We Have Been Given Grace #BecauseHeLives

I used to poke fun at people who loved to run. It didn't make sense to me. Who wants to pound the pavement with their feet, feel pain for miles on end, and be out of breath the entire time too!? But somehow the way it always does when I'm being stubborn,  my perspective changed.

A few years back, my sister and I decided to change our tune and set a New Year's resolution to run a half marathon. To this day, it is one of my favorite New Year's resolutions of all time. After persevering through the first four long months of running, something clicked for me and I fell in love.

Yesterday after working all morning at a computer, I happily slipped in my headphones and started what I assumed was a perfectly side-walked, relatively flat, 10 mile run to the Timpanogus temple and back. My assumptions were wrong. The side-walk disappeared every 3 minutes for no apparent reason. The route went up and down and up and down again more than a few times. And those 10 miles were really 12.

 As I reached the temple at my 6 mile mark, I quickly took out my headphones ("I Got It From My Mama," was the furthest thing from reverent). I paused my workout and walked around the temple, admiring the peace, the gorgeous flowers, and the happy people all going about their own lives around me. We've all heard LOTS of people use a marathon as a metaphor for life, but it really is the root to why I love running. Enduring to the end of race is always a glimpse for me into enduring to the end of this life and through the eternities. The truth I gleaned today from my run centered on grace. 

"For we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do."-2 Nephi 25:23

We may have a life path that seems to disappear before our eyes and switch to the other side of the road at inconvenient times.  Some of us may face more than our fair share of ups and downs. And still others will realize that enduring to the end is a bit longer than they imagined. But we are NOT left alone. 

Because He lives, we have been given grace. With His grace, we are enabled to accomplish and be more than we could be alone. Elder Holland says it best,"Christ is not waiting for us at the finish line once we have done 'all we can do.' He is with us every step of the way." Every step we take in this life is not taken alone because He really does live. I love this time of year to remember our Savior. Happy Easter!


P.S. Watch this #becauseHelives Easter video and just fall in love with it for me please!

I HAVE A DREAM

I'm a planner. And a tad crazy.

At the age of 17, I wrote out a 10 year plan for my life. For the past few years, I've been motivated by this dream plan of who I was going to be and the life I was going to lead.

As big, daunting, adult decisions have come my way, I've been prompted to walk a surprising path. And as that path has gotten better and better, a hidden part of me was sad that I kept drifting further from that plan.  But just like my plan, my perspective changed too.

While walking around DC this weekend, Heavenly Father showed me that as the planned direction of my life has changed, my dreams of who I want to be are changing with it.

So what if I'm not going to be the woman my 17-year-old self wanted me to be?

I'm going to be someone better, someone happier, someone that is more of who God intended me to be.

I just didn't know how to get there when I was 17.

You see, God's molding me to become what will make me happiest. My 17-year-old self could only grasp a bit of what would make me happy. Now, my 21-year-old self can grasp a bit more, but not enough. True happiness requires trusting promptings from the Spirit, no matter the changes that come with it.

Imagine if we were stuck with being who we wanted to be at 6 years old? Let me tell you...I'm no Pocahontas mommy-artist, but in first grade I sure thought it would make me happier than anything else in the whole world. Was my 6-year-old self wrong? No, not then. But if I stayed stubborn and stuck in my funny and naive little kid ways, I would have missed changing to find what actually makes me happiest. (Not to mention I'd probably feel a bit foolish telling people my job title.)

I love that a happy life always comes back to remembering the basics. Heavenly Father loves us. He has a divine plan of perfect happiness. We just need to exercise a little bit of faith in Him because He really does know what is best. He's teaching me to trust that plan and I've never been happier. Now that's a dream come true.

Oh How I Love the Spirit

This weekend I had the privilege to speak to an incredible group of young adult Relief Society sisters in Washington DC. I had been asked to speak on social media missionary work. As the trip came closer, I became more and more nervous. I felt a bit overwhelmed at the idea of coming to DC to tell a group of intelligent, educated, women how they should conduct themselves through social media. 

