Education Week at BYU Provo

Oh what a wonderful week this was! My mom, Lynn and I attended Ed. Week together and stayed in the dorms at BYU. It was an awesome experience to attend so many classes, so many subjects, all pertaining to my faith. I learned so much and was on a spiritual high the whole time. How lucky these kids are to attend a campus that has such high standards, I felt like I was cocooned from the world, no bad words, no bad attitudes, no tv, etc... All good!

Us college girls!

Lynn pointing out a new addition to the campus, The Hinckley Building.
My mom and I

Guess who? The feet may give it away!

Lynn was our entertainment!

Putting away the evidence!

She had to hide her stuff, our room was being serviced.

Break time! I must say it was exhausting, but you just wanted to

keep going and not miss a single class, they were all so good.

But we did have to eat and sleep too.

Group shot! Until next year!

Ch-ch-changes~"I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it." ~ Vincent van Gogh

I was told that I am going to be released from my church calling. I have been a Relief Society teacher for the last three years. It has gone by so fast and yet I never really got used to it. I got better and did some good lessons and learned a lot myself, but I was always nervous and the week prior wished for any kind of disaster that would get me out of it.
I know that callings are for our own good and that we are upheld and made able, by the Lord to do what we are asked, but some are just harder to do than others. I feel more capable and able to do more, in the Church and out in society, because I grew into the position I held. It's a marvelous thing to participate actively in your religion, rather than just being a partaker. I love how my Church works and I love the blessings I have due to my obedience and willingness to serve. Can I just say, whoo hoo, glad I did it and glad it's over!

Wonder what will be in store for me next??

P.s. I am still a Humanitarian Service Missionary, which I love.

My Friends at the Storehouse

I finally got enough nerve to take some pictures of the people I serve with.

This is Sister Gomm, she is the Mission Mom, she runs a tight ship, but with a loving touch.

These two guys work there too, but I was really just trying to get a picture of Christ.
This is ? I forgot his name, but it was his last night, he was doing some community service. Very nice boy.

This is just to show what the store looks like, I stock all that stuff, canned goods on the right give you a really good workout of the arms and upper body. Girls get no special treatment here.

Produce on the left and non perishables on the right, kitchen and bath items.

I want to say how grateful I am to have this opportunity to help at the storehouse. I love the people who come in there and I try to offer them any kindness I can. Largely their lots are hard and I am so thankful to be a member of a church that puts it's love for it's members first.

Redlands Temple

"The days of our lives will be greatly blessed as we frequent the temples to learn the transcending spiritual relations we have with Deity. We need to try harder to be found standing in holy places." --President Howard W. Hunter

This is inscribed on every temple.

Blurry picture, beautiful stained glass windows.

Redlands Temple

I went to Redland's Temple last night after working at the Bishop's Storehouse. It's a close 15 minute drive from Colton, so I decided I could go to do a session a couple of times a month since I will be so close.

What a beautiful Temple. I love the color scheme inside, light blues, silver, gold and white. It's a smaller one and I was the only patron in the 8:30pm session, the rest were temple workers. Oh well, they said they would have had the session anyways, even if no patrons showed up. I guess there was a BYU game on, that's the excuse. I really enjoyed it and it was a beautiful night too, clear and warm, with a big, full moon.

It's so nice to be able to go inside and partake of the peaceful spirit there and ponder the things that are important to you.

It's Official

I received my missionary badge yesterday at the storehouse. I' m really happy to have it, I am a servant for the Lord, doing what He would do if He were here.

But isn't that what we all are anyway? Of course!! It's just nice to have my badge and a place to go every week to help so many who are humble and in need. I love my calling and I love the people I meet. So many nice people, doing the best they can. I love my church, the inspired programs it provides, and the many opportunities it has provided for me to grow and become a better, stronger person.

