Doors

"A prophet with the keys; opening doors and letting us make our own decisions to walk through or close them."
~Anonymous

Time

There are times in life when God gives us trials where time feels like an eternity.  Time is a funny thing: it flies when you're having fun and stays forever when you're miserable.  The hardest thing I'm having issues with right now is accepting that the Lord is in charge and everything will happen in His time, not mine.
My very best friend is on His mission right now serving the Lord, and although two years isn't that long, it feels like an eternity to me.  I used to cry every night, wishing and hoping, for help and comfort, and then a special someone told me, "Missions are like a circle; you take one step farther into the field and one step closer to home."
Staying busy isn't going to be enough for the next year: I'll have school, church callings and work to keep me sustained, but in order to keep myself from going insane, I need to fully indulge myself into the Lord's work.  I need to submerge myself into the Gospel and Trust that the Lord will make everything better in the end.  If its not any better, its not the end.

2014 - New Year's Resolution

I'm not too big on the New Year's Resolution thing just because I like to forget and not fulfill my wish. But, for once, I actually do have a Goal for the New Year. I am going to be a Missionary. I'm going to listen to the Lord, have Faith and Trust that things will happen right.
"The Lord will put people in our path, words in our mouth and He will touch both our Hearts."

What Heaven Sees In You

Sent to this earth
You were saved through the ages for this day
and time
Child of great worth
Child of promise, daughter of the Divine
Pure and holy in a little, white dress
You were held in a circle and you were
blessed
And the Father looked down
And the angels surrounded that place
They knew the truth, all that you could do
And you will, too, if you have eyes to see
What heaven sees in you
Dressed in white once more
Making promises to follow in God’s way
So much lies in store
For the little girl who enters at the gate
Pure and holy in a little, white dress
You were led into the water and you were
blessed
Repeat Chorus
Do you understand who you are
Part of the Father lives in you
If you continue on this path
Every promise God has given will come true
Heaven on earth
In the house of God, so much fills your heart
and mind
Woman of great worth
Woman of promise, daughter of the Divine
Pure and holy in a long, white dress
You promise forever and you are blessed
And the Father looks down
And the angels surround that place
They know the truth, all that you can do
And you do, too, ‘cause you have eyes to see
What heaven sees in you
Will you have eyes to see
What heaven sees in you

About ME

Where are you supposed to start when someone asks you to describe yourself?  There's so much and yet so little that you can actually say to someone so that they will understand, but I'll let you be the judge of everything I say.  I guess you could say that I'm not an average girl...I can't cook, I'm not into all the "girly stuff" like shopping (unless its for food)!!
I love to be outside and always moving: hiking, fishing, horse-back riding, boating, rock-climbing, camping, biking, etc.  Oh, and (this is a Major one) but I LOVE to work on cars.  I am a Grease Monkey and I don't care what you think about that, because its something that I love doing and no one can tell me what I can and cant do. 
Ok, so I have a confession...even though I have a picture of me sitting on a very sexy bike, I have never actually ridden one, but I would So Love to!  Speed and off-road make my mouth water; jacked up trucks and fast cars are a huge factor in my life, but not as big as my family and friends.  They mean SO MUCH to me, and let me tell you something....I am a very calm and patient person, until you mess with the people I love, then you going wish that you never knew me.
Now this next part is just going be random because I don't know how to phrase it all.  I have two black Labrador Pit-bulls but my favorite kind of dogs are Huskies.  I love music but Country music is what I live my life by; cute country songs are the foundations of my dreams.  I love action-packed, adventure, romance movies, but I am a sucker for Disney.
I love taking pictures, I love those lazy days when I can stay in my sweats and eat pepperoni and cookie dough on the couch (don't worry, not together).  I have a sense of humor and yes, I am very sarcastic.  I love to sing and dance and just be creative in any way that I can possible (which is not through art, I suck at that).
Ok, so instead of writing the rest of this novel, I'm going to let you decide.  IF you want to get to know me more than just what I've told you briefly about on here, you can talk to me for yourself.  I hope that some of you brave souls are up for that challenge.  Well until then...don't have a good day, Make it a GREAT Day!!!

Thinkin Of You

"If you love something, set it free; if it comes back, it's yours.  If it doesn't, it was never meant to be."
It all may sound hopeless, but there's Always a light at the end of the tunnel.  If you set something free that doesn't come back; don't worry, the Lord is in charge, he'll help you find something good.
Like John always said, "Everything will be okay in the end; if it isn't ok, then it's not the end."

