As with tradition, and I know it's very cliche, but I love that people make lists of what they're thankful for during the beginning of the Holiday season. It just makes it that much better for the rest of the last of the year.
Here goes...and yes in particular order this time:
1. A Heavenly Father that loves me. Everyone's got this one. But the trick here is that most people don't know it. I wish most people realized this, because my broadcast journalism major probably wouldn't be in existence if people did.
2. A family that loves me. Now this one is a little different...not everyone has this. I continue to realize this every day. I am so happy that my whole family is healthy (well, somewhat) and happy (yes, very much so) and we all still get along. Dad didn't think that was going to happen about 15 years ago...proved him wrong!
3. Friends who love me. Well, namely in particular one friend that's a boy that some people call "boyfriends," but I don't even think that name does him justice. Kasey is the perfect mix of a hunk, a protector, a best friend, a solid rock that's never going anywhere...you get the idea. Everything but a girlfriend, that's for sure...
4. A mission. I get caught up in saying, "my mission," but it was never mine. It was His--the One who really taught me how to love. My heart always is in New York and it takes only about half a second for someone to say something that triggers a memory, therefore making me more grateful for the hardest thing I've ever done.
If you didn't realize this--all of these have to do with love. I seriously need to live off love. Well, I better end this post because I need to go braid some bacon.
November 27, 2014
November 16, 2014
Starting it off right.
We did it! Opening weekend is out of the way! But I do kinda feel like a traveling circus. Anyway, I honestly didn't think we'd make it two weeks ago...but, miracles happen, and the shows were FANTASTIC! Oh, I had so much fun. Really, they were such good shows. I'm so proud of our team.
This was on the way there--there's no way Megan and I had that much energy on the bus ride home.
Megs and JBrom so happy we finally get to perform instead of rehearse!
Funniest game ever: noise cancelling headphones with blasting music...someone asks them a question and they respond based on what they think the question was. 10x more hilarious with MDT majors. (Music Dance Theatre)
When we got off the bus, we (literally) ran into the High School to do a workshop with the kids, then (literally) ran to mic check and get ready for the show!
Yeah...it definitely doesn't look like this at the end of the show. This picture shows the costumes for about five performers. We have twenty. So you can imagine when we run off stage, as we are catapulting costumes off our bodies, someone else is throwing on more costumes as we run on stage to look like that didn't happen. Then we're supposed to dance and sing like we aren't out of breath or something. Ha.
The only break I get during the show is during the guys' number...eight straight minutes of The Beatles! Just enough time to cool down before going back on stage for the rest of the show.
Me, Randy, Megs and Eliza stayed at the beautiful (very beautiful) home of King and Diane Hussein and had the opportunity to give a singing devotional for the Sunday School portion of church the next day!
All Young Ambassadors aside, this was my favorite picture from the week. Definitely. So jealous they were all hanging out without me in sunny Florida while I was freezing at a cool -9 degrees!
(I never thought I'd be that girl, but whatever, I don't even care anymore. HOLY COW MY BOYFRIEND IS A BABE! Oh wow. Sheesh. Whoo.)
Anyway, back to YA's. No more shows until after Christmas. But then it will really pick up! 10-day tour to Northern California, and then shows almost every weekend until we leave to Nauvoo!
I AM HAVING SO MUCH FUN. Pinch me.
November 5, 2014
A Father Forever (Who Still Speaks!)
I keep having these realizations that God is my Father.
Obviously, that is such a basic doctrine that it should be ingrained in any returned missionary's soul. Well, it is! The reason I keep realizing it is because every day I see something else that He gives me that I didn't notice before.
If you have read Preach My Gospel, that is the very first thing we as missionaries tell our investigators. Why don't we spill great doctrines like eternal life right as they answer the door? Because without understanding that you have a Father in Heaven who cries when you cry and smiles when you walk out of an aced test, you understand absolutely nothing.
If that's the only thing you understand when you leave this earth, He'll sweep you into His arms and take you straight to His Home.
Anyway, getting back to my realizations...
The scriptures.
I always wondered on my mission why I have never before asked my Father if they were true. I thought I was horrible--but then again I was under the impression that I couldn't feel the Spirit, either. I figured out through prayer that it was because these people always lived like they were true.
