I feel the need to blog about this subject for lots of reasons.
First of all I am proud of BYUI and its stand of the Honor Code. Second of all, my opinion is that it is disgusting and dumb. You are a grown man please cut your hair.
The dress and grooming standards of BYUI are simple and not hard. As Mormons, we dress modestly. How is that hard? I don't want to show the whole world what I am made of. My body is a temple thank you very much.
As students here, we signed an agreement to follow the Honor Code so we can attend the University. It is set to protect us and to further our education.
I don't have a problem with it. Most of my fellow classmates don't have a problem with it. Yes it is trendy but so are skinny jeans and rap music. BYUI is not weird for banning it. It is amazing and taking a stand for the Honor Code.
The campus attire section of the Honor Code says this, "Hairstyles should be clean and neat, avoiding extreme styles or colors,
and trimmed above the collar leaving the ear uncovered. Sideburns should
not extend below the earlobe or onto the cheek. Men are expected to be
clean shaven, mustaches, if worn, should be neatly trimmed and may not
extend beyond or below the corners of the mouth. Beards are not
appropriate."
Again, "Avoiding extreme styles." The man bun is an extreme style. It is weird and creepy. I don't understand. The Honor Code is there to make sure we have a safe comfortable learning atmosphere.
Let me tell you. I do not feel safe nor comfortable walking around campus and seeing men with a man bun. I don't think Heavenly Father agrees with the whole man bun thing.
I love my school. I have received countless blessings from attending Brigham Young University-Idaho. I am a proud member of The Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I live modestly and I live by the standards of the Church.
Now I understand not everyone is a member of the church and that's cool. I respect you 100% but please do me a favor and do not disrespect my school or my religion.
-Kyrsten
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Sunday, September 27, 2015
Be Still, My Soul
When I first came back to the church I didn't have much of a testimony.
I relied on other people's testimonies to make mine grow at least a little bit. It wasn't really until the last couple of weeks until I have realized how much I love this gospel with every ounce of my body.
This temple is conveniently located down the street from my apartment. I got the chance to go inside on Friday and then I sat on the grounds tonight. It is life changing. I have been constantly praying to get over this terrible feeling that I have been having this week that has been affecting so much.
Tonight I decided to just go sit on the grounds and read my scriptures. I have never felt such a calm feeling from just sitting on grass. I started listening to the playlist of church music that I have on my iPod and Be Still, My Soul came on. I prayed right before the song came on I would feel better and get over this and immediately felt peace. Especially when at the beginning of the song when it says, "Be Still, My Soul: The Lord is on thy side"
I love this gospel. I am so grateful to be attending a university where I can be around people with the same beliefs as me. I know that Heavenly Father has a plan for me and loves me unconditionally. I am so grateful for that.
The gospel brings so much joy into my life. It picks me up when I am down and it is a constant reminder that I need to constantly grow as the gospel is. The temple is something that I cannot wait to be married and sealed in. I am thankful for the gospel and all it has done for me.
My testimony has grown so much in the last couple of years. I am thankful for every opportunity that I have had these last couple of years. I am so excited for what the future and it brings.
-Kyrsten
I relied on other people's testimonies to make mine grow at least a little bit. It wasn't really until the last couple of weeks until I have realized how much I love this gospel with every ounce of my body.
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| Rexburg Temple 9-25-15 |
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| Rexburg, Idaho Temple 9-27-15 |
Tonight I decided to just go sit on the grounds and read my scriptures. I have never felt such a calm feeling from just sitting on grass. I started listening to the playlist of church music that I have on my iPod and Be Still, My Soul came on. I prayed right before the song came on I would feel better and get over this and immediately felt peace. Especially when at the beginning of the song when it says, "Be Still, My Soul: The Lord is on thy side"
I love this gospel. I am so grateful to be attending a university where I can be around people with the same beliefs as me. I know that Heavenly Father has a plan for me and loves me unconditionally. I am so grateful for that.
The gospel brings so much joy into my life. It picks me up when I am down and it is a constant reminder that I need to constantly grow as the gospel is. The temple is something that I cannot wait to be married and sealed in. I am thankful for the gospel and all it has done for me.
My testimony has grown so much in the last couple of years. I am thankful for every opportunity that I have had these last couple of years. I am so excited for what the future and it brings.
-Kyrsten
Saturday, September 26, 2015
When To Serve?
Lately all I have been thinking about is missions. If you don't know what a mission is then go to this link :What Is A Mormon Mission?
I had the chance to go to the temple this week after probably one of the worst weeks that I have had since I moved to Idaho. I was emotionally exhausted and drained to the point where I wanted to just curl up into a corner and lay there for lots of hours. Luckily my friend was like I am going to the temple to do baptisms and if you want to come then you can. Ever since then I can't get my mind off of it.
I have known forever that I have wanted to go serve. It has just been when do I start my papers. When should I go? I turn 19 in January. So I could've started my papers in July. Oops.
One of my good friends is serving in The Great OCM(Ohio Columbus Mission) and yes I lived in that mission. Yes I met him while he was serving in my area. Anyways, I have been emailing him back and forth since I have been out in Idaho and I told him how I was taking a mission prep class and he told me, "The Lord will qualify you if you are willing to do his work." I love that.
I think half of my problem of why I haven't started my papers is that I have been so scared and that quote fits. Another one of my friends also told me that you will never truly be prepared to serve a mission. That is true. You will never truly know what to expect.
Also tonight was The General Women's Broadcast and I loved it. I do have one question going into conference week and such and it is When am I supposed to go? I keep going back and forth between now and the summer.
Service was something mentioned a lot during the broadcast and I can't help but giggle that just maybe it is my time to go. Sister Carol F. McConkie said, Serve one another with kindness and compassion. She also said that we may serve a righteous cause with Jesus in our hearts.
So what does that leave for me?
I don't know. Heavenly Father is slowly giving me the answers that I have been asking for months. I just have to wait patiently and see what He wants for me.
-Kyrsten
I had the chance to go to the temple this week after probably one of the worst weeks that I have had since I moved to Idaho. I was emotionally exhausted and drained to the point where I wanted to just curl up into a corner and lay there for lots of hours. Luckily my friend was like I am going to the temple to do baptisms and if you want to come then you can. Ever since then I can't get my mind off of it.
I have known forever that I have wanted to go serve. It has just been when do I start my papers. When should I go? I turn 19 in January. So I could've started my papers in July. Oops.
One of my good friends is serving in The Great OCM(Ohio Columbus Mission) and yes I lived in that mission. Yes I met him while he was serving in my area. Anyways, I have been emailing him back and forth since I have been out in Idaho and I told him how I was taking a mission prep class and he told me, "The Lord will qualify you if you are willing to do his work." I love that.
I think half of my problem of why I haven't started my papers is that I have been so scared and that quote fits. Another one of my friends also told me that you will never truly be prepared to serve a mission. That is true. You will never truly know what to expect.
Also tonight was The General Women's Broadcast and I loved it. I do have one question going into conference week and such and it is When am I supposed to go? I keep going back and forth between now and the summer.
Service was something mentioned a lot during the broadcast and I can't help but giggle that just maybe it is my time to go. Sister Carol F. McConkie said, Serve one another with kindness and compassion. She also said that we may serve a righteous cause with Jesus in our hearts.
So what does that leave for me?
I don't know. Heavenly Father is slowly giving me the answers that I have been asking for months. I just have to wait patiently and see what He wants for me.
-Kyrsten
Thursday, September 24, 2015
Share Goodness
I am so glad tomorrow is Friday! Can I just start with that?
It has been one of the longest weeks ever. My sleep schedule finally caught up with me which isn't fun..especially how this time difference is still messing with me and I have just been really overwhelmed. When people say their first week of college is hard nope for me it was my second week.
It has been one intense week. With emotions and school and a little side of homesickness and that wonderful jazz I came home tonight and sat on my bed for a good ten minutes in defeat. I am also not getting along with the hill I live on.(Another story,another day)
There are some positives of this week let me tell you. I am so in love with my missionary prep class. Every single time I walk out of there I am like I just want to summit my papers asap but then I have to force myself that I am not ready and that I need to relax abit and that I will go serve when I am ready.
Tuesday! So on Tuesday we have devotional. It is basically something to keep us spiritually focused during the rest of the week. Let me tell you how thankful to go to a university where devotional is a thing. I pondered not even going Tuesday and then I was like well I should go so I went haha.
Other than the President of my university telling us we need to date and do a date night thing I learned so much. It helped me especially on Wednesday when I was just debating everything.
I was so in my head and I literally was like why is this happening? I was so confused. I was like I need a reason why this keeps happening.
