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.

Don't mind me. I'm just going to ramble for a moment.

Lately, I have felt busy every moment. Then, I will have a moment when I take a breath and feel like I should be doing something. Sometimes I even feel like I'm forgetting to something. Like today. I needed to be doing something but I couldn't remember what it was. Oops.

Then there are times at 9:00 when I sit down and suddenly feel exhausted. Maybe I'm tired because it has been a busy week. And today was the teacher fair. Oh, the teacher fair. I don't think I want to say too much about it right now. Except I loved the outfit I wore. Seriously, it was very professional and very me. And....I stood out.

I think that I need to remember to make decisions for myself. What I do in my life mostly shouldn't depend on what outside parties think. I have to do what is best for me. Especially at this time in my life. I don't have children, a husband, or even a boyfriend that I need to take into account when making decisions. I am a single lady of 21 years and I have the world at my fingertips. It doesn't matter what other people think is best for me. What matters is what is really best for me. That, my friends, is between me and my Heavenly Father.

Sometimes I feel like I have an adult life. I go to "work" everyday (aka student teaching) from 7:15 a.m. to about 3:00 p.m. Then I come home, make myself some food, check my email, maybe go to the temple or run other errands. I do things for my calling, plans some lessons, go the gym, do the dishes, or my laundry. You get the idea. Well....I like it. Except for the part where I don't really have a social life because I try to go to bed early.

I have moments of clarity where I can see how I am doing in my life and I make goals to be better. Sometimes, I get through the day and I don't think I've made any progress. There are moments where I feel like a complete failure.

You want to know something my institute teacher told us last night? "If you could see yourself as God sees you, you would never have a depressed day in your life." Isn't that incredible? Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ see me as I can become. It is about time for me to see myself in that way. Also, I need to work on seeing other people in that way as well. Because I have no idea what they are going through and as many times as I have felt the everlasting love of my Savior they have probably felt it too. You might have felt it. If you haven't, you can. Just ask him. Tell him you want to feel His love. He loves every single person perfectly. What an awesome thought.

I miss my best friends a little bit. Maybe a lot. You know who you are.

Maybe I want to go to sleep. Maybe I need to do an assignment before I can go to bed. Maybe I decided to blog instead. That's more important than sleep, right?

I am the team captain of a Relay for Life team. Which is incredible really. I'm so excited. The only problem is that I don't have enough team members. And I haven't been doing very well about fundraising.

I'm thinking that this is getting very long.

I think about it all the time

Its true. I do think about it all the time.

Before I go to sleep.

When I wake up.

I basically want to tell everyone about it.

But I can't.

Not yet.

Oh. But I reeeealy want to.

The cyber world isn't ready.

Or maybe I'm just not ready to tell the cyber world.

Sometimes I think about it when I'm teaching the sixth graders.

Or when I'm driving.

And eating.

And maybe some people know about it.

I think about it in the shower.

When I'm running.

Have I said too much?

Is it obvious?

That is possible.

Sometimes I get so excited I feel like I'm going to explode.

But then there are moments when I'm so scared I could pee my pants.

I think about it when I'm listening to music.

And when I'm cleaning.

I'm thinking about it right now.

I think about it all the time.

sometimes i need to remind myself.

End The Word

Spread the Word

To End the Word

The words retard and retarded are offensive and hurtful. Please don't use them. Go online right now to www.r-word.org. Take the online pledge to end the r-word. Together we can make a difference.

p.s. This is last year's shirt. The message is still the same. :)

Message From Your Heart.

Thursday was my last day of Kindergarten.

I have mixed feelings about that.

I miss my children like crazy.

But I'm happy to be done with Kindergarten.

I loved it. 

I just don't think I ever want to teach it.

Monday I will head to Cedar Ridge Middle.

To finish the last seven weeks of my student teaching.

Sixth grade.

Math.

I might be terrified.

A lot.

Yesterday I was not productive at the workshop. 

Ahh...my portfolio.

RIL. Oh I love you so.

I went to the gym.

That was the fourth time this week.

I think that is a record.

Then I went to Lava with some spectacular people.

It was so fun.

I just love hot springs. 

A lot.

And I want to go to Lava sometime in the summer.

Plan on it.

Today I had class.

That one Saturday class.

Most of it was enjoyable.

Maybe just a little too long.

Every time I go to one of these workshops,

I just want to teach my students Art everyday.

I now await something very delicious in the oven.

The smell is currently wafting into my nostrils.

I think I will try to finish my homework before the timer rings.

14:37

Maybe that won't happen.

Oh, it smells so good!

Also, 

Big things are going to happen in the near future.

Be excited.

And here is something that has been on my mind a lot lately.

Mosiah 3:19

Have a great night and a Sabbath full of peace.

Aim. Focus. Shoot.

Love this beautiful girl. 

Went on an adventure yesterday. 

Drove around.

Found a park.

Took some pictures.

Bought a pizza.

Ate it.

I helped her.

She helped me.

Talked a lot.

Laughed even more.

Oh, and apparently I was talking in my sleep last night. I couldn't find the blueberries.

Ask me.

Ask me if I've been busy.

