grateful thirty

Today I am grateful for missionary work and for my cute brother. He did an amazing job on his farewell talk today and I couldn't be more proud of him. Still hard to believe he's actually leaving, but Peru is so lucky to be getting one amazing missionary! He has such a strong testimony and is seriously one of the nicest, most helpful young men I've ever met. It has been so fun this week to watch him interact with those around him. I'm super excited to hear about all his adventures and glad that we were able to be home to share this special weekend with him. I'll miss you Jakey!

grateful twenty nine

I am grateful for my cute family! They are pretty much the best! Today we ventured out into the freezing cold and took some family pictures. #soworthit But freezing nonetheless. Everyone was such good sports about it though and we got some really cute ones! We laughed a lot, the wind was blowing in our faces, and we definitely stood in the middle of the road. It's so crazy to me to see how everyone is getting so big. When did that happen? Also, just trying not to think about saying 'see ya later' to Jacob in two short days...

I wouldn't trade these people for anything! Love them!

grateful twenty eight

Today I am grateful for family games! We went to the church today and played dodgeball and basketball. It was a blast! It is always so fun when the family gets together and we can just have some good, wholesome fun! They were games that everyone could get involved in and we loved our time together!

grateful twenty seven

It's Thanksgiving day! I am grateful for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade! It is my tradition to sit on the couch and watch it each Thanksgiving morning. I love it! Hopefully I'll be able to see it in real life someday. There is such an energy in the city and it's always fun to see what's been popular in entertainment that year and to enjoy music, dancing, acting, bands, floats, giant balloons, and lots of commentary! My day wouldn't be the same without it!

grateful twenty-six

Today I am grateful for art. I went to the Tacoma Art Museum with some good friends today and the thing that I noticed the most is that you can really do anything and call it a piece of art. There were so many different materials used! I wondered what the artists were thinking as they did their piece or what the motivation was behind it. Most of the most exciting things was that there was a group of teachers there getting a tour and they were talking about ways to incorporate it into their classrooms. Basically everything I've been learning this semester! Arts integration is so important! So it was good to get a little educated :)

LOVE downtown Tacoma and this cute girl!

teaching moment haha :)

grateful twenty-five

Today I am grateful for warm fires. There is seriously nothing like coming home to warmth in the fireplace. The flames ablaze and the sparks as it crackles and pops. Whether you're reading a book, playing a game, watching a movie, or just relaxing, it is quite divine. We had a fire when I came home today and then when we were at grandma's, I fell asleep to by the fire. mmm, it was wonderful ;)

grateful twenty-four

Today I am grateful for relaxation. I didn't have much to do today (besides homework). It was so nice to just chill and enjoy the cuddling up on the couch and not having any pressing demands. I wish I could've just read a good book, but with the end of the semester fast approaching, I had to get some work done. boo. Occasionally, it's really quite nice to have nothing on the agenda.

monday musing #26

Today will be brief but I just wanted to share a little something that I learned at church today. I went to two relief societies and both has the same lesson based on Elder Oaks' talk from conference, loving others and living with differences.

All I could think about during the lesson was serving missions and how applicable this is. Really what it comes down to is

charity, loving those that are hard to love

being humble, recognizing that maybe you don't know everything and doing a little more to see their point of view

focus on your similarities, you can't build on anything if you don't have a solid foundation 

be an example, share your light in everything you do and say.

Remember the YW's theme?? 

"We will stand as witnesses of God at all times, 

and in all things, and in all places." 

