A response to the talk: To Sweep the Earth as With a Flood.

I had the wonderful opportunity to actually attend this devotional that Elder Bednar gave during the 2014 Education Week in August. It was a great experience and I really felt that this was an apostle of God speaking to me.
Elder Bednar makes a point to talk about social media and how technology has grown over the ages. It's interesting that he talks about this so much because social media is a tool that almost everyone we know uses to communicate. Elder Bednar encourages us to share our feelings about the gospel via social media. By doing this we can spread the word as with a flood. The things we share about the gospel shouldn't be a one time thing but an ongoing thing. We should be looking for ways to share the gospel in our daily lives and social media is such an easy and quick way to do so. If 1 out of the 10 posts we make about the gospel touches someone's life, it will be worth it for us to continue to do so.
I know that I am given many opportunities to share my feelings about the gospel of Jesus Christ and I agree that social media is a great way to do so.
If you would like to see the talk yourself, watch the video posted below.

"Your Struggle is Just a Part of Your Story"

I haven't blogged on here in forever. I don't even know what I will say. 

Let me just start by saying that life is good. But life is hard. I often find myself easily discouraged and sometimes I think it's a little ridiculous. I have been blessed with so many amazing things. I have the greatest friends and family. My friends have especially been helpful and loving while I've been at college. I don't know what I would do without them. I honestly owe most of my happiness to them. I know God placed them in my life for a reason and I am SO incredibly thankful. 

I don't understand why I get easily discouraged. I have so much to be happy for. I think it's because discouragement makes us reach further towards our goals. We don't like being discouraged so we try harder and harder to move on and make our lives better. That's the point of life; to move forward and do greater and better things. How boring would it be if we just stayed in the same place in our lives? I know we would all be depressed. There would be nothing to live for. What would be the point? 

Goals are good. Righteous goals are even better. I believe that if you have righteous goals, God WILL help you achieve them. God is so willing and able to help us. We just NEED to ask. 

I don't know about you but I need God always. I wouldn't make it through the day. I don't understand why I struggle but I know I need to humble myself and ask for help because I cannot do everything on my own. No one can do anything on their own. This is why God puts certain people in our lives. They can uplift us to places we couldn't reach on our own. 

"The Story" by Brandi Carlile inspired this post. I love this song.

"Your struggle is just a part of your story." I know this is so completely 100% true. I know my struggles have contributed to who I am today. My struggles are not me but they have made me have greater faith and confidence in the Lord. He will help me overcome my struggles always. My story is a long one. I have gone through a lot. I know my story doesn't even compare to others but it's my story and it has been a hard for me. Some people may not have been able to make it through the things I have and I know I would not be able to make it through some of the things others have. This is why everyone's story is unique. It is a wild combination of good and bad, happy and sad. We can all overcome our struggles. They add to our stories and we can just check them off a list. Each struggle a paragraph. Each piece of happiness is a chapter. 

"Hypocrites can’t help people"

These past few months have been challenging. I've realized that I'm not as secure in certain aspects of my life as I should be. I don't know how it happened but I'm noticing things that I need to work on to become my best self. I feel like this happens to a lot of people. I've also realized that I can't be an example or help others until I help myself. How can I be strong for someone when I don't even know what I want exactly. It's strange to think about how much I have changed and how much certain things in my life have affected me and turned me into the person I am today.
The title of the blog post has a lot of meaning and I've kind of already explained it. A lot of times I've realized that the advice I give or that other people give actually applies to that person as well. It's strange how sometimes the advice we give to others is actually just what we needed to hear personally. You know how people who give talks at church or speeches or whatever tell the audience something like, "By preparing this, I've realized how much I needed to hear this specific thing myself." I think that is so awesome and annoying at the same time. I guess hearing it from yourself can either be easier or harder than hearing it from someone else.
I don't really know where this is going but at the moment I'm becoming more aware of my life and what I need to work on. It's going to be hard. I want to be there for other people but I can't unless I figure out what I need. I think I'm getting there.
"Be still my soul, the Lord is on thy side."
I know the Lord is always by my side. When I make mistakes or fall away in certain aspects of my life, he knows exactly how to help me figure it out. He will always help me where I cannot help myself. I know I can do all things with the help of the Lord. I know that whatever challenges I face and temptations that I have I can make it through. Things will always work out. I will be at peace with the way things work out. I can be strong enough for myself and others.
Surround yourself with the people you feel will help you become your best self. You can do it, and so can I.

