Here Comes Autumn

October 7

It's like 60 degrees outside and I'm pretty sure that's a record! Oh, it feels soooooo good. I didn't know that it got that cool in Louisiana! I'm really glad it does because I thought I was going to die if it stayed in the 80's and 90's all year!

 

It's been a great week! On Wednesday, we went and helped the Elders because one of their tires went flat, so we ran it to the bike shop for them! That was a fun experience. We went to the bike shop I got mine from and looked at all the cute bikes there. After that, we went up to LSU to something they call Free Speech Alley. They do it every Wednesday and Thursday and so we spent almost all day on campus passing out copies of the Book of Mormon and  pass-along cards and talking to people about what they believe! It was so awesome and I was right up front doing a ton of the talking. Sister Seegrist was behind the booth talking to one of the Sisters that's about to go home and I guess she kept saying that she couldn't believe I've only been out for a few months! She said she was really impressed, so it made me feel awesome! That was one of those times that felt like the type of missionary work that I expected to be doing 24/7. It gave me a new perspective on talking to every single person that we talk to and just being more friendly. It's like last year up at school when I realized I needed to get out of my bubble and say "hi" to more people. But, this is a little more intense because now I get to say "hi" and then try to tell them about the Book of Mormon, Plan of Salvation, Restoration, etc ...

 

We taught EJ a short lesson the other night, it wasn't as awesome as it could have been  but we're still excited and working with him. It's just baby steps right now. Last week we taught five lessons to investigators, which is the most we have ever taught to investigators in one week. It might not seem like a lot to you, but we're also teaching a ton of less-active members and members, too. We taught the Plan of Salvation to a lady that even finally committed to set up a specific return appointment up with us!! I was sooooooo stinkin' excited!!!!!!!!!

 

We went to see a less-active sister that hasn't been to church in years. She's in her 50's and we want her to be able to come back to church and bring her family. Her name is Esther. I might have told you about her already. But, we invited her to watch conference. After the Saturday morning session, we called her and asked her if she had watched it and she broke down and started to cry. She said that it had touched her so deeply and that she knew that she needed to start to come back. She said that she talked to her step-son and that he was going to pick her up for church next week whether she's ready or not. She is so sweet and the last thing she said before she hung up was that she wants to come back. Then she said "just don't give up on me." It broke my heart a little bit, because we have talked to others about her a few times, and they warned us that Esther will come back for a little while and then she always falls away again. But, I just know with all of my heart that there are so many members, nonmembers, inactive members and others that have that in their minds: "Just don't give up on me" I don't want to give up on them. Everyone needs this! Every needs the chance to accept it.

 

Ok, So a really neat miracle happened on Saturday night. After the afternoon session we headed down to see a referral in Prairieville. We pulled up and the referral hasn't moved into their home yet and all of our other appointments have fallen through. So, we decided to take a little time to tract in a neighborhood. Sister Seegrist was inspired for that idea. We said a prayer and as soon as we got done, I had a feeling that we should go and see a potential investigator that lives at the very far end of the neighborhood, so we walked down there. I knew that it was a long shot to see him and really talk with him because we had met him at his girlfriend's house, and he was pretty strong in his opinion that God wasn't there or didn't care. Lo and behold, he was home, and lo and behold, he told us that he has read 1/4 of the Book of Mormon. He said that he's totally reading it from a secular point of view, but Sister Seegrist started talking to him about how he should read the introduction and do what it says to ask. We didn't get to go inside to talk, but we talked on the front porch for a long time! It was so neat. But if that wasn't enough of a miracle, here's the kicker. We started to walk back towards the car, and we wanted to knock on one more door. We knocked and stood there for a little while. There were a lot of cars in the driveway so we knew people were home and we could hear people yelling inside (it was during the LSU game). No one comes, and no one comes, and then we hear the side door open and shut and a guy in his 20's walks around the side of the house muttering to himself. He doesn't see us so we awkwardly stand there for a minute before I finally say "Hey." He stops and looks pretty confused at us and then we walk over and start talking to him. We talked about the Book of Mormon and the apostasy and restoration and had a super neat short lesson. He said that he wants to learn more, and we have an appointment with him tonight to teach him more! This tender mercy helped me remember that when we are making the effort to get out and talk to everyone and find people to share the message of the restored gospel with, God will place people in our paths! In the past week, we have given away 10 copies of the Book of Mormon because we are making the effort to get out and talk to people no matter where we are!

 

I think that I am really starting to get the hang of this missionary stuff. haha.

 

I love y'all so much! It's ridiculous how much I'm learning out here! It's just like in one of the talks given yesterday, "A teacher is also a student." It doesn't matter how long I teach out here, I will always be learning more and more!

 

Love, love, love you millions!

 

Sister Thornley

It's Official !

September 23, 2013

 

Well hello there! SO ... here goes. Guess what I did this week! I think I am officially a missionary now.

 

So guess.

 

Now? 

 

Okay fine.

 

Well that was silly. Sorry, I feel like a little kid I am so happy. But, anyway, back to the reason I am finally a real missionary... drum roll please... On Saturday September 21st, 2013 at approximately 1:00 p.m. Lousiana Southern Alligator Bayou Swamp Standard time. I, Sister Abby Lyn Thornley, resident of (originally) Thatcher, Utah... zipcode 84337... and resident of (currently) Baton Rouge, Louisiana  (gulp) officially invited my very first investigator to be baptized !!! And that's not even the most exciting part!!! He said yes!!!!!!

 

So, (phew) sorry that took so long to get out. (I think maybe there's been a gas leak in our apartment lately I've been so loopy). But yeah! That really happened, and I really did that. It was amazing and super scary, and I'm glad I got the first one out of the way, because now I feel like I can do it again. Hey, maybe I will right now. There's a librarian at her desk I could ask too! Ok, but in all seriousness. We now have my very first investigator that I helped find and everything. His name is E.J and he's actually our neighbor across the way, I told you about him last week. He didn't come to church last week but he sure did this week, and he brought his six year old son! Oh, and did I mention that it was in the first lesson I invited him to be baptized! And, he said yes. It was so neat! I could feel the Spirit leading us and directing us teach him.  His son sang in the primary program even though it was his first time there. Throughout the meeting when people came up and welcomed him, he kept telling them that they would be seeing him frequently and to plan on seeing him next week! Ahh. It was the first time I've had an investigator attend church and the fact that it went so well was a miracle in and of itself.

 

Now the next thing we have to work through is that he can't read. Literally, he can't, so that's hard.  I think that is going to be the biggest trial because I've never taught someone to read. I know without a doubt that God will provide a way for us to accomplish it! It actually reminds me of something I read this morning in 2 Nephi 20:15 "Shall the ax boast itself against him that heweth therewith? Shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? As if the rod should shake itself against them that lift it up, or as if the staff should lift up itself as if it were no wood!" I know that Heavenly Father will be able to do this through us. There's no way that I can teach a 40 year old man to read. But I can be an instrument in God's hands to accomplish this! It was amazing.

