Slackish

I am a slacker. I'm sorry. It seems like when life can't get any busier and crazier... it does. Bleh. I think that it's just gonna take more dedication on my part... so we'll see how it goes.

The last couple of weeks have been awesome and fantastic and crazy.

I spent the whole week of thanksgiving at my mothers house and it was sooo fun! I went to see Harry Potter with 2 of my sisters. We did new family pictures because it's been a few years since the last one... Thanksgiving dinner was absolutely AMAZING! I spent all day the day before Turkey Day making pie with one of my sisters, we made 14 pies. Yes 14!! 4 Pumpkin, 2 Chocolate, 2 Banana Creme, 2 Coconut Creme, 2 Lemon Meringue, 1 Pecan, and... I can't remember what the other one was. Anyway. After stuffing myself with record amounts of turkey, mashed taters, green bean casserole, pie, jello, and all sorts of other good stuff... I retired to my bed, and slept... for 3 hours. It was amazing. Then I got

to go and visit my Grandparents, and then off to bed for me.

The next 2 days consisted of me sitting... a lot. I ate pie for breakfast, and lunch... and I think I had pancakes for dinner. :)

Nothing is better than pie for breakfast.

That is it.

How about a photo? Sounds good.

This one, I took back in may. Love the blossom time of year. :) great colors and just a fun time to shoot.

This one I took on the day I broke up with my boyfriend, back in June. Just random.

This one I took at my cousin Olivia's wedding back in May. I love doing photo's of the temple. Any temple. This is the Logan Temple.

I hope you enjoy.

Much love,

Rachel Lynn

Daylight what??

I'm fairly positive that Daylight Savings is the dumbest thing ever... I hate it when it is only 6pm and it feels like midnight! AGH. Anyway, I figure I owe and update...

Numero Uno: The 'date' with my Ex was good. Good being a relative term that I use instead of dealing with my inner emotions for fear that I will randomly burst into tears and float away in my personally created river. And now, the 'friendship' we have is non-existent. Basically it was the dumbest idea I ever had. And the 'haunted' house wasn't even fun. Mostly because I have major issues with that kind of thing, but it was just dumb. I laughed through the whole thing. It may have had something to do with the fact that I was going on like 2 hours of sleep for the whole week... but I doubt it.

Numero Dos: I hate being sick. I have a nasty head cold that is totally cramping my style. Mostly I just hate that I have no energy for anything, not even to play with my kids... Referring to the children whom I nanny... I've spent the last two days sitting in the Laz-y-boy recliner, putting on cartoons for the kids to watch so that it would keep them from getting into anything... avoiding messes, and that sort of thing... I feel horrible because I really wanna go play at the park with them before the snow comes... Which, by the way, is supposed to be TOMORROW!!! Yes I am super excited for the snow. :)

Numero Tres: I have major emotional overload this week... long story short, making decisions has never been an easy thing... like I usually can't decide what movie to watch at night... so I make someone else choose for me, even if they won't be watching the movie with me... So for me making big, life changing, decisions is really, really, super-de-duper hard. So I have recently decided to serve a mission! Well, due to recent 'events' (if you want details you'll have to call me...) I have decided I'm not going. Long story short, I'm not supposed to go.

It's an answer to many prayers. It's hard though. There are only two things that I've ever really wanted to do in my life and they are, 1. serve a mission, and 2. Be a mom... well, I'm kinda depressed about this not going on a mission thing... we shall see.

How 'bout a photo!? That always makes me feel better...

This one I took a few weeks ago out at Utah Lake... I like it. It's one that I think turned out pretty good looking. :)

This one is from my Washington trip... it's at a place called Twin Rocks. I really love the two blue Adirondack chairs, it truly makes this photo.

limited vocabulary

I really just can't think of a good title for this post, mostly because I can already tell that it is going to be mostly rambling, ridiculous, and completely biased on my side. With that stated, the first thing I'd like to say is that I feel really awkward, and a bit confused.

