New Hairdo!

(Sorry for the goofy picture. I don't like taking pictures of myself.)

Endings, and New Beginnings

Yesterday, December 5th, 2009, my great uncle Dale passed away in his bed at the nursing home.

My parents were at his bedside, comforting him, until his time to go came.

It's a sad time, but I can't help to feel a sense of peace and comfort, knowing that he is in a realm where he is waiting for my family to do his work for him.

His death has made me realize even more clearly that death shouldn't be such a sad time.

It is because we miss them, but we should remember that it doesn't end here.

Heavenly Father's plan is so much more than we can ever comprehend.

The knowledge we have here on earth is necessary for us to realize and be grateful for the time spent.

When that time is over, we continue our lives, and know that we will be with those we love again, in the eternities.

Rest in peace Uncle Dale, I'll see you on the other side. :)

*******

In this picture...please focus on the boy in the green shirt.

His name is Evan.

He is 12 years old and he has Autism.

Today was a very special Sunday for him, reason being, he was finally baptized into The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints.

This was such a heart-felt thing for me.

He has his ups and downs, but tonight I could really see Heavenly Father's hands at work.

He was ready to be baptized, and he was very mature and SO happy to finally have this done.

He is one of the funniest kids I know. :)

Congratulations Evan!

*******

Winter has BEGUN here in Iowa.

I love how it makes the ground all glittery and pretty.

Even though it is SO incredibly cold, it makes me so excited inside, I can't help but enjoy it thoroughly :)

p.s. This picture doesn't even do it justice...

An answer to my prayers...

"Is this Heaven?...No, it's Iowa"

Everyday since I've been home, I've made the habit of saying my morning prayers. Why I haven't done this in the past is beyond me. I think I have just been prideful and thought I didn't need to say BOTH morning and night prayers. Boy, was I wrong.

I always pray for a positive attitude and for the environment and people around me will somehow be positive in a way too--so that the spirit might be able to surround me wherever I am. My answers were answered yesterday at work...

I went to work, like every other day, just going about my business and getting things situated before lunch hour came... I was working with a lady, Erin, that I usually don't have good feelings about, and another girl, Elana, that is such a sweet-heart to me all the time. They are both older than me, only by a few years though. All of us obviously come from different backgrounds and have grown up in very different homes. We share stories often; neither of these ladies know of my religious beliefs and I don't know of theirs, if any.

Anyways, I was putting an order up for the cooks, and then Elana came around the corner with a look on her face I couldn't even explain...it was good though...peaceful. She said, "Hannanah (that's what she calls me), do you feel that?"

"What do you mean?", I said.

She replied, looking a bit confused, "You don't feel that? It's like a very strong positive energy. I can't describe it. I don't know why it's here, but there is this positivity around us today. Maybe it's just because I'm working with a bunch of cool people, I don't know. But it feels good!"

Right when she said the words, "...positive energy...", I KNEW it was the spirit, and Heavenly Father was answering my prayers. I felt such a sence of peace and joy within me...and who would have thought, that AT WORK, of all places, where people that swear, drink, and speak obscene things every single day, I could be reminded of the influence the spirit has on people; whether or not they have the gospel in their lives. And who would have thought that my testimony could grow in this environment. It was just so awe-inspiring to me.

I'm so grateful for this little experiences and tender mercies the Lord gives me. I'm so grateful that I was able to come home this fall, to learn and to grow. I have such a different mind-set now than I did 3 months ago, and I'm SO very grateful for it.

No more bubblies!!!

So, as of last week, I have decided to no longer drink soda. ANY type of soda that is; no diet or regular, fat free or sugarless. I was watching the Today Show and a nutritionist on there said that soda is the number 1 thing to not put into your body. 2 and 3 consist of stick margarine and hotdogs, but I decided I could do number 1 for sure! I feel good about this goal, and I'm going to do all I can to stick to it.

On another note...

I still don't know how to upload darn videos on here! Will it not allow youtube videos to go on here? Any help would be graciously appreciated!

Only 2 1/2 months until my return to Rexburg!!! Yay!! :)

Truth be told...

I'm IMPULSIVE!
Yes, I tend to get excited of the little things of life and make them out to seem huge.
I believe in being hopeful and positive of the little things.
Sometimes they don't always work out the way you want them too.
Should I stop doing this then?
It seems I've hurt people by changing my mind on certain issues.
If I have...I'm truly sorry.
I miss a lot of people right now.
If I could see them all and hug them for 30 seconds...I would feel a lot better.

THE one and only...Sir Jonathan William Bealer

Jonathan William Bealer

He is 23 years old.

He's one of the sweeeeetest/kindest guys I have ever met.

He is one of my best friends.

He enjoys rocks.....and climbing them.

He wears the craziest, and sometimes most questionable sweaters...but he can TOTALLY pull it off!

Everyone loves him.

He can make you feel SO good about yourself no matter what you look like, what people may say, or how you feel!

He is from Colorado....the land of love...?

He has a large family and he loves them immensely.

He's SO cute with kids.

No one knows his ticklish spot.

He is very smart.

He has a great testimony of the gospel.

He gives great hugs.

He has brown eyes.

He will be starting his student teaching soon.

He enjoys exercising.

He plays the banjo.

He sings! la-la

He found my blog my typing his full name into a search browser!

He is most likely going to read this (because it is for him).

I love Jonathan William Bealer!!!

There's No Place Like Home...

I promised I would stay updated. I failed. Life has had its ups and downs since April. I finished my first year of school. I was proud. I have learned so SO much in the past year. I have made friends whom I will love forever, and friends who I will possibly never hear from again. No matter what, they have touched me and my life in some fantastic way. I could never ask for anything else in a college experience. I am home now. I am occupied with 3 jobs that I am so very grateful for them, especially in today's circumstances. I get annoyed and sometimes want to quit, but I know it's what I'm here to do. It's already stress-relieving knowing that I will have school paid for for this next year. My one contemplation lately is whether I want to do Fast Grad. Fast Grad is where I go to school year-round so I finish faster. I figured, if I do Fast Grad, then I could possibly have my Bachelor's Degree before I go on a mission when I turn 21. That would be amazing. The only thing would be that I would have loans I would have to pay off, but I believe I'm willing to do that since BYU-Idaho isn't that expensive of a school in the first place. School loans is just part of living and learning right?

I miss my friends greatly. I have spoken to Nikki quite a few times. The others, just a few times here and there and on Facebook. I miss ALL of them. The boys and girls alike. We're all moving on in our lives and heading to different paths in this earthly adventure. It's sad, but exciting in the same way. I'm thrilled for those I care for the most. They will do great things.

I have 3 1/2 months left until I return to Rexburg. I'm trying to make myself busy/useful so I don't think about how much I miss it right now. Reason being, I don't have much of a social life here. I mean, there are a few single adults in my branch. And I exaggerate a few. There are 6 of us, but only 4 are active. That's what I miss the most from Rexburg, plus, I miss school and going to classes. The whole environment get to you; you don't realize it unless you've experienced it first-hand. I love it all.

I love life, I love the Gospel, I love progression.