Waiting for Superman

She says, “Yeah, he’s still coming, just a little bit late
He got stuck at the laundromat washing his cape”
She’s just watching the clouds roll by and they spell her name like Lois Lane
And she smiles, oh the way she smiles

She’s talking to angels, counting the stars
Making a wish on a passing car
She’s dancing with strangers, falling apart
Waiting for Superman to pick her up
In his arms, In his arms
Waiting for Superman

To lift her up and take her anywhere
Show her love and climbing through the air
Save her now before it’s too late tonight
Oh, like a speeding light
And she smiles

 

 

I wanna be the girlfriend that can last and push through the tough times.  I wanna be the girl in this song; waitin for Superman (John) to come home from savin (teachin the Gospel) the world (the people of TN) and sweep me off my feet.  But I know it doesnt work like that.  Before John left, he told me that he was always gonna remember me for my laugh and my smile.  So I guess Lois Lane and I have something in common.

Crazy Uncle

For once, Si is right...schockin, don't ya think?

Missions

We're all faced with different obstacles that sometimes make serving missions seem difficult. To those who have such thought and feelings: if you don't now have a testimony, you can gain one on a mission. Your girlfriend/boyfriend will be all right. You can learn the scriptures and discussions well enough to be effective. You'll have the courage you need to talk to strangers. You can be obedient. You can do it.

Some of you may be fearful about your ability because to this point in your life you have struggled. Perhaps you've not been academically gifted or socially prominent. I agree that being socially graceful, well educated, experienced in leadership, and able to speak well are useful talents for doing missionary work. But there is something beyond these which can give a missionary his/her real power.

Lorenzo Snow

 “When you find yourselves a little gloomy, look around you and find somebody that is in a worse plight than yourself; go to him and find out what the trouble is, then try to remove it with the wisdom which the Lord bestows upon you; and the first thing you know, your gloom is gone, you feel light, the Spirit of the Lord is upon you, and everything seems illuminated.”

God Speed

Yesterday, My boyfriend John, entered into the Provo MTC.  There he will stay for a week and a half, then fly out on Dec 31 to the people of Knoxville, Tennessee.  I can't say that I don't miss him, because I do, but I can say that I am so Proud of him for already having the decision to give two years of his life to the Lord.  Here are a few of my favorite pictures that he and his family took yesterday.

That's what a Proud Dad looks like

 

MaryJane, Josh, Rachel, John & Copper

Rachel & John

Dieter F. Uchtdorf

"My dear sisters, I have a simple faith. I believe that as you are faithful and diligent in keeping the commandments of God, as you draw closer to Him in faith, hope, and charity, things will work together for your good. I believe that as you immerse yourselves in the work of our Father—as you create beauty and as you are compassionate to others—God will encircle you in the arms of His love. Discouragement, inadequacy, and weariness will give way to a life of meaning, grace, and fulfillment."

What!? You think I'm cute???

Infants or Babies are some of the cutest things that I've ever seen in my life; they're miracles sent from heaven to us to love, to cherish and to hold on to.  Day by day they grow and learn by what they see and hear around them.  Its amazing to me that this baby in the picture used to be me, and look at me now...A Beautiful baby Girl.

In 18 short years this is what I've transformed into: like coal into a diamond.  Through trials and tribulations, something Beautiful has transformed.  I was amazed and in awe when John, my loving boyfriend, first told me that I was cute...I cant wait until he returns from serving the Lord to see what I've transformed and grown from in the next 3 years.

 

Accept it & Have Faith in HIM

December 13, 1995

18 years ago I was brought into this  at 6lbs 1oz to take on the trials and hardships of life.  I've also been enjoyin the amazin thrills that life has to offer.  I've gone through many things but look where I've ended up: I've graduated high school, started college, found the love of my life, and have started preparin myself for a Mission for The Lord.  I can't wait to see what the next few years brings me.  I love you guys!!!!  Thanks for everythin!!!!

Make a Wish

The hard part is acceptin that you're not in charge and that The Lord will take care of you.

John Rayburn

"I never imagined in a million years that I would ever find someone who loves me as much as my heart is capable of loving them.. I was never a big believer in happily ever afters... I never thought I would feel this way about a lover AND a best friend, at the same time.. I didn't believe that such a happy heart was in store for me... And this guy proved all of that wrong. I'm the happiest girl on earth, and two and a half years...that's nothing, when I've got an eternity full of complete BLISS with him ahead."