On Sunday morning i awoke with a fierce determination to set goals and to reach them as the week went on. Know one thing, i am a very stubborn and determined person. Once i get my mind latched onto something I have to do it.


Life had me strung out and i was ready for a change, so i wanted to do things that led to habits. I wanted to make goals that helped my emotional, physical, and spiritual well being. I prayed about it throughout the day and at the end of the day i had three goals set. Another thing that you should know about me is that i love the number three.


I considered it a success if i was out of bed by 7. Praaaaaise good friends who helped me with my goal! My friend gets up way earlier than that because he has to be at work by 6- i worry for him and his sanity- so i asked him to text me at 6:30 to help me wake up. So he was the one i was accountable to every morning and it helped immensely. He would text me songs to wake up to, which made waking up that early a lot more bearable.

End Result: I woke up every morning at 6:30ish and was out of bed by 7. I had more energy throughout the day and i felt like every day was more productive. I was able to see my favourite constellation, Orion, when i woke up, and I was able to set aside quiet time in the morning to do important things. I felt like i had more energy to do everything! Although, to be completely honest i usually took naps after i'd been up for a couple of hours annnnnd Friday was a bust. Eden tried to wake me up by taking all my blankets but 6:30 am Emily tends to be extremely stubborn and demands sleep.

Waking up at 6:30 was step one of a two part goal.

Real talk: I've been horrid at studying my scriptures for the last little stretch of my life. Sure, i'd read them, but how much would i actually get out of them? I made this a goal because i wanted to start a habit, one of studying my scriptures daily. Drinking out of the well, as my Bishop calls it. I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes on Monday morning and sat down with my well loved scriptures.

Let me tell you, this goal was a game changer. This goal is what made all the difference this entire week. This goal was one that i am making every day for the rest of my life because my heavens, so many blessings poured out of this goal.

I started to read and ended up in Doctrine and Covenants Section 6. This entire section is an absolute gold mine. I don't even know where to start to describe how it spoke to my soul. As i read, each verse seemed to speak truth and goodness to me.

Verse 8 is what hit my heart and hit it hard: Verily, Verily I say unto you, even as you desire, you shall be the means of doing much good in this generation. 

I realized that in that moment that Heavenly Father was very aware of me and aware of the desires of my heart. Because the night before i had asked of Him how i could help to lift those around me and jumpstart my re-determination to chase goodness. And my answer was this...


When i got this answer i was confused. I told Heavenly Father that i was already busy enough as is and was looking for answers on how to simplify,  how in the WORLD was i going to pull it off?! The answer i received was "Can you just trust me for a moment, little one?". My goal was to attend the Temple daily and share my love of the Temple with others.

This was my favourite goal, hands down. All Summer I volunteered in the Temple once a week for about 5 hours and it was my favourite day of the week. The Temple is my happy place, especially my Cupcake(Provo Temple). It is the place where i have run to for peace throughout the last five years, its the place where i have received answers that have changed my life, and it is where i go to gather strength to face the trials in my life.

Tuesday rolls around and it turns out that my Ward had a Temple Trip planned. I had felt so busy and so rushed throughout the entire day, but i was excited to attend the Temple. My friend Rachel and I decided to do Sealings instead of a Session and it made all the difference. Real talk: Sometimes the here and now overwhelms me, especially when i think about my future. Sometimes it weighs my soul down because I feel like i'm not progressing in the ways that i see all my friends doing- getting married, graduating, having children, and so many other things. Sealings ground me. They remind me of the future that I am working for every day and I refuse to settle for anything less. One day I will kneel across from my best friend and make promises that will last into the Eternities. My knowledge of Forever Families helps me to understand that all of this *waives hands at struggles* will be worth it. Sealings remind me to be patient in Gods timing and work on bettering myself.


Wednesday was a meh day. I think thats the only way i can adequately describe it. I made plans the week before to go to the Temple with one of my best friends, Sammi. She's fantastic and one of the wise people in my life who keeps me sane. She is also a huge example to me of the kind of woman i strive to be and the kind of Spirit i want to one day reside in my home. Anyone who has stepped into her tiny apartment understands what i mean, and Jon is a lucky man to journey with her for the rest of Eternity. She also has a love for fresh grape juice and turkey cheese and cracker lunchables. We decided to attend a Session and I was in charge of keeping her awake. Real talk: I am a Spiritual cryer and i am not ashamed. When i feel the Spirit it tends to leak out of my eyes, and I dont think ive ever attended the Temple without crying- even if just a little. That Session had me crying within the first couple of minutes as I began to reflect on the Atonement and the love that Heavenly Father has for His children. Sessions bring me so much peace for the past, strength for the present, and joy for the future.