Brigham City Temple Open House.

For your Viewing Pleasure

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Material and Spiritual Things.

Sometimes there are things that I want. But alas, I am but a poor college student just trying to feed myself and get enough sleep. So, just for the fun of it, here are a couple things that I currently want. These aren't in any particular order.

A Pair of Chacos.
A Terabyte External Hard Drive.
Hundreds of Children's Books.
A Haircut.
Colored Skinny Jeans.
Hawaii Sandals.
Ink for My Printer.


Now, on to more important things.
Today is Sunday and I just want to say that I am so grateful for my life. I'm grateful for all the things that have happened in my life. I know that I have been blessed and that my trials and experiences have made me into the woman I am today. I am grateful for the people in my life. My family, friends, and that boy who currently has my heart. I'm grateful that these people love me for the weird, imperfect person I am. I am grateful that I am at USU. I love Logan and I love the program I am in. I am so thankful and quite amazed that I will be done in less than a year. I am grateful for a Heavenly Father who loves me and knows me. I am grateful that he puts up with this flawed daughter of his. I am thankful that he is constantly forgiving me for the many mistakes that I make. I am thankful that he has a plan for me and that even though I don't know what it is, he is guiding me in they way I need to go. I'm grateful that I can talk to him whenever and where ever I want. I'm grateful that he sent his son to this earth to live and die for me. I'm grateful for the chance I have to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I am thankful for the knowledge that I can be with my family forever. I am grateful for my faith, even though it isn't perfect, I am trying my hardest. I'm grateful for prophets who are instruments in the Lord's hand to guide us and warn us. I am grateful for every opportunity and everything that I am blessed with.

Awesome hail storm. Yes, I played in it.

Isn't that beautiful?

A Bad Case of the Hiccups

The sun was shining and it was Jerrica's birthday. She decided that on her birthday she wanted to do something outrageously fun. She decided that going swimming would be the perfect thing. So, she gathered some neighbor friends, packed up a picnic basket, and left for the pool.

Once they got there they played around in the water for a while. Eventually, Jerrica and her friends became quite hungry. They decided to pull out the picnic basket and have some lunch. They ate the delectable PB&Js and long crunchy carrot sticks. They were having a great time and decided to get back into the pool.

Jerrica's friend Blake decided to dive off the diving board and Jerrica decided to follow him. As Jerrica jumped off the board all of sudden "HICCUP". A little stunned, she fell into the water. She emerged from the water and "HICCUP". There it was again.

All of Jerrica's friends swam over to see what the matter was. "HICCUP."

"Oh dear," said Dallin, "this is serious."

Grant said, "I know what to do! You need to drink lots of water."

They got out of the pool and--"HICCUP"--Spencer got Jerrica a huge glass of water. Jerrica downed the whole glass. "HICCUP."

Sebastian said, "You should try standing on your head." Jerrica stood on her head for 3.86 minutes. Just when they thought that had done the trick--"HICCUP"--they were back to square one.

Jerrica reluctantly said, "I don't think these hiccups are going anywhere. "HICCUP." Let's just go home."

So, they all left.

They were walking home when all of a sudden Lauren held out her hand and exclaimed, "I just remembered that I have glitter in my pocket!"

Jerrica squealed, "Ooooh! I love glitter! HICCUP."

She took it out of her hand, closed her eyes tight, and threw the glitter high into the air. And then, to everyone's dismay there was silence. That was it. Jerrica's hiccups were gone.

And that is the story of how Jerrica got rid of a bad case of the hiccups.

And then my brain was like, "I don't want to concentrate on homework."

I'm struggling.
To concentrate.
This Wednesday evening.

I don't want to do my homework.
But it needs to be done.

Life is weird.
And amazing.
And confusing.

I'm in one of those moods.
The kind where you don't really want to talk to anybody.
Or maybe you just don't have anything to say.

Maybe that will change later tonight.
When I do something.
Something that isn't homework.

Words Their Way.
Chapters one and two.

The bobby pins in my hair are poking my head.

I have really great friends.
A wonderful family.
A great life.

Time to Discern

Behold, you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give it unto you when you took no thought save it was to ask me. But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right. But if it be not right you shall have no such feelings, but you shall have a stupor of thought.
Doctrine and Covenants 9:7-9 

Yup.

Level III is going to be tough. But let's be honest, has this major ever been anything but tough??

You know you're going to like a professor when one of the first things she says is "I print out the agendas for those of you who need to cross things of on a list. Also, sometimes in class you just have to doodle." YES. I just happen to be a list person and a doodler.