Yes.

Ask me if I'm a slacker blogger.

Yes.

Ask me if I had a Valentine.

No.

Ask me if I'm alright with that.

Yes.

Ask me if I went and saw Safe Haven with my roommates.

Yes.

Ask me if I loved it.

Yes.

Ask me if I applied for a big girl job yesterday. EEEK!

Yes. 

Ask me if I am currently in Sandy.

Yes.

Ask me if I went running today. Outside. In shorts.

Yes.

Ask me if I just went to the temple.

Yes.

Ask me if I'm content with my life right now.

Yes.

Ask me if I really know what I'm doing.

No.

Ask me if that is ok.

Yes.

Here is a quote for you. About love. 

 I have since come to know that love is more than a paper heart. It is the very essence of life. It is the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. But it is not at the end of a rainbow; it is at the beginning, and from it springs the beauty that arches across the sky on a stormy day. It is the security for which children weep, the meat and drink of youth, the adhesive that binds marriage and the lubricant that prevents devastating friction in the home; it is the peace of old age, the sunlight of hope shining through death. How impoverished are those who lack it, and how rich those who have it!

Gordon B. Hinckley

I will patiently wait for the day when I find the one who I can love for eternity. For now I will work on becoming someone he wants to love.

21

Yesterday I turned 21. Yup. I'm growing up. How did I celebrate? It was filled with some of the people who I love most.

I woke up around 9:30 and all my roommates were still asleep. I had one of those internal battles where I had to go to the bathroom but I wanted to stay all cuddled up in my bed. My bladder won. I walked out of my room and to my astonishment the entire kitchen was decorated with streamers and balloons. Oh Chelan. Thank you.

So I went to the bathroom and then went back into my bed and read a little bit. Then around 9:44 my Grandma Kasteler called me to wish me a happy birthday. Then my sister came over at 10:00 and brought me 21 roses. What would I do without her?

Then my roommate made crepes for all of the roomies. Complete with nutella, strawberries and whipped cream. I ate 3. I was especially grateful for Courtney who I haven't seen very much lately! Love you Court/Katniss/Quarters.

Then we had an interesting thing happen. We were all bouncing a balloon around our living room. All of a sudden one of us smacked the balloon toward the light fixture. It was loose so it came crashing down. We all screamed and then just sat there in shock. The glass shards popped the four or so balloons that were in the room. We were all blessed to not get hurt. And it was hilarious. Also, at one point. Kevin Anderson came over to wish me a happy birthday.

Then Tina and I had planned to go play soccer at the church. Well, the gym was taken by some basketball players so we just went to the Relief Society room and played the piano for an hour or so. Thank you Kristina Sue Stewart for helping me to not hide my talents under a bushel.

While we were gone I left my phone at home. Unfortunately I missed a call from my wonderful Grandpa Scharffs who without fail has called me every single year on my birthday to sing me Happy Birthday. I also missed a call from Kevin Larsen. Thank you.

I then showered and got ready for the day. My wonderful Mother and Spencer drove up and we went to lunch to Olive Garden as a family. Wow. I love them and miss them like crazy.

Then we came back to my apartment to open up some presents. I walk in the door and out pops my best friend Jerrica Osmun. She had broken my heart earlier in the week when she said she wouldn't be able to make it up for my birthday. I screamed. To say the least. What an amazing surprise! I am grateful for Jerrica.

I opened up my presents and felt completely spoiled. I got some clothes, jewelery, a new straightener and a bag. I love it all. Again I want to thank my dear, dear mother.

Then my family left and Jerrica and I moved my car and when I came back there were some flowers. Beautiful flowers that had no name on them. Just a small note. Fortunately, I knew exactly who they were from because of the note. They were from my best friend Bethany Coleman. Oh, how I miss her.

Then my roommate Paige and I went to Walmart. We had to pick up some things for ice cream sundaes to have with our Oakcresties.

I came back and went to dinner with Jerrica at Costa Vida. You could say that Costa is "our place". Then Jerrica had to stop by Walmart to get some things to make Oreo Truffles. We came back and I opened the door to the apartment and SURPRISE.

There were balloons and Chelan had made three cakes and there were candles and everyone sang to me and I blew all of them out in one blow. (To tell you the truth there were only two. But still. There was one on each cake and I still got all three in one blow.) Then, all of the boys got around me and threw me in the air 21 one times. It might have been a little terrifying but so fun! We ate cake and played games. It was seriously so fun. It was the first time I have ever had a surprise party. And even though I knew something was going on, I really appreciate everyone who came. Chelan, Tina, Courtney, Jerrica, Paige, Maegan, Spencer Hall, Mitch, Spencer Cline, Kye, Jordan, Franco, Evan, Dallin, Hannah, Steve, Matt.

It is days like yesterday when you are reminded that there are people out there who love you. I am grateful for all of the people in my life and I know that I am who I am because of all of you. I am especially grateful for my Heavenly Father who knows me perfectly and gave me incredible people in my life to help me and guide me to what I can be.

And I want to thank YOU for being one of the few to make it through this entire blog post. Here is a song for your Sunday afternoon.