twenty something year olds.

I spent the majority of my 8, for slow drivers 9 hour drive from Utah to California talking with Ingrid and reading through things online. Oh, how convenient technology is!

We started discussing family. We both moved to Utah at the same time. It's almost been two years since I moved out of my parents house and to another state! It's been a wonderful adventure. 

It's funny how at this age we are in a weird limbo. Most of us have left our families, yet we haven't made our own. It's that awkward stage where you don't know where you belong. And then you have to hold on to the faith that there is a greater plan for us, than we can imagine for ourselves. This plan takes effort on our part, but we can be guided in our decisions.

I think back to when I made the decision to change my life and what a blessing it has been. We have the power to make big decisions even when they are scary. We can trust that as long as we are living worthily, Heavenly Father will make us aware if we've chosen an incorrect path.

I guess what I am saying is that, we need to TRUST and we need to ACT. We can't sit back idly and expect things to happen. We have to ACCEPT when our plan for ourselves, isn't the plan that Heavenly Father has for us. Things will work out. That job, that boy, that school that we wanted and needed so bad wasn't for us.

So here I am, laying on my sisters bed at my parents house. Im in awe of the experiences I've had in the past 2 years. It's been a whirlwind of self discovery, and I am nowhere near finished. But if I hold fast to that faith, and if I remind myself to strive to reach my potential, I know I can find happiness in making our Father in Heaven proud. Not only that, but my family. My friends. My future family. Myself.

Experiences

Today I feel grateful for this life and the experiences that come with it!

I can find so many things to complain about. Yet, I am blessed with SO much. These experiences, big or small, easy or tough are all a part of Heavenly Fathers plan. My emotional well being hasn't been the best this week and for a day or two I lost sight of whats important. I let go of the the trust and knowledge that there is a plan, I need to trust in His timing. He has a plan for me, better than I can imagine for myself.

I find so much peace in this, it's hard to remember where I turned to in hard times before I had this knowledge.

What are YOU grateful for today?

Guidance and Spiritual Promptings

Today I am grateful for guidance and spiritual promptings...

This was something that touched me more towards the end of the day. Without getting into too much detail, I was out somewhere and felt that it was time for me to go home. Wait, but it's Saturday night, should I be giving myself a curfew? It sometimes is as simple as that. I don't know if anything would have happened if I stayed out later, but I just felt that it was time for me to be at home. The recognition of a prompting is such a blessing, and even more so when you act on it.

Gratitude

The other day I was browsing through Barnes & Noble, one of my favorite stores. As I made my way around the store I came across all of their journals.

Last year I was very diligent in keeping a journal and it helped me learn a lot about myself. It was awesome to see progress made in my life clearly recorded. This year, I've been terrible. So starting fresh I wanted to make it more of a gratitude journal. Every single day I want to write something down that I was grateful for. It could be a simple sentence or a paragraph. Eventually, I think I will become more aware of the blessings in my life because I made it a rule to never repeat something I have already written!

As I have done this throughout the past week, I have been happier. I've thought a lot about being more active in my blog so here is where I want to start. I challenge everyone to record at least a word a day about something they are grateful for. I will try and share some of mine at least a couple of times a week and I would love to hear from you as well!

Here's to counting our blessings!

My first talk in Sacrament: The Power of Prayer

This past Sunday, was the first time I have ever spoken in Sacrament.

Don't ask me how I escaped over 2 years without speaking. I was nervous. It's a completely new ward, so I don't know too many people. I felt like my talk was shorter than it was supposed to be, and I was afraid I was just going to rush through and make zero sense. But, I survived.

All in all, I want to say things went well. I like doing new things for the first time. I think no matter what it is, in some way it helps us to grow as people and stretch who we already are. You draw strength and courage from places you didn't know you had.