Luckily, that all changed. As the retreat began and the Relief Society sisters walked in, a sweet feeling came over me from the Spirit. The presentation that felt scattered and unfinished two minutes prior, felt just right. The stubborn projector that wouldn't play my power point actually became an answer to prayer because I could switch the order of my presentation according to the Spirit. The women in the room suddenly felt more like friends than intimidating strangers. I didn’t question if I should stand or sit. I didn’t worry about whether or not I should hold my lap top or set it on the table. Everything became simple and through that simplicity, my heart was open to learn a lovely lesson from these inspired women during the presentation.

I learned that each and every one of us contributes to social media missionary work in a different way. We all have a distinct and individual light. God isn’t asking us all to be a light on Facebook or Twitter or Instagram the same way. He works through the Spirit to inspire us to know just what role we are meant to play so we can fulfill the measure of our creation.

I am so grateful for the Spirit in my life. When the Spirit is with me I don’t feel overwhelmed, inadequate, or unsure. Instead, I feel confident, capable, and ready to do something beyond my comfort zone. When the Spirit is with us, life can be oh so simple. We can truly be taught from on high. Love you all.

Here are a few tid-bits about what I love most about DC:
1. I love walking the monuments at night. There really is no better way to see DC.

2. The darling Taylor Fidel lives there.

3. There is a magic about this city and its architecture. It is the closest thing to Europe in the US. I really can’t get enough of it.

4. HELLO—We have a national cathedral! Who even knew? Way to be America.

5. Food is just better in DC, especially ethnic food and burgers. Already craving the Thai food I ate last night.

6. I LOVE museums. From the botanical gardens to the Spy Museum, I could walk around all day learning about the crazy cool things in the world.
7. Everyone should eat bakery cinnamon sugar pop tarts at least once in their lives. Talk about Heaven.

The Hardest Options are the Best Decisions

I've been learning lately that more often than not, the harder option is the better decision. Two years ago last week, I made the hardest decision of my life. I had two options -- to serve a mission, or not to serve a mission. 

I chose to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. And today, I can sincerely tell you that I am and forever will be so grateful that I chose to the harder option for me.

[Fast forward to today.]

Today was one of those miraculous days where I had the will power to make those harder decisions and I loved it. When my alarm went off at 5:30, I didn't press snooze. Instead, I rolled out of bed to work out. When I could have avoided talking with my professor, I embraced it and it is going to lead to some incredible new learning experiences. When I could have just zoned out and listened to music as I drove to work, I called those precious people I have been meaning to call for days. When I was walking the aisles of the grocery store, I could have grabbed chocolate and yummy chips, but I grabbed snap peas and cuties instead. When I could have stayed inside to do homework and skipped Family Home Evening (because honestly, I'm engaged haha) I went and felt such a beautiful spirit. 

Somehow it always works out. Simply and perfectly.

Me/You + Harder Option = Greatest Happiness

P.S. One exception to this "harder" rule...has been choosing Chad Morgan Taylor. Perhaps Heavenly Father knows life is full of hard decisions, so He gives us that ideal buddy to help us make it through. Let's just say, I'm more than excited for May 30th. 88 more days. 

The End.

So, this is the end. Crazy to think that tomorrow, I will be headed back to the states. My three and half month adventure in the Middle East is over-108 days of pure bliss. Oh my word, I used to think I was ready to go, but it's suddenly hitting me how hard this is going to be. BUT before I address the good bye, I have some things to catch you all up on. I don't have it in me to be super detailed, but here's some fun info on my world. 

Please embrace my insane level of nostalgia. I can't do anything about it. 