 

There is a family with a dad down here with like at least four sons. They all live on the same road and they are all dark haired and in their late 40's early 50's.  The other night we went over to one of their houses because they are all inactive, and I think most of their wives are not members. We went to one of the son's houses, and we planned on teaching his wife a lesson. When we got there, he kept repeating over and over, "If you're on God's side, who could be against ya?!" He was making big hand guestures while he talked (Haha. Oh I can just picture it now. It was so funny I wish that I could show you). After we had been talking to his wife and him for a while, he said that he needed to go to the store and asked if we wanted anything. We told him "no," so he left. We had a really neat lesson with his wife about faith because her sister has cancer, and she said that she has been struggling with her faith lately. The Spirit was there and was so strong. At the end, she told us that we were an answer to her prayers because she really needed it. The neatest part was that we were able to share from the Book of Mormon with her and she wrote down the verses we read to her and invited her to read Alma 32. Go read it if you don't know what it says. :)

 

So as we were leaving her husband John pulled in in his nice big work truck. We closed the door behind us and said goodbye to John as he's getting out of his truck, and he said, "Hey, wait a minute... Hey, I've been really struggling. We got a few big jobs for my roofing business that're supposed to come in the next few days and I was wondering if we could say a prayer together for them?" So, we said "Yeah." Something that's pretty common down here is for a group of people to hold hands when they pray, so we held hands and he asked me to pray. I started to pray and realized I could hear him saying something, so I paused, and I could hear him saying, "Thank you Jesus. Jesus Thank you." over and over again. I was trying sooooo hard to concentrate on saying the prayer over him. (Oh it was hard.) So, I got done and said "amen," and he went, "Oh thank you! I already feel so much better! I know that it's all gonna be okay now." He started to walk away and he went "You gals know that you shouldn't go on Plank Road at night right?" Plank Road is a super sketchy road in Baton Rouge that has a horrible reputation so missionaries don't go there. We told him, "Yeah, we don't go there." He told us to be careful and then stopped again and went, "Do you have my business card? Let me give you my business card. If you ever get scared or if someone gives you any trouble then you can call me. Everyone in all of Baton Rouge knows me and if they give you any trouble just show them my card and they won't give you any more trouble, okay?" I was trying not to laugh because I was thinking "Oh my gosh!!! They could be mafia!! I bet they have hitmen!" (haha). So we said "okay" and left. As soon as we get in the car Sis. Seegrist says, "Mafia, definitely mafia," and we both busted up laughing.

 

On saturday night, we went to see that family again. They are huge LSU fans and the game was on so we figured that we wouldn't get to stay for long, but they invited us in. At first they were pretty much just humoring us and watching the game out of the corners of their eyes until John asked us what our favorite Bible scripture was. So, I told him that mine was 1 John 4:18-19. I read it and as soon as I was done he told me to read it again. When I finished, he told me to read it again and again like four or five times. Then he tells me that it gave him gooose bumps. It was another answer to a prayer. He said he's been having a lot of fear at work and he knew that he just needed to let God handle it. So after that we had an amazing lesson with him and his wife and two of their cousins about the plan of salvation. We taught about the spirit world and resurrection and the celestial kingdom. It was so neat! and John even went and got his Bible to back us up with Bible verses, too. Oooohhhhh it was just amazing. I loved it.

 

Ok, in other news, I fell off my bunk bed last Tuesday night  (haha). Sister Seegrist was having a bad day, so I decided to make her laugh. Okay, what really happened was that I was complaining about a toothache and the "Sister Wall cure-all" for anything that's ever wrong from a hurt wrist, bee sting, tooth ache (everything you can imagine going wrong) is that Sister Wall always says, "Okay, take three ibuprofen three times a day for two days, and if it doesn't feel better by then call me back." So, as I was laying in bed complaining, Sister Seegrist thought she would be funny and recommend the Sister Wall remedy. She said, "I think I know what'll make it better; take three ibuprofen ..." So, I thought that in response, I would be funny too and scare her. So I went to lean over the side of my bed to say I was gonna kill her, but I seemed to have leaned too far over the side and I flipped head over heals off the top bunk. Hahahaha. I don't think I've laughed so hard in so long! It was just after 10:30 p.m., so I should have been asleep, but I think I rolled on the ground laughing for like 20 minutes. After I checked to make sure I was in one piece and I hadn't broken anything, I got up and went to bed. The next day I was a little bit sore, but it was honestly so funny!

 

Hmmmm, okay. Like I said, I think there is a gas leak in our apartment.  Hahaha. I think that for P-day, I might take a nap to get back to normal.

Work Progressing and Doors Opening Up

Sep 3, 2013

 

Don't be mad at me! I know that it's been a while since you heard from me!I promise I haven't fallen off the face of the earth! I'm still down here in Baton Rouge doing my thing!

 

Last night we had a really neat experience. We were supposed to have dinner with a member family, and we have tried to teach the dad's parents, and it hasn't really worked out. They haven't been very interested and that's come more from the mom/grandma, but the dad/grandpa has been a lot more interested. We have six missionaries serving in our ward, so when we usually have dinner with the members, we all eat at their home. Long story short, the elders couldn't make it to dinner and because they couldn't, the dad decided to invite his parents over to eat with us, and we had a really neat lesson about the Book of Mormon and charity and stuff. It was one of those blessings in disguise. We definitely saw God's hand there! We felt the Spirit, and when we left, I could have jumped up and down I was so excited. They opened up a lot to us, and we saw a side that we hadn't seen before.

 

This morning we had district meeting, which happens every week. After that, we went to a less-active sister that was baptized at twelve years old and hasn't been back since. But, she wants her kids to be sealed to her in the temple, so she says to her husband when we were there a few weeks ago, "Riley, will you just agree to disagree and get baptized, cuz I really want to go to the temple!" It was funny and sweet because we see that she wants it, but she it still learning about it and about what she can do to get there!

 

Also, we are currently driving a 2013 Ford Fusion... and living in a club... and we have a touch screen phone. I don't think this is how missionary life should be. We should be scrapping for food living in the ghetto right?! haha. We are really blessed right now! We are seeing the work progress and doors are opening up. My companion and I have our ups and downs but mostly ups. Things are going great!

 

 

 

Yesterday we went and played ultimate frisbee at LSU and went and saw the stadium which is HUGE! Like NFL worthy. We'll have to go to an LSU game eventually.

 

 

I'm sorry that my emails have changed from play by play to summary, but I am really working on focusing on the work. I have kinda had a moment like Hermana Robyn Evans because we read the same talk about becoming a consecrated missionary, so I was like, "No more emails or letters home. They can hear about it in 15 months!" But then I changed my mind about two seconds later. haha. I really want to hear from y'all. I've missed getting letters this week waiting to hear about my new address. Oh and dad, my pen died. Need a new one to represent DairyWay. One of the elders really liked the hats that you gave us and said he's going to write you for one. So if you get a letter from an Elder Bailey don't be too weirded out. I'm glad you saw pictures of the service at the observatory! That was some long hot days! I can't even express to you the pain that comes when it's 95 degrees and 75%+ humidity. It just doesn't compare in Utah. At night, nowadays, when our apartment gets down into the 75 degrees range, I think I'm going to die because it's so cold - haha. It's pretty sad.

 

Oh and this week, I got to drive in Baton Rouge for the first time! (in the Fusion) It was weird to drive again since it's been almost three months, but it felt good. I can't believe that I am almost done with my second transfer. It's going by so fast for me! 

 

Food for thought - reading in the Bible Dictionary I found this out this morning. Did you know that Adam didn't have blood until after he partook of the fruit and that the whole creation fell because of him? But, because of Christ, we aren't lost. Christ atoned for The Fall and for our individual sins. I know that's true. I know that this Gospel is the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ and I know that God listens to our prayers and our concerns every day.

