It's Official--They're Engaged!

This girl right here,^^ she's one of my best friends from high school.

I love her to bits and pieces.  And she got engaged last night to her junior high crush (who, ironically, I have never met.. but it's fine).

They're basically the cutest little hipster couple you'll ever meet.

And they're both great at art and music.

In fact, they have a band called Children of the North.

I'm so happy for this girl.  Seriously, I can't believe we've been graduated for two years now and are moving on to such big things in our lives.  (Well, she's got big things, I've just got living in Cedar City haha)

But August 3rd Emily Andrews will be sealed to McKay Felt for time and all eternity.

I can't wait to be there and watch them come out of the temple.

I love you Little One!!

^^Super classy antique ring

My Talk

I spoke in church today on families. And now I'm putting my talk on here. Sorry you didn't get the real thing in person, but this is good too!

Good morning brothers and sisters…So Brother Paul asked me to call him Tuesday night. Not knowing what I was getting myself into, I called him and well, here I am today. He also asked me to introduce myself. Now you’ve probably seen me around on your floors since I’m an RA, but for those of you who don’t know me, here goes: My name is Alyssa Simon, I was born in Walnut Creek, California and am very proud of those roots. However, I grew up in Bountiful, Utah for the majority of my life. I’m the oldest daughter of Ross and Teresa, I have an older brother Andrew, two younger brothers Austin and Avery, and two younger sisters Ainsley and Aimee, and yes, we all start with the letter A. I am currently a junior and studying human nutrition. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed being an RA this year and meeting those of you that I have. Just a quick random fact about me, I’m awful at speaking in front of people, especially in church. The last talk I gave was a couple years ago and I didn’t even write it. Writing a talk is a lot like writing a paper for school and I’m just not good at it. So bear with me please.

Last week in Sunday School, Whitney talked about relationships with our Savior. And she was saying how He can be so funny. And I’m pretty positive that it’s true now. Why do I think that? Well, I’ve been having some issues with my family lately, and what do I get to speak on? That’s right, the family. It’s okay though, because I probably needed this and the Lord is great like that. He knows what we need and when we need it. Anyways, the purpose of my talk…

So the first thing that came to my mind when I thought about speaking in church is what do I know about the family? Well, I know that families are ordained of God and are fundamental for our return to our Heavenly Father. I also know that families can be together forever, just like the song in primary taught me. The lyrics of that song go like this: I have a family here on earth, they are so good to me, I want to share my life with them through all eternity, Families can be together forever, through Heavenly father’s plan, I always want to be with my own family And the lord has shown me how I can, the Lord, has shown me how I can.

Most all of us know that though. I was wondering, what new idea I could bring to the table. And I really couldn't think of anything. So I went online and was researching talks on the family. I read through a few and I picked out a couple quotes from them that I liked. The first one is about family relationships and is taken from Elder Robert D. Hales’ talk. He said:

"The family relationships we have here on this earth are important, but they are much more important for their effect on our families for generations in mortality and throughout all eternity...While our individual salvation is based on our individual obedience, it is equally important that we understand that we are each an important and integral part of a family and the highest blessings can be received only within an eternal family. When families are functioning as designed by God, the relationships found therein are the most valued of mortality. The plan of the Father is that family love and companionship will continue into the eternities. Being one in a family carries a great responsibility of caring, loving, lifting, and strengthening each member of the family so that all can righteously endure to the end in mortality and dwell together throughout eternity. It is not enough just to save ourselves. It is equally important that parents, brothers, and sisters are saved in our families. If we return home alone to our Heavenly Father, we will be asked, “Where is the rest of the family?” This is why we teach that families are forever. The eternal nature of an individual becomes the eternal nature of the family."

The relationships that we have with our families are so important. My family hasn't always been the closest, but we have little bonds. All growing up I was never close with my older brother. We went to the same high school but never talked to each other. He left on his mission my junior year of high school and I remember him telling each of my other siblings something like “good luck with lacrosse,” or something like that. When he hugged me goodbye it was just that, a hug. While he was still in the MTC I received a letter from him. It said, “I see other missionaries with sisters your age and how close they are and I wish that we had had that. I hope it’s not too late. I want you to know that I love you and you can tell me anything.” He went on and told me some things about his girlfriend and how he loved her; things that we never talked about ever before. From then on we emailed every week and his homecoming was amazing. We don’t get to talk as much anymore since we’re both busy with school and work, but I know he’s there for me and that’s something that I’m grateful for.

Another quote is from Elder L. Tom Perry, "President Brigham Young explained that our families are not yet ours. The Lord has committed them to us to see how we will treat them. Only if we are faithful will they be given to us forever. What we do on earth determines whether or not we will be worthy to become heavenly parents."

