Oh Refresh me!

Hello all,
Here it is, almost the end of October, and I couldn't be happier! After this long crazy rough month, i'm ready for a new one! Plus it also means 1 1/2 months left of the semester!
This week went somewhat smoothly. I was glad to end it however, with our Fall Sing Concerts. We had 3 performances Thurs-Sat. All went very well. I love singing with the Accapella Choir-it is quite the experience and much better than being in high school! And my choir director, Dr. Bishop is one amazing person! I have learned so much from him and gained more love for music and the meaning behind it since I have been in choir here.
My mom and my grandma came to watch Saturday's performance so it was awesome to visit with them! My mom even brought me some food-thanks a million!
Yesterday was truly refreshing(hence my title!) I had a very good day and learned a lot in church. I love being able to go every sunday and learn more about the Gospel. It strengthens my testimony a lot. I was even able to pay attention to the sunday school lesson(I have a hard time doing that, but I prayer for focus yesterday!). In doing so, I came upon a really awesome scripture in Colossians 1:10-11
10That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
11Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfullness.
Its really amazing to me how I have recently been finding answers to prayers in scriptures. It's helping me to have more of a love for the scriptures as well.
Along with those, I'd like to share one other thing.
The other night, I was praying, and as I did so, I prayed for strength and that I would be able to make it through the rest of this semester and be able to get my grades up and focus in school. After I prayed, I was just thinking and pondering on what I needed to do, when I opened my scriputures. They fell open (literally this time), to 3 Nephi 22:14
"In righteousness shalt thou be established; thou shalt be far from oppression for thou shalt not fear, and from terror for it shall not come near thee."
It was as simple as that. "In righteousness shalt thou be established". I know if I live righteously, I'll be fine. I have had some struggles this past month, but its going to be fine. I can feel it! Thanks to some motivation from my Aunt Kari(:, I know I need to get my act together! I know that doing my part of it is what the Lord wants, in order for him to walk with me along the way. I want to be far from "oppression, fear, and terror."
Here I go to a new week, a new point in my life you could say, pressing forward.........

There is nothing so easy to learn as experience and nothing so hard to apply.

"Action and reaction, ebb and flow, trial and error, change - this is the rhythm of living. Out of our over-confidence, fear; out of our fear, clearer vision, fresh hope. And out of hope, progress."
-Bruce Barton-

I'm not sure I have much to say today. My title quote and my opening quote speak for themselves for much of what has gone one recently, as well as for life in general.
This weekend I came home to Show Low for the Homecoming football game since I am officially alumni. It was alot of fun to see all of my friends, those who have and haven't graduated. I miss them so much! Especially my best friend Cassidi, who is a junior this year. We of course had a round of (virgin)daquiris! I had never needed and wanted one more than i did! I also got to see the members of my ward which was great. I miss first ward because I have practically grown up in that ward!
Other than the fun times this weekend, I decided that its best if I just stay in Thatcher where I belong. It seems that every time I have left Thatcher, which has only been 3 or 4 times, something has gone wrong. There's my sign I guess! Perhaps EAC is my happy place for now. I'm better off if I just stay there and keep going on with my college life as is. My top priority right now needs to be school and my music. BYU is next on my list so hopefully things will work out. I know they will.
To all of you reading this, just keep remembering, as in my quotes, life really does have its twists and turns and changes. Whether people you know and love change, or whether you change, or if God simply (or not so simply)puts a change out of no where in your path, only for you personal experience and learning, its all for a reason. Everything happens for a reason. I truly believe that. What else can you do but go with it? No matter how much something hurts or how angry you feel through a trial, Life goes on. As much as I HATE to say that, it does. "Progress for Progress."
"Nothing is a waste of time if you use the experience wisely."
Just remember that because it is sure helping me(:

Stress level up and down...whats that about?!?!

I hate how weekends always go by way to fast. Particularly the last couple weekends. Because by Sunday night, i'm already ready for another break. I tend to get stressed out just thinking that the next day is Monday. What can ya do right?