Story: one of my very best friends invited me to go on a double date to a haunted house... sounds fair enough. She's married. And she asked me to bring a date... I have nothing against dating, really. My problem is that I am completely anti-social. COMPLETELY. At church I sit alone, on the same bench, against the wall, every week... for the past 2 years... in the SAME ward. I am a nanny... this requires me to focus all my attention on 5 kids full time... there is really no room for social interaction when you are cleaning up after a 3 and 5 year old all day. I am a student, who takes night classes 3 nights a week... the other remaining nights are consumed by my Institute class, and catching up on sleep missed all week long, and being obsessed with watching episodes of NCIS and Bones... did I mention that I also do 6 hours of Physical Therapy a week.

So while I have nothing against dating... I simply do not have time to date. Or even think about dating for that matter.

Now: I love my friend, and I actually really want to go to this haunted house, despite being injured and barley capable of walking. So who did I call (I actually texted him... lame I know.)? My ex-boyfriend who I have not had an actual conversation with since our breakup in June. Yes. Epic Fail. Well the funny part is that he actually said yes. We've been talking about getting together to hang out for a while now... but this just seems weird and awkward. So I'm stewing because I can't decide if he thinks this is a date, or just going as friends... so what do I do? I send him a 5 page text message about how I feel awkward... wanna know what he said? He said: No Worries. End of story.

So now I am having major flashbacks about our dates.... summoning nightmares, that is my specialty.

Anyhow. The other purpose of this post was to rant about how frustrated I am with my stupid knee... You are probably confused because of my last post. Long story short, I wrecked my motorcycle last Saturday (by no fault of my own... notice the aforementioned moronic teenage boy). My knee got crushed pretty good, and I've got some knarly road rash and bruising. The knee itself actually feels better but it still hurts a lot to walk on it.

There was another point that I was going to rant about... but I can't remember what it was... oh well. :)

Photo: On Thursday before my Institute class I decided to go out to the lake and take some photos... This is one that I shot, and I am super proud of it. It is and HDR photo. If you have never heard of this, you should look it up. I would just explain... but it's like 1 AM.... I hope you like it. It is Mount Timp. I wish the colors on the mountain were more prominent and bold... but, oh well.

Enjoy.

Much Love!

Rachel Lynn

oh. snap.

I'm frustrated. I do not know why. It may be that I'm unable to walk, due to the stupidity of a teenage boy who literally tried to kill me and him by acting like said stupid moronic teenager while driving and ATV. No hard feelings... right. HA!

With that said, I'm still frustrated and I feel like it is for no reason. I really don't know why. Maybe it is that I haven't had an adequate night of sleep in in well over a month. But I'm pretty sure that it is some combination of these two factors. some percentage of these factors at least...

Anyway, last week I went to get a Slurpee with my sister Megan... well I love Slurpee's. But when did they start making their flavors SUGAR FREE!!! Gah... Who has the audacity. Honestly if you don't want sugar, don't eat stuff like SLURPEE'S!!!! Flip...

That is all. I'm just peeved. I'm gonna lock myself in my room and watch some random documentary, and hopefully go to sleep. Here's to hoping!

Photo: I went with my cousin Tylyn last weekend to hike up Maple Mountain. Although we didn't get nearly to the top, we got some amazing photos! Check out her amazingness HERE. We had an awesome time! :)

Holy Toledo!

I FINALLY HAVE MY COMPUTER BACK!!!! It is now up and running like it did when I first got it. The battery and the AC adapter both went kaput on me right after I got home from Washington... so it's been a good two months since I've been able to use it. It is so nice to be able to work on editing my photos, which have been waiting for soooooo long, and being able to type papers that are due for my classes... rather than borrowing a friends or going to my mom's house to do that. IT IS AWESOME! Anyway.

