Too much to catch up on

You would think that I would be better about writing on my blog especially because it is my journal for the year. But as you can tell this is another resolution that has failed...yet I want so desperately for it to be a success. Life has just been so hectic these past two semesters. Winter semester I was taking 17 credits and just barely scrapping by. Now with the Spring semester soon coming to a close I am quite excited because I can get back to things that I want to do...like keeping up on my blog :)

I AM MOVING UP IN THE WORLD

I did it....I am now the proud owner of a serger also. I AM SO EXCITED!!! Who knew one could get so overjoyed with an appliance? Think what I would be like with a new house :) Oh that one will have to wait. I have a $2300 limit on my credit card...HA HA!

The Latest Item

In preparation to be a FACS teacher I feel that it is time to spoil myself a little with buying a sewing machine. To be honest I have been quite excited as I have been researching and shopping around for the best deal and the best machine for my money. It is not something that is cheap and I want it to last for quite a while...at least until I can upgrade to something a little nicer. Just the process of looking is getting me excited about sewing again. I just registered for an intermediate sewing class to which I am thrilled. Hopefully one day I can be a good seamstress.
**I just did it...I bought myself a sewing machine today and it will be here within 2 to seven days. I AM SO EXCITED!!!**

Classes registered for Check

I stayed up until midnight last night just so that I could be one of the first to register for my textiles class along with my intermediate sewing class...I was able to accomplish it. I am so excited because that leaves me with just 10 credits before I can do my student teaching. Oh happy day!!! Now if all the classes I need can work out so that none over lap it will all be good, if not I may have to scream and yell. It is so crazy that I am getting down to the end but yet I have to admit I am starting to get very excited :)

Dinner and a Play

Last night Leah and I went on a double date with Ben and his girlfriend. HA HA At least we like to tell people that we went on a double. We had a very good time. Leah's niece Marissa was in the play Little Shop of Horrors at Mountain View High so we went to watch it and the whole time we were just laughing our heads off. They did such a wonderful job on the play. The high school students really knew how to perform well. Each of them did such a wonderful job. It sure beat staying at home on a Saturday night. Before the play we went to our FAVORITE chinese food place--The Great Wall of China...well our favorite place will always be Snow Dragon down in Ephraim but this sure comes close to it. What a delightful evening it was!

The Atonement of Jesus Christ

In church today one of the members who is getting ready to leave on his mission used a very powerful and touching story. One that brought the atonement into a whole new light for me. It was a very moving story for the topic that our Sacrament meeting was on...the 3rd article of faith--We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel. I know with all my heart that it is only through my Savior Jesus Christ and his atonement that I am able to be saved after I do all my part. How grateful I am for that because I myself am very far from perfect but through him I am able to repent and be forgiven.

Pushups for Donuts

By: unknown

There was a boy by the name of Steve who was attending Seminary in Utah.

In this Seminary classes are held during school hours. Brother Christianson taught Seminary at this particular school. He had an open-door policy and would take in any student that had been thrown out of another class as long as they would abide by his rules. Steve had been kicked out of his sixth period and no other teacher wanted him, so he went into Brother Christianson's Seminary class.

Steve was told that he could not be late, so he arrived just seconds before the bell rang and he would sit in the very back of the room. He would also be the first to leave after the class was over.

One day, Brother Christianson asked Steve to stay after class so he could talk with him. After class, Bro. Christianson pulled Steve aside and said, "You think you're pretty tough, don't you?"

Steve's answer was, "Yeah, I do."

Then Brother Christianson asked, "How many push-ups can you do?"

Steve said, "I do about 200 every night."

"200? That's pretty good, Steve," Brother Christianson said. "Do you think you could do 300?"

Steve replied, "I don't know... I've never done 300 at a time."

"Do you think you could?" Again asked Brother Christianson.

"Well, I can try," said Steve.

"Can you do 300 in sets of 10? I need you to do 300 in sets of ten for this to work. Can you do it? I need you to tell me you can do it," Brother Christianson said. Steve said, "Well... I think I can... yeah, I can do it."

Brother Christianson said, "Good! I need you to do this on Friday."

Friday came and Steve got to class early and sat in the front of the room. When class started, Brother Christianson pulled out a big box of donuts. Now these weren't the normal kinds of donuts, they were the extra fancy BIG kind, with cream centers and frosting swirls. Everyone was pretty excited-it was Friday, the last class of the day, and they were going to get an early start on the weekend.

Bro. Christianson went to the first girl in the first row and asked, "Cynthia, do you want a donut?"

Cynthia said, "Yes."

Bro. Christianson then turned to Steve and asked, "Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Cynthia can have a donut?"

Steve said, "Sure," and jumped down from his desk to do a quick ten. Then Steve again sat in his desk. Bro. Christianson put a donut on Cynthia's desk.

Bro. Christianson then went to Joe, the next person, and asked, "Joe do you want a donut?"

Joe said, "Yes." Bro. Christianson asked, "Steve would you do ten push-ups so Joe can have a donut?" Steve did ten push-ups, Joe got a donut.