Hopefully this little reminder helps as you're working with the people in your areas this week. 

grateful twenty-three

I am grateful for the sacrament. I'm grateful for a world-wide church that is unified. it doesn't matter where you go, it will always be the same. However this week was a little more special because I got to be home. There's nothing like the safety and comfort that comes from returning to your home ward and seeing familiar faces. Even though people may come and go, there are the ones that have been there forever. The ones that you grew up with. The people who have become like second family to you and the ones that you have so many memories with. I'm grateful for the opportunity we have each week to renew our covenants and to try to do better the following week. I'm also grateful for the opportunity we have to learn and to uplift each other and to focus on our Savior. What a huge blessing!

grateful twenty-two

I am grateful for the temple. Today I had the opportunity to go to the Portland temple with mi familia. We were basically the only ones in the session! It's been a couple weeks since I've gone, so it was so nice to be back in that sacred place. I'm grateful for the truths we learn there, for the knowledge of eternal families, and for the opportunity to serve those who have already passed from this life.

We were able to do sealings as well which was super special! I had never done that before so it was a great experience to be able to do it with so much of my family and made me look forward to my own sealing someday!

grateful twenty-one

Today I am grateful for transportation. Without it, I couldn't have made it home today! Even though it was quite the journey, we were safe and comfortable the whole way there. I think we often take for granted how easy it is to just hop in the car and go wherever we please. We have heat, music, seatbelts, lights, and so many other features that allow us to have a successful trip. It's really quite amazing.

grateful twenty

I am grateful for nature. It never ceases to amaze me. Especially how this whole world is so unique and you can find so much beauty wherever you go. At home, there are beautiful Evergreen trees, the Puget Sound, and lots of green. In Utah, the mountains are the highlight of course. I love taking walks, enjoying the beauty around me and taking it all in. I love all the different seasons and the diversity they bring. I just love the simple things of life and embracing all the creations of our Heavenly Father!

grateful nineteen

I am grateful for the internet. I spend an awful lot of time on here for school and I'm pretty sure nothing would be possible these days without it. It's so easy to just jump on to ask a question on google or to check your facebook or to submit an assignment on learning suite. The internet makes it possible for me to keep up my blog, watch an occasional TV show, find research, dream on pinterest, and of course so much more! What a blessing to also connect with people around the world and even share your testimony.

grateful eighteen

I am grateful for good books! I would give anything to just have all the time in the world to just curl up with a good book. There is some amazing literature out there and I'm grateful for the opportunity that I've had to explore it and enjoy it my whole life! My reading list will never get any shorter and there will never be enough time, but I'm grateful for my experience with books thus far.

monday musing #25

sooo I have this great friend named Philip. He's the most fun-loving person I know, a talented artist, and an amazing dancer. But he also has this incredible testimony and can totally lay down the law spiritually.

I visited his ward to hear his talk yesterday and I am so glad I was there! He spoke about charity. Before giving this talk, we spent the weekend discussing the topic and this is what we concluded to.

Charity is not convenient. How easy is it to love someone who loves you right back?? Pretty darn easy! When you love someone who uses you, who always wants something from you, or who criticizes you, that's when you enter the realms of charity. 

The Savior performed the ultimate act of charity by performing the atonement. It was not convenient, it was not something He necessarily wanted to do, but He loved us and He did it because it had to be done.

When we acquire the attribute of charity, we start to learn and grow. We get to tap into the atonement and become more like our Savior. It stretches us and pushes us to do more. We don't learn as much when things are easy.

Sometimes we have to give the charity that we feel we need ourselves. As the friendly snowman Olaf said (don't worry for those who haven't seen Frozen, the time will soon come ha!) "Love is putting someone else's needs before your own. Some people are worth melting for"

As the weather gets colder and as you are sacrificing your time to serve the Lord, think about the people that you can go out of your way to show the pure love of Christ to, and think of Olaf who gave everything for his friends.

