The Bitter and the Sweet of Change. . .

Well, folks, sorry it has been awhile! Life gets a bit crazy sometimes and I haven't gotten around to posting.

Anyway! Life is ever changing. I just finished my freshman year at college and I can't believe how fast time flies! This was honestly the best year of my life. I learned so much about myself. I learned how to talk to people. . not just to chat. . but to really, really talk. To open up and confront an issue with someone that needed to be addressed. . or tell someone I cared about that I cared. . to have DTR's! :P (oh the cliche theme of BYU). . and everything else that comes with college and being able to be face to face all the time with the friends you make. .

I learned to appreciate people from all walks of life. I made friends with people I never would have found myself. God knew I needed to meet them, so he carefully placed them in my life to learn and grow. Whether  it was a 28 year old, married, convert from Mongolia who is learning English, or a spunky girl from California (don't take offense--I'm an Idahoan--there are definitely differences), I have learned that I can accept and appreciate differences. I can learn from them. EVERYONE HAS SOMETHING TO OFFER, and I can learn something from everyone that comes into my life. I'm so grateful to a loving Heavenly Father who knew what, and more importantly, who, I needed this year.

I learned what it really means to be in a ward family. My ward was INCREDIBLE beyond description. No words I can say will do them justice, but they truly taught me about the Spirit of God and the spirit of love. The power of their testimonies will never be forgotten. I miss you, YSA 51st!!!! You are the best ward and the best bishop ever. I'll never forget you.

I learned that maybe I'm not as strong as I thought I was, but that I'm not alone. I definitely hadn't reached my growth cap before coming here. . I had no idea what was coming. Trials of all kinds have hit this year and I have been pushed to and beyond my capacity frequently. Learning to budget, to make my own diet, to work 20 hours a week, while trying to balance that with sleep, homework, and socialization, while dealing with the ups and downs of friendships and relationships as well as spiritual trials and the test of my standards and my faith, I have grown so much. I have come to learn more about God and His loving, tender mercies. He'll be there to lift me up and carry me through the hard times, yet give me the best of blessings so that the good times are truly good. I guess you could say I have learned the Law of Opposition.

This year has been my refiner's fire, and as difficult and miserable that it has been at times, it has been just  as wonderful and joyous at other times. I'm thankful for all the people and experiences I have had to bring  me to this point in my journey. Change is really hard, and I can't say that this transition to living off-campus and working full-time, and saying bye to my old friends has been easy. But I can say that I will cherish the memories we made. This is why it is called bittersweet, and not just bitter. We can look back and say, "Hey, we did it. We went through a lot to together and we came out victorious. We made the most of the time we had." As I talked to my dad about this change, the advice he gave helped me realize that goodbye doesn't mean the memories didn't happen. And it doesn't mean the friends I've made disappear in order for me to make new ones. These new friends are simply an addition to the growing list of people, of friends, who have walked into my life for a reason. I'm adding, not replacing.

Sorry this post was so long, but there was really a lot entailed in the last year of my life. :P If all you read is the last couple lines, that's fine. What I want to say is that change is hard. . it can be heart-wrenching. . But it is necessary in our progression. And hey, we wouldn't be able to look back at the last year and say we loved it and missed it had we not accepted the changes that it brought. We get what we give, people. And I'd like to say, even more. :) Because Heavenly Father is just that loving. What we give isn't enough, but because of His Son, with our best, He can make up the difference. As Nichole Nordeman sings in the song, "I Am",

"The winds of change 
And circumstance blow in and all around
us so we find a foothold that’s familiar, 
And bless the moments that we feel You nearer"

Thank you, freshman year, 2011-2012! You will never be forgotten! :) 

Why do we always have to pretend?

