Growing Every Day

Stressful, busy, fun and awesome are just a few words that I think describe this past week. It was stressful because I have a chemistry test coming up this week. We have been learning about digestion of polysaccarides and let me tell you it is not a simple process by any stretch of the imagination! It is a lot of memorizing and understanding concepts. It is really interesting material and I am loving learning about it. It is amazing to me that all of the processes we are learning are going on in our bodies. It is all so complex and beautiful. Everything is perfectly ordered and on its own time clock. It amazes me even more to think that I am human and this body is mine so by default you would think that I would easily be able to understand all that is going on in it. However, as well all know, this is most definitely not the case. The human body is amazing. I don't think I will ever fully understand all of its complexities, so for  know I will just continue to thank the Lord every day for this miraculous gift. I have to good friends--Ashley Tingey and Ashea Hanna, that are in this class with me as well. Every school day this past week we booked a group study room in the library and studied together for at least two hours. We talk about concepts, teach each other, do practice questions, and practice writing out all the systems on the whiteboard. It is extremely helpful! Both Ashea and Ashley are smart, sharp girls and we all work very well together. I am glad that we can help each other to do our best.

This week was also stressful because my roommates sang a song in church today and I accompanied them. I never accompanied anyone before other then the congregation at the organ. It was something totally different for me. I really struggled at first to feel confident enough to play the song well enough for them to even sing to it. I practiced the song long and hard for a good few weeks before we attempted it again. I felt a lot better about it. We practiced it together quite a few times before we sang it today in church. It turned out really well. I am happy with it. I recognize ways I still need to improve but am also happy with all the progress I have made to get to the point to accompany them.

This week was busy! The weekend was especially busy! On friday Morning, Lexy and I went to the temple at 6:00 and it was no doubt a great way to start the day. Lexy recently went through the temple for the first time so she did an endownment session while I did baptisms. I am so proud of Lexy. She is such a great example. Later that night Saydi, Brigitte, Lexy and I went to the Dance Senior Showcase. My friend Kellyanne from my organ class is a senior in the dance program and was showing her senior number that she choreographed. It  was a tap/clogging/hip-hop number two a variety of Michael Jackson songs. It was such a fun number. Kellyanne did such a good job. It reminded me so much of the dancing that I have seen my Mom do! It makes me realize how good my mom is at dancing. To see how the dance program works and how talented everyone is it is so neat for me to think that my Mom did the exact the same thing. I mean I knew she was good, for I have seen lots of pictures of her traveling Europe and what not but it seems so much more real now. 

Saturday morning started out with laundry and chemistry homework before going to the Festival of Colors with Tylie Polatis and Makayla Roswell and a few of there friends. I am glad I got up when I did and was able to wash my sheets and do a load of a laundry as well as an hour of chemistry studying. It made me feel better about doing nothing school related the rest of the day. Festival of Colors was held in Spanish Fork and is Hindu celebration to spring. Basically, we throw flour based color powdery stuff on each other. Sounds weird right? I suppose it is, but weird as it is it is a lot of fun. I am glad I went. 

Before getting all colored. 

I know these pictures look really big on my blog but they look really tiny when I make it into a book so that is why they are big. 

There were so many people everywhere! Over 50,000 people attend over two days. 

Tylie and I 

Me, Tylie, and Makayla

Love these girls! I am so glad we met. It was crazy to think it was back at new student orientation! A lot has happened since then. 

Once every hour they do a big throwing where everybody throws up a bag of color at once! It is fun for the first few seconds because you just get covered in color, but then it becomes hard to breath and it feels like you are in a cloud of dust.

Makayla and I 

Poor Tylie was having trouble with her contact 

After the Festival of Colors we went to Arby's because we were all very hungry. I have never eaten at Arby's before so it was cool to try it out. I just got a roast beef sandwich and I liked it. 

Makayla's friends were sure prepared. They had wet wash cloths and towels to help us clean up the best we could before getting home to shower. I got all of the color off pretty well and it came out of my clothes no problem. 

Later that night Lexy, Saydi, and I went to Wendy's for supper. (I know eating out two meals in a row! What is happening to me? haha I was careful about what I got though. At Wendy's I got a small chili and garden side salad which was a healthy choice. I am learning a lot in nutrition about making healthy choices in restaurants so it felt good  to put those principles in practice) 

That night we went disco skating with some people in our ward. If you dress up you get a dollar off we we decided it would be fun to do that. We got matching tights from target for the occasion. I wasn't very good at the rollerskating but luckily I got two awesome roommates who would hold on to my hands and help me around. haha they made me feel better about the whole thing. I feel so bad about myself because I struggle to do things that seem to come so easy to others. I feel so stupid for not being able to do it. I know it takes practice but I feel like I should be able to pick it up and do it a lot easier than I do. I know that being more confident would help but that takes time and is something that I am working on. 