And so it went, down the first aisle, Steve did ten pushups for every person before they got their donut. And down the second aisle, till Bro. Christianson came to Scott.

Scott was captain of the football team and center of the basketball team.

He was very popular and never lacking for female companionship. When Bro.

Christianson asked, "Scott do you want a donut?"

Scott's reply was, "Well, can I do my own pushups?"

Bro. Christianson said, "No, Steve has to do them."

Then Scott said, "Well, I don't want one then."

Bro. Christianson then turned to Steve and asked, "Steve, would you do ten pushups so Scott can have a donut he doesn't want?"

Steve started to do ten pushups. Scott said, "HEY! I said I didn't want one!"

Bro. Christianson said, "Look, this is my classroom, my class, my desks, and my donuts. Just leave it on the desk if you don't want it." And he put a donut on Scott's desk.

Now by this time, Steve had begun to slow down a little. He just stayed on the floor between sets because it took too much effort to be getting up and down. You could start to see a little perspiration coming out around his brow. Bro. Christianson started down the third row. Now the students were beginning to get a little angry.

Bro. Christianson asked Jenny, "Jenny, do you want a donut?"

Jenny said, "No."

Then Bro. Christianson asked Steve, "Steve, would you do ten pushups so Jenny can have a donut that she doesn't want?" Steve did ten, Jenny got a donut.

By now, the students were beginning to say "No" and there were all these uneaten donuts on the desks. Steve was also having to really put forth a lot of effort to get these pushups done for each donut. There began to be a small pool of sweat on the floor beneath his face, his arms and brow were beginning to get red because of the physical effort involved.

Bro. Christianson asked Robert to watch Steve to make sure he did ten pushups in a set because he couldn't bear to watch all of Steve's work for all of those uneaten donuts. So Robert began to watch Steve closely. Bro. Christianson started down the fourth row.

During his class, however, some students had wandered in and sat along the heaters along the sides of the room. When Bro. Christianson realized this; he did a quick count and saw 34 students in the room. He started to worry if Steve would be able to make it.

Bro. Christianson went on to the next person and the next and the next. Near the end of that row, Steve was really having a rough time. He was taking a lot more time to complete each set.

Steve asked Bro. Christianson, "Do I have to make my nose touch on each one?"

Bro. Christianson thought for a moment, "Well, they're your pushups. You can do them any way that you want." And Bro. Christianson went on.

A few moments later, Jason came to the room and was about to come in when all the students yelled, "NO! Don't come in! Stay out!"

Jason didn't know what was going on. Steve picked up his head and said, "No, let him come."

Bro. Christianson said, "You realize that if Jason comes in you will have to do ten pushups for him."

Steve said, "Yes, let him come in."

Bro. Christianson said, "Okay, I'll let you get Jason's out of the way right now. Jason, do you want a donut?"

"Yes."

"Steve, will you do ten pushups so that Jason can have a donut?" Steve did ten pushups very slowly and with great effort. Jason, bewildered, was handed a donut and sat down.

Bro. Christianson finished the fourth row, then started on those seated on the heaters. Steve's arms were now shaking with each pushup in a struggle to lift himself against the force of gravity. Sweat was dropping off of his face and, by this time, there was not a dry eye in the room. The very last two girls in the room were cheerleaders and very popular. Bro. Christianson went to Linda, the second to last, and asked, "Linda, do you want a doughnut?

Linda said, very sadly, "No, thank you."

Bro. Christianson asked Steve, "Steve, would you do ten pushups so that Linda can have a donut she doesn't want?"

Grunting from the effort, Steve did ten very slow pushups for Linda. Then Bro. Christianson turned to the last girl, Susan. "Susan, do you want a donut?"

Susan, with tears flowing down her face, asked, "Bro. Christianson , can I help him?"

Bro. Christianson, with tears of his own, said, "No, he has to do it alone, Steve, would you do ten pushups so Susan can have a donut?"

As Steve very slowly finished his last pushup, with the understanding that he had accomplished all that was required of him, having done 350 pushups, his arms buckled beneath him and he fell to the floor.

Brother Christianson turned to the room and said. "And so it was, that our Savior, Jesus Christ, plead to the Father, "Into thy hands I commend my spirit." With the understanding that He had done everything that was required of Him, he collapsed on the cross and died. And like some of those in this room, many of us leave the gift on the desk, uneaten."

