I have known that my blog was a little behind but I didn't realize that it really was almost 4 months behind!!! I guess I can just say that I have been busy reading and writing and studying and memorizing all of these books ever since school started and everything else has been put on hold for a while. Tonight there is a lot that I could get done, probably a lot that I should get done, but I fee like taking a little slowdown for a night and enjoying something that I haven't done in a long time... and that is blogging. I don't want to get too caught up in schooling that I forget to write down my journey along the way and the many MANY things that I am learning every day.
Each passing day I am learning so much and I have grown in so many ways that I can't put it all down on paper. Here are just a few of the numerous thoughts that I have had these past couple of months that I don't want to forget. (no particular order except for the first one :)
1)
My love: First and foremost, the love that I have for Dallen has grown SOOOO much!!!! Together we make such a great team and I can honestly say that our marriage has been the best thing that has happened to me. I really did get lucky because I know that on my own I couldn't have found someone that treats me so well and brings me up the way that Dallen does. I say it's a good thing we had others to help us meet :) I want to thank him and let everybody else know all of the many great things he does for me. Let's be honest, I haven't been the cook around the house probably since we've been married (and I do plan on changing that!), I haven't been the ultra cleaner, or the laundry maid, or the decorator, or the "dressy and ready everyday" wife. I have become a book worm the past four months and both Dallen and I know that it is going to pay off for us what can seem like a long ways down the road... but we know that it is worth it. I want to thank him for picking up and filling in the gaps for the things that I lack. For being there to make me laugh when I get home from classes and feel no motivation to keep studying and doing the things that I sometimes just don't want to do. I look up to his positive attitude every day and for the character and personality that he has.
2)
Prayer: Almost every day when I drive to and from school I pray and talk to my Heavenly Father out loud about life and it has made the biggest difference! I feel like things go smoother, I am able to remind myself of the things that I do have rather than the things that I need, I think of others more often, I excel in all of my schoolwork, I have time for the important things to get done and somehow manage to have everything fall into place. I feel so much closer to my husband, family, friends, and Jesus Christ. I think I have often forgotten throughout life that just the simple act of praying makes such a HUGE difference. Prayer can bring so much comfort especially at times when I feel alone as Dallen is away or when I at times wonder how it is possible to make it through the challenging and busy weeks. When I am sincere, I can feel a difference and I can definitely see the miracles of the helping hands of the Lord.
3)
Reflection: My life couldn't be any better or more perfect. Starting from the very beginning where my life began, I have the most amazing family ever! Especially my parents. I look up to them so much and as I get older, I am able to see just how good of people they are. I am proud to say that my parents have been my best friends my whole life and we have grown up having fun together. Yes, we have had our little battles here and there, but I think they would agree that we are very close. I am grateful for the way that they have taught me to work hard, to never give up even when all odds are against you, to always live the gospel, to save money, to laugh, to love, and to live every day to the fullest. They are my hero's! I do wish that I could see them more and that we could live closer to each other, but that day will come.
4)My new
Proctor family: Can I just say that I am blessed to have such great in-laws! It has been so fun to get to know each of them a little and there is still a lot to learn. But one thing is for sure, I know that they are welcoming to others. They make others feel better when visitors come and go. I know that they accept me for who I am and I love them as well. It has been fun to live close by and to share some of our weekends having sleepovers and creating memories. I love them all!
5)
Kids: Since I'm on the family subject, I'll include here the thoughts concerning my own future family. My thoughts in general have become more and more centered around the future family that Dallen and I will someday have. It is kind of crazy to think that I am at the stage of life that I can and will be a mother, that I will be a teacher to my children, a leader, an example, a friend, and hopefully a "hero" as my parents are to me. It could very possibly be that if we have a girl first, that her spouse is already born. That there are two parents somewhere out there raising a boy that will someday take my daughter to the temple and become a member of our family. It makes me wonder what kind of people my children will like, fall in love with, and marry. It makes me wonder what types of things that our future children are thinking (right this second) of Dallen and I as we are trying our hardest and doing our best to prepare ourselves for them. What are they going to be like. What challenges will we help them overcome, what personalities will they have, and who will they grow to be. I hope they are excited to come to us and I hope that Dallen and I can provide the means that they need to be able to live righteous lives in this crazy world. I really look forward towards these special gifts from above that will someday live in the walls of our home.
