Holla for some Rexburg nights.

You guys, I honestly think I am getting better at this whole "blogging"thing. Look at me?! Twice in one week, I deserve a whole plethora of cupcakes now. Anyway, on to my stories of Rexburg, Idaho. First, I have the most awesome roomies. I swear every semester there is some divine intervention going on and I get the most awesome people to live with/to learn from.

This past weekend, we celebrated one such roomie's 21st birthday. Victoria is one of the most amazing girls ever and I am lucky enough to call her my best friend (until our best friends get home...and maybe a little bit after that).----> that's an inside joke because her best friend and my best friend went into the MTC the same day last semester. I just love the girl. She's so strong, loving, and all around great. God really loves me guys. Now, for some los photos.

The beautiful Victoria. 

 We started out Tori's birthday with surprising her to get her nails done, then ate some Chick-Fil-A, mall time, and then surprise birthday time! Gosh, I just love that girl!

I'm a homemaker! With instant cakes!

Surprise party for Aunt Vicky

I know the coolest kids. 

 Onto my other roommates,
Joni is beautiful/awesome/the best basketball watching buddy.
Mylissa is the funniest/prettiest/best cake decorator.
Mallory is the dopest/cutest/best ipod idol contender.
 Dani is the loveliest/sweetest/ the best dancer ever.

The three best roommates you can ever have (Mylissa, ya girl me, and Joni)

I am just so thankful for all these beautiful ladies in my life. They are such examples to me and have truly taught me so many lessons that I'll keep with me forever. I hope to one day be half as amazing/loving as they are.

What lack I yet?

Hello all. I let myself eat a cupcake this morning because I am actually blogging again. Hip hip hoorah or hooray! Anyway, this past weekend has been awesome/a learning experience and I definitely have a lot of thoughts on my mind. 

First, I am a blessed, very blessed little girl. The Lord truly knows me and who I need at different times. Whether it's a random run-in with someone who says something that I need to hear or someone that I randomly hangout with after three plus years who sets an example or just awesome people who I randomly meet and become close with. Some of my roommates this past weekend got to meet some of my friends and said," Emily you always find the most awesome people as your friends in the most random places." I know it's not random and I am eternally grateful for them.

Second, Faith is something that I am cherishing a lot lately. I recently decided that I am going to restart the New Testament again. I was reading In Matthew 19 and something definitely stood out to me. A young man went to Christ and asked, "what lack I yet?" For some reason this hit me. I am constantly looking for ways to improve and sometimes that can get a bit overwhelming. I've noticed myself focusing on what I lack instead of what I have improved on. I cannot attain perfection in this life. I will always lack something and I need to accept that. It's in the eternities to come when I'll be made perfect. All the Lord cares about is that you are trying. He already knows you can do it.

Third, "Be not afraid, only believe." (Mark 5:36) I am not going to lie, preparing/going on a mission is so exciting, but also scary. I am so STOKED to go, which bothers me even more that I allow thoughts of doubt to creep in. All I can do is have faith and be believing, sometimes I even feel like I'm crying out "Lord, I believe; help thou my unbelief." (Mark 9:24) and you know what, He does help, always.

I am very thankful for trials, for a Savior who loves me infinitely through it all, and is my constant companion. When we put ourselves in situations where the Spirit can dwell, we will feel His presence, and we will come to know His nature even more. By so doing, we become like Him and one day will be able to stand in His presence with a smile on our face. I love it.

P.S.- I think I have 83 days until I leave! Hallelujah!

One of the best days ever.

I'm sure you all already heard that I got my mission call through every social media device on this planet, but I haven't blogged yet, so bear with me one more time please! 

I'm going to the Columbia South Carolina Mission!

So good at staged photos #professional

I got my call on April 11, 2013 and to say that I was excited is an understatement. Opening my call was awesome, I was surrounded by people that I love and that are such tender mercies in my life. To be honest, I had a feeling that I was going east coast english speaking, so when I read my call, I had this peace come over me. I felt so much love, it was a bit overwhelming. To come this far through everything and to be able to go on a mission is the most beautiful gift that my Father in Heaven has given me. I love this gospel and my Savior. I cannot wait to share it!

Here are some facts about it.