Field Trip #1342852:

I love field trips. I love long bus rides, hot sunshine, long lectures, earbud buddies, disgusting sack lunches...all of it is suddenly so wonderful. This field trip in particular was oh so lovely. Not only did I have a site report on Masada, but it actually is an incredible site with an even better story. It stands today as a symbol for Israeli Independence...seriously, go wikipedia it. 

Along with our adventures in Qumran, Masada, and En Gedi, we swam in the Dead Sea. Yep, the Dead Sea. It is possibly going to be on of my future favorite fun facts about my life. Aghhh I love it. As for some fun statistics, the Dead Sea is 33% salinity. The ocean is 3.5% salinity. In other words, it was SOOOOOOO salty. It's not a rumor that you can just float around. There really is no other way to move. Swimming is practically impossible because if you get water in your mouth/eyes you may very well die (Well, it feels like death). Oh and of course, the rumors regarding the Dead Sea Mud being good for your skin....that's true too. My skin is still soft from a week ago. 

FIINISHED FINALS:

Guess what? I'm done with finals!!! Yes, completely finished. School is over for the semester. School is over for the next 20 months for that matter. Winter Semester 2015 baby! Mission field here I come!

We may have had a party that night after, and let me tell you...it was quite the party. Long story short, every boy came in costume. A few of the girls did just for fun, but every boy had specific assignments. We may have had the best runway show I have ever seen. Sometime it hits me how incredible the people are around me. I love them all so much. 

Mission Joy:

Say hello to the missionaries of the Jerusalem Center. Though this was taken a few days ago, it's actually out-dated! We have a new missionary...Miss Erika Larsen!!! Reporting to Tempe, Arizona. LOVE IT. Anyway, we officially have 20 missionaries out of the 81 students here. I loved the General Conference stat that there are 20,000 missionaries with their calls ready and waiting to enter the mission field. Words cannot express my excitement for going on a mission! Jacksonville Florida here I come.

President Uchtdorf:

Yes, President Uchtdorf came today. It was possibly one of the most incredible ways to end this experience. Not only did he speak in the Jerusalem District Conference, but he spoke at our study abroad's Last Supper reenactment. Hearing his testimony of our Savior, Jesus Christ, twice in one day was beyond incredible. 

Free Day #234981487:

This lovely day involved the following: graves at bottom of Kidron Valley Scavenger Hunt, Oskar Schindler's Grave,  a yummy pasta lunch, and three hours in the Holy Sepluchre with the darling Hannah. Love it. Oh so much. 

Garden Tomb:

After two days of field trips traveling around Jerusalem reliving Christ's last days, we ended up at the Garden Tomb, right where we started. We all bore our testimonies of our Savior and Redeemer and sang hymns. I wish I had the words to express all that I have learned from the past four months. I learned more than I could have ever expected. Once you go to Jerusalem, you are never the same. That I can swear. 

Tomorrow:

We are headed to the Dome of the Rock/the Western Wall one last time. We are going to adventure to the Terre Sancte church I missed, buy a few last minute purchases, and then spend the afternoon eating pastries and people watching in the Jewish quarter (Word to the wise: Jewish pastries are the BEST!). And then we are headed to the airport...

Goodbye shout out to these four darling girls. They have seriously changed my life. Hannah, Jessica, Lindee, and Swag are all sorts of darling and I love them with all my heart. Thanks for being my besties here in the Middle East. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH.

OH BABY. I GET TO HUG MY FAMILY SOON. I CANNOT WAIT. I LOVE MY FAMILY. 

Goodbye blog. Love you all. Thanks for reading =)

My Galilee Photo Album

Galilee was with a doubt the best ten days of my entire Jerusalem Study Abroad experience. I wish I could bring all of you with me back to Galilee right this very second. Maybe if you scroll through the pictures really fast...it will feel like real life (or a really disjointed flip book). 

