Road Trip

Monica, Phillip and I took a little road trip over the weekend. I love the Logan temple and have wanted to go to it forever now. Monica and I planned a road trip in the fall so we could see the leaves on the way to the temple However, up until a few weeks ago our schedules did not mesh. I even had a trip planned with a friend but a cold got the best of me and that drive was cancled. So a few weeks after the leaves disappeared in the canyon we finally made the trip. Still a great trip becuase it ended at the temple.

What a beautiful temple. I am grateful for the opportunity to do a sacred work in this the Lords house.

Gotta have a lawn shot at this temple.

Here are my fall leaves I wanted to see. Kinda made for a great picture.
Next year I will make the drive and see the leaves but for now this trip will do.

A life richly blessed.

That is my life right now...

I live with the best roommate a girl could ask for. I complain about little things (oops she does not know I complain) but all things considered I am blessed to have my sister here in Utah with me. I love sharing our nursing careers with each other. It has always been nice to relate with her through all stages of the nursing process. I love having someone that genuinely cares about me at home. I love hearing her daily updates even if the new tires was the highlight. She is amazing I am inspired by her strength love and commitment.

As I mentioned in past post I have the best parents a girl could ask for. Along with them I have a three wonderful supportive siblings. Amber will forever be an example of service to me. An example of strong will, I use to call it stubborn and opinionated, but now I admire her dedication to the truths she holds dear. There is always a genuine love behind everything she does for others. Monica I have already hit on her a little bit. A little more about her she is diligent in all her endeavours. She is a true friends to everyone. Jeffrey has always amazed me when it comes to the way he speaks of others. He sees the good in people and makes sure others see it as well. He is talented in so many ways, a dedicated and hard worker. They all have been such a strength in my life. 5 people I am grateful to spend an eternity with.

I have a great job and yes I complain about that too. However, the patients and co workers make it fun and interesting. In January I will have worked at the UOC for 2 years. I have grown so much in my career while working there. I am convinced some of the people I work with are the reason I needed to take this job. They have been a strength to me. They have become another family away from home.

I am able to get an education. When I graduated with my associates in nursing that was the end of the road for me. I accomplished all and more than I had planned or dreamed of. It only took two and a half years to realize the value in furthering my education. Even though my goal and passion will always remain becoming a mother. I now have a career to fall back on. My bachelor degree will only be a strength for me. Even though the schooling seems tedious and I feel more like a circus animal jumping through hoops. I know I am headed in the right direction.

Since my move to Utah I could not ask for better friends. It started out with three great roommates which turned into 5. All of which have taught me great lessons and brought me strength when I needed it most. The first ward I attended was amazing and one would think it could not get any better than this. Then it did and I have developed friendships that again teach me daily. I have so many wonderful friends, so many that I am torn in every which way. I wish I could spend time with each of them everyday. They all tell me I am an example to them but if they only knew the examples they are to me. So wonderful to have so many people laugh with to cry with to share life's adventures with. The added spice is nice.

Other things that bless my life daily...
Extended Family
The Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ
Good health (I have my struggles but am still greatly blessed)
This beautiful earth... everyday a new picture of beauty

I could go on but I will leave it there.

My best friend... my enemy.

So I got my new mouth piece to help with my headaches. I am on week two of my wearing it all day for three weeks. I have worn it most of the time I can't say I wear it all day. So why do I not wear it all day? Well if you have talked to me in the last two weeks you are probably laughing and already know why. I asked a friend if I sounded funny he said "oh you sound fine" then my sister laughed at me hysterically while I talked. One of them is lying to me.

I struggle saying my s's and j's the most. So you can imagine it is pretty funny when I say my name. If I talk slow and think about it I do fine. It is just my quick witted comments and long conversations I struggle with.

Oh well I suppose the benefits defiantly out weight the costs here. I hope it works. I had a headache over the weekend so I think my three week run might be extended.

Wish me luck!

An opportunity to teach...an opportunity to learn.