 

Please read your scriptures and pray as a family every day! You don't know how big a difference I have seen it make in people's lives! It's amazing!

 

I love y'all soooooooooooooo stinkin' much you just don't even know. And mom, will you still love me when I'm no longer young and beautiful? ;) haha jk Heard that came out on DVD and thought of you the other day.

 

Talk to you again soon.

 

Love Sister Thornley

P-Day in New Orleans

August 26, 2013

We came down to New Orleans on p-day to be tourists a little bit. It's been a lot of fun. We came down with two other Sisters and six Elders. We went to the French Market; it reminded me of lot of Pike Place Market but Louisiana-style. We ate at a café and had a mufaletta. We also went to a cathedral that was really very beautiful.

This week was crazy busy - two days, we had over ten hours of service. We painted the rail at the community's observatory. It was super hot. I got a nice sunburn, but was just so much fun. We got to do it with our whole zone. I saw Sis. Whitney Nielsen from home. The paint that we used was so sticky and gross that I still have it all over. It really was such a great project.

Yesterday and Saturday we went to a less active member's home and watched 17 Miracles with them as a Family Home Evening. It was really neat! The father of the family is really opening up to us. We hope they'll start coming back to church.

We did service for a less active sister on Wednesday. And, we did a lot of visiting to other less active members. One cool experience I had was with a sister that we have been reading the Book of Mormon with. We were at 1 Nephi 4. We talked about Nephi killing Laban and she said that she feels like it was contradicting the Bible because god commanded, "Though shalt not kill" (Exodus 20:13). We talked about the verse that says, "It is better that one man should perish than that a nation should dwindle and perish in unbelief" (1 Nephi 4:13). She said that she feels like God could have softened his heart. We tried to explain it to her, but finally, I realized that I couldn't convince her and that she had to find out for herself. Sis. Seegrist and I bore our testimonies that we knew that it was true. I told her that I couldn't make her believe that it was true and invited her to read for herself and pray to know if it is true. She said she would do it. I know that was inspired because I always just want people to know and accept it, but they have to find out for themselves.

Yesterday, Church was great. We had a good lesson in Sunday School. After Relief Society, a sister that was visiting reached up and tapped us on the shoulder and introduced us to her friend that had come with her. She said that she really wanted to learn more and had a lot of questions that she wants to ask us. So, we'll be meeting with her on Wednesday!

Everything has been really good. Companionship is going really well. We have been able to have a lot of good heart to hearts and work together better. I think that part of it is because I am getting more confident in teaching and bearing my testimony.

How's the missionary work going back there? Have y'all got any investigators or referrals for the missionaries? I'm glad you met the Sharps! They are honestly some of my favorite people in the ward. Sis. Sharp is very willing to help us with the work and introduce us to neighbors.

I love you all millions!

Sister Thornley

The Last Week of My First Transfer

July 30, 2013

Elder Benjy Christensen said something really profound in an e-mail last week that I got. "It's amazing how fast time flies by, and at the same time, how not fast it goes by" or something to that effect. To that I say, AMEN! HALLELUJAH!!!! Holy canoley. It's like I've been out here for an eternity but like nothing at the same time. But I love it and everything is going well.

Last Tuesday we had my very first Zone Conference. I have to tell you, I'm pretty sure that the whole thing was for me. Seriously. There were at least 30 other missionaries there and President Wall started out the day by saying "Sister Thornley, I think you're going to really enjoy this," which was kinda scary, but at the same time I was excited to see what he meant. In our weekly letters to him last week, I told him about what I had read in Alma 10. I guess that he based all of the zone conferences in the mission on that because I had emailed him about it and another missionary had too, so he taught everyone from that chapter about using members in our work. It was so stinkin neat. and they taught us about managing stress which is sooooo useful At the end, they asked me to bear my testimony. Seriously, the whole thing was rigged. They knew exactly what I needed to hear and learn about.

After that, we tried to go and see a referral and got lost. We ended up talking to a guy and giving him a Book of Mormon. His name is Shag and he was very nice. After that, we had dinner with one of the sweetest couples on the face of the earth. They are quite a bit older and they fed us and gave us a tour of their house (for the second time). They gave each of us like a quarter of a watermelon for dessert, mmmmm. ALSO!!!!!! We got word that (if we don't get transferred) we will be moving to a really nice apartment complex in a couple weeks. It's called the Highland Club. You can look it up and be jealous. It's got a putting green and a fully stocked lake for fishing!!!!! ahh. anyways.

Wednesday we went and visited an older guy that has a son in our ward. His name is Tony and him and his wife June aren't members but they come to church every single week. They are so sweet. He's 69 and he sat there talking to us without a shirt on and so Sister Seegrist and I jsut sat and looked the other way for most of the lesson. It was really funny actually. They are a really prepared couple but they are intimidated that they need to know everything about the gospel. AND! he knows the Book of Mormon is true. So we have dinner with them tomorrow night. We'll continue to work with them :) After we got home, we needed to blow off some steam so we sat and made videos until bed time. If you send back my other SD card I'll send you this one and you can see how weird we get when we are working 24-7 :)

Thursday we met a lady with a member. She is now officially an investigator. While we sat and taught her from the Book of Mormon, she finally said, "Well do you have some literature that I can read?" I told her she could have the Book of Mormon. She goes, "Oh no! I couldn't take your book!!" We laughed, and I told her that's what it was for. We are going to try to her see her again tomorrow and hopefully she will have read and prayed about what we talked about!!!!!!!!

Friday, we spent all morning making these beautiful cookies for some less-active members. I put them in the oven and they came out and they were awful!!! Seriously, I have never made something in my entire life that turned out so bad. I was so embarrassed. So, they ended up in the garbage. After that, we went out to a less active named Shelbi. She is from Logan and she doesn't believe in the Church anymore, but she has so much potential. If we could get her husband to listen and agree, then I think she would come back, and he would be baptized. But right now, we have to tread lightly with her.

We went back to the wonderful/crazy man that introduced us to the term coonass and this time he gave us an even better story. He started stroking his beard and goes, "You, too can have a beard like me one day. You can be the bearded ladies. You just have to take lots of testosterone." We're just like ... yeah ... ok. It was really awkward, and then he proceeded to tell us that he has saved every beard that he has had trimmed or cut off for his entire life. Sister Seegrist asked him why. I was so grossed out that I didn't really care. So he told us about a fifteen minute story about how (imagine a crazy old cajun with a white beard and a Southern accent talking) "in ancient China the eunichs were the king's guards and they had to have ...." [a body part] ".... cut off and so in case they ever left the guard, they kept their ...." [body parts] " .... in a jar so when they died they could put the jar in the coffin with them and they would die a whole man. I have kept all of my beards so that when, I die they can put my beards in the casket with me so I die a whole man" what the heck! hahahahahahaha. I don't know if I have ever thought I was going to die of laughter, because he kept such a straight face. it was so funny. He's like Uncle Si.

