This morning I hopped on a plane from Salt Lake to San Diego. There was a big storm that was supposed to come in last night in Salt Lake and many people told me I probably would not make it.... I never doubted that I would get here with no delay, and I was right.

As I was waiting to depart one of my dearest friends called me from Iraq where he is serving in the Army. It was so good to talk to him. That added to the joy of my day. It makes me so grateful too for the military!!!

As I was flying in, just before we landed I looked out the window and this is what I saw... I thought it was so cool and had to get a picture.

Christmas was really good. It was so good to be with my family. My dad gave me my grandfather's old camera. It was so neat because then we watched some of my dad's old family slides that Mary and Josh (my sister and brother-in-law) put on a DVD that were taken with the camera.

I have 9 more days here in San Diego and I am so happy to be home, and away from the snow... I hate snow.

I hope you all had a Merry Christmas and have a very Happy New Year!

Life.... my random blog

I just finished for the semester and I couldn't be happier. It was a rough semester, not that the classes were hard, it is just difficult working full-time and taking 16 units and three semesters straight lead to burn out. I have an easy load for next semester, 12 units and four of the units are institute classes.... I'm so excited for that. I am also interning.

Another big change, I decided to work grave yards at work because they were having issues working around my not so normal school schedule. It should be interesting.

The other week I was listening to an old CES broadcast by Elder Oaks. He let his wife speak for a couple of minutes and she shared a quote by Elder Holland talking about why things are hard and why life is hard. It says "Elder Jeffrey R. Holland addressed that problem while talking to missionaries about their struggles in the mission field. He spoke about the price we must pay to return to Heavenly Father. His advice applies to anyone who is struggling to know and serve God. Many of the missionaries he addressed were frustrated, seeing little success, and wondering if their missions were of worth. They asked, “Why is this so hard? Why doesn’t it go better? Why can’t our success be more rapid? Why aren’t there more people joining the Church? It is the truth. . . . We trust in miracles. Why don’t people just flock to the [Church]? . . . Why isn’t it easier?”
Elder Holland replied: “I have thought about this a great deal. I offer this as my personal feeling. It is not Church doctrine. . . . I am convinced that missionary work is not easy because salvation is not a cheap experience.” (And I would add that a university experience or this life experience is not easy because it is not a cheap experience.) “Salvation never was easy. We are the Church of Jesus Christ, this is the truth, He is our Great Eternal Head. Why would we believe . . . that it would be easy for us when it was never, ever easy for Him? . . . How could we possibly bear any moving, lasting testimony of the Atonement if we have never known or felt anything of such an experience? As [members and] missionaries we are proud to say we are disciples of Christ—and we are. But mark my word. That means [we] must be prepared to walk something of the path He walked, to feel something of the pain He felt, to at least occasionally . . . shed one of the tears of sorrow that He shed” (The Atonement [address at seminar for new mission presidents, June 26, 2007], 8).
Salvation is not a cheap experience, and we should remember that. Never let any trials stand between you and your allegiance to your Heavenly Father. Never let any insult or challenge separate you from partaking of the sacrament and lead you to spiritual weakness and possibly to a spiritual death. Hold fast, and remember what you know to be true."

How true it is. I think all of us at one point in our lives have those thought of why thing are so hard.

A this time of year I am grateful for the birth of my Savior, Jesus Christ, for his mortal parents who were willing to raise the Son of God. I am so grateful for the Atonement He went through for all of us so that we can make it through this life to return to live with our Heavenly Father and Mother again. What a blessing it is to have two holidays a year that are for Christ. Just think how much better off the world would be if we thought more like Christ and more of Christ.

If I don't happen to write on this again before Christmas, I wish you all a Merry Christmas and I hope you remember the reason we celebrate this time of year!

Lights on Temple Square

Sunday night we went to Temple Square in Salt Lake and looked at all the pretty lights (I also pretended to be a photographer and took engagement picture for some friends in my ward). This one is blurry but my favorite super cool one I could not get to up load :0(.... so you are stuck with this not so pretty one. Here is a little of what they have going on....

This is one of the many manger scenes that is around temple square....

A side view of the reflecting pool .... these picture don't do it justice!

The Salt Lake Temple with some pretty lights..

This is in the middle of the reflecting pool. I wish you all could see how beautiful it is!