I was assigned to talk about the power of prayer. There are always reasons for things, even if we might not yet understand them. I was able to think deeply about my prayers and how I say them, how much of my heart I pour into them. We have a Heavenly Father who is always there for us. Night or day. One second or thirty minutes. He created this earth, gave us these bodies, our families and is dependable. Nobody wants and knows better for us, than He does. I think that we all too often forget that. We forget that he has given us so many resources to turn to him, and we know where to find happiness. But this life takes effort, patience and trust. I have a ton to work on, but remembering how powerful prayer can be, took me back to the basics. Nothing will come if that foundation of a relationship with Him is not present.

Better yet, I had the support of my friends. I don't know if they are aware of how much that means. The four most important people to me here in Utah came to listen. I didn't even have to ask. He places the people we need in our lives, and I am grateful for that.

 Blog post are just better with pictures... Oceanside Sunrise

GENERAL CONFERENCE 2013

Saturday October 5th and 6th

Come listen :)

www.lds.org

What thoughts come when the temple is in sight?

I drove past the Provo Temple today...

If you live locally, you would know that the construction on 9th east, is a beast. I enjoyed taking that route to work until the traffic became 10x worse than it usually is. So what I am saying is this, I haven't driven past this temple in awhile.

Today due to an errand, I took the back route through some neighborhood and popped out right in front of it and the MTC. It's wednesday. Bad move Britt, bad move right?

New missionaries are reporting in on Wednesday and the single lane car line was long. As I was stopped, I couldn't help but watch the new missionaries and their families giving hugs and saying goodbye. Two whole years devoted to the Lords work, away from your family and friends.

I remember in High School, knowing a few friends that were leaving on missions. Without processing what really was happening, I thought well that sucks, they have to leave everything for two years. I wrote a couple friends, maybe once or twice while they were gone, and thought they became weird and soon stopped any form of communication.

A mission is a choice. It is not in any way something you are forced to do. Maybe expected, but not a requirement. Missionaries change lives and they helped change mine. I have such a deep respect for those that choose to help share the gospel, all over the world. What greater service can you do, then to put Heavenly Father and His work, first in your life. 

It's amazing the thoughts, realizations and reminders you can get from simply having a view of the temple or any other spiritually related place like the MTC.

What thoughts come to your mind when driving past a temple, church, historical site?

July 24th, 2013 Pioneer Day

Temple to Temple 5k run.

relationships, oh la la!

Not the, I have a boyfriend/husband type, maybe because I don't have either of those haha, but just relationships in general. Yesterday, was my birthday and I was just reminded of how many amazing people are a part of my life. I have the Church to thank for many of those.

I moved out of California, to Utah, and instantly had friends. Some of my greatest friendships have been from trusting that our Heavenly Father has a plan for us. Who knew that a broken engagement and last minute apartment housing would give me my best friends? Not only that, but they have set such examples and made me a better person.

The ward, our built in family. I am not quite sure how non-members do it without one. Anywhere in the world we go, there are people waiting to get to know us. You are not lost in the world, all alone. I testify and know that there is a purpose to how the Church is set up. It is inspired. Heck, we even have people check in on us at least once a month to make sure we are okay. Have to love those Visiting and Home Teachers,  I am so thankful for them.

Heavenly Father knew what he was doing when he had Joseph Smith help restore the gospel and church to the earth in these latter days. Giving us a prophet and apostles, down to our Bishop and other church leaders. I am not just a body, in a sea of people, listening to a worship service.

I think what I am getting at is, we have so much to be thankful for. He has given us so much! It's extremely easy to forget about the simple things. Our relationships here on earth are what matter most, not our cars, clothes, etc.

Earlier in Church someone mentioned that people get side tracked by the things we don't know, when we have SO much that we do know. We need to let faith take us all the way. I want to always remember that when I am doubting or worrying about things. Again in another lesson, Desi made a comment about worrying being a lack of faith in our Savior and that we choose every day if we are going to follow Him or not.

I can not say thank you enough to our savior, my family and friends, for making my birthday such a special day. Just being able to talk to and spend time surrounded by them made me even more aware of how loved I am.

Thanks to Alyssa and Rachel! Love them!

If you want to know more about the Church, please let me know! Or you can go to LDS.org and Mormon.org