So before my night class on Wednesday I reread the notes I took. I was looking through them and I was like okay I do all of this things like seriously okay maybe I need to work on that more. Then I found it.
Elder Hamula, our speaker said quoted a scripture and the message behind it was something I hadn't really thought of. It was 2 Nephi 28:30. To tell you the jist of it, it is saying how the Lords pattern to us to just give us many small answers over time not just all at once. Right then I was like hello okay that makes sense.
That made me feel better about something because I literally spent half this week praying about something and I was receiving answers but not the answers I was expecting which threw me into a twist for a bit.
Then I was reflecting tonight on how long and emotionally/physically exhausted this week was. I was like this week has just kinda sucked and last week was amazing. Well then I thought of the blessing I received right before I left for Idaho in the first place. To paraphrase what the blessing said, it went along the lines of you will have good weeks and bad weeks but don't forget how much Heavenly Father loves you and has a plan for you.
I instantly found comfort in that.
I know He loves me and He knows who I am and He has a plan for me.
I may not always know but He does.
I have never been so thrilled to be apart of the everlasting gospel that keeps me grounded all the time. It brings such joy and peace into my life.
With that I just want to say thanks for all reading my blog and putting up with me!
Much love!
-Kyrsten
It has been one of the longest weeks ever. My sleep schedule finally caught up with me which isn't fun..especially how this time difference is still messing with me and I have just been really overwhelmed. When people say their first week of college is hard nope for me it was my second week.
It has been one intense week. With emotions and school and a little side of homesickness and that wonderful jazz I came home tonight and sat on my bed for a good ten minutes in defeat. I am also not getting along with the hill I live on.(Another story,another day)
There are some positives of this week let me tell you. I am so in love with my missionary prep class. Every single time I walk out of there I am like I just want to summit my papers asap but then I have to force myself that I am not ready and that I need to relax abit and that I will go serve when I am ready.
Tuesday! So on Tuesday we have devotional. It is basically something to keep us spiritually focused during the rest of the week. Let me tell you how thankful to go to a university where devotional is a thing. I pondered not even going Tuesday and then I was like well I should go so I went haha.
Other than the President of my university telling us we need to date and do a date night thing I learned so much. It helped me especially on Wednesday when I was just debating everything.
I was so in my head and I literally was like why is this happening? I was so confused. I was like I need a reason why this keeps happening.
So before my night class on Wednesday I reread the notes I took. I was looking through them and I was like okay I do all of this things like seriously okay maybe I need to work on that more. Then I found it.
Elder Hamula, our speaker said quoted a scripture and the message behind it was something I hadn't really thought of. It was 2 Nephi 28:30. To tell you the jist of it, it is saying how the Lords pattern to us to just give us many small answers over time not just all at once. Right then I was like hello okay that makes sense.
That made me feel better about something because I literally spent half this week praying about something and I was receiving answers but not the answers I was expecting which threw me into a twist for a bit.
Then I was reflecting tonight on how long and emotionally/physically exhausted this week was. I was like this week has just kinda sucked and last week was amazing. Well then I thought of the blessing I received right before I left for Idaho in the first place. To paraphrase what the blessing said, it went along the lines of you will have good weeks and bad weeks but don't forget how much Heavenly Father loves you and has a plan for you.
I instantly found comfort in that.
I know He loves me and He knows who I am and He has a plan for me.
I may not always know but He does.
I have never been so thrilled to be apart of the everlasting gospel that keeps me grounded all the time. It brings such joy and peace into my life.
With that I just want to say thanks for all reading my blog and putting up with me!
Much love!
-Kyrsten
Tuesday, September 22, 2015
Struggles of Life
Depression is such an ugly thing.
It literally tears people apart. It is such a thing to watch someone struggle with that kind of pain.
It breaks my heart even more because I went through that same ordeal a couple of years ago. I have also had people close to me go through the same struggle and it is the worse thing.
I think it all started when I was 13 or 14 (somewhere along then). I just felt so low about myself. I wasn't active in church at all. Actually I hated everything about the church.
I started to do some pretty bad things to myself that I am not going to share but it was the only way for me to feel happy for a bit. I had friends but I didn't think they were really my friends. I had this mindset that they were just faking being my friend.
No one in my middle school or really the start of my freshmen year really wanted to hang out with the really short girl who had zits all over her face. I was kinda isolated and I got made fun of constantly for the longest time.
It really ruined my self esteem to the point where even today my self esteem is kinda shot(I am working on it let me tell you.)
It was probably the worst two or so years of my life. I felt like nobody understood and I felt like nobody would listen to me when I would talk. It got the point where I was just losing friends because I couldn't tell them why I was feeling the way I was feeling.
Then of course a miracle happened. I moved to Mount Vernon and my parents forced me to go to church after rebelling to the point where the other option was just to get kicked out. At first I was super hesitant. I had kinda bad experiences with the church and I was only going because I had to.
Well turns out they had sisters serving there who were honestly sent from God because they opened my eyes beyond what I could see. They brought me out of the terrible wave of depression I was in with the gospel. They encouraged me at church and they put me in hands with wonderful leaders who have been by my side ever since I reactivated.
Now I am not saying here how church is gonna be your only option but it gets better. The struggle you are going through now will only make you stronger in the end. Faith is key. You have to have faith that someday it will get better.
Maybe it won't get better today or even tomorrow or maybe not for the next week or so but I know that sometime it will get better.
I am also not saying that you will be cured forever. I can't tell you how I have moments where I just feel like complete crap but I have a great support system to help me along the way. Build up a great support system! Find people who you can talk to. I promise that if they love you and care about you then they will listen!
Do not hold it all in. That will just make you feel so much worse. I held it in for the longest time and it tore me apart forever. I became numb and I shut people out who didn't deserve to be shut out. They didn't deserve the treatment I was giving them.
No one is going to judge you for the struggle that you are going through. I certainly don't. I have been there.
No matter what religion or anything you are please don't forget that you are loved!
I want to share the scripture from the Book of Mormon that saved my life and is my favorite. I have probably shared it a billion times but it fits so much.
Alma 32:21 "And now as I said concerning faith-faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things;therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true."
I am always here to listen no matter what! I can listen give advice whatever you need me to do. You are not alone in this struggle I promise. Don't forget that I love you!.
-Kyrsten
It literally tears people apart. It is such a thing to watch someone struggle with that kind of pain.
It breaks my heart even more because I went through that same ordeal a couple of years ago. I have also had people close to me go through the same struggle and it is the worse thing.
I think it all started when I was 13 or 14 (somewhere along then). I just felt so low about myself. I wasn't active in church at all. Actually I hated everything about the church.
I started to do some pretty bad things to myself that I am not going to share but it was the only way for me to feel happy for a bit. I had friends but I didn't think they were really my friends. I had this mindset that they were just faking being my friend.
No one in my middle school or really the start of my freshmen year really wanted to hang out with the really short girl who had zits all over her face. I was kinda isolated and I got made fun of constantly for the longest time.
It really ruined my self esteem to the point where even today my self esteem is kinda shot(I am working on it let me tell you.)
It was probably the worst two or so years of my life. I felt like nobody understood and I felt like nobody would listen to me when I would talk. It got the point where I was just losing friends because I couldn't tell them why I was feeling the way I was feeling.
Then of course a miracle happened. I moved to Mount Vernon and my parents forced me to go to church after rebelling to the point where the other option was just to get kicked out. At first I was super hesitant. I had kinda bad experiences with the church and I was only going because I had to.
Well turns out they had sisters serving there who were honestly sent from God because they opened my eyes beyond what I could see. They brought me out of the terrible wave of depression I was in with the gospel. They encouraged me at church and they put me in hands with wonderful leaders who have been by my side ever since I reactivated.
Now I am not saying here how church is gonna be your only option but it gets better. The struggle you are going through now will only make you stronger in the end. Faith is key. You have to have faith that someday it will get better.
Maybe it won't get better today or even tomorrow or maybe not for the next week or so but I know that sometime it will get better.
I am also not saying that you will be cured forever. I can't tell you how I have moments where I just feel like complete crap but I have a great support system to help me along the way. Build up a great support system! Find people who you can talk to. I promise that if they love you and care about you then they will listen!
Do not hold it all in. That will just make you feel so much worse. I held it in for the longest time and it tore me apart forever. I became numb and I shut people out who didn't deserve to be shut out. They didn't deserve the treatment I was giving them.
No one is going to judge you for the struggle that you are going through. I certainly don't. I have been there.
No matter what religion or anything you are please don't forget that you are loved!
I want to share the scripture from the Book of Mormon that saved my life and is my favorite. I have probably shared it a billion times but it fits so much.
Alma 32:21 "And now as I said concerning faith-faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things;therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true."