Music

This might not make any since to anyone but me but, I was in the car last night with my friend Carrie and we were listening to one of our favorite band, Amber Pacific (http://music.aol.com/artist/amber-pacific/2136437). They are a punk type band with lost of crazy drumming, no no dirty language or vulgar thoughts (other wise I wouldn't listen to them). We just love them. Carrie made a comment that I had never thought of while we was listening to them, she said, "It's so nice that I can listen to this and still feel the spirit." It's kind of crazy how true that was and how grateful I am that there is music with a beat like that has and still you can feel the spirit.
That got me to thinking about some other music and how when I listen to the lyrics it makes me think about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. One song that I was listening to a while ago that made me think this way is actually written to be a type of love song but if you think about it as if you are singing it to Christ it is super cool or maybe I am crazy.

Lyrics to Bless The Broken Road :
I set out on a narrow way many years ago
Hoping I would find true love along the broken road
But I got lost a time or two
Wiped my brow and kept pushing through
I couldn't see how every sign pointed straight to you
Every long lost dream led me to where you are
Others who broke my heart they were like northern stars
Pointing me on my way into your loving arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you
I think about the years
I spent just passing through
I'd like to have the time
I lost and give it back to you
But you just smile and take my hand
You've been there you understand
It's all part of a grander plan that is coming true
Every long lost dream led me to where you are
Others who broke my heart they were like northern stars
Pointing me on my way into your loving arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you
Now I'm just rolling home
Into my lover's arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you

Let me know if you see what I'm saying.

Panoramas are one of our assignments for photography. Here are a couple of mine, that have not had to much, if any, editing done on them yet.

Here is the view off the top of our parking structure at school... not bad eh? It is actually a nice area to go to school in (when there is not something going on at the arena and have problem finding a parking spot or protesters on Temple Square).

It's the Bountiful Temple in case you were wondering. I love the view from here and it is beautiful inside as well.

I think this one is cool, it's up Big Cottonwood Canyon. The color is a little funky and don't look to close but one of the sides is blurry.

There you have it.... when i finish my other stuff I'll make an effort to post it. I hope you have a happy day!!!

Last weekend

Last weekend my cousin Ty was ordained to a priest (not like a Catholic Priest, it is a little different in our church). It was great becasue a chunk of my family was brought to gether. Ben and Maria came up with their kids for the weekend. I am the old lady in the group, most of the cousins are younger than my siblings and I and my Aunt Kathryn's kids, but I still have fun with them.

So in the pictuer we have from left to right: Teone Koontz, Kellyann Harms, Me, Cecily Rosses, Tristen Harms, Trevor Harms, Jared Koonts, Sariah Koontz, Ty Rosser, Elaina Koontz, and Hannah Rosser.

This was a fun one, that's Elaina, Hannah, Me, and Cecily. We were playing around downstairs. I love these girls. I am a good number of years older than all of them so I have watched them grow up from babies and man do they grow fast.

This is my little Jared (aka Tarzan, or so he

use to let me call him). I when I left on my mission he was not really talking and by the time I got home nothing would make him stop. He is so grown up and so tall! He is going to be a little heartbreaker when he gets older.

I love spending time with my family!!! I am so glad for the God's Plan of Salvation (for more info click here: http://www.mormon.org/mormonorg/eng/basic-beliefs/heavenly-father-s-plan-of-happiness/heavenly-father-s-plan-of-happiness) that I am able to be sealed to my family through eternity. I am so grateful for that gift and that blessing.

The Monkey

Isn't the monkey so cute??? The one crawling on my page for, my parents can't see it so I hope the rest of you can and don't think I am crazy. My sister put it up there without me knowing, she is my blog guru since I really have no clue how to do anything besides post what I write.

I am so excited, I only have 5 more weeks of school and I get a good long three weeks off and then right back to the grind stone. I am not looking forward to next semester as I have to throw interning on my plate of full-time work and full-time school. Bring it on! Ughhhh!

For those of you who don't know I work customer service at Wal-Mart.... it is not the most spectacularly job but I get paid alright and they are willing to adjust my schedule so I can go to school. I decided I am going to start writing down my experience and then write a tell book about the good, the bad, and the ugly of Wal-Mart Customer Service. I have told some people some of my stories.... wow is all I can say someday. All I can say is that my job has made me immune to being cussed at and for feeling bad for telling people no. it has also made me more familiar with dishonest people. I us to be a very trusting person but let me tell you I have learned that even the ones that look like you can trust them you really cannot. I won't get to into that but when I have a good story I'll post it so you can see what kinds of stuff I get to put up with.

