7 Simple Steps to Getting a Boyfriend.

 Guys, this is FOOLPROOF, I tell you.  Man.  She knows what she is talking about.

She says it's just for middle - schoolers, but I'm pretty sure it applies to every girl alive.  

Take a gander.

Bah hahahahaha Please tell me that you could read the dry sarcasm in my comments above.  

I think this is hilarious.  

If only it were really all that simple....

Reset Button

Tonight I dropped all Friday night plans that I had and met my family in Salt Lake for dinner.  

Being with my family is like pushing a reset button for myself.  

It makes things better.  

I love them.  

That's all.

 

P.S.  Like my new outfit?  Kinda equestrian/hipster goin' on up in hurr.

P.P.S.  Sorry I didn't get you in any pictures, Matty.  :(  I still love you, and you looked great in your new shirt!

Warning: Change Ahead...and this is what I know.

Sometimes I really wish that I could have a big "change ahead" sign put in my life right before...well, change.  Big change, anyway.  Sometimes I think it would be nice to know that I've got some big mountains to climb just around the corner.  It would be nice to know exactly how to prepare so that I could take them on with grace and courage.  

Then again, I think that I would probably have a brain aneurism from anticipating, guessing about, and questioning about said changes.  So, I'm grateful that isn't the way the Lord works.  I'm grateful that we can't always know.   Is it scary knowing that it might pop out at me at any moment?  Yes.  Is it even scarier when you finally realize that the change is currently happening, and you can't really do much to go back?  Absolutely.  It's terrifying and daunting.  Even putting one foot in front of the other sometimes takes everything inside of me.  But someone else has already walked my path.  In fact, He created it.  What a relieving thought.  Besides, the best kind of preparation, for whatever journeys life takes us on, comes from living the teachings of Jesus Christ.  With that said, these are some things that I DO know: 

Change IS okay.  No, It's good.  Change.  Is.  A.  Miracle.  Sometimes just being willing to do what the Lord wants is enough.  Knowing what the Lord wants is very different.  We can't always know.  He WILL make it known to us in His due time.  Sometimes immediately, and sometimes gradually.  If we let Him know that He is first in our lives, things will fall in or out of our lives as they are supposed to.  Even when we don't immediately recognize it is happening.

I will quote the Count of Monte Christo by saying that "God is in everything."  Even in the order that different songs play when my ipod is on shuffle.  Music is powerful. 

 In my...ahem...Dating and Courtship class (that was really hard to admit but you don't know the whole story here.  I'll probably share it sometime),  we talked about how we need to have Christ as our foundation.  We talked about how our spouses are supposed to come second to Him.  My instructor told us about how President Eyring's vacation home is in her ward.   When he goes to church, no matter what church it is, he has to sit on the stand.  His cute little wife just sits on the front row by herself.  You'd think she would be lonely, but my instructor said that she is just fine with it.  She loves that he puts his duties to the Lord first.  If you are a needy person, and want your good Priesthood holding spouse to be with you ALL of the time, you need to get some therapy real fast.  The point is, I WILL require that my husband put the Lord first always.  Because that is what I will be doing.  Ya know, one day.  When I have one of those guys. 

 Last, but not least, I know that the Lord has the power to change hearts.  Completely.  He ONLY upgrades.  ONLY UPGRADES.  He knows our hearts even, no - especially when we don't know our own.  How is it that any of us could possibly deserve such a true gift?  I thought I understood it.  I thought I understood even in the smallest sense, just what Jesus Christ does for me, for my loved ones, and for everyone who has and will ever live.  But, I don't.  I can't even scratch the surface.  It's beyond all of our mortal comprehension.  Our hearts are His though, and NOTHING is out of His control.  

I guess what I'm trying to say is that, with God nothing is impossible.  I may not know much, but that is one thing that I am grateful to know as life's changes continue to circle on about me.  

Forced Gatherings

are the best!!  I threw one of my very best friends her bridal shower this weekend, and it was such a success.  So fun!  I loved being with all my best friends from high school.  They truly are so precious to me.  Our friendships are unbreakable.  I'm so excited for Kayc as she gets ready to take this new step in her life.  I'm also excited for one day when I get to take that step in life.  Ahem.  What?  No, I didn't just say that.  Anyway...pictures for you!

When I Can't Express, I Sing...

