Sunday, December 28, 2008

Serenity

As I walked out of my grandma's house last night and headed for home, I took a deep breath of fresh air and stared out the stars. It was pitch-black and there wasn't a soul in sight. I walked home and began to realize that I'm gonna be okay. I've had my doubts, but I think I'm gonna be happy here. :)

I like my new place, my ward is great and my family is wonderful. *Sigh* Life is good.

*This is what I see every night when I walk out of my door. :D

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

2400 miles later...

We've been traveling for 3 days and covered over 2400 miles. We still have about 350 to go before arriving at home. We detoured Memphis today to avoid an ice storm and spent lots of time wandering around remote Mississippi. Details to come :D Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.

Monday, December 15, 2008

I don't exactly know right now how I feel. It's a mixture of anxiety, excitement, trepidation, love, longing, and a little apprehension. I know things will turn out for the best and I have faith that God is guiding me where He wants me and I am so excited to discover what He has in store for me...but it doesn't come free. :S

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Home?




























It seems absolutely surreal to me that I have attended my last class as a BYU Undergraduate student...my dad will be here in less than a week and shortly thereafter, we'll be headed to Alabama. Crazy, huh?

I've lived here for so long--I have so many people here that I love...it's a little scary to be moving away and leaving it all behind. I do, however, hope to be able to visit again soon.

p.s. And, yes, life really is as simple as it is portrayed the movie. ;)

Saturday, December 6, 2008

A Celebration of Christmas

I could tell you how wonderful tonight was. I could share my beliefs that friends can be angels in the hands of God. I could tell you how good music just lifts the soul. I could share how attending BYU's "Celebration of Christmas" that showcased the combined choirs, the philharmonic orchestra, and Jennifer Welch-Babidge made my semester brighter. But my point is really that great friends and excellent music can lift the soul to new planes of existence and act as an elixir for all maladies.
As I searched for an image of the "Celebration of Christmas," I came across this amazing video entitled "Joy to Everyone." It's a song and video created just to bring joy into the lives of every person on earth. It's free for download at joytoeveryone.com. Enjoy. And spread the Joy of Christ this season.


Happy Holidays, everybody.

Friday, December 5, 2008

We're Adults.....

"We're adults...when did that happen and how do we make it stop?" ~Grey's Anatomy

What does being an adult really mean? I mean, I've technically been an adult since I was 18...but have I?

I've experienced lots of things for only having lived 25 years: I've done my share of traveling--I've been to Canada, France, Germany and I've lived in Mexico and the Philippines. I've learned lots of life lessons from the people I've met in these places. I've spent 18 months living the Law of Consecration--something I didn't think I'd ever get to experience. I've seen what poverty can do to people and how having nothing generally increases one's capacity to love and have faith in God. I've studied at one of the best universities in the nation for many years now. I've studied the humanities, both in English and Spanish. I've studied the physical sciences along with lots of general studies classes. And you know what I've learned? The more I learn, the less I know.

I've lived away from home, essentially, for 6 years. I've learned to live with countless roommates--some I've loved and some that taught me patience and charity. I've had my heart broken several times and I learned that it never fully heals, but each crack left on the heart has special memories etched into it and I wouldn't erase those for anything.

I've learned that sometimes you're born into a family, sometimes you're adopted into one, and sometimes you create one, but you can love each equally. I've learned that life moves on--it flies forward at a steady pace and you can embrace the changes that come and allow yourself to experience new things and grow (no matter how painful that may be) or you can hold on to the past and stunt your opportunities for development.

I've learned that no one can put you down without your permission. This was a hard lesson for me to learn and I still struggle with it. But when I forget or get down, I have a loving Heavely Father who reminds me. You can fly and you can make a difference. All it takes is initiative and vision. Just do it.

I've learned that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is worth any sacrifice. This is the truth and it will roll forward unto all the end of the earth. If ever there was a cause worth supporting, even unto death, it's this one. And our message is simple: You are a child of God. He loves you. He has provided a way for you to return to live with Him. And it's simple: learn His commandments and obey them.

I know there is so much to learn, and I look forward to that adventure. But as I begin to close another chapter in my book of life, I stand here grateful for what I've learned and anxious about what's to come and excited that I get to have new experiences.

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

25

25:
  • a natural number following 24 and preceding 26
  • the 2oth anniversary of my kindergarten year
  • Manganese
  • silver anniversary
  • min. age of candidate for the House of Representatives
  • the size of a full roster on a major league baseball team
  • 1/4 of a U.S. dollar
  • quarter of a century
1925:
  • Mussolini takes over Italy
  • the New Yorker magazine is first published
  • F. Scott Fitzgerald published The Great Gatesby
  • U.S. turmoils over Darwin's theory of evolution
  • Hitler published Mein Kampf
  • double decker busses are introduced in London
  • Angela Lansbury and Dick Van Dyke are born
  • "The Phantom of the Opera" opened at movie theaters
  • Earl Wise invented the potato chip

For me, 25 is
  • being 5 more than 20, and not feeling it
  • an age I thought that I'd never reach
  • time to graduate from BYU and close this chapter of my life
  • start a new chapter of life in Alabama
This year I turn a quarter of a century old and I have lived 1/3 of my expected lifespan. The learning and changes I anticipate this year will hold should be incredible.

Appropriate

They say "it's always darkest just before dawn." Well, in my case with school and finals right now, this [see pic below] seems more appropriate. lol. However, time marches on and all too soon, I won't have to worry about anything except attending my good friends' wedding. *Sigh* I wish I could work out a way to have 36 hours each day in the 2 week period before finals. :D

On a happier note, the Christmas season makes me smile. And I welcome anything that can make me do that these days. :)