Help Him to Help Others

  Today I want to talk about one of my amazing younger brothers, Austin. Austin is just amazing. I mean seriously, he is one of the best brothers. He is seriously one of my best friends. I can go to him for anything and he will just sit there and listen to me. He will put gas in my car when its cold outside and even when it is warm. He will even go to the doctors with me when I do not want to go alone. Seriously who does that? Oh right Austin will! Him and Riley [other amazing best younger brother] will take out the trash, mow the lawn, and shovel the walks without question. They are outstanding! One time, I asked Austin to go give a present to one of my friends back home, and he did it without question. Also, Austin is very compassionate and loves to serve. He has done so much around the neighborhood and in our Church.
     He is also, this summer, going to the Philippines for two weeks for a humanitarian trip. How cool right? Not only is he leaving just a week or two after graduation, but he is going to go work, not to play. He is so excited to go. Here is him explaining what he is doing, " This summer, I will be going to the Philippines with a group of volunteers to participate in a humanitarian service program sponsored by Reaching Out Worldwide ("ROW'), a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization focused on helping less fortunate people have better lives. I will be helping ROW to construct a water system; teaching how to keep the water supply clean by keeping litter and sewage away from it; constructing and outfitting birthing clinics;and equipping homes with clean-burning lanterns that will provide light to homes without electricity, making it possible for children to study without kerosene fumes." He is helping making this possible for people who he has never met and I think that is so cool. Anyways, he needs help raising the money so he can get there. You can help! Anything will help. Help him help others. Every little bit helps! He is an amazing guy who just wants to help others! All the money that is donated goes to funding his trip! You can make a donation to http://www.gofundme.com/antiquephilippines. You can help him help change the lives of others in the Philippines! I love what my brother is doing and where he is going in the world! Please anything helps!

Riley, Austin and I. They are just the best a girl can ever ask for!

Most Random Fun Weekend

     Man definitely had a fantastic weekend! Its a holiday weekend and usually people go home for the weekend. Instead one of my best friends, Danielle came and partied it up with my roommates and me. Definitely random and totally needed. We had so much fun and the weekend came and left way too fast.  So to start from the beginning.
     Friday, Danielle came! I have missed having her as a roommate! Its so weird when you live for someone for so long and then you don't, its so strange. Anyways, Ashley had a date that night, Kelsey had to go to Richfield to watch Colton open his mission call (He is going to California!), and Lexie was with Nate. So it was just Danielle and me friday night. There was a gymnastics meet and so we decided we would go to that and see where the night takes us. So since Danielle is not a student she was going to have to buy her own ticket. As we got to the ticket booth, some random guy was all, "Do you guys need a ticket?" and just hands us a ticket?! Crazy right? We both decided we definitely were meant to be there. So we sat right behind our cheerleader friends and it was a blast! Gymnastics is so legit to watch! Also,  SUU won! The girls were on fire on friday! After the meet, Danielle and I went to Panda Express and just talked! It was so great! Miss having her to talk to face to face. Anyways here comes the crazy part of our night. We were just chilling in my room and some of our guys friends were texting me and then next thing I knew, I heard my door slam open. Now in the normal world, when that happens you freak out, but in college you just question what is going on. I thought it was my roommate Lexie and her boy and she just had a hard time with the door but it wasn't her... We hear people running up the stairs and our guy friends burst into my room and grab Danielle and me. What in the world? The boys took us to taco bell then to burger king. It was crazy fun! Then we went to the boys house and played games till way too late haha.

    Saturday, we decided to go to St. George! Kelsey and I were wanting new swim suits and BYU rugby was playing down there so of course had to go watch! So we leave early to go shopping. We go to the mall, they have like no selection of swim suits, go to old navy and they had nothing, go to target and not a great selection, and went to ross and again not so great. So our shopping trip was a bust. We are in southern utah and there were hardly any swim suits...What in the world? The rugby game was great. Of course I loved it! Rugby is such a fun sport to watch and I had to explain to my friends how the game worked haha. Then we played more signs at our friends house once again till the wee hours of the night haha. So much fun!

   Sunday, was lazy sunday! Went to church and then just watched movies all day. Danielle and I fell asleep on the couch and Kelsey got a picture of it! It was funny! Ahh my weekend was a crazy random and much needed weekend! I love my friends! They know how to make my weekend fun! I hope all of your weekends were as great as mine. Well until next time!

The Day My Life Turned Upside Down

    Oh the joys of Valentines day. The day when you either spend it alone or with someone you love. The thing is, why do we need one day a year for this? Don't you love someone and want to show that someone how much you care about them everyday? Personally, I have no experienced this but I would rather have a random day where someone gets me flowers or gives me candy just because, not because its a "holiday." But again that is my own opinion. As for me I do not like Valentines day for other reasons. Last year on Valentines day, my dad went into surgery to get his tumor removed and came out with a limited amount of time left on this Earth. Lets just say it was not a good day and today all those memories came flooding back all day.