You ladies are amazing and I'm so proud of the work you're doing. Have a fabulous week!

love love love
Mary

grateful seventeen

I am grateful for my job! It was a busy night in RA world, which was a good thing because it made the night go by pretty fast. Even though I feel like I've been on campus forever and am one of the oldest ones, I really do love the opportunity that I've had for the second time to have this job. It has so many amazing benefits. The most important being able to be a mentor and support and resource for the incoming freshman to BYU. I absolutely love each one of my girls with all my heart and I wouldn't be the same without them. It's so fun to watch them start this new chapter of their lives and get so excited about all the freshman things there are to do! Sometimes I wonder if I was that crazy or how I managed to get so little sleep, but I'm glad that they're embracing this time in their lives. They are so talented and involved and are great at making new friendships. It has been a blessing to me to be able to have this role and to learn how to be more of a leader, to prepare for any situation that may arise, and to put the needs of others above my own. I could go on and on about my experience here in Heritage Halls, but right now I'm grateful that tonight was the last night I have to work for two and a half weeks! Yay! Sometimes we all need a break.

grateful sixteen

I am grateful for good friends! It was such a chill Sunday and I got to spend it with some of the people that I love the most! Really, I hit the jackpot when it comes to the friend department. They are so important to me and we have made so many good memories together. We have a lot of fun, we laugh a lot, we're really silly sometimes, we have deep talks and get to know each other better, and we try to uplift each other and do our best in every aspect of our lives. I'm grateful for new friends and old friends. I'm grateful for the ones that are here at BYU with me right now, the ones that are on missions, and the ones that are at home. I'm grateful for their love and support. I'm grateful for their patience and sound advice. I could just go on and on about how amazing they all are, but just know that I love them! Today most of them just did a huge favor and listened to me tell stories. Just one of the many perks of having an El Ed major as one of your friends :) They make fun of me for it, but I'm sure they all love being treated like little kids sometimes and me recruiting them to help me with my assignments. They are all rockstars!

grateful fifteen

I am grateful for warmth. You realize just how much you love each and every toe when you feel like they're going to fall off from hypothermia after you've stood outside for hours cheering on your football team. Winter has come! Which obviously means that blankets, scarves, onesies, wool socks, and sweaters automatically become your best friends. Along with chill music, hot cocoa, and movies. And let's not forget about twinkling lights and candles. Yay! I love it all! There's just nothing quite like the feeling of being warm, as long as it's not toooo warm. If ya know what I mean.

grateful fourteen

I am grateful for different cultures! I went on a date to a cute little restaurant on Center St called Se Llama Peru. I was mostly just excited because I got to learn more about the country where my little brother will be headed in 2 WEEKS. The decor made you feel like you were right there. The waiters were awesome and didn't speak English very well so we got to practice our Espanol. Yay! I want to be immersed in another language someday! We had some very famous dishes in Peru, cerviche y pollo cuarto a la brasa. We washed it all down with some Inca Kola. Todo fue muy bien!

I'm grateful for the many opportunities that I've had to learn about the many wonderful places in the world and be able to visit a few and also learn some other languages. I love to read books, and become more educated about the history of the world and all it has to offer. It is so fascinating to learn how others live and to really understand the diversity that is here.

grateful thirteen

I am grateful for the opportunity to be happy! I went to a "celebration" tonight that ended the happiness challenge I've been doing the last 10 days. The speaker was one of my favorite people in the whole world, Brother Hank Smith. Here are the 10 habits that he talked about:

Ten things that supremely happy people do:

1.       Happy people surround themselves with other happy people. Joy is contagious. People are four times more likely to be happy in the future with happy people around them.

2.       Happy people try to be happy. When happy people don’t feel happy, they cultivate a happy thought and smile about it.

3.       Happy people spend money more on others than they spend on themselves. Givers experience what scientists call the “helper’s high.”

4.       Happy people have deep in-person conversations. Sitting down to talk about what makes a person tick is a good practice for feeling good about life.

5.       Happy people use laughter as a medicine. A good old-fashioned chuckle releases lots of good neurotransmitters. A study showed that children on average laugh 300 times a day versus adults who laugh 15 times a day.

6.       Happy people use the power of music. Researchers found that music can match the anxiety-reducing effects of massage therapy.

7.       Happy people exercise and eat a healthful diet. Eating a poor diet can contribute to depression.

8.       Happy people take the time to unplug and go outside. Uninterrupted screen time brings on depression and anxiety.