The group of us that went. Left to Right 

Christina Tingey, Sarah Bumback, Lexy, Levi Johnson, Saydi and I 

Love these girls! I don't know what I would do without them. 

And that was my eventful weekend in a nutshell. I am so grateful for the experiences that I am having here. In high school I never really made much an effort to do stuff with friends because I was focused on school and work and I wish I would have done more. It is never to late to start though. With each experience I have I feel myself growing and developing in personality and I am grateful for that. I hope to one day be the kind of person that people will want to be around because they are happy and funny and genuine. Not only that, but they help you to feel good about themselves. I know a lot of people like this and see the impact that they have on others as well as the kind of leaders that they are. This is what I am working towards. 

Today was Easter Sunday and this past week I am glad for the opportunity to be reminded of the Savior and his life. In Book of Mormon Bro. Griffin brought his 4 daughters ages 12, 10, 6, and 3 to sing an Easter song for us. It was so precious! It was called Gethsemane. Here are the lyrics 

Jesus climbed the hill

To the garden still
His steps were heavy and slow
Love and a prayer
Took Him there
To the place only He could go

Gethsemane
Jesus loves me
So He went willingly
To Gethsemane

He felt all that was sad, wicked or bad
All the pain we would ever know
While His friends were asleep
He fought to keep
His promise made long ago

Gethsemane
Jesus loves me
So He went willingly
To Gethsemane

The hardest thing That ever was done
The greatest pain that ever was known
The biggest battle that ever was won
This was done by Jesus.
The fight was won by Jesus.

Gethsemane
Jesus loves me
So he gave His gift to me
In Gethsemane

Gethsemane
Jesus loves me
So he gives His gift to me
From Gethsemane

It was so precious to here them sing! The littlest girls sang the chorus and they knew every word perfectly. Just imagine a three year old belting out "GETHSEMANE JESUS LOVES ME!" The spirit was so strong and I am pretty sure all of the girls in my class myself included had both tears streaming dow our faces and smiles glued to our faces. I really felt the words they were saying were true. Before the girls sang Bro. Griffin took a moment to introduce them. He said something to the extent of "You guys, you may wonder why I am so happy all of the time and this is why. (points to kids) I have the Lord in my life and he has brought this angel into my life (points to his wife) and she has brought me these 4 little angles into my life (hugs his daughters). He said it with so much passion, truth, and love. It was so beautiful. Bro. Griffin is so humble, smart, and has such a strong testimony. The Lord is at the center of his life and I am so glad to be able to learn from him and his example. 

Aunt Doreen invited me to her house for Easter dinner today along with her song Eric and his family. It was so nice to spend the day with them. I love going to their house, I think if them as my "college grandparents".  They treat me so well by always checking up on me and inviting me to their house for dinner. I am glad that I am getting to know both Aunt Doreen and Uncle Mazer. They are incredible people who have been through a lot of life experiences and can consequently teach me a lot. 

Well I realize this post is getting long so I guess I better end it for now. Classes are quickly coming to a close. Only two more weeks until finals. My parents and Katelyn are coming to get me and I can not wait for them to be here! I miss home and can't wait to be back. Right now I am just trying to make the most of each and everyday. 

Book of Mormon Reflection--Revelation

In Book of Mormon today we discussed Ether 1-2. Although this is about the Jaredites journey to the promised land, it is also my journey to the celestial kingdom. The Jaredites left Babel and journeyed to the promised land, as I am on earth and am journeying to the celestial kingdom. Both chapters are filled with doctrine and principles that directly apply to my story right here and now. Moroni was no doubt inspired to include these precious chapters. I would like to focus this reflection on revelation. The brother of Jared goes up the mountain and asks the Lord 3 questions.

1. We don't have light. How can we get light?
2. We don't know how to steer. How are we going to to direct the barges?
3. We don't have any air. How will we breath?

It is significant to note that the Lord only responds to the most pressing and vital question first. That being, not having any air. He tells the brother of Jared what to do to solve the problem. However, the Lord only answered that question. Not until the brother and jared went and did as he asked did the Lord answer the question regarding steering. The Lord promised the brother of Jared that he would take care of them and get them to where they needed to be. Finally, the Lord asked the brother of Jared what he should do so that they should have light in the barges. The brother of Jared as we know went and made the stones that the Lord then touched.

What principles can we extract from this? The Lord responds to our questions in three ways.

1. He gives us specific instruction of how to solve the problem.
2. He tells us to not worry and that he will take care of it.
3. He lets us use our agency to solve the problem.

Understanding this has made me look at revelation in a whole new light. Bro. Griffin pointed out that we fought for our agency. We wanted it more than anything else, yet we often want the Lord to take care of us and constantly show us what to do, but in reality we are required to be agents and do many things of our own free will.