Saturday we went to more less active members We went to one sister who has like a million cats and she has a really mean cat. So I was trying to be a good missionary and be kind to her lovelies even though I don't like the kitties. I held out my hand to this mean cat and the sister goes, "Oh don't even try to get her on your lap. She's so mean it took me at least three months before she would ever sit on my lap." Well you can guess what happened. The cat ran over and jumped up on my lap and curled up and wanted me to pet her. Stupid cats. Ha. I never want them to like me and they always like me. Sister Seegrist wants them to like her, and they never go to her. Oh well, I'm pretty loveable ;)

After that we had the neatest experience with a lady and the Book of Mormon. She was baptized but knows/remembers very little about the Church so we started in 1 Nephi 1. It started like "Oh you girls can read it. My eyes will hurt too bad" After a few verses, she started relating it to her life and asking questions. after a few more verses she would say, "Read that again... Ooh I really like that." Then by verse 8, she was up and looking for her Book of Mormon and asking questions and reading it herself saying things like "Why did I never know this?! It all makes so much sense!... Can we keep going? I love this" and so on. By the end of it, we finally had to tell her that we had another appointment and really had to go. She told us that she was going to clean off her kitchen table to read more and she was going to keep reading. It was amazing how after she put in the effort, her mind was so enlightened. The Spirit was truly there leading her through the scriptures. 

We had a crazy rainstorm on Saturday night. it did a little damage but we were fine.

Sunday, we were kind of running late to church because Sister Seegrist was still working on her talk until the last minute. So we walk into the church and I hear, "Sister Thornley!" I look around and see beautiful  [2nd cousin]Shelbie stand up from a chair in the foyer, and I was honestly a little shocked!! It was so cool though. She said she's in 2nd Ward; we're in 3rd. She had to get a picture to send you guys and she said she picked up our number so she can steal us to feed us dinner sometime soon. I wish we could have talked more, but it's definitely a comfort to have someone with a familiar face close. I know that her and Dallas would take care of use in a heartbeat if there was a storm or anything, so that should be a comfort to y'all too.

There are so many people down here that are traveling to Utah or just getting back. It's weired to thing that theyre allowed to do that. I keep catching myself thing, "Isn't that against the rules for people from Louisiana to go to Utah?" Apparently it's not ;) Good for them, weird to me.

I la la love you millions. The Church is true and the Book is blue. Help the missionaries out.

Write me some letters. I love letters. They are amazing. Keep up the good work.

Love,
Sister Thornley 

I'm Going on a Diet

It's official I am going on a diet. I have been out for just over a month. I weighed myself the day before I left home, the day I left the MTC, and just the other day. I have gained 15 stinking pounds in the past month. And it sucks!!!!! Seriously! So Sister Seegrist and I are going to start helping each other. The food is so good! but I HAVE to eat smaller portions. hahaha. It's really not a big deal but kinda. if I keep gaining 15 pounds a month, I WILL weigh 400 pounds when I get home!!!

So, anywhoo. What a week! There have been so many ups and downs, but I'm going to spare you the details, sorry ;) Love you tons but I am supposed to only tell you positive things :) Here goes:

 

Tuesday we were out in the Prarieville area. We were trying to find the home of a less-active sister and we finally found it. She had just had a baby a week ago and is originally from Logan! So her and I chatted about that and it was great and wonderful and stuff. So we shared a lesson about the plan of salvation and it was AMAZING!! I could feel the Spirit and I felt like we were lead by the Spirit in everything we said. After, we asked if we could come back and she said "yes." I felt amazing! We had done the work through the Holy Ghost.

 

Wednesday we went to visit a neighbor of ours. We don't live in our area, so she technically isn't ours to teach but we try to talk to her every once in a while. Wednesday she was very rude to be quite honest. I might have started crying... I know I'm tender-hearted. But, oh well. I just felt so bad that she has no interest in the gospel, because I love it so much, and I know with all of my heart that it is true. So, after that we went to a few members' homes to teach, and we tried to see some less-actives. We went to a member's home that we hadn't planned on, and she was set on showing us the Mormon Message called "Good Things to Come" by Elder Holland. It was exactly what I needed to hear and I definitely needed a little inspiration after that first lesson. It was so amazing, and the member told us that she was uplifted by what we shared too. It was really neat. We then went to a less-active member's home. She was baptized and even the secretary in the primary for a while. She went for about 5 years and fell away. We got started talking about family history and she had never done any so we were able to set up an appointment for her to go start on her family tree. it was so neat. I absolutely loved it.

  

Thursday, we went with a member to visit some of her neighbors that weren't members, and we were able to find a guy that wasn't a member but he was given the Book of Mormon over 20 years ago. He has read it and knows that it is true. So Sis. Seegrist asked him if he would be baptized, and he said yes!!!! Ok, just kidding. He said "no." He said something to the effect that "I was born Catholic, I was raised Catholic, and I'm gonna die Catholic" I wanted to just shake him and be like, "You know it's true silly man!!! What on earth is wrong? Didn't you understand any of it?!?!?!?!" but I stopped myself from doing that because it would have been a little inappropriate. :) On the way to our next appointment, we listened to the song "For Good" from Wicked and I thought of dad quoting it to me before I left :) It was great. We then went to a members home for dinner. They are my FAVORITE people in the entire world. He is a convert and she was raised in the church. They have 3 kids but only one still at home; he is 3 and his name is Henry. He is the cutest little boy alive! I think they are so great! The dad just opened a tortilla plant in Louisiana. The first and only one here. Pretty neat huh!

Friday was a hard day. We called or tried to visit at least 12 people and only 1 person let us teach them. It was kind of hard but them we were able to redeem ourselves and taught 5 lessons on Saturday so all is well in Zion.

  
Saturday I had the most amazing experience of my life. it was called crawfish étouffée. mmmmmmmmm. Oh my goodness that's why I've gained 15 pounds I'm sure! haha. We went out to lunch with a widow in our ward to a place called Chimes East. Go ahead and look it up and don't be appalled that it's a bar and grill because everything down here is. The food was amazing and the company was even better. I even started talking to one of the Elders who told me his deep dark secret about wanting a tattoo. He told me all about it, and it was really funny actually. He is one of the best Elders I know out here (don't worry he's really not getting a tattoo).
 

Sunday, church was great. All of the talks went well in sacrament and there wasn't anything too crazy that happened in Sunday School or Relief Society :) We did have dinner with a couple crazy families that made us a little uncomfortable. They were just very loud and excited. But here's the cool thing about yesterday. I was struggling a little and got a blessing and I was promise that you'd all be safe and well at home! So that was great, and I feel like I am so much more at peace now. After we got back from dinner, though, we started getting a call from a Utah number - 801 area code - ans I was a little freaked out for a second. SO, I answered, "Hello, this is Sister Thornley" and the guy on the other end said "Hi Sister Thornley! This is Reuben." I racked my brain trying to think of a Reuben that I know, but I don't know any thankfully. He proceeded to tell me that he has a sales job here for the summer and was selling in the area where we serve. He met a guy that wanted to learn more about the church and wanted a Book of Mormon. He told me all this great and wonderful stuff. I was overwhelmed at how great it was! We have plans to go and meet this referral tomorrow and I am so excited and nervous. It will be amazing! So I'll let you know how that goes. But last night after I had that experience I had a dream that I was gettting a call from another Utah number but it came up with the name "Jeff Bennett" and I answered apprehensively. It was just really funny. haha.

But yeah! I am doing great! The Church is still true and I am loving the work. I hope you're all doing great and that you had fun vacationing. Tell tess to write me about it. Love you millions!

