Mother's Day

Just became my favorite holiday!!!

Not because I'm a mom.

Or a "future mom" for that matter.

But because Mother's day is one of the TWO days we get to talk to our missionary!

(and I will be in Florida for Christmas, so I might only get this one time this year)

It was a rough go for Hermana Dana to find an internet café that had a good quality headset.

We originally planned for 2 PM, but didn't successfully talk to her until 9 PM. 

It was wonderful to see her face and hear her voice!

She spoke some Spanish to us, and we clapped like idiots afterwards. 

We are so proud of her! 

We talked about her new lifestyle,

she shared her frustrations about the language barrier,

and she told us about her tiny bunk-bed,

and the headless, featherless chickens that often occupy the dining table.

(Yuck)

She made us laugh,

and she made me cry.

I've always seen the mom as the focus when a missionary leaves. 

I never anticipated that being the sister is just as tough.

I miss her, yet I don't want to tell her that too much.

Nothing like encouraging staying on a mission by saying "I miss you!", right?

I ams so proud of the work she is doing,

though she doesn't feel like she is doing much.

She can't see the improvement she's making,

probably because there's no one around her that speaks English well enough to tell her!

Press Forward In Faith, Sister Brown!

{Arequipa Peru}

My little sister decided to be a full-time missionary last year.

Today, she flew to Peru to start that mission.

I wasn't able to see her off at the airport, because I had a test and presentation in class. 

But I sent her with a letter to read on the airplane instead…

and boy was it long-winded. 

But I hope it was a positive start to her mission.

So for the next 18 months,

She will spend her time teaching the gospel,

and I will spend my time missing her dearly.

Lifted Up

Today in Institute we talked about the people who will be "caught up together... in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air" from 1 Thessalonians 4:17. 

My Institute teacher shared a dream his father had years ago, we will call him Adam to keep the story clear. Adam is standing in a large field, and he looks around to see hundreds of people in the field with him. Suddenly the skies burst open, and the Lord descends from the clouds. Adam notices the people around him start being lifted up off the ground. He realizes the significance of this, and immediately starts worrying that he's not being lifted. So he starts jumping up and down, hoping that will help him get lifted up. He realizes that no amount of jumping will help him, and he stops in despair. The feeling of guilt and shame overwhelms him, and he starts crying. Then, just as the dream ends, his feet lift off the floor.

After sharing that story, Brother Olsen shares what he learned from Adam's story. His dad told him about that dream a few weeks after he had it... which was, of course, years ago, and Bro. Olsen dwelled on it for a while. He decided he never wanted to do anything that endangered his ability to be lifted up at the last day.

I cried, let me tell you. It hit my heart so hard, and spoke to me so strongly. Am I doing anything that is endangering my ability to be lifted up? Are my friends and family doing anything to endanger their eligibility? 

Unfortunately, I know of a few people who are taking steps off the straight and narrow path, and it hurts my heart. I want them to know how special they are to our Father in Heaven, and that He is mindful of them. I wish I could make these people realize that they can turn to Him in their times of need or trial, and that He listens. 

I hope that I will always have the courage to speak to Heavenly Father when I need him, and that I will be strong enough to make the right decisions when trials are placed before me. I know that God lives, and that He knows who I am. I know he follows me and sees my future. I know He listens when I pray, and I can not wait for the day that I fall at His feet and worship Him.

I love the gospel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints with all my heart and soul. It keeps me grounded and on the right path. I love the people in my single's ward here in Price, especially the women. They are wonderful women, and I know they care for me. I hope over time I will be able to express to them how much their concern and compassion has made an influence in my life.

Hold to the rod, I love you all.

~Courtney 

The Spiritual Lesson of 2012

Growing up in the LDS faith, I've been taught that 'being active' means weekly church attendance. One became 'inactive' when they stopped showing up each week, or started coming very infrequently.

According to those standards, I became inactive from January to May of this year. In the 5 months I lived in Florida, I went to church 3 times.
The exact opposite of inactive occurred. I have never been stronger in the church than those 5 months.

I lived with 7 other girls, all members of different religions, and at first, these girls were weary of me. They had a few misconceptions, and some were worried I would try to convert them.
Luckily these girls were open to me and my oddities, and never cast me out because of my religion. They let me bring the missionaries into our home, and some even participated in lessons.
I got to share my beliefs with character friends, and character coworkers. When people found out I was from Utah, the next question seemed to always be "are you Mormon?" To which I always confidently answered "I am" with a smile.
I got to teach people about my religion. I got to clarify rumors, and let them hear church music. I told people about church structure, and about modesty. I explained temple marriage and baptisms for the dead. I told people about mormon.org almost every day. It was almost a mini mission. I got to serve my Heavenly Father through word of mouth.