Window to the Soul

Eyes.
How difficult would life be without them? I love music but if I couldn't see, I don't know how I would be able to live. I can't even imagine.
So the reason for this topic is the fact that I am pretty blind. I have a current prescription of -7.50 in both of my eyes. I'm lucky that it's the same in both eyes because that helps with not mixing up my contacts.
I remember when I first noticed my vision swaying. I was 7 years old. I was watching Lady and the Tramp 2 and I remember there being bold words on the screen. I remember telling my mom that the words were all fuzzy. Basically, it's been down hill from there. Every time I get them checked they are worse and worse. It's pretty sad. One day I hope to get laser eye surgery. It's pretty scary but I know it would help a lot.
It's scary to take off my glasses and contacts every night and realize that I can't see. It makes me feel vulnerable and I don't like it. I'm just blessed to be able to have those tools help me through my life. If I lived a thousand years ago I don't know how I would have done it. How lucky am I to live at a time where the technology is available to me. It's amazing. 

This is what I saw with my eyes during my run this morning. So beautiful!

Today I went on a run in the park just down the street. It was so beautiful. I have missed running in such a beautiful place. It was warm and sunny and so green. This is what Spring should feel like. I am so lucky to have grown up in such a awesome city.
I noticed so much because today I finally pulled out my contacts with the right prescription  When I last got my eyes checked I still had a few pairs of my old contacts left so I was using them first. Today I finally tried the ones I was supposed to be wearing this whole time. I can see so clearly. I love it! My glasses are still pretty bad though. I hate wearing them. They are definitely the wrong prescription and I feel so boxed in. I feel like I have this box around my life and I am just not myself. I basically have no peripheral vision because I am so blind. My whole life changed when I got contacts in the 6th grade. It was hard to get used to putting them in at first but ever since it has been so easy. I don't know why people complain about contacts because they are seriously the best. I am so blessed.
I am grateful for my eyes. I am grateful for my contacts and glasses. I am grateful that my eyes are the window for my soul. I live through my eyes. If you think about it, what would you be without them?

My glasses! I think they make my eyes look smaller.
That's another reason why I don't wear them very often in public.

I Am

I read a book today, or part of a book rather, and it is called Promptings by Kody Bateman. It's so good I really recommend it. I got to the chapter about "I am". It basically says that you are what you think you are. You can achieve anything you believe you can. Seriously, if you think about yourself this way your life will be amazing. It's so easy to be negative, especially about one's self, but honestly, if you just stop and think about how good you are, that is way better. I compiled a list of things that I am. Even if I am not necessarily these things right now at this very moment and even if these things don't happen for a while, this is the person I am and who I want to be. I am a positive person and this is all about me.

I am a patient person.

I am a wonderful mother and wife. (obviously hasn't happened yet but it will)

I am a wonderful sister.

I am good at serving other people.

I can sing really well and I always will.

I love people fiercely.

I am confident

I can do anything I put my mind to.

I am not a complainer.

I have an amazing job.

I care about everyone I meet.

It’s hard to say goodbye and that’s why sometimes I don’t, but I will from now on.

I am not afraid of the dark.

I am a happy person.

I can survive the present and the hardships it brings.

I am really good at taking tests.

I am really good at balancing my time.

I am fit and strong and my body looks awesome.

I am really smart and I can learn anything.

I am really good at writing.

I am really good at listening to what people have to say.

I care about people and what they have to say.

I am really good at talking to and motivating people

I am a very compassionate person.

I am very motivated to get things done.

Everything will always work out. If I do what I can and as much as I can, the rest is not up to me. God will always help me when I can no longer help myself. Things will always work out and they always have. 

CHALLENGE:
Make a list of things that you are. You are who you want to be so include those as well. Think Happy Thoughts.

