Elders

Back in April 2013 I started writing this missionary. Fast forward a few months, still writing him and I move to the area in which he's serving. Totally thought it would be weird and it was the first couple of times that we ran into each other. Technically we shouldn't be writing each other right now because I'm living in his mission area but that's just a technicality. Anyways, the elders came over for dinner tonight. I was supposed to leave and go down to Provo and have dinner with 2 of my best friends but I was in so much pain from snowboarding I couldn't sit, let alone sit in a car for a 40 minute drive.
Needless to say, the elders came over. It was fun to sit in the same room as Eric. I tried to stay out of the same room as much as I could, which wasn't hard because I was having to sit on a butt pillow and in a comfy chair. Everyone eventually made their way into the living room where I was for a spiritual message mostly directed to Jake.
Shawn was about to take the elders home and Shara asked if I wanted a blessing. Yes, a blessing for my butt. I decided that probably wasn't a bad idea and so Shawn grabbed some oil. Eric did the anointing and Shawn did the actual blessing. It was so good. I love how strong I can feel the spirit during a blessing.
Today was his 2 month mark. But who's counting?... :)

Snowboarding

So this one time when a boy thought it would be a good idea to take me snowboarding... it happened. I also happened to break my tailbone. I'll never go snowboarding again. Once was enough for me. Oy. It was probably the worse time to go snowboarding, late in the season, after some rain showers had moved through the area, the snow was no longer snow, it was ice and it was hard. I fell towards the top and I knew I was hurt. To make matters worse I fell a couple more times. But I made it down the hill and I survived. I was also in one piece, hurt, but in one piece.

Too much to bear

Lately there has been many things on my mind. In particular why are certain things happening to me? Why did I choose to come out to Utah, even further away from my family, by myself? Why did I choose to leave a job in hopes that another was better? Why, why, why?
Then a thought popped into my head- one that I'm sure many people have heard before- He doesn't give us more than we can bear. Then I thought, why does He trust me so much to put me through these trials? Why these ones? Why would He think I could handle these?
Then I started thinking- that isn't true. As nice as it is to think that. He does give us more than we can bear. When it comes to heartache, trials, burdens, pain- He does give us more than we can handle. It's not because He is a mean God or wants to see us suffer. It's so that we can learn to go to Him. Matthew 11: 28-30 states, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
This is for anyone that is carrying a burden too heavy for them to carry alone. That is why I believe that we are given burdens that are too heavy and for trials that are very difficult. It is then that we are more likely to come running to Him. When things are bad in our eyes, we want help.
Now I've been fortunate to not have any terminal diseases come my way, I still have both my parents that I can lean on, I have siblings that I can lean on, I have friends, I have my health, I have a career, etc. But I still struggle from time to time. There are times that I would change a number of things in my life. But I wouldn't be where I am personally, emotionally, spiritually today if I hadn't had those times where I've gone running to Him in prayer and pleading. I've had times where I have actually said I can't do this, take this load from me. I can't do it anymore. There have been times that I felt utterly alone and silence was too much to bear.
Am I where I thought I'd be at the age of 26 as member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? No. But in all honesty- would I change it? No. I've had trials, I've had hard times but they've made me who I am and they are helping me become a better person.

Happy New Year

2014!
Wow, can you believe it. It's already 2014.
I feel like 2013 was just starting.
I hope that 2014 holds so much more in store for me than 2013 did.
I'm looking forward to a new year and a somewhat new beginning.
Most of all I'm looking forward to being better. There are things that I do that I can be better doing. I hope that 2014 is a year of progression and doing better.

Happy New Year!!

It's the most wonderful time of the year...

Merry Christmas!
I don't know if it's just me but ever since I've started working as a nurse Christmas has never felt like Christmas. Part of it is that I have worked the whole holiday or at least part of it. But it seems like there's a lot of build up to it and then it's over and I sit here and think, really, is Christmas already over?! I love this time of year! This is my second year celebrating Christmas in Utah, but it was the very first one that I've spent it away from my entire family. 2,500 miles away. Hopefully this will not always be the case.
But I'm so glad that I get to celebrate this holiday season and really remember the reason why we celebrate it in the first place. I love Christmas and I love that we get the month of December to remember Christ and all that He has done for us.
Merry Christmas and I'm looking forward to a very happy New Year in 2014!

Cancelled

Well apparently I'm officially off orientation. I got cancelled tonight from my shift. Here starts the fun of not working. Hopefully I'll still work some though. I can't not get a paycheck. I don't have a ton of PTO at all yet and I like my paychecks, they allow me to be able to do fun stuff. We'll see how it goes.

The missionary

I have been writing this missionary for about 8 months now. I was sent his email by Shara and was told to write him and we've been writing every week since. Now that I've moved out here I was worried it might be a little strange, hoping it would be awhile before I bumped into him. Well that didn't exactly happen. We were on our way back from dropping off Shara's oldest at a friends house when a car comes speeding up behind us. It turned out to be the missionaries and Shara followed them until they pulled over. I was sitting in the back seat of the truck and was trying to stay out of the conversation and not be noticed. I didn't want anything to be weird or awkward. Well then Shara had to point out that I was in the back seat. Eric got a nervous look on his face and the topic of conversation changed quickly. So now I can say that I've seen him in person. Still can't say that I've talked to him.
Thanks a lot Shara.