I am always here to listen no matter what! I can listen give advice whatever you need me to do. You are not alone in this struggle I promise. Don't forget that I love you!.
-Kyrsten
Thursday, September 17, 2015
Basically Survivng The First Week of College
I basically did it.
I survived! Well basically. I mean I have two classes tomorrow but its my writing class and my college success class so that should be easy.
But I mean oh man it has been a crazy week aha. From the wonderful 20 degree temperature difference. No it is not wonderful. It is not lovely. Like it got so cold so fast and I just wasn't expecting it. I have just bundled up and bought a thermal jacket(and it says byui on it so I mean not too shabby)
Studying will become your best friend. I cannot tell you how many hours I have spend this week looking at stuff for school. I have been studying and attached to ilearn and all my books for hours.
That is how I currently feel about college. My body literally has been like you need sleep. I have never really
understood the whole concept of sleep until you wake up at 6:30 am
mountain time twice a week and then 8 something every other day. But I
have realized that waking up super early has it's perks even if it's
your 7:45 am missionary prep left. I love that class.
Anyways, college isn't that bad. I love being at college. I love being out on my own. I have never had more of motivation to get homework done. I love the friends I have made recently. I made this friend who is also from Ohio and we are gonna be best friends haha. We literally hang out most of the time and make jokes and live out Ohio problems just kidding but I love her.
I also ran into an old friend today! Let me say running into someone who saw you when you were inactive and you haven't really seen in over a year is insane! Hahaha its always good though!
This week has gone through ups and downs though. My roommate from Australia lived in the same room with me for a record of two days and then she moved upstairs. I was like okay and then she was kinda hitting on the guy that I have a crush on so I mean oh okay.
HIGHLIGHT OF MY WEEK TIME. YES IT IS GONNA BE IN MOSTLY CAPS BECAUSE ITS HUGE. So Tuesday we had devotional on campus. It brings the spirit into our minds and our lives and to remind us of the gospel even though we are in school. Okay big deal yes. So I am guessing that you know from my facebook that President Uchtdorf was coming to campus to preside over the inaguration of our new President, President Gilbert okay yes.
BUT. What nobody knew is that three other prophets came. MIND BLOWN OKAY. ELDER OAKS, ELDER HOLLAND, AND ELDER BEDNAR AND PRESIDENT UCHTDORF ALL IN THE SAME ROOM...AS ME. FREAKING OUT A BIT. President Uchtdorf spoke to us and he is such a character. He has such a kind spirit and you can feel the spirit throughout the room as he spoke about how he knows how wonderful President Gilbert will do as President at BYU-I.
I felt chills as he spoke. It was funny because he had some robe on and it wasn't on correctly and he was talking about President Monson and his wife just comes up to the stand and fixes it and then sits back down. Ahaha. It was such a gentle moment. He talked about his love for Idaho and it made me love Idaho even more! It is insane because before Tuesday I had seen one prophet in my life in person and that was in August even.
Now? I have seen 5 out 12. What a crazy world. Now what really annoys me is that some people are like Oh i see prophets all the time in like the grocery store and they even come to my ward sometimes so it is no big deal they are on campus. Well let me tell you how happy I am for you. No its actually extremely annoying for someone to say that.
It is such an honor and a blessing for me to see four sitting in the room as me, just a girl from Ohio. On the other side of country. I am not from Utah I am so sorry I don't prophets as much as you do. Let me be mind blown for awhile. But gosh I will never forget that experience ever. Who knew that me at just 18 would see 5 prophets in two months. Like oh my gosh.
I am not saying by just one week I know everything about college. No way! But if it helps you all. I haven't been late to one of my classes, I haven't really gotten lost so that's good. I also have friends. Lots of them aha.
Anyways, I am so in love with this school. I am beyond confident that Heavenly Father has me at BYUI for a reason. I have never been happier than at this school. I am learning so much! I am learning how to prepare for a mission. I am learning how to improve my writing skills. I am even learning public speaking! I know I have a lot more to learn but I feel like it is all going to be worth it in the end!
College is an eye opener that is for sure. I always wanted to live in my comfort zone which I don't recommend just don't do it. Anyways, I just slowly left my comfort zone and I don't ever want to go back. I want to be pushed until I really cannot be pushed anymore.
I miss Ohio. I won't lie to you all. I miss my friends and I miss my sisters so much as crazy as they are.I could make a list of people I miss but I won't.
But I wouldn't trade this whole college thing for the world. It is different and new and being on my own is intriguing. I have my own room for I think the first time ever. No sisters. No roommates. Just me and all my stuff.
How crazy is that?
It is so out of my comfort zone.
Something I am not used to. I am not used to all this excitement and adventure but I am slowly learning and it is fun.
Living outside of your comfort zone is worth it completely.
-Kyrsten
I survived! Well basically. I mean I have two classes tomorrow but its my writing class and my college success class so that should be easy.
But I mean oh man it has been a crazy week aha. From the wonderful 20 degree temperature difference. No it is not wonderful. It is not lovely. Like it got so cold so fast and I just wasn't expecting it. I have just bundled up and bought a thermal jacket(and it says byui on it so I mean not too shabby)
Studying will become your best friend. I cannot tell you how many hours I have spend this week looking at stuff for school. I have been studying and attached to ilearn and all my books for hours.
Anyways, college isn't that bad. I love being at college. I love being out on my own. I have never had more of motivation to get homework done. I love the friends I have made recently. I made this friend who is also from Ohio and we are gonna be best friends haha. We literally hang out most of the time and make jokes and live out Ohio problems just kidding but I love her.
I also ran into an old friend today! Let me say running into someone who saw you when you were inactive and you haven't really seen in over a year is insane! Hahaha its always good though!
This week has gone through ups and downs though. My roommate from Australia lived in the same room with me for a record of two days and then she moved upstairs. I was like okay and then she was kinda hitting on the guy that I have a crush on so I mean oh okay.
HIGHLIGHT OF MY WEEK TIME. YES IT IS GONNA BE IN MOSTLY CAPS BECAUSE ITS HUGE. So Tuesday we had devotional on campus. It brings the spirit into our minds and our lives and to remind us of the gospel even though we are in school. Okay big deal yes. So I am guessing that you know from my facebook that President Uchtdorf was coming to campus to preside over the inaguration of our new President, President Gilbert okay yes.
BUT. What nobody knew is that three other prophets came. MIND BLOWN OKAY. ELDER OAKS, ELDER HOLLAND, AND ELDER BEDNAR AND PRESIDENT UCHTDORF ALL IN THE SAME ROOM...AS ME. FREAKING OUT A BIT. President Uchtdorf spoke to us and he is such a character. He has such a kind spirit and you can feel the spirit throughout the room as he spoke about how he knows how wonderful President Gilbert will do as President at BYU-I.
I felt chills as he spoke. It was funny because he had some robe on and it wasn't on correctly and he was talking about President Monson and his wife just comes up to the stand and fixes it and then sits back down. Ahaha. It was such a gentle moment. He talked about his love for Idaho and it made me love Idaho even more! It is insane because before Tuesday I had seen one prophet in my life in person and that was in August even.
Now? I have seen 5 out 12. What a crazy world. Now what really annoys me is that some people are like Oh i see prophets all the time in like the grocery store and they even come to my ward sometimes so it is no big deal they are on campus. Well let me tell you how happy I am for you. No its actually extremely annoying for someone to say that.
It is such an honor and a blessing for me to see four sitting in the room as me, just a girl from Ohio. On the other side of country. I am not from Utah I am so sorry I don't prophets as much as you do. Let me be mind blown for awhile. But gosh I will never forget that experience ever. Who knew that me at just 18 would see 5 prophets in two months. Like oh my gosh.
I am not saying by just one week I know everything about college. No way! But if it helps you all. I haven't been late to one of my classes, I haven't really gotten lost so that's good. I also have friends. Lots of them aha.
Anyways, I am so in love with this school. I am beyond confident that Heavenly Father has me at BYUI for a reason. I have never been happier than at this school. I am learning so much! I am learning how to prepare for a mission. I am learning how to improve my writing skills. I am even learning public speaking! I know I have a lot more to learn but I feel like it is all going to be worth it in the end!
College is an eye opener that is for sure. I always wanted to live in my comfort zone which I don't recommend just don't do it. Anyways, I just slowly left my comfort zone and I don't ever want to go back. I want to be pushed until I really cannot be pushed anymore.
I miss Ohio. I won't lie to you all. I miss my friends and I miss my sisters so much as crazy as they are.I could make a list of people I miss but I won't.
But I wouldn't trade this whole college thing for the world. It is different and new and being on my own is intriguing. I have my own room for I think the first time ever. No sisters. No roommates. Just me and all my stuff.