I’ve never thought of my family as not yet mine. I’ve always just figured that they have to love me no matter what so if we fight then it’s fine. But then I read that and I was like “hmmm, interesting.” So just keep that in mind, only if we are faithful will they be given to us forever.

President Henry B. Eyring said, “A key for us is in the proclamation: “Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Having family scripture study, morning and evening prayer, Family Home Evenings, attending church meetings, doing temple work, family history, or simply spending time together are ways that families can be founded on the Lord. D&C 88:119-126 says what I want to say in a much better way than I could ever put it. Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God; That your incomings may be in the name of the Lord; that your outgoings may be in the name of the Lord; that all your salutations may be in the name of the Lord, with uplifted hands unto the Most High. Therefore, cease from all your light speeches, from all laughter, from all your lustful desires, from all your pride and light-mindedness, and from all your wicked doings. Appoint among yourselves a teacher, and let not all be spokesmen at once; but let one speak at a time and let all listen unto his sayings, that when all have spoken that all may be edified of all, and that every man may have an equal privilege. See that ye love one another; cease to be covetous; learn to impart one to another as the gospel requires. Cease to be idle; cease to be unclean; cease to find fault one with another; cease to sleep longer than is needful; retire to thy bed early, that ye may not be weary; arise early, that your bodies and your minds may be invigorated. And above all things, clothe yourselves with the bond of charity, as with a mantle, which is the bond of perfectness and peace. Pray always, that ye may not faint, until I come. Behold, and lo, I will come quickly, and receive you unto myself. Amen.

Now as college students we aren’t exactly surrounded by our immediate family. We have ways to talk to them and have weekends that we can visit, but for the most part, we are on our own. Thank goodness that we are not only blessed with a biological family here on earth, but that we are also blessed with a ward family and friends as family.

I hope that each and every one of you has come to find out what an amazing bishopric we have. I’m grateful for them and for each of you. Whether you have simply smiled at me or said hi or something like that, I’m so thankful. Those little acts of kindness make all the difference. Our ward is the family we turn to when we don’t have anywhere else to go. We’re spending our Sundays and Monday nights with them now. Often times, we might talk to them more than our parents or siblings.

My friends down here and up north are seriously an extended part of my body. They quite possibly know me better than my family. All of us are attending school and are anywhere from less than an hour to many hours away from loved ones. That can be hard when that’s all we’ve ever known most of our lives. That’s also why the people we choose to surround ourselves with are so important. We’re making our own decisions and living our lives, but the influence of friends is so immense. Lots of times you’re living with your best friends, so you’re spending 24/7 with them. They rub off on you just like you’re rubbing off on them. You can vent, cry, laugh, whatever you want with your friends. Friends are the family we choose for ourselves and I’m lucky to have the friends that I do because I know that mine have gotten me through a lot in the past couple years and who knows where I would be without them. I only hope that I am as good a friend to them as they have been to me.

Now, the second verse of Families can be together forever goes like this: While I am in my early years I’ll prepare most carefully so I can marry in God’s temple for eternity, Families can be together forever, through Heavenly Father’s plan, I always want to be with my own family and the lord has shown me how I can.

I can’t wait til I meet the love of my life and can start a family with him. I have so many good examples of families around me and I’m the sappy romantic who wants more than anything to be a mom. I’m incredibly grateful for the family I have; I have loving parents who only want the best for me and siblings who drive me crazy a lot of the time, but are all so funny in their own way. I’ve been so blessed to be raised in the church and I love my parents for it. This gospel is such an amazing thing. I know that it’s true and that Jesus Christ died for me. He wants us to return to Him one day and through the Atonement we can do that.....

So the ending I kinda just stopped writing so it sounds all funny.. But I bore my testimony and hopefully I didn't talk too fast..  But I'm glad I got the opportunity to talk in church, because  I really do love my family and all that they have done for me even though they drive me crazy a lot of the time.

The Lord is Funny

Now why would I say that the Lord is funny?  Well only because Tuesday night I got a text from a member of the bishopric asking me to call him.  Not really knowing what it was about, I called him.  And now what do I get to do on Sunday?  That's right, I get to speak in church.  That's not the funny part though.  The funny part is the topic.  The topic is family.  Only Heavenly Father would give me this topic right now because He knows the problems I've been having with my own family.  So Heavenly Father does know me personally, just like He knows each and everyone of you as well.  God is a funny one.  And it reminded me of the song by Regina Spektor, Laughing With.  We're all laughing with God.