Prop 8 and the Church

I am born and raised Californian, but sadly I am not able to vote in California anymore; but the Prop 8 controversy is all across the country and is becoming a big issue in Salt Lake where I live. I belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and they have given their support for Prop 8, which is the first political issue they have ever, that I know of, taken a stand on. For us and the leaders of the church it is for a moral issue than a political one. I am glad that the church is in support of it.
What makes me upset are the members who are petitioning against the First Presidency of the church. I’m sorry but do you not remember The Proclamation to the Family which is probably hanging on your wall, which states what we believe a family is? Did you not sustain these brethren as prophets, seers and revelators just a month ago? Have you not read in Doctrine and Covenants 1:38 where is says “whether by mine own voice or the voice of my servants, it is the same”? Honestly, Satan has made so many things in this world look ok when they are against God’s Plan and when we support those things who’s side are we on???
You know the end is coming when people chose to no longer support the leaders of their church. Nephi saw it: “And the multitude of the earth was gathered together; and I beheld that they were in a large and spacious building, like unto the building which my father saw. And the angel of the Lord spake unto me again, saying: Behold the world and the wisdom thereof; yea, behold the house of Israel hath gathered together to fight against the twelve apostles of the Lamb. And it came to pass that I saw and bear record, that the great and spacious building was the pride of the world; and it fell, and the fall thereof was exceedingly great. And the angel of the Lord spake unto me again, saying: Thus shall be the destruction of all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, that shall fight against the twelve apostles of the Lamb.”
I know everyone is entitled to their own opinion and that is why we were given agency, but when you have a prophet on the earth who is God’s mouth piece why would you not listen and support God and the leaders He has chosen for our day???

If Dr. Seuss Wrote The Book of Mormon

We get handouts at institue sometimes an I thought this one was funny, so here you go:
Nephi:
Of goodly parents I was born
I’ve never drunk, I’ve never sworn
This is Lehi, he’s my dad —
Laman, Lemuel, they are bad.
And who is this? Why this is Sam.

Sam:
Yes, this is Sam; Sam I am!

Laman:
That Sam I am, that Sam I am
I do not like that Sam I am

Sam:
In a tent, my father dwelt

Laman:
And it’s so hot, I think I’ll melt

Lemuel:
Our father’s brain is out of whack

Laman:
Yeah. It’s too hot, I’m going back.

Lehi:
Then go and get the plates, my dear

Laman:
On second thought, I’m staying here.

Nephi:
You said you’d leave and go away
Now all you want to do is stay?

Lemuel:
That Nephi always gets his way.

Laman:
Here we are in this damp cave.

Sam:
We would not be here if you’d behave.

Nephi:
I will go and I will do.
There’s the angel, that’s my cue.
Laban’s had too much to drink
Now he’ll lose his head, I think.

Nephi:
Look what I found —
A brother from the quorum

Sam:
We will take him home.
We will call him Zoram

Laman:
Our gold and silver we have spent
I do not like it in this tent.

Lemuel:
I cannot read the Liahona
I must have drunk too much Corona

Laman:
We hate it here.
We have no lives!

Lehi
Then go back to the city
And get some wives.

Lehi:
A tree, a tree, I see a tree!!
The fruit is white, the fruit is free!
A floating building, could it be?
Why do they laugh and stare at me?
Laman, Lemuel, come and see!

Laman:
We will not eat your precious fruit.

Lemuel:
We will not wear a tie and suit.

Laman:
We will not help you build your boat.

Lemuel:
We do not think that it will float

Laman:
No not this boat, it will not float
Not even in a shallow moat
I do not care what Nephi wrote

Lemuel:
We will not eat your fruit I say.

Laman:
We will not eat it on a tray.

Lemuel:
And we won’t eat it in a tent,
Not even if your clothes you rent.

Laman:
We’d rather have a can of spam.

Laman & Lemuel:
We will not eat it, Sam I am.

Sam:
You do not like it, so you say
Try it, try it, and you may
Try it and you may I say.

Laman:
Sam, if you will let us be,
We will try it, you will see.

Laman & Lemuel:
Say, we like this fruit of life
Sorry that we caused such strife
You’ve saved us from an awful jam
Thank you, thank you, Sam I am!

Who Knows....

I hate giving these things titles because I never know what to call them. I have been doing homework for the past couple (more like 5 than a couple) so I thought I'd take a break and write something since my family always asks when I a m going to post again so here goes, not that i have much to say. So this summer i had to change wards, it's a long story but in my last ward I got to serve in the Relief Society Presidency with with some pretty amazing girls and it was really hard for me to leave that ward and my calling, anyway, I went and had dinner with two of them tonight and what fun they are. I miss that calling and those girls so much. What a blessing it is to serve in calling even if it just blesses you with knew friends who are a good influence in your life.
On Sunday I got to go to a missionary fairwell for a girl that I worked with. She was called to San Antonio, Texas. Her topic was eternal merriage.... pretty crazy topic for someone leaving on a mission but she did very well. Look out Texas becasuse you ate getting a great missionary.
On Friday I went to this place called Gardner Village with my Aunt Nancy and my cousin Kellyann, who I live with. It was so cute we went to the animal petting part of it and there was a sheep and a goat and some other animals that were sleeping and Kellyann, she is 2.5, would bend over and tell tha animals to wake up, they didn't listen so she would move on to the next one. I love hanging out with 2 year olds, I find them very entertaining.
There is my life in a nut shell.