How crazy is that?
It is so out of my comfort zone.
Something I am not used to. I am not used to all this excitement and adventure but I am slowly learning and it is fun.
Living outside of your comfort zone is worth it completely.
-Kyrsten
Monday, September 14, 2015
In the Burg!
I feel like its been forever since I have blogged but I know for a fact that's not true so hello!
I have survived my first weekend and first day of school at BYU-I! I just love it. People are so nice and genuine. I'm sorry guys in Ohio but the guys here actually hold the door open for you when you are walking and most people make eye contact when you look at them.
I have met so many people its unreal. I love it. I have met three people from Ohio so that makes me a little less homesick. I mean I miss my family I am not going to lie to you all but I love college. I love being able to be on my own and such. BYU-I is such a magical place I can already feel the love around campus and I have only been here for what a couple of days not even.
I have never been so sure of where I was meant to be until I came to school. Everyday is just another day of being like oh you are supposed to be in Rexburg and you are supposed to be in Idaho. I love living near the temple also. It is so beautiful walking to and from campus and seeing it there. I am so excited for the day I get to go inside for the first time! I actually got to stand on temple grounds yesterday with a bunch of friends and let me tell you. It is so beautiful beyond words and that's what I am probably gonna say about every temple but ignore that lol.
I didn't get lost to any of my classes today which was so nice. I loved it. I even met even more people. KYRSTEN HAS FRIENDS WHO THE HECK KNEW! I know its a shocker.
My teachers that I have had so far are super nice and cool. It is gonna be hard and rough but I am sure I will be spending many nights doing homework.
Oh one cool thing is that two(maybe more) of my communication classes require us to have a blog. Which I think is super cool knowing I blog to all you people and whoever else wants to read my life and such. So that should be the fun part of the semester.
Church was super interesting yesterday. We played a get to know you game in relief society and you had to tell your name where your from your major and some interesting fact about you and favorite desert. So me being the awkward Kyrsten I am, I was like My name is Kyrsten I am from this tiny town called Mount Vernon an hour or so north east of Columbus. I am a communications major with a emphasis on journalism. I like mountain dew a lot and my favorite desert is anything chocolate. So telling a whole bunch of women you like mountain dew gets a laugh out of them. I even had mountain dew for breakfast on Sunday to wake me up and my now not roommate(she moved upstairs sadly) thought I was weird for drinking it that early aha.
I love Rexburg and BYU-I. I am so confident that it is gonna be a good semester. I am so excited for the semester and what it is gonna bring.
And just to let all my friends and family back home know, no I am still very much single even though like most people here are like "Good luck being engaged and married within your first semester" Yeah that was the quote from some guy in my singles ward Sunday. Not gonna happen. Id rather go on my mission!
Love you guys! If anyone wants my address to send me letters or any packages(that would be cool) just let me know I would gladly give it to you!
-Kyrsten:)
I have survived my first weekend and first day of school at BYU-I! I just love it. People are so nice and genuine. I'm sorry guys in Ohio but the guys here actually hold the door open for you when you are walking and most people make eye contact when you look at them.
I have met so many people its unreal. I love it. I have met three people from Ohio so that makes me a little less homesick. I mean I miss my family I am not going to lie to you all but I love college. I love being able to be on my own and such. BYU-I is such a magical place I can already feel the love around campus and I have only been here for what a couple of days not even.
I have never been so sure of where I was meant to be until I came to school. Everyday is just another day of being like oh you are supposed to be in Rexburg and you are supposed to be in Idaho. I love living near the temple also. It is so beautiful walking to and from campus and seeing it there. I am so excited for the day I get to go inside for the first time! I actually got to stand on temple grounds yesterday with a bunch of friends and let me tell you. It is so beautiful beyond words and that's what I am probably gonna say about every temple but ignore that lol.
I didn't get lost to any of my classes today which was so nice. I loved it. I even met even more people. KYRSTEN HAS FRIENDS WHO THE HECK KNEW! I know its a shocker.
My teachers that I have had so far are super nice and cool. It is gonna be hard and rough but I am sure I will be spending many nights doing homework.
Oh one cool thing is that two(maybe more) of my communication classes require us to have a blog. Which I think is super cool knowing I blog to all you people and whoever else wants to read my life and such. So that should be the fun part of the semester.
Church was super interesting yesterday. We played a get to know you game in relief society and you had to tell your name where your from your major and some interesting fact about you and favorite desert. So me being the awkward Kyrsten I am, I was like My name is Kyrsten I am from this tiny town called Mount Vernon an hour or so north east of Columbus. I am a communications major with a emphasis on journalism. I like mountain dew a lot and my favorite desert is anything chocolate. So telling a whole bunch of women you like mountain dew gets a laugh out of them. I even had mountain dew for breakfast on Sunday to wake me up and my now not roommate(she moved upstairs sadly) thought I was weird for drinking it that early aha.
I love Rexburg and BYU-I. I am so confident that it is gonna be a good semester. I am so excited for the semester and what it is gonna bring.
And just to let all my friends and family back home know, no I am still very much single even though like most people here are like "Good luck being engaged and married within your first semester" Yeah that was the quote from some guy in my singles ward Sunday. Not gonna happen. Id rather go on my mission!
Love you guys! If anyone wants my address to send me letters or any packages(that would be cool) just let me know I would gladly give it to you!
-Kyrsten:)
Thursday, September 10, 2015
Comfrot Zones
I live in this bubble called my comfort zone.
I am a huge fan of my comfort zone. I usually don't do anything outside of my comfort zone for the sake of me freaking out.
But recently....I have been learning how to live outside of my comfort zone. It has been wonderful haha. I started to learn how to drive. Oh yes only a couple of days in Idaho and I am attempting to learn how to drive. I drove a golf cart. That was pretty interesting. I also drove a four wheeler. And I was on a mountain yesterday. Oh that was pretty fun. Looking out at Idaho is beautiful. I love it so much.
I love it here more than I thought. I have fallen so in love with the mountains. They are so beautiful. I am totally moving here after college and such.
I never realized how terrible living inside my comfort zone truly is. I have missed out on so much. I wanna drive like yesterday hello. I need transportation like asap. I WAS ON A MOUNTAIN YESTERDAY AND I DROVE A FOUR WHEELER LIKE WHAT THE ACTUAL HECK WHO EXPECTED THIS NOT ME. I am so freaked out by being pushed out my comfort zone but slowly and surely its happening.
Change is scary at times. Let me tell you. I had this conversation with my friend last night driving back to Oakley. I never expected my life to be like this two and half years ago. I never expected to be living in Idaho or living in a church school. But it is happening. I move into my apartment tomorrow and that itself is one of my most exciting things ever. I am so excited to be living by myself well with roommates but ya know. Change is also weird especially at the fact that I am allowed now to email some of my missionary friends back home. Like I got one email Monday and I was like wait what this is weird haha. I am weird leave me alone.
One of my other friends yesterday told me how he was thinking of serving his mission first before heading to BYUI in January and as much as I seriously want him here I think it would be so good for him to go on his mission first. I think it will help him in so many ways. Two years can do so much for someone and it is good! I'm happy and excited for him! I support him haha.
I'm curious to see how the next couple of months go. I am not really that nervous anymore. I am ready for it. I know this is what I am supposed to do. I can tell everyday that being here is supposed to help me grow and learn.
-Kyrsten
I am a huge fan of my comfort zone. I usually don't do anything outside of my comfort zone for the sake of me freaking out.
But recently....I have been learning how to live outside of my comfort zone. It has been wonderful haha. I started to learn how to drive. Oh yes only a couple of days in Idaho and I am attempting to learn how to drive. I drove a golf cart. That was pretty interesting. I also drove a four wheeler. And I was on a mountain yesterday. Oh that was pretty fun. Looking out at Idaho is beautiful. I love it so much.
I love it here more than I thought. I have fallen so in love with the mountains. They are so beautiful. I am totally moving here after college and such.
I never realized how terrible living inside my comfort zone truly is. I have missed out on so much. I wanna drive like yesterday hello. I need transportation like asap. I WAS ON A MOUNTAIN YESTERDAY AND I DROVE A FOUR WHEELER LIKE WHAT THE ACTUAL HECK WHO EXPECTED THIS NOT ME. I am so freaked out by being pushed out my comfort zone but slowly and surely its happening.
Change is scary at times. Let me tell you. I had this conversation with my friend last night driving back to Oakley. I never expected my life to be like this two and half years ago. I never expected to be living in Idaho or living in a church school. But it is happening. I move into my apartment tomorrow and that itself is one of my most exciting things ever. I am so excited to be living by myself well with roommates but ya know. Change is also weird especially at the fact that I am allowed now to email some of my missionary friends back home. Like I got one email Monday and I was like wait what this is weird haha. I am weird leave me alone.
