Long Overdue, Visiting, and Blessings

Yes, dear Bloggers- tis been to long since my last update.. But truth be told... life and all it's wonderful surprises haven't been so... surprising lately. All I've been doing really for the last few months is work, and save money for my mission. It's A great blessing that I owe my Heavenly Father grattitude for though, because you really can't find a job anywhere these days. Anyway, as many know once you are no longer technically a student at BYU, you can no longer be on the payroll... and inevitably in two weeks I will have lost my job. SO, I'm going to spend sometime with family in Oregon for a while. My favorite cousin Hayley, Uncle Richard and Aunt Gail, live in Ontario, and I'm going to try and "be an example" for Hayley :) Hayley is a great girl. She's very strong, intelligent, and confident, but she is also one of those girls who is not going to do anything that she doesn't want to for anyone, because she doesn't believe in trying to impress anyone. All in all she's an incredible girl, but she's never really attached to the spiritual matter of life, and I fear she's missing out on some happiness in her life, and we all want to share the happiness we experience everyday with those we love, because of our Savior. Anyway, obviously I won't be able to force her to do anything, but being an example is something I can do.

This past saturday I was blessed with the incredble experience and opportunity to receive my endowements. It was a nervewracking evening the night before. I couldn't sleep, I couldn't think, and I was super nervous. My mom had talked to me about the experience several times, and had said one thing in particular that really stood out to me, "if you are ready to devote your whole life to the Lord, and our Heavenly Father, you are ready for the covenants and blessings you will make and receive in the Temple." I always thought to myself that undoubtedly I would at any moment give my life for my Saviors sake, but that night as I got on my knees and prayed I realized how important and what it meant to really defend my God in any situation, time, or place. I thank my Heavenly Father for the peace and the joy that I felt, having entered into a covenant with him and learned my potential that I can reach. I am so thankful for the Sacred house of the Lord and for all the blessings that we can receive from attending his house. I have a testimony of the work that happens inside the temple, and although I may not fully understand it, I know I will find myself there much more often supping from the words which are spoken and learning from the ordinances that are performed there. I love the Lord with all my heart, all things testify of him and the glory of our Father in Heaven. This gospel is true. I am so grateful for the opportunity that I have to be a part of it. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to share the beautiful gospel with the saints of Paraguay. Heavenly Father truly does love us, and I have witnessed his hand from which Blessing flow in my life.