You are not forgotten...

   IT'S BEEN A MINUTE! Life gets so crazy sometimes and then every once in a while you find time to sit and reflect....That's why I love sundays! It's a great time to relax....

So let's play catch up....I quit my full time job to go to full time school. I work part time at Deseret Book and I love it. Every once in a while I get to be a missionary there again. The sisters from temple square come in and I get a little homesick for the MISSOURI/KANSAS canvas. Who would have ever thought one would be homesick over those places :D

     I'm in school right now. It's a lot of fun. I'm taking....English....Philosophy...Astronomy (this class makes me feel like a dummy)....Human Biology....and SCUBA!!!!!!

I become borderline obnoxious when I'm in school...cause my new phrase is "Did you know?" People probably are like "Did you know...that I want to smack you!" But we're going to play a little game.....


DID YOU KNOW?

- It takes light 8 minutes to get from the sun to us. 


- We should drink and eat things with antioxidants to rid our bodies of free radicals


- We're on a crash course with another galaxy...don't worry it'll be about 80 billion years from now.


- Our universe is continually expanding....still trying to figure out why.


- A recent experiment has shown neutrinos travel faster than the speed of light....if this ever proves correct....then you can forget everything you ever learned in physics cause now we get to start over.


- The Sun actually has it's own orbit and the center of the Sun is actually not the center of the universe


- There is water on Enceladus one of Saturn's moons.


- Lao - Tzu is an idiot


- There is a difference between "film noir" and "forensic noir" but Thomas Doherty takes forever to get there.


- In water you lose body heat 25 times faster...and sound travels 4 times faster in water.


- Hydrophobic means fear of water and Hydrophilic means love of water...in regards to molecules.


- Fact: I love swimming therefore if I was a molecule I'd be hydrophilic.


So these are just a couple of things I've learned so far this semester. But here are some more facts of life

- I have an amazing family.


- I have a really awesome ward.


- I have fabulous friends.


- My job rocks.


- The Lord is always looking out for me.

These are basic facts. However, sometimes I lose sight of them. When I lose sight of these things I start to feel bad and pitiful. The frustrating question of "Why not me?" enters my mind and I have to recognize and shake it. I sometimes start to feel low when people around me are receiving blessings that I'd love. These are righteous desires so "why not me?" It's an endless cycle. But recently Heavenly Father has taught me a thing or two....simple facts....

- The plan is perfect and while I can't see the total path of the plan he's assured me I will receive my blessings in due time.


- When others receive these blessings that you feel you deserve....be happy for them. It will reflect later in your character. Work to improve yourself and rid yourself of unholy traits. 


- Have fun. Don't let misery hold you back.


- Serve others around you.


- Educate yourself....don't wait for the golden ticket to make you happy. Be happy now- President Uchtdorf


- Learn patience. Don't be hard on yourself.


- Seize every opportunity.


- Follow the counsel of the prophets.


- Be daring. Take risks.....be courageous.


- Most of all....remember the relationship you share with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. These are the most important relationships. If you don't have any earthly relationships to improve....work on the ones with your heavenly father.

    Have fun. I KNOW I ALREADY SAID THIS.....But it's so important. My mission president would ask me if I was having fun. He would tell me if I wasn't having fun than I wasn't doing my job as a missionary. He was right. Life is about being happy and having fun. That comes with a proportionate amount of adversity but with an attitude adjustment the adversity lasts but a moment. I know that everything will be A-OK.

So in honor here are the wonderful highlights from Relief Society General Conference. The advice given here is so true....enjoy.

http://lds.org/pages/general-rs-meeting-2011?lang=eng

Tender Mercies In Our Liberty Jail Experiences....

I LOVE ADVERSITY....BUT I HATE satan....Awhile ago on Facebook some sisters from my mission and I had a discussion about how whenever we typed the name satan into anything it would automatically capitalize his name....this peeved me. So I make it an extra point to decapitalize his name....Ha! Take that!




