The Big Picture

      I had Girl's Camp this past week and Trek the week before and I have been filled with a knowledge of the love the Heavenly Father has for His children. His great love is so incomprehensible, and yet we can be given a taste of His love if we just ask. Trek was a trial of faith as we hiked through the hills of Virginia. I am so grateful that the Lord sees the big picture and knows exactly what experiences we need in order to be successful in life. He knew that just a day after Trek I would be making my own trek west and using those same lessons I learned in the "wilderness". He knew that as I learned to really put my trust in Him during that trying women's pull, I would know to put my trust in Him when it felt like I was pulling that handcart alone in life. I only have the view through a telescope, but He can see the whole universe. 

       One of my favorite trials from Trek was when we were blindfolded and had to pull the handcart as a group. We had to listen closely to the instructions of our Mas and Pas and had to walk slowly so we had time to follow their promptings. That experience was really a type of life. We seem to be very blinded in this world and the only way we can get to our destination in safety is to listen to our Father in Heaven and follow his promptings exactingly. Even if we feel like we are walking blindly, we have the guidance of our Father to help us whenever we need it. This is a lesson I have learned on my own Trek west.

       The day after Trek ended I packed my bags and took a plane from Virginia to Utah. Although I did not have to endure the hardships of the trail and the physical pain the pioneers had to endure, I still felt a lot of pain and made a seemingly large sacrifice. I still had to leave behind everything I knew and loved and I had to forge the way for myself. We are all on our own journeys. We are on wilderness journeys that can sometimes feel lonely and difficult. Isn't it comforting to know that we have Heaven on our side? Even though leaving my home behind, not to mention my friends and family, was hard, I'm already realizing what God has in store for me. The spirit prompted us to move and so I knew I had something wonderful in my future. 
        Girl's camp in Alpine was one of those wonderful things that God blessed me with. He blessed with fast friends and a ward full of strong girls and great leaders. It could have been so much harder. I could have made no friends and I could have been placed in a small, struggling ward. How was I so blessed to be put in this town, in this house, in this ward, with these people? God's love is endless.
        Although moving could be considered a trial, I'm just going to count it as one of my many blessings. Leaving my life long home and close friends was not easy, but I know that because I trusted the Lord and moved forward with the prompting to "trek" west, the Lord will provide. Even though I left without my family, our house in Virginia hasn't sold, and I am living out of a suit case for most of the summer, I have so many great things to be thankful for.
       One devotional we had on Trek was about finding the good in everything, like the pioneers. To persevere and push forward with hope even when you think all is lost. This is what I am trying to do now. As I look for all of the blessings I am given, I realize just how wonderful life is and how much my Father in Heaven loves me. There are a few things to be sad about but there are many, many more things to be happy about. Oh how grateful I am for a Father who orchestrates my life so that I go on Trek and learn to endure trials right before my own great trial, who gives me friends in a place I am unfamiliar with, and who has blessed me with a positive attitude at this time when a negative attitude would be so much easier. May God bless you with that same knowledge, for it makes life so sweet.

Spontaneity At Its Finest

This weekend has been full of fun times and spontaneity. Friday night I spent my time with three of the most amazing people I know. We had a great time running around late at night and doing the craziest things. It's those times that I feel like a real teenager. Like I've captured that "high school" feeling that I dreamed about as a kid. Nothing planned, just completely off the wall and care free. Not caring who is watching or judging you, you will make a long chain of straws at Five Guys. Not caring how uncomfortable it is, you will cram into a tent and watch Letters to Juliet on a lap top in the back yard. Not caring how dark or muddy it is, you will run through the woods with your white shoes on (yeah...they're not white anymore). Not caring how illegal it is to trespass on a play ground at night, you will sit on the swings and talk forever. That feeling of complete freedom and excitement is hard to beat. I wish we had taken pictures that night, but it might have taken away from the craziness of the whole thing. Some of my favorite, spontaneous memories:
(these aren't in any kind of order)

Having a trampoline party on a school day in March 2010

Climbing in the rafters at Girl's Camp 2010

Playing the spinning dummy game on Pizza Night with the gals in my group at EFY 2009. I took a lot of videos...but the health counselor was the best!

Finding a tunnel under Blarney Castle in Ireland and finding a little cave where we took a picture.  Good times with those fun people. (British Isles Cruise 2009)

Other times I don't have pictures for:


Running through the fountain at Fairfax Corner with a bunch of friends and then have it start to pour rain. What made it even better was that we randomly asked these boys to dance with us so we danced with them in the rain. Oh man. I wish I could replay that day. (2009)


Having a bonfire with a bunch of awesome Mormon people and then running down Sideburn Road at 11pm and stealing road signs. Wow. We are illegal. (2010)


Driving to a dance with Ariel Campos and friends. I was scared for my life but we blasted the music and danced in the car and I felt crazy but it was so fun. I was a 14 year old with a bunch of 17 year olds and I was on top of the world. (2009)


I would continue but my spontaneous, teenage self must follow some rules and get to bed. Here are some pictures from Mormon Prom to entertain you until the next post:

The beautiful ladies

The group. Aren't we kinda pretty? :)

The studly guys

Me and my date, Jeff

I loved my dress! The little details were so pretty. 

Curly hair is my favorite. 

Me and one of my best friends ever, Ariana

Thanks to Beautifully Modest, we were looking pretty fine in our super modest dresses!

Our fancy dinner in Ariana's backyard