[The good ole days, when I could sit on his lap]
     If you have watched Switched at Birth, there is this saying in the TV show saying, "Because that's the thing, the day before your life changes forever, its just like any other day." And it wasn't even the day before, it was the hours before. I went home to be there for my dads surgery and I just thought it would give me relief knowing that the tumor was out of him, the same feeling I got when my mom went into surgery to get her tumor out 4 years earlier. We woke up super early to get dad to LDS hospital and man I remember how uncomfortable the chairs were and how hungry I was. A lot of my aunts and my grandparents came and waiting with my mom and myself [brothers had to go to school]. Catching up, laughing, doing homework, and just making time pass. Then the doctor called mom in...Great... When mom was gone, it seemed like the world stopped and every second was a minute, a minute was an hour, etc. Mom came and I knew it was bad...She had be crying. She told everyone there and me that the cancer had spread and that my dad only had 4-6 years. I cried A LOT. I even saw my Grandpa Swain cry and I have never seen him cry or any man cry like my grandpa did that day. The worse part was that since dad would probably not remember much of our visit that day, we couldn't tell him, the doctor was waiting until the next day to break it to my dad. That was probably the hardest part, I couldn't let my feelings out. So I cried a lot in my moms, grandmas, and aunts arms before I could go see my dad. Then after spending all day in the hospital, we went to red robin [which kindof ended up being some sort of tradition with my family and my aunt jens] and again because my brothers or cousins didn't know I couldn't let my feelings out. Then the hardest thing I have probably ever done, was sit my brothers down with my mom and give them the news. It was hard because I am their older sister and I couldn't protect them from this and there was no way to help them or make it better.

[We are kindof goofballs :)]
   So lets just say it was a sucky day last year. Well as this Valentines day approached, I anticipated it to suck because then it might not really suck. As I got to my first class, I couldn't focus. All I could think of was what went down last year, and what my dad is going to miss because last month we found out that the cancer spread more and he only has a couple months maybe a year. Then I get into my second class and look at my friend and I tell her I do not want to be there. So after our quiz we just left, I know you shouldn't just leave class but today I did not care. I already teared up in my first class and I knew I would have a break down in my second class. Lone behold I was right [luckily I was home]. My aunt put a status about it and I just lost it. I am the type of person that will hide my pain and sorrow so I made sure it didn't look like I was home. But Kelsey knows me too well and saw my car and came up to my room. I tried to hide the fact that I had been crying for about 20 minutes but thats the thing about crying...You can't really hide it. So she is all "Amanda I know you have been crying." Dang it got caught. So she got me out of my room and made me hot chocolate and we ate frosting. Definitely made my morning just a bit better. Then I posted this picture on facebook of my dad and I and how I love him..blah blah blah.. [you can look at the picture.] And then everyone is putting all these things like I am sorry and your family was in my prayers and it just made me cry more. Not really sad crying but kind of like a happyish cry knowing that I have a lot of caring people in my life. Then Ashley and I had this whole early evening plan [so that she could get surprised later by Jake..bwahaha we sneaky] of getting pizza and perks of being a wallflower. It was great to not think about what day it was and just watch a movie and eat amazing pizza. P.S. perks of being a wallflower is really good and interesting.

[My boys <3 They are amazing]
   Then I found out my brothers surprised my mom with flowers at work! How sweet right? My dads idea. I love those boys so much! One thing I realized today as I have been comforted by my roommates, friends and family is that people are in our lives for a certain reason. Some are there for your whole life and some are only there for a bit but they are all in our lives to help us in some way. I don't know how in the world I would have gotten through the day without them. It was a hard day because not only all of this but I am also 250 miles away from my family. But with technology, I can skype, call, text, facebook etc as much as I desire. Sometimes life just sucks but there is quote I found was "Not everyday is going to be good but there is something good in every day." And that is so true. Yeah today sucked and I wanted it over before it started, yeah I cried way too much for a day, redid my makeup 3 times, but I had some laughs and smiles along the way. I had to laugh and save Ash and Jake from being stranded because Jake locked his keys in his car, I laughed at the movie and I smiled knowing that yeah my life got turned upside down a year ago today and news came that no one should ever have to hear, but its been a year and right now my dad is still here and I can still make some memories with him and my family that will last my lifetime. Some times its hard not to think that he will more in likely not be at my wedding, he wont see my kids grow up, he wont see how my brothers grow up, my future husband might not get to ask him for his permission to marry me, and so much more but we can still have some good laughs, lunch dates, family pictures, watching movies together and more. Its not the end yet, and that is something that has gotten me through this day and this year and a half. I love my daddy so much. <3

 I love my daddy!

My family at my graduation from Snow. They are the reason I am in school.

