But It's They Who Need CHA-HA-HA-HANNNNGE!

I LOOOOOVE TO SANNNNNG!!!

But, let's start with the beginning of the week.

Monday was purrty righteous because my broha Mitch and I went to Sonic to get CHICKEN STRIP SAN'WICHES. They are quite tasty, to say the least. We like to eat. Yeah. It was nice to talk to a brothah and catch up on what's been going on lately. What's great is that I have Trig with him this semester, so we get to chat everyday!

Mid-sandwich-eating (actually, we were just throwing away our trash when they arrived, but creating compound adverbs is fun), Tyesha and her gurlfrandz pull up in the Sonic parking lot where we were eating. They had convinced that they thought it was my birthday and that they had a present for me.

BUT THEY TOTALLY PUNKED ME!

Instead, Tyesha was asking me to Sadie's. What a ninja. Her gurlz did a dance/rap thing of amazing proportions and that was how she asked me, bahahah. It was HILARIOUS!

Now, for yesterday- SUCH an incredible day. In choir, we had auditions for the solos in our Shrek music. I didn't even think I would try out; I just planned on sitting there and listening to everybody else. BUT MY HOMESLICE AUBREY inspired me to try out because of his bravery in singing his regionals piece in front of the class last week and my HOMEGIRL Kinsey did the same thing! They are both awesome friends. :D

It was the first time I had ever sang in front of a whole group of people. I pretty much thought I was going to mess up, forget the words, or just sound horrible. Actually, I really had no idea of what was going to happen. SO, I didn't have much else of a choice but to sing my heart out and try my very best!

I am so happy. REALLLLLY happy. I did it! It went exponentially better than I thought, and it was absolutely exhilarating. I felt so much joy as I sang by myself, partly because, well, I was actually doing it.

Before, I was uncertain of really how it would go if I sang in front of the class. But asjdkslasdkwiautegerphjoi it went so well!!!! And now, I'm not nervous at all, because it just feels so wonderful to get the song in my heart (that I've kept from almost everyone) out there for everyone to hear!

What made things even better is that I actually GOT a solo! Imagine how astounded I was... I can't wait to keep practicing all of our songs, learn the dances, and perform in the Broadway Concert!

As I said before, I love to "SANNNNG"! :) I never thought I would sing in front of a big group of people like that by myself, but now that I've done it- I just want to do it all the time!!

It Started as a Little Seed

As I shared my insight in seminary earlier today, I was thinking back to that wonderful week of EFY (my company's counselors are picture above) in June two summers ago. There, the seed was planted that aroused "a great change of heart" in me.

The message I shared was from verse 69 in D&C Section 76. As I reflected and taught about Christ's "perfect atonement" I remembered back to how it really did make me "perfect in Christ". Not that I was or am perfect now, but my sins and every trouble and turmoil was washed away because of what He did for me, for all of us. His atonement opens the door of repentance to all who come unto Christ and it allows us to be forgiven completely- perfectly! How AMAZING is that?!? :) Pretty dang amazing.

My first time at EFY was where I really started to build my testimony. I finally had a foundation set- something I could build on continually, precept upon precept, and that I persist to strengthen each day. I'm so happy Heavenly Father sent me there at that time. He knew that I needed every single thing that was placed before me that week, so that I could finally allow Him into my life.

I was blocking Him out before- ever so foolishly. The incredible thing about the atonement is, though, that none of that even matters anymore! Christ's perfect atonement gave us the opportunity to be fully forgiven; so forgiven, in fact, that God remembers our sins no more.

It makes me even happier that, not only was I able to change my whole outlook on life, but Heavenly Father sparked a dream inside of my soul. I seek to draw closer to that goal every day- to bring the world His truth. Of course, it won't be easy, but I know that ANYTHING is possible when the Lord is on our side, when we invite Him in, when His Spirit is our constant companion.

I love when He is with me. :) Every part of the Spirit's presence brings me a joy that is so special. I can't even explain it, but this gospel, this truth, this good news is the reason that I SMILE all the time!!

DNA DNA DNA!

As (not) interesting as gel electrophoresis is, I do not wish to dive into it just yet, and will, therefore, write.

I realize I haven't written in a while. A long while. As for why this is, I have no reason, time has just been valuable lately, but I think that, for the most part, I have spent it wisely. Although, one can't help but love to have a few lazy days. (A lot, in my case.)

Between now and my last post, I have been doing... Close to nothing as far as pre-Christmas Break is concerned. AP Biology consumes my life, bahahah! Christmas Break was purrty righteous. I jumped in leaf piles, met new people, and danced it up like the chocolate man I am at a New Years' Eve dance our stake had. Michael has swag, that's fo sho haha.

I finally met my sister's friend Tanner, who is basically like the coolest dude ever and the little brother I never had. I think an adoption is necessary.

We are quite pro.

Ich brauche einen Haarschnitt.

School started again, but instead of weight training every day where I get giant muscles of muscularity, I'm in CHOIR now!!

And I pretty much...

LOVE IT.

It's so fun to sing, and it's something I just love to do, all the time, even if it's jokingly. In the car, walking to seminary, in a classroom, singing is just wonderful! I'm learning to appreciate a lot more as I learn all this new stuff about music in choir- how to see it, how to interpret it, how to think it, and how to feel it. I'm incredibly excited, just because I may have finally found something I enjoy doing in high school besides being around the people I love. It may not be a passion yet, but I love it already!

My sister and I just talked for like an hour about totally random stuff, and I'm so thankful to have her. She is one of the most important things to me, and I love how we can be whatever we are feeling like being at moment. WE ARE PRETTY MUCH THE COOLEST PEOPLE EVER. :D We were randomly bunnies/donkies, and such epic behavior could, of course, only be followed by much epic laughter! :) I love her.

At the end of my school day, I was able to feel really inspired by what was taught to me personally in seminary. Not by my teacher, as amazing as he is, but by the Spirit. I'm grateful that I was given the scripture in D&C 70:15-18. Everyone is going through hard times right now, and the world we live in doesn't make it easy for us to live the way we should, but I know that we can always receive Heavenly guidance if we just listen, take heed, and follow the commandments that the Lord gave us for our benefit, for a manifestation of all the ways in which He blesses us, and for a reward to us. Heavenly Father loves all His children so much, and He knows exactly what we're going through, and He is aware of our circumstances as shown by verse 16. God will allow us to be tried in ways that He sees fit, because He wants to see us grow! But I know that as we bring Heavenly Father into our lives and show Him that we want to draw closer to Him, we will be able to enter into the joy of His blessings and the eternal happiness that He has prepared for us. All we have to do is follow the Perfect Example.