9.       Happy people get enough sleep. When people run low on sleep, they are prone to feel a lack of clarity, bad moods, and poor judgment.

10.   Happy people are spiritual.

He had us choose one to work on this week and you should too! I am grateful for the ability to create new habits and make our life what we want it to be. I am grateful for amazing teachers who help us to learn and grow. I am grateful for smiles and happy people! Life is so much better when you're smiling Ü

The Happiness Challenge: Spirituality

day 10

Spirituality Challenge: "prayer is a good medicine" --Dr. Harold Koenig

• read and study the scriptures and other sacred texts
• tend to the physical body with yoga, swimming, walking, or whatever enjoyable way possible
• volunteer and serve
• go to bed early and get up early

Today I really focused on reading the scriptures. I told my little brother that I would read the book of mormon with him this month before he leaves on his mission. Today I did a lot of listening and it was fascinating how you get the story so easily when you're just reading straight through. I absolutely the book of mormon and am so grateful that we have such easy access to it and the freedom to read it however and wherever we please. 

grateful twelve

Today I am grateful for my amazing mission president and his wife. They have changed my life for the better. They are so loving and kind and righteous and talented. They make you feel like a million bucks. They are so fun to be around. They go about doing good each and every day. I am so grateful for our relationship and for the time I've been able to spend with them. I am grateful for their examples of being Christlike and they dedication to the gospel. There is no one better qualified to serve in the south. I love them!

The Happiness Challenge: Gratitude

day nine

Gratitude Challenge: feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it!

• write a thank-you note.  you can make yourself happier and nurture your relationship with another person by writing a thank-you letter expressing your enjoyment and appreciation of that person's impact on your life. send it, or better yet, deliver and read it in person if possible. make a habit of sending at least one gratitude letter a month. once in a while, write one to yourself.
• set aside time to meditate. mindfulness meditation involves focusing on the present moment without judgment. although people often focus on a word or phrase (such as "peace"), it is also possible to focus on what you're grateful for (the warmth of the sun, a pleasant sound, etc.).
• count your blessings! at the end of the day, write down three to five things from the day for which you feel grateful. even a negative situation can have a positive effect somewhere.

Today I wrote a thank-you note! I loved what they said about how lifting someone else up can make you happy! I definitely agree with that! It really does strengthen relationships and it's so fun to brighten someone's day :)

grateful eleven

Today I am grateful for cleanliness. I spent my evening doing cleaning checks for my floor. It always reminds me how important it is to be clean and how it really does impact how we feel in an environment. Keeping your home clean is one of the most important things because it allows the spirit to be present. Because I have the opportunity to check 10 other apartments, it makes me have higher standards for my own apartment and the level of cleanliness that I like to keep there. It's definitely not easy, but it's always so refreshing to walk into a well-kept place. Thinking about cleanliness, it can be extended to our bodies, and even to our thoughts and our actions. Be clean!

The Happiness Challenge: Creativity

day eight

Creativity Challenge: Practice Your Passion!

• write a poem
• if you're in a bad mood, use it to inspire music or art, writing, decorating, dancing, and even creative cooking
• take time for solitude. it's hard to find that inner creative voice if you're not getting in touch with yourself and reflecting on yourself
• go for a walk
• seek out new experiences

I woke up this morning and was able to go practice the piano for a while. It went so well! It really is a way for me to just escape the world and do something I'm good at. Except the best part is that I'm still learning and improving! I have learned a lot this semester about performing and making creative choices with music. It's definitely a skill I still need to practice, but it has taken my playing to a new level. I had never really thought about my music as being a creative part of my life, but it is true that you do have to make creative choices and be thoughtful about how you're playing. It can also be very unique to the individual.

grateful ten

Today I am grateful for summer. Sometimes the sun can be so deceiving! I have thoroughly enjoyed the extremely nice weather we have been having all fall. It's almost the middle of November and I'm not yet ready to admit that it's time for colder weather. We've been pretty spoiled this year! So today when it decided to drop 20 degrees, it was a bit of a shock. The sun was shining, blue skies, and yet, SO cold. Bring back those carefree days with shorts and sun tans!