"I think it's time to look inside myself - in truth I think I'm scared of what I'll see. Facing this discrepancy of what I am, and what I long to be.  Staring at the mirror with this heartless gaze - I can read between the lines that go along the forehead of this anxious face that isn't even mine.
Oh my restless soul trying hard to take control.  Worn out from standing still knowing what I am and hoping that I can find a way to make it real.
I think it's time to look inside my heart to face the insecurities I hide.  Still it seems so hard to struggle past the gates that are guarded by my pride.  Looking at the self that no one else can see - maybe it was better to be blind.  But the mirror in my hand is seen with different eyes reflecting only truth within my mind.
Oh my restless soul trying hard to take control.  Worn out from standing still.  Knowing what I am and hoping that I can find a way to make it real.
Oh my restless soul trying hard to take control.  Worn out from standing still.  Knowing what I am and hoping that I can find a way to make it real."

Gift to Jesus

Every year on Christmas Eve my family writes down what our gift to Jesus will be.  This year I decided that,

 "I'll give God forever to make me what I am.  Give my plans, give my dreams, give up all my fretful schemes.  I'll give God this moment to fill my soul with cheer."

I chose this because it means that I will simply trust.  Giving the Lord everything I am so that He can make me the best "I am" is not an easy task.

I asked my friend the other day, what she wanted more than anything else.  She answered with a very good, righteous desire.  Then she asked me the same question.  I told her that the thing that motivates me more than anything else, the thing that drives me - my dream - is to raise a Celestial family.  To be married in the temple and raise some little ones of my own.  For all of us as a family to build God's kingdom, then live there one day.  I try to make everything I do be for them.  I feel that it is the greatest role that I could possibly play as a servant of God.  The thing is, though, I don't know how all of that is going to work out.  I don't know that it is the role God wants me to play.  I can't see the future, and I don't know what God's plan for me is just yet.   I don't know who my husband is, and I don't know when I will find him.  I don't what my future family will be like, and I don't know what kind of mother I will be.  But I know I need to trust the Lord.  That is the giving up all my plans and all my dreams part.  Don't get me wrong.  I love this time of my life.  I honestly do.  I get so much joy from playing with my girlfriends, and going on crazy college adventures. I love discovering who I am throughout it all.  But (and I think this applies to most people), sometimes I get caught up in looking for my "golden ticket."  I get distracted from the good that is going on now by thoughts of this dream that I have finally coming to pass.  I think I need to just eat more of the chocolate bar.  And enjoy it.  That's the giving God this moment to fill my soul with cheer part.  I believe what Elder Holland says about how the Lord is willing to fulfill our dreams.  We just need to trust and have faith enough to ask him.  "Giving God forever means I'll wait and watch and see."  Wait.  Not one of Hannah's favorite words in the world.  Actually a very enemy-like one.  We don't get a long very well.  BUT if it means doing the Lord's will, then I can do it! Even if it does take forever!  So, I have dreams, yes.  But I'd give them up in a heartbeat if it is what He asked of me.  If it made His plan more possible.  With that said, "I won't worry.  But I won't forget.  I'll give God this moment to fill my soul with cheer, and that will keep Him near."

One Last Post...for now.

Now that Savior of the World is over, I thought I would share some of my feelings about it in one last post.  My experience in Savior of the World this year has been nothing short of a miracle in my life.  This is heaven here at the conference center.  Ever since I was a little girl, I have loved the feeling of being in this place. The joy that comes from being surrounded by saints joined in the unity of sharing the Savior's message is something that I can't explain or compare anything to.  This place is a mini Zion.  The relationships I have built, my strengthened testimony, and the opportunities that I have had to share this gospel with others have change my life forever.  I don't even feel like the same person anymore.  I have grown, and am much more confident in my relationship with my Savior.  I love Him.  I have loved testifying of Him.  As I have done so, I have felt just a small something of the love He has for His other sheep - for all His sheep!  I love them too!  Since being in this show, and as this new year begins I have thought a lot about the relationships that we, as children of God, have with each other.  I just want to share that I know that there is so much we can do to help and lift and even save each other.  We are told that one day we will be able to live with our loved ones forever if we follow God's plan.  Before Savior of the World, I only really thought of that as being my family, but I have come to realize that the gates of heaven stretch much farther than that for all of us.  I didn't even feel like I was saying goodbye to the people in the show, because I truly do love them, and I truly believe that relationships like these ones can be eternal as well.

This show has truly bettered my life and I know that through the Holy Ghost, others lives have been bettered as well.  This life is far too short to not take opportunities to love.
 Because we are loved first, we must also love.