I'm done?

Wow. What a crazy time. It is so bizarre to think that high school is now officially over. After senior banquet, prom, baccalaureate, seminary graduation, looking back assembly, yearbooks, graduation, and the all-night party, I am physically and emotionally exhausted. Some people had even more things going on...for example, my friend M got engaged the day after we graduated. They're getting married in August. And my friend A opened her mission call tonight. She leaves for the West Indies in October. All of these things and more have been occupying my mind and my time this week, and they were all wonderful!

I had the opportunity to speak at Seminary graduation. I loved it. A lot of people shy away from speaking in public, but as long as I'm prepared (and even when I'm not), I really love it. I am not entirely sure why. The whole meeting was very nice and we heard great testimonies from fellow graduates- the most memorable from Josh. Remember Josh? He has multiple sclerosis from birth and is in a wheel chair. He used to be in my ward before the boundary split, and I've had a lot of opportunities to get to know him. And he has had a lot of opportunities to get to know and understand the Lord. I cannot imagine living such a restricted life...Josh is physically incapable of so many things. But that does not stop him. Even though it is hard to understand the words he speaks, the Spirit he invites into the room is amazing. He is so close to the Lord as a result of his trials and handicap. He inspires me.

Thursday felt like four separate days. It is crazy to think that this was only one year ago for my dearest friends, who are now all over the world serving the Lord. I got to hang my tennis racket on the memory wall at the Looking Back assembly and it was so emotional! Tennis is probably one of the things I will miss the most about high school. I was on yearbook staff this year and the yearbooks turned out great. We then went to lunch with a group of my closest friends and our parents, and the graduation ceremony was in the afternoon. It wasn't as terribly long as I expected it to be. Okay, here's the best part: J RAPPED for his graduation speech. And it was amazing!! Haha. Just imagine. I got to lead the class onto the floor and sit front and center the whole time. Perks of being a nerd, I guess.

After the ceremony, I went to dinner with my parents and grandparents and then to the all-night party. Sooo amazing. I cannot even tell you. It was so fun.

Now I am just trying to come to grips with the fact that I'M DONE. What? After all that hard work, and long days, and no sleep, and fun friends, and careless attitudes, and silly teachers, and busy work, and speed dips...I'm just done? The end came so fast, and now I have one summer before my life as a college student and a real, live adult begins.

So, enough about that. Here are some gems from Preach My Gospel. During the last General Conference address, we were challenged to read and study PMG with our missionaries. It is a missionary tool, but all members of the Church can use it everyday. I have loved taking this challenge with my missionaries and receiving feedback from them! Today, I would like to point out Chapter 4, How do I recognize and understand the Spirit, especially in reference to receiving personal revelation. I LOVE PERSONAL REVELATION. I love reading my patriarchal blessing. Different words and phrases and meanings and feelings and burnings in my heart jump out at me each time I do. In PMG, it says that Joseph Smith said that personal revelation is vital for our daily work. So, I would like to make a goal to read my patriarchal blessing more often with personal scripture study, and extend the same challenge to you. It makes me feel so happy to know that Heavenly Father knows and loves me enough to provide a personal blessing. Just for me. To lead and guide me through happy and hard times. To remind me of my spiritual gifts- gifts that He gave me so that I can bless His other children with the gospel. 

As I read my blessing, I can be prompted through the Holy Ghost and I have several experiences with this so far... One blessing I am promised is to receive a testimony of the Book of Mormon. I have a gift of faith, and I have faith that the Book of Mormon is true. I have never received a special experience that testifies that to me, personally, though. But I know that "faith without works is dead" so I am working to become more diligent in my scripture study so that I may have that strong assurance of my faith and testify to others- perhaps on a mission, just at school, or in my home.

Now that summer has begun, hopefully blogging will not continue to fall to the bottom of my priority list. There are no grades for me to maintain, only health and love and happiness. So here's to all of those good things and the beginning of my last "carefree" summer.