First Day

So. I'm a sophomore in college. When in the world did that happen?!

I've come to a conclusion about life/college/happiness. I can get through anything as long as I have these four things.

1- M.otivation

2-O.ptimism

3-M.orning prayers

The drive and will to do with my life exactly what I want, especially in college. The positive attitude that I am completely capable of doing anything. My Heavenly Father on my side, starting the moment I wake up, also having enough faith to get me through each day. And my mom. (See what I did there, clever I know). With these things, I feel as if I can take on the world.This is going to be my slogan, or motto this school year/semester.

It helps that I know this kid comes home in about 4 months! :) I just love him.

Lucky

I am such a lucky girl. I've got so many people who love me and who help me out constantly. I don't know what I would do or where I would be without any of them. Also, I love my job at domino's. For the most part. It is
I started this post on Sunday July 1st. And then fell asleep with my laptop open, so there were about a trillion f's across the screen. I think I wanted to finish that sentence with fantastic? Who knows.

All I know is, on Sunday I didn't really know how incredibly lucky/blessed I really am. I could only fathom a very small portion. I have so much to be grateful for, and instead of telling you all about my past week, I am just going to make a list of things that I am SO INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL FOR:

1. My life. I am so blessed to be here today. It is amazing

 how one experience can change your outlook on

 even the simple things like having more time here.

2. My family. I am so grateful that families can be forever,

 and that my family will be together forever. With that, I am 

grateful for the temple and my ability to go there often.

3. Isaac DeMar Wood. I can't even explain this one. 

The impact he has had on my life is not even explainable. Even though

 I haven't seen him in 18 months, the impact he has on me continues to 

grow. I am a better person because this man loves me.

4. Miracles.

5. The Gospel of Jesus Christ. I have no idea

 where I would be without it. It means the world to me.

6. My jobs. In this economy, there are so many that don't

 even have one job, and I am lucky enough to have two. To help me

 pay for college, and also all of the things along the way that come up.

7. My loving Father in Heaven. Who knows me, loves me

 unconditionally, and is always watching out for me.

8. My parents. My dad is the most incredible man ever.

 He would do absolutely anything for me, and he loves 

me so much. My mom is amazing, and does 

a lot for me. I love them both so much.

9. America. Not only am I grateful for it, but I am grateful to live here. 

There are so many freedoms that I have that I have taken for granted in the

 past, that so many men and women have fought to protect. I am also

 grateful for the founding fathers, and that they were led and 

guided to write an amazing document such as the Constitution.

10. The power of prayer. Not only am I grateful that I can pray 

to my Heavenly Father, I am also grateful that He answers 

our prayers with so much power behind them.

 

Mom's Day

Happy Mother's Day to my mom. She is the most incredible woman ever. I am going to dedicate this post to her! :)
Ever since I moved back home, it seems like my mom has done so much for me. I have only been back home for a week, and I can't count on all of my hands and toes all of the things that she has done for me. She has always done so much for me, since the beginning of life, but it seems like I notice it more now. I love my mom more than anything. She helps me through everything, and is always there for me.
One of the things that I missed the most while I was at school, were the conversations we used to always have when I would get home from anything. I missed telling her all of the details about what fun thing I had been doing, or whatever I loved/hated about work that day. I missed the advice that she has always been so willing to give. The funny thing is, I talked to my mom almost every single day while I was at college, and came home every few weeks. But it just wasn't the same. But now, every time I walk in the door, my mom is there to listen to everything I've got to say. She is the one person that always wants to hear every single detail about my day.
When I'm upset, she is there to give me a hug and tell me that she loves me, and that everything will be okay. That never gets old when it comes from my mother :)
There about a billion other things that I could say, but this could go on and on for days. My mom is incredible.
I would be nothing without her love and support. Quite literally. I love my mom! Happy Mother's Day Mommy!!

