Hakuna Matata.

Oh my gosh!!! Our cultural event is THIS FRIDAY and SATURDAY!!! Our last official practice is Wednesday. I am so super excited!! It's coming together. I remember last time I was so worried it wasn't going to work or go well at ALL, and I'm seeing the same kinds of stuff, but because of last time, I know that we'll be ready. Hakuna matata: no worries! With The Lord's help, we can do it, as long as everyone puts forth the effort. It'll be great, I'm sure. This event has been such a testimony builder to me because I've been seeing so many miracles in my life; I still can't believe that our cultural event is this weekend. I know that we can do it, because it was given to us with the intention to help us build testimonies: ours and others'. I can't wait to help build other people's testimonies. I have no worries. It will be fantastic. :)

With Him, we can do it all.

I am so excited for this upcoming next couple of weeks/months!!! Next couple of weeks: our cultural event. I am SOOOOOO excited!!! Next couple of months: I have a couple of Christmas concerts that I'm super excited for. I know that with The Lord's help we'll be ready and prepared. Like the words of our opener for the cultural event: "We will have faith in each tomorrow and trust Him to show the way!" Definitely. I trust The Lord with all of my heart and I KNOW without a shadow of a doubt that we can do this. With Him, anything is possible. 

With His help, you can be prepared.

Trying to post everyday is hard. Sometimes I forget. So it might be every other day. Anyway. The Lord works miracles, and He blesses, and He loves. It's easy to love The Lord if you are always trying to be like Him; if you are always trying to be His hands; if you are always loving those you serve. However, there are the days when you just have a hard time having patience. Sometimes (okay, usually) my brothers like to whine. And they say they hate me. And it hurts my feelings and sometime makes me cry, when all I was trying to do was keep them safe or out of trouble. But then I realize that I'm just like my Heavenly Father: I know what's best for them (only with me it's sometimes, not always) and it makes me sad when they don't listen to my instructions. Heavenly Father feels sad when we don't follow Him. But I know that with His help, I can be patient, and loving, and someday (hopefully) it won't make me cry when my siblings say they hate me or something else negative about me. No matter what, though, I still try to serve them all the time, even when they don't try and serve me. It's hard being the big sister, and sometimes I wish I were an only child, but I think I would miss some of the cuteness that my little brothers are, and it's worth it. It's worth all eight of them talking negative to me all at the same time (which has happened occasionally). But I know that it's preparation for me to be a mother; I need the patience, and the long suffering. I need the practice of charity in my life, and this is the only way I can get it without having it sprung on me like a creepy spiderweb in the middle of the forest that no one can see. Or maybe I won't be a mother; maybe I'll just work with children and I'll need the patience. Whatever the case may be, I know The Lord is prepping me (but I really hope it's that I'm going to be a mother).  

I wonder as I work.

There are many questions I wonder all the time. I wonder if I will get married. I wonder if I will have children. I wonder if I might possibly go on a mission. I wonder if I'll move out of Utah. I wonder what college I'll go to. I wonder what I'll major in. All that kinda stuff. But there are also things deep inside me that make me feel as if I'm meant for something a bit bigger than I've anticipated. I'm not sure, though. However it works out, though, I know that, if I've prayed and talked to The Lord about it, and listened to Him and His Spirit, I know that it will be what I needed, or what someone else needed. And that's the way The Lord works: He works through you. He works through me. He works through a Marie Jacobson in Des Moines, Iowa (I totally made up that name, btw. Complete accident if there is one). He works through all of us, whether we know it or not. Your influence is more powerful than you know. 

Little things make me happy.

The littlest of things make me happy. And I just love little things. Literally. My favorite things are little baby clothes, little baby objects. Little baby stuff. Little things. They make me so happy. Ask anyone. Anyone that knows me, anyway. Anywho! But the thing that makes me the happiest is the gospel of Jesus Christ. With it, I know that I can be with my family forever, and I can be resurrected, and my sins can be forgiven. With this knowledge, my heart is full of love for the Savior, who died for us, and for my Heavenly Father, who sent Jesus to die for us. They both love all of us very much, and I am so grateful for that. I need daily reminders that someone somewhere always loves me. 

Miracles.

*singsong* Miracles in my life!! I love them. They're everywhere!! So excited for the cultural event!! I sang my solo today in front of everyone (in my building) for the first time. Not too shabby, if I do say so myself. Which I do. Plus, I got lots of compliments. So...it's all good. Anyway, I got off track. Miracles. I don't have any homework 'cos I did it all, so as soon as I'm done getting ready for bed I can go and get a much needed sleep. The Lord blesses me in many ways every day and I love Him for it. 

