Idaho Changed My Life

As I reflect on my time in Idaho this past semester, I have realized multiple things.

1.  I have a greater appreciation for quarters
2.  I have a greater appreciation for having a washer and dryer in my house, instead of going outside for the whole semester.
3.  I have a greater appreciation for Mom and Dad.  For all that they do for me.   From grocery shopping, to cooking, to simply just thanking me for the things that I do.
4.  The Spirit can work miracles.  I had to do multiple things this semester that were incredibly hard for me, but those things were made easier because I was constantly surrounded by the Spirit.  Of course there were times when I could feel the Spirit leave- when people around me weren't doing the things that they should- but once I removed myself from that situation, the Spirit always comes back. Simply walking to class, I can feel the Spirit all the way across campus.
5.  Prayer and Scripture Study. They work.  Of course, I wasn't perfect at reading or praying.   But the days that  I did do it, life was so much better! Homework seemed easier, there seemed to be more hours in the day, and I just felt better about everything.
6. Roommates can be some AMAZING people.  Yes we had our ups and downs.  There were times when I was really annoyed at them-probably for stupid things-  but when it all comes down to it, I love my roommates.  Yes Kelli and I have been roommates before---- a lot.  And she is a much better roommate :) But I am so thankful that I was able to experience this semester with my girls.  I feel like the mother of the group (and at least one of them have admitted that I am :D) and I am so thankful to have been able to learn so much from these girls.

Hannah, Me, Brittany, Anna, Shelby, Caitlyn (and missing Taylor) 

7. Silence really is golden.  I went from being in Oklahoma and being the only child at home (where I practically had my own apartment upstairs) to being 1 of at least 4 always in our tiny Idaho apartment.  There were nights when I was home alone making dinner or watching a movie and Eric (my boyfriend not Schetselaar ;D) would text me and ask if I wanted to hang out with him.  On any regular day, I would have said yes.  But those times, I texted back and told him that I would love to, but I would really love to enjoy staying home alone for a night.  Which he completely respected and I appreciated that :)
8. God puts us where we need to be.  When I started applying for college, I didn't even want to apply to BYU-Idaho! To me, it was "the other" BYU. It was copying Provo, and it was "too cold".  Dad convinced me to at least apply.  Knowing that just because I apply, doesn't mean I have to go there.  I didn't get accepted to Provo and man was I bitter.  But I went to Idaho, knowing that I must need to go there for a reason.  And now I absolutely LOVE it! I went into this semester saying "if I don't like it then I can always reapply to Provo and transfer", but now I have absolutely ZERO desire to transfer.  I LOVE BYU-Idaho!
8. God puts people in our lives for a reason.  I have learned so much from my roommates, but I have also learned so much from Eric.  He has helped me become the person that I am today.  He tells me and shows me everyday how much I mean to him.  He tells me how I have changed him for the better, and I can see that he is different, but he has helped change me too. I am so much more confident now.  I know that when I say that, it sounds like I am more confident because he is my first boyfriend,  and it just feels good that a boy likes me. Which is true, that is fun, but that isn't why I feel more confident.  I don't really know how to explain it, but he has kind of forced me to become more confident.  Before we officially started dating, when we were talking about dating, and he explained how he felt that before we could get in a relationship, we both needed to pray and read our scriptures, and search ourselves to see if we felt that we were both emotionally stable enough to be in a relationship.  I knew as soon as he said it that I needed to be at least a little bit more emotionally independent before we got into a relationship.  I just had to get the ball rolling in that direction.  We both did some soul searching and when we both felt ready, we went ahead and started dating.  That experience alone helped me grow so much! I don't know for sure what our future holds.  I feel like I will marry him someday, but I don't know when we will be told the time is right.  But I know that the decision I made to date him this semester, was one of the best decisions that I made all semester.

This is right before the Masquerade Ball 

This is just a Sunday when we both really liked what we were wearing.. :)

9. I am such a different person than I was when I left for school.  All through Senior year, and up until I left, I was insecure, dependent on others, scared, and vain.  And yes it is hard to admit those things.  Before I left, when someone texted me and asked how I was doing, I never said "good!" because I wanted to feel their concern and love.  Before I left, I didn't ever want to go anywhere alone.  Before I left, I wouldn't go anywhere outside my house without make up on.  Now, when I am texting someone, instead I ask how they are doing.  And I genuinely want to help them in any way I can.  Now, I don't feel the need to go looking for love from those around me, because I can see it in the little things.  And I can feel the love of God more abundantly around me.  Now, I am fine going places alone.  Of course there are still places that I don't want to go alone, because it would be boring... but I am more able to go to new places and do new things alone, if needed.  And now, I hardly ever put make up on.  Most days when I was at school, I went about my day, with no make up and I still felt beautiful :)

I never realized how much I could possibly change in 4 months.  But I am so thankful for those that I had around me for helping me,  and those that I had in other places supporting me

and I am so thankful for my Father in Heaven for taking such good care of me.