 

 

Love, Sister Thornley

Ummmm ... Yeah, I'm Bad at Subject Lines

July 16, 2013

 

Ok, so here's to another week. I honestly can't believe that it has come and gone that fast. It's amazing. So Monday night we went to an investigator's home and had dinner and their kids put on a varity show for us that was the sweetest thing. The little girl sang "I Am a Child of God," the boy played the harmonica, and then they both danced. I loved it and was able to really get to know them. Their names are Jaime and Trampus ( I know that's definitely a Louisiana-worthy name) (: I got to help him make ceviche, helped her wash dishes after, and really talked to them. It was so neat and I hope that they continue to have a desire to learn and grow in the Gospel.

 

We have been working on a program that is called The First 12 Weeks for the first 12 weeks of your mission. We learned about using family history in finding and teaching investigators and members. It was so cool because I know how to do that. I felt really blessed that you have taught me to appreciate that. I did have a question though. My pedigree chart show some work that hasn't been done and I just wondered if it was a blooper or not. It was on mom and dad's side so you will go look and double check on them.

 

Tuesday we met with a brother that is in his seventies. He only has one leg and dad would LOVE him. He was the neatest guy ever and I could have talked to him for hours about his childhood and growing up and stuff. Dad, he told me about smoking his own bacon and building a little 4x4 smoke house and then putting the fire in a barrel and doing the pipe over to the smoke house so he didn't render the fat. It was so cool and I felt like a hick marveling at it ;) After that we went and taught a lesson to a sister that is less- active but I don't think she ever went to church after she was baptized. She doesn't know anything and that Joseph Smith saw a blue green light that was descending from heaven. That's all she knows about the first vision. So, we are really going to work with her and teach her from ground zero.

 

Thursday we were supposed to go play volleyball early in the morning but everyone else slept in, so I just stayd up until we were suppposed to be awake. We did service for a sister, the one that had Gossner's milk last week. While we were there, it started raining like crazy. They said that if it would have lasted for 24 hours, because of the amount of rain we got, it would have been cnsidered a hurricane. But, we were safe inside ;) After that we went to the library and a guy stopped us as we walked in and ranted for like 15 minutes about how we weren't supposed to have a denomination and that was of the devil. It was the creepiest feeling I ever got from a guy before. Really interesting listening to him try to justify and explain it though because he couldn't. We had dinner with a member family. he served a mission in Ogden and she served in France. They were a really neat family to work with and I'm excited to work with them some more.

 

Friday we went out to a place called St. Gabriel (ya mom you can stalk that too). Look up Bayou Paul Rd. That's the beautiful rural place we were at. The road kill is armadillo, and if you pick it up within 48 hours, it's dinner too. (: MMMMMmmmmmm. I feel right at home ;) We also went to the temple. It was amazing! We went through a "fragrance free session" with a sister in our ward who is allergic to any sorts of perfumes and strong smells. It's really scary if she has an attack from someone's cologne! But, the Baton Rouge Temple is gorgeous! Take advantage of having a temple near you! You should go every week!! Seriously I miss going every week. Also, Friday was my 1 Month Birthday! Happy Birthday to me!!! Whoot whoot. It was a good day and I even got dad's package with the bacon in it. Oh yeah, I'm enjoying that ;)

 

 

   Saturday we went and visited a brother in our ward who just got out of the hospital. He is the funniest sweetest old man and started telling us about this foot file and that he has and he has one for his lemons and one for his foot. I told him that's great as long as he doesn't get the two mixed up. He then wanted to show Sister Seegrist, because she didn't know what we were talking about. He tossed it her, and she, said "I hope this is the lemon one" as she was handling it. He said "No, but my feet are always clean when I use it!" I thought Sister Seegrist was going to throw up. hahahahaha. His face was priceless, so immediately we both pulled out our hand sanitizer. The brother just laughed and laughed. He is so amazing. After that we went and visited some less-actives and tried to visit our investigators. We didn't have much luck talking to them, but we put in a lot of effort.

Also our bishop served in the Italy Ca... (I dunno the name) Mission. The same one as Bob Evans though. So I asked if he knew the name, and he was pretty sure he got to the mission right before Bob left, and that Bob was his district or zone leader. He said, "Bob Evan ... is he tall with dark hair?" and I wanted to say "no" that he was bald, and then I remembered that he hasn't always been bald.. ha ya. whoops. But it was cool.

 

Sunday we got to teach the Sunday School class. It was supposed to be 14- and 15-year-olds, but it was 14 and up.  A little intimidating but really, really good. Sis. Seegrist was a little intimidated about teaching them, but after I got warmed up to the kids, I felt really comfortable. We talked about covenants and ordinances and the opportunity that we have to make covenants with God. We shared the story of the people of Alma burying their swords and covenants with God to never kill again. So we made little swords and then had them write a sin that they would give up and burried them after that. It was really cool!

 

Also! Blue Belle ice cream is amazing. Nothing against Gossner's, but no comparison. If you can order some somehow, order chocolate or key lime pie. mmmmm.

 

I love you much!

 

This work is too important to give up on. There is something out here that I need to accomplish and it's gonna take 18 months. I love you a million!

 

Thanks for all the letters this week! They were much needed! Love you!

 

Love, Sister Thornley

New Vocab

So, my week was pretty busy!

 

We went to a new family in the ward and after talking to them, he looked at his wife and said, "Should I send them to my parents'" and his wife said "yes." He told us that his parents weren't members but they go to church with them every week and we're the first missionaries that they have given their address to. So we felt very blessed that we earned their trust enough for that!

 

On Wednesday we made brownies and I made stir fry for lunch (thanks for teaching me how to cook so I don't eat junk food) We had three appointments cancel on us so we went and had media time at the library which is where we can go and watch Mormon Messages and read conference talks and stuff like that. We can do that up to an hour everyday. Cool huh! We had dinner with a member family n after that she came teaching with us n we visited some less-active members.

 

 

 

Thursday, the 4th of July, was a long day. We had our first dinner at 3:pm, another at 6, and another at 8. We watched fireworks over the Amite River with an investigator in our area and his friends. He is in his 50's n all of his friends that we watched the firewowrks with were just like the people from swamp people, hardly understand 'em, they were drinkin and smoking but they were real curious about the work we were doing and the Church. It was pretty neat actually. Oh, and the first dinner we went to was with Nana, she was saying the closing prayer before we left n said, "Lord, thank you for these bratty girls and the opportunity that they had to eat my good food. I know it's only good food because you're in it and your hand was in makin it" ..... yeah, she's a convert and the greatest person alive. She feeds us every week. haha.

 

 

Friday, we went and did some service for a less-active sister in our ward. We were cleaning out her cupboards and guess what I found!!!!! GOSSNERS MILK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Whoot whoot. I took a picture with her. Katie sent me a talk and on Thursday, I shared it with a family that really needed it. It was so cool! It was very inspired n I feel blessed to have such a supportive family like you!

 

 

 

Saturday we had Zone Teaching Meeting and they asked me to share the spiritual thought for the meeting. We learned a lot about plannign n stuff n I felt very uplifter adn I knew what we needed to change to find more investigators. After that we went proselyting. We went to a road that was gravel n the people opened the door n said they were Catholic but she was greatful that we were out sharing our beliefs so we got to come in and talk to her and her 21-year-old son who plays college baseball at SLU (not LSU). We shared about the atonement n Christ's sacrifice. I could definitely see their faith grow and I think that maybe we can continue to share with them and they will listen and open their hearts. We met with a less active couple after that and he was telling me how our ward was so great so I asked him straight up why he didn't come, then n he said "Well it's my own fault n I ain't got no good reason to not come" I said, "Well then I'll see you at church on Sunday then." He kinda ho-hummed about it and we talked a little more. I told him that he could wear his work boots and shorts for all I cared and if I could I would wear mine. When I told him I had a pair of boots he kinda got surprised and said, gosh you'll fit right in with the coona*#*# down here in boots. So go look up what a coona#*# is. Sorry for my cussing ;) haha. We got a whole history lesson about 'em. So when we got up to leave I shook his hand, and he said "Thanks for stopping by." I said, "No problem. I'll see you at church tomorrow. I'll save you a seat right next to me and you can wear your boots" :) haha He said "Ok that he would." He never came but I think it got him thinking about it. I hope we visit him again this week.

