Jesus Christ

In between all the craziness of the day today, I took a moment to watch this video. I loved it. I can see myself in the man sitting at the water's edge: thinking that I know what I need to help and heal me when all I really need is Christ. That's what we as Christians believe, isn't it? In a world that seeks the answers to their problems in self-help books, better organized schedules, bigger paychecks, more friends, increased self-discipline, and valiant causes; we know that the ultimate remedy to any heartache, stress, problem, or fear is Jesus Christ. He will help us. He will heal us. He will save us.

General Conference Weekend

I am SO excited for this weekend because of this:

I love General Conference weekend! Not only is it an excuse to not do homework all weekend and to just relax and enjoy life, it's a time to hear the word of God from His living prophets and apostles. 

Since coming to college, I have tried to do things over Conference weekend to make it special. Here are just a few of the exciting things I have planned this weekend:

• Breakfast with the FHE family
• Making hand spiders (a fall bucket list item!)
• Having a girls night with all the girls in my ward while the guys are at Priesthood session (movie and ice cream included!)
• Having monkey bread for breakfast with Jon
• Driving the Alpine Loop
• Going to Uncle Dave and Aunt Martha's place for Sunday dinner

Pretty much, I'm just going to forget about all the craziness of life and have fun this weekend.

I've been thinking about the power in making Conference special. When I have a family of my own, I want to make sure that we have traditions that make the kids excited and looking forward to General Conference weekend. From having special food to doing special activities to just being excited about it--I want them to feel that there's something special and set apart about those two days. Because there is.

For now though, I'll just worry about helping those that are in my life to have as enjoyable a weekend as possible! 

Letters

Louisa, Ems & I at Guru's before the broadcast!

Dear Emily, I had so much fun with you this weekend! From going to the BYU choir concert to getting frozen yogurt to getting dinner at Guru's to watching the Relief Society broadcast to going to a Baptist church with me for a school assignment--it was so good to be with someone easy to talk to and have fun with. I'm glad we live so close to each other.

Dear Louisa, I'm super glad that you got to join Ems and I on Saturday night while we went to Guru's and then to watch the Relief Society broadcast. Those sweet potato fries are so good!!! It's good to live with family away from home, especially when that family is as awesome as you!

Dear Old FHE Family, I've run into so many of you over the past several days! It's fun to see those of you who have come back from your missions and to randomly run into you, Aubrey, at the baptist church because you were also doing an assignment (how random!) Let's get together and have a reunion soon. Deal?

Dear Beautiful Fall Weather, I'm so happy you've decided to come around. Please stay and keep the winter away!!!

Dear Miranda, It's been YEARS since we last ran into each other! It tickles me that I was able to find you on facebook and that you seem to be doing so well! Maybe when I come home for Christmas break we can get together--that would be a blast!

Dear Jon, Breakfast on Saturday morning was de. lic. ous. I haven't had french toast in such a long time and it's even one of my favorites! Thanks for giving me a fabulous beginning to a fabulous day!

Dear Ashley, As the boy's in N103's old FHE sister, it was fun to get to meet you and discover that we're in Mythology together (I can't believe you recognized me! You're so observant!) You seem super fun and are incredibly talented with singing and playing the guitar. Thank you for sharing your talents and your smiles. Hopefully, I'll see you in class today!

Dear Mythology Paper, Even though you were about Ella Enchanted, you took FOREVER to write, which made me slightly annoyed. My hand thanks you for finally being done!

Dear Sarah Armknecht, I'm so grateful for the chance I had to go hear your unofficial mission farewell yesterday. I learned so much about being converted unto the Lord, His love for us, and prayer. You are going to be such an amazing missionary because you live your life in such a way that the Spirit can be with you at all times. The people in Montana are very lucky to have you among them for the next year and a half.

Dear Testimony Bearers, Your words gave me a lot to contemplate about and gave me much comfort. Thank you.

Dear Mars, Thanks for sharing this

video yesterday in your Sunday School lesson. I think it touched us all.

Dear Hannah, I'm very grateful for the chance I have to get to serve with you. You seem really awesome and down to earth (which is so refreshing) and I hope we can become really good friends.

Dear Krista, I hope that you come over and hang out in the CP zone of the ward all the time so that we can have super fun with you and get to know you better because you just seem so super awesome and it would be so sad if we never really got to know you just because you live all the way over in the yellow house. In other words, I think you're really cool. Thanks for the chatting. I can't wait to chat again!

Dear Kylee, Please get feeling better soon. I love you!

Dear Grace, That cake was AMAZING! Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing!

Dear Jessica, I hope you get feeling better. I love you so super much and am wishing I could be with you right now!

Dear Kate and Abby, I'm so glad and happy that you guys called me last night so that we could talk! I love talking to you two. Thanks for being the awesomest Abby and Kate sisters in the world!

Dear Reading Assignments, Really? This is overkill. Way too much, guys. Way too much.

Dear Wonderful Coworkers, You guys are the best and everyone that doesn't work with you should be jealous (that's a lot of people and I really shouldn't be encouraging un-Christ-like behavior such as being jealous, but you guys are just that cool!) Thanks.

Dear Melissa, You seem like an awesome friend and I'm very grateful to have you as my Visiting Teacher and can't wait to get to know you more!

Dear Shonay, I'm so glad that you're my Visiting Teacher. You are just so cool and kind and fun. And your words last night...I really needed to hear them. Thank you so much for saying what the Spirit prompted you to say. I love you!

Dear General Conference Weekend, I'm going to work really hard this week so that I can enjoy you to your fullest on Saturday and Sunday. I'm so excited!!!

Dear Today, Smiles, quiet moments, laughter, friends, work, class, exercising, homework, scriptures, talking, joy--these are just a few of the things I hope to run into during you today.

Letters

Dear Woman's Locker Room Gym, You are tiny. You are old. You have papers hanging on the walls announcing new policies starting October 2004. Your paint is pealing. Your machines are falling apart and make weird noises. But--I love working out with you more than any other place (almost--nothing beats running in the super green Washington wilderness). I'm excited to join you again today!

Dear Temple Thursdays, Thank you.

Dear Louisa, I'm so super duper glad that we decided to meet up at the temple last night and to then go shopping and then go to Guru's. The shopping was super fun (and Dave--the salesman we were talking to--with his British accent was so cute!) and the sweet potato fries were delicious! Thanks so much for giving me a fun evening. I needed it.

Dear Homework, You are so getting done this weekend. I can't wait to go to the library for hours and then to walk home in the late hours of the night, feeling completely productive and accomplished.

Dear Utah, Game tomorrow? You're on!

Dear President Uchtdorf, Your talks are my favorite and you always tell me exactly what I want/need to hear.

Dear Sunshine, You make me smile.