One of my other friends yesterday told me how he was thinking of serving his mission first before heading to BYUI in January and as much as I seriously want him here I think it would be so good for him to go on his mission first. I think it will help him in so many ways. Two years can do so much for someone and it is good! I'm happy and excited for him! I support him haha.
I'm curious to see how the next couple of months go. I am not really that nervous anymore. I am ready for it. I know this is what I am supposed to do. I can tell everyday that being here is supposed to help me grow and learn.
-Kyrsten
Tuesday, September 8, 2015
From Ohio to Idaho.
I made it!
Officially in the state of the Potatoes! The time difference is so weird here! I am like two hours behind everyone including my family and most of my friends. It is also so cold. Like holy crap. There is so humidity here so like its cold basically. I literally curled up in two blankets last night and still froze.
Haha theres basically my only complaints. Except for the light altitude sickness but I love it here! It is so pretty. You think that its beautiful seeing the stars in Mount Vernon. And of course it is cause you can see some of them. But you come out to Idaho and so stars and it is gorgeous. I am also like dead set on moving here permanently. Ether to Idaho or Utah. The Mountains. Don't even get me started on the mountains here. They are so beautiful. I
I don't recommend flying for six hours though, That was rough yesterday. I was so exhausted that I went to bed at 11. Which is super early for me. It was cool though.
I miss Ohio! Don't get me wrong. You can ask one of my friends how sad I was though texting him on my layover in Dallas. I also really wanted to buy a cowboy hat but my parents told me no before I left so that didn't happen ahaha.
Oh! I have a cool moment! So I was super sad about leaving like my little sister left me a note in my backpack and I read it on the way to the airport and I bawled like a baby so that happened. Like it was hard leaving for the first time and such but I did it. Anyways that's not my cool moment. So I opened up my email to an email from one of my favorite missionary guys who is serving in the mission I used to live in(that's hard to say) he can actually email me now since I am living out of mission boundaries. It was really cool cause me and him were super close when he was serving in my ward and I miss him a bunch! It was good to hear from him and such and it made my day a whole lot better. I was sad I didn't get to email him back because of stupid airplanes and time differences. Theres always next week hopefully aha.
I am so excited for next week to start classes and such. I am actually really excited to move into my apartment and such. It is going to be amazing. I am kinda ready to be on my own and such.
It feels weird not being in Ohio but at the same time I don't really have a problem with it. I love being out west and I haven't even been out here for a full day and such. I think I am gonna like it here.
-Kyrsten
Officially in the state of the Potatoes! The time difference is so weird here! I am like two hours behind everyone including my family and most of my friends. It is also so cold. Like holy crap. There is so humidity here so like its cold basically. I literally curled up in two blankets last night and still froze.
Haha theres basically my only complaints. Except for the light altitude sickness but I love it here! It is so pretty. You think that its beautiful seeing the stars in Mount Vernon. And of course it is cause you can see some of them. But you come out to Idaho and so stars and it is gorgeous. I am also like dead set on moving here permanently. Ether to Idaho or Utah. The Mountains. Don't even get me started on the mountains here. They are so beautiful. I
I don't recommend flying for six hours though, That was rough yesterday. I was so exhausted that I went to bed at 11. Which is super early for me. It was cool though.
I miss Ohio! Don't get me wrong. You can ask one of my friends how sad I was though texting him on my layover in Dallas. I also really wanted to buy a cowboy hat but my parents told me no before I left so that didn't happen ahaha.
Oh! I have a cool moment! So I was super sad about leaving like my little sister left me a note in my backpack and I read it on the way to the airport and I bawled like a baby so that happened. Like it was hard leaving for the first time and such but I did it. Anyways that's not my cool moment. So I opened up my email to an email from one of my favorite missionary guys who is serving in the mission I used to live in(that's hard to say) he can actually email me now since I am living out of mission boundaries. It was really cool cause me and him were super close when he was serving in my ward and I miss him a bunch! It was good to hear from him and such and it made my day a whole lot better. I was sad I didn't get to email him back because of stupid airplanes and time differences. Theres always next week hopefully aha.
I am so excited for next week to start classes and such. I am actually really excited to move into my apartment and such. It is going to be amazing. I am kinda ready to be on my own and such.
It feels weird not being in Ohio but at the same time I don't really have a problem with it. I love being out west and I haven't even been out here for a full day and such. I think I am gonna like it here.
-Kyrsten
Sunday, September 6, 2015
Last Day in The Ohio!
I am not going to lie to anyone when I say I am actually a little sad about leaving Ohio.
My lovely primary sang to me today and my dad bore his testimony and it was wonderful. I had a bunch of people talking to me today! I also got a blessing from one of the Elders serving in my ward and that was lovely.
I am so thankful for the priesthood. Getting that blessing made me realize that I know this is what Heavenly Father has in store for me in the future. I am beyond excited though! I won't lie about that ether. I have never had so much faith about this church. Blessings are amazing and they are so powerful. I knew I needed one and I have never been so glad to get one.
I thought it would be rough having my last Sunday in Ohio being Fast Sunday but it was not hard at all actually. I was all ready for the day and I was thankful for everyones testimony including my dad's. Even though he embarrassed me but hes my father so I mean.
I was really happy to be spending it with my ward and the people that I have grown to love and care about. I have grown to love my calling as a sunbeams teacher and I am going to miss my little guys. I am going to miss messing with the elders on a regular basis. Whether it would be a Sunday or whenever they would be in the building on Wednesdays after activities.
I am glad to have been apart of a ward who has been so loving and so kind and so nice to me and my family! I love them and I am going to miss them like crazy.
Everything happens for a reason and Heavenly Father has a plan for me. I am so excited to see what he has in store. I know that I am going to miss my home ward so much. I am so happy to have met everyone and built some of the best friendships that I hope last a lifetime.
I am thankful for meeting everyone that I have in Mount Vernon and Ohio for that matter. Thanks for helping me lift up on the rough days.
Ohio is my life haha. I will forever be a Buckeye. I am so upset that I am going to be traveling the day of the first game! But GO BUCKEYES. I even bought an Ohio State shirt to wear on campus.
I would love to thank everyone personally but I don't have the time or I would but you know who you are. Thank you so much for everything that you have done in my life. You have helped me get to this point
I had so much more to stay but of course I can't think of it haha. I am bittersweet about leaving so much behind especially some of my closest friends. At the same time, its something that I have to do. It is exciting and terrifying all at the same time but I know I have a support system out west and in Ohio so I think I will be perfectly okay!
Next time I will be blogging I will be in other state! ISN'T THAT CRAZY???
But I am beyond ready for whatever is thrown at me next :)
-Kyrsten
My lovely primary sang to me today and my dad bore his testimony and it was wonderful. I had a bunch of people talking to me today! I also got a blessing from one of the Elders serving in my ward and that was lovely.
I am so thankful for the priesthood. Getting that blessing made me realize that I know this is what Heavenly Father has in store for me in the future. I am beyond excited though! I won't lie about that ether. I have never had so much faith about this church. Blessings are amazing and they are so powerful. I knew I needed one and I have never been so glad to get one.
I thought it would be rough having my last Sunday in Ohio being Fast Sunday but it was not hard at all actually. I was all ready for the day and I was thankful for everyones testimony including my dad's. Even though he embarrassed me but hes my father so I mean.
I was really happy to be spending it with my ward and the people that I have grown to love and care about. I have grown to love my calling as a sunbeams teacher and I am going to miss my little guys. I am going to miss messing with the elders on a regular basis. Whether it would be a Sunday or whenever they would be in the building on Wednesdays after activities.
I am glad to have been apart of a ward who has been so loving and so kind and so nice to me and my family! I love them and I am going to miss them like crazy.
Everything happens for a reason and Heavenly Father has a plan for me. I am so excited to see what he has in store. I know that I am going to miss my home ward so much. I am so happy to have met everyone and built some of the best friendships that I hope last a lifetime.
I am thankful for meeting everyone that I have in Mount Vernon and Ohio for that matter. Thanks for helping me lift up on the rough days.
Ohio is my life haha. I will forever be a Buckeye. I am so upset that I am going to be traveling the day of the first game! But GO BUCKEYES. I even bought an Ohio State shirt to wear on campus.
I would love to thank everyone personally but I don't have the time or I would but you know who you are. Thank you so much for everything that you have done in my life. You have helped me get to this point
I had so much more to stay but of course I can't think of it haha. I am bittersweet about leaving so much behind especially some of my closest friends. At the same time, its something that I have to do. It is exciting and terrifying all at the same time but I know I have a support system out west and in Ohio so I think I will be perfectly okay!