For the first time in my life I handed out a Book of Mormon (most stressful moment of my life) a few weeks before going home. I don't know if it's been read, or if I made it home from Florida, but handing it over, and not being laughed at was a wonderful feeling.

I lived my life as an example of the church, and it was a fantastic feeling. Going to church those 3 times was a wonderful experience, and the long bus ride home was filled with happy feelings and church music playing in my head. Those 3 meetings proved to me that I love my religion, and there is no doubt in my mind that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is true.

I felt the spirit every single day. I strengthened my testimony and learned how to share my religion with others. I learned how to open up to others regarding something I hold so dear. I got to see how the choices I had made all my life were for the best, and living without my mom a few hours away proved to me that I do what I do because I want to do so, not because my parents tell me to.

2012 taught me that being an active member doesn't mean weekly church attendance. It means holding to one's beliefs, strengthening a testimony, and being a representative of the LDS church every day of my life.

I am a Child of God. Every person on Earth is a Child of God. I am so grateful to know who I am, where I'm headed and what my purpose is.

Check out the blue I Believe button for more info on the LDS church ------->

~Courtney

{when plans go differently than expected}

Sometimes we come up with amazing, wonderful plans, that give us joy and hope for the future. Sometimes those plans don't go the way we anticipated them to.

No, I'm not talking about my plans, I'm talking about my friend, David Zahm's.

He left on a mission In October. He is now home.

And I learned an amazing lesson from him because of that.

He was wondering why Heavenly Father would call him on a mission, just to send him home a few weeks after entering the MTC, and while we were talking, I realized something.

Sometimes Heavenly Father wants to see if you have the Faith to step out of the boat.

What the heck am I talking about? Let me refresh your biblical memory. One day, Peter, James, John and a few others were fishing in a boat. In the middle of a body of water. And Jesus Christ was walking on water near them. Peter, with extreme faith in the Lord, stepped out of the boat and took a few steps on water. Granted, fear took over and he started to sink, which is when Christ stepped in and took his hand.

So let me restate my realization.

Sometimes Heavenly Father wants to see if you have the Faith to step out of the boat.

Peter had the faith that he could walk to his Lord, on top of water. He had enough faith to throw his legs over the boat and stand.

David Zahm had the faith to step out of the boat. And when I say step out of the boat, he more like jumped out of the boat. He left at 21 years old, which is the age guys are when the return from a mission. He left a thriving business, siblings that were going to be moving to other states (and by that I mean Hawaii), friends, and a really good productive life.

So yeah, he's home. And he'll probably pop up in future posts. And I'm not gonna give details into a life that isn't mine. But know this:

Some boys serve missions to gain a testimony. To figure out who they are. To mature, learn to fend for themselves. To gain a true love for the Gospel. David's already got all of that. So yeah, he didn't serve a full mission, but he's just as great, if not more great than most of the guys who serve missions cause they 'have to'.

So welcome home David. I'm sorry you have to deal with people who will say rude condescending things to you about your mission. I'm sorry you live in Utah, home of some seriously judgmental 'holier than thou' people. But in the long run, I'm not sorry about you not serving a full 2 years. You left on a mission. You served. That's all that should ever matter.

Welcome home :)
~Courtney

Return With Honor

I know I posted about my missionary farewells last month, but as of Wednesday, they have both entered the Missionary Training Center.

Saying goodbye to these two amazing people, Alicia and David, was harder than expected. I've already gotten 2 letters from Alicia, which is impressive considering she's been in the MTC for a week and 1 day...

Back on track.

David reported yesterday. But it feels like a week ago at least.
I've always had him around, always a text away. So this whole no texting thing?
It sucks thus far.

Not to mention I have to get through nursing school without his support. Bummer.

~Courtney

two farewells and a homecoming

All my life, I've been a proud member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Yesterday made me even more proud of my religion, and even more proud the amazing friends I have been blessed with.

Sunday morning at 9 A.M I got to listen to an amazing farewell talk given by the most amazing sister-missionary-to-be, Alicia Jane.

Alicia and I circa 2009

Saying I love this girl would be a gross understatement. She's one of my best friends.

circa 2009

Her talk was amazing. Beyond amazing. I cried and laughed and was so happy to see her speaking about something she holds so dear. HBF, you are going to be a wonderful missionary, and you are going to touch so many people's lives. I am so proud of you, and look up to you more than you will ever realize. The people of San Bernadino, California are lucky to have you for 18 months.

3 years later

Then, it was off to a homecoming for a guy in my ward. It was so good to hear him talk about his experiences, because he had a rough time serving, and we were all so glad to see him grateful for the trials and challenges.