This was the best first semester that I could ever ask for  :)

Christmas Party... Idaho Style!

On the 18th, we had a big Christmas party! It included Me, Eric, Hannah, Anna, Caitlyn, Taylor, Jason (newly added.  He is Taylors bf), Shelby, Brittany, and Ryan (Brittany's bf but he couldn't come).

We did a white elephant, and secret santa, had an appetizer dinner, and then it was time for girls night so the boys left and the girls sat on the floor, kept eating food, and watched a Christmas movie.

IT WAS SO FUN!

The highlight for me, was the present that Eric gave me, before I opened it, he wanted me to try and guess. And my only clue was "this present is Eric's heart and soul in a box." ...
(and the food ;P)

I opened it, and this is what I saw.  I was really confused at first.  But then he explained it to me.  He said that this is the Book of Mormon that he had on his mission.  And he marked things in certain ways and there is a key to his marks in the back of the book.  He told me that he wanted me to have it, because we already know a lot about each other, so he wanted me to have this, so that I can see the gospel through his eyes.  I absolutely love it! I am going to use it along with my quad every time that I read the scriptures, so then I can get a deeper understanding of the Book of Mormon.  Maybe it will help since now I will be able to see patterns marked, and such.  I absolutely love it :)

The food at this thing was really good too! It was an appetizer dinner, so we didn't have real dinner.  Just appetizers.  It was Hannah's idea so we decided to do it, and she would take charge.  When she asked me what kind I wanted, I was like "well chips and queso is life... so...." and she goes "oh you are right!" so we ended up having, chips, queso, salsa, no bake cookies, little meat things (no idea what they were. but they were good! haha) and chocolate chip cookies. IT WAS SO GOOD :) I ate so much that I still didn't feel good the next day :)

Because that is how we party Idaho style :)

The Spirit tells us all things that we should do

Today was a wonderful day! Today in Relief Society, I don't know why, I had the feeling that my little college family needed to have our own little testimony meeting.  Our family consists of my apartment (Me, Shelby, Taylor, and Brittany), 2 of my neighbors (Hannah and Caitlyn), our friend that lives in a different complex but is always here (Anna) and some boys (Eric, Ryan, Andres, and Josh).
A couple Sundays ago, was when Taylor, Shelby, Anna, Caitlyn and I had our little testimony meeting, and for some reason I felt like we needed to do it again, but with the whole family.  Plus, what a great thing to do Sunday night before Thanksgiving!

I let everyone know that we were going to do it.

For some reason, I was really nervous to bring it up because I didn't want the idea to get shot down, but it ended up being such a powerful night.

Tonight was the first time that I had heard Eric bare his testimony formally, and Ryan shared a powerful story with us about how he came to be here.  Everyone just shared things that were so close to their hearts and the Spirit was so strong! We opened with singing "Teach Me to Walk in the Light" and and prayer, and then we closed with singing "I Stand All Amazed", another prayer, and a group hug :)

I just felt so good about life after tonight! I was so happy that we had all shared this bonding experience, and I was so proud of myself that I had sucked it up and followed a prompting that made me a little uncomfortable.

This gospel is the true church of God.  Our Heavenly Father knows and loves me and wants nothing more than my success.  I can not deny that this church is true.  I know that some times it can be hard to remember the experiences that we have had that show us that the church is true, but I can not deny it.  I know that the Spirit is always there for us.  To tell us what we should do and to help us.

I am so thankful for this gospel and that I was raised, by 2 wonderful parents, in the true and living gospel of Jesus Christ.

"Ohana means family"

One thing about my past that I regret, is the relationship that I feel like I had with family. I feel like I could have been so much closer with my family members.

Since I left home, I have been determined to have a better relationship with our family.  I have really tried to call every person at least a couple times a week.  Obviously I don't do a very good job sometimes, but I'm trying! Even if the call is just a short one to tell y'all what happened just now! haha

But since being here, I have really gained a stronger testimony of family. I am so thankful that our Father in Heaven put us into families. I know that we are in families for a reason.  People ask me why I write 7 page letters to Kelli EVERY WEEK.  And they ask why I call my family so often.  My answer? My family are my best friends! I know that my family will always love me.  No matter how obnoxious, immature, silly, or annoying I get.  I am so thankful for our family and for all of the memories that we have to share with each other.

I love you all so much :) And I am so thankful for that being here in Idaho has strengthened my testimony of families :)

One of the best days since being in Idaho!

Sunday, was a fantastic day for me.