Next time I will be blogging I will be in other state! ISN'T THAT CRAZY???
But I am beyond ready for whatever is thrown at me next :)
-Kyrsten
Friday, September 4, 2015
3 days
I would be lying if I said I wasn't counting down the days.
So much has happened since the last time I blogged which surprisingly was two days!
I am no longer a subway employee. Well at least until I'm back in Ohio in April so I mean we shall see where that road leads me. I almost cut my finger off on Thursday.
Okay let me tell that story! So I was at work(that's fun) at a different store(even better) and I love prepping tomatoes for some odd reason and they needed done so I was like I'll just prep while you guys go get customers haha okay bad idea. So I moved my glove slightly to the blade and I feel this pinch and hello there is a pool of blood on my glove and my finger. I laughed as I told my coworker and I was like oh I should be fine. I held pressure on it. After a good ten minutes or so I checked it. I cut deep diagonally across my nail and I was still bleeding. So by then I started freaking out and me getting quite dizzy and woozy from all the blood I was losing. If anyone has seen a subway worker clean the front with white rag I turned an entire one red that's how much blood I lost. I called my boss and I finally decided I should go to urgent care. After that freak out I went to urgent care. It was deep but not deep enough for stiches so they glued my finger back together. They also knew I was leaving in a couple of days. Best part of it is that I had to get a shot! No just kidding I hate shots. It wasn't fun. I was already in enough pain.
So even funnier is that night I was finalizing my packing for school and I was moving stuff and I broke open my glue. Hahaha Heavenly Father blesses us in many ways because my dad is a wonderful nurse who calmed me down from my anxiety attack I was having about breaking my wound open and using his nursing skills to put my finger back together...again. My finger feels really super weird and since I am allergic to adhesive I have to have this clear tape and I see my cut and I am like this is weird. It is
Heavenly Father obviously likes me being around doctors because I have been to more doctor appointments and urgent care more than the normal human. Anyways not the point.
THREE DAYS WOW. Am I excited or nah?
Heck yeah I am excited. With my Ohio chapter basically all closed up I am so ready for that airplane. I even found out online I can even bring my giant bag of tootsie rolls on the plane :) (that's comfort food at it's finest after a long shift) (that's why I shouldn't work inside of Walmart because I always buy food and Mountain Dew)
That's not the point ether haha but I need to finalize all my packing at some point.
I am so excited for this new chapter that is coming up my life. It is coming up so fast and I am like I am ready lets do it. It has been a long time coming let me tell you.
I am going to miss a lot of people don't even get me started on that but pleaseee keep in contact with me follow my blog and text me or call me and facebook and all that. I'll be home for Christmas too. I am so excited to be blogging about my Idaho adventures in the next couple of months.
Things are gonna be so different but I know I will get through it. I can do it. I usually have a lot more to say but I don't tonight for some reason.
I am kinda hoping the next couple of days goes by so fast but at the same time I am beyond ready for it at the same time. This whole week has gone by so fast. I never thought it would go by so fast but it did haha.
I am so excited for what the future holds. This is gonna be exciting and new and I am beyond ready. I love you Ohio do not get me wrong. You will always be my home but I am ready to be living in Idaho.
-Kyrsten
So much has happened since the last time I blogged which surprisingly was two days!
I am no longer a subway employee. Well at least until I'm back in Ohio in April so I mean we shall see where that road leads me. I almost cut my finger off on Thursday.
Okay let me tell that story! So I was at work(that's fun) at a different store(even better) and I love prepping tomatoes for some odd reason and they needed done so I was like I'll just prep while you guys go get customers haha okay bad idea. So I moved my glove slightly to the blade and I feel this pinch and hello there is a pool of blood on my glove and my finger. I laughed as I told my coworker and I was like oh I should be fine. I held pressure on it. After a good ten minutes or so I checked it. I cut deep diagonally across my nail and I was still bleeding. So by then I started freaking out and me getting quite dizzy and woozy from all the blood I was losing. If anyone has seen a subway worker clean the front with white rag I turned an entire one red that's how much blood I lost. I called my boss and I finally decided I should go to urgent care. After that freak out I went to urgent care. It was deep but not deep enough for stiches so they glued my finger back together. They also knew I was leaving in a couple of days. Best part of it is that I had to get a shot! No just kidding I hate shots. It wasn't fun. I was already in enough pain.
So even funnier is that night I was finalizing my packing for school and I was moving stuff and I broke open my glue. Hahaha Heavenly Father blesses us in many ways because my dad is a wonderful nurse who calmed me down from my anxiety attack I was having about breaking my wound open and using his nursing skills to put my finger back together...again. My finger feels really super weird and since I am allergic to adhesive I have to have this clear tape and I see my cut and I am like this is weird. It is
Heavenly Father obviously likes me being around doctors because I have been to more doctor appointments and urgent care more than the normal human. Anyways not the point.
THREE DAYS WOW. Am I excited or nah?
Heck yeah I am excited. With my Ohio chapter basically all closed up I am so ready for that airplane. I even found out online I can even bring my giant bag of tootsie rolls on the plane :) (that's comfort food at it's finest after a long shift) (that's why I shouldn't work inside of Walmart because I always buy food and Mountain Dew)
That's not the point ether haha but I need to finalize all my packing at some point.
I am so excited for this new chapter that is coming up my life. It is coming up so fast and I am like I am ready lets do it. It has been a long time coming let me tell you.
I am going to miss a lot of people don't even get me started on that but pleaseee keep in contact with me follow my blog and text me or call me and facebook and all that. I'll be home for Christmas too. I am so excited to be blogging about my Idaho adventures in the next couple of months.
Things are gonna be so different but I know I will get through it. I can do it. I usually have a lot more to say but I don't tonight for some reason.
I am kinda hoping the next couple of days goes by so fast but at the same time I am beyond ready for it at the same time. This whole week has gone by so fast. I never thought it would go by so fast but it did haha.
I am so excited for what the future holds. This is gonna be exciting and new and I am beyond ready. I love you Ohio do not get me wrong. You will always be my home but I am ready to be living in Idaho.
-Kyrsten
Thursday, September 3, 2015
Why I Want To Serve A Mission!
I have been thinking about missions so much lately. Off and on for the last couple of weeks. As the last couple of days have went by I have been thinking about it a lot.
So with that, I decided I should probably make a post for anyone who is curious on why I want to serve a mission!
Almost two years ago I was reactivated in the church by a lovely set of Sister Missionaries. When they found my family I was dead set on not coming back into the church. I was like these girls are crazy. Why would I go to a place where they all judge me? The sisters kept coming over to teach my brother and my sisters. As me being already baptized I didn't have to sit in on these lessons if I didn't want. Half the time I don't think I did.
I started to act out really really bad. It got to the point where it drove my parents insane. I didn't really adjust to moving to Mount Vernon well at all. Anyways, so my dad forced me to go to church. My siblings were already going so I was forced.
And I will probably never ever forget that Sunday. I sat in Young Womens and laughed harder than I ever did since I moved here. I grew to love and adore the Young Women and I started going back to church.
That's not the total reason haha I know I'm funny.
Anyways, so the sisters kept coming over. They actually helped me through some of the most rough times in my life. You see, I was such a different person a couple of years ago then I am now. I was very angry with the world and through the sisters I learned how to forgive and work on my relationships slowly. They eventually got my siblings baptized! In January they will be members for 2 years! The sisters actually changed my entire families life. They started going back to church regularly for awhile(I still have hope that will change again someday!) and I decided to recommit myself to the LDS lifestyle.
I grew so attached to these missionaries. They became my best friends actually. They came over all the time and talked to me about whatever was going on in my life and just everything in between. They also brought in the biggest spirit I have ever seen.
Okay lets fast forward to June of 2014. I was given the opportunity to serve a week long mission (mini-mission) with full-time missionaries in the mission that I live in. At that point, I had been around missionaries long enough to be like oh my gosh I want to see what the missionary life is like sign me up. And by this time too, I was pretty much close with whatever missionaries were serving in my ward. Even when we got elders so I mean. I was in for such a treat! My companions were probably the best ever. They taught me so much. I realized then I want to serve one day it was just a matter of when.
That's not where the story ends and now that I think about it this is gonna be so long so sorry about that.
This summer I got to go on mini missions again(even with one of the same companions) and it was beyond different. I could easily tell the difference. I grew love for people who I had only known a couple of days. I got sad when people didn't answer their doors or keep up appointments. I talked to less actives and shared a message with them. One of the sisters in the ward of my mini mission told my companions how I was ready for a mission. Honestly? Hearing that come from her and my companions changed so much for me. That week so hard dealing craziness and just emotionally getting attached. Also dealing with a Satanist(if you wanna hear that story hit me up for that one)haha).