This weekend was absolutely amazing! General Conference always blows me out of the water. All the messages that were given were so bold and much needed. I'm so thankful that we have living Prophets to teach us how to be better. As for new news...

Drum roll please!!!!..............

I'M GOING ON A MISSION!!!!

I have officially made my decision! I figure as long as I have a plan and work on that plan, everything will work out the way it is supposed to. It was really kind of an interesting thing. I had decided to spend the conference weekend really focusing on the reasons I want to serve a mission and if it is really the right decision for me.

And Saturday morning session when President Monson spoke... I instantly knew I am supposed to go. Although, I realize that I don't turn 21 until the end of March... I will be able to start my papers as early as December... and I'll turn them in sometime in February. I will probably end up going in June, rather than as soon as my birthday because I have committed to my job until the end of May. I am so excited and pumped. For as long as I remember I've wanted to serve a mission. So I am glad that I have been blessed with the ability to serve my Savior and The Lord.

Other than that... nothing really new to report. Just staying busy with the job... I love being a mom! Even if they aren't my kids... :) It just makes me more, and more excited to have my own children. School is going good... just plugging away hoping that I am not too burned out by mid-semester. But it is going well. :) As soon as I'm done posting here I am going to write a paper for my class tonight. :)

AND I DO have a photo!!!!

This was taken two years ago.... :) It is at a reservoir called Oak Creek. It is on Boulder Mountain in Southern Utah. It is one of my most favorite places on earth. I've been wanting to go and hike up to the lake and sit and fish... but I'm busy as a bee lately so it'll have to wait 'til spring. I hope you enjoy.

childhood memories

Today I had a flashback while I was driving. This happens to me a lot. I figure that it's normal... but maybe not. Anyway. I remembered this time in elementary school when we had an after school activity for all the 4th and 5th graders. We got to watch the movie The Emperors New Groove.

I think I was in 4th grade... anyway I just remember that we had all of us packed in the gym on the floor with blankets and pillows. They gave up popcorn and doughnuts. It was awesome. But mostly I remember how funny this movie was. And ever since then it has been one of my all time favorite movies. Anyway, after this little flashback I really wanted to watch this movie... but I CAN'T FIND IT!!! My mom had it, but I couldn't find it at her house...

Now I'm really depressed.

The. End.

Much love.

P.S. I will have my computer back up and running by the end of the week... that way I can actually post pictures... Sorry I'm slacking.

Praying for WINTER!!

Let's be honest... I've been praying for winter since July. I know right? Well, I hate this time of year when the mornings are frigid and the afternoons are blazing hot... A friend of mine also posted about this today (go here to read here amazingness!). I am just ready for the snow to fly. So I can layer my clothes generously and not have to worry about needing to adjust mid afternoon. I want to go boarding... SNOWboarding that is! I want to get lost in the backcountry in the amazing powder.



But may I post a caution... or rather a request?

Those of you who have not had experience driving in the snow... get some. Go to a church parking lot the fist time it snows and take some time to get used to the way a car moves in the slickness of fresh snow... and ice. Or walk. Or ride the bus... or stay home.

Too harsh? My bad.

It's about time!

I FINALLY have my computer working again!! YAY! To be honest the only thing I really missed was being able to work on my photos and all that jazz. I am excited none-the-less. In the time I've been technologically disabled a lot has happened. I moved, started a new job, started school, and have been busier than I've ever been in my life! Oh the joys of being a substitute mother of 5 kids! It takes all my energy everyday to get anything done ... but now that 4 of them are in school it is better. I can actually plan out my day and get things done rather than just wait for the chaos to take over the whole day. So besides that, nothing new... I moved in with the family I am working for. It's nice to be able to sorta sleep in... if you can call 6 sleeping in. It would help if I actually slept at night also. School is good. I say that will a monotone and uninterested voice... My life has been so busy that I haven't had a chance to really get into my classes yet, I haven't begun to enjoy them because all my energy has been going into work. But it is getting better by the week. My art class is really funny, and it's mostly that my professor is a nut. :) My Psychology class is good, the first few classes have been kinda boring, but I think that it will start to get interesting.