        About a year ago I served at the Historic Liberty Jail in Missouri. It was such a treasure and humbling experience to serve there. At the time I was going through the hardest time of my mission. Let's just say Satan was really putting forth his best effort. But while I was at Liberty Jail learning about Joseph's adversity I was putting my own Liberty Jail experiences into perspective. These Jail experiences happen any time to anyone. There are just days when everything seems to fall apart. Moments when you feel you can hardly breathe. On this one year anniversary of that time and in respect to my recent trip I want to reflect on those lessons from Liberty Jail.


Revelation: Just as Joseph received revelation while in Liberty Jail. We too can receive revelation in our adversity. If anything I believe these are the key moments when we learn God's will for us. When we receive the most brilliant light that chases away the shadows of fear, and doubt. Sometimes though the inspiration doesn't come instantly...it waits....and waits....for the right moment when our hearts are most ready to accept it in true humility. It is then that we learn our true relationship with our Heavenly Father. In our adversity are we to busy justifying our unhappiness, or being Laman and Lemuel that we can't hear the instructions of our Father? Do we become selfish and disoriented...or Do we lay our noses to the dirt and weep bitter tears of Godly sorrow as we relish in the comfort of the spirit? Do we let the spirit instruct our spirit? Do we reach into the farthest depths of our soul and allow the mighty change to come upon us? Let us receive revelation in our bitterest moments so we can be healed through the love of our Savior.


Revelation comes on the Lord’s timetable, which often means we must move forward in faith, even though we haven’t received all the answers we desire. -Robert D. Hales-


Adversity: While confined in Liberty Jail the Prophet Joseph Smith endured very cruel circumstances. However, probably the hardest experience was feeling alone. Feeling the silence of the spirit. Knowing that outside in the Missouri wilderness the Saints who believed and trusted in Joseph were left alone as well. Their fears and doubts creeping into their souls trying to deter them from accomplishing this great work. But they pressed on! How the Saints did it I have no idea. There were days on my mission where I would have gladly sat in the snow and just given up.
      After studying about adversity I decided to change my perspective. I sometimes fail at the change but it's getting better. Instead of moments of adversity I want to look at them as moments of opportunity. Adversity is inevitable. Everyone gets it. I loved President Henry B. Eyring's talk on Adversity in the April 2009 General Conference.                

"My purpose today is to assure you that our Heavenly Father and the Savior live and that They love all humanity. The very opportunity for us to face adversity and affliction is part of the evidence of Their infinite love. God gave us the gift of living in mortality so that we could be prepared to receive the greatest of all the gifts of God, which is eternal life. Then our spirits will be changed. We will become able to want what God wants, to think as He thinks, and thus be prepared for the trust of an endless posterity to teach and to lead through tests to be raised up to qualify to live forever in eternal life.

It is clear that for us to have that gift and to be given that trust, we must be transformed through making righteous choices where that is hard to do. We are prepared for so great a trust by passing through trying and testing experiences in mortality. That education can come only as we are subject to trials while serving God and others for Him. In this education we experience misery and happiness, sickness and health, the sadness from sin and the joy of forgiveness. That forgiveness can come only through the infinite Atonement of the Savior, which He worked out through pain we could not bear and which we can only faintly comprehend."

Adversity is the schooling of our spirits. When it comes we must wait patiently for the lesson and the comfort to be revealed. If we look to it with a positive attitude or a smile it seems to melt away sooner. 

                                           Hope Ya Know, We Had A Hard Time

This is also really amazing : 

http://lds.org/study/prophets-speak-today/unto-all-the-world/despite-adversity-be-of-good-cheer?lang=eng

I can promise that when it rains on your face and storms seem endless....the sun will come. 

My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;

Thy friends do stand by thee, and they shall hail thee again with warm hearts and friendly hands.

And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.

Thou art not yet as Job; thy friends do not contend against thee, neither charge thee with transgression, as they did Job.

