The Parable of the Bookshelf

So tonight I was assembling a bookshelf because I have a lot of books and one bookshelf is just simply not enough for me. (If you only knew anyway...)

So I got to this point and I thought I was almost done then I looked at it.

The wrong side of the wood is everywhere! Ughh it looks so bad!!

I don't know if you can see all the mistakes that I made. I was pretty frustrated cause I just wanted to be done and have it over with. (the directions were confusing) As I was reading the directions it was talking about the backing(to the left of the photo) being important to keeping the whole thing together and I thought "Yeah right. like this flimsy piece of nothing could keep the whole bookshelf together."  So I kept moving forward to finishing my bookshelf.  Then I got to thinking well this doesn't look it's best and I might be leaving this at home at some point and I don't think my parents would appreciate this kinda ugly looking thing in their house.  Then I started thinking about sin and how it kinda makes us kinda not so great looking spiritually. It taints us. And how sometimes we think well it doesn't look that bad. But to our Heavenly Father it is an eyesore because He can't look upon sin with the least degree of allowance.  So I started taking the bookshelf apart to fix it.  and it was NOT easy, it was frustrating and I just wanted wanted to be done cause I was hurting.  I had to be patient and not give up and just work on it and eventually I was able to fix it.  And that's how repentance is.  It's not easy and it often hurts a lot.  It takes time depending on what it is. But eventually after it all, we end up with what Heavenly Father wanted us to look like: clean and pure of sin. 
And also it is a lot easier and saves us time in the long run if we just spend a little bit of extra time studying the directions.  Same with keeping the commandments, it saves us time in the long run. 
So there you go. The parable of the bookshelf. Who knew that putting that together would give me all of that?

 

The finished project

December!

My friend Kim and I at the lights in downtown El Paso! It was fun to
go see them cause I'd never gone down before. :)

  So I was sitting at my computer today realizing it has been a while since I blogged and I decided I needed an update. Well December was an awesome month for me and an awesome way to end 2012. I got to see the rest of my family for the first time since getting home. Which was great!! I love them so much!! :) Also I have worn contacts too much and was causing my eyes problems so that is why I'm wearing glasses in all the pictures...

Going sledding for the 2nd time in my life!

Who can resist this adorable face?!

My good friend/old roommate Jaime got married in the Idaho Falls temple. It was so much fun to see her and our other roommate Sena.  Sena also served a mission so we both got to go to the sealing. Which was awesome! :)

  Look at this cute little girl! She didn't like the wig much. but I got her to wear it for this picture!

My niece Emma and I.  I surprised her when I took this picture. haha. :)

William and his crown

 Abbie and I. Abbie is always ready for a picture!

My nephews on their date with grandpa and grandma to buy presents.

Salt Lake Temple I got to go to my first live session ever. Pretty cool. I got
to ride the frontrunner up to Salt Lake from Lehi which was a pretty fun experience. :)

I couldn't resist getting this t-shirt for her!

 Well that was pretty much my month. It went by way too quickly!!

Feeling Inspired

So I saw this video on my friend's facebook tonight.  It's about an elephant named Tara and a dog named Bella and how they were such good friends despite their differences and the relationship the two had.
I loved the quote at the end: "Just two living creatures who somehow manage to look past their immense differences. Take a good look America, take a good luck world. If they can do it what's our excuse?" True statement. We should be able to look past differences and see the good in others. :)

30 reasons to be grateful.

So I have been noticing all month writing statuses about what they are grateful for all month. I thought about joining in but then was too lazy. So since thanksgiving is next week I am going to just write 30 things I am grateful for.
1. Heavenly Father and the Savior
2. My awesome parents (they are SO supportive)
3.My siblings and their families :) They are the best!! Especially since they provide me with nieces and nephews to love
4.My friends (again so supportive)
5. My education
6. My awesome ward here. So many fun people.
7. The scriptures, Preach My Gospel, church books, etc.
8. Good music.
9. Good books
10. A warm home
11. shoes
12. Only having to eat 2 thanksgiving dinners on separate days this year compared to last year's 4 in one day.
13. PENNSYLVANIA!!!!
14. People in Pennsylvania
15. flowers
16. tithing
17. Ritter sports bars. :) (come on candy had to make the list.)
18. the internet
19. my home ward
20. my car
21. President Monson and his counselors President Eyring and President Uchdort (first presidency devotional is so SOON!)
22. The Quorum of the Twelve
23. My bed
24. a hot water heater
25.  My mission president and his wife
26. Running water
27. my blog/journal
28. lotion!
29. cameras
30. I'm going to cheat here so everything I can possibly be thankful for. :)

What are you thankful for??

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!

Ouch

So this is a picture from 3 years from when I got an injury (obviously... I mean look at that bruise!) from a water slide at Porter Park in Rexburg.  Unfortunately it was more than just a bruise because it caused me to get a bone spur on my big toe joint!  Who would have thought??  Crazy stuff. Anyway my life is still rather boring at the moment other than all my crazy medical stuff. Love you all!!

Recent Happenings

Me dressed as a scarecrow for a dance... Except I don't think I looked that scary. Crows probably wouldn't be afraid of me... :)

I just thought this license plate was hilarious. Oh people are great!

Homeeeeeeeee!!!!

So as most of you may know I am home from my mission. I got home on Saturday Sept 22. It's been fun adjusting back to the "real" world. :) With a few exceptions but eh that's my life for now.