I taught the Relief Society lesson this past Sunday. With my calling I have had the opportunity teach every forth month. Each time I teach I get to choose the topic I will teach. Intimidating and fun. The first time I taught was in December so it was easy to find a focus. I spoke on aligning our will with out Heavenly Fathers. It was a huge topic but I remember it going well. Aside from being completely nervous up there. I remember my friend talking to me after, she told me to relax and not be afraid of the quiet moments when no one comments. I hated those moments. The next time I taught I chose to speak on sustaining the Priesthood. This was a fun one to prepare because I elicited the help of the some priesthood holders. I asked them how we as a Relief Society might better sustain them. I also asked them how we can sustain them in the dating world. I got little feedback on the dating part but for the most part they asked us to allow them to serve us. That lesson was a lot of fun to teach. I still remember being very nervous but it was a lighter subject so I could joke around and that always calms me. If I can make people laugh I can relax.
This past Sunday I felt a lot of growth in my teaching and preparation. I always get a head start on picking my topic so I can have as much prep time a possible. I first decided to speak on hope. As I studied my thoughts were 'hope is often misunderstood'. So I thought I will clear things up. Well I now know why it is misunderstood... it is very hard to teach it. I now have a better understanding for myself but I could not put it in words to teach. So I decided to go with the home teaching message in the Ensign on obedience. However, nothing developed out of that topic, except for a love for that article. So what did I teach you ask. I still don't remember the thought that brought me to this decision. I just remember climbing into bed and having some thought so I got up turned my computer back on and read a conference talk. I don't remember which one. Then I decided to read Sister Thompson's talk from the General Relief Society Broadcast titled Mind the Gap. After I read it I thought that is a good talk I will have to look at it again and I went to bed. I thought about it off and on but never really had a chance to sit down and plan anything. One night I mentioned the talk to Monica and told her a few of my thoughts they were redirected as I spoke. Then the Friday night before I spoke I was a little nervous because I had very little time to plan the lesson, between homework and hanging out with a great friend. Again I talked to Monica and the plan just came to me. She must be a saint. So the next day a headache took over my life and I was still nervous as to how I would prepare. Another saint came along and helped me relax and get rid of the headache (they never go away as fast as this one did). I had a two hour window that was completely free to work on the talk. I whipped it out in no time. The spirit is amazing when it floods in like that. I thought I downloaded the talk so I could play part of it during the lesson. Then I went out and enjoyed the rest of my Halloween.
So Sunday morning came early like it always does. All the meetings were wonderful, I have an amazing ward. I started setting up for my lesson and found that I did not actually download the talk and since I did not have Internet I did not have the talk. I ran downstairs and found a guy with an iPhone and and other with speakers they saved me. The lesson went wonderfully. Such great comments when I needed them and I was able to build off their comments. I was not afraid of the quiet pauses and as I waited I got encouraging look. At one point I gave the girls a question and let them discuss it with a neighbor then they shared their ideas with the class. I use to dislike when teachers made us do that but now I will respect it because it helped so much and it took the lesson right where I wanted it to go. I felt very natural up there everything seemed to flow. I love teaching. I look forward to my next chance to teach in March.
So what have I gained from these teaching opportunities. I think I have gained confidence in myself I have become more comfortable with standing in front of the girls. A big factor in that is the relationships I have developed with these girls over the last 14 months. They are such amazing examples to me. They inspire me. I have also learned of the preparation needed to allow for the spirit to guide the work and the effort needs to be there. When the ward first started I was asked to give a lesson at Family Home Evening. I tried and tried to prepare something and nothing came. I was embarrassed and all I could do was bear my testimony. One might argue that is exactly what was needed that nigh,t but I feel more thought and preparation would have helped me produce the lesson requested. (though I learned a lesson that night) The biggest thing I have learned is that our Heavenly Father is aware of each of us and he knows what we needand he knows how to get those things to us. Our Heavenly Father knows what the sisters in the Canyon Rim 5th ward Relief Society need to hear and he just needs someone willing to be an instrument in his hand to present that message. I am grateful that as the teacher I don't have to be the only instrument available, those that share comments come ready to add to the spirit. Together we teach and learn. I always have said I prefer giving a talk because you don't have to rely on comments, slowly my opinion is changing.
Thank you to all those who have supported me in the preparation and presentation of these lessons.