"God does not begin by asking us about our ability, but only about our availability, and if we then prove our dependability, he will increase our capability."
— Neal A. Maxwell

Do it Anyway.

I don't know why I've had Mother Theresa's quotes on my mind lately, but they seem to help me! There is one that I can't stop thinking of... it goes something like this:

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway

There's not really much else to say. I could finish this post right here! but i just have been thinking a lot about people i just "dislike" in my life which to be honest i can only think of one in particular. I mentioned him awhile ago on my blog. He is now engaged to the girl that was sitting inside that night I waited on his porch for 3 hours. His engagement pictures popped up on my facebook newsfeed... and we aren't even friends. I am counting my blessings that i'm not engaged right now, but it's still difficult. I know it's old news and I've moved on to bigger and better things (literally)... I can't help but feel so much hatred towards him. So I decided that everytime i feel hate towards him that I will pray for him. I'm not gonna lie... my prayers for him aren't very sincere... but I just have to be grateful for what I've learned and forgive and forget that part of my life. for good.

I know this is all old news, but it just helps to write about it and get it off my chest. I am currently dating someone AMAZING and am so grateful to have Nick in my life. He does happen to live in the same apartment complex as "the hated" did...and it's the same set up... so when I was having a hard time last night at Nick's... i found myself for the second time crying in front of the "mirror". I'm done letting it affect me. I have more compassion for those who are emotionally hurt by somebody. I never would understand if I hadn't gone through it. It has lasting affects that I never imagined. From this moment on, I feel if I ever come across someone who has been affected in a similar way I would do anything in my power to help that person... because it's a pain that you can't describe.

I think in our lives we go through things that we can never explain or express to people. I don't write about my life to have people feel sorry for me or to sound like a broken record with talking about something that impacted my life a lot... i write to help myself realize how incredibly lucky and blessed I am.. and that life really is good! i have NO reason to complain.

I wanta add to Mother Theresa's list:

You might hate someone more than ever... pray for them anyway.

we'll see how well it goes:)

Mother Theresa: LIFE

Life is Beauty; admire it.

Life is an adventure; dare it.

Life is a Promise; fulfill it.

Life is a game; play it.

Life is Opportunity; benefit from it.

Life is Bliss; taste it.

Life is a Struggle; accept it.

Life is a Song; sing it.

Life is a Dream; realize it.

Life is a Challenge; meet it.

Life is too Precious; do not destroy it.

Life is Life; fight for it.

Quick Review...

I decided that I need to be better at keeping my blog updated! So here is a recap of a few events the past couple months..

Nick took me to the Car show... he almost passed over when he saw this! such a fun weekend with this boy!

The other day we went shooting with Nick's roommates... loved this!

After we jumped in!

So... our apartment complex has what is called "Polar bear PLUNGE!" basically.. you jump in the pool in the middle of february and swim a full lap! Yes... 39 degrees!

Our Valentines Date!

My roommates are so cute! they surprised me for my b-day!

I went to the pizza factory with these cute girls! love all of them!

Our "hott" date was bowling! we're pros if i say so my self!

I had a slight craving for roasted starbursts... Nick is a good sport!

Me and Nick went to a HUGE bonfire! 150 christmas trees! so fun!

My best friend Jay left me for 4 months to go to London to study abroad... i hate goodbyes and miss her so much! thank goodness for skype:)

New Years..no big deal

I forgot to write about the funniest trip over New Years!

The invite went something like this:

NEW YEARS EVE/ GOING AWAY PARTY

where? Jay's cabin

When? New Years Eve

Why? cuz It's a new year and Jay's leaving us

So. we packed our bags. We were headed to Jays get-away-cabin!

Haha I still can't even think about this without busting up. Let me just give you a visual and how it all went down...

3 cars PACKED with peeps and snow gear... we were ready to face the cold and stay overnight at Jay's cabin!

The drive up went great... by the time we got up there it was slightly dark... ok, PITCH black. That's ok, Jay knows the way, no big deal.

So we get there and the gate that we were supposed to go in was snowed in about 10 feet. That's ok, we got shovels, no big deal.

haha this is where the fun began. All I hear out of cute little Jay's mouth is "This is the part I didn't wanta tell anyone because I knew no one would come.... " We had to hike a few blocks in the pitch black and 10 feet of snow, no big deal.

Thankfully some snowmobilers came to the rescue and took 3 of us to the cabin: Me, Jay, and Parker.

I see the first snowmobile that Jay was on come to a hault. "This is it!" as she hops in snow up to her armpits! haha sorry but I love that girl... I was laughing pretty hard.

So.. we somehow managed to get to the cabin that was almost snowed in. Don't worry tho! we had a 4 wheeler to go pick up the other 17 people!

This is where it gets great..

I look over and Jay is DIGGING at this shed.. haha (i'm sorry it has been almost a month and I still bust up)... the snow is up to the doorknobs of the shed. The frozen 4 wheeler was in there... no big deal.