Silly people & Life's decisions

1. My name is spelled with an H. mariaH. Silly people at Einstein bros bagel place.
2. I did not want you to toast my bagel. When you asked, I said no. Yet you still toasted it. Silly silly.

Any other day the past week these things would've been reason for me to freak out and get upset for a brief second. BUT, it is a great day. Who knows what changed, but I woke up in a supreme mood today. Slept hardly at all last night, and yet I've been all smiles today. Optimism is a great thing. There is not a care in the world for me right now. There should be about a million things I should be worrying about, but I came to a conclusion. I need to be happy even when things are hard. Being upset and worrying about everything does nothing but make matters worse. My mom always tells me this, turns out, she's right!

Life is good. Life is beautiful. I am remembering this all over again. Those little moments of laughter and those little memories that you can't help but smile at. Walking outside and knowing that you live in a beautiful world that was created for you to enjoy.

Taylor Swift says it better in this song than I could even begin to try.

I don't know what I want, so don't ask me
Cause I'm still trying to figure it out
Don't know what's down this road, I'm just walking
Trying to see through the rain coming down
Even though I'm not the only one
Who feels the way I do

I'm alone, on my own, and that's all I know
I'll be strong, I'll be wrong, oh but life goes on
I'm just a girl, trying to find a place in
This world

Got the radio on, my old blue jeans
And I'm wearing my heart on my sleeve
Feeling lucky today, got the sunshine
Could you tell me what more do I need
And tomorrow's just a mystery, oh yeah
But that's ok

I'm alone, on my own, and that's all I know
I'll be strong, I'll be wrong, oh but life goes on
I'm just a girl, trying to find a place in
This world

Maybe I'm just a girl on a mission
But I'm ready to fly

I'm alone, on my own, and that's all I know
I'll be strong, I'll be wrong, oh but life goes on
I'm just a girl, trying to find a place in
This world

The main difference in her lyrics and how I feel is, I'm not alone. At all. I've got an incredible family and friends that are always there for me. And my biggest asset, my Heavenly Father. I may not know what my future holds, and my plans may not work out. But, that's because He is busy turning my life into what He wants it to be.

I feel exactly the same as in this post, there are only two absolutely certain things in my future. And they are both mysterious still. I have no idea what will happen with either of them, but right now I'm not meant to know. In time, I will come to know what my future holds. Right now, I just need to enjoy life.

Valentine's Day

I've never been a fan of this day. Not because I don't have someone to give me nice things, but because I think that when two people are in love, they should show it every single day. Any kind of love that is real is shown every single day in the little things, not once or twice a year with the huge things. It is still great to receive things on V-Day and to further affirm ones feelings, but it should also be done every single day.
Someday, when I am married to the man of my dreams, I hope that he will surprise me with great things on random insignificant days. To show that he loves me every day, not just on Valentine's Day.
However, I would like to say how much I love my family! They are incredible. Since I won't be at home until this weekend, my sweet mom sent me a picture of my Valentine's card that she made me. I love that every single time we hang up the phone, we always tell each other that we love each other. So that we can't ever say we didn't know it. I talked to my dad on the phone last night after class, and although I don't talk to him as much as my mom, it is always really nice to just chat with him. He is an incredible man, and I love him! My sister is most definitely the best sister I could have ever asked for. She has always let me hang out with her friends and has always been there for me. She always inspires me to never be ashamed of who I am, and to be my own person. I love her, and am so glad that we have become a lot better friends over the years.

Favorites

I love these girls.

This is by far my favorite place/view.

I love my mom. She is the best.

This is one of my best friends, Miranda. She is incredible.

ISU Basketball!!

This is Rachel. She is a best friend of mine! :)

Idaho State Bengals! :)

Gratitude

Wow. It has been a very long, yet fast as I look back, week. Lately days take forever to go by, but weeks, just fly right on by. 7 weeks from now, I'll be officially in college. Weird. Anyways.

