Day 43

There are a few things that I want to express gratitude for in my post today.

For the last couple months I've been so in tune with the spirit; more than I've ever been in my entire life.  I think it's because I've been setting goals for scripture reading (and for the most part sticking to them),  I've been going to the temple once a week, and I've been surrounded by such wonderful gospel influences.  These years of my life are some of the most formative years.  I'm on my own, and I'm figuring out what habits I will start/stop and the direction I want to take with my life.  The decisions I make now will forever affect who I become.  I am grateful to be spending my time here.  Coming to BYU was literally the best and biggest decision I've made in my entire life so far.  I couldn't have chosen a better place to spend my college years.

I have been blessed with such a wonderful ward.  Today the talks and lessons were incredible.  I actually cried! ..... Twice!  One talk that really touched me that related to our Relief Society Lesson was about love.  One young man talked about how the best way to show your love is through time.  I couldn't agree more.  Time is the most precious gift we have, and to share it with the people you love is the most important thing you could ever do.  It doesn't matter how many fancy clothes, shoes, or toys you give someone, what matters is the time you spend with that person.  I'm never going to remember each present that I got from my parents or from Santa every year of my life, but I will remember my dad taking me to and from school every day and listening to me vent in the car.  We would argue all the time on those car rides, but I couldn't have asked for a better supporter.  My dad gave up so much of his time just to take me to school, to make my lunch every morning, and to actually care enough to give me advice and encourage me to make the right decisions even when I didn't want to hear what he had to say.  He took the time to listen to all my problems and he never judged me or made me feel like I wasn't worth his time.  I am so grateful.  Also, I know I've talked about him before, but my brother and his family came to every important event my senior year.  They were gone for a long time while my brother was finishing his schooling, but when they came back they made the time to come to everything.  It definitely wasn't easy for them because they live so far away from my school and house to come to things, but they made the time.  No material gift could ever match up to the time and sacrifices they made to support me.  My mom is an incredible example of someone who devotes her time to others.  She is constantly doing service for everyone.  Service takes so much time.  I don't know how she does it with all the work she has to do, but somehow she manages to do things such as making blankets for children who's parents are serving in the military.  Those are some of the most beautiful blankets I've ever seen.  She takes pictures of the children that has been printed on to cloth and sews them together with cute patterns and makes quilts!  My mom uses her time is such a selfless way.  On top of that she took the time to raise her children.  Our success is in no small part due to the time and effort of our loving mother.  I am also grateful for everyone in my life who has taken the time to listen to me, to comfort me, to teach me, to love me.  There are so many people who have done all those things for me and I wish that I could thank every single one.  I hope that I will remember the importance of time as I go forward and have my own family.  I am blessed to have such wonderful people in my life.  I don't know how I deserved such loving people in my life, but the Lord really did bless me :)