Noble and great. Courageous and determined. Faithful and fearless

Sunday in church we discussed the talk "Knowing Who You Are- and Who You Always Have Been" by Sheri Dew. I thought it was quite a fitting start to the new year. Click on the link above for the whole talk, but I picked out a few quotes that I really like!

Our spirits long for us to remember the truth about who we are, because the way we see ourselves, our sense of identity, affects everything we do. It affects the way we behave, the way we respond to uncertainty, the way we see others, the way we feel about ourselves, and the way we make choices. It affects the very way we live our lives. So, today, I invite you to ponder in a new way not just who you are but who you have always been.



  We are among the elect whom the Lord has called during this "eleventh hour" to labor in His vineyard, a vineyard that "has become corrupted every whit" and in which only a few "doeth good" (D&C 33:3-4). We are those few. God, who saw the "end from the beginning" (Abraham 2:8), foresaw perfectly what these times would demand. Thus, said President George Q. Cannon, "God . . . reserved spirits for this dispensation who [would] have the courage and determination to face the world, and all the powers of the evil one," and who would "build up the Zion of our God, fearless of all consequences."6
  Can you imagine that God, who knew us perfectly, reserved us to come now, when the stakes would be higher and the opposition more intense than ever? When He would need women who would help raise and lead a chosen generation in the most lethal spiritual environment? Can you imagine that He chose us because He knew we would be fearless in building Zion?

Noble and great. Courageous and determined. Faithful and fearless. That is who you are, and that is

 who you have always been.

Listen to these words from President Gordon B. Hinckley: "Woman is God's supreme creation. . . .


"Of all the creations of the Almighty, there is none more . . . inspiring than a . . . daughter of God who walks in virtue with an understanding of why she should do so."14


"Rise above the dust of the world. Know that you are daughters of God . . . and that there is for you a great work to be done which cannot be left to others." 15


My dear sisters, will you seek to remember with the help of the Holy Ghost who you are and who you have always been? Will you remember that you stood by our Savior without flinching? Remember that you were reserved for now because you would have the courage and determination to face the world at its worst and to help rear and lead a chosen generation. Remember the covenants you have made and the power they carry. Remember that you are noble and great and a potential heir of all our Father has. Remember that you are the daughter of a King.


 -Definitely gives me something to think about. I especially love the part where she says that we are Noble and great. Courageous and determined. Faithful and fearless.  - Something to live up to right? This talk made me think for a little while. Sometimes I forget. I forget why I am here, what I should be doing - and get wrapped up in school or trying to fix everything. I am grateful to know that I have a purpose - even if I don't always understand it, or recognize it. I am grateful to know that my Father in Heaven, knows me and knows what I am capable of. I hope that I can continue to grow and better myself so I can rise to my potential and life others in the process. 

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Well life is good. I am getting ready to head back up to Logan for Spring semester - incidently my last spring semester as an Undergrad! I am excited for the classes I will be taking - which I have mentioned before - and I think this semester will bring an array of new opportunities and challenges. So that should be exciting. 


This week, as with most of the break - has been spent hanging out with family. I was able to go to the Temple with my Mom, help my Grandparents organize and clean their laundry room, watch some more Dr.Who Season 5 and Psych Season 3 with my brother, do a little art research for my Dad, and still have some time to myself to watch Merlin Season 1, cross stitch, and read The Last Unicorn. It has been a nice break from class, but I am ready to get back to school.


In other news... I am really excited for Valentine's Day. Why you way ask? - I have no idea really, it's not like I have someone special... although a lot can happen in a month right, so suppose there is always a possibility. I am excited for the candy and the treats and most likely a girls night with my roommates. Perhaps fueling my excitement is something awesome that I got for Christmas - a mini donut maker! It is so cute! 

Bite sized bits of happiness

I have been looking for another excuse to break out the donut maker and decorate some darling mini donuts.

- And now I have so share a picture of my favorite donuts ever - I stumbled across this picture while looking for one of mini donuts:

J.CO Donuts are amazing!

I first found J.CO in Kuala Lumpur (West Malaysia). If ever a donut could change a life - it would be one of these! Okay I am totally kidding about the life changing thing, but these donuts are really good!

Well I thought I would take advantage of the time I have this week to blog a little bit before I get swamped with school work and things, but even then I'll try to post weekly.. at least bi-weekly. Not that I think my blog is important to anyone but me, I write what I see, learn and think about. I try to keep it interesting, but at the end of the day I do it for me. I appreciate that you took the time to read this, and hope that you will be back. Leave a comment if you will and let me know how you are doing and what you are thinking about. I'll be honest, that's probably much more interesting than anything you will see here ;)

Selamat Tahun Baru! (Happy New Year!)

And so it finally has come -the dawning of a new year full of promise and unique opportunities and experiences. Over the past couple of days I have spent quite a bit of time contemplating the past year, and what 2011 may bring.

One of the things I have been giving my attention to lately is my love of good quotes - whatever the source. I love quotes from writers, Prophets, poets, academics, and 'ordinary people' - if there is such thing. So to start my collection I went and bought me a journal of sorts that has 'Live Love Laugh" written on the outside. What really drew me to this particular journal was the silver coating of the pages. I thought it was fitting to hold the words of wisdom, advice, and observations of the quotes I will find to fill it - little treasures. The first quote of my new book is by Henry David Thoreau:

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. 

Live the life you have imagined"

I LOVE that quote. I thought it was particularly fitting to begin this year off with because this year I will graduate from USU! I have a feeling that this year will play a part in shaping the rest of my life. (well I suppose every year, every day has the potential to shape the rest of our lives)

I am grateful for the Christmas Season, and although we know better as to the date of Christ's birth, I like celebrating it at the end of the year. It is a wonderful opportunity to shift the focus of our lives to others, to try harder to do good and to reevaluate our priorities. Then as soon as Christmas is over, we get to celebrate the beginning of a New Year, full of the lingering Christmas Spirit. This new year will probably bring trials and difficult situations... but I am grateful for the opportunities that are going to come my way, the decisions I am going to have to make that will influence me, my future and perhaps to some extent those around me. Sometimes it is easy to feel insignificant but I know that we have a greater influence on those around us than we realize.

As I have been contemplating the past year, I wonder if I wasted some of it. If I could have done more, if I should have done this or that.. I am borrowing this quote from my friend's blog, which got me thinking...

You can always look back and see where you might have done something differently, changed this or that. If you can learn something, fine, but never second-guess yourself. 

It's wasted effort. –John Wooden

I know that there is truth in that. Although I am sure there are times in our past where we could and should have done something differently... but once things are done, we should focus on the present and what we can do today. I try to live in the moment. Now don't get me wrong, I think of the future and I set goals and make plans, but I really try to be in the moment - to give my attention to those I am with, savor the moment and make the most of it. 

As I have been thinking about my goals for the month, semester and year, these words came to mind: Balance, Aspiration, Confidence and Courage. I feel like this year is going to be a challenge and that I am really going to have to step up to the plate and courageously move forward. That reminds me of a quote by President Gordon B. Hinckley:

"This is a season to be strong. It is a time to go forward without hesitation, knowing well the meaning, the breadth, and the importance of our mission. It is time to do what is right regardless of the consequences that might follow. It is a time to be found keeping the commandments. It is a season to reach out with kindness and love to those in distress and to those who are wandering in darkness and pain. It is a time to be considerate and good, decent and courteous toward one another in all of our relationships, 

in other words, to become more Christlike."

 And so it is with an open heart I welcome the New Year and move forward in the direction of my dreams grateful for those family members and friends who are such a strength and blessing in my life.