I know that as I turn the Lord to with my questions and problems, he will answer me by either giving me specific instructions, telling me to not worry about it, or let me use my agency.

Book of Mormon Reflection--Becoming Sober

Don't get the wrong idea. I don't mean free of alcohol, but rather something much more meaningful.  Sober can be defined as "marked by temperance, moderation, or seriousness". In Book of Mormon this past week we have been discussing Mormon. Ammaron describes him as being a "sober child". I believe that this is one of the very reasons that Ammaron entrusted Mormon with the responsibility of carrying on the plates at such a young age. I can picture Mormon, a young child, being very quite and serious. I can see him being very meditative and spending much time in deep thought and pondering. Joseph Smith, whose life greatly parallels Mormon's, was also described by his mother as a sober child because he didn't like to readily socialize with others as a kid but would often sit with his eyes closed deep in thought. Bro. Griffin made a very distinct point that although both these great prophets can be described as sober it doesn't mean that they only went around in serious moods pondering day in and day out. Joseph Smith himself is described as being very outgoing and often times the life of the party, for he was often involved in joking around with others. What does this mean to me? It means that balance is key. While it is important to read my scriptures, pray, and do all of those good things that I am commanded to, it is also important to take time to have meaningful relationships with family and friends. I often feel burdened down with school, and keeping up with all that I feel a need to do--attend the temple, do family history, practice piano, exercise, do well in school, do service, and sleep etc. I am finding it really hard to get all of these things done and yet still develop meaningful relationships with others. It is really hard and I have yet to find that balance in my life. Brother Griffin said that to him being sober means not only being reflective and serious but also knowing when it is time to not be. I think that this is a fine line and that it will be different for everyone. I am going to try harder to find that line in my life. As I said earlier, balance is key. I know that as I ask Heavenly Father for his help in this he will guide me and help me know, through the Holy Ghost, the things that I need to do.

Katelyn made this collage of pictures of all three of us Hartley girls. We have had some good times together. Been friends for a long time! I can't wait to see where life takes us all. Katie is in the MTC now and come September Katelyn and I will follow. 

My Thoughts

A lot has been on my mind lately. There are a lot of things that I have been meaning to blog about just never did. Thus, this post will include them all.

In nutrition class the other day we had a lesson unlike any other that I have had here at BYU. Never have I felt the spirit so strong in a non religion class than I did in our class on thursday. It was truly an answered prayer, for the words that my professor shared were exactly what I needed to hear. We talked about eating disorders. It was really sad. Girls as young as 18 months are now showing signs of eating disorders. 18 months! It breaks my heart. I don't know what is happening to society, but one thing for sure: it is scary! It wasn't the facts that my professor shared that touched my heart, but rather the testimony that she shared with us at the end. She told us that we are all special, she told us that are bodies are amazing gifts from God, and she told us that we need to treat them with respect and appreciation. She shared this quote from Jeffrey R. Holland with us:

We should all be as fit as we can be-that's good Word of Wisdom doctrine. That means eating right and exercising and helping our bodies function at their optimum strength. We could probably all do better in that regard. But I speak here of optimum health; there is no universal optimum size. 

I love that. Everyone is different. What is important is that we do OUR best. After reading this quote, Professor Brown then read us this book.

I have read this book before, but I had forgotten about it. I love it and its message. It made me realize that I am special. Maybe not in the way pleasing to society but in God's eyes I am special. The spirit was so strong as my professor read it to us. I shed tears, as did others. It was a growing experience. I love this book so much that I decided that I needed to own it! Tonight I went on amazon and ordered it. When I have hard days I will read it. 

I am so grateful to be  at BYU and be able to get my education in a religious context. It is such a blessing. 

I love Jenny Phillips's music. This song has especially meant a lot to me lately. 

Beauty Is 

Has the world ever been so confused

About what beauty is?

It's not the girl on the magazine

That you were sent here

To try to be.

A focus on body image

Is not what true beauty is.

Chorus:

Beauty is found

in the girl who believes

In the power of her divinity

The light in ger eyes,

shows her goodness inside

She is honest and kind at all times

When you care more about,

living the way Christ did

That's when you'll know

What beauty is

Just like a temple that shines,

Cared for on the outside

The beauty inside the doors

Is the thing that matters

a miliion times more

So magnify the holiness within you

Let purity dwell inside

{CHORUS}

That's when you'll know what beauty is.

-

Another thing that has been on my mind lately is time management. Some days I am very productive and it feels good. Other days however I find myself wasting time in the trivial things like facebook. I was reminded of this quote the other day and it really has changed how I think about things. 

