This quote is amazing. I heard it once at an EFY fireside right before one of the testimony meetings. Then the other day I was talking with my friend Alissa Pettit and shared it with me. It definitely gives you something to think about. I know these things are true. I have a great love for my Savior Jesus Christ. I am thankful for all that He has done. I know more than anything that Jesus Christ died and He lives again. He lives to bless me, strengthen me, to wipe away my tears, rejoices with me, and so much more. I know His love is deep, intimate, and personal for everyone of His children. I testify that I know these things are true. I love my Savior dearly.

The Atonement from a female perspective (Alma 7:11)

“Well, my dear sisters, the gospel is the good news that can free us from guilt. We know that Jesus experienced the totality of mortal existence in Gethsemane. It’s our faith that he experienced everything-absolutely everything. Sometimes we don’t think through the implications of that belief. We talk in great generalities about the sins of all humankind, about the suffering of the entire human family. But we don’t experience pain in generalities. We experience it individually. That means he knows what it felt like when your mother died of cancer- how it was for your mother, how it still is for you. He knows what it felt like to lose the student body election. He knows the moments the brakes locked and the car started to skid.

"He experienced the slave ship sailing from Ghana toward Virginia. He experienced gas chambers at Dachau. He experienced napalm in Vietnam. He knows about drug addiction and alcoholism.

"Let me go further. There is nothing you have experienced as a woman that he does not also know and recognize. On a profound level he understands about the hunger to hold your baby that sustains you through pregnancy. He understands both the physical pain of giving birth and the immense joy. He knows about PMS and cramps and menopause. He understands about rape and infertility and abortion. His last recorded words to his disciples were, “And lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” (Matthew 28:30) He understands your mother-pain when your five-year-old leaves for kindergarten, when a bully picks on your fifth-grader, when your daughter calls to say that the new baby has Down’s Syndrome. He knows your mother-rage when a trusted babysitter sexually abuses your two year-old, when someone gives your thirteen-year-old drugs, when someone seduces your seventeen-year-old. He knows the pain you live with when you come home to a quiet apartment where the only children are visitors, when you hear that your former husband and his new wife were sealed in the temple last week, when your fiftieth wedding anniversary rolls around and your husband has been dead for two years. He knows all that. He’s been there. He’s been lower than all that…”

"I beg you to…give him your whole heart, all the pieces, and let him heal you. He promises us, “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13.) “with all [our] hearts.” That means we don’t have pieces of our hearts that he doesn’t touch or that aren’t relevant to him. That means we must live our lives as Savior-focused individuals.”

(Chieko N. Okazaki; Lighten Up! Pages 6&7)

"It is not how much we do but how much LOVE we put in the doing. It is not how much we give but how much LOVE we put in the giving." Mother Teresa

"It is vital that we, the sisters of Relief Society, learn to hear the voice of the Lord. Yet I worry that too often we fail to seek the guidance of the Spirit. Perhaps we don’t know how and haven’t made it a priority to learn. Or we’re so aware of our personal failings that we don’t feel worthy, don’t really believe the Lord will talk to us, and therefore don’t seek revelation. Or we’ve allowed the distractions and pace of our lives to crowd out the Spirit. What a tragedy! For the Holy Ghost blesses us with optimism and wisdom at times of challenge that we simply cannot muster on our own. No wonder that one of the adversary’s favorite tactics among righteous LDS women is busyness—getting us so preoccupied with the flurry of daily life that we fail to immerse ourselves in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Sisters, we can’t afford not to seek the things of the Spirit! There is too much at stake. Too many people are depending on us as mothers, as sisters, leaders, and friends. A woman led by the Lord knows where to turn for answers and for peace. She can make difficult decisions and face problems with confidence because she takes her counsel from the Spirit, and from her leaders who are also guided by the Spirit."
Sheri L. Dew, “We Are Not Alone,” Ensign, Nov 1998, 94

Merry Christmas from the Ladies in 434!
Chandi Budd, Emily, Ashley Brock, and Angie Anderson
We took pictures for our Christmas card. We had a blast with our mustaches. These girls have been amazing roommates. We have had a lot of fun together. There is always a party going on at our apartment. Our favorite thing to do together is play Just Dance on the wii. We love to laugh and have parties.

Our model poses! Work it! Work it! Growl for me! Grrr.

We thought it was funny how the brown mustache matched my hair; almost a little too well.

These ladies are awesome. Need I say more?!

Computer lab, two sisters and the boy in the brown sweatshirt!

Amelia and I have been working at the Taggart Student Center in the computer lab this evening. We had way too much fun together. It is really bad when we are laughing hysterically and we're suppose to be quiet. I showed her a funny youtube video. There were people from the 1960's or 70's who said some wicked awesome dance moves. Amelia and I are going to try them out sometime.

A love note from Jared

Another funny thing happened tonight there were two girls who came into the computer lab. The one girl handed me a piece of lined paper folded twice. She said some boy in a brown sweatshirt asked us to give you this note, it might be a love note. Amelia and I started to laugh. I opened it up and sure enough it was. He told me that he had been kicking himself for not coming up to me the last time he saw me in the lab. He said I was beautiful. He wanted to talk to me but felt he would save us both from having an awkward moment so he wrote me a note instead. He gave me his number and asked me to call if I wanted to go to a play, go bungee jumping, or many other things he listed. Or we could sit and have hot chocolate and just talk. Amelia said man why don't I ever get love notes. She said maybe it has to do with the blue hair.

USU's The Swing Set (Elite Hall)