6)
Schooling: I know that I often get caught up in speaking negatively about school, but it really is a great blessing. I have a scholarship that pays for four years of tuition at Utah Valley University. I have the opportunity to learn and to grow in so many different aspects. I have the chance to gain knowledge in a profession that will be of great benefit to my family, those I help, and myself. I will be able to stay home as a mom and raise a family with a flexible work schedule. I will have a degree in a unique profession that involves many people, but allows me to accomplish personal goals that I have for myself. As I have been through some tough classes (a.k.a. anatomy, chemistry, and physiology) I have been humbled at the abilities of the human body. I know that I am just scratching the surface of the body anatomy and physiology, but our bodies really are so amazing! The way that we are able to function and to sense things, and to send messages to different organs, and to keep everything in balance is proof to me that we are made from a higher being. It is almost incomprehensible. It mas made me ponder about the creation a little more and recognize the blessing that I have of having a healthy body. It has led me to a better understanding and a deeper knowledge that our bodies are temples of God and that we are created after his own image. That we are special to him and that he has all knowledge.
On the other hand, the classes that I am taking, such as Ethics and Values for my generals, and Spanish have helped me see things from another point of view. My ethics and values teacher is what he would call "a philosophical academic conceptualist" and throughout the semester we have learned about the views of a non-religious point of view on life. It has been an interesting experience and I have definitely had exposure to some ideas that would have never crossed my mind otherwise. It has shown me the importance of faith because if beliefs are based solely on philosophy, then there is nothing constant and "foundations of ideas" are always changing.
7)
Missionary work: Briar (Dallen's brother-and mine too), my Grandpa and Grandma Bowring, and my twin cousins (Trent and Travis) are all serving missions right now. What great examples they have been to me. I look forward to the missions that Dallen and I will someday serve together and the people that we will be able to meet. However, although I am excited to someday have my specific "call" of where Dallen and I will serve, I have thought of how life in general is a mission. A mission of not only sharing the gospel, but of overcoming evil, growing in every manner possible, and improving ourselves. I appreciate the great missionaries who have and are continuing to work hard.
8)
Temples: I know that before I went into the temple I was anxious, a little nervous, but most of all excited to find out what was so sacred about the work that was done inside. The first time I was able to go through for myself, I knew that the temple would become something special and personal in my life. I could feel the spirit so strong when the words were spoken inside those temple walls and as I have returned many times to the rooms inside, I have continued to feel that same special feeling. I have pondered a lot of the teachings inside the temple and each time I do so my testimony grows. Dallen and I have been very blessed to live where we do. So close to so many different temples where we can attend sessions that begin every 45 minutes. We have made it a goal to attend twice a month and as we have done so, I have been able to see the countless blessing in our lives. It has been far more than worth our time. I have been able to do a little family history work and it has been neat as Dallen and I have completed their work, but also as my family members including my Great Grandma Sonderegger have helped us do so. I hope to continue searching for family names and to find the families that need the work done.
These are just a few of my thoughts....
The weekend after I finished school I went to Kaitlin and Spencer's house to spend the weekend with Kait. Our husbands were at work so we figured it'd be a great time to do our Christmas shopping and it gave us some free time to work on some crafts of our own. We decided to make Christmas stockings for each of us and they turned out great! We didn't really have a plan or know exactly how to make them so we made our own patterns and threw together a couple of materials and ribbons that we liked. Each of us made 2 green and 2 red stockings. It was a lot of fun!
November and December have been really crazy months for Dallen and I as we have been traveling around a lot to see family, holidays, football games, Dallen's work, and me preparing for finals in schooling. In spending our time with these other activities, we haven't really had a lot of time to decorate or get ready for Christmas. Last sunday we went to Janice's house with all of the Proctor family to have dinner and to play games. We mentioned that we didn't have a Christmas tree this year so Janice sent us home with our first Christmas tree and stockings. I am thankful to her for this because we probably wouldn't have had a Christmas tree otherwise. Dallen is leaving for work tomorrow and we are leaving to spend our Christmas vacation with family the day he gets back. We won't be back to our house until after Christmas so this tree is great for us this year! Thank you Janice for helping our home feel more like Christmas.
