Seek Learning

“Our Creator expects His children everywhere to gain an education as a personal endeavor. He issued this commandment: “Seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith” (D&C 88:118; emphasis added). When you leave this frail existence, your material possessions will remain here, but the Lord has declared that the knowledge you acquire here will rise with you in the resurrection (seeD&C 130:18–19). In light of this celestial perspective, if you impulsively drop out or otherwise cut short your education, you would not only disregard a divine decree but also abbreviate your own eternal potential.”

- Elder Nelson 

(photos taken at the BYU-Idaho geology museum)

Good Reads

"I plead with you not to let those most important things pass you by as you plan for that illusive and nonexistent future when you will have time to do all that you want to do. Instead, find joy in the journey- now."

-Thomas S. Monson

This last weekend I bought the book The Power of Starting Something Stupid by Richie Norton. It is blowing my mind, in a good way. The book is about not waiting on making your dreams happen. It doesn't pretend that you won't face struggles on your journey, but it reminds you of how bad you want to do something. Struggling is a normal thing. The book gives you courage to take leaps of faith. It reminds you of great people we all know who made "crazy" decisions but still managed to succeed. 

I'm not even finished reading this book but I am highly recommending it to you.

   

#blessed

Background:

We are fans of Parks and Recreation over here and we often quote episodes.

Earlier in the season there was an episode where Tom was in court because he got in an accident while tweeting. Typical Tom.

"Hashtag: blessed" has been one of the most quoted lines of the season. We crack up every time one of us uses it. We think we are hilarious.

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Our time up here at school has been an adventure.

In a good way.

We knew when we got here that we would need to get jobs pronto.

We both hooked jobs in September at the Rexburg Opinion Center.

We were SO HAPPY to get jobs. We even scheduled to work the same shifts.

Is it wrong that we don't get sick of each other?

I guess that's what two years apart from each other does to us.

The first month was decent, we were just happy to be employed part time. Then hurricane Sandy happened. Since our call center usually calls the east during our shift we were out of work for almost two weeks. It was nice to have the break from the phones but not from the money. After phone lines were up and running again we had LOTS of work to do. This is when we started hating our jobs.
We started looking for new jobs, but the timing was a little off. We are about to go home for 2 1/2 weeks for the wedding, honeymoon and Christmas. We thought we would have to work for another month AT LEAST until something else came along. 

Then a miracle happened. My friend said her work was looking for someone to fill a full-time position next semester on campus. In no time Chris had sent his resume and I started praying he would get this job. In a week or less Chris had the interview and was offered the job! This is where "hashtag: blessed" comes into play.

We truly live such a blessed life. 

Chris will be able to work 40 hours a week and I will be able to stop being a telemarketer. 

Holla. 

Autumn

Autumn has fallen upon Rexburg.

Today the high was 56 degrees with a generous breeze.

That rhymes.

The trees are loaded with yellows and the ground will be soon.

Today when I was having some alone time with my camera I thought about the things I want to do.

I really want to focus on exploring the places around myself. 

Sometimes I may think I have photographed every corner of Rexburg and even some of the next city over but I know there are more secret spots to be found in this little town.

I want to find and see new things in this familiar place.

What do you want to do this season?

This video makes me happy.

Swim

(photo taken at the BYUI pool)

I was pretty much raised in a pool. Most of my summers were spent marinating in chlorine.

My sunburnt face and green hair photos prove that.

Ever since I was little I have been fascinated with the feeling from swimming between the bottom of the pool and the surface. My body cutting through the water without touching anything. Just coasting.

When I was a senior in high school I participated on the diving team.

I loved it. The board would throw me in the air and the water would catch me. I started seeing how deep I could swim and how long I could stay down there. I would plunge 16 feet, roll onto my back and look up at the surface. I was in my own little world. No talking just seeing and feeling. 

I'm not sure where I wanted this post to go. 

To some these words might seem strange, but I know there are people out there who have also felt the little magic and therapy water can provide.

I just wanted to share some thoughts on water and the wonder of it.

Words

(photo from the end of my roll)

I've been thinking about words today. 

Words in general and these words specifically.

I think about people who have written hymns. Did they know how much comfort the words they wrote  would impact those to come? Same with any kind of writer. There have been countless times where I have been struggling and turn to a hymn in search of peace. Someone's creativity/inspiration from long ago travels to me and provoke me to feel something. Words act as a bridge between two or more human's feelings. The feelings may not be the same, but they are there. The more I think about it the bigger the picture gets. How words travel... how they can help... how they also have the power to damage.. How do I use my words? Do I talk about worthwhile things? Do I use my words for good? Will my words be remembered?

I have lots of questions.

Specifically, the words above said by Abraham Lincoln have been on my mind. They calmed me down. Sometimes the future gets to me in a stressful way. Then I break it down and think of all the days in between now and what's coming. I'm grateful for the in between days.

Work before play

(Portrait taken yesterday of my younger sister)

Right now there is a ton of spanish online homework waiting for me.

I'm wishing it would get itself done.

Instead of finishing homework I have been thinking about 

shooting another roll of film

 mod podging things

 sewing a skirt

going to the thrift store

 making some pasta salad 

cleaning my room 

and pretty much anything that doesn't have to do with school.

BUT if I truly want to be happy while doing these things I need to not have school on my mind and to do that I must finish my homework. 

This is like pulling teeth.

Where has my motivation gone?