Some days. All days. Those days.

Some days go fantastically. Some days go magnificently. And some days don't. Some days you check all your due dates and things. Some days you don't. Some days you get homework done. You hope some days you won't not get it done. Some days you get so tired of everything. Some days you don't. But all days have good things to them. All days have lessons. All days have experiences. All days are full of love for you, whether you know it or not. Some days may be filled with pain, but He can help you bear it. So long as you turn to Him, He will help you bear it. So long as you keep Him in your life He will always help you. Those days are the best kinds of days. Those days can be all days, if you'll have just the right kind of attitude. 

He knows.

I realized today during sacrament meeting that The Lord knows who I'm going to be, and where I'm going to go. I realized that He puts people, and experiences, and knowledge in our lives that we will need to know when we become who we were supposed to become. I'm going to be a mother, and He gave me siblings that are very rowdy, so that I can learn patience. He gave me siblings that get hurt often so that I can learn medicine-y, heal-y type things. He gave me musical talents that I love to share so that I am able to share the gospel through them. He gave me a big heart, so that I have enough room to love all my friends, leaders, teachers, and families. He gave me amazing examples in my life so that I know what I can have. He gave me a craving for a better life, so that I can want what I can have. He gave me a desire to be the best me that I can be. And I love Him every day, all the time, and I'm grateful for that every day, all the time. 

The winning point.

Sometimes it is oh-so-very-hard to think and do and say the right things. And sometimes I fail. Epically. But I get right back up on that pony and I try again. And again. And again. It usually depends on where my brain train goes. Anyway. But I try so very hard to keep my brain empty of bad thoughts. And I try so very hard to say nice things and be nice to people. And I try extra hard to do the right things, even if it doesn't benefit me. And sometimes I fail. Epically. But more often than not, I win, fabulously. And those battles are the best kind. Not because I won (the battle), but because I won (in my heart). Does that make sense? So, say you've got a battle about saying kind words versus not saying kind words. And say, on Sunday you were so, so good about saying kind words, and on Monday, and Tuesday. But on Wednesday you failed. You called your best friend or someone close to you an idiot, because of something they did. And then you apologized, said you didn't mean it, 'twas a slip of the tongue, they forgave you, and then you guys went on your way. But then on Thursday, you were saying kind words again. You won this battle, not because it was four out of five, but because you had a change of heart; you understood the principle, you had experienced both sides, and you understood which one was the better one. That's the winning point. You win, and you understand the principle, and why the choice is the better one. 

Good, better, best.

Sometimes I think my siblings are stupid on purpose. Then Tyler does something like squeeze Lander because he often squeezes the cat and Tyler hurts Lander and I think, "Oh yes...they are stupid on purpose." And they never listen to me. I try to be a good example and a good big sister, but they just don't listen and they do stupid things. It takes a lot of my patience to be patient and remember that they are less experienced than I am and that they don't have the same conscience as I do, and that they like to be independent. But I have to remember that they, too, are children of God, and He loves them, too. But sometimes it's so hard because they just get on my nerves so much. And that's why I'm always telling people to breathe, and to not forget to breathe. Because breathing helps calm people down. And so that's my stress-relief technique: breathe deeply. And just remember that it's always better to be the better person, even if the outcome doesn't favor you. You'll know in your heart that what you did is the best choice of action. Sometimes my brother picks the good choice, sometimes he picks the better choice, and rarely, if ever, does he ever pick the best choice. But I always try to pick the best choice, knowing that I might not always get the best outcome, but it will be worth it in the end. And that's what keeps me going. 

Happiness.

Happy. Love. Service. Attitude. Optimism. These are all words that can be used to describe how one feels or how one's personality usually is. Someone can just always have a positive attitude or outlook to life. Someone can do everything they do with love. Someone can do all things service. Someone can do all things with a bit of attitude. And finally someone can always be optimistic in everything. Now, I'm sure you've noticed that they all have something in common except one. If you guessed "attitude", then you were correct. If not, well...better luck next time. Most of these four nouns and one adjective are all happy, bright words use to describe things in positive and uplifting ways. The best way to become like Christ is to act like Him. And the way He acts is some of the words I said: service, love, happy, optimism. Christ never did anything in any selfish attitude, nor for any glory. The glory is His Father's, and He knows that. I think that's how we can live. Live and act knowing that the glory is all God's, and live with a purpose; of happiness, service, or love. But where there's one of these, there is usually the other. You can't serve someone without loving them. You can't serve without being happy. Just remember that's it's all in the attitude. Your attitude depends upon all of these things. As does your happiness. So, try to be the best you can be, and pray for your friends and family. And, don't worry; be happy. :)

A glimpse to a piece of my heart.