And they who do charge thee with transgression, their hope shall be blasted, and their prospects shall melt away as the hoar frost melteth before the burning rays of the rising sun;

Refining: In our adversity and through our revelation we become refined. When imprisoned in the Jail the Prophet became a refined prophet. He was filled with more compassion and kindness. When we endure well through our adversity we too become refined in the process. When I first entered the mission field we drove across Kansas. All I could do was look at the vast expanse of land. I noticed that many of the fields were on fire. I asked our ride why that was. She said " They burn the crops every year to nourish the soil so that they can have a better crop the next year." I pondered on that in my own life. In all my trials and afflictions I've become a better person (when I'm humble enough to listen :D). The Lord burns us down so he can build us back up...
RICHER...PURER....CLEANER. 

Here, then, is a great truth. In the pain, the agony, and the heroic endeavors of life, we pass through a refiner’s fire, and the insignificant and the unimportant in our lives can melt away like dross and make our faith bright, intact, and strong. In this way the divine image can be mirrored from the soul. It is part of the purging toll exacted of some to become acquainted with God. In the agonies of life, we seem to listen better to the faint, godly whisperings of the Divine Shepherd.....

The thorns that prick, that stick in the flesh, that hurt, often change lives which seem robbed of significance and hope. This change comes about through a refining process which often seems cruel and hard. In this way the soul can become like soft clay in the hands of the Master in building lives of faith, usefulness, beauty, and strength. For some, the refiner’s fire causes a loss of belief and faith in God, but those with eternal perspective understand that such refining is part of the perfection process.
-James E. Faust-

If we liken our experiences to the lessons learned in the Liberty Jail we can find great eternal truths locked away in the trials and hardships. 

In those moments we can look for Tender Mercies.....

This week was a hard week for me....just one of those things you know. Matters of the heart are always trying. In the process though the Lord poured upon me the tenderest mercies.

• -Monty telling me I could be a mermaid :D
• -Sarah Murray being my pal...."relieving me in society"
• -Dan Christensen for having my back
• -My family...in all their craziness!
• -The temple that gives me answers about my worth and nature.
• -The guy who said I had bedroom eyes that his mom warned him about :D
• -My new job opportunity.
• -Old friends who just say Hi
• -New friends who call out of nowhere to check on you
• -My mission president's homecoming
• -Seeing all the missionaries together
• -Remembering how blessed I am
• -Having adversity
• -Being secure enough in my testimony of Jesus Christ that I know in the moments that this too shall pass.
• -My Bishop! His Wife! Amazing!
• -My Co-chair for making me laugh.
• -Serving at the Utah Food Bank
• -Rachel Spencer's pure heart!
• -My Brother my best friend!
• -Seeing all the people I love smiling, happy, and laughing.

I am just very very very blessed. LYFSGUD!

In all things God is our best bet....

What an incredibly satisfying life I have. It's strange and exciting and filled with so many adventures and blessings. I am blessed with all the people in my life!


It's been forever since I've written. I'll have to really catch up....


Last week I went back and visited my mission. This really deserves it's own post. I'll do that next. It was such an amazing experience. I felt so humbled to be back and to think about what I'd been given. I'll expand more later.

BUT TODAY.....OH TODAY....

I absolutely love my ward. There are so many wonderful amazing people. Especially the Relief Society. I've never been surrounded by so many beautiful people. I'm just so thankful to be a part of that. Sarah Murray is our Relief Society president....she really deserves her own post...and she actually has her own blog....http://mormonfun.blogspot.com/....she's so insightful and funny. Well anyway I love this girl


But today I want to focus on what we talked about in Sunday School....the lesson was so good!


“Not My Will, But Thine, Be Done”

Isn't this always the hardest thing to say and actually do. 

The basic idea of the lesson focuses on the savior's time in the Garden of Gethsemane. We talked of his suffering and his love for us. 

This class was incredible. You could feel the spirit sweeping the room as we pondered on this sacred subject. I love the atonement. Words can't even describe how I feel. It wouldn't do me any good to write it cause I can't. However, to know that the Savior, loved me personally enough, to go into that garden and to face that pain so he could one day comfort me gives me a hope and desire to continue living righteously. It's so humbling to have that knowledge. Not just me either but every single one of us. Yes even you. 

