time flys when you're having fun.

Life goes by so quickly. At least it seems like it.

I remember the beginning of the summer. I had big plans to get ready for college, exercise, work, play, date, and have fun. The summer is almost over though. I have 47 days left still school starts. It's CRAZY!

I decided to write about this today because I was bored. I was looking through some pictures and found a prom album from last year on facebook. It was fun to see how my friends and I have changed.

Chris Redd is serving a mission. He was called to serve in Spain but as his visa goes through he spends his service in Provo, UT. Jay Valle is preparing for a mission as well. He leaves in October. He is going to be serving in Argentina. Bridget has been happily married for a week and one day! She finished a year of college and then moved to Arizona to follow the man that is now her husband. Oh my goodness! It's just crazy to think that just a year ago we were all in high school.

In addition, yesterday Logan decided to watch family videos. I was in the family room so I started watching them with him. It was fun. There was one part that caught my attention. I started yelling to my friend on the playground. His name is Jordan Bloomquist. So I decided I would go on facebook and look for him again. I found him! He goes to BYU-I too! Then I was looking at his pictures to see what he was up to and found he is friends with another one of my old friends Alex McRae. Alex also goes to BYU-I. We used to take piano lessons together when I first moved to Nampa. These boys used to be some of my good friends. It's a small world.

I went up to girls camp this year. I was bored and didn't have anything to do and I felt like it would be a good thing to do. So I went. During the testimony meeting I was looking around and realized I had babysat practically every girl there. It was funny. It's so fun to watch them grow up. (ha! that just made me sound old.) But really, it's amazing for me to look around and notice all the changes with my friends in just the last year or so. I guess the old saying "Time flys when you're having fun!" holds true.

It was just last week that I was at Roaring Springs and saw Jon Schmidt in concert, which by the way was absolutely incredible. Jon has a keen 6th sense for music. It is purely natural and inspired. He also has a powerful testimony that he shares through his music. It is wonderful. I can't believe it was a week ago. On the topic of concerts...last night some friends and I saw Moose Butter. They are a group of 4 men that sing acapella. They are also very funny! I got a kick out of their improvised harmony of Justin Beiber and Hannah Montanna. (: good times.

the situation.

So I have a feeling that today will not be a good day. Everything about the situation is starting to hit me and my family.

My dad has lost his job. He has been out of work for over a month. He applies for several jobs a day and has at least one interview a week but still nothing. We keep praying and hoping but I guess that's all part of this trial. We just barely, as of last week started recieving unemployment. This gives us $300 a week. This is only a fraction of what my dad used to bring in before. The frustrating thing is that no matter how much we cut back this will not provide the needed money for the house payment, food, utilities, and gas.

Sometimes when I face this reality I begin to become excited for college. I will be on my own providing for just me. I have scholarships and will hopefully be able to get a job to offer some spending money. I will be able to take care of myself. But then I feel guilty. It seems like I'm almost deserting my family. I will be happy and they might not be if my dad doesn't find a job quickly.

I know the Lord will provide for us. I know He and many other people love us and will support us through this trial.

I just don't know what to do at the moment. I can't live like this is not happening but I can't (and won't) be depressed all day.

I think for now I am going to act on the promise I made to my home teachers just yesterday. And that is to make a list of all the people I know (especially inactive or non-member ones) and put it in my scriptures and then each time I read I will be able to see their names and think of how I will be able to help those of them who I am directed to know need help.

President Henry B. Eyring wrote the First Presidency message for this month. Among his brilliant words is this quote I want to end with:
"In the next few days you will have many opportunites to be a friend for Him. It may be as you walk on a dusty road. It may be as you sti down in a rialroad car. It may be as you look for a place to sit in a Church congregation. If you are watching, you will see someone carrying a heavy burden. It may be a burden of sorrow or loneliness or resentment. It may be visible to you only if you have prayed for the Spirit to give you eyes to see into hearts and have promised to life up the hands that hang down."

(:

waterslides and gratitude.

So, there is an amazing water park in Meridian...Roaring Springs. Everyone goes there. It's pretty insane. Several intense waterslides, group rides, lazy river, wave pool...yeah.

I have only been to this water park once before last night and it was not the best experience. It was 5th grade. For our end of the year field trip we got to go to Roaring Springs. It was a big deal. Now I have an intense fear of height, which at this time I had not even tried to conquer. I think you can tell where this is going already...... Well basically I couldn't even make it up the stairs to some of these waterslides so I ended up not going on hardly anything. What made it worse, at least for a little insecure 5th grade girl is that my friends could. They kept bugging me to do stuff and eventually I ended up alone floating the lazy river for 3 hours. I also ended up with the worst sunburn I have had in my life. But overall the main bad memory associated with it is the loneliness.

Well since this time I have conquered much of my fear of heights. I have been on several roller coasters and hiking. But I think the big difference is is that on rollercoasters you start on the ground and once you're on, you're on for the whole ride. With waterslides you have many chances to back out. Anyways, I really thought I would be able to do it this time. I have even gone on other waterslides. So we have a regional young single adult (YSA) conference and we get to go for free so I decide to go. My friend and I grab a mat to go on the racing slides and as we begin the first flight of stairs my body just freezes and begins to freak out. I can't do it. I want to, but I can't bring myself to do it. I'm pretty upset with myself and I'm afraid I will have to relive the experience of last time. Lame.

But my friend turns to me and says "I'll do whatever you want to do. I want you to have fun." Although I didn't believe it at first, it soon meant the world to me. Last night was a blast and I ended up having a ton of fun even though I couldn't go on any of the "cool" waterslides.

THANK YOU (: