Half Birthday

I am officially 29 1/2. To think that I am close to 30 kind of freaks me out. It's hard to imagine. I have to admit that in my early teens I thought 30 was old. Now I KNOW it's not true.

I got a new laptop this week. It's so nice to be able to have access to everything wherever I go. I love it. The mouse that came with it is about 1/2 the size of a normal one. It's more cute than useful. ;)

40 days until I'm done working. I can't wait until Christmas break. It will be the first real break I've had in so long. It'll be glorious.

Freshmen

My Biology class had its first test this last week. Last night we met for the first time since the test. Talk about a bunch of whiny freshman! They all 'suggested' that our teacher create a study guide so they can know what will be on each test and what to study. They claimed there was too much imformation to study for the test. Mind you, we had only met 4 times before the test (once a week). Pretty much they were not happy with their scores and were trying to find excuses why they did poorly. I made a comment on how giving a study guide specifically for a test is useless in learning. With a study guide, students don't learn but only memorize for a test. I was almost flogged after class. Okay, not really, but I felt hate stares being thrown at my head. The teacher had to give a lecture on what is required in a class and that if people are only giving the minimum effort, they are going to get a minimum score. I felt a little bad that he had to be giving this lecture, but then I realized that it was a freshman class (a bunch of whiners who haven't realized that college is harder than highschool). I think everyone left a little more humble, realizing that they really didn't put forth their full effort. Hopefully the whining goes down a notch next time. A person can only handle so much!

Compelled to be Humble

It's been a week of being compelled to be humble. It seems that everywhere I turn I am being told to repent. I'm trying! It started out over the weekend with general conference. I know there were other messages told, but I just heard that I'm wicked. ;) This week in my scripture study, it seems that no matter which page I turn to, the highlighted words on the page are telling me to repent. I've tried to find pages without those words, but they don't seem to exist this week. The lesson I'm teaching on Sunday is about reconciling ourselves with God, basically repentance. I almost threw the book onto the floor when I saw the title. I get it already--I am wicked! Last night I was feeling -- I am not sure how to describe it. Pretty much I was tired of being told that I was wicked. I needed some love. Finally, I was flipping through my scriptures and came to D&C 6:33-36, which reads as follows:

33 Fear not to do good, my sons, for whatsoever ye sow, that shall ye also reap; therefore, if ye sow good ye shall also reap good for your reward.
34 Therefore, fear not, little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail.
35 Behold, I do not condemn you; go your ways and sin no more; perform with soberness the work which I have commanded you.
36 Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.

Just what I needed. A reminder that I need to be focused on Christ and not how dumb I am sometimes (okay, most of the time). Comfort indeed. I was feeling good when I went to bed last night. Then this morning, I woke up at 7:52. I'm supposed to be to work by 7:30. Hopefully I don't get into more trouble than I already am at work. Guess we'll see how the day pans out.

Prayer of the Faithful

So, I was lying in bed last week around midnight, trying to go to sleep. (Usually I am so tired by 10:30 I don't have much of a problem going to sleep. Last week was completely different. I didn't get tired until after midnight each night.) I kept thinking, "Heavenly Father, I have been praying to be able to go to bed early and wake up early in order to get the most of each day. Why am I not able to go to sleep?" The thought then came to me that I am praying to go to sleep, but I wonder if someone else is praying that I'll be able to stay up late in order to finish my homework and all that I have to get done. I found out that my parent's have greater faith than I do. It was their prayers that were being answered. I thought it ironic that they would be asking for something along the same lines as me, but just a different time frame of the day. I have set them straight. They are now praying that I can fall asleep around 11 and wake up around 6:30. So far, it's worked. You just gotta make sure that the people with real faith are asking for the things you need. Since my faith is still week, I will be going to my parents for much help in the prayer area.

Prayer definately works. I have been having some troubles at work lately, and it all came to a head on Friday. I had a bit of a tought conversation with a coworker. They wanted to discuss the rest of it today. All weekend I was sick about the conversation that was to be. I went to the temple on Friday night, had my brother give me a blessing, and my family has been praying with me all weekend that things would work out okay. I must say that I was surprised, even though I shouldn't have been, that things really were okay today. I think part of it was my attitude, knowing that this coworking doesn't have control over that. I know that the majority of it was the prayers by my family. I am so grateful that they are willing to petition Heavenly Father in my behalf. It really has worked for me. Now if the prayers about a boy named Tyler will come true. . . .:)