I am a Mormon. I know it. I live it. I love it.

   I am a Mormon. I know it. I live it. I love it. This was said in last general conference and its a great saying. It is so true. I was blessed to be born into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and have loved it ever since I could remember. I have attended other churches and for me they did not feel right. People ask me why am I so sure this is the True Church or the Right Church and I go you just know. The feeling I get going to Church is something that I cannot describe and I did not get that feeling when I went to other churches. Yes the LDS church has been the only church and religion in my life but why would I question when I have known since I was 4 years old that the LDS church is the true church. So I thought I would elaborate on the saying, I am a Mormon. I know it. I live it. I love it.
     I know that this Church is the true Church. I know that Prophets are called by God today. We read about the Prophets in the Bible and they were called by God and why wouldn't He call Prophets to help us through this day in age? I know that the standards that have been given by the Prophets have only benefited my life. I know that Christ is always with us and He is waiting for us to ask for help. He is the way back to our Heavenly Father. I know that we are here for a reason and that there is a plan for each and every one of us. I know that the Book of Mormon is a true book and another testament of Christ. The Book of Mormon is all about the Americas. It shows us that Christ did not only stay in one certain area, that He loves and visits everyone. I know that when we pray, Heavenly Father is listening and is ready to answer.
    I live the Gospel by following the standards and doing what is asked. I dress modestly, I do not drink or do any drugs, I respect myself and others, I do not swear, I do not go partying every weekend, I go to church for 3 hours every Sunday, I go to a religion class twice a week, and so much more. I have lived this way for my whole life and I wouldn't change that for anything. I go to the temple where I can be in a holy place and have worldly problems leave my mind for a bit. By living these things, it has only benefited my life and has helped me grow in this world.
    I love knowing that Heavenly Father knows each and every one of us personally and has a plan for all of us. I love that the LDS church is one of the first people helping in a disaster [international or even helping a neighbor]. I love how the women in the Church will make dinner for another family in need. I love how welcoming the members are. I love how caring everyone is about the members and even non members. I love knowing that when people leave this Earth we get to see them again. I love that I can be married to my future husband for all time and eternity, not just here on Earth. I love that Church brings a smile to my face. I love the Priesthood. I love the Gospel.

[LDS Newport Beach Temple]

   My religion has helped me so much through my life. It has comforted me when times have been rough and it has brought a smile on my face everyday. It hurts me when people talk bad about it because I only have good things to say about the LDS church. Yes we do not drink or do any drugs but is it healthy for you in the first place? Nope so why do people still do it? Yes we dress modestly but why do we need to show off our bodies? People may "look good" showing off but its the personality and the deep things that truly matter. Yes we do not drink coffee but again is it healthy for you? Nope it is not. Yes we do not cover ourselves with tattoos but lets think of when we are old, are you going to really want to have a wrinkly tattoo or be embarrassed by it?  We do not swear or use inappropriate language. No we do not have more than one mom, no we do not worship Joseph Smith, no we did not "add" to the Bible and basically any other rumor is not true. And yes we believe in Jesus Christ and we are Christian. I know that this Church is the true Church. Its the same Church that was on the Earth at the time of Christ and that Prophets have been back on the Earth for 183 years now and they were and all are called by God. I know who I am, I know what I stand for, and I know where I am going. Do you?

Who knew that would help?

   So I have been trying to figure out what to write about. I have probably done about 10 drafts and by paragraph two I erase it all. But today is a new day and new attempt to write a post. So today was a reminder that we are meant to be somewhere at a certain time for a certain reason. I have talked about this before but lately I haven't really been reminding myself that everything happens for a reason.
  At the beginning of the year, I was wishing for better news about my dad. The past two years have just been left to right bad news, nothing really new. So I was hoping that for the year 2013 maybe it will be my lucky year. Well it hasn't started out so hot. The bad news just kept coming. And it has been hard. One night I was praying just for something, I didn't know what I needed but I knew I needed something. Then all of these things happened. My roommates distracting me by going snowboarding, calling my friend who knew exactly what I was going through and knew what I needed to hear, old leaders/now friends telling me that they are there for me, serving others, getting letters from missionaries and they said the right things even though they have no clue whats going on, working EFY Express, going and playing at the park and just laughing, and so much more. It has made me realize that yeah life can suck but it is not suppose to be this cookie cutter life. That would be boring and not productive. We are here on this Earth for a reason. We are here to learn and grow. I also realized that yeah life sucks sometimes but there are people and things in our lives that are there to make life better. I needed all those things this past month.

   There are things we are not going to like about this life. There are going to be times that will suck, but there are also going to be times where life is amazing. One thing that I have been reminded is that it is going to be better, everything will work out. I heard somewhere, maybe on pinterest, that no matter how dark the night is the sun will be up in the morning and a new day will start. So remember that a new day will come when its time. Be Strong the Sun Will Come Up.