Disneyworld - Day 29

So many amazing things have happened, I can't even believe it. I really feel like I live a dream sometimes. Which I really kind of do. The thing is, a lot of people give me a really hard time about moving away from home. But honestly, I have grown so much more than I ever would have if I stayed. I love being here in Florida. I really do. I had a hard time at first, but I have met some amazing people, and I love the rain here!

Yesterday I went with Lauren and Kourtney to magic kingdom. There is a girl in our ward who is a princess, and so we went to go see her, and it was so neat that we got to see her in character. We also got to see our friend Morgan while we were getting our Dole whip. Which is so good!!! I could eat it every single day of my life. 

I finally got to email kadee back and forth the past two weeks. It has seriously been a huge blessing, because I can't remember a time when we didn't talk for even a day. So it has been so hard to get used to, but it helps that she is LOVING her mission. I am super happy for her. 

Today I am going to go swimming with Lauren and Kourtney. I am so happy that I met both of them. It is interesting, for those of you who don't know, how I met both of these wonderful girls. I met Lauren and Morgan on a Facebook page a little while back. Morgan had messaged me asking if I needed a roommate, and I was so relieved, because I needed one. She told me it would be me, her, Lauren, and a girl named Tessa. Tessa backed out a few months before because she decided to serve a mission instead, and we were so happy for her!! So Morgan, Lauren and I ended up meeting up at the airport, and flew to Orlando together. I am so glad I got to know them, because we have all been close ever since. I met Kourtney through Lauren and Morgan. I went over to their house one night, and she was there. She happend to go to school in Cedar, which is really close to where I live. She knew some of my really good friends, Emily Clark and Elizabeth Harrison, from high school. What a small world! 

I love my life. I really do. I wouldn't trade my experiences for the world. I love doing new things, even if it is really hard at first. I have met people who have really changed my life, and I am so excited for these next three months!

Disneyworld - Day 14

In order to keep track of the days that I was in Disneyworld, I started to number them. I'll talk about more than just my life here at Disneyworld, but it will help me remember later what days of my blog I was in the happiest place on earth! 

Tomorrow is such a big day because my best friend in the entire world leaves to Philadelphia! I am so excited for her to finally be there. I know that she has been so excited, and I can't wait to hear about all the amazing experiences she will have there. I miss her all the time, but I am so happy that she is happy. 

One thing I have realized when it comes to change is that attitude is everything. Though coming here to work seems like a dream come true, it wasn't for me at first. I am pretty sure I called my mom the night I got here begging her to let me come home. I am so glad that she told me to wait it out a couple more weeks before I made that decision. I realized that my experience here completely depends on my attitude, and what I decide to make out of this experience. I will either love it or hate it, and I know that that depends completely on my attitude. Ever since I realized that, I love it here, and I am so happy I decided to do this.

The coolest part about living here is that there is so much to do and explore. How cool is it that I live at Disneyworld?!?!

On that note, I am off to go try and get pictures with some of the characters!

Disneyworld - Day 11

I know, starting at day 11 might not make any sense at all. But I would be lying if I said I had been on top of blogging, because if I was on top of it, It would start with day 1. So, here we are; Day 11.

Disneyworld has been absolutely amazing. Honestly, Florida in general has been amazing. I love it here, and it is green everywhere! 

Wild turkeys, lizards, worms, snails, and so much rain! Definitely not St. George or Rexburg.

The best part about working here is seeing how happy everyone is. I mean, they are in the happiest place on earth, right? The kids here are so excited. I was working in the area with all of the princess stuff, and one little girl ran up to all the dolls, picked each one up and said "Oh my goodness! Mom!!! Look! It's Ariel! It's Belle! It's Cinderella!" It was so precious to see how happy she was. It makes my job that much more fun. Definitely so rewarding. 

I'm having a really hard time with the fact that I am too big to fit into the princess dresses. I see them everyday at work, and I want to cry. It makes me wish I was a little girl again. 

I LOVE MY JOB. I am so lucky that I had this awesome opportunity! 

It's official!

Tower of Terror at Hollywood Studios.

Work uniform.

Hot air balloon ride at Downtown Disney.

Rainbow after the downpour at Magic Kingdom!

The pool at my apartment building.

Sister Kadee Elise Taylor

How lucky am I to have people in my life that make saying goodbye so hard?

The one thing I realized most in the past week is how crazy the journey of life really is. In saying that, I also want to point out how amazing it is also. 

This week has been one of the hardest in my life. I have said goodbye to a lot of friends of mine, including my best friend of 8 years. Though I have cried way to much, and tried talking her out of going, I could not be more proud of her. She has always been such an inspiration to me. I know that she will change and bless the lives of so many in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The good news is, I know that she will be my best friend forever. I know that everyone says that, but I really know we will be. I am pretty sure we begged Heavenly Father to let us be friends here on earth. I know that I wouldn't have made it as far as I have without her. 

What I am excited for is our letters and emails. I know that they will be so full of the spirit, and it will continuously draw us closer not only to each other, but to our Savior as well.

What a journey life is, and what a blessing. 

I am so blessed and full of thanks to have Kadee in my life. 

College Baby!

A week ago, I left home to go to college. It was probably one of the hardest things I have ever done. But now that I have been here for a while, I love it here. I love being in Rexburg. It's super freezing here compared to St. George, but the spirit here is amazing. I have met so many people and have made so many friendships that I know have made me better and have changed my life. I have 5 other roommates. Kadee, Erin, Lauren, Brooke, and Michele. I love EVERY single one of them. I honestly could not have asked for better roommates. I love being around them and we all get along so well. I love being here, and I am so glad I chose to be here, because I know it is exactly where I am supposed to be. 