I came to Galilee with my top priority being spiritual growth, and let me tell you-I couldn't have imagined it any better. I sailed on the Sea of Galilee and had my own "Peace, Be Still" moment. I sat on the Mount of Beatitudes and read the Sermon on the Mount. I took more than 20 "selfie" photos with my best friends. I taught a Plan of Salvation missionary discussion with my "companion" along the Sea of Galilee and felt guided by the Spirit as I asked if the investigators I was teaching would be baptized (Yes, I was denied...but just you wait.) I learned how to cartwheel-shout out to Lindee Loo and Hanny. I wrote in my journal sitting on the beach about all the blessings in my life, only to look up an see a rainbow over the Sea of Galilee. I huddled in a crowded room praying that the internet would work well enough for us to watch a session of conference...and our prayers were answered. I fell so in love with President Eyrings talk. I talked for hours day after day to my favorite people swinging in hammocks. I bore my testimony in the Tiberias branch about the most simple and pure truth in my life: the existence of my Savior. I giggled like a 7th grader with my earbud-buddies during field trips as more and more receivers died and we were all forced to share. I fasted and received the extremely humbling answers to "What lack I yet?" like the man in Matthew chapter 19. I sat around a bonfire with 80 of my closest friends singing to Jason Mraz's "I Won't Give Up," eating smores, and taking polaroid photos. I studied my scriptures for four hours straight for the first time in my life. I watched more than enough Gilmore Girls with Swag by my side. I woke up early and ran along the edge of the Sea of Galilee and still had time to read my scriptures and eat breakfast (So excited for productive mornings on my mission). I stayed awake for every minute of my three hour New Testament classes because I made it such a priority to go to sleep early. I swam in the rocky Sea of Galilee and loved every minute of it. I read my mission call alongside the Sea of Galilee after reading the calling of the apostles from Christ (and luckily the rain helped me remember that I was going to be late for breakfast). When it gets down to it...I love Galilee more than any other place on earth.

Ready for my favorite photos?

Great...here are 43 haha. I don't have it in me to explain what each place is...but I'll throw in random comments along the way (maybe more than a few).

I am so eternally grateful that Swag caught this photo. I'm obsessed with touching water as the world knows and touching the Sea of Galilee was oh so divine.

Okay, these incredible people deserve a shout out. Erika broke her ankle in Eilat a few weeks ago, and these darling people were there every second helping her get to each of our field trip destinations. It was such a wonderful thing to witness. 

I'm eternally grateful for Hunter. He has taught me more about being a good missionary than anyone else. World's best fake investigator. 

Mount of Beatitudes

SHOUT OUT: I LOVE JESSICA. SO SO SO MUCH.

Harsh reality: This is what field trips really look like. 

Traditional site of the devils being cast into the swine. Quality re-enactment, don't ya think?

Bible photo shots for the win!

There were fish in this natural spring that ate your feet. Weirdest feeling of my entire life. Never again. 

Love story: Lizzie is in love with her boyfriend Dan. We were in the city of Dan. So naturally, she brought her pillowcase and made it her flag. Oh yes, she is the funniest/cutest girl in the world. 

Now, we didn't go to those countries...but we are CRAZY close to the border here. I had a mild panic attack of excitement. People shook their head initially when they saw what I was doing...and then suddenly everyone wanted the same photo. I'm not proud or anything. 

Seriously, I love selfies with Lindee Loo.

1948 War Bunkers on the border of Syria and Israel.

Traditional photo....yep, we are classy.

Moses' Seat of wickedness in Chorazin.

Mustard seed in Israel!!! I ate one!

Shout out to my darling old friend Juliet Anisa Norris. We made it to the Baha'i Temple and Gardens! They were exquisite. 

Waves came and NONE of us were expecting it. Especially Hanny.

Piggy-back races in a Hippodrome? We tied for first. Oh baby.

Goodbye beautiful Galilee. Oh how I love you.

Thanks for reading this whole thing. Love you all. But wait...guess what? I'M HOME IN 10 DAYS!!! Woot woot. So ready to squeeze the people I love oh so much.