End of the Semester Shanagins(or however you spell it)

I WILL BE BACK IN THE GREAT OHIO IN BASICALLY A MONTH THIS IS NOT A DRILL.

but hello.

It is obvious of how excited to go back home. I miss my sisters and my family and just being home in general.

At the same time though, I might actually miss this potato state.

The fact that the semester is ending in like a month kinda freaks me out to a point. I am not gonna lie when I say that I am going to miss so much about being here in Rexburg!

I have made so many great friends here.

I have also gone through some many changes and new things. Aka going to Salt Lake and seeing the temple and cutting off eight inches of my hair.

But honestly, I have learned so much in the last two semesters being here then I ever thought I would learn! It amazes me the things you can learn!

I know for a fact that I have such a huge testimony of the gospel more. Being at BYUI kinda does that to you and I totally do not mean that in a bad way. I think I honestly needed it.

I needed that huge slap in the face by going to church every Sunday and going to devotional. It is amazing let me tell you. I never thought I would get my patriarchal blessing like hello! That has been a blessing in itself.
 
It has not been an easy two semesters. That is so why I am thankful for great friends and priesthood!  blessings! Never have I realized that those are Heavenly Father speaking to you until this semester till I was basically drowning.

The church is so true. Things happen for a reason and it may not seem easy but it is gonna be worth it if it isn't easy. He hears your prayers and answers them. It may not be in the time frame that you want but He answers them.

I have learned that Heavenly Father has a plan for me. It may not be sometimes what I want in life but I am slowly coming to terms that everything that happens for a reason. Sometimes life does not go as planned and it doesn't work out in your favor. Life moves on to bigger and better things.

Honestly though, I wouldn't change anything for the world. I have a group of friends who are amazing. One is graduating. One is going on a mission. One is getting married and the other is going to New York for the Hill Cumorah Pagent. It is gonna be super weird when squad shrinks in the fall I won't lie when it honestly makes me super sad.

People are placed in your lives for a reason. I know I would not change the dumb puns in the middle of Walmart and the short jokes beyond short jokes and trips to Idaho Falls almost every weekend for the world. I wouldn't change the moments where I laughed till I cried. No seriously it has happened like three times and it hurts but its worth it.

I love Idaho for the reason where I am not the same person I was when I left Ohio. I am so thankful for it.

I am going to miss Rexburg a bit but I am beyond ready to go back to Ohio.

-Kyrsten

Doubt Your Doubts Before You Doubt Your Faith

For the last couple of weeks, I have constantly heard the phrase from President Uchtdorf, "Doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith."

I have heard that phrase used in Sacrament and Relief Society and home teaching and just everywhere. I love that phrase so much and it recently struck me of how I really need to be doubting my doubts before I doubt my faith.

I recently got a huge answer about something that I have pondering about for the last couple of weeks and it honestly took a good two people for me to start thinking about it again. This time I honestly felt like it was the right thing to do.

Except for it honestly scared the complete crap out of me. I knew it was right. I was excited about it. Yet here I was nervous for what was going to come out of it.

I became nervous about what was going to happen down the road and not what was in front of me. I guess you could say that I am scared for how it isn't just gonna affect me but other people too.

It is crazy what happens when you finally get that answer and it comes unexpectedly. Mine came from a stake conference session that people told me that I was crazy to go to because I could've done better things with my time.

Honestly? I probably could have but man am I glad I went to stake conference last weekend.

Being scared of following a prompting is Satan's way of being like nope you shouldn't do this you know you are not worth it. I have come to realize that not following a prompting is not a good idea. I have had so many blessings in the worst times but following just the simple promptings.

Hello there I am totally worth it. I can't doubt my faith especially with how far I have come.

I am not going to lie when I say that I am excited and totally freaked out all at the same time. Hey lets be real you don't grow from the inside of your comfort zone. I have learned that a whole bunch since being here in Idaho!

I really have realized that I need to face my fears head on. How I am going to do that? No idea yet but only time will tell what happens.

As long as I have faith and trust in the Lord's plan for me, I should be good!

Until next time!

-Kyrsten

36

In 36 kinda short but long days I will be back in the Great Ohio!

I can't begin to explain how excited I am.

Ohio is home. As much as I probably threw a fit how much I hated Ohio(sorry friends) when I was in high school or middle school, I love it.

Okay funny story before I get into this. I was wearing a Utah State shirt(don't hate me) and I was at a ward social thing and this kid comes up to me. He asked me if I was from Logan and I kinda laughed and was like no I know people who go there though. He was kinda confused and was like oh I was just wondering my brother just graduated from there. He then proceeded to ask me where I was from and I was like oh I'm from Ohio. Then he kinda freaked out and asked me why it seemed like everyone at BYUI was from Ohio.

Um? So theres my funny story from the last little while.

I am so not afraid to show my Ohio pride. It is especially hard to keep it in when you have an Ohio flag in your room and two of your roommates are from Ohio(funny how that works out right?).

I can't wait to go home and see what the heck is in store for me next. Well I kinda have a clue but that is for me to know and for you guys to find out at a latter time.

We had stake conference last weekend which was so amazing!

I defiantly got an answer to a question I have had for the last couple of weeks. I was so grateful to hear from members of the 70 and shake their hands! My advice to everyone is don't skip out on stake conference just because your regular church meetings aren't held! It was literally just what I needed.

This week or well the last two weeks, I have been trying to work on being more grateful for the blessings I have in my life. I have been so angry about things that are out of my control and its not healthy.

So I am going to end this with a couple of things I am grateful for!

1) The Gospel. I would not have survived the last few weeks without it
2) My best friends. You know who you are. Thanks for listening to me rant and rave about the same things
3) My family. Can't wait to see them
4) BYUI  Don't know what I would do without this cold but great place

I love you all! I promise I will try to blog more. Sorry this wasn't too entertaining!

-Kyrsten