You have a greater impact than you know.

I never realized what an impact I had/have on my friends/family/acquaintances. So, yesterday in seminary we had a seminary conference with everyone who had seminary that class period. At the end of the fabulous conference, they opened it up to us, the congregation. I listened to several of the testimonies, and my heart started pounding out of my chest; I was sure my friend beside me and in front of me could hear me. They couldn't, obviously, but I thought they could because it was so loud and I could feel it throughout my whole body. Anyway, I got up. And although I''m sure no one else noticed, I started and ended my talk with lines from songs. I started it with, "You are a light on hill. You cannot be hidden." That is from a song called "Light on a Hill." Anyway, after that, I don't remember exactly what I talked about, but I brushed up on my rough spot two years ago, and how I turned to my Savior and the Bishop, and they helped me get through it, and I knew that I wouldn't have been able to do it alone. I closed with the line, "With Him we can." I can't remember what song it is from, but I know it is by Mercy River, so if you want to find it, just look that line up with their name. Also, after the closing prayer, my friend thanked me for sharing my testimony. And later when I was waiting to get picked up, one of the seminary teachers said that I did a good job. And I never realized what an impact I had on those around me until then. I never consciously realized it, I mean. I guess underneath I knew, but I hadn't ever realized it. But yes. You have more of an impact than you know. Please be brave and smart. Someone may need something you say, but if you're not brave and you don't say it, they will never be able to get it from you or anyone else ever again.

Because I knew you, I have been changed for good.

Wow. New Year's Eve is TUESDAY. I can't believe it's almost 2014!! This year has gone by so fast!! I have had so, so, so many experiences that have helped me grow, and I am so thankful for each and every one. I have met and befriended so many wonderful people who have shown me and taught me things I don't think I could've learned from anyone else. But, most importantly, I KNOW I have grown closer to my Savior. Some experiences I've had could not have brought about the spiritual consequences they did without the Atonement of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Because of all the many wonderful people I have met this year, I have been changed. For good. I will NEVER go back to the person that I was at the start of the year, and for that I am grateful. I am a better child of God, a better daughter, a better cousin, a better sister, a better friend, and a better confidant now than I was before. I have been changed forever, and for that I am grateful. I love each and every one of the new friends I have formed this year, and I still love all my old friends. I have loved getting to know everyone in all of my classes better, and I have loved being able to spend time with my friends. I have loved being able to be me this year, and not caring what others think of me. I hope they think of me fondly when we've said goodbye (haha, good ol' Phantom of the Opera). My siblings have put up with lots of me this year, and I hope that, in time, they'll come to recognize that this is who I am, and they just need to accept me. Again, I am so thankful for all of the people I've had the chance to meet and all the experiences I've had the opportunity to go through. Now, some of them were not easy. In fact, some of them were downright scary and intimidating, like my solo. But once I got through it, it was like the heavens had opened and I had the biggest support group of angels I have ever had the pleasure to have. Despite the fact that some of the experiences were not easy, I did them anyway and I learned a lot. I am so thankful for that. I am so thankful for the changes that I made in others. I am looking forward to making many, many more in the upcoming year. Hopefully I will be less "rollercoaster-y" and more "heartbeat-y". Anyway, I love my Savior, Jesus Christ, and my Heavenly Father, and I know they love me. I love my family, and my old friends, and my new friends. I love my teachers, who sacrifice so much for me, and listen to me, and (try to) understand me. I love being a child of God, and I love that He knows me. He knows me: He know my needs, my dreams, my desires, my fears, my worries, my loves, and He knows the way I tick. He knows who I connect well with, and who I don't. He knows everything about me, including things that I don't. He knows the why and the how about how I work. I trust Him forever with all of my heart, and I love Him forever with all of my heart. 

Lights. Family. TV show directors. People. Music.

Number 23: I am grateful for lights. They make things less scary and they make the home brighter. So I'm grateful for the light everywhere. 

24th: I am grateful for family. They are funny and cute and they usually have great advice. So I'm grateful for relatives to help guide and protect me. 

Twenty-fifth: I am grateful for TV show directors. They are able to plan things out years ahead and make it all connect with the past and have it make sense. So I'm grateful for genius writers and directors. 

Sixth and Twenty: I am grateful for people. Friends and family, teachers and leaders, who are all great listeners and advice-givers and teachers. So I'm grateful for people who help me in any way they can. 

Twenty and seven: I am grateful for music. Anytime I feel sad or mad or even just lazy, MUSIC is the answer and MUSIC is always there. So I'm grateful for music to be my constant companion.