The Happiness Challenge: Humility

day seven

and real is what makes us beautiful

Humility Challenge

• appreciate the talents and qualities of others
• make someone feel important today
• show respect to those you don't agree with
• invite and pursue correction

I think it is so important to be teachable. Each week I have the opportunity to have a one-on-one with my hall advisor. We discuss the needs of the residents, talk about how we can help them, what's going on in the community, and how we are doing as an RA. As much as it's nice to hear positive feedback, it's also good to get correction because then you can make goals to do better and improve how well you do your job! It definitely is an act of humility to invite someone to give you correction, but it is so helpful!

monday musing #24

hello dear sisters

This week was another good one here in Provo, UT and I hope it was for all y'all too!

On Tuesday, as is customary at BYU, there was a devotional. I was doing some multi-tasking because I had some homework to finish up. So as I was sitting on my bed, all of a sudden I hear the word tenacity. Those of you who were on the CHS basketball team or are serving in the ABM know that this word is a big deal. 

Basically this talk by Elder Evans of the Seventy was ahhh-mazing. Like fo real.

here's some highlights:

• President Uchtdorf was contemplating the meaning of the word “tenacity” and defined it as “the ability to stick to a task, even when obstacles arise” with an “absolute determination to accomplish the work or task.” It's a quality worth developing.

• “Tenacity is required to become true disciples of the Savior and to achieve those truly good goals — to become a great missionary, to complete your education, to find an eternal companion, and to start a family — that our Father knows we need to achieve in this life to prepare for eternity. Our ability to be tenacious in all good things will determine whether we become the sons and daughters of God He knows we can and must become.”

-He recommended that members strengthen their tenacity by establishing reachable goals that are compatible with the goal of eternal life. When God’s direction for them is clear, there is great motivation to follow Him. 

What a cool thought! 

- “The best measure we have of righteous living is the worthy holding and use of a temple recommend.” Avoid anything that is a hindrance to your eternal progression!

And to finish, he quoted Elder Holland, “Don’t give up. Don’t quit. Keep walking and keep trying. There is happiness and help ahead. Trust God and believe in good things to come. Be tenacious in every righteous thing. You will see your faith strengthened, and you will see your strengths and talents which God has given you deepened and magnified as your faith increases.”

this week: 

be tenacious GRRRHHHH!!!

♥mb

The Happiness Challenge: Integrity

day six

"As you develop integrity you can be more beautiful. Integrity will bring a twinkle to your eye and a look of confidence that will magnetically draw people to you." --Carol B. Thomas

Integrity Challenge; To Thine Own Self Be True!

• Don't over-commit. Only commit to what you truly believe you can deliver. Keep your promises.
• Be honest in your schoolwork. Never cheat.
• Be truthful. Avoid even little white lies and half-truths. Speak up when your silence might allow someone to believe something that is not true. 

I really liked the first one because I had never thought of integrity in that way. I have found myself "over-committing" a lot. And it doesn't benefit anyone! So with such a busy weekend, I really made sure that I only made time for what I would really be able to do and didn't try to over-do it. It really helped my communication with those around me and made me more reliable in the things that I did do. What a great reminder!

grateful nine

Today I am grateful for Hermana Wong. Today was her homecoming and it was an absolutely fabulous day. It feels so good to be reunited! It was so fun to reminisce on all of the great times we had together. The funny things, the hard times, how much we worked, the people we loved, and the other companions we got to meet. We talked about our amazing mission president and his love. One of Hermana Wong's strengths is that when she bears her testimony, the spirit is SO strong. It was no different when I heard it in church today. I am grateful for that opportunity I had to be there and feel of that amazing spirit. It reaffirmed my testimony and knowledge of the truthfulness of the gospel and of missionary work. Alabama will always hold a special place in our hearts, for it is the place where we really came to know our Savior.

