Missing this...

This is the first time in 11 years (not counting my mission) that I haven't been on a competition dance team. When I made the decision not to dance this school year, I really thought that I would be okay with it. Lately though, I have been missing clogging like crazy! I am definitely a clogger FOR LIFE! I caved in and decided that I will at least be competing individual events this year. YAY! I have also been debating whether or not to start teaching dance out of my garage. The debate continues to go on in my mind. Here's an awesome video of one of the teams I used to compete against. Just follow the link and you will see why I am missing clogging so much! :)

St. George Competition 2011

On a happier note, I am super excited to go to Utah next weekend for General Conference! I am so blessed to know that God calls prophets in our day. General Conference is for everyone. Click here for more information. I'd love to have you join me this next weekend in watching the prophet and apostles of our Savior Jesus Christ speak to us! It will be a fabulous weekend at Temple Square. Love that place!

Education

I survived my first Nursing exam of the semester! All I can say about it is that miracles never cease. I really want to do well in my Nursing classes and not get behind so I have spent almost every waking minute preparing for this test. In an effort to keep my priorities straight, I have been making sure that I put God first. It has simply been amazing to see that the same things that made me successful on my mission (daily prayer, scripture study, etc..) continue to make me successful here. As I continue to do my best to have the Spirit in my life, I have been more successful in my educational pursuits. I love it!!!! Speaking of educational pursuits, here is a link to one of my favorite websites. http://mormon.org/learning/ Check it out!!! I am so thankful for the endless learning opportunities that life brings!

Mission Memories: Sister Bentley

I should be studying. School has officially consumed my life. Not cool! But in two short years, it will be worth it. I am grateful that I have the opportunity to get an education. It is such a blessing! My Nursing class seems to have several amazing people in it. I am fortunate to work with them for the next two years. I really feel like we are all on a team trying to get through these next two years of Nursing school together. In addition to my heavy Nursing load, I am taking an Institute class through my church. To learn more about what Institute is follow this link: http://institute.lds.org/ There are Institutes all over the world where people can go to take Religion classes. I am currently taking a class about the New Testament. I absolutely love it! I love learning more about our Savior Jesus Christ. I really fell in love with the New Testament as a missionary in New York. The world is blessed to have two witnesses of Jesus Christ-the Holy Bible and the Book of Mormon.

So on to my subject title. Many of you know that last Tuesday I received a phone call that I never expected. My friend Ben called to inform me that our friend, Vanessa Bentley, had been killed in a car crash while on her mission. Vanessa, Ben, and I were in the BYU 51st Ward together. A little over a year later Vanessa (now Sister Bentley) and I served together in the New York Utica Mission. Sister Bentley and I were companions for three months. I have been in shock the last week or so but one thing that I know for sure is that God has a plan for each one of us. His plans are bigger than our own. As we trust in him, I know that He will lead us in the right direction. Here are some of my favorite memories of Sister Vanessa Bentley:

*Riding back to Fayetteville from transfer meeting with Elder and Sister Hersam. We had so much luggage that we had to pack it into the back sit along with our bodies. :)

*Being in a district with more Sisters than Elders. Sister power!

*Spending Christmas together-missionary Christmases are the BEST THING EVER!

*Surviving the worst Winter upstate New York has seen in years...walking.

There are so many more memories but I would be writing all night trying to record all of them. I love Sister Bentley and I know, without a doubt, that we will all see her again. She will be with her family again. I am eternally grateful for this knowledge. It's not just good-bye Sister Bentley...it's see you later!

Now about that homework... :S

Tender Mercies!

I've been feeling pangs of guilt for already slacking in my blogging so I figured that I better update. I started the Nursing program at the College of Southern Idaho this week. It has already been an adventure but I am looking forward to the next few years despite the fact that they will be filled with lots of stress and hours of studying. People have pretty much told me that I am not going to have a life the next two years but I am determined to find the balance! It is interesting how the Lord has put me in places that I never imagined or wanted to be in. For example: I NEVER wanted to live in Twin Falls. It still is not my first choice of places to live. But after much prayer and fasting I know that I am supposed to be hear right now, in the Nursing program. I have no idea why but I have learned that when the Spirit says to do something there is a reason. My decision to attend school here was confirmed again tonight. I have been stressing for a few weeks about how I am going to pay for school. I really hate to go into debt. My mom called me tonight and told me that I've received a Nursing scholarship...totally unexpected. Out of all the Nursing students, I got the scholarship?!?!?! That is a sheer miracle and I am so grateful for the tender mercies of the Lord. With Him, all things are possible!

Week 3 of Post-Mission Life!

I've made it to week three of post-mission life. It has been rough, but I've survived. I miss the mission so much! It's painful!!! So much has happened in the last three weeks since I've returned home from New York. My family has kept me very busy with reunions. In the meantime I have been cleaning out boxes and I even made a trip to Rexburg to visit Lindsey and Brenen. While I was in Rexburg I was also able to visit with some other friends and family members. Oh how I love little Rexburg! There are so many fabulous memories in that town. Thanks to all of my friends who made my time in Rexburg amazing! Hopefully my next two years of college will be just as good. Here's a few pictures that highlight the first few weeks of post-mission life. Enjoy!

This is me with my dear cousin Katie. I was so happy to see her at my homecoming...my most dedicated, letter writing cousin. :)

Three days after being released as a full time missionary, my family went boating. Let's just say that being in the water, in a swimsuit felt completely weird after not having done that for 18 months. Once I got used to it though I loved it! Yay for family boating parties!

One of the biggest changes that has occured in the last 18 months is the marriage of my sister to Brenen. My thoughts about this were, "What if I don't like him?" Now that I've spent some time with Lindsey and Brenen, I know that they are happy and he is a good guy. Welcome to the fam Brenen and thanks for taing care of Linz while I was gone! :)

One way to break a recently returned missionary in: take her to the rodeo. I hadn't been to a rodeo in a long time. I was little leary of going because for those of you who don't know, I am not a huge animal fan. The mission didn't help this at all! It was fun though and I even had the urge to jump on a horse. Curtis will have to take me riding before I head off to school. It was good to spend some quality time with the fam!

Back to blogging!

This is my second attempt at blogging. My first attempt was before my mission and I didn't do so hot at keeping things up to date. I'm hoping that I do better this time because I need a way to keep all of the amazing people I met in New York up to date on the happenings in my life. Hopefully it doesn't bore you too much!

Life seems to be falling into place considering as of two weeks ago I stepped off the airplane from my mission. For those of you who don't know, I recently returned home from a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. If you want to see a little bit about what I've been doing for the last year and a half, check out www.mormon.org. Stay tuned for more updates on my life!