Looks like I've lost followers. That saddens me. Sorry if I'm disappointing the readers. But I guess that doesn't matter because this blog has been about me, myself and I. I am the only person I need to be looking out for right now in life. Sorry if that sounds selfish. Maybe to the world's point of view....it is.

I'm dabbling in just about everything right now and loving it. So, to answer your question - yes and no...I am taking official college classes. I just finished a first block online Career Exploration class through BYU Idaho. I also just finished a beginning kayak class at the University of Utah with my cousin Katelyn. Yes - that's right....kayak. In a few weeks, I start a floral design class through a local trade school called Utah School of Floral Design (thru Steiner's Floral in Springville.) A few weeks later, I'll do a dog obedience course with my little smidgeon-dog. I'd love to eventually see if she could handle being in an agility class. This is so so awesome. I'm still learning things - but not anything formal.

One thing I'm really struggling with is jobs. I'm looking for a new one. I will be 26 next year and kicked off my parents insurance. Most places won't kick in their insurance policies for new employees until after the first year. So - you can see my dilemma.

Hopefully you are all well and happy. Just needed to get some things out in the open instead of keeping it inside.
Much love and smiles.
-Jess

Week 6 and Finals

Hope y'all are doing ok with your finals out there. I'm so blessed that I'm not stressed out at the present time. I only have one final. That is done. I'm just finishing up the last touches of our class.

Week 6 has been a great last week to finish out my class. I DO feel like I've grown a little bit in my knowledge of the gospel. I've studied parts of the scriptures I've never studied before. And THAT feels good. I've always had a love for the 4 Gospels and I mean I LOVE them. I have scribbles and pen marks over everything in those books. But the rest of my New Testament pretty much remained untouched and unexplored. I'm grateful that I've this has, in a way, forced me to get to know other scriptural prophets and peoples. I'm surprised at how many jews of truth I've been able to uncover and never knew they were there! I can honestly say: 'Look at what I was missing out on!'

I can also say that I have a renewed sense of love and appreciation for my Father in Heaven and for His Son, Jesus Christ. I know they live and I know they love us. May we all remember that during this Christmas season.

Week 4

Most of you have gone....Hey! 5 does not come after 3. Well, it doesn't! I've been behind on Week 4 as of present....up until NOW that is.....Better late than never!

Week 4. Hm... where to begin. I liked the reflecting on the power of the priesthood. wish I had an "Army of Adamson" to post to show y'all.
Guess these will have to do...

Family


Minus One Missionary


I'm so blessed to have the power of the Priesthood literally at my fingertips whenever I need it.

I also really enjoyed my Student Choice assignment this week and applying it directly to problems we face in the Church.

Week 5

Lots has been going on this week. Trying to play catch up is NOT fun. SO, we got to cram Week 4 & Week 5 into one week. Thanks to the Thanksgiving holiday for messing up my regular schedule.

This week has been so awesome because I've been able to connect just about everything. I did an awesome job {if I do say so myself} of getting ALL of the reading in AND ... UNDERSTANDING it. From my studying, to my principles, to my student assignments and teaching and group assignments. It all connected. It's too much to go into it all right now in detail, on this blog....but trust me, it was GREAT and felt really good.

I FINALLY FOUND the best way to STUDY! This little laptop of mine is genius. I pull up the Church's website in order to use the online scriptures {they have some NIFTY features that I love - I can click on footnotes that pop right up without taking me out of my current reading spot} BUT I've downloaded the New Testament onto this little laptop in order to LISTEN to it AS I read it on the laptop. Laptop to book version allowed me to become extremely distracted. I have everything I need, right here at my teeny finger tips. THANK YOU HEAVEN! Cuts down on those distractions. BUT, if I allow things to get outside those boundaries....forget it. I only get the job half done.

Prayers always help beforehand - which did not happen this time around, and should have.

Keep thinking about Elder Christofferson's quote......

Week 3

I'm a little late with Week 3, but never late than never I guess.
We studied Acts and Romans {basically} with this lesson this week.
There have been so many things going on in the scriptures. I've not
spent as near as much time as I should have in my school work
the last few weeks. With weddings and Thanksgiving, my life has been
so so crazy. Crazy, but wonderful. Family is wonderful. Faith is an important
principle seeping out in all these scriptural happenings and I think that Paul
is a great example of it. He knew who he was. He knew where he was going.
He knew the purpose of his life. I wish I had that right now in my life. But, I'm
not the one 'in charge.' HE is the one that controls all, even if I don't have
a control of anything.