I don't know what to say. I'm tired and really hating homework. School would be perfect if there was no (or a very, very small amount of homework) homework at all. The cultural event is coming along nicely. I think it's going a lot smoother than the other one. The other one was great, too, but this one is going smoother. I'm super excited!! Some purple things that I love: my new portable charger that's being kind of whacko, my new purple shoes, my purple shirts, my new purple iPod case, and my purple glasses!! :) I love purple with all...well...most of my heart. The rest of it belongs to The Lord. I am trying my very best to be what the Savior wants me to be, and what He knows I can be, along with along leaders and friends, and teachers. Especially the ones that have changed my life forever. I never would have made it to this point in my life without them. And that's why I talk about people often. Because they are forever engraved in my heart. And I never, never want to forget them, or what they've done for me. 

Happiness comes in small miracles.

Two (well, one, really) amazing things happened to me today. One!! Is that I had no math homework. Which means that I spent most of the afternoon (with large breaks) working on my English expository essay due tomorrow. That's not really amazing, except for the fact that I was pretty much able to do it, with help from my daddy. Anyway. Two!! Is that I got the solo in the cultural event!!!!!!!!! Dude!! I have been so excited and happy all day that I have had tears in my eyes, I was so happy. It really calmed me down; I'd been so anxious about it, worrying that I wouldn't get it, when everyone was telling me I would. I had hoped I would, because, not to toot my own horn or anything, I am a really good singer. I really am, and I had really hoped I would get it. I've tried out for several solos before that I have not gotten, so I really, really wanted this one. Plus, it's so high and so pretty and I just love it. So, that's just a small part of what The Lord blessed me with today. What has He blessed you with today?

October Conference 2013 (Continued).

Today's sessions were great, too!! Here are some more fabulous quotes: 

Also, I think I may have dozed during a couple of talks during the Sunday afternoon session, so I'm going to have to go back and listen to them again. I'm not complaining, though. They sounded like they're fantastic!! I love conference weekend. :)

October Conference 2013.

Oh my goodness gracious!! That was an AMAZING General Conference!!!! I loved it!!! Here are some quotes (in picture format):

These are all so, so fabulous! I cannot wait until tomorrow!!!

Conference.

Today we had a seminary Morningside. Sister Elaine S. Dalton spoke to us. She spoke of how special we are, and how she calls us the stripling warriors of this day and age. She talked a lot about your worth, and I'm so glad I was able to go. It was a great testimony builder to me, and a great self-esteem booster, too. I love Sister Dalton and I'm going to miss her as the young women's president, but I'm glad for all the technology we have so that I can watch/listen/reread  all her talks. I'm so excited for conference this weekend!! I can't wait to hear what our leaders have prepared for us. I love all the big "bags" (events) of spiritual-ness that we get every so often. General Conference every six months, girls' camp and youth conference every summer, and the occasional "Oh my goodness gracious, this event was such a big testimony builder to me!" Because, honestly, sometimes my spiritual bag drains. But these events help lift it and strengthen it, and when I look back on them, I remember how I felt and how it helped me, and I'm so thankful for them. 

The scriptures.

"Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies." "Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy" (2 Nephi 2:25). He will tell you in your mind and in your heart (D & C 8:2-3). Have I ever told you how much I love the scriptures?? Well, I just love them so, so much!! They have many wonderful doctrines and truths in them that apply to me personally and I love it. I feel so, so, so sad for those who either: don't have the gospel, used to have it but don't, or those that want nothing to do with it. It just makes my heart break sometimes, because they need it. We all need it, and I just wish that some people who really need it could see that. D & C 19:23 will help you with how to find peace. Read the scriptures; they are true. :)

October.

It's October. I love October. The colours, and it's fall. I love fall. It's so pretty and cool (literally; the temperature drops from high eighties to whatever it drops to...let's say forties) and it's just fall. There are no words to describe it other than "It's fall." Sometimes I just love thinking about the world, and what God has created for us. And I can't help but think, "How in the world can people think there isn't a God? It's all around us...how can they think that?" And it's true. It is all around us. It didn't just decide one day that it wanted to be and BOOM! it was. No. God created the heavens and the earth, and He created us. And the changing of seasons reminds me of that. All of nature, really. And it's just so pretty and I love it. :)