Finals Week! Dec 10-16

I love finals week and hate finals week. 

There is such a funny vibe on campus. Everyone knows they should study, but its way more fun to have a day where everyone goes and plays. So we go and do crazy things and then start studying at like 11:30pm... HAHA! Its the best.

Starting Sunday we had "family" scripture study. There was always more than 20 of us who came together and sat and read scriptures, had a discussion, and then discussed the next days Light the World. It was amazing and such a good spiritual uplift every night during the craziness!

Monday we had the weirdest weather! It was this mixture of rain, hail, and snow.

This is the perfect example of finals week. Cute Ashely just needed a nap before studying more. So she showed up to the library with a pillow and blanket!

Here it is everyone! My final draft of my senior paper!!!! AHH It felt so good!

One of my favorite things during finals week is late night breakfast in the caf. Its free for everyone and its the perfect motivation to get you through the night. Here was a group of us that all went for cereal. I love to laugh with these crazies!

 

Sometimes we steal Quinns phone and set his background to our faces. We felt like he should always remember we are there.

Hi Virginia. I see you :)

Saturday before I flew home I went to Star Wars and dinner with some friends. It was the weirdest night... but it was good. I loved loved loved the movie!

All my finals went well! 

I was reading Alma 36. And verse 3 says "I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day."

And then in verse 27 it reads, "And I have been supported under trials and troubles of every kind, yea, and in all manner of afflictions; yea, God has delivered me from prison, and from bonds, and from death; yea, and I do put my trust in him, and he will still deliver me."

We are told to trust and we will be supported. But I love verse 27 how Alma says "I HAVE been supported". It made me think about how I've gone through some hard times in the last few years. And God has never left me. He has always supported me and been there and it was in ways that I wasn't expecting a lot of the time. Or necessarily thought I wanted, but it was what I needed. There was a lot of long suffering and long suffering is a tool of the Holy Ghost as it talks about in Galatians. And that's hard, but nevertheless God is supporting. God has not and will never leave you. He will always guide us, it just requires our consistent trust in him!

Last Week of SVU Classes EVER Dec 4-10

I found it kind of scary when this post applied to me. AH!

This was was kind of a blur. It just happened! 

I love these two girls. They make me laugh! That picture was taken at the choir concert I believe.

Example of a random text I got from Mari which is a pretty accurate description of our friendship haha!

I did something completely out of the ordinary for Lauren.. I didn't go to any of my classes the last day of school. That's right. It was my last day ever and I just flat out didn't go! I was easily persuaded because all I had that day were my two least favorite classes. I ended up sitting and talking with Colby the whole morning. We then helped set up the date night for that night. I felt guilty for a record speed of only about 5 minutes.

That night was a date night! Our school has gone all out with these and they have been so fun! My friend Ashley's date ended up not being able to go, so I volunteered my services. We made gingerbread houses out of graham crackers and then went on a carriage ride throughout campus! 
 

Saturday morning we had a bridal shower for Tara! We had hot chocolate and sat and talked as friends and it was so fun :)


That morning we had woken up to snow. I love how peaceful snow makes the world. It makes the world so quiet. 


This is a representation of the last month. I cannot stop coughing!


I went up to the basketball game and then sat outside and talked as friends for a long time. I love people! What a blessing to be friends with these great people. That night we got together and watched While You Were Sleeping. I proceeded to quote the entire movie with Quinn!



This is Rachel! I adore her. We are in the Relief Society presidency together and every Sunday after our presidency meeting we sit and talk together for half an hour and catch up on each others lives. I have appreciated those talks so much! When we don't get the chance it feels so weird!


I think we all go through times where we feel overwhelmed. We feel frustrated and like the whole world is not going our way. But that is one way God teaches us. 

I can't believe I am done with my education here at Southern Virginia University! It's hard to think that 4 years have come and gone. This place holds almost every piece of my heart. I'm so grateful for my parents who made this happen, and for a Heavenly Father who opened the way!

Feeling God's Hand Nov 27-Dec 3

Here is Mondays creation. (I am completely serious about this being a Christmas present.)

Wednesday the Avengers trailer came out. I watched it three times in a matter of just a few minutes. People kept coming up and being like "Watch!" I went to class and Kaipo convinced our teacher to watch it there too.

Kaipo. We have 5 minute Kaipo appreciation time almost daily at my house. He is such a goof! But he makes me laugh. He is on the volleyball team and they had a rough workout that day so some stretching in class became necessary.

Also. He put this on my backpack and it took me hours to notice! HAHA 


Thursday night their was the BV Christmas parade. I have wanted to go to it every year and never managed to do so! I got home from work, walked in the door and exclaimed that we all needed to go! There was a whole bunch of people at my house and after a little bit of persuasion, cooking pizza roles and putting them in plastic cups to go, we were off! It was a lot of fun! We ended up watching until the SVU float went by and we hopped on. We sang songs, passed out hot chocolate, and just laughed and laughed. It was exactly what we all needed! 
 