Update

I think in my last blog I talked about a boy in there…..let’s just say that didn’t go anywhere.

So it’s been a while… I’m now back to the how school and work thing. I have 6 classes this semester my two favorite being Pearl of Great Price and photography. I have learned so much in my institute class it is amazing to me how amazing the gospel is. I have learned so much about the plan of salvation among other things. I have always loved photography so I will post a little bit of my work…

Reflecting pool at Temple Square.......

The one below was taken at a Silver Lake up Little Cottonwood Canyon...

I would post more but they take forever to download!!!! So maybe next time....

I went 4-wheeling at the sand dunes a couple weekends and that was a ton of fun.
I also had the privilege of attending my mission reunion as well as a session of General Conference last weekend. I love the Gospel and the Church so much for the blessings it brings into my life. I love going to mission reunions and being able to see those I served with and to see how the mission blessed their lives as well. I adore President and Sister Ashton. How I wish I could be as amazing as Sister Ashton, I don’t even have words to describe her. She is the type of person I want to grow up to be.

I wish I didn’t take so much time to upload pictures otherwise I’d have more to write about. Maybe if I did this more often it wouldn’t take me so long and it would be more interesting for you to read….. till next time…..

Update

So here is the update and the fun I’ve have over the past month. Two weekends ago there was a huge YSA Summit Conference at the University of Utah… I missed the workshops on Saturday do to work but on Sundays I had the opportunity to sing in a choir in the Tabernacle. Steve Young was the key note and special surprise guest was Elder Joseph B Worthlin. What an amazing experience it was to be able to sing in the famous tabernacle and to be so close to an apostle. When Steve young was finished speaking, he is hilarious p.s., Elder Worthlin shared a short but oh so powerful testimony. He’s spirit alone walking in to the tabernacle brought tears to my eyes. It was like conference when the Apostles and prophets walk in and a very noise room goes quite in an instance. What a sign of respect and a confirmation that everyone in that room knew that he was a man chosen by God to be an apostle for us.
On another happy note they had speed dating there…with a little twist. I wasn’t there for the beginning of the day but two of my friends were and they were kind enough to sign me up. So what happens is you feel out a questionnaire with your number on top and if the person likes your answers they text you. So I got a date out of it and I have seen him a couple of times… I’ll keep you posted.
What else??? I get to go home for Christmas and New Years :0). I’m so excited that my work is letting me go. Wahooo!!!! So I’m going to try the who picture putting up thing but I’m not quite sure how it works. So that is the excitement as of current.

Pet Peve

So I think the most annoying thing in the who world, ok maybe not the most annoying but pretty close to it, is when people people drive down the rows in the parking lot the wrong way. They put the big'ol arrows on the ground pointing the direction you are suppose to drive and the cars are angled the same way. Is it really that hard to go the right way? I think it bugs me more when people expect you to move out of the way when they are the ones going the wrong directions. I deal with this everyday when I go to work and it is annoying! So there is my vent! Other than that today was a good day. I had breakfast with an old friend and her family, it was nice to catch up. Other than that and going to work not to eventful.

*****

So this is my first actual blog so let’s see if I can actually get it to post. So what do you right here anyway? I guess you all want to know what I am up to… well I just finished my last hard projects for the semester, now just a couple finals and I am done for a month, yeah! What a relief!
It is crazy raining outside, I love! It makes me miss the Canadian summer storms. I only got to see one bolt of lightning but it was cool.
I went to see Colby Callite and John Mayer last night with a group of people from my old ward. They are both really amazing live performers. If you like them and get to see them go it is worth it.
Let see, what else… Oh, so I’ve been studying on personal revelation for personal study and I found this AMAZING talk that I highly recommend by Bruce R McConkie called “How to get Personal Revelation.”So we all know that the prophets encourage us to get an educations, but it not just to get better jobs or make something of ourselves in this life but because “the better the intellect, the more we are able to evaluate spiritual principles.” So the more you know about history, math, English and all those good things, the more you will be able to have the ability to understand spiritual principles. Makes since to me. Anyway, I think that is about it. If anything else exciting comes my way, I’ll put it up. :0)

I Finally Caved In

I finally caved in and started a blog. My sister has been bugging me to do it but since my mom aksed I caved in. Hopefully I will get the hang of it and post every once in a while.