Wall of Gratitude

Every year during the month of November for the past three years, my roommates and I have put up a "Wall of Gratitude".  This wall of sticky notes serves as reminder of all the things we have been blessed with and gives us an opportunity to express our gratitude.  It becomes a game to a certain extent.  We usually keep it up throughout Christmas to remind us about all of the wonderful things in life.  Well it's only October and I don't have any roommates this year, but I want to start my "Wall of Gratitude".  I am challenging myself for the next two months to find something everyday to be grateful for and to express that gratitude.  If it's a long story I feel like sharing about my gratitude, I'll share it on here.  If it's a quick thought, I'll share it on Facebook.  I also will take the time to write private and personal notes of gratitude to those in my life to whom I owe a debt of gratitude.  Which is most of the people in my life.

My first "sticky note of gratitude" goes to my Heavenly Father.  Of course I always owe him and feel grateful for the life He has granted me, the world He allows me to live in, and the family and friends He has blessed me with.  But today I am feeling particularly grateful for His guidance in my life for a particular reason.

Today I found out that starting in January 2014, because of some new government regulations, Child Life Interns will have to be either affiliated with a college or paid in order to do their internship that is required to become certified.  Because of this, if I didn't have my internship that I have today, I wouldn't be able to do my internship, because I am unaffiliated with any college and let's face it, they're never gonna pay interns.  I got this internship at the perfect time.

Flash back to two years ago.  As my EFY participants and close friends and family know, I was debating on going on a mission.  I really, really wanted to go on a mission.  I had a mile long list on why it was a good idea for me to go on a mission.  I had wanted to go since I was eleven years old. I had been told by many people I would be a really good missionary, and I believed them. I thought it would be an awesome experience.   But I had never asked my Heavenly Father about it.  This time of year two years ago I started to really ask Heavenly Father about my plan to go on a mission.  I told him how much I wanted to go.  But I got an answer of "No."  I didn't understand it.  I argued with Heavenly Father, telling Him that it was a good thing that I wanted.  I fluctuated back and forth about going on a mission for two months.

Finally I had a really great friend tell me about her experience as an EFY counselor.  I felt really strongly that I should apply to be an EFY counselor. So I did.  And long story short, on some long shot, I became an EFY counselor.  That opportunity was the best two summers of my life.

My decision to not go on a mission has still been a difficult one.  As I watched the age drop and watched many friends and my younger brother going on missions, I wondered if I was missing something, if I had made the right choice.  I watched women my age who had gone on missions as they came back and these women were incredible.  I wondered if I could ever reach their spiritual level.  I wondered if I had missed out on my chance.

Through an incredible EFY miracle, I got an internship out in PA for this fall.  I am exactly where I need to be.  If I had gone with my plan for my life and gone on a mission, an internship would've been so much harder for me to get.  I would have missed this awesome opportunity.  I would have missed the opportunity to work with so many amazing youth and make amazing friends.

I am so glad that Heavenly Father told me "No."  I couldn't understand it two years ago, or even one year ago.  But Heavenly Father had a specific plan for me.  He had something that for me was better than a mission.  I know that Heavenly Father wants me to be a Child Life Specialist.  I don't know why, but I know he does.  I know that He wants me to live in Pennsylvania right now.  I don't know why, I just know he does.  I'm excited to see how other pieces of my life and His plan for me work out.  I know that Heavenly Father has guided me so far, and I know that He will continue to guide me to where I need to be.

If you don't know why you are where you are or why Heavenly Father gave you an answer that you didn't want or what Heavenly Father wants you to do with your life, just know this.  Heavenly Father does have a plan for you.  You may not understand it.  It may be difficult.  It may be different than what you would plan for yourself.  But the peace that comes from living your plan and knowing that you are where Heavenly Father wants you is worth the difficulty.  Heavenly Father loves you and knows you better than you know your self.

Gettysburg

On Saturday I didn't have to work, so I though I would go explore Gettysburg.  I had never been before so I was really excited to go.  The drive there was absolutely beautiful, following the river with beautiful forest covered mountains to the side of the road.  Loved it.  I decided that it was worth the $12.50 to see a movie, a cyclorama (painting around a room), and the museum and it was definitely worth it.  Before going to see anything I decided to read D&C 87 the prophecy about the Civil War.  It was amazing because Morgan Freeman (the narrator or the movie) was practically reading that prophecy word for word for the movie.  The painting was absolutely beautiful and so life like.  I was in the museum for a few hours, watching many of the movies and taking my time reading and observing the different artifacts.  I wanted to take my time and really soak in all of the information and feelings associated with this great war.  

After lunch I decided to walk out to the actual battle sites.  Again I took my time, really trying to soak up the moment.  I walked by monument after monument after monument.  It was amazing to see how this place that's kind of in the middle of nowhere and not much to look at, is such sacred life because of how many people lost their lives.  The museum had often talked about how Gettysburg was the turn of the Civil War and how the Confederates should have won the battle, they had way more men than the Union.  But because the Union held the high ground they were able to win.  The Union held the literal high ground over those three days, but also the figurative high ground through out the war.  And if we as people continue to hold the high ground in the war against Satan, we will win as well.