Change of gears. I THINK I've found a good study method - again?!
Listening to the scriptures while I follow along in my own. I need to spend
much much more time immersed in the scriptures. I have this quote by Elder
Christofferson next to my bed:
"For the gospel to be written in your heart, you need to know what it is and grow to understand it more fully. That means you will study it. When I say "study," I mean something more than reading. It is a good thing sometimes to read a book of scripture within a set period of time to get an overall sense of its message, bot for conversion, you should care more about the amount of time you spend in the scriptures than about the amount you read in that time. I see you sometimes reading a few verses, stopping to ponder them, carefully reading the verses again, and as you tink about what they mean, praying for understanding, asking questions in your mind, waiting for spiritual impressions, and writing down the impressions and insights that come so you can remember and learn more. Studying in this way, you may not read a lot of chapters or verses in a half hour, but
you will be giving place in your heart for the word of God, and He will be speaking to you. Remember Alma's description of what it feels like: "It beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious unto me." (Alma 32:28) You will know that the gospel is being written in your heart, that your conversion is happening, as the word of the Lord from His prophets, past and present, feels more and more delicious to your soul." Elder D. Todd Christofferson, Ensign, April 2004

Another Religious Blog - Week 2

Dear Friends - This New Testament class takes almost all of my time outside of working full time. I'm always exhausted. (And I'm still hoping to be a mom one day?!) --- uh oh! - I'm in trouble.

This week has been full of new things brought to pass. Soooo, where to begin?! Probably at the beginning...

I try to study. I try to study differently to see whats best for me. I thought I knew, now...not so sure of myself. I get too comfy and fall asleep. Never thought I would be grateful for desks at school. Hmmm...I tweeked the approach this week slightly. Still unsure if it worked... The one thing I WAS proud of - was my principle finding. I was pulling truths out of the scriptures like y'all wouldn't believe! (Pat on the back there.)

I am constantly amazed at the connections that there are in the scriptures. I really enjoyed studying 'Grace' the other day. We were talking in the 'tribulation' department. But, today, as I'm studying 'justification'; I discover that grace and justification go hand in hand. I couldn't fully grasp it - but if any of you have insights - please feel free to share. I'm still trying to connect it all together.... :/

I've connected last weeks lesson to this week's lesson because of the studying I did comparing Paul's life to Joseph Smith's. I was constantly thinking about that as I spent time in the scriptures last week and here it pops up in this weeks lesson. (I don't believe in coinsidences, btw...)

The other part I really enjoyed this last week was studying about the Impact of Example. We can't simply say we know what is right, we have to live it. The phrase that has come again and again to my mind is: Actions speak louder than workds. It doesn't matter who you are, where you come from, how you were raised, what religion you are...Actions speak louder than words. We can all be examples of what is GOOD in this world.
Food for thought for all of us...

Reflections of Week 1

I guess I'll try to compile lots of things I've done for class this last week. I'm learning more and more about my study habits. I am so so easily distracted. It could be something I hear, something else I see on the computer, something I hear, something i smell. You all may laugh at that....but it's TRUE! I have to sit somewhere VERY familiar - otherwise, I'm distracted. My attention span is short! I have to work real hard in a short burst of energy. Then, it's best to get up, do something else and come back to focusing. I have to take advantage of those moments. I get overwhelmed with too much going on. Then, I need to simplify and regroup. My laptop is also my best friend. A) is has my 'study instrumental' playlist on my iTunes -- but again....I walk a fine line. And B) I often need a dictionary to clarify things. I have a little Wiki on my Corners application that is FANTASTIC for this sorta thing. It makes me happy :)

During my study time this last week, I've often thought about how little I know about the New Testament. (Especially this second half we are studying right now.) I love the Four Gospels, but have never taken the time to get to know the people and stories of this second half. Hand in hand with that (and my mom pointed this out to me) is that the more you learn, the less you realize you actually know. You realize how far you have to go in your knowledge of the gospel.

The last thing I've been thinking about is principle finding. I'm not practiced at that. I grateful that we are practicing it for our class! I worked really hard this week to dig in deep. We only need three to submit for class, but I made notes in my notebook and found that I had more than three when I really really applied myself and focused really well on the material.

***I want you all out there in BLOG LAND to know that I have a testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ! Just like the song says: He Lives. All Glory to His Name. He Lives My Savior Still the Same. Oh Sweet the Joy this sentence gives. I know that my Redeemer lives. What an awesome opportunity I have to reflect on the gift my Heavenly Father gave to me. Not only was I blessed with the ability to live forever, but I was given the opportunity to live in the presence of an Almighty, Omnipotent and Loving Father in Heaven who created the Sun, the Earth, the Stars - worlds without number!... down to sidewalks, rain drops, spider webs and me. He has a plan put together SPECIFICALLY for me. That specific plan is not for Jane down the street, not for Dad, but for ME. And yes, he takes care of Jane down the street and Dad - because he loves them too. But, He loves and knows ME! He knows the deepest corner of my soul, the tiniest worry of my heart and the craziness of my brain. I'm incredibly grateful for that.***