Ya know, I was thinkin the other day. . .Why do we always have to pretend? When we're sad, we have to pretend we're happy and when we're happy we have to "maintain composure" and be professional or something. We can't just shout our excitement. Or bubble over with happiness. Gee whiz, people! How are we ever supposed to live if we can't LIVE?!!! If you feel like dancing, why don't you just dance? If you feel like singing, why not just burst out in song? What's with all the social norms? To be honest, it makes my day when I see someone secure enough with themselves to randomly dance or sing. Why are the boring colors, the boring powerpoint themes, the boring topics, considered "professional"? Don't we all realize it is just a superficial game? Don't we all realize that we are faking? I mean, obviously self-control is needed and nice. . but we should be able to just let ourselves go a little bit more and enjoy life. . Make a colorful, individualistic powerpoint, laugh and be bubbly in an interview, sing when we are twitterpated. . I dunno, maybe I'm crazy. . Or maybe everyone else is. :P Is it crazy to want to live?

It All Comes Down to Love

Today, on Valentine's Day, we should remember the greatest love every shown by anyone. That is the love of our Savior, Jesus Christ, who suffered in Gethsemane and died on Calvary so we could be saved and live forever with our Heavenly Father someday. John 15:13-14--"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you." John 3:16--"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." As stated in "The Living Christ", "We bear testimony, as His duly ordained Apostles-- that Jesus is the Christ, the immortal Son of God. He is the great King Immanuel, who stands today on the right hand of His Father. He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world. His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come. God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son." The love we feel for others is a small part of the love He feels for us. As we strive to become perfected in Him, we can realize that the ultimate goal is to have His love in our hearts for everyone around us and for God. Charity is the ultimate goal. Colossians 3:14--"And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness." Love is the reason for everything. God's love for us is why He sent us here, so that we could be tested, become like Him, and eventually live with Him someday. Love is the reason Christ suffered for each and every one of us to make the Father's plan possible. Love is what we can give back to God, because if we love Him and we love others, we will naturally keep His commandments. We naturally won't steal, or lie, or cheat, commit adultery (or really any kind of sexually immoral/lustful behavior). . We will pay our tithing and go to church, we will serve. . We will treat others with kindness instead of anger. . etc. etc. etc. . .  Matthew 22:37-40-- "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind., This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." Believe it or not, but LOVE really does make the world go round. :) :) <3

By Small and Simple Things are Great Things Brought to Pass...

Alma 37:6-7. . 6) "..By small and simple things are great things brought to pass: and small means in many instances doth confound the wise. 7) And the Lord God doth work by means to bring about his great and eternal purposes; and by very small means the Lord doth confound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls."

In the past week, I have had so many experiences and new perspectives with this scripture. .

1. Our efforts to choose the right may seem small. They may seem insignificant. But when we ask God to consecrate them and make them for our good, He can make them be enough. Our insignificant efforts become significant through the enabling power of His Atonement. We may not always feel led in our lives, and in fact, it is important to have to take a leap of faith in the dark once in a while. But if we are doing our best to live right, and having faith in Him, He will consecrate our efforts for our good and make everything work out in the end. And by small things are great things brought to pass.

2. We, ourselves, sometimes feel small and insignificant in comparison to others around us or the vast universe and everything in it. Well, to God, we are significant. We are His Sons and Daughters, for goodness sake! Of course we are important to Him! We must realize that God can make small things great. With the humble and faithful, he can work miracles. Ether 12:6-7, 12. 6)"And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith. 7) For it was by faith that Christ showed himself unto our fathers; and he showed not himself unto them until after they had faith in him; wherefore, it must needs be that some had faith in him...12) For if there be no faith among the children of men God can do no miracle among them; wherefore, he showed not himself until after their faith." If we have faith in Him, we can become instruments in His hand, and He can do miracles with us. He can bring about the salvation of many souls. Never forget that you matter! You are a divine child of a loving, perfect Heavenly Father! Never let yourself think you are less. Who knows, God may need you at any moment to be His hand on Earth to bring His children back to Him.

