Life rolls on...

so my life has now fallen into a nice pattern of homework, playing, and trying to balance all the other things i need to and want to do. I have my first round of tests coming up this week and next, and i'm a little nervous to say the least. i really want to do well this semester, like better than i've ever done and i know the only thing stopping me is myself, i have a tendency to procrastinate or just think things aren't very important when they are. haha, so i'm trying to stay on top of everything which has been relatively easy seeing as i don't have any major distractions in my life at the moment. i would say that isn't a blessing, but i know it is. heavenly father is just trying to help me, so he's keeping all the boys away :) or maybe he's helping my parents...
Speaking of parents and family i do miss mine a lot. they are wonderful and i enjoy hearing from them. i talk to my mom at least every other day and i'm so thankful for her and what a blessing she is in my life.
Oh, i got a calling in my ward yesterday, i am a relief society instructor. i taught my first lesson yesterday on family, and it went really well! i was so nervous to teach by myself and to teach all these girls i don't know very well, and who don't know me. but it all went really well, and i was so thankful for that. now i don't have to teach for another month! yeah :)
i am so proud of myself. yesterday i sat down and wrote all the missionaries i've been saying i would write for ages. i wrote eight letters and mailed all but the international ones today and i'm going to mail the others tomorrow. it amazes me how many boys i know serving the Lord in so many different places. i am so proud of them and know that they made the right decision to go and serve.

j

We Thank Thee Oh God For a Prophet

So its been a week since my last post and i figured its been a great week so i needed to write a little.

Well i officially turned in my application for the Elementary Education program here at BYU and will be hearing back at the end of October. So i'm a little nervous about that, but all is well and whatever is supposed to happen will. Other than that life has been just the basic day to day activities. There was one exciting event however! President Thomas S Monson, president and prophet for my church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) came to BYU this week for a devotional and gave a great testimony about all the prophets of his life and because i need to write this down in my journal and typing it once would save the time, i decided to write about it here. :) First of, it always amazes me how when the prophet comes to town, the marriott center (which holds 23,000 people) is completely packed an hour before it starts you're lucky if you can find a seat! Well i sat there for an hour with my friend Amy from back home and we talked about life and caught up on what we were doing, and then about five minutes to eleven the prophet came, and if you've never been in a room when the prophet walks in, let me tell you it is an experience. the entire room becomes completely silent and everyone stands and shows their respect and honor for this man of God, it truly is a moving experience. Where else could you find a place where simultaneously 23,000 18-25 year olds will become quiet and show there respect?

So here is a summary of my notes:

First he started out with saying that by being here at BYU "you are the heart and soul of your parents" "a glorious site" and we are "in the prime of your lives, where there are difficulties and exceptional opportunities" "destined to meet challenges and solve problems.

He then started talking about past prophets and informed us he wanted to talk a little about every prophet that has served during his life, including personal stories and anecdotes about each one. He said that every prophet that has been has taught us a lesson that we can apply to our lives. He said that since he was born there have been nine prophets, ten if he were to include himself.
1. President Heber J Grant - He told how President Grant was the prophet of the Great Depression, and how times were different then. Anyone could come and see the prophet anytime they wanted. Since he served during the Great Depression he set up the great welfare program of the church and as an individual he always practiced at difficult things. As a child when we wanted to become a better pitcher he would practice by pitching at a small target on the barn, and when he wanted to have better penmanship, he practiced until he was proficient. His favorite food was bread and milk, and his favorite song was "Do What Is Right - Let the Consequence Follow". His favorite quote was from Ralph Waldo Emerson, "That which we persist in doing becomes easier, not that the task itself becomes easier, but that our ability to perform it has improved" So what is the lesson we learn from this man?
** Persistence - to persist in all things which are good and noble

2. President George Albert Smith - He was the one who helped organize supplies to aid the suffering in WWII. Because of him, the saints were ready to provide foreign aid after the war when meeting with President Truman. He always had a compassionate heart. Once when he was walking on South Temple Street he saw a man working without a coat on. He told the man it was too cold to be outside without one, and when the man told him he had none, President Smith took off his coat and gave it to the man. His favorite song was "Let Us Oft Speak Kind Words to Each Other" and his favorite food was apple pie. He would often say "There is a great tug of war going on between the Lord and the adversary, stay safely on the Lord's side of the line."
** Compassion - always have a compassionate heart

3. President David O McKay - He was the President who extended the call to President Monson to the quorum of the 12 apostles. He told a story of a lady who painted a picture for President McKay of the house where he was raised, it turned out to be wrong home, but he hung it proudly in his office anyway. His favorite song was "Oh Say What Is Truth" and his favorite food was chocolate. His favorite saying was "True Christianity is love in action"
**Consideration - Always be considerate of others

4. President Joseph Fielding Smith - He wrote a letter to President Monson while President Monson was serving the people in the South Pacific away from his home and family saying "all is well, i am pleased you're in the South Pacific, and will be there to welcome you home when you return". He was a prolific writer, and has educated generations on adherence to gospel principles. His favorite song was "Prayer is the Soul's Sincere Desire" and his favorite food was sweet pickles. His favorite quote was "Wickedness never was happiness"
** Gospel Scholarship - be studious, be students of the gospel, at test week, when you are tested on life, you will be grateful you were studious.