Faith and God

I know what follows is long.  But it is worth reading.  It shows how powerful faith is and how it and God go hand in hand.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Professor : You are a Christian, aren’t you, son ?

Student : Yes, sir.

Professor: So, you believe in GOD ?

Student : Absolutely, sir.

Professor : Is GOD good ?

Student : Sure.

Professor: Is GOD all powerful ?

Student : Yes.

Professor: My brother died of cancer even though he prayed to GOD to heal him. Most of us would attempt to help others who are ill. But GOD didn’t. How is this GOD good then? Hmm?

(Student was silent.)

Professor: You can’t answer, can you ? Let’s start again, young fella. Is GOD good?

Student : Yes.

Professor: Is satan good ?

Student : No.

Professor: Where does satan come from ?

Student : From … GOD …

Professor: That’s right. Tell me son, is there evil in this world?

Student : Yes.

Professor: Evil is everywhere, isn’t it ? And GOD did make everything. Correct?

Student : Yes.

Professor: So who created evil ?

(Student did not answer.)

Professor: Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things exist in the world, don’t they?

Student : Yes, sir.

Professor: So, who created them ?

(Student had no answer.)

Professor: Science says you have 5 Senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Tell me, son, have you ever seen GOD?

Student : No, sir.

Professor: Tell us if you have ever heard your GOD?

Student : No , sir.

Professor: Have you ever felt your GOD, tasted your GOD, smelt your GOD? Have you ever had any sensory perception of GOD for that matter?

Student : No, sir. I’m afraid I haven’t.

Professor: Yet you still believe in Him?

Student : Yes.

Professor : According to Empirical, Testable, Demonstrable Protocol, Science says your GOD doesn’t exist. What do you say to that, son?

Student : Nothing. I only have my faith.

Professor: Yes, faith. And that is the problem Science has.

Student : Professor, is there such a thing as heat?

Professor: Yes.

Student : And is there such a thing as cold?

Professor: Yes.

Student : No, sir. There isn’t.

(The lecture theater became very quiet with this turn of events.)

Student : Sir, you can have lots of heat, even more heat, superheat, mega heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat. But we don’t have anything called cold. We can hit 458 degrees below zero which is no heat, but we can’t go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold. Cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.

(There was pin-drop silence in the lecture theater.)

Student : What about darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as darkness?

Professor: Yes. What is night if there isn’t darkness?

Student : You’re wrong again, sir. Darkness is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light. But if you have no light constantly, you have nothing and its called darkness, isn’t it? In reality, darkness isn’t. If it is, well you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn’t you?

Professor: So what is the point you are making, young man ?

Student : Sir, my point is your philosophical premise is flawed.

Professor: Flawed ? Can you explain how?

Student : Sir, you are working on the premise of duality. You argue there is life and then there is death, a good GOD and a bad GOD. You are viewing the concept of GOD as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, Science can’t even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing.

Death is not the opposite of life: just the absence of it. Now tell me, Professor, do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?

Professor: If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, yes, of course, I do.

Student : Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?

(The Professor shook his head with a smile, beginning to realize where the argument was going.)

Student : Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor. Are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you not a scientist but a preacher?

(The class was in uproar.)

Student : Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the Professor’s brain?

(The class broke out into laughter. )

Student : Is there anyone here who has ever heard the Professor’s brain, felt it, touched or smelt it? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established Rules of Empirical, Stable, Demonstrable Protocol, Science says that you have no brain, sir. With all due respect, sir, how do we then trust your lectures, sir?

(The room was silent. The Professor stared at the student, his face unfathomable.)

Professor: I guess you’ll have to take them on faith, son.

Student : That is it sir … Exactly ! The link between man & GOD is FAITH. That is all that keeps things alive and moving.



By the way, that student was EINSTEIN.

Inspirational

If anyone is looking for a little extra inspiration today...check out T's latest post on our other blog.  Read it.  Ponder it.  Act on it.

What makes you rare??

12 Years and 1 Week Ago

^^^ That's when I was baptized.  Cool, huh?  April 8, 2000.  What an amazing day that was.  My grandparents were there and my grandma was taking tons of pictures on her camera.  Then a week and a day later my youngest brother was born and she was taking tons of pictures as well.  She goes to develop those pictures only to find out that.......there was no film in her camera the whole time.  Pretty funny if you ask me.  But that's besides the point.  Today was such a good day.  I went to church, all 3 hours of it, in my own ward.  I got to meet with my bishop today.  I had dinner with Kate and Ky and then went to the devotional ward prayer afterwards.  I was kinda nervous to go to the devotional because the topic was abuse.  But it turned out really good.  The lady that spoke was pretty funny, but she said this and I love it:

"If you don't have the right tools, all you can do is stand around and look at the problem."