Jalepeño Pringles and Cottage Cheese.

Are you stressed? Just squeeze him.

Had a conversation with some people today about the date-able qualities of various Disney princes and princesses.

Day on the Quad. Yay for free stuff!

Seeing a friend engaged on Facebook is a daily occurrence.

New friends.

I bought a game day shirt today. And a planner.

Went to the game. Good job Aggies!

FREADOM.

Welcome to Continental

Well, I'm back in Logan. I have slightly mixed feelings about it but I am mostly really excited! I'm living with Jerrica Ciel Osmun. Its gonna be great! Here's the place.

Before we unpacked our stuff.

Closet. Jer in the Closet.

Some of my favorite things.

My bed.

The wall.

Desk and shelves.

Today is the first day of school. I actually don't have any classes today. Weird. I did, however turn in my student teaching application and attend an institute class with my dear friend Megan Woodbury. I also saw some other great friends on campus which was quite exciting.

Isn't Jer just so cute??

The usual.

My Mini-Mission

I know that it has taken me a while to blog about this but I have been putting it off. How do I put into words the wonderful, incredible, life-changing summer that I have had? I don't know, but I guess I will try. Some of this might have already been explained in previous posts. And I'm sorry if this ends up being a little lengthy. Bear with me.

It all started in January. An interesting turn of events led me to apply to be a Counselor at the Oakcrest LDS Girls Camp. One thing led to another and I got the job. Quite miraculously actually. We had one training in March. Three more in May. Then, it started. We had a week of training at camp. The next Monday, the first bus loads of young women. Excitement and anxiety filled my entire being. That first week, was tough. Amazing. And I learned so much more than I ever thought I could.

Ten weeks later, it was over. We stood in a line on the field and waved goodbye to the last bus loads of young women. So why was this the most wonderful, incredible, life-changing summer of my life? Well, I'll try to tell you. 

I got to spend the entire summer hiking, playing with the parachute, doing crafts, ziplining, singing, doing the foam slide, playing games, having dance parties, laughing, doing archery, doing nails, making friendship bracelets, staying up late, and more.

I gained 55 of the best friends I could ever imagine. Fifty-five women who I look up to and learned so much from. These friendships will last through eternity.

I learned that I absolutely LOVE bearing my testimony! I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true and I want to tell the whole world! I am so grateful that I got to spend my summer bearing my testimony to 12 to 14 year-olds. 

I learned that I can do hard things with the help of my Heavenly Father. He IS my father and he loves me more than I can even comprehend. He has this amazing plan for me. And even though I mess up sometimes...a lot of times...he will never give up on me. 

I learned that prayer can help you get through the hardest of times and the best of times. He is always listening and will always answer. Luckily he sees the big picture so he can answer our prayers in the right way, at the right time. 

I learned that if you are living your life like God wants you to, he will guide you to where you need to be and what you need to say. Keeping the commandments and building a relationship with our Heavenly Father qualifies your for revelation and blessings that you wouldn't have otherwise.

I learned that when you have stewardship over someone's spirit, you can catch a glimpse of Heavenly Father's love for them. And because you have stewardship over them you will be guided to teach and influence them in a special, sacred way.

I learned that serving others brings blessings and a joy that cannot be explained. And this summer was about service. I almost feel guilty that I was in charge of teaching approximately 100 young women and I was the one learned so much.

I learned I NEED my Heavenly Father. I can't even begin to share all of the miracles and tender mercies that I witnessed this summer. I know that I could not have survived this summer without God's love and support.

I learned that the scriptures are full of things that we need to know and apply to our lives. The Book of Mormon was written for us and it contains all the answers we need. You will grow closer to God by reading the Book of Mormon than any other book. You can receive so much strength and joy from diligently studying the scriptures. 

I learned to TRUST. The theme this summer was to "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him and he will direct thy paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6) I know that if I put my trust in the Lord he will lead and direct me in the way I should go. I know that he will always be there and he loves me. He wants me to be happy. If I trust him and live his ways he will make a lot more out of my life than I can myself.

Well, there are some of the things that I learned this summer. Sometimes, it makes me sad to think that it is over. But I remind myself that it was incredible and that it was a wonderful phase of my life. I will never forget it and I am not the same person I was before Oakcrest. Now, I look forward to the future with faith. I know God has big plans for me. I don't quite know what those are yet but I know that great things are coming. Oakcrest has helped to prepare me for what is ahead, whatever that might be.

I'm not sad that it is over. I rejoice that it happened.