Resolution

Well I guess this is a little late but I was thinking this morning about 2013 and new year resolutions! It has been a year of great growth and tender mercies from the Lord. He has been so good to me in giving me experience's that may not be what I would like but have defiantly helped me to grow. Here are a few points that really stood out in this last year!

 Beginning in March I had the opportunity to go to Hawaii for the first time with the Utah 4-H Ambassadors. While we were there I met some of the greatest people! We got to spend some time at the ocean where we learned to paddle board. Who would have thought that it would have been so difficult?! I may have stood up a total of three times! I was so grateful that there were some great swimmers close by to grab the board so that it wouldn't float out into the ocean before I could get to it! I learned that I don't have very good balance! Something that I am going to have to work on!:) We got to spend sometime with the leaders of 4-H from the Western United States. During the months prior to Hawaii we spent a lot of time earning money as a group and individually. Lesson learned? If you want something you are going to have to work for it, even if it means spending many weekends away from the comforts of your home to teach workshops! Sometimes you may not get to do what you want but you just put on your shoes and do it because it is what you have been asked to do. I think often times in the gospel we are asked to do things that are out of our comfort zone or just down right hard to do, but we do them because we know that Heavenly Father has promised us that we will be blesses for it!

In May I graduated from Mountain Crest High School! That is a pretty big deal! Thirteen years of school, studying and homework complete! I never thought that day would come but when it did I felt like I had finished a chapter of a book and turned the page onto a new page, ready to be written! The day following graduation I started that chapter though by opening my mission call to Vancouver Washington leaving in September! I could look ahead with excitement and be happy to know that I had done my best so far and that Heavenly Father had a plan for the next year and a half as long as I was obedient to his word! That can be the same for all of us! He has a plan for us so we can be at peace to know that as we are obedient we will fulfill his plan!

In mid July, the 4-H State Contest, I was released from a year of serving Utah 4-H as an ambassador. It was bitter sweet and defiantly a road that I know Heavenly Father wanted me to go down to prepare me for a mission. During that year I learned to stand up and talk in front of people. I learned to be friends with everyone even if it would seem that we have nothing in common. I learned to not take anything personally,(a HUGE thing while you are on a mission). I learned what it met to take responsibility and make the best better in what ever situation I was in. I learned what it means to love someone more than yourself as you spend your time and energy to serve them. It is only magnified as a missionary! I am grateful that I could serve Utah 4-H and learn so much! I know Heavenly Father gives us experiences that will prepare us for future opportunities! We best be prepared:)

On July 23, I celebrated my 4 year anniversary of TBI! On that day I went through the Logan Temple to receive my endowment. It was crazy to think that 4 years prior I was at Primary Children's Hospital. Elder Holland stated about trials in this life "trails are a would be temple for those going through them." Looking aback now I can defiantly say that it turned into one of the most sacred experiences of my life. So to be able to share that day with going through the temple met a lot to me! I am continually reminded of the goodness of our Heavenly Father! He gives us experiences that are hard to bring us closer to him if we let them! I am sure grateful that he does!

In August I showed my last steer, Max, at the Cache County Fair. That too was a little bitter sweet because he did extremely well but I would not longer be able to compete in the Jr. Livestock Program. I will jump ahead a little to September where I showed my last steer ever in my showing career, Stanley. He did pretty well as well, but to walk into the show arena for the last time as a participate brought tears to my eyes. I can't even begin to say the things that I learned from showing steers over the years! I learned to work hard, well I guess that is from living on a farm, but they are connected. Staying out late until the job was done and sticking with it. I learned what it met to be a good looser! To understand that each time you loose there is something to be learned. It is your job to find out and then work on it and master it. Many times I saw Heavenly Father hand while we were preparing calves for shows or in the show ring. He will always reward us for our hard work!

Later on in August, my great brother Casey let me ride home with him from New Jersey. We stopped at several of the Church History sites including the Sacred Grove. As I walked through the grove my testimony of Joseph Smith was renewed. I know that he saw God the Father and his son Jesus Christ! I know that the church he helped to restore is the same church the Christ formed while he was on the Earth. I am so grateful that Casey did this for me and let me come with him!

Then it comes to September! On September 18 I loaded my bags into our car and said good bye to my family and friends and headed to the MTC, not quit sure what was in store! Some the hardest experiences that I have ever had and all the way over on the other end, the sweetest! I never thought that I could come so close to my Heavenly Father! I never thought that I could love people the way that I do here! And I have 18 months of it!!!! This is something that I want to have forever in my life! I know that the Gospel can change lives! It has changed mine! I am excited for the remaining 15 months I have to continue to learn and meet people! There is nothing like a mission! I am grateful for a Heavenly Father who allowed me to be his servant here on a mission! I hope that each of us will recommit ourselves to living a life closer to the Savior! I know that it will bring the most blessing!

Well, there it is! My year in review! Heavenly Father has been so good to me! His tender mercies are all around if we take time to notice them! I was reading a message from the Ensign that quoted Dori from Finding Nemo, "Just keep swimming." All we need to do is keep swimming! On to resolutions! I have resolved this new year to keep swimming! I want to continue to grow closer to my Heavenly Father! I am resolving to be more obedient!  Heavenly Father is in control there is no need to fear!