Things as They Really Are

This week for my family foundations class we've been asked to track our media time online for two weeks. We had to set a goal for ourselves too. I decided I would do a facebook fast for two weeks. So far I've been facebook free for two days. Being facebook free has really been a blessing! I've been able to accomplish a lot more. I've spent just as much time on the computer however, due to homework and projects. It's been amazing however to be more consciously aware of the time I've been spending online.

Computers seem to consume our lives these days. If we aren't on the computer, we're on our phones, if we aren't on our phones we're on our ipods. What would a day be like if the world didn't have ANY technology connected to their ears, fingers, or eyes? What if we put it all away and just stopped and looked at the people around us and had heartfelt conversations with strangers more? How would this impact our souls? I would challenge each of you to just try for a day if you're walking to and fro places to put away your technology and look around you. Who needs a friendly smile or a simple hello? Maybe you need the time to ponder and rest your brain from all the radio waves you just put in your brain.

Our teacher shared this clip with us and I realized how grateful I was I didn't have an iphone. :) Don't get me wrong, technology can do us a lot of good but like all good things come a good balance. I am grateful for these next two weeks I'll have to track my media time and to use my time for something else good.

True Friendship.

Last week... We got a little intense in FHE. The loser of spoons had to have a bad posted picture on facebook for the week. Unfortunately, Marrisa Lewis lost. (See picture to the left.) But we love her.

In fact, I just wanted to say how much I love every single one of my roommates. Okay, not just my roommates this semester but last semester as well.

(That picture is of us roasting marshmallows in our room over a toaster. YUM! -OH. homemade marshmallows, EVEN-BETTER!)

I have been so fortunate to have such wonderful people in my life. Looking back I've needed all my roommates for a reason at that time. I've grown so much from every one of them. Of course I would include my companions in the same boat. These girls (companions/roommates) have taught me everything I've needed to learn. Everything from the power of a good workout to the true meaning of charity. I've had roommates that have come from every background possible, outside of the church and in and each one of them have shaped me a little bit better. I just wanted to express my love for my roommates and friends around. I can't express enough gratitude to them and to my Father in Heaven for sending good people in my life.

Today I was bearing my testimony in Relief Society and as I glanced around I thought, "wow. you are my sister." Of course I don't know everyone by their names or even what's in their hearts but they are my sisters.

I've just been feeling very blessed lately in life. There have been some intense trials since I've been home from my mission but not anything I haven't be able to overcome by help of the atonement of Jesus Christ. I believe the Lord helped a bit too, by sending me wonderful people while I've had the chance to adjust back to the college life.

While we are on the note of true friendships. I am reminded of the scripture, "No man hath greater love than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." The Savior is the truest friend we could ever have. He lives! & He loves us. He has provided his life as a sacrifice for our return and an example to follow. The gospel of Jesus Christ is very real and is the tool to help us return home someday. Thank HEAVENS for the scriptures because they indeed help us on this path. They are true in every way possible. As we read from them we can learn more about the Savior and about how to pattern after his life. The power of prayer is very real. He hears us when we pray to Him and listens. He loves us and wants to hear from us.

Oh gosh! It's just great to be alive on this earth at this time and to experience these blessings in mortality!

Mundane Mondays

New week.

I got off the phone with my sister, whom I feel I haven't talked with in ages tonight and realized tomorrow is Monday. How do the weeks and weekends just FLY by?? I am so sad that it's another week tomorrow but anxious at the same time. As this new week begins I have a lot of thoughts already about my newer surroundings.

SO many mixed emotions can make any child's head pop....off. But I'm keeping it together. Sadly this semester of classes is not what I want it to be. There have been so many opinions thrown at me about my major and it's making me insane. The best advice I got was from my bishop a couple weekends ago. He told me to do what I love to do. I am excited because I realized the only thing I REALLY love doing is designing; basically I love anything with art. I've decided to go back to interior design so right now I'm waiting and finishing up my application process for the program. UNfortunately I won't be able to get into the program until the fall and then it will be 4 years until it's done. Any practical person might be thinking that this is the worst idea yet. BUT I've decided to chase my dream and passion, no matter how long it might take. I want to do what I love.

Another evaluation I've observed about myself lately. I keep taking everyone else's advice instead of listening to my heart and mind and the spirit more. I'm trying this out more lately. I know I've been given this special gift and I just need to use it (agency that is!). I think I'm so nervous to test the waters that I don't even take a chance at times. How do you know if you don't even try. So I'm taking a chance with different experiences right now... ie. dating, friendships, school, etc. I'm excited to see where my path will lead this semester. I know if anything I will learn and grow more and that's all I hope for! :)

The Case of the Ticking Fan.

I feel a bit a bit melodramatic tonight. It's been a LONG day! Good day but long day. I start my days at about 630. I have work at 8. Then I have classes until about 630. That's not including the time for homework. "Back up plans" are lunch and dinner lately. I feel a bit drained. Someone asked me this question the other day: "what do you do for fun?" FUN!?? I thought in my head. There's no time for fun! haha. One word: PATHETIC! Something has GOT TO change.