author unknown

A day that I have been looking Forward to

Thursday have been one of my favorite days this semester. It is a chance for me to get caught up on my homework but more importantly a chance for me to get some rest and relaxation in. I have been busy but I feel good today. I have been working at trying to give up T.V. so that I can get some things done that I otherwise wouldn't do because of the distraction that the television causes me. I have had a few hours of just getting organized and trying to get on top of things. I updated my calender for the new month and it scares me a little. So many tests and projects all due at the same time but I am going to work on being optimistic. Life is half full not half empty. I figure you know all I can do is work my hardest at it and the rest will be taken care of. The Lord will not let me fail as long as I am doing my own part. Now I am going to make Chinese food for Leah and me. Hopefully it will be delicious and put a good close on the day. That is all I can ask for.
Oh yes, the other highlight of the day was an email from Brett. Funny story...I am a HUGE worrier. I mean when I worry my mind goes to the very worst of what could happen. Since we hadn't heard from Brett in several days and then this morning when I looked at the email there still wasn't anything. I texted Mom when I was waiting for my class and told her she needed to call Poland because my nerves couldn't handle it anymore. When I said call Poland, I meant to call the mission office but Mom had Brett's phone number from Christmas and she actually called him personally. She said that he answered in Polish and then after a minute he was like "Mom?" I can only imagine what was going through his mind. The last thing he ever thought would happen would be his mom calling him to see why he hadn't emailed. I told her to rip up the number because it is too much of a temptation. She said that she wasn't worried until I had texted her though so I guess that it is also my fault. Sorry Brett hope you don't get in trouble...if so just tell them that it was your sister's WILD imagination that got the best of her. When I mean wild--I am not joking. I thought that they could be dead in their apartment from their heater and no one would know...or that he was kidnapped on his way to email...or he was having surgery...but you would think that someone would tell us. I need to learn to control my little imagination. Otherwise Mom will keep making inappropriate phone calls :) I am sure that we will all have a good laugh about this for quite some time.

More Pictures

Mission Pictures

The Good Ol' Days

Last night Leah and I were looking through my camera at some of the mission pictures that I still have on my memory card. So many memories just went flooding back through my mind of those "good ol' days" as I like to call them. I recalled the companions, the investigators, the members, the fun, the food, the tracting experiences...so many thing that I miss so dearly. Don't get me wrong, I love my family and I love what I am doing now in my life but nothing will compare to the mission and the people that I met while out there. I truly believe that my mission shaped my life. Some people say that while out there on the mission they met their spouse but I met my best friend and I found my life. Some days I feel that I left that all there but even though it is different it is good being home. Although I would give a lot to go out and knock some doors once in a while. I just made plans actually for a weekend with my best friend where we can catch up on life while still reminicing about the "good ol' days". In just a few short weeks all the sisters that I knew out in the field will be home and I will be hitting my year mark since coming home. Oh how time flies yet the memories still carry on. Those memories will stay with me forever and ever.

The Torture of Waiting

Ever since my cute little brother went out on his mission, I have been faithfully writing him each week--even when I was out on my own mission. There have been several weeks where I have had to wait for an email but not like this week. It has been two whole days that I haven't heard from him. It is killing me. Yesterday I came home from a long day at school, excited to get on the email and yet there was nothing. A good email from him just makes my day and definitely brightens it...so when there is no email I first get sad and then when it is two days and no word, well then I start to worry. I pray that all is well with him as he is so far from home. He started training this week and I am anxious to hear who his companion is, seeing that I met all the elders going to Poland when I cut their hair at the MTC.
I am so proud of my little brother and the choices that he has made in his life. I know that serving in Poland hasn't been the easiest on him but he has turned to the Lord and the Lord has made him strong. He is constantly blessing not only the people over there but also his companions and even his family back home. It is amazing what a mission can do for 19 year old boys and 21 year old girls. The Lord truly knows what He is doing when He sends out His youth.

The Crossroads

I find it amazing that whenever we come to the crossroads in our lives, the one person that is always there is our Savior Jesus Christ. He is there to guide us, although not to push us in one direction or another. It is up to us to choose the way for that is how we learn. For Christmas, I received this picture of Christ and it now hangs over my bed. It is incredible how many times I look at it to give me direction and guidance at this time in my crossroad. He truly knows each of us and what it will take to help us progress and learn in this life. He loves us and will always be there for us...no matter what we do wrong in our lives. Another picture that I received for Christmas is my favorite scripture (well I should say one of my favorites). It is D&C 84:88, "I will go before your face...I will be on your right hand and on your left...my spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you to bear you up." Over the past few weeks I have truly felt him on my side and the angels bearing me up. Oh the joy in knowing He is there and I will NEVER be left alone.

Oh the joys of a Monday

Since my class doesn't start until 4:00 pm I have all of Monday morning to try and accomplish something. This morning has been one of the good days...what with laundry done, homework tackled, shopping done, and a new blog entry....it should be a good day. Now if I can just get in the shower and get ready to head to my class all will be well. I guess that is the advantage and disadvantage of having a late Monday class--tons done but no motivation to head to class. Good thing it is just an hour and a half class.

A New Years Resolution

I know that the first month of the new year is quickly coming to an end. It seems as quickly as January is ending so is the ability to accomplish the New Years Resolutions that I set for myself....so I am trying something new. One of my resolutions was to get better at writing in my journal. For me that seems to be the hardest thing to do so I am taking a new approach. I decided to start a blog and write about my life here. It is not intended for the whole world to see but rather a place where I can keep my thoughts and know that I am trying my hardest to keep up with my resolution. We each have to find a way to do better and well...this is a way that will hopefully make it fun and interesting for me to keep going and to not give up...at least until the first month is over :)