1) The state motto is, "While I breathe, I hope". I love that.
2)  I have no idea. 
3) That one guy from the Bachelorettes dad is my mission president.
4) I report August 21st!

I cannot WAIT to go!

Happy Easter.

John 11:25 "Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:"

My heart is so full today with love for my Savior. I am so blessed by Him that it is a bit overwhelming at times. I remember sitting at Stake Conference and Elder Callister called me up and told me to speak on the spot. As I was praying like my life depended on it on the way up to the podium, I just thought about the time I was in the car with my best friend KD and just started crying because of the overwhelming blessings God has given me throughout my trial. Even though my trial has been mentally and physically exhausting, my Heavenly Father has blessed me more than I think I have been tried. I felt so undeserving, but also felt so much love. That is exactly what I spoke about. The Atonement is a gift that can change the hearts and nature of man. It's so beautiful and sacred. I am so thankful for a Savior on whom I can rely when the times get rough and when they go great.

On another note....

MY CALL COMES THIS WEEK! Honestly waiting for my call has given me the gift of patience.

Decisions

Life is full of crazy decisions and I say that lovingly. Lately I have had to make some huge decisions that will alter my life for the better. One being deciding to serve a mission, my papers go in this Sunday! I remember last October I prayed and fasted about going on a mission and got the answer "prepare for a mission". After that, a lot of things were on my mind,  I then felt impressed not to put my papers in yet at the end of November. After that decision, I actually really started preparing for a mission without even realizing it. I would get up an hour earlier so that I could study for an hour and my prayers became dear to me again. When I came back up to school, it got even better. One day on February 11th, I felt prompted to go to the temple early in the morning like at 9 (THAT IS EARLY FOR ME #judgeme) and as I was walking there, I was wearing a long skirt and thought "I feel like a sister missionary, how rad!" (cheesy but it's what I thought) When I went inside the temple and was waiting in the chapel for my turn, the word "mission" came into my mind and I got an overwhelming feeling that it was my time to go. You guys, it was the most amazing feeling in the world!! I am so serious. It was imprinted on my heart that this was what I was supposed to do. Right after I got outside the temple, I called my parents and told them. They are stoked. My paperwork has taken longer then expected, but everything happens for a reason.. I know that wherever I am sent, I have been prepared to go to. I love my Savior and my Father. I know that this work is REAL and I cannot wait to be apart of it.



fyi. these photos were taken by a pretty lady named Brooke.
She's hilarious and you all would love her. Thanks for making me look sweet hunnay!

What.

Let me give you the deets of my extravagant life.

1) I am back at BYU-I
2) I have the best roommates ever.
3) My best friend enters the MTC....tomorrow
4) Don't know what I am going to do about #3
5) I love EVERYONE HERE
6) My english class will be the death of me
7) I love God's tender mercies

I really do love being back in Idaho. I just have realized that I need to be better at this blogging thang. It's sort of a release for me, so mama is gonna try to blog at least ONCE a week (I know...huge goal).

Thoughts on my mind

I've been thinking a lot lately about how we go through life and have trials. No one is exempt from them and no trial is not for our own benefit. Being wounded throughout this life is actually something that I cherish and value. I was reading in Alma 58 the other day and it was talking about the 2,000 stripling warriors and how faithful they were. Never were there more great young men, but even with that they were still wounded. Through that trial they were still valiant and steadfast. Life is bound to have spiritual and emotional "wounds", but if we remain faithful, these wounds will be ones we keep to remind us how far we've come and all that we have learned.

This quote hit me hard:

"However dim our days may seem, they have been a lot darker for the Savior of the world. As a reminder of those days, Jesus has chosen, even in a resurrected, otherwise perfect body, to retain for the benefit of His disciples the wounds in His hands and in His feet and in His side- signs, if you will, that painful things happen even to the pure and the perfect; signs, if you will, that pain in this world is NOT evidence that God doesn't love you; signs, if you will, that problems pass and happiness can be ours. Remind others that it is the wounded Christ who is the Captain of our souls, He who yet bears the scars of our forgiveness, the lesions of His love and humility, the torn flesh of obedience and sacrifice" - President Harold B. Lee


Apologies, this is just me rambling!