The Moments That Matter Most

I have to thank my good friend Kristiana for inspiring this post. I read her post which got me thinking. Do we go through life too fast? Do we savor the moments that are most important? Honestly, I don't think I spend enough time enjoying the most important things in life. I'm busy with three jobs and sometimes I forget that there are important things besides the jobs. Well, anyways. Here is a video clip that shows many of the great joys in life that we get to experience and look forward to experiencing.

Easter Sunday

For those who know me well, you know I do not cry easily. It isn't that I don't feel emotion, because I do. I just don't show it by crying. Well, today I cried. I was in Sunday School in my grandma's ward and they had a lesson about the olive tree and tied it into Easter weekend. At the end of the lesson, they showed a video that really touched me and I cried. It shows events in Christ's life with a point of view of the events in relation to his mother, Mary. It is incredible. The part that really touched me was when Mary picks up Christ when he falls down the stairs and then when he is carrying the cross and falls. I love the love that is felt there. The crucifixion is a little more graphic than most movies and isn't completely accurate, but overall the movie is incredible and I feel that it represents the relationship between Mary and Christ very well.

Roommates and Friends

I have realized this weekend that family is great! I love mine and I love being around them, but I also realized that I love roommates that are there to supplement that love, to care, and to listen. To trust in you and support you in your struggles, but also give advice and tell you the truth when you need to hear it. They make you laugh and smile. We cry together, but we also celebrate together. My roommates are my friends and I love it! I love being able to look forward to leaving my family now, and instead of being homesick for my home in Idaho, I look forward to coming home to my apartment just to see my roommates smiling faces again.
They are all different but so great! Kristiana is always making me laugh, but she also knows how to listen and give advice when it is needed. She is so smart and beautiful! Brittany is so enjoyable to spend time with. She is not afraid to be herself, and is always honest to herself with who she is. She is also responsible and good at her job, being the RA. Ayne is a great person to share a room with. I love the times that we have stayed up later into the evening just talking about life and what is going on at the moment. While I don't remember exactly what has been said, it is just good to know that she is willing to sacrifice her sleep to share her ideas with me.
Now, I can't write this post and not include two more people who aren't my roommates, but I wish they were. Sabrina was only originally my friend through association. She was friends with Kristi and Brittany and so, therefore, we did things together, but as we did things together I realized that I really enjoy her company. She is energetic and loves to make one laugh. She is almost always smiling and laughing and I love the cheerful influence she has in my life. And last, but not least, is Shayla. While we haven't been friends for long, it seems like we have known each other for a long time. We really have grown close and already know a lot about each other. I love hearing about her life, family, and classes. I also love cooking with her. She makes sure I keep eating healthily and that is such a good thing.
Well, this has become a lot longer than I wanted it to, but I thought I should share what a great influence friends can have in ones life. My friends, old and new, have always been there for me, and I know they always will be there for me. Friends are just as important in our lives as our families are, and at times I think they can be more important. Our families are going to be with us forever, not doubt about that, but we won't always be able to be in each others companies. So, we have friends to be there to support us as we are away from other loved ones. I believe that our Father in Heaven gave us families to become who we are, and He gave us friends to provide a support so we continue to stay strong to who we have become. Friends are the best and I love all of my friends out there!! <3

Offered Only At BYU

As I have come to find out, BYU offers quite different experiences. You really have some good opportunities both academically and spiritually. Classes at BYU really challenge me to think and not only learn facts, but apply the facts. My American Heritage class does this the most, which is what makes it such a hard class. It really takes a lot to learn how to apply knowledge learned.
Not only do I have a lot of wonderful experiences in my academics, I also have a lot of great spiritual opportunities. First of, I find that I learn a lot from a young single adult ward. It is really great to go to church with people who are all in the same place in life as me. I really learn a lot because they have all experienced the same stuff as me. I love sacrament meeting because it is super quiet and it is really great! I love families, but I really like quietness, where I can feel the spirit more. I love being able to fill the Holy Ghost as I listen to the talks and take the sacrament.
Another great opportunity I get is to listen to general authorities. I have gotten to listen to five up to this point. I have listened to Elder Oaks, Elder Andersen, Elder Ballard, President Packer, and President Monson. So, I have also been in the room with Elder Perry, Elder Cook, and Elder Nelson. It really is incredible to be in the same room with such amazing roll models who have such an incredible spirit.I have learned a ton of just simple concepts by listening to them. They really talk about the basics of prayer, love, and scripture reading a lot. They talk about a lot of topics, but they always talk about the basic topics as they talk about this and tie it all together. So, overall I am loving  life at BYU and love the experiences I am having.

Changing Seasons

Well, fall came quick, and is leaving just as quickly. I wish I could say that I'm disappointed in the coming of winter, but I have always loved the changing of seasons. Whenever I'm asked what my favorite season is, it changes every time. I really love them all, and I especially love watching them change. So, if anyone would ask me right now what my favorite season is, right now it would be fall, but soon it will be winter. I am just really loving all of this. I love the crisp air, the changing colors, and the snow on the mountains. I'm looking forward to the holidays, and I'm definitely excited to be with my family again for both Thanksgiving and Christmas break. I am definitely hoping that this winter is a calm one though, because the last thing I need is inclement weather to keep me from seeing my family. Overall, I'm loving life and I love the Earth that God has created for us.

Eternity

I really love fast and testimony meeting in a singles ward. I love the insights that one can find from the people their own age. I felt the spirit more strongly today than I think I have ever felt in one room. I was especially touched with what one young man said. He talked about how he was feeling really homesick (like most college students) and one day he was having an especially rough patch. One of his friends (to help him feel better) said this, "what is one day in the glimpse of eternity." I really liked this, but he took it in the sense that this one bad day will not mean a lot in eternity. While I like this, I thought of it a different way. As I have felt throughout the week, being away from my family really stinks, and when I thought about it I thought how horrible it would be to be without my family for eternity. I mean think about it. If it is this bad now, how bad would it be to live in a different place for forever! It makes me never want to do anything bad to keep me from the celestial kingdom and away from them. I think about the fact that if they were in the celestial kingdom and I wasn't I couldn't pick when I do or don't get to see them. Like now when I'm at college and I get lonely I can call them whenever I want. I have family just a short drive away. If I were in the terrestrial kingdom while they were in the celestial I wouldn't be able to do that. That saddens me greatly, but at they same time gives me some motivation to do my best in this life so I will be with them forever. I love my family and to be with them forever is all that I could ask for.