Been a while!

Oh, so it's been a while since I wrote! Life is just crazy busy, and I'm sure most of you (if anyone actually reads this blog) feel the same. (Do you ever feel like you're writing to a non-existent audience? ANYWAY.)

I got called into the Young Women as a Laurel Adviser! I love this calling already. It's amazing to already feel of the girls' heart and strength. I see now, from a leader's standpoint, all that my past leaders did for me! Each one of them were examples to me, and all of them taught me specific things I'm still trying to incorporate into my life today. I hope that I can be a small example to these girls. I feel very..unfit.. to be their 'leader' in some ways--so I guess I'll just try to be their friends and maybe some natural leadership will follow. I wonder what they must be thinking? I hope they like me! I'm not insecure about it, I just know that coming into their lives at this point is trickier than maybe the younger girls.

I love the President, and still have to get to know the other adviser, but I'm sure I'll love her too! I get to teach a few times this fall--starting in November I'll have about 4 weeks until the New Year that I'll get to teach. I even get to teach a joint lesson with all the girls and leaders around Christmas! (ah! Scary!)

Fall is definitely in the air..and I love it. Utah has the best weather this time of year! I've loved living at home this fall, and have had a much better time than I did a year ago. It's been great (and a major blessing in this economy) to work a full time job vs. 12 hours a week at minimum wage, have Mike around, spend time with my best friends, see family and have a calling!

Kathy went into the MTC the other day. It was bittersweet to say goodbye-but I know she is where she should be, and I am too...so it can't be sad for that long. It's not anymore, by the way. I'll just miss having her to go to ANYTIME I need. She is that kind of friend to answer the phone at 4 in the morning, still love you when you don't call for 5 days, and make you smile when you're down. She knows me in and out..and I will always love her. Julie goes to Brazil next week, too! Amazing girls.

Cait came down last weekend! That was really fun. She's coming down again for conference this next weekend, too! Always great when the Briney's are around. (It makes me wanna go to CA to see their whole family again!)

Life is so great. I honestly wake up every morning grateful for a new day. (Maybe that is because I love mornings?) But, really...the Lord just knows how to make things right when they need to be. I look at last year in comparison to this one, and think that the Lord teaches us ways to be grateful in our lives through allowing times of hardship to be followed by times of great blessings. Even in our darkest times we can still be grateful--but in those times we're just getting by instead of thriving every day.

Maybe I love the seasons here in Utah so much because it reminds me that we all have different 'seasons' in our lives as well. (THAT was not supposed to sound cheesy...btw) I look at all the different times of good/bad/happy/sad/grateful/selfish, etc and see how each of these periods in my life have contributed to where I am now. I love looking forward, and using all I've had in the past as guide for where I want to be. There are new beginnings everywhere. Whether it be a new day, a new month, year..or even a minute..we can make our lives beautiful whenever we choose.

Love it.