I learned something in church that was so powerful!  We were talking about feeling inadequate.  And this guy in Sunday School said something that was SO powerful.  He said something along the lines of, "The Lord isn't going to give us a task that we can't accomplish.  So we aren't inadequate, we are just scared. But if we have faith, then the Lord will help us.  So why feel inadequate? Just do it." I loved that :)

After church, I was just sitting on my bed.  Eric texted me and asked if I wanted him to come to his Sacrament Meeting.  I thought about it, and decided that going to more church would be better than just sitting on my bed and hearing the rap music that people were playing in the other room.  So I went, and it is so good that I did, because I learned some things from the Spirit that I needed! And that is when the fantasticalness started :)

After that, we went to his house and he made dinner (yes his roommates were there) and then I needed to leave because I had stake choir (2 of my roommates and I go every week). So instead of him taking me home, he said that I could just take his car.  So I drove his car home and we went to choir.  At choir I was starting to feel really lightheaded and dizzy.  I called him and told him that I was going to bring his car back, and then go home and rest for the rest of the night.  But he said that he had been resting, so I could just bring it back later.  I took a nap in my bed and then when I got up, I was feeling much better.  Thank goodness!

At 8, my friends and I went to complex prayer.  It is really hard for us to remember sometimes, but at least I had to go this time, because on my way out of church, this girl stopped me and asked if I would give the spiritual thought! :) I gave it on the power of the priesthood and how life changing it is.  And how it is our responsibility, as sisters, to support our young men, and help them remain worthy of the priesthood and it is our responsibility and privilege to come to them and ask them if we need anything.  We need to trust in the Priesthood. I used James 5:14-15. It went pretty well, but it was a little awkward, because I remembered when we got there, that there are always at least a couple guys there.  So the "help the young men" part was a little AWK-SAUCE, but I think it was beneficial for them to hear it.

Then we went back home, and we went to my neighbors house.  (Ok I call them all my roommates, but they don't all live here.  They are the ones that I am going to live with next fall, and we are always at each others houses now anyway. My apartment is Brittney, Taylor, Shelby, and I. Our neighbors that are in our little group are Caitlyn and Hannah, and our friend Anna lives in Perkins hall.  But she is over here all the time.) So Caitlyn, Anna, Shelby, Taylor, and I were all next door and we were just sitting around talking.  Anna is dealing with some stuff, so we were talking to her about that.  All of  a sudden, she said "Guys, can we all share our testimonies with each other?" We are all kinda taken off guard, but we were so happy that she suggested it! She started.  We were all crying right off the bat.  I went second to last.  I got up and told them that I had a testimony on the power of prayer.  I told them that a lot of times, I feel like people don't really like me, and I feel like I don't really have friends.  I immediately saw them start crying even harder.  I told them that it was through prayer that I have made it.  After I was done, Anna and Caitlyn got up and gave me  a huge hug. Which was wonderful because they are the ones out of that group that I thought really didn't like me.  When Taylor got up, she told us each how we have changed her life.  When she got to me, she said "Rachel, I know that when we call you Righteous Rachel, it is a joke, but I mean it.  I wish that I could be more like you.  You are just like "This is how I am, I'm not gonna change. So take it or leave it." And that was sooooo kind of her!  After everyone shared something, we all sang "How Firm a Foundation" and then group hugged it out.  Then our home teacher showed up! He is more of  a friend than a home teacher.  We hang out with him quite a bit.  We asked him if he would share something, so he did, and we all cried AGAIN because it was so powerful!

I went to pick Eric up after that.  I got him, and yes I was still trying to stop crying haha, and took him back to my neighbors house, and all of us went Stadium Singing.  Stadium Singing is at 9:30 at night, and people just bundle up, and go stand under the stadium and sing hymns.  There is someone that holds up cards showing what number we are singing, and then everyone sings it together.  It is POWERFUL.  Of course we sang "How Firm a Foundation" and I started bawling again! My goodness could I even stop?!

That was the end of my night, but I couldn't help but feel so good! This semester had been officially changed forever.  Then yesterday, I woke up and I still felt so good! I did my laundry yesterday morning, and I was in such a good mood that when the timer on my microwave went off (telling me that my laundry was done) my immediate feeling was "Score! This is great! My laundry is done! Life is wonderful!" It felt wonderful, but weird at the same time!

I will forever remember this feeling :)

Welcome to Kerr 240!

Well I have been living in my apartment for a few days now and it is pretty awesome :) of course I miss home but this is such an exciting change! On Friday we met with our "I teams"  and spent Friday and Saturday with them

This is my I-team! Number 11! Our 2 team leaders are wearing regular clothes in this picture so it is kind of impossible to tell who they are if you don't already know haha but Kylie is the front row third from the left and Eric is directly to the right of her. In the plaid. I think that he kind of looks like Shawn Spencer hahaha anyway so this is the group that I spent 2 whole days with! School starts tomorrow and I'm not looking forward to that, but it will  be good :)