No Limits

Dear world,
       Hi.  Remember Claire?  Probably not, but that's ok!  Remember now.  Right now.  Ok good.

         So in a mouthful...the past 2 months have been this...Girl's Camp, Math Camp, Annie Get Your Gun, I got a job!,  Oh my homework...mini heart attacks every day, taekwondo stress and love, no time...quite literally i've been staying up late and getting up early, fun dates, a pumpkin named Gourdon (and also there is Waldo, Paul, and Corn...best not to ask about Corn. :P) , a kitten named Charlie, and wonderful people who make life a joy.

I haven't been able to post in a long time partly because A: I've been so busy B: Stress turns me into an entirely different person which includes forgetting to write new blog posts.

I've been overwhelmed lately with everything that has to get done in the next two weeks before school.  Among things...I have: Long work days, taekwondo four days a week and YW's activities on Wednesday in the evening, AP Math and English HW, taekwondo belts that need to be sewn, Personal Progress, and among other things eating food, and trying to socialize with people when I actually have a chance.

It seems everyone in my family is stressed right now.  It's not nice being stressed.  But there is a lot to learn from it too.  Things like time management, kindness even when you don't feel like being anything and just wanting to take a nap, taking things one step at a time, and trusting in yourself and God to be able to get these things done.

I love my family.  My brother Cameron scared me really bad today and it made me crack up.  Molly drove us to taekwondo.  Landon's gone at Clear Creek Camp.  Misha and John are coming back tomorrow to work again after coming back from their play in Pocatello.  Mom is helping me with the belts.  It's these little things and spending time with them, that I understand them better, and I try to be a part of their life as much as I want them to be a part of mine.  I want them to know I am a support and a friend.

This blog is supposed to be how finding happiness can change the world, and sometimes that includes crying.  I cried hard last night because the stress I was feeling was so intense.   I wasn't really sure how I could handle this list of things that kept pounding at my brain..and so I prayed for help.  And there I found happiness.  In knowing that there is a loving God who could help me with what I need to do.  There is still a lot to do, but I felt more calm about it.  More able to do it and not worry so much.

Also, FYI, there is a THUNDERSTORM!!!  You know, just one of my favorite things...possibly ever.

You can do hard things.  Don't give up on yourself.  NO limits.

Sincerely,
       Your friend Claire Elizabeth

Get Up and Do

I got my wisdom teeth out  a few days ago, and have done surprisingly well!  Other than slightly puffy cheeks of course.  I'm glad it went so well.

Something has come over me in these past few days.  The word that pops into my head is: boredom.  But I hate using that word.  We live in a world of vast possibilities and curiousities and I am Bored?  I've fallen into a routine of I don't really know what to do.  I keep going back to the same things thinking: I just did this...what else can I do? I don't have any class, or anything to go to right now.  I want an adventure.  I've realized doing the same thing every day, play, work, do this, do that, isn't refreshing. 

I could tell you a story! Or create something. Or go outside. Or...you understand?  All these ideas...and I'm doing none of them.  That's the problem.  I've just got to get up and do something instead of talk about it.  I'm going to go have an adventure now.  See you guys later!  Go have your own adventure!

Also, before I go.

Make your life COUNT.  Each and every day.  Each and every second.  Because you don't know how much you will have.  Make it count.

Salar de Uyuni

This took my breath away.  If I never ever visit it in person, I am glad I've got to see it in picture and know that such a place exists.  It's called Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia.

They are salt flats, which is why the ground looks like the sky.  Isn't it gorgeous?  Wow, I would love to see the stars like that someday.

Lovely.

I Danced in It

Wow, it's already June 12th!?  I haven't written in so long!  Actually it makes sense though, because I've had a long week and a half of Youth Conference and Engineering State at USU.  Both were such amazing experiences. 

I am so grateful that I went to Youth Conference.  The experiences I had there are near indescribable and I felt like I grew so much there.  My favorite activity that they had there was a Tree of Life activity based on the Book of Mormon.  We were guided by a man in white clothing and encouraged to stick to the strait and narrow path that leads to the Tree of Life which is symbolic of the Love of God and of Jesus Christ.  As we were led, it felt like being inside of a movie as spotlights would land on Book of Mormon characters such as Samuel the Lamanite and Nephi, son of Helaman.  As we progressed there were signs with scriptures describing the journey we were going on and different paths appeared that would lead us away from the path we were going on like the Path of Fear, the Path of Fame, the Path of Fun, and the Path of Doubt.  We continued on our path and passed through a strait and narrow gate.  There was fog and mist, and eventually we came to a rope that led up a steep hill (seriously at a 60 degree angle) that was representative of the rod of iron that we must hold fast to.  It was really hard to climb up the hill.  The dirt would shift under my feet, but I made it to the top.  And that was the best part.  There were so many people there to guide us to the tree, dressed in heavenly, perfect white.  I could see the tree so bright ahead of me and as I got there I was greeted and hugged by people I knew and loved.  I was overwhelmed with such an amazing feeling as I thought to myself "I made it".  This is true happiness.  I was able to go and take a light from the tree, that symbolizes the fruit on the tree.  In that instance, I finally understood more fully why Lehi wanted his family to come to the tree, because I wanted my family and my friends to be there feeling that wonderful love that I was feeling.  I saw all the lights out there in the city and wanted so badly for everyone to feel this message.  I cried, wanting so badly for everyone to be able to feel of God's love like I was feeling so strongly at that moment.  It was absolutely beautiful.  I caught a vision of missionary work, and what the whole purpose was.  If you would like to read Lehi's vision, it is found in the Book of Mormon in the 1st book of Nephi.  It is relatable to everyone's life and has a great message for everyone.

