Learning

I feel like so much happened today. I probably could have had a full blog post by lunch. It's been an eventful day. Let's see if I can remember everything...

My day started off with Book of Mormon class. Well, actually it started with Reese's Puffs. Then Book of Mormon. Brother Johnson taught another amazing lesson. He's a wonderful teacher. I signed up to take his New Testament class next fall and I'm super excited about it. He has such a strong testimony and truly teaches with the Spirit. I love that class.

After Book of Mormon I got a quick hair cut, more of a trim really. I knew Jimmy would be angry if he saw my hair this summer and found that I hadn't been keeping it healthy by getting trims. Now he'll never know.

While I was getting my hair cut I got a text from my best friend back home that made me want to be home more than ever before. Normally I don't want to go home. I love home, but now I have a new home. I love visiting my family though. I don't want to make it sound like I don't like home. Anyway, with summer quickly approaching (4 days left of classes, then finals!) I've been focusing a lot on how much I'm going to miss Provo. But today I missed home. I wanted to be there for my friend. I missed her. A lot. Thank goodness for technology that allows us to communicate instantaneously!

Child development class today was super good. We talked about divorce and parenting. Professor Walker gave us a lot of advice on choosing an eternal companion. "If you wish to marry well, inquire well." - Dallin H. Oaks. We also talked a lot about how we should be the kind of parents that will help our children learn about their heavenly parents through our example. Professor Walker told us that, as a parent, it is hard to punish your kids sometimes. You see them make a poor choice, and it hurts to watch them suffer the consequences. But you have to do it. You have to follow through with your rules and consequences. I like this C.S. Lewis quote: “We want not so much a Father but a grandfather in heaven, a God who said of anything we happened to like doing, 'What does it matter so long as they are contented?” Grandparents are great, but we need fathers. And mothers.

When class was over I came home and did laundry and made a million oatmeal cookies. We were supposed to bring food to art class tonight, so I figured I should make cookies. Mostly for selfish reasons. I've been craving them, haha. Inbetween batches of cookies I worked on my final art project: bubbles. Such a silly project, but I'm having fun with it. Anyway, the cookies were a big hit in class. Confession: I accidentally put too much vanilla in...but no one noticed :)

While I was sitting in art class (paying attention...) I got a few really great texts. First, Mom sent me a longggg text telling me how proud of me she is. It was tender. Almost made me cry. But I was in class, so obviously I didn't. She also reminded me of a time in my life when I wasn't so happy. Specifically, she reminded me of an occassion when she came into my room and found me crying in my bed because I didn't think I had any good friends and I thought my life was just awful. I remember the exact time she was talking about. She told me it wouldn't last forever. Things would get better. And they have. I love life. I have amazing friends who are GREAT examples. My life was never as terrible as I thought it was at the time, but things do get better. Ari shared a quote in art class tonight that said something along the lines of how life is all about learning lessons, and we all still have lessons to learn otherwise we wouldn't be alive. I am thankful for the lessons I've learned and the lessons I'm learning.

The other good text I got in art class was from Wade from back home in Louisiana. He got his mission call today! He's going to Peru :) He's super excited. But that wasn't his only exciting news; he's coming to Utah next week! He's hoping to get to come visit me in Provo and get some In-and-Out. I hope it works out! It would be so fun to see him.

Oh dear, this blog post is getting long. I'll try to some up the rest of the night. I came home, did homework. Talked to Car-Car. Then talked to Thomas in the lobby for a couple hours. He taught me some things. Well, I guess he does that everytime I talk to him. Anyway, probably the most interesting thing he taught me tonight was about the priesthood. I love that BYU conversations turn to spiritual things so often.

I feel like I did a lot of learning today. And I love it.