It's been a long day without you, my friends...

Wow! So I know it has been forever since I posted here on my blog. First, I should give credit to my mom, who graciously updated my blog while I was away serving my mission - she's the best! Second, I would like to start posting on these blog again, because I have so many thoughts that I would love to share with those who are willing to read them. I had a goal on my mission to continue to use my blog even afterwards, I've remodeled the look of everything a little and I am excited to get started!

I have been home from my mission for just under 7 months now - oh, how time flies! It is amazing to think how two years ago I was in the MTC down in Mexico City, studying Spanish and doing my best to learn how to be a good missionary. I love my mission so much, and I think of it daily. Those 18 months shaped me and taught me so much. I have never learned as much, prayed as long, smiled as big, or loved as hard as I have as a missionary. Kentucky and its people will really always have my heart!

When I was on my mission, I would try to record in the back of my Preach My Gospel every time that I felt that Heavenly Father was teaching me a lesson. I recorded a few of the funny lessons or tips that I learned from members on my mission as well. I love looking through those and remembering the moments when I learned the things I did. Here are a few of the lessons I included in my list:

• My God is good. Although He created the grand mountains, deep seas, and the stars in the sky, He knows me personally. 
• Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves. 
• When you're down to nothing, God is up to something. 
• Everything will turn out good in the end. If it's not good right now, it's not the end yet. 
• Fear is not worthy of a child of God. 
• (Here's one of the funny ones) Dairy Queen makes everything better. 

Life really is all about learning, growing, and progressing. I am amazed how much Heavenly Father is still helping me to grow after my mission. I have learned so much in these 7 months since I have been home, and it has not always been easy, but knowing that these experiences are worth something helps me to keep moving forward.

A scripture I feel that captures what I learned this summer is in the Book of Mormon in 1 Nephi 21:16. It says, "Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me." To me this summer as I have been adjusting to being home, I really have felt like Heavenly Father has me safe in His hands. I have felt so much love from Him, even when I feel I do not deserve it.

Another thing I have learned about more deeply is the infinite power that Christ has to help us. His grace really is sufficient to help us, heal us, and forgive us! That grace does not expire after one use. We can never run out. That does not mean, however, that we can do whatever we want and then repent later, but it means that as we give a consecrated effort to improving and becoming more like Christ, we will have Christ's help. These changes will not happen all at once, but we have to be patient with ourselves and remember Christ's patience as we try to make these changes.

Sometimes I can be so hard on myself. This summer, I received the advice to look at what I am doing, rather than what I am not. I try to remember that! Some days are hard, and we are not going to be perfect, but that does not mean we are terrible people! I am positive that even on those days when we feel like we have made a million mistakes, we have done something good.

So I guess I will end this first post-mission blog post by reminding myself (and others if you happen to be reading this) to be a little more patient as we work on personal goals and a little more aware and willing to turn to Heavenly Father and Jesus in the process.

Love you all! Until next time.