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- Place others' needs ahead of my own.---I have come to really love placing my needs behind others. I think it's one of the most important parts of being a successful team, a good roommate, a loving friend, and a forever family. I was called to serve as the 1st counselor in the Relief Society in the Rock Springs College Branch. By serving with Dani and Sequoia, we spent so much time on our knees praying for the sisters in the branch. In Chapter 5 of Alma in The Book of Mormon, Alma asks the people if they have received God's image in their countenances. This scriptures reminds me of Dani Hardy perfectly. She is always in tune with the Spirit and truly an instrument in the Lord's hands. I learned so much from Dani's willingness to pray for others. She was always willing to drop everything and help someone. I really hope to be like her someday.
- Be kind and reach out.---My friends have taught me some of the greatest lessons in life. Devin King taught me to always be kind and reach out to help whenever needed. Candace Clifford is always happy and bubbly and ready to talk to anyone. Kortnie Christiansen has the biggest sweetest heart and loves to help others. Makayla Keck is kind to others and will never say a bad word about anyone. Jocelyn Ostermiller is always fun and happy. Her glow spreads like a wildfire. I'm so glad to be around such special people and learn to be kind and reach out. The kindness and willingness to help has made a difference in my life.
- Get out of my comfort zone.---Believe it or not, thanks to my father, moving away from home was one of the hardest things I have ever done. The only thing that helped me get through each day is the overwhelming feeling I had when I knew I was supposed to be at Western. Each day became easier and I was able to reconfirm the feelings that I had before I went. I never would've guessed that I would've had such a hard time leaving WWCC for good this past winter. I'm so glad that I got out of my comfort zone and became a better, more refined person. I know that wherever I go and whatever hard things I have ahead of me, I will be blessed and protected to be able to accomplish the task ahead of me.
- When in doubt, pray!---There were times when everything seems to fall apart, and a new day seems too hard to handle. No matter how hard life seemed, kneeling to pray seemed to put everything in perspective and give me power to conquer life's challenges. I also realized that when I was praying morning and night, those tough days seemed to happen less often. Remember, when times get the toughest, never forget to pray.
- Take advantage of every moment with family.---Western Wyoming has an Adopt-A-Athlete program available to all athletes in which an employee from the college can "adopt" an athlete and include them in their family events. Makayla and I were adopted by Kay Leum and her family Brian, Ashlee, and Autumn. We were one of the lucky athletes for sure! They invited us to come be part of their family all the time, and I still look forward to Kay's big hugs when I see her. I always loved being at their house and spending time with their family. No matter what is going on in life, things always seem a little lighter when you're with family. Even though I wasn't able to spend time with my own family very much, I was able to be around other families, the Leum's and the Keck's, and I loved that just as much! And I finally got some little sisters!!
- Learn to love what's around me.---The easiest way to be happy is to learn to love what's around you. Learn to love your circumstance, learn to love yourself, and most importantly, learn to love those around you. Learning to love what's around me at any given moment has been the key to my happiness.
- Be patient.---Never become so impatient that you forget to appreciate what is around you. Be patient in everything you do. Never rush to get an answer, never rush to hurry through your day, and never rush to the next stage of life. Just like Elder Busche said in a devotional, "Embrace this day with an enthusiastic welcome."
- The power of friendship---I absolutely LOVE my friends. I have learned just how much friends can influence your life for good. I have met some of the neatest people in Wyoming, and I'm so glad that I have the relationships that I do. I want to use this chance to thank all of my friends! (I'm sure that I will miss some, so forgive me when I do!!)----Devin King, Candace Clifford, Makayla Keck, Jocelyn Ostermiller, Cameron Lowry, Kortnie Christiansen, Cori Perrault, Breonna Phillips, Dani Hardy, Mason Hansen, Jack Lambert, and Sequoia Hair....and MANY MANY more! I love learning about others and getting to know their own life story. I hope that I have changed their lives in the way that they have changed mine. THANK YOU!
- Discover my priorities.---Living in Wyoming gave me the chance to determine what really means the most to me. The ups and downs of playing college volleyball and taking college courses has helped me really take a step back and find what means the most to me. The most important thing to me is my testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I have learned that no matter what goes on around me and all those things that happen outside of my control, I can hold tight to my testimony of Jesus Christ and his restored gospel.
- Serving others is the recipe for happiness.---Sometimes the most important moments are the moments I spent listening to Candace think things through, helping Makayla with her tests, cooking dinner for our "floor dinners," and walking with friends to church. Thank you to all those who have served me!
- Hard work DOES pay off.---Truth is...Hard work does pay off. I never really fully believed that, but I have learned that it always DOES pay off. The key is that hard work doesn't always pay off in the way you think it will. Sometimes working as hard as you can in volleyball doesn't make you the best volleyball player. Sometimes studying longer or harder than others won't always get you an A. Sometimes hard work pays off in ways we don't expect. No matter what I'm going to look for my reward which may not be what I expect it to be.
- BE HAPPY.---One of my favorites quotes goes like this, "If you want to be happy, then BE." I fully believe this is the key to happiness. Although I am so blessed, there are still days when I think the world is falling apart. If I make the decision to be happy, then I am.
Makayla and I - We often have to make mistakes to find ourselves.---No matter how much I would love to be perfect, I have finally accepted the fact that I am not. Sometimes we have to fall before we can get higher. Heavenly Father has made a plan for each of us and mine included some significant mistakes that helped me grow and become perfected. I'm so glad that I had the chance to make mistakes and partake of the atonement to become better and more prepared to enter the next stage of life.
- Never forget to read your scriptures.---"A pattern of personal righteousness which includes prayer, scripture study, and service is the answer to avoiding the dangers spoken of in the Book of Mormon." -Sister Hales I have come to learn that a testimony is fragile and without the daily pattern of prayer, scripture study, and service, that testimony can be lost in a blink of an eye. I have learned to never forget to read my scriptures because it provides me with the personal opportunity to rekindle the fire that acts as the foundation to my testimony.
- Refrain from making judgements.---I have learned to hold back judgements in every situation. Not only does it help you be happier, it makes it easier to love others. I remember one particular drive home from Logan with my dad really late at night. We spent the whole drive talking about holding back judgements. I'm so glad to have a dad who is so good at this. He is always slow to judge. That night, we stayed at my Grandma Lindley's and there on her fridge, like it always is, was a perfectly fitting quote, "We need to learn to be more tolerant of those who sin differently than us." There is no way to know what another person has gone through or what path they should take. Don't judge; just love.
- Be a missionary.---One of my most memorable experiences happened in September of my 2nd year at Western Wyoming. I met Mark, a 27 year old from Australia that just moved to Wyoming and was looking for a change in his life. He came to the Singles Branch one day, and Candace, Makayla, and I grabbed him and got to talk to him for a little while. I will never forget how privileged he felt to live in Wyoming, and it definitely gave me a chance to rethink my opportunity to live there. He came to a couple of the activities with us, watched a volleyball game, and then met with the 3 of us, Devin King, and my mom one evening to talk about the church. He was so intrigued with the peace and joy the gospel brings to us and kept commented about how happy we always were. Just as he was ready to meet with the missionaries and take the next step, he got transferred to Florida for his work. Candace and I spent many nights thinking about the experiences we had and were so grateful for the chance we had to share the gospel. That is where true joy is found and clearly a sign of true conversion to the gospel of Jesus Christ. I'm so glad that I had the chance to have a missionary experience for myself. About 3 months later, Mark contacted us and let us know that he had been baptized. I can't explain how happy I felt when I heard the news. I felt like a real missionary out in the field. This past June, he got engaged to a beautiful girl with a little boy. He was so excited to marry her and was so excited to be part of a family of his own. He even invited Candace and I to the wedding in London in September. Five days after he announced his engagement, Mark passed away in a racing accident. No one could believe the news. Not only did this teach me about the fragile gift of life, I am SO glad that I followed the promptings to share the gospel with Mark back in September and invite him to discuss the gospel. Mark and his enthusiastic desire to enjoy life will always be in my heart.
- Live for today---I have so many people to thank for teaching me to live for today. Sometimes it's okay to forget about the future enough to love today. Sometimes in the bustle of life, we forget to love today. There are some stages of my life that I was in such a hurry to pass through, that I completely forgot the memories of that stage. I don't ever want to forget any of the memories I experience. No matter what stage of life I'm in or what stage of life I'm preparing for, I never want to forget to live for today enough to love it.
- Make sacrifices regularly---There are no words to explain the power that comes when we sacrifice something that is important to us. Sometimes we are asked to give up something little, like the plans we have for the evening, and sometimes we are asked to give up something big, like our best friend for two years. As Elder Busche says, "And finally, when you are compelled to give up something or when things that are dear to you are withdrawn from you, know that this is your lesson to be learned right now. But know also that, as you are learning this lesson, God wants to give you something better."
- Sometimes a phone call can make all the difference---I remember one particular day at school in Wyoming that I was just having a rough day. As I was walking back to my apartment, my mom called me and just wanted to talk. That made all the difference to me and helped cheered me up so much. That happened again while I was waiting for the bus home from Idaho State and Devin King called me. We talked for a few minutes and just got caught up. It completely made my day and I thought I couldn't be happier until Candace called me and we also talked for a few minutes. I've never been much of a "talking on the phone" kind of person, but I have learned to be now. My mom, my friends, and numerous others were so inspired to give me a call just when I needed. I hope to be as inspired as them to be ready to call a friend spontaneously, just so that I can help make their day as they have made mine.