I then wandered over to the cemetery, where Lincoln gave his famous Gettysburg address.  I absolutely love cemeteries and this cemetery did not disappoint.  Again I slowly, quietly, and reverently wandered, observing the many headstones.  Many were not from the actual Civil War.  Many of them that were from the Civil War had Unknown written on them.  It was really cool to see the different monuments to Lincoln as well in the cemetery.  It was a peaceful place, so different from the war that made it famous.  I left that day feeling like I had just gone on a very cool spiritual journey coming to understand the men who fought for my freedom a little bit better.  I love Gettysburg.

Dear Internet

For the first time in the past three weeks I have consistent access to the internet.  Hooray! Because of this lack of internet access I have not kept my blog caught up. Mentally I have written about a million and one blog posts.  So dear little blog, let me catch you up.

I now live in a different state and a different time zone and a different world than the last time I wrote.  The state is Pennsylvania, the time zone Eastern, and the world Beautiful. After this move and my past month in Virginia and my little trips back east over my lifetime, I'm convinced that there is an east coast girl that has been waiting to come out. And here she is!

I will post a few pictures on this post and I will post more later.  Right now I should be working on homework that is due tomorrow. :)

This is me and my street!

Dad and I stopped at Winter Quarters on the way out here.

Winter Quarters Temple

Danville Courthouse

More pictures and posts to come soon!

Home

I have been listening to this song all week.




I feel like Dorthy from the Wizard of Oz, clicking her heals "There's no place like home. There's no place like home."

I guess I'm ready to come home for a little while.  :)

Big University, Big City, Little Lessons, and my Little Playlist

Did you know that the University of Utah campus is 6 times bigger than the BYU campus?

I didn't.

But I learned that this week in Institute.

Institute is amazing by the way.

Just in case you were wondering.

I would recommend the Gospel and the Productive Life class.

We're only two classes in and my mind has already been blown away.

Seriously.

People on big campuses and in big cities don't say hi to people as they walk by.

And they look at you like your insane if you say hello to them.

True story.

 I not only found all of my classes, the library, and the institute building but I also found the grocery store this week, all by myself.

I was impressed.

I'm starting to recognize people from my ward, institute class, and classes.

I rode the bus to class for the first time ever in my entire life.  (OK, so it was actually a campus shuttle and I was already on campus, but I'm counting it, because I really have never rode the bus to school).

I'm going to have super strong leg muscles by the end of the year from walking to class.

I've already had more mail the past week then I had all last year.

Applying for jobs is a pain.

But a necessary pain.

On my to do/see list:

• Temple Square/Downtown Salt Lake/Church Headquarters
• Ride Trax
• London Store

My Playlist this week:
"Don't Forget To Remember Me" by Carrie Underwood (my theme song from when I moved away to SUU)

"Holding On" by Cherie Call (my theme song from when I moved to St. George)

"Movin' Out" by Billy Joel (because it's about moving, sort of, it has a good beat, and I just like it!)

"Never Grow Up" by Taylor Swift (my theme song for moving this week. i'm also learning how to play this on the piano.)

"This One's For The Girls" by Martina McBride (this one came out when I was 13 and my mom related to the 42 part even though she wasn't that old then, now I relate much better to the 25 part.)

"A Place In This World" by Taylor Swift (because I still feel this way sometimes)

"Lessons Learned" by Carrie Underwood (because I have a feeling I'll be learning lessons in this chapter of my life like I have been my whole life)

"Temporary Home" by Carrie Underwood (because all of us are in a "temporary home" and in a temporary stage in life and no matter how good or bad it is, it's temporary)

"Uncharted" by Sara Bareilles (because all of this change is uncharted for me).

So that's life so far this week.

It's Finally Happening

I've been waiting all summer for this moment.  Summer vacation is almost over. And I'm really excited.  I made it to New York.  I finally figured out my living arrangement for the fall (which is such a relief and so nice to have over with, not gonna lie). I'm done with my job :) . I've located all my classes on campus and luckily, none are too far away or too hard to find.  I've got all but one of my books. I just spent the day packing, deciding what stays and what goes.  With the minor detail of finding a job up there, I think I'm ready to move.  This chapter of my life is coming to a close and a new chapter is opening in a new (big) city, with new roommates, new friends to be made, a new (big) college, new classes, and new adventures. I have a feeling this chapter is going to be filled with firsts.  Like the first time moving into an apartment where I don't know anyone.  But I've been blessed with some amazing roommates before and I'm sure I will be again. I'm excited and nervous.  I think this year will be a great one.  I feel like I'm a freshman all over again, but my freshman year was an amazing year, so I'm ok with repeating it.

Ready or not, Great White North, here I come!

Wrapping Up Another Semester

Fall 2010 Semester is almost over.  And I'm more than a little excited for it to be done.  Don't get me wrong I've enjoy many things from this semester.  I have especially enjoyed beginning a nunnery, amazing roommates, quotes, Thanksgiving dinner, and the two breaks from school we've had this semester.  But some things have been hard too,like flat tires, clogged drains, holes in the ceiling, and especially drama and tons, and tons, and tons of homework.  I'm definetely ready for a fresh start. 

I'm one semester closer to going up to the University of Utah.  I'm very excited and nervous.  I'll miss SUU and all of my friends here and all the good times I've had, but I'm ready for a new adventure. 

I have learned a lot this semester.  The most important lesson I've learned is that even when I don't understand how, everything ends up working out one way or another, even if its in a way I wasn't expecting.  And sometimes the hardest things bring me closest to Heavenly Father.  How can I complain?