The end of January

Does anyone else feel like time is flying? Time is sure flying for me and on this day, as I reflect what I've done in January, I wonder sometimes what else life has for me. I'm grateful nothing serious is truly happening. Sometimes no news is good news, but I also wonder if I'm ever going to feel like I am accomplishing something marvelous. I have worked at LDSBC now for coming up on 6 years and a couple of weeks ago, my boss pulled me aside and said things that I am trying to take as constructive criticism, but am wondering if I'm actually doing all that I need to there. Most of my dearest friends are dating someone, engaged or married and having families and I wonder if I'm supposed to be on the sidelines cheering everyone on while they seem to be able to move on with their lives. My ward is wonderful, but I'm not feeling like I'm growing at all. I feel like in my callings that I'm alone and there is no one to help me accomplish them. I'm trying to involve everyone, but their willingness to help is greatly lacking. I have wondered what else I should be doing to make me feel like I make a difference in this world, with family, with friends, but I've had a lot of questions this last month wondering what I could do more. Life is truly a blessing and I'm grateful for all I have learned and all that I have been blessed with. The Lord truly does take care of us and is mindful of us. I guess we all land in ruts and I think my rut is full of really sticky mud and I'm not moving much at this point in my life. Hopefully my 4 wheel drive will kick into action soon :)

Questions & Answers

So, my younger sister, Michelle, is engaged to be married to a wonderful man and we are thrilled to death that she has found someone so wonderful! The fun part is that Joe is actually older than I am, so I'm finally getting the big brother that I've always wanted. Joe is the baby of his family, so he's pretty excited to be my big brother. Hopefully, I don't make him regret it. When I found out that Michelle was getting married, it was a rough couple of days for me. I'm the oldest, I should be getting married first, right? Well, I realized how completely selfish I was and I needed to be happy for my sister. So, here we go for the adventure of planning a wedding. Joe is British, so we're going to try to figure out the Visa stuff (fun, eh?) and get them married on October 15, in the Oquirrh Mountain Temple. I am so excited for the two of them. They are really a sweet couple and when my time comes, I'll be ready for it. :) Here's a picture of the happy couple for you to enjoy!

Life in General

So, sometimes I wonder why I keep a blog, because I live a very boring life and really don't have much to say to anyone. I had a wonderful Christmas with my parents and my brother. One brother is on his mission in Washington state and my sister was in London with her boyfriend, now fiancee. I figure I'll just post pictures and tell you what they are. Sorry to take so long to blog.

This is the quilt that I made for my parents for Christmas. Its called "Trip Around the World." It was so much fun to make but even more fun to see their expressions when they opened it up :)

One of my dearest friends, Michelle, got married in October. We all have people in our lives that change us for the better. Michelle is one of those people for me. She's always been an example of Christ-like love and patience. I was so happy for her when she met her sweetheart and wish them an eternity of happiness :)

This is one of my best friends, Cynthia. Every time I go up to her house in Logan, she always makes this incredible homemade pizza. I love her dearly and get to visit her tomorrow. I'm stoked :)

This is the beautiful Oquirrh Mountain Temple. I had the opportunity to receive my endowments in this temple and went again on Wednesday. Sometimes, my life seems to be falling apart and I'm not sure how to deal with it or how to succeed, spending time inside the walls of the temple always seems to make life livable again.

I'm sorry for the random post, but when something exciting happens with me, I'll be sure to post again.

God Loves Me!!!

I had an amazing experience last week, but I need to share some background first. I was in a car accident a little over a year ago that totalled my car and sent me to a chiropractor for a year. I had to take out loans to cover my medical expenses because my auto insurance only covered $3,000. So, to say I was a little stressed over the money would be an understatement. I owed around $1,200 on medical bills and it had to be paid off by February or I would be paying 26% interest. Not my idea of fun.

Well, last Thursday I got a call from the insurance company of the kid that hit me last year. They had reviewed my medical charts and were willing to give me a settlement of $5,000. WOW!!! That only took care of the medical bills, but all of my other debts (except for the car). I am so grateful for a Heavenly Father that heard my prayers and helped me when I wasn't sure if I could help myself. I am truly blessed :)

Gratitude

In my office at LDSBC, we set up a gratitude wall and all of our office staff have written things that we're grateful for. Some are cheesy, but others are very profound and have caused me to reflect on what I'm truly grateful for. Here's a small list:

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and the opportunity I have to be a member of the Lord's true church here on the earth. I love knowing that there's a plan for me. I may not like some of what happens or the length of time it takes to get what I think I want right now, I know that my Heavenly Father is looking out for me and helps me on a daily basis to become all that He knows I can be.