 

After that we went our to a place called Alligator Bayou to call some members. We sat and watched in the Bayou for like 30 minutes n watched a set of bubbles swim around. It was so sketchy. I recorded some of it (: haha.

 

Please write me letters!!!!!! and emails and everything!!! I love you so much!  Just excuse my grammar and spelling and punctaution. I know it's attrocious.

Love y'all so much!

I'll be fixin to get at least ten letters this week ;)

Love y'all millions

Love, Sister Thornley

 

 

THE Best Day So Far!

Today was the best day of the MTC (mission training center) so far ... no doubt in my mind. Read this slowly and feel the spirit of my experience.

We decided that we were going to teach our investigator about prayer and the Spirit. When we got to our appointment with Luwanna they told us that we had to sit in a room and wait, so we did. While we were sitting I heard her talking to the coordinator and she said, "there's nothing to think about or feel!" We got really worried that we had failed last time, so we started praying about it and then had to sit and wait for half an hour. He finally came and got us and we went down to talk to her We started by apologizing that were nervous last time and wanted her to know that we are regular people, and we care about her, so we spent about five minutes telling her about ourselves and then I told her I really wanted her to feel comfortable to share with us anything she wanted, and that was when she opened up to us.

She told us that her mom was a druggie and she never knew her dad. Her mom died when she was little. She also lost her only sibling her sister, too. She told us that her whole life she spent just surviving. She ran away from her foster care home at 15 years old and had been on the streets since then She said that she knew she had learned and grew because of it but that she didn't wish that upon anyone else. she said she saw and experienced things that no one should have to experience and see, and she was very emotional. she told us that God had never answered her prayers, and I asked her if she had asked with faith that He would answer, and she said she guessed she hadn't. She then talked a little more, and I told her that I didn't know her from Adam but I do know that Heavenly Father does and that He is literally her Father in heaven and loves her so much! I told her that she was a daughter of God and because of that, He loves her and listens to her and knows who she is and what she's gone through.

We then read James 1:5-6, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. for he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed." We talked about what that meant and then read the bible dictionary about prayer and read the last two paragraphs of the Book of Mormon's introduction. And, we read her what Joseph Smith says about it in the intro. I then gave her her own Book of Mormon and asked her to read Moroni 10:3-5: "Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts. And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth  of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things." We talked about that and I committed her to read in the Book of Mormon and pray about it. She said "Yeah I think I might be able to." and I said "You will?" She said "I'll try," and I said, "No, no cop out. Will you read and pray if it's true?" and she said, "Yes, yes I will."

And, then we asked her if we could end with a prayer. My companion asked if I would pray and I said, "No, actually will you pray, Luwanna?" and she said she would. I told her how to pray and she gave the most simple beautiful prayer I had every heard. She prayed that she would have comfort. She prayed to know if what we taught was true and thanked God for the sister missionaries. I honestly, in the middle of the prayer, stopped breathing because the Spirit was so strong. I had to remind myself to keep breathing the rest of the prayer. It was the most amazing experience in my life. The Spirit was the teacher - not me, not Sis. Hild. Tessa! Thank you for the conference talk! It was an inspiration for what we taught her about being a daughter of God. http://www.lds.org/ensign/2013/05/we-are-daughters-of-our-heavenly-father?lang=eng

The gospel is true! I AM in the right place right now. The Spirit has taught through me, and I am learning and growing! Share my experience.. I hope it will encourage you and others to share the gospel!

Sis. Thornley

You might be a freshman if...

Well, after pondering for weeks, I figured it is time to get this thing up. It won't be long, but hopefully it will make you smile a little bit. All of these are for real things that have happened to me or someone that I know or have heard talking on campus.

Here are my top 25 "You might be a freshman if..."

1. You might be a freshman if, your dad wants to FaceTime all of your dates because he can't be there in person to give them a bullet with their name on it.

2.You might be a freshman if, your mom still drops you off at school.

3. You might be a freshman if, you think becoming a True Aggie means that you have finally registered for classes.

4.You might be a freshman if, the top visited pages on your laptop are Netflix, Facebook, and Canvas/Blackboard.

5. You might be a freshman if, your 7:30 class is overruled by your bed almost once a week.

6.You might be a freshman if, you refuse to call your apartment home and instead call it your "temporary situation"

7. You might be a freshman if, you slide down the apartment's stairs on a mattress.

8. You might be a freshman if, you have sat inside the dryer in the laundromat.

9.You might be a freshman if, you eat peanutbutter on a tortilla regularly and call it a meal.

10.You might be a freshman if, you're so desperate for food and money that you're willing to eat a live goldfish in exchange for a dollar and the promise of brownies.

11.You might be a freshman if, after you eat that fish you tell your dad that you had sushi for dinner and when he asks how it was you tell him it was so fresh it was practically still swimming but it could have used some wasabi and soy sauce.

12.You might be a freshman if, you ride a razr scooter to all of your classes

13.You might be a freshman if, you lock yourself out of your apartment at least once a month and you have learned to just leave the downstairs windows unlocked because it will happen again soon.

14. You might be a freshman if, you have ever been asked on a date and 3 weeks later the guy that asked you out is engaged and then you realize that you have to accept the fact that it won't be the last time that happens.

15.You might be a freshman if, you have complained about Creative Arts this year.

16. You might be a freshman if you decide to go to lunch with your friends instead of your Mythology final which you failed to study for

17. You might be a freshman if you dye your hair blonde for the first and last time.

18. You might be a freshman if you have a full blown water fight in your apartment.

19.You might be a freshman if you kiss more guys in one year than you can count on your hand... practice makes perfect. (don't worry mom that wasn't me, I promise ;))

20.You might be a freshman if you tape balloons to doors with cheesy jokes on them and it gives you a major adrenaline rush.

21. You might be a freshman if your idea of a night out is dressing up like a dinosaur and shooting foam arrows at your friends.

22.You might be a freshman if you find yourself performing ring checks when you swore you'd never do it.

23. You might be a freshman if you play "your team, my team" from your kitchen window.

24. You might be a freshman if you go to become an Ultimate Aggie, a policeman pulls up and your best idea is to jump into the bushes... that cop ain't never gonna find you in there.

25. You might be a freshman if you have cried, laughed , loved, adventured, etc. and now as the year is coming to an end, the laughing and crying happens more frequently.  You know you'll miss the adventuring and you've made friends that will last until the bitter end.

Thanks to everyone that made my freshman year of college unforgettable. There's not one thing that I would change. None of the heartbreak or crying, none of the nights we stayed up until 3 am laughing and partying, the fort we made, the camping trip in the rain, the night I ate the goldfish, the amazing YSA ward I was a part of, my decision to serve a mission, and every single other adventure we had. As we all go our separate ways I hope that I have left at least one good memory with you.

