Fastest week of my life!

So, the time has come....

It has been the fastest week of my life and I really don't even know what to say! Yesterday at church the ward all sang a welsh farewell song to me. I'm not sure what it's called... something like "we'll keep a welcome in the hillside" I was such an emotional mess! Not to mention that 4 of the less actives we've been working with came to church yesterday and Heather made it as well!! It was such a wonderful last Sunday. I have a permanent swarm of butterflies that seem to have taken a lodge in my stomach and a prayer of gratitude for my loving Heavenly Father. What can one say to summarize 18 of the best months of their life? It's funny how we think we have our life planned out and we think we know what we want. I thought I wanted to get married young, jump right into life. I thought I was ready for that. And of course, Heavenly Father knew better. In His most gentle and beautiful way, he has helped me to learn the lessons that will prepare me for the next phases of my life. It reminds me of one of my favourite songs. It goes like this:

All i've ever wanted

All i've ever dreamed of

Everything I hoped

And all the things I prayed for

Couldn't hold a candle

To what I've been given

I've been given what I need

A mansion on a hill

Or love like in the movies

Perfect little dreams

Where no one has a problem

Instead of all those things

I thought I really wanted

I've been given what I need

Even when I didn't understand

When I thought you had no heart

Thank you for rejecting my demands

And always giving me the better part

All i've ever wanted

All i've ever dreamed of

Everything I hoped

And all the things I prayed for

Couldn't hold a candle

To what I've been given

I've been given what I need

From that day on October 6th, 2012, my life has been changed. But even more than that, through the grace of my Saviour, Jesus Christ, I have been changed. It hasn't been an easy ride. I never expected that it would be. But it has been the best. I have grown to love this land and these people with all my heart. It is so much more difficult to leave this home than it was to leave my home of Eagle, Idaho. But I know that Heavenly Father has a perfect plan awaiting for me to discover. I will face the future with faith, because I know that He will keep His promises. Thank you to all of you for coming on this journey with me and supporting me all the way. I love each one of you so much and I am so looking forward to our joyous reunion on Wednesday. (Although for me it will be Thursday 4 am.) Haha.

I would like to close with my testimony. I KNOW that our Heavenly Father lives and that he loves each and every one of his children. We are precious to Him. He is aware of even the tiniest details in our lives and He intends for us to be happy. Sometimes he sends trials our way but He always knows that they will be for our benefit and that if we let them, they will make our hearts more tender. I know that through his infinite and encompassing love for us, He wanted the absolute best for us. He wanted us to join with Him in His joy. So, he made a perfect plan in which we could become like Him and find everlasting peace and happiness. Central to this plan is our perfect brother, Jesus Christ. He offered himself a sacrifice for OUR sins. He came to the earth and He did the will of the Father. He was perfectly obedeient, perfectly charitable. In the most loving act of all eternity and all eternities to come, He performed the atonement in our behalf. He triumphantly rose from the grave and I know that He lives! And because He lives, all of us can live together forever with our families. These incredible blessings are conditional upon our obedience. I know that obedience=happiness. There is NO other formula. There is no other way. The way is through Jesus Christ. He is our example. I stand all amazed at His love that He profers me. I am eternally grateful for my loving Heavenly Father, for never giving me what I wanted, but for always giving me everything I need. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.