- I love to see the temple---I never realized how lucky I was to live so close to a temple. I took advantage of driving past the temple on the freeway and seeing Captain Moroni. I took advantage of monthly Branch Temple trips. I took advantage of walking around the Greenbelt in Idaho Falls and seeing the beautiful temple. The closest temple to Rock Springs is Salt Lake which means NOT VERY CLOSE! It's really hard to make attending the temple a habit when it's so far away. However, since I've been home, I've set a goal to attend the temple every week. It's still a work in process, but I know that I am happier and I keep better perspective when I attend the temple.
- Sisterhood---Playing volleyball at the college level has given me the chance to be part of one of the greatest sisterhood I've ever known. Together, with all our different personalities, various life stories from across the country, and multiple perspectives on life, we have come together in a way I never knew we could. By the end of the season, I knew so much about each girl and came to love who they were, no matter how many times we fought at practice. I'm so grateful for each and every one of the 16 girls that I played with. I love you all and remember that no matter where you go in life or which path you take, my door is always open and my phone is always on.
- Be humble---Humility is the key to personal revelation, growth and learning. I find it so easy to become prideful and sometimes just purely self-interested. I want to always remember to be humble and acknowledge others, and ultimately Heavenly Father, in all that I am able to accomplish.
- Always stand for the right---Never lower your standards to fit in or please others. I have found that if I have to lower my standards or be ashamed of what I believe or who I am, it's not worth changing. I have learned that by standing for right, others notice the light of the Savior in my life. I hope to always represent the Savior. Whenever I have doubts in what to do, I want to ask myself "What would Jesus Do?"
- Spend some time having fun---Some of my favorite memories of Wyoming are those when I just simply had fun. I didn't think about the things I had to do before tomorrow or the things I needed to do over the weekend. I put everything aside and just spent a night for me. No matter how busy life gets, I want to remember to spend some time for me. Thank you Sam and Makayla for those nights!!
- Families are Forever---Surprisingly driving away from Rock Springs for the last time on December 13th was not the exciting event that I thought it would be. It was really sad for me to leave my friends in Rock Springs, Wyoming. I graduated with my Associate of Science degree in three semesters and attended Idaho State this past Spring. The sad departure in December made m wonder why I had felt so good about being home. I had looked forward to it for so long, and when the time came, it was hard to leave. There have been some nights that I wished I was there. On February 14, 2012, my Grandpa Lindley passed away. It was a really hard thing for all of our family; my parents took many trips to Salt Lake to visit my Grandpa in the hospital while he battled for his life. My grandpa had the neatest funeral; it truly was a tribute to his life and a celebration of the fact that families are forever. I have since found many reasons why I am glad that I am home: the relationship I have built with my mother, supporting my brother at his basketball games and tennis matches, and walking my nephew Evan to school, but none as important as being able to be with my family through this important time. I also got to be with my family when Evan got sealed to Kevin and Ashley and be able to see my new niece Kamrie on the day she was born. My immediate family has now grown to 13 and i'm so glad that I get to spend eternity with them. I know that families are forever, and I'm so grateful that I was able to have the knowledge of the gospel to help me and my family get through this difficult time in our lives. I am so excited to be able to see Grandpa again in heaven. "I always want to be with my own family, and the Lord has shown me how I can."
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| The band members: Candace, Kortnie, Me and Dani on the guitar. We got together and sang about every week! |
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| Kortnie & Candace sang "I Know That My Redeemer Lives" at a baptism. |
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| 3rd place finish at the NJCAA tournament Nov. 2010 |
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| Meeting Evan for the first time October 2010 |
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| March 3, 2012--Evan's sealing day |
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| Athletic Banquet April 2012 |
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| Go-Karting in Twin Falls |
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| Regional IX Tournament 2011 |
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| Region IX Champions 2011--Candace, Makayla, Jocelyn and I |
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| Nathan and I over Christmas 2011 |
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| Region IX Champions 2010 |
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| Evan and I Christmas 2011 |
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| Brooke, Makayla, Cori and me--Roommates my first year |
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| Me, Jocelyn, and Makayla--3rd place 2011 |
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| Basketball Game--Jocelyn, Cori, Makayla, me, Chelsea, Kirsti, Kortnie, and Brooke |
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| Ugly Sweater Dance at the Institute--Candace, Jocelyn, me, and Brooke |
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| Lindsey, me, Ashley and Lacey--Dalling girls at Kristi and Bryant's wedding January 5, 2011 |
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| Athletic Banquet 2011 |
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| January 5, 2011--Kristi's Wedding |
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| April 23, 2012--Kamrie Neibaur |