The Atonement of our Savior, Jesus Christ. All I can say is Wow! What an amazing sacrifice. Sometimes when I feel the most alone, I know that my Savior understands me and will help me to be strong, and optimistic. What a blessing it is to know that I can return to my Heavenly Father because of this unfailing sacrifice of love.

My family and the fact that we are eternal. I am so very grateful for Parents that lived their lives so that when they had the opportunity to get married, that they did so in the Temple. They have been wonderful examples to me and have shown me the way many times. I have 3 amazing and wonderful siblings. My little sister is truly a Saint to have put up with me and my bad attitude for so many years. My two younger brothers helped me to relax and enjoy life, and they have also helped me to see how important the Gospel is. The one brother has returned home from his mission and the other one is currently serving his. I am so grateful that I have the opportunity to be with these people for the rest of eternity.

My friends. There are too many to count and name in this post, but I hope everyone knows how grateful I am for them and the positive impact they have all had in my life. I have friends that go to the temple with me, who I work with or have worked with, people from my ward and branch, and people that I attended school with. They have all had a positive impact on me. I am very grateful for them.

My job. Many people in our world have lost their jobs through all of these economic hard times. I am so grateful for the opportunity that I've had to work at LDS Business College. My job has been stable and secure and I have learned and grown so much. Its such an amazing opportunity to work with the people I do. They have taught me many Christ-like attributes. I love the fact that I get to talk to members of the Church worldwide. I have also had many opportunities to meet the Church's general authorities. I love my job and am grateful for the opportunities it affords me.

I have been truly blessed. Although 2009 hasn't been one of the best years on record for me, I have had many opportunities to learn and grow. I pray for more opportunities so that I can become a more Christ-like person and exemplify those things which are truly important.

Okay, Michelle, this one is for you :)

My sister, Michelle, kindly reminded me last night that I hadn't posted on my blog for a while, so here's my life in a nutshell.

The beginning of Fall began with a bang and we just barely got through our Fall files, two months after it started. I'm so glad to be done with that, but we're working on the Winter 2010 semester and I already have people applying for the Fall 2010 semester. It seems overwhelming at times, but the people that apply early get the best classes :)

I'm absolutely loving my singles ward. After teaching 3 lessons in the Relief Society, they released me and put me in charge of FHE. My bishop assured me that I did nothing wrong, but they just felt that FHE was a good calling for me. That is one calling I've never had in church, so it make me nervous, but excited for the opportunity to grow from the experience. I'm hoping that it will work and that everyone involved will enjoy themselves.

For the exciting news, I had the opportunity to go through the temple and take out my own endowments. Its was an absolutely amazing experience. I walked away feeling full of the spirit. I'm so grateful for a Heavenly Father that gives us the opportunity to partake of the spirit and to learn in His holy house.

Because I was able to go through the temple, I had the amazing opportunity to be to two of my good friends sealings. My friend, Brooklyn, married her missionary in the Logan temple and my friend, Michelle, married the man of her dreams in the Mount Timpanogos temple. It was a marvelous experience and I'm truly looking forward to the day when I will have the opportunity to go to the temple with my choice eternal companion.

That's my life in a nutshell.

Not much to say . . .

I don't have much going on right now in my life. School started two weeks ago and our new student enrollment was up 26%. I admitted over 1,000 students to start the Fall 2009 semester, and 3/4 of them showed up. I was putting in between 12-16 hour days for a while, but now I'm down to 8 hours a day. Hallelujah!

I have joined a new single's ward and I'm absolutely loving it. Get this, I have only 1 calling. They asked me to teach Relief Society. Its truly a Godsend and I'm having so much fun with the people there. I hope to continue there for a while.

There are no men in my life and I'm perfectly content to not worry about dating at this point in time. I just want to enjoy being single. I'm embracing it, I guess you could say. :)

That's my life in a quick paragraph, but I'm happy. :)