicks
Gotta be Somebody: Nickelback
Wherever you are: from the movie Pooh's grand adventure
Crush: David Archuleta
Miracles Happen: Myra
Tell Him: The Exciters
Love Story: Taylor Swift
I'm Yours: Jason Mraz
What Makes you Different: Backstreet Boys
Come What May: from the movie Moulin Rouge
I won't Say (I'm in Love): from the movie Hercules
Everything you Want: Vertical Horizon
Falling in: Lifehouse
These are just a few of them! Great music to study to while in the library? TOTALLY! Look up the rest of the songs! You will be glad you did! Any other great songs that you guys like? Let me know. I'm always up for new music!
Fall is here! The leaves are starting to change colors, the weather is cooler, and football season is well underway! I love fall, except that fall quickly leads to winter! =(
Today I watched Tangled for the upteenth time! This movie is super cute. I really like the first song that she sings.
I also really really love this song! It is just adorable, they are totally falling in love with each other, and the lyrics are AMAZING! All those days watching from the windows
All those years outside looking in
All that time never even knowing
Just how blind I've been
Now I'm here, blinking in the starlight
Now I'm here, suddenly I see
Standing here, it's all so clear
I'm where I am meant to be
And at last I see the light
And it's like the fog has lifted
And at last I see the light
And it's like the sky is new
And it's warm and real and bright
And the world has somehow shifted
All at once everything looks different
Now that I see you
(musical interlude)
Eugene(Flynn):
All those days chasing down a daydream
All those years living in a blur
All that time never truly seeing
Things, the way they were
Now she's here shining in the starlight
Now she's here, suddenly I know
If she's here it's crystal clear
I'm where I'm meant to go
Rapunzel & Eugene (Flynn): And at last I see the light
Eugene (Flynn):
And it's like the fog has lifted
Rapunzel & Eugene (Flynn):
And at last I see the light
Rapunzel:
And it's like the sky is new
Rapunzel & Eugene(Flynn):
And it's warm and real and bright
And the world has somehow shifted
All at once, everything is different
Now that I see you, now that I see you
Standing here, it's all so clear I'm where I'm meant to be! This line really struck me. I am where I need to be. I am doing what I need to be doing. My life is going in the right direction. I am going to a great school and learning A TON! I have amazing friends that put up with me talking about the same thing over and over ;)! I am doing everything that I need to be doing right now!
I Was a little unsure about all of this at the beginning of the semester! During the summer I wasn't sure that I still wanted to go to New Zealand. There were so many choices that I could make. I could go and push back graduation for the second time, or I could stay in Provo and graduate in April. I couldn't decide the direction I wanted my life to go. I decided quite awhile ago that I am going! It's a once in a lifetime opportunity and it is the right choice for me. I have nothing that is holding me back. I have no responsibilities, no job that requires me to stay put, no boy begging me to stay (even if I did have a boy I would hope he would tell me to go). I am in the perfect position to go! It is a once in a life time opportunity and I am taking it. I am ready for the new adventure and to see how my life changes! I am ready to become the world traveler and get out of Provo Utah! I am ready to live my dream! I am ready and nothing can stop me! Ready or not here I come (in 90 days haha!)
What an amazing day! I just love General Conference and the messages that I get to hear when I listen! It is unreal! Let me tell you a little bit about how I get ready for General Conference. A few days before it starts I sit down and evaluate my life. I come up with a list of questions or topics that I need help on. I pray about these and study about them in the days leading up to the Conference Sessions. Then during Conference I sit with my notebook and pen and write whatever the speakers say that I love. All of my questions are always answered. Another thing that I do is a pray. I always pray that I will be able to pay attention and that I will get the things out of Conference that I need to. I also always pray that there will be a temple built in Wyoming. This is something that a lot of people from that great state pray about. We have waited for such a long time and even though we have so many temples in the surrounding states we would love to have our own.
TODAY, our PRAYERS WERE ANSWERED! There will be a new temple built in Star Valley Wyoming! What a great thing for the LDS people. I am so excited to see where it will be built and what it will look like. Unfortunately, this will not be my temple when I am home. My district will still travel to Utah to go to the temple (my temple is the Ogden temple, but it is closed for remodeling, I'm not sure which temple they are sending us to now). I still plan on going to the Star Valley Wyoming temple as much as I can (it's only a 3 hour drive, that's nothing, it takes 2 to get to a Utah temple from my house!) President Monson made the announcements about the temples this morning. The first temple he announced was the new Provo, Utah temple. My roommates and I were so excited for this one! It will be great to have 2 temples so close to me in Provo. Then I listened for the other announcements. I always hope that Wyoming will be called, but it never is. I was sitting there listening patiently thinking in my mind how cool it would be if Wyoming got one and he announced it! I dropped my notebook and pen and just screamed I was so excited. Tears came to my eyes when I realized that the prayers of the Saints in Wyoming were answered! What a glorious day!
The sessions today were amazing. I am looking forward to listening to Conference again tomorrow!
I know that these men were called of God! I know that this is the true gospel. I know that Joseph Smith was called of God and that he restored the gospel to the Earth on this dispensation. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and that it holds the answers to the questions that we have. I know that my Heavenly Father knows me personally. He hears and answers my prayers and he has a divine plan for me. I know that families are eternal and that I will be able to be with my family forever. I know that Christ died for me so that I may become perfect again and so that I may live with my Father in Heaven! I know that this church is true. I know that Thomas S. Monson is the prophet today! I know that these things are true! I love this gospel so much and I really do not know where my life would be today without it!
One thing that really hit me today was the infinite Love that my Father in Heaven has for me! He knows me and wants me to do my very best. He has a great and eternal plan for me. I need to trust in his timing and be prepared for whatever comes my way. Whatever happens to me will only make me stronger. He will not lead me astray. When I feel small and alone, he is there for me. He comforts me when I need comforted. He listens when I need to talk to him. I matter to him, even when I think I don't. He loves me and I LOVE HIM! I AM A DAUGHTER OF GOD!
To quote from the Young Women's Theme.
"We are daughters of our Heavenly Father, who loves us, and we love Him.
We will "stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places"
I am proud to be a member of The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints!