Life is crazy. In a good way. I wish I had more news, or some funny story of something that has happened... but I don't. Sorry. :)

I will share a photo tho!! This makes me really happy!

There is actually a shot in the movie Twilight that was shot from this exact spot. It is on the Washington side of the Columbia River going west. SO GORGEOUS!!!! :) Enjoy!

currently disabled...

Sad news. I've been meaning to add a new post for the last few days but I've been super busy with work and moving. The sad news is, all of my technology has died. My phone, my computer... Luckily I still have my iTouch. Just thought I'd let you know that I haven't gone MIA. No photo either, I encourage you to embrace your hippy side and go create something awesome... Provided that it's legal. I hope to be back soon.

work

After a long summer of having no job, I am proud to say that I start working on Tuesday!!! :) I will be going back to nanny for the family that I worked for before, the Jepsen's. I am so excited and it is going to be so much fun! I really have no new developments in my life other than I'm moving in with the Jepsen's next week and I have spent a grand portion of my time this last week de-junking and cleaning out my bedroom at my parents house. IT IS NOT FUN! From this time on I will stop being such a pack rat! But now that I have everything cleaned out all I have to do is box up everything and move it. My parents spent the month of July remodeling our basement and they added an apartment on one side of it. My sister Katie and her husband Paul, and there adorable son Russell are going to be moving into it. Which means I am automatically the first one to be kicked out... good thing I had a plan before this happened!!! So my two younger brothers are going to be moving to the 'girls' side of the basement and my sister is not too happy about it! :) But it is really funny to me! Anyhow, that is pretty much all I have to say right now. I don't even have a profound thought or anything like that... sorry! Maybe next time.

However I do have a photo... or a few... to share! :) These are just a few of the photo's that I took of Yaquina Head Lighthouse. It is by far my favorite lighthouse ever! I hope you like them!

HOME!

I'M HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's very weird. BUT I am so happy to be back and to be spending time with my family. I left the beautiful place of vacation on Thursday morning, and the 14 hour drive was actually very good. A little cramped, but entertaining and fun. I arrived back in Utah Valley at 2am Friday morning. :) I am so excited and happy to be home!!!! I didn't get much sleep after getting home, but I got up early to see my family!!! I never in a million years thought it would be possible to miss my family so much, but I really missed them!! I got a HUGE hug from my Daddie and my Mommie... and my baby brother Chip! Then I spent the day doing laundry and cleaning my bedroom... I left it a complete mess. Then I got to spend the night with two of my favorite people in the entire world. I love you Ashes and Hales!! Thanks for making my first night home so awesome! I slept like a rock last night, and was up early! I didn't go running though because my back was hurting a lot... so I just hung out with my family. I got to play with my super cute nephew James all morning! And all of my siblings are here today... ALL of them! It is the first time we have all been together in over 4 months. CRAZY! It's been so good to be able to spend the day with them, talking, and laughing about random things. Playing with my niece and nephews! Had a very unexpected visit from a very close friend... and she brought me my favorite ice cream... :) Thanks Marce! I can't wait to see you this week! Got to go swimming for a couple hours at the Lund's!!! I have to best neighbors ever!!! JUST A GREATLY FANTASTIC DAY!!! :)

Life is amazingly wonderful!

Now for a photo...

In the following post. Yaquina Head Lighthouse. This is not one of my photo's but I went to visit this lighthouse last week and got some great photo's that I will share in a couple days. It is an amazing place. :) I LOVE lighthouses!

insomnia is my nemesis

Many of you know that I have always suffered from insomnia. It is something I have always taken pride in, not just the fact that I can function on no sleep for over a week. Many say that this is not possible, but I am living proof that it is totally possible. So, you may ask yourself why I am posting about this... good question. About a month before my departure to this beautiful vacation spot I had overcome my insomnia, almost entirely... but since being here I have had a hard time keeping on my now normal sleep schedule and thus my insomnia has returned... hence the 4am blog post!! Well I've come to several realizations on this particular night that have caused me to come here to ... vent? I'm not sure that is the right word, but I'll go with it for now.