We watched this clip and it's one of my all time favorite talks ever. I was in the Missionary Training Center when this talk was given. I remember how silent the auditorium was. The spirit was testifying to the max in that room. Of the surrounding hundreds of missionaries I could see there wasn't a dry eye. I wept with my district as we were taught the simple truth of the atonement. THAT WE WILL NEVER HAVE TO BE ALONE! How amazing is that? Every tragedy or pain or inconvenience we suffer, we aren't going it alone. The Savior's suffering wasn't just to pay for our sins, but to provide comfort to our souls. To stand beside us and be able to say "Yes I know how you feel. I know it cause I was there." What a marvelous blessing. If I could share one thing with anybody (and it would be fantastic if they could clearly understand what I was trying to convey) it would be the healing power of the atonement. That our wounds can be healed and our hopes lifted. That our lives can always be filled with happiness and laughter and joy! That in the face of adversity we can say bring it on. Let me grow!

I love this with all my soul!

Also I would say to everyone. Go to the temple! You learn some of the coolest things there. Take your time as you go. Don't plan anything else. Just enjoy the sweet refreshing peace of the spirit. As I sat there I realized how close to heaven it is. My cares, troubles, and woes all just melted away and were replaced by the reassurance of God, that all would be well. I know that it's true. If anything come to know how wonderful the Plan of Salvation is. There is no end for us. There may be moments of waiting but nothing ever truly comes to an end. Our joy will live on forever!

    In that hour of anguish Christ met and overcame all the  

horrors that Satan, ‘the prince of this world,’ could 

inflict. … In some manner, actual and terribly real though 

to man incomprehensible, the Savior took upon Himself 

the burden of the sins of mankind from Adam to the end 

of the world”      -James E. Talmadge- 

On a less spiritual note. I have some really funny friends. I need to blog about them as well.

My funny choice for the day would have to be Michelle Gapinski from my ward! Michelle is hilarious. From the moment I met her I knew we were destined for greatness. Today she informed me that we can't sit next to each other in class because I'm too distracting. I know it's hard having these good looks and  amazing smell but really she should learn to control herself.... :D THAT'S RIGHT MICHELLE...OR SHOULD I SAY HOLLI!

Michelle Gapinski saw me across the table at our first ward mingles. She was filling out her paper in big fat permanent marker. She saw me and I was mumbling to myself. It was friends at first sight. Ever since then she's been following me everywhere. To Family Home Evening, to Church, to the Bishop's house. I can't shake her. But that's ok...cause she's pretty awesome. 

MICHELLE "HOLLI...MELISS" GAPINSKI EVERYONE!!!!

She's hilarious! She loves long walks on state street. Dancing in the snow. 

Riding zebra's around the shoreline of the great salt lake.  She has 7 kids. She's from the Czech Republic (Not really...she likes to lie about it) She served her mission in Alabama (she lies about that too...she served in the Czech Republic). She has 7 kids...ok not really....5 kids. She wants a man who will rub off her callouses. Who will french braid her hair. Has lots of money and all his teeth. Also she wants him to sing show tunes with her every Wednesday and Friday. Also if he has a tandem bike that would be a plus.

 

I love this girl!

(but only in a platonic way)

Anyway for the end of my blog (not the blog...just the post..don't worry there is more of me...you lucky people you :D) I wanted to post the most recent Mormon Message. How amazing this message is. It really I think drives home the importance of seeking the spirit in our lives. Only the spirit can offer us true happiness. 

So we must always Watch Our Step....and continue to love others when they've missed one.

                                   “Courage doesn't always roar.

   Sometimes courage is the quiet voice

 at the end of the day saying, 

"I will try again tomorrow."

Mary Anne Radmacher

On the Sabbath we're reminded of the true meaning of our existence....

 " Use what talents you possess; The woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best." 