Engineering State was also so much fun.  I got to try out so many new things like circuit boards, bridge building, computer coding, and got to tour labs like the synthetic lab and space dynamics lab at USU.  I loved being able to learn more!  It was so fun!  The people there were so nice.  I did feel a little awkward at some points though, because there were some girls who were absolutely boy crazy.  They were trying non stop to have a hand hold, or have an opportunity to flirt with some of the guys.  Every little thing a guy did, they way over dramatized.  I was left in awe.  Those poor guys.  It was awkward because I would try to make better friends with these guys, and later the girls would bombard me with questions like "Which guy do you like?  Do you like So and So?  You and him were talking and looked like you like each other."  And they kept trying to push me into the arms of guys I didn't even know at the dance on the last night.  I was polite, but honestly, although those guys were nice to get to know, I can't possibly like a guy in that way, that I've only known for three days.  You just can't really know a person in that short of a time.  I like having lots of time to get to know people, and not get pushed into  a situation like that so suddenly.  It doesn't make sense to me.  They were completely infatuated with these boys they most likely will never see again.  At the women's lunch panel they brought up boys again, and I completely shrunk back.  I was embarrassed for them, because it was all so silly and giggly.  I tried to bring up some questions about engineering at appropriate times.  Finally one girl said "So who do you like?  I saw you talking with David yesterday."  And I said immediately, "David is a nice guy, but I don't even really know him.  It's been great getting to know so many people out here though.  It's nice to make new friends."  And they suddenly realized I wasn't as into the "boy" part of engineering camp as they were.  Was it ever a part?  I guess it was, just not for me. Yep.


Anyway, it rained today and I danced in it.  I slept for two hours on the car ride home.  I'm loving being with my family tonight.  It's a beautiful day.  What or who do you love?

To Make Beautiful

I'm going to be gone the next few days to Youth Conference!  Youth Conference is an event my church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, holds in the summer for youth ages 18 and under to attend to have a fun time, become better friends, and to come to know Christ more than we did before.

I've been part of this Youth Council that has been planning it, and maybe that's part of why I'm so excited to go, and I keep thinking about it.  I'm not expecting anything huge or life altering to happen, but I know that I am excited to learn more about Christ in such an engaging and interesting setting.  All those glimpses of truth, and testimony building will be the most life changing thing I believe I will ever have.  Although, it comes slowly, it comes.  And that's what's important.  To keep moving forward, even if just a little bit at a time.  Line upon line.  Trial upon trial. Precious moment to precious moment.

I don't think I've ever been so excited to go to a Youth Conference before.  I feel older and ready to listen to the things that God wants me to know, so I can reach my full potential.  There are things I've read and heard at church that pierce me to my very soul.  I know with a surety that God is there, and loves me and everyone who has ever lived with a love that is infinite and indescribable.  I read something in the Ensign (one my church's magazines) that said: "Imagine what it would mean to you if you could see yourself as God sees you.. What if you looked at yourself with the same benevolence, love, and confidence that God does? Imagine the impact it would have on your life to understand your eternal potential as God understands it."

Wouldn't that be so cool?  Just imagine what we would do, if we could see us from God's perspective.

I had a neat experience the other day.  I was getting ready for bed, and I naturally am a night owl, so I like to read before i go to bed so my mind can slow down and feel tired.  I was reading the Ensign again because I was interested in learning more about the power of the priesthood, God's power and authority on the earth.  I wanted to take matters into my own hands to find the answers I was confused about, or hadn't really thought I wanted to know before.  I learned a lot and realized that without the priesthood, life would be dismal.  I felt the magnitude of this part of the gospel.  I flipped through finding other articles, when I came to one about a man talking about his experience of realizing the impact of what Christ had done for him.  His experience touched me deeply, so much that after I was finished with the article, I sat on my bed with tears silently drifting down my face.  I couldn't move.  I wanted to feel that moment forever.  I felt that pure love that my Heavenly Father and Christ have for me.  I felt of the importance of the atonement.  I felt surrounded by change and peace.  I knew with no doubt then that what Christ did for all of us was real.  It was such a short article, but I am so grateful that I read it.  I'm grateful to all of those moments that God helps me, loves me, and trusts me.  I know that he knows me perfectly. I know that the Book of Mormon is a true testament of Jesus Christ.  I know that families are eternal, forever, and crucial to this path of happiness we are traveling on.  To me, that moment was one of the most beautiful, and precious things in my life.  To know that God knows me and that he has done so much for me.  If you are searching truth for yourself, even if you don't know if God exists, I challenge you to pray.  Talk with God, and listen and watch for the answers to the questions you have.  They may not come immediately or in the way you would think, but I know that God always answers and that he is always there to listen and respond to his children.

In my life, coming to Christ continually and proclaiming his gospel is the most important and glorious thing in my life.  Nothing can compare.  Everything this life has to offer is made more beautiful by it.  It brings happiness and love.

My friend, Hyrum, is leaving on a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints this September.  I am immensely proud of him.  I know that he will be a great missionary because he has a heart that is willing to give love to those who need it, and is willing to let the Lord guide him.  I am sure along with being excited there are other emotions like nervousness, fear perhaps, that going into the great unknown.  But I want him to know that although these feelings are there, they're normal.  And to let his and my Heavenly Father be your best friend, your guide, your teacher.  I can only write him words from so far away, and he can only do all that he can do, but God has the power to help him in ways that make the impossible, vastly possible.  Put your complete trust in him.  I'm excited and proud of him.  I am so happy for him.  I believe that he will do great things. I'm going to miss him  like Pluto misses being a planet. :P


Woah, I wrote a really long post.  I hope you all can find glimpses of truth and happiness in every day of your life.  You can make happiness. You can also get sunburnt when you go to the park without wearing sunblock like I did today.   You can do a lot of things.  Go be you.

Quote!

Keep smiling. :)