Learning Lessons

I've been learning how to be in better control over my money. I'm using a cool budgeting site made by Dave Ramsey (I'm also reading his Total Money Makeover book which is awesome) called everydollar.com. I'm more content in my life right now, and it's making a difference with my spending. I also leave my debit card at home which helps most :) I hardly eat out anymore, I have plenty of clothes (I've spent hundreds of dollars at American Eagle Outfitter's -clearance- since being home from my mission...) and I'm suddenly super excited about saving the most money possible. I wish I had had this change of heart many months ago! One day I got on my bank account and added up the amount of money I'd spent at each store that was listed on there... and I wasn't happy with what I'd done with it all.. So many little purchases (mostly food and AEO silly me) added up to SO much and I had saved hardly any of it compared to what I had earned.  So needless to say I'm being a lot more careful, saving 50%, usually more, of my paycheck and being happy with what I already have. And I've sold a lot of my too-many clothes to Plato's Closet.

I've loved serving at the Timpanogos Temple as an ordinance worker! I went through the training process really slowly (I started working in March and even though all of May it was closed I just barely finished my training) but now I'm fully trained on everything and I can substitute for people on other days (mostly just Saturdays) I've been feeling the peace from the Holy Ghost so much more in my life. I also have been listening to the scriptures on my gospel library app on and off all day as work lets me. I finished the last few chapters of Alma and then through til the end of the Book of Mormon in two days from listening and reading along when I could. I'm starting a Pearl of Great Price class once I get up to BYU-Idaho (less than a month away!! SO EXCITED) so I started listening to and reading along to that today and I'm already in the middle of the book of Abraham. I love how much of the temple video comes from the Pearl of Great Price! So wonderful. :) I love feeling the Spirit this much in my life! I have tried to get rid of things that waste my time or that are light-minded (the app called Vine was a bad time consumer for me so I got rid of that). I also haven't spent so much time listening to the news... which I do feel is important to do occasionally but I've become better (and happier) already by shifting my focus to the scriptures.

Tuning into God

This is such a wonderful video. I guess I haven't seen it before because it is a little bit older.
I know that the Spirit is real. He has been with me every day of my life, even though many times I could not or would not hear Him. He comforts me when I make the choice to slow down, calm down, and listen to Him. Believing that all of this is real is a choice. I've learned that it's all so easy. We choose to either believe in God, or we can choose to not believe in God. Whichever choice we make won't change the fact that He is there. It only changes us.

Being Home

Hey friends!
Well this is my first post on here since being back from my mission, about nine months or so. Haven't even really visited this blog except briefly a few times. Turns out I had like 21 page views from people in Russia last week though... haha what.
It's been great to live at home with my awesome family for these few months. I did one online class through BYU-Idaho and finished my associates degree in science. I'm heading back up there to do two more years of school then I should be done with my degree in Microbiology. I'm super excited!!
I've learned a lot in the last few months since being back from Portugal. I have loved living with my family constantly laughing with them. I'm learning how hard it is to keep up the missionary habits of sincere and dedicated scripture study and prayer and exercise, but I'm working on bringing those habits back and having the Spirit of the Lord be more present and powerful in my life. That's my number one goal right now.
I've learned a lot about relationships with others. I've met a lot of wonderful people and have grown to love and appreciate them. Even though none of my relationships with any one young man have worked out yet, (because I'm not married or engaged obviously) I've learned a lot from each one and am thankful for them. The thing that's been the hardest for me, I think, is growing to really like someone and becoming best friends with them, but knowing it's not going to progress to marriage and having to end the relationship.. uuug. It's frustrating but hopefully someday something will work out to where we won't have to break up forever :)
I love listening to amazing people on the radio like Glenn Beck and his co-hosts, Rush Limbaugh and Dave Ramsey. I admire their bravery in standing up for what's right even though it's not easy.
The world is literally going insane. I get downhearted and sad a lot when I see what's going on in the media and what's happening to us as Americans and people all over the world.  So far the only thing that makes me feel better is making sure I make time for scripture study in the morning and night and prayer and listening to uplifting music... I like to stay informed with what's happening in the world but it can get pretty depressing, but a balance of God's word with the 'worldly' words helps me stay happy and hopeful. I'm so thankful that I have the gospel to guide, strengthen and comfort me now and throughout my life. It's just up to me to live and share it.

anyway here are some pictures to update this blog a little:

Noah's doing well in Mozambique, he gets home in October!!

My three very best friends got married, one while I was on my mission and the other two in the last month or week:

Maddison

and her sister McCall :)

and Summer!  

Thanks for reading, hope to be better at updating this :)