There is a band here called Bird Club (you can stream their music on any streaming service), they are so good! Friday night they did a big acoustic set. The room was packed! It was so much fun! After, I had to go rescue Sarah whose car had gotten towed because of a parade in Lexington, and then we went to a dance held by our friends in town. 


Saturday we all kind of hung around. I went to the basketball game, and helped a little bit to set up for the dance. I wasn't going to go to the Winter Ball but we went and it was a blast! We all just hung with each other and laughed and sang as loud as we could. It was so fun!

I love this quote that my friend posted about Patience!


I love this sis of mine and FaceTime!


I spent a lot of time looking at pictures of Christ at the beginning of the week. I have thought a lot about the strength that Christ gives each of us. I wanted to share something from Kaylee Upham's email this week:

"When we give our hearts to God and ask Him what He would have us do, He's able to lift us higher than we could ever get on our own. Im learning to trust Him more and more everyday, letting go of my own will and desires, and letting "[my] eye be single to [His] glory." I can promise you that as you give your will over to Heavenly Father, and ask Him to take you down the best path for you, that your love for the Lord will increase, and greater peace and direction will come into your life and into your heart. Consecrating out hearts and our goals and our talents to the Lord allows us to live a life of meaning and it just makes us happier :) So I encourage each of you to turn to the Lord every day and to ask Him what He would have you do that day :) I can promise you that as you do so, He will lead you and you will have opportunities to magnify the calling that you have here on earth." 

Isn't she the greatest! That sums up my thoughts as well. I love my Savior! I have felt his guiding hand all semester and especially lately! I love these pictures of Christ standing next to everyone, reaching our with them, reaching for them, talking with them, laughing with them, carrying them. Christ WANTS to help each of us. We need to never ever forget that. 
 

 

Thanksgiving Break! Nov 19-26

Sunday was so good! All my meetings were on serving others. I felt uplifted and peaceful. It was so good! That night my friend Rachel made us dinner :) I feel so blessed for all the friends that have made me yummy food this semester. 

That night there was the YSA Face to Face with Elder Oaks and Elder Ballard. It was inspiring and funny! Take an hour and watch it!!

Monday I was thinking about this picture from two years ago. I am so grateful for Kadee and Emma. I miss them dearly!! I feel so blessed to know them and grow from them.

Tuesday I only had lab at 7am and then the rest of the day free! I came home and finished a book, took a nap, and then drove two of my friends to the airport. I took a little pit stop at Barnes and Noble and Chick-fil-a!

Also Alayna has taken up making quiche. Its delicious!

Tuesday night Sarah and Chalae stayed over because I had the house to myself. We cuddled and laughed and laughed. And Wednesday we all basically stayed in bed in my house all day. It was so relaxing! Late afternoon I drove up to DC.

Thanksgiving was so fun! There was some cuddle time, delicious food, fun company, games, and more pie than you can imagine!

 

 

"Lets go up stairs and cuddle!" Okay Davis! Clearly you can see that cuddling was the activity of the week! HAHA. What isn't pictured below is the constant laughing that was taking place. Im grateful for these two goofballs!

Also look at this pretty tree!

Friday we all went black Friday shopping. Actually we all went Thursday night too. It was exhausting but fun :)

I drove back home Friday night and cuddled with Chalae in Tara's bed. We just sat and laughed and cried and talked. We also watched a Christmas movie at 1am. #BacktoChristmas. I love her so much! 

Saturday I sat on my couch and just relaxed. It was perfect. I am very grateful for time off from work, school, and life for a minute. I had a long scripture study and journal writing session. I pondered a lot about our hearts. Hearts are truly matters of eternity. They are amazing and are the very thing that allows us to let Christ in. We must let him in. He is the only one with the power to help give us the strength to share our love and hearts with others.

Sunday we had combined meetings with all the 1pm wards. It was fun having different people. My ward was in charge and we had a great Relief Society lesson reminding us that the Lord is working wonders for us!

This quote sums up my semester. I am the biggest over thinker. I overthink even the smallest decision and it is something that I haven been working on for the past few months. I have turned to my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ so much. I pray fervently, hourly. I had a rough night Sunday night. I was overthinking, and crying, and frustrated. As I pleaded to Heavenly Father I received answers and peace. I felt him near me, guiding me. I was able to go to sleep and breathe. There are so many moments everyday where I pray for peace. I hope everyone knows that if they are struggling or feel anxiety, stop and talk to God. HE is the one that can help. HE is the one that can calm and strengthen your heart. I am so grateful for prayer and to know I can talk to my Heavenly Father through his son Jesus Christ always.