                                                                                        -Henry Van Dyke-

 My singles ward is so full of incredibly talented women...and men I'm sure. But I spend one full hour every Sunday blessedly basking in their glory. Today our lesson was on developing our talents. I felt so inspired. Each of us are talented...sometimes we just don't recognize it.  I love this quote:

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

a return to love - marianne williamson

Some talents are ones that aren't always familiar to us...here's some that we came up with:

Patience

Kindness

The ability to ask

The ability to weep (I'm really good at this one)

The ability to make people laugh

The ability to ponder

Personable

Amiable

The gift to not pass judgement

The gift of caring

Complimenting

The gift of not gossiping 

The ability to use words to uplift

The gift of hugging

Enthusiasm

Joy

The gift to imagine

The gift to create

The gift of optimism....

 

All of these are just a smidgen of the talents made available to us through the Lord's love and mercy. I'm so thankful for that. I remember thinking awhile ago when I was at the Zoo in Salina, KS, how talented and creative Heavenly Father and the Savior are...I received this inspiration while looking at a Giraffe....what a magnificent creature. If we are Heavenly Father's children we have the capacity to create. To invent....to be curious... 

Life is an adventure and we should make the most of it. Use what we've been given to bless the world. 

Speaking of talent...I went to a School of Rock concert this weekend with my good friend Lyndsee Hansen. She's amazing. I'll blogspot her later....but here are some fun pictures of us!

We also went to Chipotle and had delicious food. The best part though was just having a great night talking with a good friend. Those are the moments that really define what is important...

A loyal friend laughs at your jokes when they're not so good, and sympathizes with your problems when they're not so bad.  ~Arnold H. Glasgow

A friend is the one who comes in when the whole world has gone out.  ~Grace Pulpit

Cherish the friend who tells you a harsh truth, wanting ten times more to tell you a loving lie.  ~Robert Brault

In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out.  It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being.  We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.  ~Albert Schweitzer

“Friends are God's way of apologizing to us for our families.”

I am so incredibly blessed to have amazing people in my life....

They are my Thelma and Louise
 to my Bonnie and Clyde.....

Minus the smoking and romance.....

   

WE SHOULD ALWAYS CHOOSE FRIENDS THAT LIFT US TO A HIGHER PLANE...

                                                                    That is what I've done

“Friendship is born at that moment when 

one person says to another, 'What! You too? I thought I was the only one”

C.S. Lewis

Part of my blog is going to be me bragging about the incredible people in my life who are so talented. I have a plethora of unique friends. They deserve their day....I hope you grow to love them as much as I do!

Elder F Enzio Busche of The Church of Jesus Christ

I love this video with all my heart! It's so inspiring and I have the Van Komen's to thank for it! Love you!

Catch Up!

I'm such a bad blogger that I'm always playing Catch Up! I heard a funny joke the other day
If tomato is a fruit does that make Ketchup a smoothie? ----Think about that one!

Well anyway I promised to let you in on Danali Days!
    Danali is a uni-name for Dan and Ali. Kind of like Bennifer or Brangelina but so much cooler....I mean way cooler!
This is Dan:

That's me making the face in the back.
This is Ali.....
drumrolllllllllll

.....Larter. Who Dan wishes was his best friend! hahahaha
But he gets someone even better....Ali Webb

Who wouldn't want me as their best friend...for reals.
        Well one day Dan and I learned we both had Memorial day off so we planned our big adventure. The Great Danali....this would involve doing just about anything we could think of....We spent the day together. We even bought matching star wars pajamas at Walmart. This also involved me wearing a pirate flag cape...and Dan a hippie style head wrap.... We had a 30 rock/Arrested Development marathon. We ate our weight in food. We went to the gym. We went to Johanna's for breakfast. We laid around all day. Had the weather been amazing we would have laid out by the pool. We went shopping and I helped Dan realize his true potential in bright colors. We ate at California Pizza Kitchen and planned our way of getting the hot waiter and waitresses to fall in love with us. We then wrapped up the night by watching more Tv. We accomplished so much! If you have any serious doubts about our greatness then you can speak to our witnesses, or view the pictures such as this one...
exhibit A:

That is Danali Fuel in Dan's hand.
        -Shortly after this adventure I realized that I'm not as young as I once was...and too much fun for 24 hours...I can barely handle....Later that week we had Danali Day part 2 with guests....we pretty much just laid by the pool with our friends and got sunburned! Yay!