If you're reading this I hope that you did have or will have a freshman year of college that was as good as mine. Adios my friends and good luck in all your life's adventures.

 

 

My Plea. To You, From Me.

Doctrine and Covenants 18:10 "Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God." I am going to apologize in advance, this is kind of a deep post but it is something that I know I need to get out of my head or it will drive me crazy. I hope that this won't offend or hurt someone's feelings because I know that this is a subject that is close to the hearts of some of my friends that have had personal experience with a loved one, but my reason for sharing this is because I realize how hard that must be.

After hearing about a teenager in my mom's class that recently committed suicide, my heart and mind have been very burdened today. Someone once told me that if you say that you've never thought that suicide would be easier than living then you're lying but the fact of the matter is that it is not your place to decide when your life should end. Only Heavenly Father should have that power and we should not take that decision into our hands. Wow, huh. I hadn't ever thought about how close this was to people's minds. Maybe it's not to everyone. I sure hope not because I have decided that there are so many things that I am looking forward to in my life that I don't even think that the "easy" way out is going to solve a temporary problem. It won't solve any problems, in fact.

The reason for my post today is to propose something to each of you. When I was little, there was a kid that I grew up near that was always picked on. Even my friends were contributors to the mean words that were said to him and it was heart breaking. But I refused to participate. If someone said something mean to him, I would tell them to stop. If he was sitting alone, I would sit by him. If he walked past me, I said hi and smiled. Not a fake, "I feel bad for you" smile, but a real smile. The kind that told him that I wished everyone else would take the time to get to know him and love him. I really wished they would. I remember lying on a blanket in my backyard talking to my dad one day and he asked me, (i'll change the kid's name for my personal reasons) but my dad asked, "What kind of a kid is Pete?" I thought about it and told him about the kids that made fun of him and how they would torment him just to make him lash out on them and try to hit them. I told him that I wasn't mean, though. My dad looked at me and said, "Pete's dad was talking to me today and thanked me for raising you right. He told me that Pete said that you were the only friend he had."

I'm not saying that Pete was suicidal. I don't know if that is how he felt. I do know that I wasn't going to let anyone be mean to him. I wanted to make him feel loved and now I look back and realize that I made a difference in his life, even if it wasn't a big difference.

I would like to ask each of you to love someone deeply and truly. Smile at a stranger. Say hi to a person that walks by with their head down. Help someone that is carrying a table and chairs by themselves. Sit next to someone that is alone and learn something about them, maybe ask them about something they love. Don't say or think mean things about someone that is different, learn about why they are different and you might be surprised by how much you really have in common. Step out of your comfort zone and do something that you normally wouldn't. I beg you, make a difference in someone's life because that change may touch them more deeply than you realize. I love you all and I know that Heavenly Father loves each of you unconditionally. Now go and share that love with someone else.

Take a Little Time to Love

Last week, I was driving through my little hometown in Northern Utah. I was on my way to pick up my good friend Robyn and decided to take a back way to her house. I was driving behind our local high school on the street that my mom grew up on when I saw a little girl riding her scooter on the sidewalk. Now don't get all nervous that the little girl is going to get kidnapped or hit by a car or something, SHE DOESN'T!!! (when I was telling Robyn this story she got this terrified look on her face because she was afraid something bad was going to happen to the little girl)

Anywhoo, I was driving my car and there was a minivan driving in front of me. The little girl on the scooter took two pushes on her scooter and stopped as the minivan drove by her. I assumed that the minivan was a neighbor and thats why she had smiled and waved at them so i didn't think that much of it. Then, the little girl continued on her way, took two pushes again, stopped as I passed and waved to me, too. What a small act it was but it completely made my day. I didn't know the girl. She was an adorable little brunette that was probably 5 years old. She had little piggie tails and her scooter was pink. I am a 19 year old that was a stranger driving a jeep through her neighborhood. (didn't mean to make myself sound like a creep, I promise) But it didn't matter to her who I was. She stopped and took the time to do something that made me feel loved.

Sometimes we get so caught up in our lives that we forget to think about other people. It took this little five year old to remind me that everyone deserves our love. Heavenly Father loves each and everyone of us and sometimes he needs someone like me to be the instrument to show someone else his love for them. This was my lesson this week. Love one another. Even if you have to stop pushing your scooter for a few minutes and take the time to smile and wave at a stranger. You never know who you will influence.

Breakfast Burrito Blessing

7:30 classes stink! There's no denying it. I am not a morning person. So, having 7:30 classes 3 days a week really makes me not-happy at times. Especially at 6:30 when I am supposed to wake up. On Tuesdays my 7:30 class is my LDS Institute Enrollment Committee and so I really have to make an effort to wake up and go.

This morning was one of those days that was especially hard to make myself wake up. My alarm went off at 6:45 and I hit the snooze and decided that 5 more minutes of beautiful sleep was worth not doing my hair. Again, my alarm went off and I hit snooze thinking, "I really don't need to put make up on, hardly anyone will see me." I continued hitting the snooze justifying it each time that I did that I would just skip another part of my morning ritual. At 7:05 I finally decided not to hit the snooze. "Fine, I'll just wake up," I thought to myself. I layed in bed pretending that I was going to open my eyes until I fell asleep again. I woke up and rolled over and looked at my phone, "7:15, greeeeeeaaaaaat..." I didn't want to wake up. I knew that I wouldn't miss too much if I stayed in bed until 11 am. Then, I decided that I had a duty to be in class. I really need to be more responsible. So, I roll out of bed, say a quick prayer, put on pants and keep on the shirt I slept in and grabbed my keys and left.

Somehow I walked out right in time to catch the shuttle and arrived at the Institute building at 7:25. I walked in and to my surprise, beautiful, delicious, perfect-looking, steaming hot (not really, they were luke warm) breakfast burritos were sitting on the desks. Oh. My. Good. Ness!! I think that right then and there I could have died and been a happy woman. I just stared at the burritos until one of the other students asked if I wanted a steak and egg burrito or ham and cheese. "Gosh heck, I dunno. Is this for real?" I kept talking but I was clearly not awake becuse I remember saying things that made everyone laugh really hard but the problem is that I dont remember what the funny things were that I said. I grabbed a steak and egg burrito and someone offered me a glass of orange juice. I sat in my chair and relaxed as our class began. We went through our agenda and accomplished everything we had to.

We all have responsibilities in life. Especially responsibilities to our church callings. It is hard to do that sometimes but when we serve, we are blessed. There are different levels of blessings and sometimes blessings are immediate and sometimes we don't see them for a long time. But you never know, maybe your blessings will come in the form of a luke warm steak and egg burrito. And let me tell you, best luke warm steak and egg burrito I've ever had at 7:30 in the morning.

