Signs of a Repentant Blogger

So I am officially the WORST blogger of all time. I know it has literally been a year since my last post, but I decided tonight that I was going to try harder. I love stalking other peoples' blogs so much and I get really frustrated with my sisters when they don't update their blogs so I am officially repenting and committing to blogging. I will be better. I promise.
There is WAY too much to update it one blog but I will list the bigs

1. Chris got into every med school in the world because he is a GENIUS. Seriously the most wonderfully/annoyingly smart man alive! I am SO SO SO proud of him. He has worked so hard and been so humble through this whole process and I just could not be more proud of him. He is so wonderful.
2. We will both graduate in like a month!
3. We both got into Ohio State (me phd program) and I got full funding so we should be able to cover cost of living with my hard research work and Brad Bushman agreed to let me be his grad student (Brad Bushman= media violence expert beyond expert........he is seriously the king of media violence and SO awesome. I love him. Okay I am borderline stalking him but whatever) We will keep you posted on the official decision, but this is looking good.

4. We are backpacking Europe for a month and a half starting May 3rd! Cannot wait!

5. Chris' little brother, Patrick, went into the MTC March 2nd and will be serving his mission in Prague. We miss him a ton already, but we are SO proud of him! 

So what is the take home message from the last year? And in particular the last sixth months? We are ridiculously blessed. When I think back over the last six months I seriously am blown away by the hand of the Lord in our lives and His constant watchful eye over us. I can remember spending countless nights on my knees and shedding countless tears pleading with the Lord to watch over us and take care of us and help direct our lives. He has poured out His blessings abundantly and a million times more than we deserve. I just have such a testimony that the Lord loves us more than we can possibly ever understand and that He is directing and guiding our lives. I am so grateful for Him and His love for me.

A good friend recently told me the story by Hugh B. Brown called "The Current Bush". I now have it taped on my desk at school and whenever I am feeling stressed, down trodden, or just not good enough I read it. 

My favorite part of this story is when the Elder Brown, in the depths of despair and after receiving a serious personal blow, says to the Lord, "How could you do this to me? I have done everything I could to measure up. How could you do this to me?" And the Lord, in His infinite patience and love responded "I am the gardener here. I know what I want you to do."

I am grateful for a Father in Heaven who knows what He wants me to do and more importantly knows what He wants me to become. I am grateful for the hand of the Lord in our lives over the past sixth months and what it has taught me about faith, patience, and the love of an all knowing God. I am grateful for the Gardener in my life. I have a testimony that Our Father in Heaven in real. That He loves us each individually and that He is keenly aware of each and every one of us. I know that He counts our tears and our smiles and that His work and His glory is our individual immortality and eternal life.