To finish off my 3 Sacrament meeting Sunday, I headed to David's farewell at 1 P.M. David and I have known each other since 3rd grade. Yeah. 3rd grade. Miss. Gagon's class to be exact. Now David's story is honestly amazing, and words don't describe how happy I am to see him serving a mission. He was baptized a member a little over 2 years ago, and it was a prayer come true. When he was called to the Neuquen, Argentina mission, I about died of excitement.
His talk was one big huge testimony, and I couldn't wipe the smile off my face even if I had tried.
Oddly enough, after being friends for so many years, I have very few pictures of us together. And unfortunately I forgot to take one with him yesterday. He was busy. I was forgetful. Here's a pic from our Logan trip a few weeks ago.

Sad that this is the best pic of us...

2 years better fly by dude. I don't know how I'll make it through nursing school without you a text away.

To end the day, I got a beautiful sunset to send me back to Price.

So stinking proud of these two amazing friends! Love you both.
~Courtney

2.5hours

Dear readers,

I've been keeping a monumental secret from you.

For the past two years, I've written a Mormon Missionary. My Missionary.

His name is Chris Green, he served in Houston, Texas, and is now fluent in Spanish.

He lands in the Salt Lake City Airport in two and a half hours.

I'm sitting in my apartment, waiting for one o'clock to roll around, which is when my shift starts, and I'm staring at this two-inch binder

which is filled with seventy-two letters, each more than three pages long, with beautiful cursive writing filling every corner of each page.

They are filled with amazing spiritual thoughts from a really, really amazing spiritual man. They contain his hopes and dreams for the future, his desires, goals and pet-peeves.

This binder contains the letters that helped me really understand Christopher Green, and we've formed the strongest friendship through these.

I'm rifling through a large purple shoe box filled with mementos, envelopes and lots of green ribbon.

I kept the best looking envelopes and stored them in this box, with plans for future decorating ideas.

I've been waiting for August 2012 for two years, really more than two years, seeing as he prepared for his mission for at least four months.

So he's home today. Today. TODAY!!

I've waited for this day for two years, and it's finally here.

Welcome home, Chris. I can't wait to see you on Saturday.

~Courtney

{Easter Sunday}

Taken from http://sarahdawndesigns.blogspot.com

Hindsight is an awe inspiring thing, isn't it?

Jeffrey R. Holland (a member of the quorum of the twelve apostles, a part of my religion, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) gave this quote in the Sunday afternoon session of conference exactly one week ago. 

I was sitting on Leslie Loo's couch, trying desperately to focus on his talk. None of us watching were paying a lot of attention, we all seemed so fidgety. But then, this quote came ringing out of his mouth, and I couldn't tear my mind away from it.

Sunday night, after saying goodbye to Leslie and her roommates, I walked home with his quote reverberating through my skull. I walked in to a sleeping apartment and knelt down in the living room and prayed my heart out.  I told Heavenly Father that I believed I would be an amazing nurse, that I believed in myself, but most importantly, that I believed in Him to direct my life.

He heard my prayer.  I'm going to nursing school. 

So on this Easter Sunday, a plastic egg, chocolate bunny, neon basket-less day, I am so grateful for my Heavenly Father and for my Savior.  I am so grateful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I'm grateful for my upbringing in the church and the values it has giving me.

I'm grateful for my Savior, Jesus Christ, who took upon himself all my sins, and felt every pain I will ever feel. He died on the cross, and rose again on the third day. He gave me Eternal life.

Happy Easter, Ya'll.

~Courtney

(P.S. Check out the blue I Believe button on the right for more info on the LDS church)

The Temple

At the beginning of the year, I made a goal to visit the temple 100 times in one year.  A few weeks later I realized that was an unrealistic goal, and cut it in half.  Yup, 50 visits in 52 weeks. 

I've done really well so far: today was my 35th visit.  I have primarily gone to the Draper Temple as it is the closest one to me when I am at home, but it looks like I will likely be finishing up my goal at the Oquirrh Mountain Temple for the rest of this year.  I've adapted the habit of going right after my microbiology class on Thursdays, and today I just felt inspired to go as well.  I feel so scandalous because I'm always changing in my car in the temple parking lot, and I'm always nervous someone is going to walk by and notice me pulling on my skirt.

The effort to make the temple and performing baptisms for the dead a part of my life has been so very worth it.  I feel so happy and calm after my temple visits, even if I know I have a thousand things that need to get done at home. This is likely one goal I will continue to do even after I make my 50 visits mark.

It was a gorgeous day at the Oquirrh Mt. Temple today.

To those readers who have no clue what I'm talking about, feel free to click on my blue I Believe link to the right to learn more about LDS temples, or go to mormon.org.

~Courtney