Change. Changing. Life Changes

Lately, I have had so much on my mind. I've overcome a lot of fears lately, I've changed a lot lately, and I know that even more change is coming. I look back on where I was a year ago and I would have seriously laughed at you if you told me I would be single, living in Orem, Utah, and going to school to get my Bachelors degree in Elementary Education.

A year ago, I did have ambitions of possibly going back to school to get my Bachelors degree, but I was scared to achieve the dreams that I had because I thought they were bigger than me. I often thought, "Who am I to try?" Because honestly, I did not see myself as "worth it," but lately I have felt this strong push, as if Heavenly Father is saying "Let me show you who you are, Let me show you how I see you." ... And He has... He has shown me through friends that see me at my worst. Friends who love me enough to tell me how it is. Even if I get mad, Friends who remind me that I am special, that I am loved.

So, I thought I would return that favor, to anyone who reads this post.
You are special. You are worth it. You are loved. 

Whether you know me or not. Whether you like me or not. Whether you are my best friend or not.
No matter what you have been through, what you are going through, or where your life will take you. That is TRUTH.

You are loved.

Never forget that. <3 p="">

As of Lately...

Well, I just have to say.. Boundaries and communication are so important. Boundaries and communication are good. Boundaries and communication can help happiness grow in relationships. It seems like Heavenly Father wants me to learn this. And I am. I won't go into details because well it's my life.  :)

However, I just wanted to say, when we don't respect people's boundaries and when we don't communicate with those we love and care about. It leads to a lot of problems. Which I am sure many of you already know.

Now onto the other things, it goes along with communication. However, it is more of my communication with my Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. My communication with two of the most important people in my life, has been slacking, and as many times as I go through these experiences, I am always shocked with how much I truly need my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

Me, Summer, without the continued guidance of my Heavenly Father, I am blind. Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, I become better. I become more patient and kind. I become more like my Savior.

While we might have moments where we forget our Heavenly Father. I testify, He is always there. He always blesses us. Why? We are always told that it's "because He loves us."  Which, I will not deny that is the truth. However, have we ever thought that He continues to bless us because He wants to remind us that he is always there? Are those blessings a reminder for us, that we have an all-knowing, eternal Heavenly Father that loves us? How beautiful! 

Today, I decided to fast because I felt like I needed to have Heavenly guidance. I went to church and was reminded that I had a wonderful opportunity to see my best friend's baby blessing. So off I went to Taylorsville. Now, I'm not going to say this as a general thing for everyone, but sometimes I feel like when I go to other people's wards, I go with the attitude that I'm not going to learn anything. Not really sure why.. but today, I learned so much. It started with the Sacrament. I've had some attitudes and some things that I knew that I could have really done better with this week. Then I realized, it's fast sunday in the ward I went to. How amazing. I learned so much from the testimonies. I learned that I need my Heavenly Father, that somehow, I have become relaxed in my relationship with Him.
So at the start of finals week, I've decided I am also going to work on my boundaries and communication. Speaking up for what I want, speaking up for what I need. And understanding the times when I just need my time and communicating that with those around me. I could go on and on about this, but I think you guys get the point.

A Day for the Books...

This morning I woke up with a buzzing alarm at 6:00 AM. My goals last night were that I was going to wake up, spend 30 minutes reading my scriptures and then 30 to 45 minutes working out, then get ready for my day. 

..... BUZZ BUZZZ BUZZZ...

6:00 AM rolls around and that is definitely not happening. I think I pushed my snooze button five times... finally it stopped.. then my second alarm started going off at 7:00... Let the snoozing commence. I then woke up at 7:50. Well, there went my morning of productivity... I am sooo tired that I take a 30 minute shower... in a daze the whole time. Slowly I get ready... I walk to Institute, hoping that things would look up there. Don't get me wrong, they did, but I also started feeling bad for myself because I felt like I wasn't doing enough in my relationship with my Savior, Jesus Christ. So I text my friend, "Are you close? I need a hug!" I don't hear back from her, and then I just start walking home. Feeling so alone. So tired. and Questioning everything that I am at school for. 

"What am I even doing here?" 

"I should call so and so, they would give me the comfort I need." 

"No, don't call them, that's not good. Look up a conference talk, listen to conference." 

