The Joys of Modern Technology

So apparently the first presidency is now allowing missionaries to email whoever they want, not just family. 

This morning I had a HUGE surprise.

My email account is synced to my phone, which on days like today I am super grateful for. 

This adorable guy:


He emailed me today!

What a joyful surprise! 

I pulled down my notification bar and saw his name as the sender. Maybe my heart skipped a little bit...Okay, a lot. 

116 days. He gets home in 116 days. Time has been on my side these last 20 months. I feel like it was yesterday that he left. 

Sorry for the sappy post. I just had to share this simple pleasure of the day. 

Happy Monday people!

What is Your Center?


Sometimes I wish I could be a wildflower.
They are freedom to me.
Thinking of me as a child I was so much like a wildflower. 
Being the baby of the family I did whatever I wanted. I was free from stress, soaked up the sun all day long, and played to my heart's content. 
I love watching wildflowers sway in the wind.
This is corny, but I love watching wildflowers sway in the wind because it makes my soul feel free. 

There is a poison that I sometimes fight. 
It's like the winter frost that freezes over flowers when Spring comes too early, killing the natural beauty and freedom of my soul.

This battle, I know, is one that many fight.
It is laced with lies and sprinkled with truth.

Along with all woman I am bombarded with the world's perception of perfection.
It really hit me my Freshman year of college. 
As Winter gradually buried Rexburg, my weaknesses, compared to this perfection, gradually buried my soul.

There was so much I needed to learn about God. Most especially about love. True Love. 

So the Lord sent really patient and loving people into my life:

 
My amazing Mother
My brother
Adriana
 
Kurt
 
Blaine and Ladd Family
Mckay and Lindsey Family

These are just a handful of the people who have shown me what true charity is.

These people have pointed me to the source of love, encouraged me to have hope, and strengthened me through the light that they emit by being true disciples of Jesus Christ. When I am around these people my soul feels as free as wildflowers swaying in the wind. The beauty that is inside of me is set free around these people and I actually feel beautiful, inside and out.

The same being who created beautiful wildflowers, created me. I am his daughter along with all other women. God sees beauty in me and loves me for all that I am and all that I am trying to become. 
"...for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart." - Samuel 16:7
It is what is inside that is most important. The beauty from within is what shines out.

I watched "The Rise of the Guardians" with my brother last night. It was a great movie.

At a crucial time in the rise of the guardians, Santa asks Jack Frost, "What is your center?" Santa illustrates what his center is through stacking wooden Santa's (don't know what they are actually called). It almost felt like Santa was asking me the same question. "What is your center?"

Today, while I accompanied my brother to Walmart, we talked about the movie and how we both stayed up last night thinking about this question. Jokingly we both declared "I don't know!" But like Jack Frost we will figure out what our center's are. We will figure out why we were sent here to earth at this particular time.

The Gospel is true. We are God's children.
"I pray thee, O God, that I may be beautiful within." - Socrates 

Dreams Do Come True!


Where, you ask, is this beautiful place? 

This, my friend, is where I will be working this Summer!

I have been offered a job at Triangle C Ranch this Summer being an assistant children's counselor. This afternoon I was called and tomorrow I will accept the job!

This is my dream. Literally my dream. I cannot wait to be on the Ranch watching the beautiful sunrises and sunsets, breathing in the fresh air with a hint of animal smell, and meeting new and awesome people! 

I am going to buy me some cowboy boots!

AHH! I am so excited!

Being a children's counselor is going to be awesome! This is exactly what I was looking for this Summer. I really wanted to find something that could give me experience in my field of study and fulfill my dream of living on a ranch. 

I cannot wait for all the things that I will learn this Summer. Every new experience brings so many new lessons and self-discoveries.

Oh I just feel so blessed and so excited!

Happy Wednesday ya'll!

I will just leave you with one more picture...