LADIES!!!! 
Dan is a really great guy. He's from Chicago. He's a video game designer. He is a great listener. He's single. He loves to Zumba. He also loves long walks on the beach and braiding your hair while listening to your stories about your poodle. His biggest fear is that he will go bald...or the government will ban Zumba. He's hilarious (not as funny as me though.) So if you're interested check him out or give me a note.

In other news this week I went to Lagoon with Heidi Freston! She's awesome!
Lagoon is Ghetto Disneyland for those of you who are not familiar with its awesomeness....
Here's a little sneak peek of Lagoon:
We ran into the cutest baby Kael Denboer...I love his mama!

I used to be terrified of Rollercoasters....not anymore!
I was super jealous of these little kids....I love fountains!

Ok...so who would really wear this...I will give you $10 dollars to admit it....I'm not really even sure where your head or arms go on this thing...

This is my partner in crime for the day! Miss Heidi Freston....and some lady with a really amazing green shirt!

I also had some really amazing spiritual experiences this week. But they deserve their own post. I'll let you in later!

Peace out Brussel Sprout...for now!

Summer!!!!!

I'M ABSOLUTELY A SUMMER GIRL!!!! What an adventurous time. I know its been ages since I've blogged. I'm back though....


So far this year has been insanely crazy. I had a semester of school where I got straight A's in all 4 of my classes....there is a first time for everything right!


   So many wonderful things have happened. 


I went to the Bahamas with our dance studio...they made me a mermaid :D and I got lots of sun and had a crazy time with Megan and John Southwick.....

I turned 25! Whoop Whoop!!!! My friends and I celebrated the Saturday night before with Pizza, Gullivers Travels, and homemade cupcakes by A.J. Anderson. It was awfully sweet of them! Love them....but the next day was amazing. Some friends and I went to temple square for my birthday. It was so neat to talk with the sisters down there and it made me miss the mission so much. Pablo came later and when he showed up he brought me flowers. They looked like the exact same ones as the ones planted on the temple grounds. I asked him if thats where he got them. He laughed and assured me that no they weren't sacred temple square flowers...just the ones from his mom's garden. They were beautiful. 

Caitlin Hafen and I with my flowers from Pablo's mom's garden. 


Also in March I went to Moab with some friends. We learned that I can be cranky if I don't sleep and the boys wake us up giggling like school girls at 6 am. My bad. I was better the next day! I had a blast. I love canyoneering. Repelling is my favorite. It terrified me at first but then I fell in love with the feeling!

I repelled off that arch....it was huge. That's Ervin and I. He's one of the greatest people ever to exist on this earth. Ladies......


WEDDINGS!!!!!!!
   Another amazing thing is one of my very bestest friends got married. I love her to death. Our friendship is strange and funny. Long story short I used to despise her...not really that's kind of strong...lets go with hate. Jk. Really I was jealous of her. But we later got called to the same mission and she became my solid rock and amazing confidante. She married a very awesome guy Ben. He's hilarious. So she got married and it was such an incredible experience. The things that were said were absolutely beautiful. I cried. So like me. She was beautiful. He was beautiful. The whole thing was simply beautiful. It reminded me that this is what life is all about. Beautiful happy things!


Here's how amazing it was!

I love all these wonderful people...I'm so very very blessed.


- "The Lord's love is often delivered through others as they respond to promptings of the Spirit. Are we hearing and following those promptings? . . .

"I fear sometimes we see the Lord's love only in the big events of our lives; we must also see His love in the smallest of things. Don't underestimate your ability to share His love through a simple, genuine gesture such as sitting next to another sister and making her feel welcome." -Bonnie D. Parkin-

So thats a little catch up for the year....next time I'll tell you all about the Adventures of Danali! They are epic...so stay tuned!