There hasn't been a question in my mind until Sister Hawkes told people to ask for themselves. I thought, "People actually have to ask if The Book of Mormon is true?"
So, I thought I should ask. And, I try to make it on a regular basis. So every time I do, the answer is always the same. IT'S TRUE!
I so bad want to raise my children to know the scriptures are true just from how I live. I want them to catch me on my knees asking. I want them to catch me reading with my husband whenever we have ten minutes. The words of Christ through the prophets really can change a human heart, and I need them to understand that so they can understand the bigger picture: that God is their Father.
That's how I was raised, and I'm (secretly) glad I never even thought to question it.
Obviously, that is such a basic doctrine that it should be ingrained in any returned missionary's soul. Well, it is! The reason I keep realizing it is because every day I see something else that He gives me that I didn't notice before.
If you have read Preach My Gospel, that is the very first thing we as missionaries tell our investigators. Why don't we spill great doctrines like eternal life right as they answer the door? Because without understanding that you have a Father in Heaven who cries when you cry and smiles when you walk out of an aced test, you understand absolutely nothing.
If that's the only thing you understand when you leave this earth, He'll sweep you into His arms and take you straight to His Home.
Anyway, getting back to my realizations...
The scriptures.
I always wondered on my mission why I have never before asked my Father if they were true. I thought I was horrible--but then again I was under the impression that I couldn't feel the Spirit, either. I figured out through prayer that it was because these people always lived like they were true.
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| Pictures by Rita Merrick |
There hasn't been a question in my mind until Sister Hawkes told people to ask for themselves. I thought, "People actually have to ask if The Book of Mormon is true?"
So, I thought I should ask. And, I try to make it on a regular basis. So every time I do, the answer is always the same. IT'S TRUE!
I so bad want to raise my children to know the scriptures are true just from how I live. I want them to catch me on my knees asking. I want them to catch me reading with my husband whenever we have ten minutes. The words of Christ through the prophets really can change a human heart, and I need them to understand that so they can understand the bigger picture: that God is their Father.
That's how I was raised, and I'm (secretly) glad I never even thought to question it.
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November 2, 2014
Mid-Semester Activities.
I feel like I'm 75. (Not that that's a bad thing.)
I'm reaching for the Advil every five minutes and taking advantage of the time I have on the couch with my laptop in my lap. I didn't think it was possible to be as exhausted as a missionary again...but it is!
I'll tell you a secret though: IT'S SO WORTH IT.
I have a built-in college family, and did I get to mention we get to sing and dance? I think that's what we'll be doing when we see Him again. We're just practicing for that moment. Let's see...
"Until all shall know me, who remain, even from the least unto the greatest, and shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord, and shall see eye to eye, and shall lift up their voice, and with the voice together sing this new song..." -Doctrine and Covenants 84:98
Yep, that sounds about right. Not that the BYU Young Ambassadors get a front row seat or anything...well that would be cool...but...yeah. As long as you're in your ward choir, I think you're set. (Joke.)
In other news, I just bought my plane tickets to Florida to see my man!
The whole "long distance" thing isn't ideal, but I figured that's what I'd get if I met someone on while on my internship in Washington, D.C. But, I do get a lot more done than I would if he was here all the time! It actually works out pretty nicely. Also, I can't get over how handsome he is. (He's even more sweet than he is good-looking!)
When he was here we got to hang out with the culprit who put us together...
...and since it's the middle of the semester--do lots of homework.
Kasey would probably hate it if I posted the videos of the "Cowboy Christmas" station
he was blasting while we were working.
As for the rest of the semester, this is the view I have for about 20 hours a week...
Just singing, dancing, and even more Singin'...in the Rain! We open our show in less than two weeks and I have nightmares that I forgot to do homework/go to class/that I even registered for that class because it's so crazy. But I totally love the crazy.
I guess I could put in a plug for our show to wrap things up:
November 14th, 7:00 pm at Orem High School
Adults $6, Seniors/Students $5, Elementary $3
November 15th, 7:30 (?) pm at Jackson Hole High School
Not sure about prices yet...I think they're back to the normal ones.
Let me know if you're coming and I'll find out!
Finally, all of this work is about to pay off!
I'll I'm praying for at this point is just not to crash on stage. It's pretty likely.
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