Even though the weekend was short, it was a lot of fun! Friday we had no school which was nice. Here in Safford/Thatcher, they have the Graham County Fair every year and its a big deal so they cancel school on the Friday that its going on. So, me and Hannah and Heather went to the parade, yes there was even a parade, to see Kendra, my other roommate march with the EAC band. That was pretty fun. The rest of the day we just spent at home taking naps and being lazy! Friday night I went to the fair to watch "Company", the show choir at EA, perform, as well as the jazz ensamble. They all did an awesome job! Afterwards, I had the adventure of trying to find my car in the very big parking lot at the fair. My friend Travis walked around with me for half an hour so I wouldn't get kidnapped or anything haha, and we still could not find my car. I felt like such an idiot lol! So we ended up going to Travis's car and driving around in his so that we could find mine, which only took like 5 minutes. We seriously must have passed my car 3 or 4 times walking by. What a night!

Saturday was kinda another lazy day. I cleaned up my room and washed my car windows while the twins were doing laundry at their sisters.

Saturday night I had a date with Travis, going to the fair! Wow! I have not had that much fun in a long time! Travis brought out my crazy side, which is scary. I went on rides at the fair that I would have never thought of going on. AKA: The scariest ones! I think I am somewhat overcoming my fear of that.....somewhat. I was worried that I would get sick but I only got a little dizzy. Travis was the one who didn't feel so good afterwards lol! It was still fun though.

After that we went and got ice cream at sonic. Then we went to my place and did some stargazing on the roof that we are not allowed on at my apartment. (: My roommate Heather joined us which was alot of fun! So it was quite a fun Saturday! Just what I needed to end my crazy week.

Sunday was very very good. I truly enjoyed the lessons taught. Particularly in Sacrament Meeting. All the talks were on scripture study. One of the girls even gave a challenge to read not just each night but every morning too. This is actually something I have sorta been doing recently. Even if its' just one verse in the morning, it goes along really well with prayer and certainly makes the day better. So I am really going to try and keep doing that. I'm really struggling with trying not to stress out with school right now. My mom has given me some good advice and I am trying hard to keep focused on my goals and what my important things to be doing are. Even if that means less socializing. BYU is really important and top of my list at the moment, but there is a lot I have to do to prepare for that. My thing is to keep remembering that! No more high school games of slacking off and being lazy! College is much different! But I'm not going to give up because that will get me nowhere. I am just really glad that I have institute and church to go to because that will really help me along the most. Especially reading my scriptures and saying my prayers every day and night.

I hope you all have a good week! Here is my quote:

"When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, "I used everything you gave me". "

He'll Carry You

"BE NOT AFRAID"

Here it is-Wednesday-finally! Yes, I have actually been waiting for Wednesday to come, almost, more than friday. Tuesday is always my busiest day and so I am always hoping it will go fast,which it does usually. Plus, it has been a very stressful week. After my somewhat rough weekend, it basically carried over to Monday and so Monday was a really bad day. I figure sometimes you just need to freak out for a day, and in my case, cry, be cranky, spill to a good friend, cry some more, and then start over the next day. I got really stressed out with school on Monday as well as with some other things. I do that once in a while. I even went and hit a raquetball around and knocked all my anger out, but it did make me more tired....Anyway, we threw a birthday party at our apartment for Hannah and Heather-my twin roommates Monday night, so that was my highlight of the day. It was awesome and quite a few people showed up. And we are still eating leftover cake....(:

So, after a rough day, I got up Tuesday feeling better and just trying to breathe some. I still wasnt focusing much in class, but oh well. However, I went to devotional which is always enjoyable. Infact, it was awesome! One of my friends that is in choir sang for the special musical number and I cried through almost the whole song. It was called, He'll Carry You. (Hence my blog title for the day!) It was a beautiful song and she did a wonderful job. The song was exactly what I needed to hear. It was about the Savior's love for us and how he will carry us and help us when we need it. There was a part in the song that was one of my favorites. It said something about the world or those on earth not having the right thing to say, the Lord will. I realized how little trust I put in the Lord sometimes. I say that I trust him, but I don't show it sometimes. So it was truly a reminder to me that thats what I need to do. And then last night, I prayed about a couple things and for the first time, it was clear to me how understanding the Lord is. I always knew he was, but I don't think I have ever had the reassurance come so clearly. It was an incredible feeling. It strengthened my love for Him as well. As it shows in my favorite Greg Olsen picture above, "Be Not Afraid". I can't be afraid because fear is Satan's thing. There is no reason to be afraid, per se, of things in life, when I have the Lord right by my side. He is comforting and knows how we feel the way we feel and why. What could be better trust than that?

Well, on that note, I guess I should get back to my life and be happy and stuff!

Just remember, "Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get."

Weekend or not, things happen!

