What have I learned?

Today at church my great bishop asked us a question. He asked us what we have learned this year. So, I started thinking about it. What have I learned this past year? 

This past year has been full of challenges and I have come to know my Savior more. I know he is there to help me in every moment of my life. I have learned that I must trust my Heavenly Father at all times. Even though I don't know what is going to happen or how things are going to work out, I do know that God has a plan for me. He has promised me endless blessings if I but follow Him in faith and trust in His great Plan of Happiness. He loves me and knows my great potential and will help me get there.

I am so grateful for every moment of my life. This has been the hardest year of my life. As I sit here and think about all the things that have happened in this past year I am in awe. I am in awe that my Heavenly Father trusts me enough to give me all these trials. He knows me very personally and knows exactly what challenges to give me to make me stronger and better. He lifts me up and makes me stronger so that I can handle all of the experiences he gives me. 

I am so grateful that because of His infinite love He has put me in the refiner's fire. He wants me to return and live with Him again and is polishing me some more before I can get there. 

Domination

Monday. PEP portfolio turned in.
Yesterday. Paper turned in. Lesson plan turned in.
AT project due tonight? Turned in.
Other two assignments due tonight? Turned in.
Portfolio due tomorrow? In progress.
Going to listen to Erin Gruwell tonight.
Also going to clean the sink tonight with some people I will soon get to know very well.
Next week. One real final, one take-home final, two group discussion finals.
Worried about any of them? Nope.
You could say that I am Dominating the end of this semester.
And you would be right.

Summer is coming!

And I am so excited! This summer is going to be quite amazing, incredible, awesome, hard, and so fun!

Anyway, this weekend was so fun! What did I do? Well Friday I went to the institute dance and afterwards went and got some delicious, greasy, fast food with some friends. Saturday I woke up and was semi-productive. Then I went to the temple to do baptisms. Then I went with some friends to second dam. We tried out the rope swing. It was super scary but I found myself climbing up the tree, holding on to the rope, and then jumping off the tree. It was exhilarating. The water....freezing. I couldn't breathe. But what do you know? I climb up that tree and do it again. Actually better the second time. After, we went to a bridge. I didn't jump off but some of the others did. Then I sat out on the grass and read a book. Gorgeous weather! Saturday night we had a BBQ. Delicious. Then I was productive again and worked on the beast lesson plan. Today was great. After church which was amazing I went visiting teaching and then went to a picnic, met some new people, and played frisbee and Koob. Then, after a little journal writing and watching Hitch with my roommate, it is time for bed!

On the agenda for next week.... two portfolios, one project, one paper, and The lesson plan. Oh, and studying for 4 finals. Here's to dead week. Summer in two weeks!

Oh, and my printer is doing that thing where I change the ink cartridge and then the pages print blank. Great. Perfect timing. Well, luckily I have an awesome roommate who will let me use some of her English prints!

Oh, and did I mention....THE WEATHER HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE.

jerrica ciel osmun.

twenty years old. 

that is how old she turned on tuesday. 

we sacrificed some of our sleep to decorate the apartment with balloons and streamers. 

it was great. 

and she was surprised. 

now she is two decades old. 

just like me. 

she is one of my best friends. 

and i love her a lot.

This one time we skipped school for two days and partied in Goblin Valley....

See you in a few days.

Jerrica and I are going on an adventure tomorrow.

I bet you're jealous.

Kisses.

Well. This was my weekend.

Friday. Religion in Life. A bit of homework. Movies with Jer and Josh. Brownie balls.

Saturday. Photoshoot with Jer. Drove by the Brigham City temple. Gorgeous. Went running. Mowed the lawn. Helped my mom in the yard. Helped her make dinner. Baptisms at the Draper temple. Frogurt (otherwise known as U-swirl). Spencer helped me with homework. Video games with him.

Sunday. Easter. Church. Lunch. Newspaper. Nap. Grandma's house. Dinner. Fun with the cousins. Bethie's house. Back to Logan.