This week was filled with some of the biggest struggles in all my 18 years. I hadn't received a letter in 5 weeks, almost 6. Which, for those of you that don't have a missionary, is a big deal. And downright hard. All week I was thinking about how selfish the Canadian postal workers were when they went on strike. But, how selfish was I to want a letter so badly. But enough about that, its over ;)

1. One thing I'm not grateful for, is Satan. But at the same time, I am. He makes me realize the good things, by throwing bad things at me. It has never been truer that you can't have good without bad. Which leads me to the second one.
2. I'm so extremely grateful for all the hard things that I've been through. Each one has taught me a valuable life lesson, through my Heavenly Father. It may not seem hard to you, but it has been for me. Being away from my best friend for these 6 months, has been one of the hardest challenges of my little life. But, we'll get to him in a different post, yes, he gets his own.
3. My Heavenly Father. (ps, this list is in no particular order, cuz otherwise He would be at the top) I was talking to a great friend this past week, and she said a few things that really hit me. One thing she always asks when I'm having a hard time, is if I have prayed recently. And it was then that I had remembered I had been praying way more than the usual twice a day. I didn't realize that I had been. And then she went on to tell me that I just needed to continue doing all the right things and that everything would be alright, in his time. She told me that I needed to continue to trust in Him. To REALLY trust in Him. I hadn't quite thought about it. She said, "But sometimes, doing all the right things can help but it won't fix everything. Unless you let the Atonement do it's work and help you get through.... The Atonement's not just for sinners anymore. It's for pains and infirmities and sickness and exhaustion." I've always been taught this, and knew to some extent that it was true. But not until this week. This past week, I discovered just how real it is and how it truly works. I prayed harder, longer, and more thoughtfully than I ever have. I communicated better than ever before with my Father in Heaven. I learned that My Heavenly Father loves me, and is mindful of me. He wants me, and you, to be happy. That is what the Plan of Salvation is all about. I am grateful that I was sent to this Earth to go through these trials so that I can become like Him. He is the most amazing Father to all of us, and wants everything for us.
4. I am so grateful for the Atonement, and for The Savior for being willing to atone for my sins and sorrows. I cannot even express with words how this makes me feel. He knows how I feel when I am at my deepest despair, and my greatest joy. He is my elder brother, and absolute best friend.
5. I am grateful for the most amazing family I could ever ask for. They are absolutely, totally, and completely perfect for me. I couldn't ask for greater parents. They are so understanding, and so willing to help me out when I need it. My mom is amazing. She is everything I want to be in a mother, and I hope I can be as great as her.
6. I am so grateful for the best friends a girl could ask for. They listen to me complain and they still love me. They try to make me happy, and are successful for the most part. They give me the best advice, and are willing to help me out. And. They are always there for me.
7. I am grateful for the freedom I have in this beautiful country. It means the world to me. I am grateful for all the brave soldiers who have given their lives so that I can live mine the way that I want. With religious freedom. And so many other things I take for granted daily.
8. I am grateful for missionaries. Who are willing to give up two years of their life, for other people to be able to have the faith and religion that I have. So that they can find and have the true happiness that I have found.
9. And finally. I am grateful for a special boy who is serving a mission, but, he will come in a later post. Shorter, but all about him :)

Sorry for this stinkin long post. It just had to be said :)

Sunburns

So. I might possibly be an idiot on occasion. This morning I got a great idea. The sun was shining, the wind was not blowing. It was GORGEOUS outside. I didn't work today, so I thought, "Oh, I'll lay outside in the hammock and read (all the while getting some sun on the skin!)" So I put on my swim suit, put up the hammock, and laid outside for approximately 2 hours. Not the brightest idea I've ever had. My mom told me to put some sunscreen on, and my dad said I was gonna get sunburned. But. I assured both of them that I would be just fine!! Haha. Doesn't it suck when your parents are right?!? It sure feels great to have tomato colored skin. Atleast it is no longer white, right? :) Gotta love when I get crazy ideas in my brain.