Passing By

You guy might meet a jerk, you might have hours and hours of studying, your cheese may get stolen, your crush might not like you back, you might fail your writing exam, you might've cried harder than you ever have before, you may have slammed a door in a face, you may have had your heart ripped out and betrayed by a best friend, you may have tripped on the stairs, you may have an ugly hair day, you may be so annoyed with roommates... the list goes on and on (and that all happened to me in the recent past). However, when all is said and done, that is insignificant. That doesn't matter. It's hard, life hurts, but at the end of the day it's all about what is most important.

"At the end of the day you can either focus on what's tearing you apart, or what's holding you together"

I have been going through a roller coaster of emotions. This must be my month for little trials because they are stacking up. I have cried, I have been angry, I have been happy... and I feel like I look like a crazy to all my close friends that I share things with. But honestly, when it comes down to it I am always happy with my life. I am always happy with what I have. And SO blessed. I just have to remember... we are just passing by.

Just Passing By by Doug Walker

It seems the world spins so fast

I can hardly breathe

And when I finally catch my breath

Sometimes I see

That I have been blinded by

The cares of earthly life

Lord, help me to remember this

I'm just passing by

When I lose the vision of

Why I came to earth

When I forget who I am

And just what I am worth

When the things of eternity

Are fading from my mind

Lord, help me to remember this

I'm just passing by

Every one of us is just a stranger here on earth

From the presence of the Father where we can return

If we follow Jesus

Sun goes up sun goes down

Seasons come and go

And I'm the father of this little child

In his temporary home

And I can see heaven

As I look into his eyes

Lord, help me to remember this

He's just passing by

Lord help me to remember this

We're all just passing by

What holds you together?

1. The Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Our Savior Jesus Christ lives, He loves us, He died for our sins, He suffered our pains, he knows what we are going through and God answers our prayers. We were put here to be tested. If we rely on our faith and the spirit, we will be lead through this life... and one day we will see that there are greater things in store for us.

2. Family.

Blood related family, the people you call "family," your ward family... I think of the Lilo and Stich quote... "Ohana means family, family means nobody gets left behind. Or forgotten." Family is an organization that is clearly designed by the heavens. Where would we be on this earth without people to raise us and support us and love us no matter what? There are those weird uncles, crazy cousins, rebellious kids... but it doesn't matter because they are family and we love them anyway. Family is an instant support for any trial or accomplishment.

A plug for my family. I love my grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, mom, dad, brothers and sisters. Both sides. All ages. LOVE them. But since I've been in Logan especially I've been relying on the support from my family: packages, skype, dates, emails and phone calls from the ones back home... mainly my grandmas and mother; laundry, lunch dates, long visits and dinners from my family here in Logan and constant understanding from family all over the country. 

Tonight I was with my family all day. I talked to Scott for an hour... just visited, caught up, laughed... had an amazing time. Then I went to Barbi's. We put together shelves, did laundry and my favorite... I played with her kids. I love Sydney, Ian and Owen. Ian my little love, helping me forever with the shelves. Owen, my little rascal who I love to just throw around... got a bloody lip and the title "Nutty-nutser" out of it tonight and Sydney my teenage cousin in a ten year old body... "I got my big butt from my momma, I got it from my momma..."

Owen on hands, Ian on feet. Lauren=laughing. Owen=Screaming, Ian... giving Owen a wedgie. But oh, it is love.

I love my family. And I can't wait to be home with the ones in Washington too.

3. Friends

You have no idea how much I have relied on friends up here at college. I have the greatest friends. Sam who comes and checks on me. Kevin and Connor who visit or always text, call or chat with me to see how things are going or just hang out. Chauncy who makes me feel like a million bucks when I'm probably not worth one. Luke who will help me escape from my problems with laughing and driving. Kylee who will listen to me when the goings get rough. Beibs, my boyfriend, who will always give me a quick hug in the hall. Heather who listens to my long stories day in and day out. Bryce S. who will always give me a good laugh. Morgan who is the sweetest girl I know. Lexi, Kenzie, crazy Sydney who will always brighten my day. Bryce Larsen, just the greatest person ever. Travis who is just Travis. The list goes on and on... I love love love love love... the people in my life who make it worth living. Seriously, thank you.

My friends from Washington who will always be true, I count on you too. It seems like some of the truest have departed and the ones I plan on seeing are different from the friends I saw back in the day. Honestly, Brianna and Cameron I know I can always count on you. Brianna... I feel like she's here with me because of how much she's filled in on the scoop. Terri... I miss her. Oliver, conversations with you just crack me up. Jordan, always my cool twin, always my great listener. There's so many more... I can't wait to see your faces.

When it comes down to it

These are the things in my life that I know to be true, that I know to be my support, my guide, my purpose for living. And after I tough out a bad day I can always know that it all happens for a reason, that I have learned something from it and that there's no where to go but up if I just take a leap of faith and remember we're all just passing by.

"When we walk to the edge of all the light we have and take the step into the darkness of the unknown, we must believe that one of two things will happen. There will be something solid for us to stand on or we will be taught to fly." -- Patrick Overton