Stephen Covey is one intelligent man. Instead of saying "I don't have time to do (blank)" trying saying "(Blank) just isn't a priority". Does it put things in perspective? For me it sure does. I mean how can I feel good about saying "Going to the Temple isn't a priority"? Or when I am on facebook the message I am sending is "Facebook is a priority"? Thinking this way has really made me contemplate specifically what my priorities really are. It has been eye opening. I have realized things that I need to stop and things that I need to be better at. 

For my leadership class we are put in groups to do a project of our choosing involving a campus organization. My group teamed up with Y-Serve's Adopt a Grandparent program. We have been going weekly to play BINGO with them and today we had a talent show for them that we both organized and executed. I learned a lot from doing this project:

1. Atitude is everything. If you think that something is going to go well, it will. If you think you are going to fail, you will. 

2. The older you get the more childlike you become. I find it very interesting that we start this life as little children and then we get into adulthood where we live the most of our life and then we grow old and become a child once again. As I am around these old people I have realized how dependent they are on others for almost everything. They are also very shielded to the things of the world that go on around them. They have an innocence about them. In a sense life is simple for them. They treat every experience with optimism. In our talent show today everyone was just so happy to be there and participate. A lady loved singing even if she wasn't good at it. Another one played the piano even though she wasn't as good as she once was. It was just so neat to see how carefree they were. It really made me realize what is important. No one is going to care if I was the most popular, outgoing, or most beautiful. In the end what matters is who I am. More specifically, my atitude, my attributes, and ultimately the kind of character I have. 

3. A good leader delegates and trusts every member of the team. I will admit it. I like to take charge and be in control. During this project I learned the importance of trusting each member of our team. What a team of dedicated people can do far outweighs what one individual can do. I learned to really trust the members of my group. 

4. Organization is key. We could have been a lot more organized than we were. It all worked out in the end, but things could have gone a lot more smoother and less stressful had we paid more attention to detail. 

5. I have much to learn about planning activities and good leadership skills. All I have to say is that Relief Society sisters make it look easy! Through this project as well as being on the activities committee in my ward, I have learned that planning activities is a lot of work! I thought I knew from watching my Mom being the Relief Society President all of the work that goes into a successful activity but boy was I wrong! It has been a good wake up call. It has made me realize that I need to work hard so I can develop the necessary skills to be a good leader when it comes to activities. I also appreciate all of the Relief Society sisters in Aetna Ward that were such good examples to me. Being away from home has made me realize what special, talented, and amazing women they are! There are many but a few that come to mind are Shelly Spencer, Vickie Powlesland, Cheryl Smith, Ann Nelson,  and Wendy Schaffer. There are many many more. To name them all would be to name every sister in the ward. 

I am at such an exciting point in my life--the decade of decisions. Every experience I am having or have already had are shaping me. I know it is up to me to make sure that the experiences that I choose to have will shape me into who God wants me to be. In this weeks past devotional it was said that and I will conclude with it: 

We are not on this earth to find ourselves, but to create ourselves. 

Birthday, Basketball and Best Friends

Kiki had a birthday! 

Lexy! I love this girl. 

The 20 year old and myself. 

The happily engaged couple. 

Beautiful red velvet cake made by the one and only Jessica Walker. 

Final Basketball game against Gonzaga. BYU kept up with them the entire game! It came down to the last minute of play. Every second counted. In the end BYU barely lost. Although we lost, the game was a lot of fun. 

I got a haircut! I cut an inch and half off and got bangs. I really like it. 

I went to Canada this past weekend! Katie Hartley is leaving on her mission on wednesday so she wanted to see everyone in Canada before she left and I went with her! I did homework all day friday, saturday, monday and most of tuesday so that I wouldn't have to do anything while I was gone. I was blessed to have a fairly light week and I didn't feel to behind which is nice. It was so fun to go home! It is just what I needed. I only told my Mom I was coming, so I could surprise my Dad and Katelyn. It is was really fun to catch them by surprise. Dad was more confused at first then anything and Katelyn was so happy she started to cry! I am so glad that I could surprise them. It was a quick but great trip! The above picture is the juice that Katelyn made for Katie and I friday morning. I had to take a picture of it because that blue and red are the exact colors of Kiki's wedding! 

This girl is going to be one good wife and mother! She made these little gems for us friday morning for breakfast. They are called puffed up pancakes. They were soooo good! Katelyn has a gift. She also made us orange buns and chocolate chip cookies. It was all so good. I loved spending the weekend with her. It was hard to leave! 

The three Hartley's together for one last time before we all head out on missions for the next 18 months. Katie to Detroit Michigan and Katelyn and I have yet to send off our papers, but both plan to May 1. All three of us have changed so much since high school. Our lives are all heading in different directions. It will be interesting to see where we all end up in 5 years or so. I am so blessed to have these 2 girls in my life. They are great examples and I don't know where I would be without them.