Have I ever told you that I have the Best Mother Ever??

The Greatest Gift

I am absolutely sure that Jesus Christ is my Savior. He came to this earth and lived a perfect life of charity and love. He was the only one who could atone for each and every person. That includes you and me. He mercifully suffered and died so we could return to live with our Heavenly Father again. He suffered so I could be forgiven of the countless sins I commit every day. He made it possible for me to live with my family for all eternity. I know that even though my dad passed away from cancer only a few months ago, I can see him again. What joy this brings me! This is because of my savior. Also, because of my Savior I know that I am not alone. He knows exactly how I feel throughout every moment of my life. He is there to comfort me when I feel like I do not deserve his love, when I lack the courage I need, when I need comfort and peace to carry on. He not only suffered for all my sins but for my trials and challenges as well. I know that He is always there, carrying me through the challenges I face everyday. He atoned for every sin, challenge, imperfection, heartache, and trial we face be cause He loves each of us infinitely. He loves me, his imperfect daughter, more than I can comprehend. I know that he had to die for us to complete the atonement. I also know that on the third day he rose and HE LIVES. I love Easter and the opportunity we have to celebrate His resurrection! He has given us a great gift. I love my Savior. "I will trust, and not be afraid, for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also has become my salvation." (2 Nephi 22:2).


P.S. I just realized that this is post #193. I do not think that it is a coincidence that "I Stand All Amazed" is hymn #193.

I think of his hands pierced and bleeding to pay the debt!

Such mercy, such love and devotion can I forget?

No, no I will praise and adore at the mercy seat,

Until at the glorified throne I kneel at his feet.

Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me

Enough to die for me!

 Oh, it is wonderful, to me!

One Year.

Dear Blog,

Thank you so much for always being here for me. I just went back and read a lot of my past posts. I love telling you about the adventures of my life. This last year of my life has been....a roller coaster. Thanks for helping me put my feelings into words. Thanks for helping me to share my testimony. Thanks for helping me to become better. Thanks for everything.

Happy Birthday!

Love Always,
Lauren

One of those posts where I just write some random things about me and it's kind of fun.

I usually don't like it when sales people help me in retail stores. I know it is your job but I just want to be able to look around and not feel like I'm being bombarded.

I do not like to be hot when I sleep.

Sometimes, I'm really indecisive.

I have the next three and a half years of my life planned out. We'll see how it actually happens.

My favorite season is Spring. I love it when it gets warmer and everything starts growing.

I am easily entertained in movies. I'm not a huge critic and easily pleased.

I love mixing Nesquik in my vanilla ice cream. But you can't mix it too much. It should still be a little grainy.

I wish that I enjoyed running.

This summer I am going to be an counselor at Oakcrest LDS Girls Camp. And I am so incredibly excited for the hardest and most fun summer of my life.

I love fruit.

I have two pairs of Toms. I wish I had more.

Sometimes I cry when I listen to country music. In a good way, of course.

I'm a pretty sentimental gal.

I'm pretty good about not spending money on things that I don't really need.

I love flamingos.

I love General Conference. Don't know what that is? Click here or here.

I love receiving letters. And writing them. Although I'm not very good at it.

I'm going to be a teacher before I had originally planned.

I am easily swayed with an Almost Candy Bar.

I really love to be happy.

i miss them.

Like a comet pulled from orbit 

As it passes a sun. 
Like a stream that meets a boulder 
Halfway through the wood.
Like a ship blown from its mooring 
By a wind off the sea. 
Like a seed dropped by a skybird 
In a distant wood. 
Who can say if I've been 
Changed for the better? 
I do believe I have been 
Changed for the better 
And because I knew you... 
I have been changed for good.

For Good-Wicked

i miss them.

City Creek Center

The Church of Jesus Christ did a wonderful job with this new addition to downtown Salt Lake.

And I am so proud that my dad had such an enormous part in its construction.
I got to go see it yesterday and I was in awe.

It is so beautiful.

Go check it out.

You will be

Amazed.