3. It is the little acts that matter. It is the little things like reading your scriptures daily and praying sincerely    and often that matter. It is by doing these things that the big things can stay in place. Satan knows how important those little things are and will therefore try with all his might to get you to let go of those little things. Alma 31:8-10 8) "Now the Zoramites were dissenters from the Nephites; therefore they had had the word of God preached unto them. 9) But they had fallen into great errors, for they would not observe to keep the commandments of God and his statues..10) Neither would they observe the performances of the church, to continue in prayer and supplication to God daily, that they might not enter into temptation."

4. The principle of small things becoming great is evident in both spiritual things and temporal things. As I learned from my geology teacher, that even snow falls flake by flake. Sand forms grain by grain. Just like this, our knowledge and understanding comes piece by piece, and eventually can become great. We reach our potential step by step on this journey. :)

5. At some times or in some areas, our faith may seem "small." However, if we can give even that small amount to God, He can strengthen it and make it grow. A little faith is better than no faith. . And with a little faith from you, God can do miracles for you and through you. So never doubt! Never let the things you don't know let you forget and neglect the things you DO know!! Truth is eternal. And truth brings peace. God is the author of peace, not the author of confusion. So what do you want? Will it be peace or confusion?

By small and simple things are great things brought to pass. I truly believe this. :) (p.s. sorry this post was so long! :S )

Remember when I said I love sunsets? Well, I do. This is from 

my hometown, taken by my lovely father. :)

Dancing Through Life

Wow, soo much dancing this weekend!! Friday morning: folk dance class. . Friday evening: Just Dance party. .later Friday evening: ward dance party. . Saturday morning/afternoon: ab workout in my room, ballet pointe in the laundry room, and folk dance practice in Penrose dorm's lobby. . Ahh, and I'm not even tired of dancing! Haha. To me, dance is a visible expression of the song our spirits are singing inside. Anyone can dance. Some people give the excuse, "Oh, I just can't dance." Well. . to those people, you're wrong!! Yes, maybe you don't have the knowledge or skill, or even a natural talent for dancing. . BUT, everyone has a song inside them that needs to come out! Everyone living on Earth right now was there in the pre-mortal world before this life, where there was probably dancing. . I mean, when we rejoiced that we could come to Earth, be tested, and make it back to our Father in Heaven through Christ's Atonement, didn't we DANCE?!! I believe our spirits are already familiar with dancing, and that's partly why we can feel something when we see a dancer dance. . The Holy Spirit touches our spirit and reminds us of something and somewhere we are familiar with--(heaven: what we did/knew there). Anyway, before I get too carried away, just remember this: everyone has the right to dance because everyone has something inside them dancing can express! So let it out! It doesn't matter who sees. . It doesn't matter if you know how or not. . Live a little! As LeeAnn Womack would say (or sing), "When you get the choice to sit it out or dance--I HOPE YOU DANCE!!!!!!!" :) :)

A Little of What Makes Precia. . .Precia.

Well, I've never done this before, so we'll see how this goes! :P To start off, I'll tell you a little bit about myself. My name is Precia. It comes from the word precious. . some people like to play with my name and call me Precious Precia. :) I'm a freshman at BYU, and it has been such a great new experience for me! I come from a family of 9, 8 of which are angels. :) (Not really sure why I got lucky enough to be part of the family, but I'm so glad I did!). These 8 people are the best 8 people in the whole world! They are 8 of my best friends and I love them more than I could ever say. I love to dance, ballet in particular, but I enjoy modern, lyrical, folk, swing, etc. I also love to sing, and if you spied on me during the day, you'd maybe see me randomly dancing in the kitchen, and at some point you definitely would hear me singing. :) I enjoy writing poetry, I play the piano and guitar a little, so combining the two hobbies, I've started to write songs! I also love hiking! I have experienced a couple of crazy hikes this last year, but we'll talk about those later. Well, that's it for now! I've gotta go bring home the bacon. :) Have a wonderful day today, all, and don't forget to SMILE :D