Ohhhh its hard to be humble

Ever heard the song "Oh Lord it's Hard to Be Humble"? Sometimes when my friends say something sarcastically about how someone is so humble that song pops into my head, "Oh Lo it's hard to be humble When you're perfect in every way. I can't wait to look in the mirror 'cos I get better looking each day To know me is to love me I must be a 'heck' of a man. O Lo it's hard to be humble But I'm doing the best that I can." It's a real song. You can look it up! Just excuse some of the words on there. But it's a funny song. 
Over here at college I have been playing on two intramural basketball teams. One was a co-Ed team and one is a women's team. Every once in a while I get a little overly-confident and I guess I need a reminder that I'm not perfect. Or even close for that matter.
So last night our co-Ed team played. We were two games from the championship and we knew that it would be a harder game than the last one. So I was prepared to play hard. When I walked in I sat down on our side by one of the guys on our team. I took off my sweats and was putting on my shoes when out onto the floor walks a 6'5" and 250+lb man. "Oh my gosh, is that who we're playing?!" I asked. Braiden, who I was sitting next to chuckled a little, "yeah, and he's not even the biggest guy on their team. They have another guy that's 6'9" and has at least twenty pounds on that guy." 
I looked at him and thought that I was going to die. I finished putting on my shoes and looked up to see their other big player walk in. And who was their other player? My former Racquetball instructor. Andrew Br-something. He previously played at California Baptist University. Started 23 of the 29 games his junior year there. Ya he was kinda a big deal. 
So the game begins. We usually have one sub for the girls and last night we didn't so we all had to play the whole game. We did ok considering that our tallest guy was 6'3"ish and our shortest guy was more like 5'5". And then, the inevitable happened. They put Andrew in. So of course our guys can't guard him. He's got at least 6 inches on everyone on our team. So he posts up and they throw it to him and BAM he dunks it with ease. My roommate Sara and I look at each other and laugh because what are you supposed to do in that situation?! We keep playing and later in the game Andrew is in again and he gets a fast break. He's a big guy but he's not that fast so I sprint down with him and stand in front of him. He has the courtesy of not full out dunking on me and so he tries to tip it in. He hits the front of the rim 3 or 4 times until one of our players finally grabs his arm and fouls him. As he walks to the foul line to shoot he looks at me, " it's awkward when you're guarding me! I don't know what to do when you guard me." I told him that I wasn't going to just stand there while he dunked it and he laughed.
So to tie this back to my song, what's more humbling than having a former college player dunk it on you while you just stand there like a six year old trying to jump up and get the ball from a big kid who's holding it over your head taunting you. It was a very humbling experience. After the game we gave everyone High fives and Andrew came and grabbed my hand to shake it and we talked for a second. He was such a good sport about beating us by 20 points. But I realized that its really not that hard to be humble. Just go play some b-ball at your nearest college and you can experience it, too.

Faith and Trials

Have you ever had one of those days that starts out well. You get up, go to a missionary farewell, go back to your singles ward church, and then after that it just seems to go downhill? No? What?! Ok, well I have. Yesterday was that day. I was able to attend a church meeting where one of my good friends gave a talk before he left for his mission to serve the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He gave a fantastic talk about service and after, I was able to talk to a friend that I hadn't talked to in quite a few months. After I went home and got my laundry, I picked up my roommate and we headed back to Logan to attend our singles ward. Etc etc, so.... I end up at my friends apartment just a couple buildings over from my apartment. They are some of my best friends but sometimes when I feel like acting like an emotional girl I let little things that they do bother me. I don't know why I do, but it happens and most of the time I can't control the fact that it hurts me a little bit. Whether its a sarcastic comment, one of them leaving us to hang out with someone else, or any small act that on a normal day would be fine. But yesterday, it was not fine.

Yesterday, in particular it was a mixture of a few things that finally set me off. I could hardly stand myself so I decided to go back to my apartment. What do you do at a time like this? Do you listen to Taylor Swift like some one just ripped your heartout? Do you shut the door and lay on your bed and cry? Maybe one of those would work but I have discovered a better solution. "Hit your knees." Not with your hands but get down on your knees and pray to your Father in Heaven. He knows how to help you no matter what the situation. So I hit my knees and prayed. I prayed that I could be comforted, that I wouldn't worry so much about the little things and that Heavenly Father could help me through my little rough patches. After I got up off my knees I opened up my scriptures.

I knew that I needed some inspiration so I just flipped open to a page. I opened up in the Book Of Mormon to Ether chapter 12. As I looked at the page, yellow and red highlighters that I used many years ago, underlined very single time that the chapter said FAITH. Within that chapter, it said faith over 35 times. Immediately, I knew that Heavenly Father was answering my prayer. Heavenly Father just needs us to have faith in everything we do. We must have Faith in His timing, His power, His mercy, His plans for us and everything else he sees fit. It is amazing that for me that scripture touched me so deeply. I wasn't experiencing a huge life or death situation but Heavenly Father hears every single prayer and knows the desires of our hearts. I know that He can help us in a way that is special to us.

Ether 12:6 "And now I Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith."

Blessings through Obedience

So today has been a good day. I went to class and after I got done my mom called me up and said, "Hey, favorite daughter (she didn't really say that but just pretend she did because it's true;)), do you wanna go shopping for your sister's birthday?" and I told her of course because who doesn't love to go birthday shopping for your favorite little sister?!
We traveled to the Cache Valley Mall because there was one specific thing that I knew I needed to get for T (that's my sister's code name). We were able to find it and did a little shopping for my mission, also. After that, my mom asked me where I wanted to go for lunch. Let me explain that there are two places to eat in the mall, a Chinese place that is a little sketchy in my book and Paradise Bakery. Initially I thought Chinese food sounded good  so I walked over and looked at the food under the heat lamps. I quickly changed my mind. So we walked across the food court area to Paradise Bakery. I didn't know that they made things other than cookies so that was a nice surprise. I ordered myself some delicious sounding pannini off of the menu. The lady gave me my receipt to give to the cashier and told me that she would call my name when it was ready. My mom and I walked over to the cashier and my mom told me to choose a cookie. I looked at my options. A chewy double chocolate chip, a yummy looking peanut butter, snicker doodle, etc. etc, and finally a gooey looking chocolate chip cookie. How could I decide?! The peanut butter and the chocolate both seemed perfect and Delicious and scrumptious. I turned to my mom, "Ooh I can't decide, chocolate chip or peanut butter?" I had hoped that she would say something to the effect of, "Oh Abby, you silly, you can have both and throw in one of every other kind, too." Well that backfired and she said, "I don't care, just pick one." So I tried again, "MMMM! It's just such a hard choice, mom. Which one should I choose?" Mom is a lot smarter than me and so she aid, "Well the peanut butter looks really good." So I gave in and decided I would heed to the council of my ever-wise and all-knowing mother and chose the peanut butter. I felt awfully bad and when the lady called my name I grabbed the bag with my sandwich in it. It was a very large bag and I thought, Well gosh heck! how much room does one sandwich need?
I peer inside my over sized bag and what is there?... To my amazement One perfect, delicious, scrumptious looking chocolate chip cookie was sitting inside a little bag on the top of my sandwich. I looked up at my mom and smiled and told her, "I got a chocolate chip coo-ookie. I got a chocolate chip coo-ookie! Whoo!"
I realized then and there the blessings that come from obeying your parents. What a blessing it was to receive two cookies, and thank goodness, two DIFFERENT kinds of cookies. I can only imagine the kind of mayhem that might have erupted if I would have ended up with two of the same cookie.
Thank you, mom!

Here We Go

Welp, here we go friends. I have decided to create a blog. What do you post on a blog like this? I'm glad you asked because I was curious myself. So, after much contemplation and meditation, I have decided to blog about inspirational happenings and stories. If you enjoy things such as this then whoo-hoo!! Keep on following and reading. If you don't like things like this then maybe this is the perfect blog to make you start liking it. So, try to keep reading my ramblings. Maybe between all of my happy, funny, and "lesson-learned" stories you'll kinda learn to love me and all of my amazing adventures.