next stop -

So where on this planet paints a picture like this?

(And you get to see it after starting a hike at 2:30 AM - just my kind of morning activity)

And gives you this front-porch view?

And has this unique floor-plan?

Okay, okay the floor-plan gives it away

My next home: the BYU Jerusalem Center for Near Eastern Studies

Located on Mt. Scopus
Near Augusta Victoria Hospital
Jerusalem, 91196 Israel

I get to walk where Jesus walked and where He will walk again.

My plane for Tel Aviv departs the SLC Intl. airport on Tuesday, January 4. I have reached this point through too much mercy, particularly from my family and, of course, the Lord. I was at a crossroads last April, needing to know what turn to take next in this uphill path I am treading. It has been so humbling to see Him working in my life. One year ago I could have never imagined being destined for Israel. This adventure was was never apart of my college dreams, but when do our personal plans, so finite in perspective, ever really include the very best for us?

I haven't even left, and already these words hold a deeper meaning for me:

"Come, follow me."

Luke 18:22

updates continued...

And then sweetest Ellie Rae entered our lives! Born June 23, Annie and Adam welcomed their fourth little baby. Annie is incredible to me. Mother of four, jack-of-all-trades and master of all, best friend, confidant. I am so lucky to be a sister of each of these girls (we just need Talli! Talli rocks. That's all. We lucked out, getting a SIL that is just like us).

Just a couple of months later at cousin Jenna's wedding, the summer ending soon. Here are all of the sibs, minus Adam. I really can't say it enough - my brothers and sisters are the greatest of people. Remember that feeling of inadequacy upon sitting in one of your first real college classes - that realization of, "Wow, I am sitting among the best..."? Such is the story with my siblings.

Enter Jimmyville 31 (more formerly known as Liberty Square Apts, Jamestown 31). Fall semester starts and I get to live with these wonderful girls. It has been so fun. People often say, "Whoa - you live with five other girls?" when I tell them about my current living arrangements, and yes! I do, and I love it. These girls are some of my best friends. Thanks be to our humble start together - the cabin trip, all adorned in our very best plaid.

These wins came because...

...this race was run! Of course the Swiss Days 5K was enjoyed by most of the family. Such a fun tradition, running through the little city all together. My cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents mean a lot to me. Little things like this keep us together, too. Viva la Gublers!

the best of fall

So lucky were we to watch one of Nick's winning games. Can you believe he is soon to be a high school graduate? I used to tell people when we were little, "We are almost twins - just eighteen months apart," with a very confident nod. Nick rocks, what more can I say? He is smart, true, determined - not to mention tall and huge. I don't think of him as my little brother anymore, really; just another best friend.

October saw me running the Las Vegas Ragnar with "Team Q" - thanks to Elise, Qualtrics, and all of my Ragnar besties for making those 195 miles incredible. I heart Ragnar.

Fall cannot be without our family's most favorite, semi-annual holiday, General Conference.

I tell you, my roommates are way too much fun. This is our medal ceremony for the 1st Annual Roommate Olympics, which consisted of an arm wrestle, starring contest, flexibility test, and a foot race. The results: Kayla - bronze; Cassie - silver; me- gold. $20 worth of Bajio Bucks between the three of us. Yeah, baby.

The contestants, with so much late-night, silly charm.

And here we reach a stopping point - but not for long. The best is yet to be...in just 96 hours I am going home for Thanksgiving. Christmas will be just around the corner, and then I'll board a plane. So where is this next venture taking place?

Stay tuned.

Its total revealing deserves an entire post.

okay, this is good

Ever wondered how to really come to be "filled with this love" (Moroni 7:48) - to be filled with charity? I sure have, especially since I know that if I'm lacking in charity I won't amount to anything much that is really, truly great (verse 46).

I often find myself returning to the study of charity in the scriptures, needing to be reminded that nothing is more important than this virtue. "Charity...is the greatest of all", right? Yes! I wholeheartedly believe that. So beyond the first imperative step of praying for charity, how do I really become filled with this love every single day?

Here.

I learned a little more about how I can through this fine read.

It is most definitely mind-changing, and thus life-changing.

106 pages

(can't beat that - 'tis small and simple and, therefore, beloved by the college student)

beautifully written

truly enlightening and inspiring.

It helped me further understand this from Elder Oaks: "Charity is something one becomes."

Thanks to another Hinckley woman for helping me further find

the real me.

a simple beginning

And so a new adventure begins with this blogging business! I wasn't ever too interested in blogging until this last year - maybe moving away from home has inspired me to stay connected with people I admire and love, just a little bit? I'm excited to share some of my own thoughts here and relate the little lessons of life I'm learning with others. Blogging is a simple way to do this, but Sister Marjorie Hinckley, one of my greatest examples, said that if the small and simple things we do in life are good, "we will end up having lived a fulfilling life - and that is a great thing!" I could not better agree.