Summer all the time!

So school starts like...tomorrow. In less than 12 hrs I will be in class. I have had such a wonderful summer, it is really hard to think about going back to school. But I have decided that I will just pretend it is still summer, even when it's not. Let me explain: This summer was very relaxing for me. I did everything that I wanted to do and more. I had a very laid back, no worries attitude. So I have decided I will just keep that attitude, even when things are going crazy. Also, I will not think about how great summer was and complain about the fact that it is not summer anymore. So even when my skin starts turning white again from the lack of sun, I will just pretend I am tan. I will act like it is still summer.

Besides, I really do LOVE the Fall.


FOOTBALLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tati

This is Tati.

Tati is my roommate. Not only is Tati my roommate, she is also one of the best examples to me about how to be a good person. Why, you ask? Let me just give you a few reasons:

Tati is strong. She puts up with a lot; and she does it without complaining.

Tati is patient. Tati teaches severely handicapped children. How she is able to be patient and kind with them is beyond my comprehension, yet she does it- every single day. Not only does she do it, but she loves it.

Tati sees the beauty in all people. As I just mentioned, Tati teaches handicapped children. The other day I was asking her about her class and she excitedly told me all about them and how wonderful they are. She told me about a little girl and she described her as beautiful. Tati has the rare ability to see beauty in people that most other people cannot see.

Tati is self-sacrificing. She will do anything for anyone. You couldn't find a better friend to have.

Tati is beautiful

Tati loves her family more than anyone I have ever met.

Tati is a GREAT swimmer :)

Those are just a few of the reason's why I think Tati is wonderful. I am so so SO blessed to have her in my life.

Grace

–noun
1. elegance or beauty of form, manner, motion, or action.
2. a pleasing or attractive quality or endowment.
3. favor or good will.

Our (Tati and I) keyword for this coming semester is grace. This word originally came into my mind when I was imagining myself running around like a mad woman or a chicken with it's head cut off this next semester when I am working 20 hrs. a week and in my second year of grad school. Sometimes I get stressed and act kinda silly (e.g. grunting and sighing a lot, even making frustrated screaming noises). I decided that I don't want to be like that. No matter how crazy crazy things get, I want to maintain composure. I want to be graceful. I want to do everything gracefully, and with style. No screaming and pulling my hair out, just calm deep breaths and smiles :)

I was telling my best friend about our keyword and it occurred to me that the word grace is also in my all time favorite scripture. 2 Nephi 25:23 : "For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do." I love love LOVE this scripture because it teaches me that if I do everything that I possibly can and have faith the Atonement will make up the rest and everything will be OK!!

GRACE

For the Beauty of the Earth

Today was a beautiful, wonderful day. When I woke up this morning, I have to admit, I didn't have very high hopes (it was cloudy and rainy- in August ). But this afternoon the sun came out and it all turned around. I rode my bike down the Provo River Trail to the very end by the lake. If you keep going past the lake recreation area, the trail continues along the edge of the lake and ends abruptly at the edge of the water. There is only one other time that I can think of when pure natural beauty has literally taken my breath away. I don't know exactly what made it so beautiful to me-it could have been the perfect blue sky with just enough clouds to make it look like a painting. Or maybe it was the trees slightly blowing in the breeze which reminded me so much of my grandparent's house in Fallbrook. Or it also could have been the gorgeous mountains in the distance and the horses grazing in the field. I think what really made it so beautiful is how close I felt to Heavenly Father at that moment. I could feel His love for me, and for all of His children, so strongly. Everything seemed so simple. I sat there on the pavement for about thirty minutes and just thought about life. It was pretty cliche, but I honestly cannot imagine a more perfect place to sit and think. Before I got back on my bike, I sat there and tried to etch everything about that spot onto my brain so that I could remember it every time I get stressed or sad or lonely. I felt warm, and perfectly at peace. Nothing could touch me there. One of my favorite hymns came to mind as I was sitting there- For the Beauty of the Earth.

For the beauty of the earth,

For the beauty of the skies,

For the love which from our birth

Over and around us lies,

Lord of all, to thee we raise

This our grateful hymn of praise.

For the beauty of each hour

Of the day and of the night,

Hill and vale, and tree and flower,

Sun and moon and stars of light,

Lord of all, to thee we raise

This our grateful hymn of praise.

For the joy of human love,

Brother, sister, parent, child,

Friends on earth, and friends above,

Pleasures pure and undefiled,

Lord of all, to thee we raise

This our grateful hymn of praise.

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