First, most of us 90's kids are proud to claim this title. But as of tonight, I am no longer a proud 90's kid. In fact I am disturbed... ? I mean come on, have you ever even watched Full House, or Sabrina the Teenage Witch... If you have you know what I am talking about. Ridiculous. I am very embarrassed.

Second, I hate AM Television. 'Nuff said 'bout that.

Third, I want to build something. ( completely random tangent that has nothing to do with my train of thought... :)

Fourth, Justin Beiber? I mean really? What have we done as a society to throw away all modes of brain activity and to accept this as a form of good "entertainment" or "music". He is what 12? Okay MAYBE 13... and he is singing these songs about things that 13 year olds should not even know about... maybe I'm just a sheltered Utah kid, but seriously!? Do all 12 and 13 year old kids actually know what he is talking about!? I think not, or at least I hope not. We should be ashamed to support in any way this kind of garbage.

Other than that I'm just peachy. Actually rather enjoying myself, in a house all alone, rocking out ( I mean completely rocking with the volume blasting, nearly blowing out the windows...) to Paramore, Chris Merritt, and other great artists. The wee hours of the morning are often full of entertainment (so long as they are not sought from the TV set... there is nothing good on at this hour. I PROMISE YOU!).

Much love,

Rachel Lynn

oh yeah... I almost forgot a photo! hmm...

This is one that I took back in April... but I LOVE this photo. Maybe it will inspire you. :)

newness :)

So lately I've been doing a whole bucket load of thinking, pondering, introspection... (whatever word you may choose) about my life and about the things that I place importance and happiness on. Let's just say that it's about time for some dusting and rearranging in the brain room!! In this time of great thinking I've decided to sorta refurbish my blog!! Instead of focusing on the depressing things that happen in my life, I am making a goal right now to be more optimistic and happy about everything in my life. Even if it just that I get to see the sun rise each day (which is a HUGE blessing!!). So with that said... here goes.

I have been on this really random running fetish as of late. It may just be that I'm on vacation alone, and have nothing better to do with all the free time that continues to fall from the deeply blue sky here in the great state of Washington! But I have been loving every minute of it! Today I ran 18.5 miles! That is the most that I have ever run at one time!! I'd like to think that I want to train for and run a half or even a full marathon, but I don't think I have the .. what is the word... DRIVE. I like to run to vent, to release pent up emotion, and to feel the breeze (not to mention that I love to completely rock out to my music when I go on my long runs! ) People give me really weird looks, but I could care less!! On top of that fantastic news is even more glorious news! Tomorrow I am going to the BEACH!! :) WOOT! I'm going to spend a couple (or more) days at the beach to relax and enjoy before I head back to my hometown! It is going to be awesome!!! There is nothing better than sitting by the ocean, soaking up the sun, and doing absolutely nothing! And I will get to spend time with a group of people whom I love so dearly!

So with that said, I shall leave you with a photo! This is also going to be a new thing, I'll add a photo with every post. Some will be mine, but not all.... :)

This is a photo that I took on one of my outings to Big Cedars Park. Awesome park next to a great stream to swim in and soak up the sun! :)

Hope you enjoy!

Much love,

Rachel Lynn

'aint I supposed to be on my vacation?