"Jay, how bout you guys work on that while I start making dinner for everyone to have when they get here!"

Jay was like "ok..we don't have running water"... so she points to this little medal thing sticking out of the snow. just a spicket.. that was frozen... no big deal.

SO, we hitch hike it over to the neighbors to fetch some water... we knock on the door with frozen hands, pink noses, and stiff smiles.

no big deal... MY DENTIST opens the door. haha i'm sorry but WHAT?! haha of all people?! I died.

We got water to boil tho.. no big deal.

FINALLY, we all get in the cabin... it might have been 2 degrees and the heater didn't work for about 2 hours... we had blankets.. no big deal!

haha this trip was cracking me up and Jay was seriously the biggest trooper making everyone happy!

Haha it gets better...

Logan Taylor (sorry to mention your name but it kills me to the bone)... comes in.. "uh... jamie.. i accidentally went pee in the toilet... but it didn't flush"

no big deal.

So Jay goes and has to flush it down with this bucket but didn't realize there were leaves and pine needles at the bottom... potpourri toilet? no big deal.

Finally we got the heater working, and with a few games of Truth and Dare, a few new years kisses, and dance parties it turned out to be the funnest/funniest trip ever!

I just have to say how much I love my best friend Jay.. she really is the best and was so nice to let us go to her cabin!!

It was the best adventure!

who is YOUR God?

I know a lot of my posts lately have been more on the churchy side... but it is something that I've been needing more in my life these days and because of it, I have had such better days!

I was in an institute class the other day when a question was on the board. it said:

Who is YOUR God?

it seems like an easy question right?... but for some reason when your asked to write down qualities it takes a minute to actually pin point exactly who He really is.

Think about it for yourself.... who is YOUR God?

My list looked similar to this:

-Never gives up on me even in the worst of times

-Sense of Humor

-Understands all my crazy moods I get in

-Lifts me up

-Carries me in the hardest trials, and walks by me in the times I need to grow

Think about times in your life that YOUR God has helped you. I think so often we just try to think of just when our prayers are answered.. but it's much more than that.

I must admit I am not that strong of a girl... I am very stubborn and felt discouraged for the past few months over a few different issues with things going on in my life. But i still managed to hold on, and MY God never gave up.

I am reading a book called "21 days closer to Christ". I'm on day 8 and it is amazing to me to feel the difference of every day living with Christ by my side. Peace is a feeling that truly is a blessing and so many people don't have it or continue to look for it in things that only bring temporary happiness.

I'm not writing this post to try prove anything or be self righteous (i'm so far from perfect) But i'm writing it to tell the world how greatful I am for MY God. He has never ever given up on me no matter what and I will forever be grateful for that!

At the end of the lesson my teacher told us to go home and testify in prayer to Him about Him.

It empowers him in your life and He witnesses to you that He really is listening. Ever since I was little I have felt His love.

I love MY God, and will forever be greatful for every day he gives me! Life truly is beautiful.

Lose the Fear, Keep the Faith

One of my cute friends gave me a book from the BYU 2008 women's conference. There is a quote that I just love by John Bytheway so I thought I would post it on here. It's about having faith. Something I definitely needed to hear!

"We don't have to fear, we can ask the Lord to take our fears from us. When they come, we can evict them and say, "Heavenly Father, I can't do this. You take them; I'll do what I can do. You take my doubts and fears and help me with them, because I've just got stuff to do" We can give that to Him and get back to work. Is it easier said than done? Yes. But we can do it... "They that be with us are more than they that be with them" (2 Kings 6:16)"

There isn't much to say after that. I just am one to struggle with faith and I have doubts and fears more often then not so it was a talk I definitely needed. I think sometimes I'm so scared that I'm gonna make the wrong decision or that I won't be able to do certain things, but with the Lord's hand... we got this.

I am so grateful for my mom. She is such a great example to me about having faith. I know for a fact that she has faced things where she has had to just throw her hands in the air and enjoy the ride because there was nothing left to do but let the Lord handle it. I'm so grateful for her example and couldn't be more grateful for my mama. She is one of the biggest blessings in my life and my greatest role model. I hope one day I can be like her, she truly is an amazing example of faith.

Not too many people know, but she suffers from migraines constantly every day (lately she's found something to help) but for YEARS she would suffer from a migraine every single day and no medicine or treatment would help. Not once did I ever hear her complain in all the years that she constantly had a pounding at her head. Not once did she put herself before anyone around her. You would ask her how she was feeling and if she said she was "good" it really meant "i'm hurting" and if she said she was "ok" the definition of that was, "it's really hurting bad today". But not once would she ever complain.

I don't know why I got so lucky with such a great family, but I am so grateful for them every single day. They each have shown me examples of faith growing up. They are my gratest blessing and my best friends.