I'm really not TRYING to be foggy.

This is my attempt at saying things how they are...which is something I'm really quite terrible at. I'm also pretty terrible at writing well, so bullet points will have to do.

• I'm on a real "Spiritual high" right now. I'm reading my scriptures, praying, and most important of all: PONDERING! I'm discussing things with Heavenly Father that I've never really thought of discussing with Him and I can tell you here and now that he knows you and listens to you.
• I'm dating one of the most uplifting people I've ever met. Never have I ever dated someone that makes me feel good all around (spiritually, mentally, physically and emotionally) like he does. In past relationships I've been really blind to what should be most important, and now that I'm seeing the light, I'm glad to have him so close to me in the right ways!
• School is relatively monotonous. I love my ASL class, HATE my American Heritage class, skip my Honors 212 class a lot and have a crush on my D&C teacher.
• I still love my job. When I haven't seen people for a while the first thing they usually ask is "Are you STILL working at the museum?" I always reply with a hearty "Yes! It's the best job in the world," because it is. I love working with adults that I can learn so much from. I look up to them a lot.
• I love my roommates. I can't number the times I've teared up when I think of them. These girls are my closest friends and I can't imagine going through this crazy college life without their funny mumbled remarks, dance parties, and late night couch crashing. I think these "glory years" that everyone says we're experiencing really will be times I will NEVER forget.
• I'm looking forward to the choices I get to make in the next year. At the beginning of this new school year I made an internal decision to serve a mission. I've always wanted to serve and the more I think about it, the more my heart and mind agree that it would be the best thing to do. While I understand that marriage, if it is the right thing, will take precedence, this is still my plan. Relying on the Lord with his name on a badge on my chest, trudging through the snow (or intense heat, or sleet or hail or tornado) sounds like the most exciting adventure to me right now. I want to be a missionary. I've felt the promptings I need to feel, and this is my decision for now.
• Now, how Michael (my "wrapped in a bow, delivered straight to my door, spiritual giant, sweetest thing" boyfriend) and my mission go together I don't know, but I'm trying to take this advice:

“Let us earnestly seek the light of personal inspiration. Let us plead with the Lord to endow our mind and soul with the spark of faith that will enable us to receive and recognize the divine ministering of the Holy Spirit.”

Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Your Potential, Your Privilege,” Liahona andEnsign, May 2011, 60.

I'm praying, and counselling and pondering and praying some more. I'll let you know what I find.

Plan of Correction

In this summer of self-exploration and strengthening I've realized the importance of Heavenly Father in my life. Not just as someone of extreme importance to my eternal progession, but as SOMEONE. He is there no matter what and it's especially nice because He has the power to influence other parts of my life. Thus, I'm making a "Plan of Correction" (a.k.a: goals) to keep me close to Him. The plan consists of:

1. Listening for the Spirit and it's promptings

2. Seeing trials in the light of the Father who gave them to me

3. Verbally acknowledging His hand in my life through prayer--morning and night.

And last but not least, 4.....

"I would like to speak of one particular attitude and practice we need to adopt if we are to meet our Heavenly Father’s high expectations. It is this: willingly to accept and even seek correction. Correction is vital if we would conform our lives “unto a perfect man, [that is,] unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13). Paul said of divine correction or chastening, “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth” (Hebrews 12:6). Though it is often difficult to endure, truly we ought to rejoice that God considers us worth the time and trouble to correct." -Elder D. Todd Christofferson

He loves me and wants me to happy. Even if it has to sting a little to get me to where I need to be, I will forever put my faith in Him. He loves you too.