Last Sunday.

I taught my last lesson as a relief society teacher today. It was a good one, on trials, that I really enjoyed. I talked about how we can grow not only from our own trials, but from other people's as well. We watched My New Life, which I was surprised how many people haven't seen it or even heard their story. Then I shared a quote from her book by Elder Holland that I really love:


“We look for Christ’s scars because they are evidence of what He did for us. They’ll be the first things He shows us when we see Him again. Your scars tell a story, too. Although they may not make you feel attractive, they are a witness of a miracle, that God blessed you to live, and that you have accomplished very difficult things.” 

While he was talking about her physical scars, I think this applies to the spiritual and emotional scars that everyone has from their own trials. We have all overcome difficult things and have come out better and stronger on the other side. We shouldn't be ashamed of our trials; we should be proud that we endured them well and share our experiences and what we have learned to help other people come closer to Christ. 

Anyway, I really love that quote and I am really going to miss teaching relief society. We will see what lottery I draw in my next ward. 

Grown-up.

I am feeling particularly adult today. Maybe its because I am almost finished with my second year of college. Maybe its because I am now twenty and the feeling comes with the territory. Maybe its because everyone I know is married or pregnant, and just the association make me feel old. Maybe its because I'm not going home for the summer. Maybe its because I have a real job now, not one handed out to me by someone I know-not that I don't appreciate that mom and dad- but I got this job on nothing but my own merits and skills, in my own field, and that feels really good. So today is just a mature kind of day.  

Here is a funny picture that kept very entertained the other day to counterbalance all the serious grownup stuff:

Last Week I'll be a Teenager.

I turn 20 in a week from today. 20!!! I'm not ready to be that old, and to no longer be a teenager. I feel like I should have it more together and more figured out by now. But that's how its been with other milestones. I thought I would have had way more figured out when I joined young women's, and then when I started high school and turned 16 and could drive, and then when I graduated, and then when I started college. But here I am in my almost third year (yikes!!) and everything is so different than I thought it would be. I've realized that you can watch people close to you accomplish things like graduation or college and think you know how it will be for you because of how it was for them, but when you actually reach that point nothing goes the way you thought. Not to say that it still isn't great, because it so is, but when you reach those points, you aren't even as old or as mature as you thought others were. Here are some pictures I found that I just really love. Sorry about the randomness and the super paragraph. Hopefully the pictures make it better.

Politics on Facebook

^^ That is one of my BIGGEST pet peeves. And with all the equal marriage hype, it has reached a new high. I'm all for people expressing their views and debating politics -- I love debating politics, like a lot actually. But not with close minded people, who just attack each other, and especially not on Facebook! 

My professor of my international politics class shared a quote with us today by President Hugh B. Brown that I really liked.

"Strive to develop a maturity of mind and emotion, and a depth of spirit which will enable you to differ with others on matters of politics without calling into question the integrity of those with whom you differ. Allow within the bounds of our definition of religious orthodoxy a variation in political belief." 

I think that says it better than any rant of mine could. Have a nice day, and as Hughie says, aim for maturity and the world will be a much more civil place. 

The Little Things.

Just got back from my tenth trip to the bathroom in about two hours. I find that when I study on campus, I position myself close to a bathroom just cuz it makes life easier #smallbladderproblems.

But today I'm grateful for the little things. I'm grateful for a reliable printer that works everyday, without me wanting to cuss it out. 

I'm grateful for tissues, and most importantly, the little pack of kleenex my mom put in my backpack when she moved me into the dorms a thousand years ago. It has come in handy today, and has save my poor little nosey from scratchy campus paper towels. 

I'm grateful for the sun for melting all the terrible snow. 

I'm grateful for music because it makes boring and down-right miserable tasks like studying for physical science bearable.


I'm grateful for good hair days and cute outfit days because NOTHING can ruin one of those. 

I'm grateful for accomplishing little goals and that keep me on track when the big ones seem so far off. It makes those huge achievements seem that  much closer, and sometimes that's all you need to get back on track. 

I couldn't choose which quote I liked best, so its a double quote kinda day :)