The Happiness Challenge: Confidence

day five

"There is no model, no actress, no beauty pageant contestant that 

can outshine a happy, confident, secure woman." --Mandy Hale

Confidence Challenge: Confidence is like a muscle - the more you use it, the more it grows!

• sit down today and write a list of all the victories, no matter how small, that you have had in recent memory. next, list the traits that you are proud to possess.
• face a fear! the quickest way to acquire confidence is to do exactly what you're afraid to do. this is not easy, but the reward is big. if you face a fear then your confidence takes about ten steps up.
• smile at a person you don't know. it feels positively uplifting to confidently lock eyes with another person, and, rather than look away, smile at them. when someone returns the smile, it is a beautiful connection that naturally makes you feel better about yourself.

I was just talking with a friend about what a huge difference it makes to smile at people! It's not that difficult here at BYU where everyone is pretty friendly but it always makes me so sad when people purposefully look down to avoid eye contact with you or immediately pull out their phone. To me, it just seems more awkward haha! It's even better to go a step further and just say hello! Our interactions with those we pass throughout the day really do have a huge impact on us!

grateful eight

Today I am grateful for good friends. It's always fun when you don't really have a lot of plans and then you end up having a great night out of nowhere! Or when everything just works out in your favor. Tonight I was just planning on working. Boring. But I decided to go to the first half of the basketball game and my friend Katelyn and her sister were able to come with! As I rushed back to Heritage during halftime, I got a call confirming that someone else was working tonight! Yay! I hurried back over to the Marriott Center (got my exercise for the day ha!) and was able to watch the rest of the game. Then I remembered that I had been invited to a bonfire that night as well. So after the game we headed to Utah Lake and jammed to some good songs, talked and laughed, and then got to enjoy the rest of our night! We met new people and had a ton of fun! The unexpected events are the best ones :)

The Happiness Challenge: Forgiveness

day four

"On the days when I feel love and compassion and forgiveness in my life, I'm happier and more attractive to other people." --Marianne Williamson

Forgiveness Challenge: focus on forgiveness rather than resentment!

• Write a letter of forgiveness - not necessarily to send, but to write out what happened, how it affected you, and what you wish the person had done, and to end with a statement of understanding and forgiveness
• Forgive yourself for not being the richest, the thinnest, the tallest, or the one with the best hair. Forgive yourself for not being the most successful, the cutest, or the one with the fastest time. Forgive yourself for not winning every round. Forgive yourself for being afraid.

I've definitely been working on this for a while now. I realized that we can't do everything we want to do, we can't be everything we want to be, and we will never be perfect in this life. BUT. We can do lots of good things. We can be brave and we can work harder and we can try new things. We can acknowledge our strengths and use them to bless others. Most importantly, you just need to be YOU. Accept it and love it. It's ok to not be the best at everything, but just forgive yourself. Don't let it get you down. And don't let it hinder you from being the amazing person you are. It's definitely a process, but just keep trying. Keep your head up and don't forget to smile!

grateful seven

Today I am grateful for fairytales. I went and saw Maleficent on Friday night and I LOVED it! It was an old story, told anew. It reminded me of a wonderful childhood of loving Disney movies full of once upon a times and happily ever afters. Where good always wins and how the princess always experiences adversity but is able to overcome. And of course Prince Charming is always there as well :) They teach us so much and always make you feel good as you look forward to your own happily ever afters in life!

grateful six

Today I am grateful for children's books. Being an El Ed major is wonderful, mostly because we just get to act like little kids sometimes. But really. We have a blast. At often it's so much fun that it doesn't even feel like school! So whenever I have to check out a picture book, I'm basically in heaven. Walking through those book shelves is a dream! I just wish I had all the time in the world to read them all! Yesterday, we did get to read them for a whole two hours during class and it was pure bliss. Good literature is one of my best friends. It's a way to learn, a way to experience the world in a new way, and of course is just entertainment :) Illustrations, good stories, laughter. There's nothing quite like it.

