Life Changer

I usually don't do posts like this, but I have to because the craziest thing happened yesterday...

It all started when I watched the Saturday morning session of the general conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (To watch or get more information click here!).  I love General Conference but I never watch Saturday session, I generally prefer to read the talks in the Ensign at the end of the month, however, the way that I have set up my budget, I was out of money to go into the city this weekend (do not be concerned, I will be there again next weekend) so I decided that I could watch general conference this weekend.  

When the session started and President Monson stood to address members of the church all over the world, I could feel the power of his presence blasting through my computer screen.

He made an announcement that will change the lives of countless people throughout the world... including mine: The minimum age that boys can serve missions has been reduced from 19 to 18 (after high school graduation) and from 21 to 19 for girls! I started crying and had no clue why. I have not always had a great desire to serve a mission, as I know many young women have, but suddenly in the events of the last several months it was becoming clear to my why I had had many of the thoughts, conversations and experiences that I did. All those experiences were not just weird, random and disconnected events, they were leading up to this announcement.

Did this mean that I would be serving a mission come my 19th birthday?

I know that this change in church procedure came directly from Heavenly Father because He wants more people to have the opportunity to teach and serve missions.

Does that include me?

I do not know yet what exactly this means for my life or where I will be a year from now but I do know that Heavenly Father knows where I will be and He is wants to help me get there.

What I pray for and ask about has been altered because of this announcement.

I am so grateful for this inspired change in church policy and the impact that it will make on so many people's lives. I know so many young women who want to serve missions that now will have a chance that they may not have had if they had to wait until they were 21 to serve.

This has been a life altering weekend.

A New Yorker at Last!

Here I am in New York! I am (almost) in my favorite city in the United States but the two hour train ride from Stony Brook University to the city is worth every minute... Trust me, I would know, I have done it every weekend since I got here! (If you know me, this is a fact that you are surely not surprised by.) 

The city is AMAZING! It is so obvious to me that this is where I am supposed to be!

Update: 

I have been here for 6 weeks.

I have seen 7 Broadway and Off-Broadway shows!

I have been to Washington DC (for the first time).

I have been asked for directions countless times in the city... which most of the time I can answer confidently and, more importantly, correctly.

It is so amazing being here!

The city isn't the only thing that I love... the dance program here! One word: Yes! Let me explain and say that all you fellow Utahans would be confused because it is nothing like the program at the U or any other university in the state. It is crazy small, there is no actual major, just a minor, you don't have to audition to be in the program and you don't even have to be in the program to take any of the classes! It's wonderful! And the best part is, I love them and they love me! Because I am  so excited about the classes, the teachers are excited to have me in them! They are amazing!

I am so happy!

Between dance and the city, I couldn't ask for anything different!