It's so true.  She also brought up the fact that we should be using the atonement everyday of our lives.  I think we've always known these things, but how often do we actually think of that....better yet, how often do we do that?  All in all, I'm striving to be a better person.  I should be paying it forward.  I have great people in my life for a reason.  I'm so grateful for that.  Life is a roller coaster, but we can get through it with His help.  Our Heavenly Father loves each and everyone us; He knows us; He wants us to return to live with Him.  He has given us trials because He knows that we are strong enough to get through them.  It's up to us how we handle and deal with those though.  What we do with those trials defines who we are.  We should be striving to do everything He wants for us, because that is where our eternal happiness will be.

Quotes that I liked/helped me today/this week:

"Sometimes we are depressed because we are not repentant."

"Where much is given, much is required.  Now reverse that.  Where much is required, much will be given."

"While salvation is an individual matter, exaltation is a family matter."

"There will always be dreams grander or humbler than your own, but there will never be a dream exactly like your own for you are unique and more wondrous than you know." -Linda Staten

"Believe, obey, and endure." -President Monson

I'm Thankful

Even though I'm tired, I've realized that I have a lot to be thankful for as well.  I have amazing friends who would do anything for me.  My family loves me.  I have a bed to sleep on and a place to live.  I'm living the college experience that a lot of people don't get to have.  I'm thankful for so much.
As I was reading my scriptures last night, this passage in the chapter really struck me.
Mosiah 14:  3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised and we esteemed him not.  4 Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.  5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
And with His stripes, I am healed.  He died for me.  He suffered so much...for me.
Mosiah 14:  12 ...because he hath poured out his soul unto death; and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bore the sins of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
I may have made a mistake, but He has made a way for me to take care of that:  the Atonement.  He loves me.  As I went to pray later, I simply thanked the Lord for everything He has done for me and everything that I have to be grateful for.  The children's hymn, "I am a Child of God" came to mind and I just started crying.  It was such a good experience, and one that I definitely needed.  Satan can make you so angry and ungrateful and just depressed, but there's nothing like Christ to bring you out of that darkness and uplift you to where you need to be.  I'm so thankful for that, more than I can express.

Tiredness

I'm tired.  Emotionally, physically, mentally... in all ways I am tired.  I'm tired of school, I'm tired of RA life, I'm tired of some people, I'm just plain tired.  I'm trying to have a good attitude, but it is just so hard when there are people/things placed in my life that I'm just not positive about.  I need a break.  And will I get one this weekend? No. Because I have to be on duty since a stupid RA quit and we have to pick up his slack.  I was okay with it at the time, well not okay with it necessarily, but I was willing to help out.  Now however, I'm just pissed.  I would so much rather go camping or hiking like I've been invited to but that's not going to happen.  I'm tired of getting bad grades and not being able to fix them.  I swear that no matter how much I study, nothing is giving.  This semester is going to be my worst grades I've ever had..ever.  The lowest grade I've ever gotten was a B+ last spring in biology and that about killed me.  Well now I have two B-s, 2 Bs, and maybe an A in there somewhere in my 8 classes I'm taking.  I'm just ready to be done.  I want summer to come.  I want to relax.  I want to sit in the sun without a care in the world and just be.

I'm in such an awful mood..........

Two Things.

1:  I am not your mom or your maid.  I shouldn't have to tell you to clean your dishes or to clean your room or to help clean the bathroom.  And if I do have to ask you because you are so involved in yourself, actually do it.
I'm tired of living in a pigsty because I don't want to clean up your crap for you.  Thank goodness I don't share a room with you...
2:  Don't bash on the church or try to explain things in it if you're obviously biased against it.  I am a member and I do care about it.  So stop it.

"Dishes are like boyfriends, your roommates shouldn't do them."

Pictures

So these are the pictures from Hilary's birthday, my birthday, and Kylie's bridal shower.  Also, I deactivated my Fbook if anyone was wondering.......

Enjoy!

Hilary's Birthday Dinner

The great Emily Burt joined us!!

Hil got sung to in the sombrero.

Me and Hil (my partner in crime). Oh, and Dylan in the back.

Tropical sunrise!!

Me and Hil at birthday drinks

Tiana, Kate, me, and Kylei celebrating by getting all "virgin drinked up."  On the house we might add.

 The Wight House Crew for Kylie's bridal shower.

Childhood friends reunited!!

Whit, Ky, me

Us with our lovely mothers.   Whit and Pam.  Ky and Traci.  Teresa and me.