At youth conference this year, we as the youth got to hear from the local mission president and his wife at a fireside about missions. I never felt the Spirit so strongly in my life. I remember telling my friend how I didn't want to ever leave the room because I thought I was never going to feel the Spirit that strong again. They spoke so well about missions. I wish I had my notebook to give you all the details about it but believe me when I say it was wonderful trust me!
In seminary this year we studied Doctrine and Covenants, I appreciate the scriptures so much more now after seminary this year but what really stands out to me is D&C section 4 which leads into my next point!
D&C Section 4 is hands down one of my favorite sections in the Doctrine and Covenants. It has seven verses but powerful seven verses. If you want to read it heres a link:
https://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/4?lang=eng lds.org is a pretty cool website to check out too! Anyways, two of my favorite scriptures are in there(I have a lot of them and I'm so not sorry about it tbh.) D&C 4:2-3 days, "Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day. Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work;"
That just makes me feel all excited inside especially verse 3: "Therefore. if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work;". The first time I read that verse I knew I was going to go. I know Heavenly Father wants me to serve. I have prayed about it so much. Everytime I pray I end up searching through my scriptures and the answer is the same. GO ON YOUR MISSION.
I'm the weirdo who spends countless hours watching prepare to serve mission videos or watching The District. I even become best friends with missionaries and then get super sad when they go home or get transferred.
I guess my point in all of this is that I want to be able to bring people unto Christ. I want to make an impact on someones life like the missionaries did mine. I want them to see the excitement of the Gospel. I want them to feel the love that Heavenly Father has for them.
For anyone who is thinking about going, I recommend praying about it long and hard. The answer won't come right away. I have realized that the answer of when I was gonna go became super hard. I have struggled of being like okay I want to go just when. It wasn't until I got to thinking about college and my mini mission.
At first my parents were like put off college mission first. I prayed about that and Heavenly Father told me no. For awhile, I thought Heavenly Father was like go to BYUI for a year both semesters and then serve. Now? I feel the need to start my papers when I get to Idaho and hopefully have them in before the end of the semester so I can get my call. It makes me so excited about serving. I mean I cannot wait to be a journalist. I cannot wait to be out in Idaho but at the same time I am like itching to serve.
I just want to share my testimony about missionary work. I know that the missionaries throughout the world are doing the Lord's work. I know that they are put in their respectful missions for a reason. I am beyond thankful to have missionaries in Ohio. I am grateful to have them serving in my ward. The missionaries will change your life if you let them. They will help you be on the right path and help you come unto Christ.
One last thing and I am done I promise!
My best friend in the entire world came up to church with me for the first time in January and she loved it. So I gave her a Book of Mormon and told her to read it and find the missionaries in her area(because she doesn't live in my town). She read the Book of Mormon way faster than I have and more times than I have and she has a strong testimony. All she needs are some missionaries to guide her and to help her get baptized. Okay this story gets better. She called me up one day maybe a couple of months ago maybe I dunno anyways she told me she started meeting with the missionaries. She also told me that her family started to accept her learning about the gospel(as her family wasn't a huge fan of the church before). It has been wonderful seeing my best friend learn about the gospel and teach her what I couldn't through a couple of Sundays! And the best ending to that story is that because of the missionaries who have taken the time and the energy to teach my best friend she is being baptized on September 26th! I am beyond happy about that!.
I am so thankful for all the full time missionaries serving throughout the world. I am beyond excited to explore this direction that the Lord desires me to take! It won't be easy but I know He will be there for me every step of the way and that brings me so much hope and so much joy.
Thanks a lot for reading! Sorry this is so long!
Until next time!!
-Kyrsten
So with that, I decided I should probably make a post for anyone who is curious on why I want to serve a mission!
Almost two years ago I was reactivated in the church by a lovely set of Sister Missionaries. When they found my family I was dead set on not coming back into the church. I was like these girls are crazy. Why would I go to a place where they all judge me? The sisters kept coming over to teach my brother and my sisters. As me being already baptized I didn't have to sit in on these lessons if I didn't want. Half the time I don't think I did.
I started to act out really really bad. It got to the point where it drove my parents insane. I didn't really adjust to moving to Mount Vernon well at all. Anyways, so my dad forced me to go to church. My siblings were already going so I was forced.
And I will probably never ever forget that Sunday. I sat in Young Womens and laughed harder than I ever did since I moved here. I grew to love and adore the Young Women and I started going back to church.
That's not the total reason haha I know I'm funny.
Anyways, so the sisters kept coming over. They actually helped me through some of the most rough times in my life. You see, I was such a different person a couple of years ago then I am now. I was very angry with the world and through the sisters I learned how to forgive and work on my relationships slowly. They eventually got my siblings baptized! In January they will be members for 2 years! The sisters actually changed my entire families life. They started going back to church regularly for awhile(I still have hope that will change again someday!) and I decided to recommit myself to the LDS lifestyle.
I grew so attached to these missionaries. They became my best friends actually. They came over all the time and talked to me about whatever was going on in my life and just everything in between. They also brought in the biggest spirit I have ever seen.
Okay lets fast forward to June of 2014. I was given the opportunity to serve a week long mission (mini-mission) with full-time missionaries in the mission that I live in. At that point, I had been around missionaries long enough to be like oh my gosh I want to see what the missionary life is like sign me up. And by this time too, I was pretty much close with whatever missionaries were serving in my ward. Even when we got elders so I mean. I was in for such a treat! My companions were probably the best ever. They taught me so much. I realized then I want to serve one day it was just a matter of when.
That's not where the story ends and now that I think about it this is gonna be so long so sorry about that.
This summer I got to go on mini missions again(even with one of the same companions) and it was beyond different. I could easily tell the difference. I grew love for people who I had only known a couple of days. I got sad when people didn't answer their doors or keep up appointments. I talked to less actives and shared a message with them. One of the sisters in the ward of my mini mission told my companions how I was ready for a mission. Honestly? Hearing that come from her and my companions changed so much for me. That week so hard dealing craziness and just emotionally getting attached. Also dealing with a Satanist(if you wanna hear that story hit me up for that one)haha).
At youth conference this year, we as the youth got to hear from the local mission president and his wife at a fireside about missions. I never felt the Spirit so strongly in my life. I remember telling my friend how I didn't want to ever leave the room because I thought I was never going to feel the Spirit that strong again. They spoke so well about missions. I wish I had my notebook to give you all the details about it but believe me when I say it was wonderful trust me!
In seminary this year we studied Doctrine and Covenants, I appreciate the scriptures so much more now after seminary this year but what really stands out to me is D&C section 4 which leads into my next point!
D&C Section 4 is hands down one of my favorite sections in the Doctrine and Covenants. It has seven verses but powerful seven verses. If you want to read it heres a link:
https://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/4?lang=eng lds.org is a pretty cool website to check out too! Anyways, two of my favorite scriptures are in there(I have a lot of them and I'm so not sorry about it tbh.) D&C 4:2-3 days, "Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day. Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work;"
That just makes me feel all excited inside especially verse 3: "Therefore. if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work;". The first time I read that verse I knew I was going to go. I know Heavenly Father wants me to serve. I have prayed about it so much. Everytime I pray I end up searching through my scriptures and the answer is the same. GO ON YOUR MISSION.
I'm the weirdo who spends countless hours watching prepare to serve mission videos or watching The District. I even become best friends with missionaries and then get super sad when they go home or get transferred.
I guess my point in all of this is that I want to be able to bring people unto Christ. I want to make an impact on someones life like the missionaries did mine. I want them to see the excitement of the Gospel. I want them to feel the love that Heavenly Father has for them.
For anyone who is thinking about going, I recommend praying about it long and hard. The answer won't come right away. I have realized that the answer of when I was gonna go became super hard. I have struggled of being like okay I want to go just when. It wasn't until I got to thinking about college and my mini mission.
At first my parents were like put off college mission first. I prayed about that and Heavenly Father told me no. For awhile, I thought Heavenly Father was like go to BYUI for a year both semesters and then serve. Now? I feel the need to start my papers when I get to Idaho and hopefully have them in before the end of the semester so I can get my call. It makes me so excited about serving. I mean I cannot wait to be a journalist. I cannot wait to be out in Idaho but at the same time I am like itching to serve.
I just want to share my testimony about missionary work. I know that the missionaries throughout the world are doing the Lord's work. I know that they are put in their respectful missions for a reason. I am beyond thankful to have missionaries in Ohio. I am grateful to have them serving in my ward. The missionaries will change your life if you let them. They will help you be on the right path and help you come unto Christ.
