goodbye twenty fourteen

Celebrating 2014! An interesting year to say the least. Though there were a lot of things I look back at and wonder, "Brittany, WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?!!" haha ...I am THANKFUL for the obstacles and lessons I was able to learn. I'm thankful God has allowed me to reach so many of my dreams from keeping my Dream Job as an MTC instructor, to realizing where I am with my lack of desire to date as an awkward RM, to even being able to take a semester off and come home for a season. :) Life is looking up as I look forward to being able to leave next week for New Zealand for a semester on assignment at the MTC there, and to also spend time with so many loved ones. :)
          Here's to TWENTY FIFTEEN, and to new dreams! Here's to committing to living a healthier life, and to everything that lies ahead! Happy 2015!

Rang in the New Year by counting down last night, with one of my favorites :) Paulzy and I on the Dance Floor! Happy New Year!

This morning at 6:30 my cousin Rocky and I hiked to the top of Mission Peak, and I was able to cross #46 off my bucket list! #CatchingDreams

While hiking Mission Peak for my first time, there were many surprises along the way. Though the hike itself was only a little over 3 miles, I found it very difficult and intense. It is no secret that 2014 was not my year of fitness and healthy living. Recently I have made a commitment to a healthy life style. Today was a challenge. There were times on the hike that I wanted to seriously give up. There were times when i doubted if I would see the end. There were times when I was distracted from my goal because I was cold, hungry, and tired. At the last 0.5 miles left of our upward climb, a scripture entered my mind as I struggled to breathe. When Jesus was in the garden of Gethsemane where He took upon himself all of the pains and sins of the world, his disciples waited a distance off. He asked them to watch and pray. Though I'm sure they wanted to but were subject to the weakness of mortality, the Savior returned to find them asleep. The scripture says, "Surely the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak." I found this absolutely true in my case. Just as the hike came with unexpected difficulties, twists, turns, and rocky climbs, this life is likewise filled with obstacles and adversity. There will be times in this life where we may have reason to question what it is we are doing. There may be times where we may be distracted from our goals. There may likewise be times where we find ourselves exhausted and robbed of the will power and optimism we may have once possessed. At these times I feel it is crucial to remember to breathe, take a look at how far you've already come, and remember your "WHY". For example "Why am I here?" "Why am I going through with this?" "How will this benefit me in the long run?" "Is this worth it?" If so... "What will I do to obtain it." 

I am grateful to an eternal God, who's love is perfect, and for the gift of prayer in which source I have found strength at times of weakness and exhaustion. Godis love. He is merciful and kind, and omnipotent. He is all knowing. He knows the intensity of the hike, and the condition of our bodies; but he is also the maker of the mountain. In Him we can find stability and the ability to endure. 

To a new Year...And great times ahead!