This weekend has been a not so good one for me... I've spent the last two nights puking my guts out. I don't know why and I'm uber frustrated and grumpy about it. But other than that my vacation has been really great. Lot's of adventures, lots of thinking time, lots of relaxation. The weather has been great here and I've been loving it!! Lot's of hiking, running, etc... I've taken so many photos as well!!! I'm loving it so much that I might move here permanently!! But as much as I am loving it here I find my self more often missing home... Utah. I miss my beautiful Maple Mountain. I miss my backyard with lush green grass that I can lay on and take a nap. I do not miss the heat, but I do miss the fact that the heat keep most the bugs away. That is one thing that bothers me about where I am... great location, beautiful scenery, but it's just humid enough that the bugs are ALWAYS around. They never take a break! Even in the middle of the afternoon when it is very warm... I sit outside in the evenings to enjoy a good book and some lemonade and I go crazy because the stupid mosquito's and flies will not leave me alone... AGH!!!! Anyway, enough rambling about things that have no real importance in life... but I had to get my two cents in. All that said, I've had a lot of time to think about life. It has been a while since I actually sat down and thought about how much importance I place on the little stupid insignificant annoyances in my life. I've realized that I am very selfish, and it stops now. I know that I'm human and I can't be perfect at being completely selfless, but starting right now I am going to make a conscious effort to try my hardest to be more selfless. This world has enough rude, egotistical, selfish people... I don't want to be one of them. :)

This is Mt. Hood. This is my favorite photo that I have taken in the last m

onth. It is amazing!!!

There is beauty all around :)

This is the view I have on my morning runs!! :) It is pretty much the greatest thing ever!

Mt. Adams

I do a loop that is just under 7 miles. I go 1 mile up the road that my house is on and then take a right. The next road up it the Highway and I turn left and go west for 2 miles, turn right onto this dirt road that goes for about a half a mile to a little river called Trout Creek, and then it comes back.

It is probably the most amazingly beautiful place I have ever been. I love it here and I am loving it more everyday!! :) The only hard part is that I don't have cell phone service at the house so I have to drive a half hour to where I go to church to use my cell phone... the good thing is that there is a landline at the house so I'm not completely disconnected... and I have internet so I'm good. :)

Just thought you'd like an update... I LOVE LIFE!!! :)

Much love,

RaeLynn

rise from the ashes

I've been greatly blessed to have the knowledge of the Gospel. The wondrous blessing of being able to let go of all this pain. It truly is the greatest feeling. While the pain is gone, now comes that dreaded part of rebuilding... but it is not impossible. Broken trust can be restored, with time and much effort on the part of both parties... but it will come. Because of the wondrous gift that was given to me by my Savior, Jesus Christ, I can again feel whole... instead of having a gaping hole in my heart. With that comes the responsibility to share this blessing.

I am on vacation... :) A very good friend of mine needed help with her kids while on a trip because her husband was not able to go in order to do a kitchen renovation... so I got to come to Washington with her and her 5 kids. I LOVE IT HERE!!! Not only that, I'm staying here for the month of July, I've already been here for two weeks and it feels like home... :)

Being surrounded by such beauty, I am able to ponder deeply about things that I wouldn't be able to at home. There is just too much going on. I now have the chance to really discover something inside me that has been missing, even let go of fears and pain that have long plagued me. This is a chance for me to completely renew my mind, my strength, and my heart. I know that it will be hard and take time, but it will be well worth the effort.

Life is amazing. Remember.

Much Love,

RaeLynn

yet again...

Changes are afoot in my life yet again. The only thing is that bothers me is that these changes are unwelcome, unchosen, and emotionally very difficult. I honestly feel like my heart has been cut out of me, chopped up, deep fried, and served to the family dog. I've never cried so much in my whole life (which is saying a lot: I cry when I see rainbows and wind chimes). This hurt has been thrown at me by someone I love. My best friend. Never in a million years would I have expected this, or anything close to this. Truth be told, I feel like curling up in my bed and dying.
The beautiful truth is this: I know that I can turn to my Savior to help me get through these times of extreme heartache, pain, and confusion. The Savior is my best friend and He is the only one who can lift this pain. It is so wonderful to know that Heavenly Father loves me so much: so much that I cannot fully comprehend.
I have forgiven my best friend. But the trust between us has been broken. Over time I may be able to learn to trust again, and I really don't want this to be the end of our friendship. My sincere hope is that our friendship may be strengthened through this trying and difficult time.

