1. I was led to some quotes from President Hinckley, and one of my favorite ones was this: “Cultivate an attitude of happiness. Cultivate a spirit of optimism. Walk with faith, rejoicing in the beauties of nature, in the goodness of those you love, in the testimony which you carry in your heart concerning things divine.” I love the first part, because it puts the power in our hands. We have the power to cultivate that happiness and optimism as much as we have the power to cultivate a garden! I keep going back to the example of my mission president and his wife. They are such examples to me of modern-day Moronis--always doing the next thing to help them progress!

2. I needed guidance on what to share with Elder Scheuermann in my email, and I was seriously led right to the PERFECT Ensign article!

3. I feel like I'm starting to get to know people at church better and that I have a little group that I gravitate towards, which is so nice. I love this ward! Everyone is so cool!

4. I'm grateful for how supportive and loving my family is. We lift each other up.

5. I'm grateful to be getting back into my goals. They're super important!

1. I'm grateful for the guidance Heavenly Father has given me in very specific ways! He is so aware of me and guides me step by step.

2. I got quite a bit of homework done today and it felt great. :)

3. I have felt guided to a new routine that should help me be more productive, hopefully!

4. I love my family. :)

5. I <3 p="" summertime="">
6. Baby's most likely coming today or tomorrow! :D :D :D She's almost here!

1. Tri-stake temple trip! We had a chapel session beforehand, which I had never done in the Salt Lake temple (or knew about!) before. It was powerful to be surrounded by so many strong young single adults! I feel like it was Heavenly Father's way of telling me that there are plenty of young single adults out there--sometimes I feel like they're all hiding. But now I know where...the temple!

2. I got to do sealings while I was there, and I felt inspiration and motivation pouring in on me the whole time about how I can progress. I loved it!

3. Institute today was so good as well--my favorite part was the teacher talking about how Moroni was constantly making bigger and better fortifications. The war chapters are some of my favorite parts of the Book of Mormon because I feel like they're so applicable to how we can protect ourselves against the adversary. The question I've had lately is how I can keep my focus when I'm trying to live a certain principle. It seems really strong for the first few days, and then I lose steam. So, my teacher's insight that Moroni was always moving upwards seems to be the answer. There is no plateau. I need to be constantly striving to find the next thing that will help me be strong. My mission president and his wife are the ultimate example to me in this--they would always give us practical invitations for the work, and they would always be progressing themselves. For example, my mission president's wife decided she wanted to work on becoming more diligent and having more self-discipline, so she decided to stop eating chocolate. My mission president reads books that the General Authorities write. I love little practical suggestions like that--small and simple things.

4. And that small and simple idea today is to use my driving time to memorize the Primary songs! I've felt like the radio has gotten kind of bad, so this was the answer Heavenly Father gave me. It's perfect, because one of my goals is to memorize the Primary songs so I can sing them to my kids.

5. And the fifth way I saw Heavenly Father's hand today...I still feel like it's just a huge tender mercy that I get to live with Neil and Boo Boo. They make my summer way more fun than I could. :D

"With merciless fury Satan's forces must have attacked the Savior on all fronts [during the Atonement]--frantically, diabolically, seeking a vulnerable spot, a weakness, and Achilles' heel through which they might inflict a 'mortal' wound, all in hopes they could halt the impending charge, but it was not to be. The Savior pressed forward in bold assault until every prisoner was freed from the tenacious tentacles of the Evil One. This was  rescue mission of infinite implications." ("The Infinite Atonement," Elder Tad R. Callister, pg. 130)

I hadn't given much thought to the fact that the adversary and all his minions must have been putting forth their greatest efforts during the most crucial moment in the history of time. They were desperate for the Lord to fail, for if He did, all mankind was lost and would be under their dominion. In doesn't say any of this doctrinally, but to me it makes so much sense that the adversary put forth his fullest effort during the Savior's suffering in Gethsemane. Another quote I loved from "The Infinite Atonement" is where it mentions that the Savior didn't just weather the suffering or make a "fist-clenching 'taking of the stripes.' It must have been more than a defensive 'holding of the fort' or raising of the shield to ward off the fiery darts of the Evil One. Part of the Savior's atoning quest must have included an element of conquering, an offensive struggle of sorts...This part of the battle may have necessitated an invasion of Satan's turf, perhaps even an intrepid trespass into the dark abyss of the Devil's domain." (pg. 129) Such a powerful thought!

I am super excited about my upcoming project...I am going to read "The Screwtape Letters" by C.S. Lewis (a fictional book of letters between a seasoned demon and a demon-in-training) AND also "The Enoch Letters" by Elder Neal A. Maxwell (also a fictional book of letters between angels...if I'm correct.) I'm doing so because I want to be more aware of how the adversary seeks to get to me. I don't want to dwell on it, but I also don't want to be completely unaware. So, to start off, here is a quote from "The Screwtape Letters": "There is nothing like suspense and anxiety for barricading a human's mind against [God]. He wants men to be concerned with what they do; our business is to keep them thinking about what will happen to them."

1. “I was very shy in high school and did not take advantage of opportunities to enlarge and build my talents. I was afraid to try. … Don’t be afraid to try. Have confidence in yourself. You won’t succeed the first time on anything you do, but successive attempts will bring confidence and the development of new talents” (L. Tom Perry, “Sharing Family Heritage,” Ensign, Sept. 2006, 8)...Elder Perry was shy once? Well, that gives me hope that I can change too. :)

2. I am loving this principle of pushing myself little by little to a bigger comfort zone. I ran farther than I have before, today. It was good for me emotionally to just run it off. Today was a little rough...

3. ...until I went to FHE! So, at the end of my run I thought about one of my best friends. I met her at EFY and "randomly" ended up being her roommate a little while after that! She had changed between EFY and college, into someone who (in a good way) doesn't give a fig what other people think about her. I asked her how she did it and she said she just does crazy embarrassing things and people seem fine with it. haha. I don't know if I can be as bold as her...but I can start to overcome my social fears little by little. I tried tonight at FHE by seeing if I could just reach out and talk to one person. It happened to be the elders quorum president, who was super nice and consequently introduced me to like everyone else there! Tender mercy.

4. Dinner. Delicious.

5. Papa is here for a few days :D We're all under the same roof, at least for a little while!

1. I got asked on a date by at church today! Tender mercy, since I've been praying to make some good friends here. I think (besides SVU) he is the first guy I'll have gone on a date with who I didn't know before my mission. We're going salsa dancing this weekend...arriba!

2. So, with the memories of "Unbroken" still in my mind from last night, church had a whole new meaning for me today. Our first lesson was about knowing that the Lord hasn't forgotten us, and it definitely made me think about "Unbroken" and how hard it must have been to not feel unforgotten through all those trials. But those good men did it!

3. Mama rubbed my sore legs with Pain-a-trate and it hurt so good. I am spolt! (Okie for "spoiled")

4. This meme:

5. I got to watch Face to Face with Elder and Sister Bednar and it was SO GOOD. It seriously made my whole Sunday and helped me feel like I had a successful Sabbath. Here's a powerful quote from it: "Would the Lord send one of the Twelve Apostles halfway around the world to help just one person? The answer is yes, He does it all the time." Elder Bednar always has new insights and I love that! And Sister Bednar is just as much his spiritual equal.