The General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

I loved conference, I got so much out of it. So worth it for me to go to the chapel and watch. I took my friend, who I visit teach and we took copious notes and just feasted on the good words of the speakers. The best of the best. I am going to ponder my notes tonight and see where I can best apply the counsel I received. I know I have much to improve upon and I do have the desire to become more Christlike and Christ filled in my life. How grateful I am to be able, every week to set apart time to fill my spirit anew with the Savior and his teachings. It always feels to me like I can start fresh and do better in my personal journey. There is always hope for those of us who feel they need to repent and start anew each day. I feel such gratitude for my life and my blessings and for Him who makes it all possible.

My Mission

I was able to go to the Bishop's Store House this past week. I am like all other missionaries, I LOVE MY MISSION! Seriously, I know I am not doing the very hard work and enduring the many sacrifices of a "real" missionary, I would never want to take away from what they do, they are a different breed from me and what I do. Nevertheless, it is a mission, I was called of God through inspiration and my very own prayers (I had long wanted to do more service).

Can I say it again, I love what I am doing. I love the organization of my Church, particularly the Humanitarian side of it. What a wonderful, inspired, necessary, caring part of the Church. It helps and blesses countless lives, all over the world. Check out this site for more info on the Bishop's Store House, http://www.mormonwiki.com/Church_Welfare_Program

Check out the pictures of the warehouse where I work in Colton, CA. That is all food and supplies for the needy or for emergency situations. I kind of took these on the sly, I didn't want to spend my working time snapping a bunch of pics, but next week I will take some of my fellow missionaries and the store.

Can I say something of the store? It really is like a real store. In fact it's made to be that way so people don't feel like they are accepting handouts or are less than any one else. We are told to keep the store neat and clean, well stocked with items in perfect order (nothing upside down or backwards) and most importantly, there is nothing offered that isn't in excellent condition. We don't give them anything that we wouldn't want to eat or have ourselves. We want their dignity preserved. I love this philosophy, and all that is there comes from Church members tithes and offerings, how Christlike, caring one for another.

What a blessing to me to see this in action and to be a part of it every week.

General Conference

Can you imagine the Lord, Jesus Christ speaking to you, directly to you, about things that are pertinent to your life this day? What a great opportunity I have every six months to experience just that, through the mouth pieces of the Lord.
General Conference, my favorite time in the Church. I love to hear from the Lord's anointed regarding exactly what I need to hear and what I need to put into my daily life. I always come away more spiritual, stronger in faith and testimony, more enlightened, more comforted and more dedicated to live my life as my Savior would have me do.
With the wonderful technology that we enjoy, I am able to hear Conference on my own t.v. in the comfort of my own home. With that though, I have become complacent, setting the dvr to record so I can sleep in or do some housework while conference is on. In doing this I have, in the past, lost the spirit of Conference and sometimes not even seen the entire thing. So I am going back to the good old days this coming weekend and am going to go to the chapel to watch, via satellite, Conference the old fashion way, where I can glean all that is offered me.
To all that will be watching next weekend, enjoy, it's sure to be a wonderful, enlightening 4 sessions, as always.

Me a Teacher

I am teaching in Relief Society today. I will never get used to it and it's been almost 2 years that I have been teaching every month. I think I do a pretty good job at it, but the week before and the day of I become a stress cadet. I become overcome by self doubt and a huge case of nerves. Once I am up there though things seem to flow and wah lah, in 45mins life is good again. At least for 4 more weeks. Andy is my favorite child by far. He's amazingly gifted and good looking.
Check out the lesson, I really learned a lot in preparing for it and am recommitted to becoming a Celestial Being.
http://www.lds.org/ Relief Society Lesson 18 or go to search and enter three degrees of glory.

I hope they call me on a mission

Guess what? They did!! I am going to be on a part time mission. No need to send letters, pics or care packages, I will be local. I will be serving at the Bishop's Store House in Colton, CA for at least one year. It will be weekly, but not sure how how many hours yet, but I am really looking forward to it, it's a special place for sure. Lucky me!