I will continue to be the best person I can be, and allow the Lord to control the rest. For now that is the best that I can do.

SUMMERTIME!!!!!

I LOVE SUMMER!!! So far it has been uneventful and kinda boring! However I did get to go on an awesome camping trip! Our annual family Boulder Trip was fantastic! I spent four days in the most beautiful place in the state! Camping is something that I have always enjoyed greatly and it always helps me keep things in perspective. I especially love being able to spend really good quality time with my family. It never ceases to amaze me at how easy it is to spend so much time reflecting when I spend time in beautiful places like that. Thinking about life, and all the things that have been going on lately. Trying to come to terms with some things, and learning to just press on. No matter what the Lord continues to bless me, for which I am so deeply grateful. :)
Much Love,
RaeLynn

new beginnings

My best friend
i've found you
you've breathed
new life into me

just thinking of you
of your eyes
your smile
your love
i get the chills

love is a grand thing
it brings out the best
and the worst in us
and i would have it
no other way

you are always on my mind
i want to be in your arms
to hear your sweet voice
tell me you love me

I'm not lost!

I know it has been a long time since I last posted! I've been so busy trying to keep up with school!! It is absolutely crazy at how much time I spend doing homework and studying... it's almost over! This week is my last week of classes, and then finals are the last week of April... as much as I am ready for it to be over I'm really nervous for my finals! I'm sure it will be fine, I just don't like taking tests in any capacity... so we will see how things go. Since last time, a lot has happened... I turned 20! I think that is the only big thing... For spring break I was able to go and spend a weekend with my family at Quail Creek State Park. It is a gorgeous reservoir and campgroung. It was fun to just get away and enjoy the sunshine and warmth of Southern Utah! Nothing else has really happened... Had some random fun adventures with a very good friend, and my cousin just got home from New Zealand so I'm looking forward to having some fun times with her! Summer is just around the corner and I have a lot of fun things planned, on top of a full work schedule! I hope it is as fun as I think it will be! Enjoy the photos!
Much Love,
RaeLynn

oh how life can change..

The past two weeks i've been doing a lot of searching... both spiritually and physically. i've been trying to find ways that i can change that will make me a better friend, sibling, daughter.. etc.. i've been so blessed in my life and i feel like there has been something missing the last little while. day after day i am continually reminded of how great my blessings really are. and i've been taking those blessings for granted. it's time i step it up and make sure that i am striving each day to be successful in all my efforts, whether it be in school, at church, at home... i can be better. it's just a matter of how willing i am to make the changes. today i made a decision... it's something i've been think about all my life... i am going to serve a mission. it is something i have always wanted to do and it is something that will benefit me not only as a member of the Church, but there are things that can be learned on mission that you can't learn anywhere else. it will be such a blessing and an honor to serve the Lord. and it's now decided. now that i have decided it i think i'm feeling a little intimidated. but it's going to be the most amazing thing of my life. definitely the BEST thing! life continues to get better and be more awesome, and busy! but i love life! and as long as we love it... we are on the right track. :)
much love

wonderful things..

There has been a lot going on in the last few weeks.. and I am so very happy.
I started school 2 weeks ago! It has been really good so far, it's just been weird to get used to be in school full time. I like my classes, as much as you can really like doing Generals... :) It just keeps getting better and it reaffirms my decision. My trust in the Lord builds every day. It never ceases to amaze me how loving the Lord is. He continues to bless my life on a daily basis. Even when I have doubts and fears. I know that if I strive to be the best I can and let the Lord help me every step of the way that He will bless me. Knowing the He is a part of my daily life helps me continue on.

Much love.