Finals... And Everything Else

So, instead of studying for finals I'm going to do everything possible to avoid them and distract myself. But really. I just don't care. And that is bad.
Basically, I've taken 1 of my 5 finals and today is the 3rd day of finals... I'm not off to a great start. I'll take them, don't worry, but all I can think of is everything except for school. I just want to hang out with everyone and anyone. I don't want to study and come to the realization that my freshman year of college is over in 2 days. Isn't that insane? Where has the year gone? It's kind of surreal. Hopefully I actually enjoy my time at home for the next few months because it will be gone before I know it. If I had a reason to stay, I probably would. As for now, my motivation for going home is basically to see my family and go to Disneyland... of course.. I'm definitely obsessed but I just haven't been in what feels like forever.
I am so blessed to grow up where I did. Seriously, everyone thinks that there is nothing to do in Murrieta

This is my studying face

This is my face when
I'm not studying and having fun

but if they came to Provo they would know that they are terribly wrong. Ya, there isn't much to do in Murrieta but at least it's about an hour drive to each of the awesome destinations in Southern California. Seriously what was I ever thinking? Murrieta is home. It will always be home and I love it. There is so much to do in Southern California and I am seriously so lucky to have been able to do so many fun things with my family and friends growing up. Like they say, you never knew what you had until it's gone. But really. It's the truth. Trust me. Even if you didn't grow up where I did, everyone's hometown is unique and a blessing.
I know BYU is where I'm supposed to be for the next few years so I just need to enjoy it and the enjoy being with all the people that I meet. It's a great place. It's not home but it's my home for now.

Virtual World

I'm not going to lie, I love my computer, my phone, my iPod... BUT why is it that I can get easily distracted with it all and not get much done at times? I think I may have found the answer. It's not going to make it any easier to try to resist being on my computer so much, but I hope it helps.
Satan was not allowed a body so he is doing everything in his power to tempt us to defile and misuse ours. How does this apply you might ask?
My question to you is... Why are you on Facebook everyday? Why do you check your Instagram at least 5 times a day? Why do you pin things on Pinterest every night? Why do you scroll through Yahoo!'s news at least once a day? Why do you watch all your favorite shows on Hulu and Netflix? Why?
Are you addicted to your computer or smartphone? I think I might be... I admit it.
The internet and all these devices could be a wonderful and useful tool but it can also be a very distracting and tempting tool. Have you noticed that hours go by and you are still in bed on your computer? Have you noticed that you go to bed late because you are stuck up late in the virtual world? I know I have.
Let's do something about it.
Because Satan does not have a body, I think he is tempting us to abuse ours by not doing anything with it. We are abusing our bodies by being on our computers for practically the whole day. It's even worse as a college student because I actually do need to be on my computer for long periods of time taking notes and doing assignments but at the same time, I get distracted and end up wasting hours surfing the web. How did this happen to me? I am ashamed of it. I think it might be because, I feel like everyone is so busy doing their own things that I might as well use my free time being on the internet instead of having actual human interaction. I am a depressed freshman college student with no life. It's sad that I calculate time to watch my shows everyday into my schedule.

don't waste your time with these!

Everyone is busy but that doesn't mean you should use your free time to be on your computer instead of taking a walk, going on a run, reading a book, sitting in the grass, doing anything but being inside all day.... Why oh why didn't I think about all of this sooner? No wonder I haven't been as happy this semester! It's literally almost over and I'm just now realizing the answer to my problem. I need to get off the internet. Why am I here instead of doing something better?
Honestly, it doesn't help that I work from my computer... maybe I need another job? I don't really want another one at least not right now because this one pays better than all the other one's I have seen....
But seriously people, get off. Start by taking at least an hour of your day and instead of going on your computer to do mindless stuff, go on a walk. Just go outside. Turn everything off. Read a book. Better yet, read your scriptures. (Study for finals!) Do anything but go on your computer or TV for that hour of free time. Easier said than done right? I'm going to do it... You can too!
Now that I realized this, I hope this never happens to me again... I don't want to be a hypocrite...
What is so important on Facebook or whatever that you can't call someone and talk to them about it? You don't need to chat online when you can talk in person or at least on the phone. Stop it. You don't need the internet 24/7! I don't either!