One last thing and I am done I promise!
My best friend in the entire world came up to church with me for the first time in January and she loved it. So I gave her a Book of Mormon and told her to read it and find the missionaries in her area(because she doesn't live in my town). She read the Book of Mormon way faster than I have and more times than I have and she has a strong testimony. All she needs are some missionaries to guide her and to help her get baptized. Okay this story gets better. She called me up one day maybe a couple of months ago maybe I dunno anyways she told me she started meeting with the missionaries. She also told me that her family started to accept her learning about the gospel(as her family wasn't a huge fan of the church before). It has been wonderful seeing my best friend learn about the gospel and teach her what I couldn't through a couple of Sundays! And the best ending to that story is that because of the missionaries who have taken the time and the energy to teach my best friend she is being baptized on September 26th! I am beyond happy about that!.
I am so thankful for all the full time missionaries serving throughout the world. I am beyond excited to explore this direction that the Lord desires me to take! It won't be easy but I know He will be there for me every step of the way and that brings me so much hope and so much joy.
Thanks a lot for reading! Sorry this is so long!
Until next time!!
-Kyrsten
Wednesday, September 2, 2015
5 days and counting!
So as you can tell from the title I have five days left here in this great Ohio.
As you can tell I am kinda just freaking out over it now. It is gonna be such a nice change!
Things have been kinda crazy lately.
I have been slowly but surely packing up my entire life. Dealing with some stuff in between. But as the countdown gets so much closer I am so much more excited. I am basically all packed. I mean I have to pack little stuff. I have to pack my carryon with my laptop and everything. Gosh it is an exciting time at the moment.
I mean other then leaving something aka someone behind for awhile really sucking I am pretty okay. It is only for five months. If it is meant to be then it will meant to be and that is what I have to constantly keep telling myself. I know for a fact that Heavenly Father has a plan for me. I don't want it to end but I mean if it ends then it ends and I tried. That's all I am doing.
So much can change in the next five months. I won't lie to you say how I am so confident that things are gonna stay the same this semester. I am scared beyond all heck that things are just gonna change before I even get my chance. But I have hope and faith that they might work out in my favor.
I wish to say that I am just gonna have a relaxing five days. I work tomorrow and Friday and then Saturday I am going to be all over the place. Sunday I am going to just be relaxing and spending time with my family before I head off to the great state of Idaho.
I cannot wait for this new adventure. I had a meeting with my bishop tonight and honestly it went so much better then I thought. First of all I got my temple recommend renewed which makes me want to go to the temple ASAP. But I mean I am going to be living right across the street from it so. I am actually super excited to be around more Mormons. Like I don't mean to be like okay well I just hate everyone who isn't a Mormon. Okay no I love all my friends no matter what religion you are. I am just excited to be around so many people who have the same standards as me. My bishop was also like "You stay away from all boys. Especially those return missionaries." I kinda about died laughing at the comment but okay Bishop.
OH LIKE A PROPHET IS COMING TO CAMPUS. PRESIDENT UCHTDORF WILL BE ON CAMPUS. I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO SEE HIM TALK. I GOT LUCKY SEEING A MEMBER OF THE 12 SPEAK IN OHIO AND NOW LIKE ONE OF THE THREE IS COMING TO SPEAK ON CAMPUS. LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL.
I am so proud to be a member of this church. It has brought me so many blessings. I got to see one of my favorite return missionaries tonight and it was just magical. I haven't seen her in almost a year. She was the reason why I came back to the church. Without her I would not have been reactivated. Heavenly Father puts people in your life for a reason. There is a reason why things didn't work out before and maybe they are going to work out now.
I would not have the testimony I have without her. And for whoever reads this that's a member I am not saying that I base my testimony off of her. I wish you would've known me so long ago. I basically didn't have a testimony.
Now?
I am going off to BYU-Idaho. I would've never been like I am going to go to some church school. Especially over 1000 miles away. Who the heck does that? Oh wait. Meeeee. I know that the church is true. I have never believed in so much in my life until recently. Two years ago, I never would've never thought of coming to church. I would've never thought of being like oh well I am going to serve a mission. I just thought missionaries were hot and that's the only reason why I wanted them over hahaha(true story). Missionaries are basically my best friend. I am so thankful for the opportunities to come into contact with some of the Lord's finest servants. I am grateful for the testimony that they have helped me build. The church is so true. The Book of Mormon will do wonders for you. It saved my life that's for sure. That is what this gospel does. It brings souls unto Chirst and it is amazing.
I am excited and maybe just a tad freaked out that this is all happening so soon? Haha I mean if you know me I have been like okay we are at this many days until BYUI so far away ugh. Now it is like okay we are at single digits and I leave Monday at 8 am. Oh okay!
The world is such an exciting and intriguing place. I am very much excited to take on this new adventure in my life. I get to meet so many new people. I get to be around people who have the same standards of me and believe in the same things I do. It's such an amazing life that has been given to us so why not take advantage of it and live it while we can.
5 days.
-Kyrsten
As you can tell I am kinda just freaking out over it now. It is gonna be such a nice change!
Things have been kinda crazy lately.
I have been slowly but surely packing up my entire life. Dealing with some stuff in between. But as the countdown gets so much closer I am so much more excited. I am basically all packed. I mean I have to pack little stuff. I have to pack my carryon with my laptop and everything. Gosh it is an exciting time at the moment.
I mean other then leaving something aka someone behind for awhile really sucking I am pretty okay. It is only for five months. If it is meant to be then it will meant to be and that is what I have to constantly keep telling myself. I know for a fact that Heavenly Father has a plan for me. I don't want it to end but I mean if it ends then it ends and I tried. That's all I am doing.
So much can change in the next five months. I won't lie to you say how I am so confident that things are gonna stay the same this semester. I am scared beyond all heck that things are just gonna change before I even get my chance. But I have hope and faith that they might work out in my favor.
I wish to say that I am just gonna have a relaxing five days. I work tomorrow and Friday and then Saturday I am going to be all over the place. Sunday I am going to just be relaxing and spending time with my family before I head off to the great state of Idaho.
I cannot wait for this new adventure. I had a meeting with my bishop tonight and honestly it went so much better then I thought. First of all I got my temple recommend renewed which makes me want to go to the temple ASAP. But I mean I am going to be living right across the street from it so. I am actually super excited to be around more Mormons. Like I don't mean to be like okay well I just hate everyone who isn't a Mormon. Okay no I love all my friends no matter what religion you are. I am just excited to be around so many people who have the same standards as me. My bishop was also like "You stay away from all boys. Especially those return missionaries." I kinda about died laughing at the comment but okay Bishop.
OH LIKE A PROPHET IS COMING TO CAMPUS. PRESIDENT UCHTDORF WILL BE ON CAMPUS. I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO SEE HIM TALK. I GOT LUCKY SEEING A MEMBER OF THE 12 SPEAK IN OHIO AND NOW LIKE ONE OF THE THREE IS COMING TO SPEAK ON CAMPUS. LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL.
I am so proud to be a member of this church. It has brought me so many blessings. I got to see one of my favorite return missionaries tonight and it was just magical. I haven't seen her in almost a year. She was the reason why I came back to the church. Without her I would not have been reactivated. Heavenly Father puts people in your life for a reason. There is a reason why things didn't work out before and maybe they are going to work out now.
I would not have the testimony I have without her. And for whoever reads this that's a member I am not saying that I base my testimony off of her. I wish you would've known me so long ago. I basically didn't have a testimony.
Now?
I am going off to BYU-Idaho. I would've never been like I am going to go to some church school. Especially over 1000 miles away. Who the heck does that? Oh wait. Meeeee. I know that the church is true. I have never believed in so much in my life until recently. Two years ago, I never would've never thought of coming to church. I would've never thought of being like oh well I am going to serve a mission. I just thought missionaries were hot and that's the only reason why I wanted them over hahaha(true story). Missionaries are basically my best friend. I am so thankful for the opportunities to come into contact with some of the Lord's finest servants. I am grateful for the testimony that they have helped me build. The church is so true. The Book of Mormon will do wonders for you. It saved my life that's for sure. That is what this gospel does. It brings souls unto Chirst and it is amazing.
I am excited and maybe just a tad freaked out that this is all happening so soon? Haha I mean if you know me I have been like okay we are at this many days until BYUI so far away ugh. Now it is like okay we are at single digits and I leave Monday at 8 am. Oh okay!
The world is such an exciting and intriguing place. I am very much excited to take on this new adventure in my life. I get to meet so many new people. I get to be around people who have the same standards of me and believe in the same things I do. It's such an amazing life that has been given to us so why not take advantage of it and live it while we can.
5 days.
-Kyrsten
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