My mom and I drove up separate from Penny and Kadee. We stopped in Salt Lake to hang out with Tiffany and her girls. Then the next day we drove the rest of the way to Idaho. When we got here we walked around campus, and moved into my apartment. 

I really loved being able to spend that time with my mom. I love her a lot. I didn't think it would be that hard to say goodbye, but it was. I really love my family, and being away from them has made me miss them. 

But, all in all, I am way happy at where I am at in my life. I have so much that I want to accomplish and do, and I know that the Lord has provided a way for me. I am just taking the steps necessary to get there, and I am more than willing. 

I LOVE COLLEGE!!!

Our desks (: We kinda love Marilyn Monroe.

The front door area. (and our babe magnet)

The front room TV.

My messily organized closet. 

Beds.

Our bedroom door.

Our bathroom. 

Our wonderful jewelry holders. Thanks to Pinterest.

The kitchen.

The dining room area.

The living room (:

California Trip

So, not that my family is crazy or anything, but we really decided to go on this trip they day we left. 

I honestly love my family, and I was so happy I got to go on this little trip with them before I left. We really had an amazing time seeing the people of Venice Beach and playing in the ocean. There were a lot of different people there. I'm happy my parents don't like me to be super sheltered. Because it really humbles me when I see people a  lot worse off than me. 

Anyway. We didn't have a whole lot go on. But I did want to take some time to write on my blog that we took a trip before I left. Mostly just for me. (: But also for anyone who follows my crazy thoughts. 

I'll never forget that a black man walked by me and said "Hey there white chocolate!" 

That was my nickname the WHOLE trip. Haha. I love people. 

Anyway, goodnight my friends. Until I write again!

Answered Prayer

From day one we learn that trials are part of our life here on earth. We will all have situations in life that bring us to the point of giving up and losing faith. I've been there, and honestly, lately it has been a daily struggle. Although trials come both big and small, they can change your life. They can be life consuming, devastating, and heartbreaking. But I know without a doubt in my mind that these struggles and these challenges help us grow. They teach you to trust in the Lord, because He is never going to put you through something in this life that you cannot handle. 

I know that my Heavenly Father is very aware of my trials. He sees me every single day fighting the battles of this life. He knows me better than I know myself. I have tried to make it through some of these things on my own. I would ask myself how would praying really even make a difference? My family is still struggling, money is still an issue, and I haven't felt more alone. I couldn't even fathom how a simple habit of prayer would change any of that. 

One night, everything just wasn't going right. I came home from work, went to my room and knelt by my bed, sobbing. I felt so helpless. I had always known that Heavenly Father was always there. He always wants to talk. We just have to put in the effort, and he'll respond. But as I grew older it just seemed less and less necessary. But on this night, I prayed. I talked to Heavenly Father about everything. Everything I was feeling, what I was going through, the timing of it all. I mostly just talked to Him. More like a conversation. I can't even tell you how much better I felt just after praying. My problems didn't go away. But I felt comfort, and He knew that that is exactly what I needed at that time. 

Days passed. I still woke up to the same struggles, just with a better attitude. Now, I'm not saying it was a perfect attitude, but I knew that I always had Heavenly Father, and He really was there. It helped me get by, with more hope than disappointment. I continued to pray throughout these days. I felt better and I felt strengthened, but I told Heavenly Father that I still felt alone at times. I needed someone I could talk to that could relate and just help me get my mind off of myself and focus on others. 

Which brings me to today. Where my prayer was answered in a way I never would have expected. One of my really good friends, had announced on Facebook a few days before that he was home for a couple months because he has to get ankle surgery. I so badly wanted to see him, but had no way to get ahold of him, considering he never got of Facebook after he posted that. This kid was one of my really good friends, and I was sad that I probably wasn't going to be able to see him before he left. But, I just left it at that. 

Tonight I came home from a really long day at work. Then I went to visit one of my friends in the hospital with Mitchell. The visit went well, but things have just been really off with Mitchell lately. So we got in an argument when I dropped him off, then I came home and sat on my bed just thinking. I got on Facebook just to pass the time. All the sudden I see my missionary friend post something and I couldn't believe it. It was about midnight and he was on Facebook. I hurried and messaged him asking him how he was doing and told him that he should really talk to me because I missed him. He messaged me back and we decided to meet up. 

I have not laughed that much in so long. He is so filled with the spirit, and had so many amazing stories. But at the same time, he was the exact friend I needed for this king of situation. He had gone through exactly what I'm going through right now. He knew how I was feeling, and he made me feel like I wasn't alone.  I knew in that moment that Heavenly Father was very mindful of my situation. He had blessed me with an opportunity to learn and grow from someone who knows me and knows my situation. It wasn't the answer to my prayer that I was expecting; it was SO much better. I am thankful for His mindfulness and for blessing me with this amazing missionary friend in my life. 

I am so blessed to have been raised with the gospel of Jesus Christ. He is mindful of every single one of our needs, and there is not a day that goes by that I don't believe that. Prayer is so important, and if we just ask our Heavenly Father for strength, He can and will help us through the roughest times. In my case, he helped me through someone else. I am forever thankful for the merciful blessings that are presented in my life each day, and I hope I can keep that mindset throughout my life.