The Happiness Challenge: Hope

day three

Hope Challenge: "There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind." --C.S. Lewis

• try to envision something realistic that you want for yourself in life. create a plan on how to get there. be like the little engine that could and keep saying, "I think I can." If you are feeling particularly low, start with something very small like cleaning a room or organizing a closet.
• live with anticipation that something great is going to happen today.
• pay attention to small victories today.hope emerges and is sustained when we regularly discover evidence for it. draw attention to the small specific acts of hope that unfold today such as completing assignments, submitting job applications, or exercising for a few minutes.

Today I lived with that anticipation that good things were going to happen! Sometimes it's so easy to fall into a "woe is me" trap. But as long as we're choosing the right and doing the best we can, we can expect the best to come! Sometimes hope is the only thing that can get us through the day, but if we cultivate this habit of hope, then we will be happy!

grateful five

I am grateful for mornings.

This morning I got up, cleaned my room, did my laundry, got ready for the day, and started organizing things. It was wonderful and I felt so productive!

When you wake up early, you really do feel like you're using the most of the day. It is so helpful to plan because then you can also get enough sleep so you are ready to use all of your daylight the next day and be alert and awake!

It's so nice to be up in the morning when it's so quiet and peaceful. Especially crisp fall mornings like we've been having recently! It's even better when the sun is shining :)

The Happiness Challenge: Kindness

day two

Kindness Challenge: Make a habit of focusing on kindness!

• be kind to unkind people. They need it most.
• refrain from criticizing others behind their back.
• practice random acts of kindness

Today I was just more conscious of the things I said about others and made sure I was being positive. It was really interesting to notice that being kind has so much to do with our attitude! It is true that everyone needs to feel kindness.

The Happiness Challenge: Optimism

Today is the first day of the BYU Women's Services happiness challenge. I thought it would be a fun experience and hopefully make a difference in my life! Feel free to join along. You can find their website here.Day one is optimism.

Optimism Challenge: Choose to See the Good!

• Maintaining optimism is easier when you feel healthy. Lack of sleep, depleted energy from poor eating habits, and too little exercise are all factors that interfere with one's ability to moderate moods and positive energy. Evaluate your sleep, eating, and exercise habits. Do you have some quiet time? How do you relieve stress? Do you get in some vigorous exercise? Implement a healthy habit today.
• Imagine your life in one, five, ten, fifty years. What does it look like? Or rather, what do you want it to look like? Figure out what you have to do to get there, and write those down as goals. Pull out your goals from time to time to make sure you are on course.
• Whenever you catch yourself focusing on a problem, experiencing negativity. or feeling self-doubt, ask yourself this question: What's one thing I can do differently that could make this situation better? This technique replaces a problem-focused thought with solution-focused thinking.

I chose the first one. I have been really trying to get more sleep and it feels wonderful! Glad things are kind of slowing down in my semester and that I can make more time to sleep well! I also have made a goal to do some sort of exercise 3 times a week in addition to all the walking I do! I think it's especially important to stay healthy during this time of the year when we both eat a lot of unhealthy things or feel like it's too cold outside to be active. 

grateful four

I am grateful for talented people. It's so amazing how much we can learn from others who are really good at what they do! I went to a piano master class today and it was so fascinating! I haven't had a cool music opportunity like that in a long time.

One thing I did realized though is that I'm not necessarily a performer. For piano, I just like playing for fun and relaxation or accompanying someone else. For violin, I prefer to be in an orchestra rather than playing a solo. It's not something that can't be learned or that I can innately hone in to, but I'm definitely a long ways from having all of those qualities.
Something about performers is that they use their whole body completely while they're performing. Even though a pianist plays with their fingers, the energy needs to flow from their feet, up their body, through their relaxed shoulders, down their arms, and then to their fingers. It requires a lot of thought. You ahve to constantly be looking ahead at the music and making decisions about how it's going to be played, having a vision in your mind of what it's supposed to sound like, and your own interpretation of the piece. Each little note or rest has a purpose and is there for a reason.