5. President Harold B Lee - He once was at an interview with President Monson in NYC, where the woman interviewing him was asking him controversial questions about our church. President Lee turned the controversial conversation to one on the church's welfare program and outstanding educational program. He had a persuasive ability, and was a teacher to all. Once President Monson’s son’s had a leg tumor, and President Monson called President Lee for help, and when President Lee went with President Monson to give his son a blessing he said, “There is no where in the world where I would rather be than by your side giving a priesthood blessing.” His favorite song was "Praise to the Man" and his favorite food was bread and milk. His favorite quote was "Stand Ye in Holy Places and be not moved"
**Be In Tune and Responsive to the Whisperings of the Holy Spirit

6. President Spencer W Kimball - He often said that "Obstacles were Opportunities" - He would often were the same shoes, ones that had large holes in them, his assistant would try to hide these shoes, but he would always find them. He would say, "My life, like my shoes, is to be worn out in the service of the Lord" His favorite song was "I Need Thee Every Hour" and his favorite food was a piece of break, broken into chunks and stirred into a glass of milk. His favorite quote was "Lengthen Your Stride"
** Dedication - Be dedicated to the Lord and God

7. President Ezra Taft Benson - He was a very generous man, once President Monson was in his office when he noticed a very beautiful ridding saddle. He complimented President Benson on it and President Benson said "thank you, would you like it?" He was voted "most preferred" man at BYU and went to war torn Europe for 10 1/2 months providing physical nourishment and everlasting hope to the people there. His favorite song was "I Need Thee Every Hour" and his favorite food was fresh raspberries. His favorite quote comes from Christ which says "What manner of men ought ye to be? Even as I am."
** Love - Love one another

8. President Howard W Hunter - He was a very courteous person, always thanking those around him for all that they did for him. His favorite song was "Have I Done Any Good in the World Today?" and his favorite food was Alaskan Crab. His favorite quote comes from Proverbs 27:2 "Let another man praise thee and not thine own lips"
**See the best in people - See them as God sees them

9. President Gordon B Hinckley - President Monson and Hinckley served together for 41 years, they were beloved friends. President Hinckley was kind, and taught and lived tolerance. He was a wordsmith, well-read, and a scholar. President Monson told a story of how when driving the underground tunnels to go to their weekly meeting in the Salt Lake Temple, President Hinckley knew instinctively when they were on temple grounds and would remove his hat in respect. His favorite song was "God of Our Fathers" and his favorite food was pie and ice cream. He loved Joseph Smith and the Savior. His favorite quote was "And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives! For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father"
** Do Your Best in all that you do

He then closed by saying that we, like all these prophets who have gone before us, must "never waive, falter, or fail in our faith and efforts"

I'm so grateful for the prophets that have gone and for ours today and for the message which he shared for it is truly one we can all take something from and apply to our lives.

Applying!

So i've been crazy stresses lately as I've been preparing to apply to the elementary education program here at BYU. I've finished all the paperwork and the four required tests and now i'm just getting the papers all together to submit. let me just say, i am sooooooooooooooooo nervous! i want nothing more than to get into the program and keep my life plan moving. this is something i've worked, waited, and prayed for for a long time and its so crazy to see it finally all coming together.

i also cannot believe i've only been in school for almost 2 weeks, it feels like i've been here for like 6 months! i constantly have to remind myself that i've only been here for two weeks and the fact that i haven't been on a date yet isn't an issue! haha, anyway, i'm loving my apartment and my roommates, and things are going quite well. something i always remind myself is that Heavenly Father has a plan for me and that whatever is supposed to happen will and that i just need to have faith and continue to do the best i can.

the only bad thing right now? i miss my family. its been about a month since i've seen them and i miss them like crazy. i'm such a home-body and love just being with my family. i was blessed to be with them all summer so its hard to not be around them right now.

love from utah,

j

I'm Domestic!

so i am so proud of myself! people may make fun of me, but i am proud none the less. so in my apartment we decided that we were gonna take turns cooking dinner monday through thursday and tonight was my night to cook. i was nervous because i've never really cooked a full blown meal on my own without help from my mom or dad. but i found a recipe for chicken stir-fry that sounded like it would be good so i bought the ingredients, and cooked the meal tonight. it was delicious. i made brown rice as well, and it turned out splendid. i was super proud of myself.

here's the recipe if anyone wants to try it!

j

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1 bunch broccoli, cut into florets
• 1 package shiitake mushrooms
• 2 to 3 carrots, thinly sliced
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 1 cup onion, diced
• 1 (8-ounce) can sliced water chestnuts, drained
• 1 cup chicken broth
  
• 1/4 cup hoisin sauce
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon powdered ginger
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch

In a large skillet, heat the oils over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook for 4 to 5 minutes or until lightly browned. Add broccoli, mushrooms, carrots, pepper, and onion and cook an additional 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Stir in the water chestnuts. In a small bowl, combine broth, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, ginger, and cornstarch. Add to chicken mixture and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium to medium-low, and simmer for 4 to 5 minutes, or until sauce thickens.

** recipe is from www.foodnetwork.com :)