I Choose Him

Here is a song that has been dear to my heart ever since I heard it.

There is one part in particular that really stood out to me a couple weeks ago and I have thought about it often since then. It starts at 1:38. These are the lyrics to this part.

He's given me His trust, so I'll be strong enough,
To run from a dangerous touch, I don't need that kind of love,
I don't need that crutch, He's given me his trust.

God trusts me. 
He knows that I am strong enough 
to run away from the things that 
will not bring me eternal happiness. 
He knows that I will choose Him 
and his ways. 
His trust allows me to make my own decisions. 
He isn't going to force me to keep the commandments 
and be worthy of eternal life, 
but He trusts me to make those decisions on my own. 
It doesn't matter what the world thinks of me.
The only person I need to please is my Heavenly Father.

I choose His way. 
I choose His plan.
I choose to keep the commandments. 
I choose the temple.
I choose to be with my family forever.
I choose to be a witness of Him at all times, in all things, and in all places.
I choose to serve him always.
I choose His love.
I choose joy. 
I choose HIM.

one of those moments.

thursday was my last day student teaching the sixth graders. i also had a job interview in ogden. then, that night i went to the sunrise elementary kindergarten opera. my kindergarteners have been working on this opera for months. did you know that kindergarteners could write, try out for parts, rehearse, and perform an opera? well, they can. and it was incredible. so incredible. it was one of those moments. one of those moments that remind you of your passion for teaching. they put so much work into it and they owned it. if you watched it you would be surprised that they were kindergarteners. i was so impressed with their performance. i'm glad that i had a small part. after, i went up to the classroom to congratulate them and another one of those moments happened. one of those moments where you have 15 to 20 white-faced kindergarteners surrounding you all trying to give you a hug and telling you how much they miss you. one of those moments when you miss them so much. one of those moments that make all the work that goes into teaching worth it.

one of those moments.

Meet Tyler.

She is a duck.
A baby duck.
Kendra's duck.

Celebrate. Remember. Fight Back.

 

Friday night. We did something hard. We stayed up the entire night. Why in the world did we do that?

Relay for Life.

I created a team in honor of my dad.

This was my BBQ This! Relay for Life team. Throughout the entire night at least one of us was walking around the track of the fieldhouse.

We did this to fight cancer. It symbolized that cancer never sleeps. We were celebrating, remembering, and fighting back.

Our team worked very hard on fundraising. Our total was $1,152.12. Out of all 33 USU Relay for Life teams we raised $22,219.77. 

The money will go towards cancer research and services for individuals who have cancer and their families. We are fighting for a world with more birthdays.

It was hard. 

There were moments when I felt like my legs were about to fall off. There were times when all I wanted to do was sleep. There were moments when I felt so emotionally drained and thought that I wasn't going to be able to do it. 

It was completely worth it.

It's really neat to be a part of something like that. 

It's a good feeling knowing that you are making a difference.

For more information go to relaforlife.org. 

God will speak this weekend. Will you Listen?

For the next two days, we get to hear from living prophets and apostles. 

They speak the mind and will of our

Very loving Heavenly Father. 

We can receive comfort, 

direction, 

peace, 

inspiration 

and answers that we are searching for. 

So I challenge you....

come up with a question. 

A question. 

A problem. 

Maybe a trial you are struggling with. 

Pray about it. 

Then watch General Conference. 

And don't just watch it. 

Absorb it. 

Take it in. 

Listen with you whole heart, might, mind, and strength. 

Feast. 

You will receive an answer. 

God is speaking this weekend. Aren't we so blessed??

j.c.o.

You know that best friend that is always there for you?

She can be goofy and crazy with you.

But she can also talk serious stuff and cry with you.

She was there when you were broken and she helped hold the pieces together.

She loves going to the DI and taking pictures with you.

You don't have to be talking to enjoy each other's presence.

She likes watching Titanic as much as you do.

She tells you all about her secrets and listens to yours.

It feels like you have known each other forever.

But really it has only been two and a half years.

And distance....doesn't make a difference.

This is her.

Once upon a time...last night...we went shopping.