An Incredible Weekend!

This past weekend was General Conference.
I had the opportunity to go to the Sunday afternoon session with some friends (thanks for the tickets, Ty!). When we got up there right next to the Conference Center, there were (as always) the people protesting with their picket signs, etc. As we walked by one man, he said, "Now, I don't want to see any of you pretty young ladies marrying anyone like that Joe Smith!"
Well, sir, wherever you are, I want you to know that I intend to do just that! I intend to marry a man who is a man of God. A humble, loving, caring man who would be willing to give his life for the God that he knows and believes in. A man who loves his family dearly, receives revelation within his stewardship and recognizes those blessings as being from God. I know that Joseph Smith truly did restore the Church of Jesus Christ to the earth, and I know that he was an example of the Christ-like being we all ought to emulate. Because he followed the directions of the Lord and of the Spirit, I, along with 13,508,509 others, am able to partake of the healing, saving truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Because of his obedience and diligence, even until death, we are able to hear the words of prophets today and receive exactly God's will concerning what we are to do.
This is why General Conference is so incredible! The whole thing was amazing. The Spirit was very strong and I came out of it with a renewed testimony of the truth that we truly do have prophets and apostles who lead and guide the Church under the authority of God today. The words of peace and comfort and especially of encouragement were exactly what I needed. I especially enjoyed Elder Holland's talk about Christ's Atonement. I have an increased testimony of the Atonement and of temples and the power that this Church has as the true church, the one with God's authority and Priesthood restored in this last dispensation of the gospel. I know that I am so blessed to have been born in this time and that the Lord has a special purpose for me, for my being where I am at the time we're in, that I must discover and fulfill.
But what I know most of all is that God loves His children. He knows each of us personally and He knows our potential; He knows that we have the ability to return to and become like Him. I hope and pray that I can do what is necessary to become my best self, to fulfill that destiny and to please my Father in Heaven. He has blessed me with so much, and I know I am not nearly grateful enough. For my friends, for an eternal family, for the temple, for the gospel of Jesus Christ, for my opportunity to study at such an incredible university, for my talents and the opportunities to share them, for the chance to learn from other people and their talents, and for the small things that make me happy every day--for the sunshine, for perfect strangers who look me in the eye and smile on campus, for chocolate and polka dotted stuff, and for the basic comforts of this life. All these things and so many more, I know have come from the Lord's hand specifically to bless my life. He knows the things that bring me joy, and he wants me to feel that joy eternally. And by golly, I intend to do that too! His prophets and apostles have shown us the way to seek and be successful in finding that joy, and I will follow their words, for I know that they are inspired of God.

Pardon my blogarrhea. . .

Sorry for the long post, but if you read it all, I hope it's enjoyable. :)

Basically,
This week has been crazy!
After about two and a half weeks of working on my research paper, I finally got it done and turned in. Can I have some applause?

Thank you.

Anyway, I guess I have just been under constant, extreme stress, but I haven't been myself lately. I have either been a zombie or a studying freak all the time.
But.
I have accomplished a lot, and so I'm trying to remind myself of the success I'm having, even if sometimes it seems like I fail at everything I try.

This morning, I had to go to campus and take a test.
It was a Spanish test.
Nothing too crazy.
I could've taken it yesterday, but I needed some fun after school instead of more library time (I think I spent more time in the library on Wednesday and Thursday nights than I have the entire semester. . . or, year, even. I'm not a big fan of the library. Too quiet.)
Anyway, so I went to take it this morning. I also had cleaning checks this morning. And a service project to help a friend out a little before noon. So the original plan upon going to bed last night was to wake up at six thirty to clean, then shower and get ready, go to campus and take the test at about 9:30 so I could be home by 11 and be good to go.
Problem is, I woke up at 9:00 instead. And then got to campus at 9:30 (planning to fail my cleaning checks and do it for the re-check), only to remember that the humanities testing center doesn't even open until 10 on Saturdays.
I was kind of upset, after busting my rear to get there and take the test as soon as possible.
So I went to the elevator (because I didn't want to climb stairs in my bad mood) and as I pressed the button to go to the main floor, and right there on the panel beneath the emergency call button were printed these simple words:

"HELP IS ON THE WAY."

And maybe it's a bit cheesy and like something you'd read in the New Era,
But it really did brighten my day.
I just felt overall peace and comfort and just. . . you know, that feeling when you know it's all going to be okay.

And let me tell you, I studied for a little while, and my mind was so clear and I was just, not stressed at all. So nice! I took that test in thirty minutes. And then I went home, only to find out that my dear roommate Natalie had done my cleaning check for me! Definitely a huge blessing to me today. Thanks again, girl. :)

So the rest of the day was awesome, too. Kim's service project was so much fun! We got to play games with kids, and I was in charge of the parachute. . . I think I had more fun than the kids did. . . and then Sheridan and I played on the playground. And even though I couldn't climb up the slide backward, the effect of the static electricity on my hair made it worthwhile to try.

Then came probably the most awesome thing I've done in my life.
You know, it seems like I say that every time I do something else that's awesome. But I guess that's good. It means life keeps getting better.
Anyway,
a bunch of us went to the Festival of Colors at the Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple in Spanish Fork. So aside from the whole "not being able to breathe (or see) for a couple of minutes" thing, as well as getting a sunburn only on my right side, it was awesome! I'm pretty sure I might still have some of the chalk powder in my hair, but it's cool. I've always wanted pink hair. . . And purple snot, too! Looks like my life has been fulfilled by one day of fun.

So, after the most colorful shower of my life, I changed into my favorite polka-dotted pajama pants and my piggly wiggly t-shirt and cuddled up with my blanket on the couch to eat saltwater taffy and watch a movie with my roommate.

That right there, y'all, is proof that life really is good.

Another One Bites the Dust. . .

I am very happy (and yet admittedly a little sad) to announce that I will soon be losing yet another roommate to that wonderful institution we call marriage.

But, seeing as how she is marrying my fourth cousin, I know we'll be together forever.
So I can deal with that.
:)

Congratulations, John and Allison! I love you both and wish you the best!

I'm like a vault, baby. Locked down.

All I can say is that it sure is a good thing that I am such a good secret keeper.

Nothing's harder than having really good news and the few people who are allowed to know already do.

Sometimes I'm afraid I'll burst and let something slip. . .

But then I realize I'm stronger than that.

I'll just be really glad when I am free to talk about it openly. :)

It's coming soooon!

Funny how one picture can evoke so many emotions. . .

This is my dear friend, Nathan Bridges. He is currently serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Rancagua, Chile.
I recently learned that Nathan performed his first baptism about a three weeks ago. Seeing this picture caused about a thousand emotions to go through my heart at once:
Happiness, because I know he is out there serving the Lord and doing such amazing things with his life.
Pride (the good kind!) and admiration, because I know that he has worked so hard to get to where he is now.
Gratitude, because I know the Lord's work progresses through strong, dedicated young missionaries like him in such a way that brings so many people unto the truths of the Gospel that I know and love.
And even a little bit of that bittersweet kind of sadness, because I miss him.
But the bottom line is, I am grateful for worthy Priesthood holders in my life who are such wonderful examples to me. They truly possess the power to perform the Lord's will here on earth.