Lately I've been feeling a bit stagnant and wondering why. Perhaps all RM's go through this phase. Where they've experienced this mighty change and then they have to go back to life and the daily mundane things. Perhaps when we get down on ourselves we're dwelling too much on the past regrets and not enough on the future and what we could be and what we can do.

There's this quote from President Monson," The past is behind, learn from it; the future is ahead, prepare for it; the present is now, live in it."

I think I'd like to set a new goal for myself: try to have more fun. Start living life and enjoying it!

I'll just end on this story tonight:

Speaking of enjoyment... tonight our fan has been ticking pretty loud. My roommate and I are both getting ready to lay down in bed and the noise just gets louder. We both

perked up and stuff starts falling down from out of the fan. We both screamed and turn on the light and stare at this fan. The first thought that comes to our minds: "Must be a bat!" Yup! That's right.

There's a bat in our little fan. Must be. That seemed like the most logical answer for both of us. The fan ticking got louder and I looked over to notice Chelsie had tucked herself a bit more underneath her covers. "Are you worried that something is gunna come fly out at you?" Her response: "‎Have you ever thrown a sock at a fan? I used to do that all the time."

After some careful study... DUST. Dust was falling from out of our fan. Now we can safely

go to bed. ((except Chelsie is now googling bat pictures and will now have nightmares...))

I'm glad I could end my night with a laugh.

wow.

Here's to taking off a heavy brick and...

Shaking the dust off this old thing and trying to put it to use.

I'm living in Idaho now! I'm back from my mission, but if you are my friend... which you are if you're reading this, then you already know that! :)

I've been in Rexburg for almost a month now. Lots of new things are happening. I love my new roommates and I'm already getting to know so many people. Our ward is super nice and I feel like one of the older ones but I am learning so much from everyone. oh. My roommate Amanda took Chelsie and I for a little "photoshoot" last weekend and so here are some of the pics from that...

I have had a lot of confusing choices since I've been home from my mission, I feel like an adult being reborn. Lots to learn all over again I feel. It's mixing the new things from what I learned on my mission with the old things what I did before my mission. To name a few... dating, talking to people, SCHOOL, managing time in a new kind of way.

School has been one of the hardest. Not because the classes are hard, although not the easiest, BUT I have been so confused about what to do. I think I changed my major 5 times since I've been home from my mission. I feel SUPER pathetic when everyone kept asking me what I'm doing with my life. I had never felt so lost. Possibly because I just miss my mission so much that I would just want to teach the gospel the rest of my life. I vote they give you a degree for missionary work. :) Wouldn't that be nice? Art Education, Interior design, nursing, health science. Those are just a few of my top majors I want to do. Hmm. To make a LONG story less boring... I decided the health profession wasn't for me. I like staying healthy, and helping others that can't help themselves, but it's not my passion. I love art. I love creating and I love making others happy in the process. After talking with my bishop last week I realized I wasn't REALLY happy doing health science. Although good and practical I needed to follow my passion and my dream. -No matter how long or tedious it may be to finish-. Although dreams and passions are never really satisfied, right? I think they just keep getting fulfilled the more we learn about them.

Okay stay on topic kendilyn. -Rambling is something I'm good at these days!-

Well I changed my petition and signed it up for interior design. At first they were telling me I couldn't do it ...at the beginning of the day. At the end of the day I had my petition signed for and now it's just a matter of getting into the program. I pray I do! I am excited for this change. The whole day I felt so much joy. I'll get to create in school! I know it's going to be hard and will probably eat my life away but SO worth it. Most may say this is the dumbest idea they ever heard of, for me to start over basically in school but I think in the long run it'll be something I enjoy doing. I guess I'm just meant to stay in school.

Dating. Another topic we single mid 20-year old's hate discussing. There's so much pressure on us these days that I think we avoid it all together. However. I have been dating quite a bit since I've been off the mish. No big fireworks yet, And no. No proposals or anything crazy although there's been a lot of memorable experiences... some of the best dates. I had my first date in Rexburg tonight. Suprisingly it was a lot of fun. My roommates had been teasing me all week because... well I'm not sure. It's just what girls do. We went singing at stadium singing (tons of people get together to sing under neath the bleechers), had hot coco and then walked around near the stadium and then back to my house. Not to get too deep here but I told him it doesn't matter what you do with a person, as long as you're in good company. I want that to be my theme, not just in dating but in life. Doesn't matter the place or the objective, but just as long as you're in good company! He asked me out again... so stay tuned.

I got a calling today: ward compassionate service leader. I'm really excited for it. I felt a prick in my heart when I got the calling. I knew it came from the Lord. I'm excited to serve and to have an excuse to do it. I think it'll be good to help the girls break from their shells and get to know each other a bit more. :) I hope I can fulfill the calling well.

I'm looking forward to all these new experiences this semester. I pray I can press forward with faith.