Come What May and Love It

This Easter season, there has been a trend going around with the hashtag "#BecauseofHim". I didn't want to follow the rest of the crowd, but as I started reflecting, I wanted to write a blog post about my thoughts. So here it goes... Because of Him... I get to study at this great university that is centered around the Spirit. It is amazing the kind of people you meet and experiences you get to have when it is centered around Jesus Christ. Because of Him... I have the most amazing friends in the whole world. I got to meet them through common beliefs and an understanding of Jesus Christ. Because of Him... I get to stay with these crazy people FOREVER. They are stuck with me whether they like it or not. Jesus died and was resurrected so that we may live again. We can be with our families forever. This is something I have grown to appreciate more and more as I have not lived in the same state as my family for three years. Because of Him... I am here. He helped me ...

Okay people. It has been a crazy couple of weeks. This has been literally the only moment that I have had to sit down and dedicate time to a blog, but I felt like I need to remember this. It has been over 10 years since we have been able to get all of this side of the family together. Crazy stuff. For the 4th of July it happened that the majority of the family was going to be in Mesa. One of my wonderful cousins decided to organize an ice cream party for the family. And so we were able to get everyone in one room (minus the 7 that couldn't make it). It was crazy and amazing (and hot with the Arizona heat). I love my family. I really do. I have been working on an essay for my Marriage and Family class about love. With this, I had my grandparents answer some questions about their marriage. It fun to see their answers. When asked about how their love has changed since getting married, they replied that they "got used to each other." I am so grateful that they did. ...

Hello Blogger World! Sorry that I have not been able to indulge all the secrets of my life to you. I have been busy living life. :) Here is a few of the things that I have gotten to do in the past few weeks: Going Home to Mesa, AZ for 67 Hours   Chow with Grandpa and Grandma Hanging with the family Garage-Saleing with my mom (FAVORITE SUMMER ACTIVITY!!)  Attending one of my best friend's wedding and seeing friends that I haven't seen in two whole years!! Starting Summer Term 3 New Classes New term with new mentoring students New Office Hours Unofficial Mentor Hangouts Fun days of "Hubbing" (meaning spending time in a glorious place called the Hub) Summer Kick Off (which was seriously the most fun thing in the world!) Watching Cosmo go through an obstacle course Studying for tests and writing papers that are due next week Yeah. So that has been my life. As the title said, life is complicated. I wish that it could be a lot easier. I ...

Happy Father's Day to all the fathers out there. I love these days that we get to recognize and remember our fathers. I have some pretty great examples of father's around me. These men have taught me lessons all my life about what it means to be a good father and husband and have given me examples of what I want in my own future husband. My Dad Steve Shiflett My dad has taught me so much. I am so grateful that he has been a part of my life my entire life. He has loved my mom unconditionally and the marriage that they share has been an example for me of what I want someday . He has always been a worthy priesthood holder . Anytime I needed a blessing, he was ready to give me one. He has taught me that the temple is an important part of our lives . When I went to do baptisms for the first time, he was there. I am so grateful for this. He also has taught me that you put 110% into everything you do . He is hardworking at work and at church. I know that he puts his whole self ...

There are 141 operating temples, 13 under construction, and 16 announced!! It is so amazing to see these beautiful buildings go up all over the world! I have lived within 30 minutes of a temple my entire life. Seriously...I have been so blessed have a temple so close to me. For my non-member friends, our temples are considered Houses of God. They are sanctified for making covenants for the living and for the dead. At this time in my life, I do something called Baptisms for the Dead where I act as proxy for someone who has died so that they have the opportunity to get baptized. To understand this better, here is a link to a good explanation. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask me!! So, as I was saying, I have lived within 30 minutes of a temple my entire life. I have not taken full advantage of this wonderful opportunity. This summer, I told myself that I would try to go at least once a week. I have kept to that and can I just say how many blessings come into y...

Some days, you believe that you will never move on. Other days, you realize you have. It is an amazing feeling.  I have been missing this recently. I miss the dry dessert landscape. I really never thought that I would say that. This last Christmas, I started crying when I saw a cactus for the first time in 5 months. Really. It is sad. Now it has been over 6 months since being in Arizona. When I left this dessert wasteland three years ago, I swore that I would not miss it. But I do. Another thing I miss? Monsoons. Rain does not smell as good here in Utah. Utah rain smells like mildew. It is gross. Arizona rain is one of my favorite scents in the world. I am going home in a few weeks and I hope it rains. I hope we get a huge storm so that I can just stand in it and smell the rain. I want to soak in as much of Arizona as I can in 3 days. Please...let it rain  This is a random post, I know...but I just wanted to blog what is on my mind.   Come what may...

I really need to Blog more often. It has been way too long since I have blogged, and I have had several things to say. I must admit that I have written several blog posts, but they were too private to post on the internet. So this one is going to be updating you on everything, or as the title says: Six months ago, an amazing announcement was made. President Thomas S. Monson announced that the mission age has changed from 19 to 18 for young men and 21 to 19 for young women. This has changed everything here at BYU. Many young women have responded to this call and half of my ward is now in the mission field! This includes two of my bestest friends are going on mission. Sister Julia Taylor (left) is going to serve in Nicaragua. She left last Tuesday to go to the Guatemala MTC. Sister Anna Katie Giberson (right) is going to serve in Portugal. She leaves Wednesday to enter the Provo MTC. I am so proud of these two young women. I wish that I could be out there with t...