Where do I begin???
Ok, so did I have a good or bad weekend? Yes.
Friday morning, I left for Show Low, ready for a totally fun trip with my best friend Emily! I met her in Show Low and we hit the road for Utah! General Conference weekend! I was able to get tickets for the saturday afternoon session-wahoo. So, we left and got to Orem, and got to my cousins house where we planned on staying. Oh-and that was after totally taking the WRONG Center St. exit-yes, there are two-one of them in Orem, one in Provo. We took the one for Provo. So, I called Beau-thanks man for helping us so many times this weekend(more details to come on the many times). He helped us get to Orem from Provo. So, we went to bed about 2am.
Saturday morning we got up and watched the morning session of conference there at my cousins',which was really good! I'm excited for Henry B. Eyring to be in our new General Presidency!
Our next adventure took place when we left to get to Salt Lake for the afternoon session. We thought it would be easier to take the tram,(halfway in Sandy), and then take it the rest of the way to Salt Lake City. Well, we got to Sandy and couldn't find the tram. We had directions, but along with all the construction and our bad luck with getting lost, we never made it to the tram. This also made us late and we ended up just giving up on even getting to conference, sinc they give away your seats if you don't arrive 30 minutes prior. So much for those tickets that were not easy to get
:(. We decided to just drive the rest of the way to Salt Lake. We met up with my friend Ciara who lives in Salt Lake, and watched some of the afternoon session at the Visitor's Center.
After that, and getting some lunch, we drove back to Orem, and met up with Beau to go to his ended-up-being forfeited soccer game! Beau-I told you, you should have gone to Priesthood Session(;!OH yeah, we also got lost trying to find Beau's house....
Anyway, so, Emily took off to the mall while Beau and I went to his house to just hang out and catch up, which was really great! After a while, we went to the mall and met up with Emily, as well as another good friend, Scott, who lives in Spanish Fork. We all got ice cream and then went back to Beau's to watch a movie, "White Chicks"(very hilarious!) It was nice and relaxing after a crazy day! So, we did that and then Beau and I talked some more while being entertained by Scott teaching Emily how to wrestle-crazy kids! Great fun-let me tell ya!
So Emily and I left around 1 am to get some sleep,since we had a long road trip back today.
Yes, very quick trip to Utah! Worth it? In a sense, yes. The highlight was of course hanging out with friends and singing loudly in the car with Emily! We even made up a song about the slow car in front of us!
Now I am in Show Low stopping for a visit with the fam before I head back to my oh-so-exciting life in Thatcher....I am so ready for another break!
So, thats the adventures of Rachelle for the weekend. Let me know what YOU think(: T.T.F.N.

Time passes by, more time to come

The weekend went really well. My grandpas funeral was a very nice service. I actually had the opportunity to sing at it. I sang my favorite hymn, "Where Can I Turn For Peace?" This was also the last song my grandpa got to hear me sing(: I actually was able to hold it together! It was really really good to be around my family. They are certainly great people! After the funeral and luncheon on friday, we visited some and then me and the cousins went swimming at the hotel pool. Ok, well I didn't actually swim. I got my suit on and decided it was too cold. Then of course, my cousin decided he would push me into the pool, while my uncle got it all on film. Lucky me!
Saturday, we got up and just me mom and my brothers went to Target-yay! I love Target! And, I bought my very own raquet and raquetballs(: Now I can go play whenever I want, even if its by myself! Finding the time to play should be interesting, but I'm so addicted to it that I will make time! So, after Target we went back to my grandma's and visited some more with the family before I took off back to Thatcher. I got back home late afternoon and just cleaned up a bit. Saturday night we had a stake dinner and then watched the General Relief Society broadcast, which was AWESOME! I took a lot of notes it was so good! The general relief society presidency, as well as President Monson spoke. They are so wonderful-and truly speak with the spirit. I was very touched by the words that were spoken about service, familes and what our role is as women of the church. It also made me feel better to know that I can do as much as anyone, even though I am still young and barely getting into the swing of things being in relief society. It strenghthened my testimony of service, which I have never really been strong in. Now I am actually looking for ways I can serve. One of my favorite quotes by Marion G. Romney is, "The sure way to peace and happiness in this life, is to serve the Lord, today and everyday." I hope I can follow that! I am longing to be a better person lately. I really think its because of the wonderful example of my grandpa.
After that note, I guess I should probably get to class but I figured I should blog today(: Here I go to what I know is going to be another crazy week! Help...???!!!
T.T. F. N.