Wheww...what a lot to think about! And that's just barely scratching the surface...

grateful three

I am grateful for the knowledge of a living God who knows us and loves us individually. I watched God's Not Dead tonight and the way that I reacted to it was feelings of frustration. How could a teacher do that to someone? How come these people don't understand the bigger picture? And mostly I wished that I could give them the answers to their questions. Predominantly being "Why do bad things happen to good people?" God does live. He is the great creator. He has provided a way for us to return to Him. I am grateful to be His daughter and I hope that I can live up to my true potential and fulfill my purpose here on earth.

monday musing #23

hmm...sooooo many spiritual moments this week I don't know where to start!

October flew by and half of you will be home in just 6 short weeks. Can you believe it??! 

I think I would like to share today briefly about missionary work. I know, I know, that's what you're all living and breathing right now but just hear me out. This week I've had the opportunity to reflect a lot on my mission and I learned some cool things.

Yes, we go on missions to dedicate our time to the Lord, to serve those in our areas, and to become more like the Savior. But something that I never realized is that your mission will continue to change your life.

This includes the processing and reflecting that comes after you return home.

It's the friendships that you made with other missionaries and how you can hang out with them, text them all day long, and maybe even see each other in pants.

It's adding/following everyone on social media. Members, missionaries, investigators. All of them!

It's emails from old investigators who are still reading the book of mormon or strengthening their faith. But more importantly, it's them remembering the spirit that they felt when you were in their home.

It's phone calls with members who want to hear all about how your life is and when you're coming back to visit.

It's hearing good news from recent converts (ex: going to the temple or getting a calling)

It's talks from your mission president's wife. Your mission mom, your #1 fan, your biggest cheerleader. She still believes in you and loves you!

It can even be scriptures, hymns, stories, smells, food, or clothing that can take you right back. We might serve full-time for only 18 months, but the mission never leaves you. 

So even when you don't have a 

{black nametag, or sore feet, or awkward tan lines, or worn out clothes} 

the journey goes on 

Because really, those 18 months were just the start to the path. The path that leads to you understand who you really are, that gives you the tools to be a powerful instrument in the hands of the Lord, and that spiritually prepares you for the many opportunities that you will continue to have to serve those that come into your life. 

It's just the beginning of understanding the atonement more deeply, of knowing the scriptures backwards and forwards, and of developing those Christlike attributes. The mission lives on inside of you and that joy you feel when you fulfill your purpose and help bring someone closer to Christ only continues as you see them progress and as you progress as well. 

Keep the faith dear sisters. Be steadfast in Christ. Work and love and serve.

I love you all and am cheering for you!

(always and forever) Hermana Blackner

grateful two

Day-lights savings

I woke up this morning and came to the conclusion that it's only the greatest thing on the planet {at least in the fall}

I went to bed at 1 (really midnight) and then woke up at 8:30 to get ready for church. eight and a half hours of sleep and I could still stay up late. It was wonderful. I woke up all refreshed and ready for the day. 

If only we got an extra hour of sleep every day! 

grateful one

Today I am grateful for basketball. We went to the Marriott Center to watch Alli (Westminster) play against BYU. The good thing about women's basketball is that nobody goes to watch so we had front row seats :) 

I absolutely love basketball. It has been a pretty big part of my life ever since I was in 3rd grade and I've learned a lot over the years. 

You know those things in life that just get you excited? The ones where you almost have a hard time just sitting back and observing because you just want to be right in the action? Well, that's what basketball does for me. I've never been a star athlete, but I sure knew how to work hard and always had the determination to improve. And that must count for something right? 

This fall, Kenz and I have been playing on a co-ed intramural team. It's been a blast to get back on the court and have a ball in my hands.