So I search "Jesus Christ, Comforter" in my gospel library. As I start listening to February's Visiting teaching message, my friend calls me. I break down and start balling. 

"I don't even know why I'm crying, I just know I am feeling so sad!" 

The only thing she says is "Where are you? I'm coming!"  

Immediately I turn around and meet her by the library. And here she comes giving me the biggest hug and giving me a smile. Immediately, she takes me to her favorite spot on campus where she loves to go when she is sad or frustrated. We just sat and talked and then we went and got lunch together. 

... Exactly what I needed. Just someone to be there for me, in one of my lowest of lows. Someone to understand my "human moment." One where you are reminded just how much you need your Father in Heaven and your Savior, Jesus Christ. 

It turned my day around.

After I left her, I went home, and changed my outfit. Did my hair, text a friend to set up a study session at the library. I gathered all my things and went to the library, smiling. Heavenly Father had given me exactly what it was I needed. A hug. In more ways than one. 

I rejoice in my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 

I rejoice in the life that I have been blessed with. 

I rejoice because no matter where I am, No matter how low I am feeling,

My Savior has blessed me with friends and family that save me from myself. 

Save me from thoughts of inadequacy, failure, hopelessness, and grief. 

Today, I experienced how anything is possible through the Lord. Today I experienced that the Lord sends His angels, right when you need them to comfort you. Whether in Spirit or Physically. 

Today, I experienced the love of my Heavenly Father, and it's not even 3:00.  

"I feel my Savior's love, in all the world around me." 

365 Pictures... 365 Days... 365 Lessons

Well, here I am at the end of my 365 Happy Days of Summer Journey! I cannot believe that it has been a year ( a little more since some of the days I skipped:/) since I decided to try and see if I could post something that was happy to me for a whole year.

... Rewind one year...

I was on Facebook and saw a #100HappyDays challenge and I thought, "How Cool!!!" I totally am going to try that because everyone could use a little happiness in their life! So off I went on my journey... 100 days later, and I felt so strongly that I shouldn't stop. My sister, Amber, told me not to stop and I told her "If I do this, you need to like every single picture so I don't feel silly overwhelming people with my pictures.. At least there will be one person who likes my photos everyday!"  And off I went on my #365HappyDaysofSummer journey.

Let me tell you, this year has been one heck of a journey. Throughout this year, I have learned how much I love being an Aunt to my nephew, I have learned how much I love doing bridal hair and that I have grown a lot as a bridal hairstylist, I have seen how much love I have for my family, friends, and food. :) I have learned how much I LOVE Zumba.

One thing that people do know during this time, is that I learned to love someone with all my heart. And people may or may not know that I went through the hardest break-up I have ever gone through in my life. I have been on the highest of highs and the extreme lowest of lows where I thought I just couldn't go on another moment. Heartbreaks are the worst. During this time, I was told, "Why don't you just stop doing your Happy Days? Don't you think it will be hard to do them while you're going through this?" My answer?
"I can't stop doing it now! I feel like this is the only thing that will get me through it. The only thing that will help me to truly look for something happy that is going on in my life while I am just soooo sad."
And... It helped. Immensely. My life has been completely changed. The things I thought I wanted at the beginning of this journey, have changed. I have grown.

I have grown to LOVE my Savior, Jesus Christ, through this journey, He has become my Rock. He has become my everything. Through my journey, I have gained a new love for the gospel of Jesus Christ. I have learned that while I am on this earth. I will never retire from praising His name and sharing the love He has for us. I have learned that through Jesus Christ every heartache can be healed through His time.

This journey has seen me decide to go back to school to become an elementary school teacher. A career that I have dreamed of ever since I was a little girl. This journey has seen me move down to Orem, Utah. A place I had absolutely no desire to live because I thought that it had nothing to offer me. Oh Boy, Was I ever wrong. Orem, Utah, and the people that live here, have everything to offer me. I have so much I can learn from the people I am around.

As I look back on this journey, I can see how the Lord's hand was, perfectly, in every detail. Gently leading and guiding me to where I am today.

Now that this chapter has closed, I look forward to the future with a perfect brightness of hope. Knowing that with the Savior, I can do all things. I am coming to know of my Savior, Jesus Christ. He is not only my Savior and Redeemer. He is my older brother. Because of His atoning sacrifice, I can return to live with Him.