Make Your Days Count

All my life I have tried to grow up so fast, and now that I’m starting to finally feel grown up, I want the time to slow down.  In conference President Uchtdorf told a story about him and his wife riding bikes, and how he wants to ride faster like it were a race. He quoted her and she said,

“Dieter, it’s not a race; it’s a journey. Enjoy the moment.”

I love the journey of my life, and I hope to enjoy the journey instead of getting caught up in the race of life. Looking for the finish line, you’ll miss all the important details. He goes on to say, “Doesn't it seem foolish to spoil sweet and joyful experiences because we are constantly anticipating the moment when they will end?”

Don’t count your days, make your days count.

I've been thinking about this quote a whole bunch lately. Since I received my mission call I have been counting down the days until I leave, and now that I have a shorter time left here opposed to waiting, I am realizing I need to make my days count. I've met a lot of wonderful people here at BYUI, and I’m grateful for every single person who has played a role in my life.  Time is drawing near, and before I know it I’ll be in the MTC. It’s scary how fast the days go by! I find myself literally wishing I had some sort of emergency brake I can pull. One of my favorite quotes is by the one and only John Wayne, and he says,

“Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway.”

Leaving my family and friends for 18 months slightly scares me, but I am saddling up anyway because I have wanted this for too long to walk away from it all. I’m not that scared to leave my family because I know that I will see them again, and I have a testimony of eternal families. I do know that some of my friends won’t be around when I get home, and that’s okay because the important ones will still be there.

When I arrive in the MTC I hope to have my perspective changed to letting my days count instead of counting down the days to leave the MTC. And I’m sure when I reach my half way mark, I know I’ll want to slow down the time.  So where ever you are in life, stop wishing for it to go by faster. Instead, embrace whatever you are faced with. Whether it be happiness, change, or a challenge enjoy the ride! My hope and prayer are the same concluding words of President Uchtdorf’s talk,

“I pray that we will not wait until we are ready to die before we truly learn to live.”

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/10/of-regrets-and-resolutions?lang=eng

Called To Serve

For all of you who are near and dear to my heart know that I have been called to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and those of you who didn't know that now you do! I report to the MTC on 12-12-12, and I have the greatest support system of family and friends and I want you all to be able to know how I am doing. I also want my family and friends to know that their love and support never goes unnoticed! I love you all. My amazing sister, Zoey has agreed to update this blog for all of you and me while I am serving. 

Heart, mind, and Seoul Korea.

I am so grateful for this undeniable desire that I have to serve a mission. I have been called to labor in the Korea, Seoul Mission. That is where the inspiration of my URL came from, just in case ya'll didn't catch that ;) I can't take the credit though, I'm not that clever.

Many of you are interested about how I'm feeling about being on the other side of the world, literally. I am so excited to serve the people in Korea. As I was awaiting my call, everyone asked me where I thought I was going. Obviously I didn't know, but I honestly thought I would stay state side, and I was perfectly okay with that. On my mission papers I did say that I would like to go foreign, but doesn't everyone say that? I didn't think anything of it. I was set on the Southeast, like Tennessee, or Louisiana. But who was I kidding, those states are full of cowboys and I would be so distracted! ;)

Just a few days before my call arrived my mom, sister and I spent a few days up in West Yellowstone just getting one last trip in before the summer ended. Zoey and I spent a lot of time talking about where I wanted to serve, and we all know how many tourists are up there in West. When we drove through the park all we seen were a ton of buffalo's and tourists. We were joking about counting to see the ratio between buffalo and tourists. I said to her, "In all seriousness Zo, I don't want to go to Asia. I'll go any where but Asia."

...So there you have it, Heavenly Father works in mysterious ways! :)

It took a couple days for it to actually sink in and become a reality, and to be honest it's still sinking in. Some days I still can't believe I'm going to Korea, but in those moments I feel the Saviors love and I know I am going to be okay. After a few days from opening the call I fell to my knees and pleaded with my Heavenly Father, I knew I couldn't survive this mission without him. I cried to him. Korea is everything I'm not. I don't like big cities, humidity, or anything out of my Utah/Idaho "norm". I remember saying, "I don't want Korea." And I knelt there sobbing, for which felt like hours. Before I could mutter anymore words I felt my Saviors love, and I knew that even though I didn't want Korea, I needed Korea.

It's been about six weeks from when I received my call, and all the bitterness has found its way out! I am BEYOND BLESSED to be serving in Korea, and even though I don't know the people in Korea, I love them already. I have about nine more weeks here at BYU Idaho, and I cherish every moment.