Redeemed

       I'm here being challenged and learning some and realizing I will never be able to get it all done and there will always be hard times.   I had like a deep realization of that today.   I know it’ll be okay though because God is good and He will not give me too much to handle.   This verse I read today really encouraged me, “But the Lord is faithful; He will make you strong and guard you from the evil one (2 Thessalonians 3:3).                  Life is a lot easier to get through with faith and knowing your hope is just a step away.   I’m having to really believe that ever-quoted Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord—plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans of a hope and a future.”   It doesn’t always feel like it, with not knowing what I should do, etc, but I know it’s true and it’s starting to make more sense to me.   It seems like some of the most clichéd verses really do mean a lot.                   What else helps me get through th

Last night was the Ring Banquet for us August interns.   At the ring banquet we were commiting or reaffirming our commitment to live a life of pursuing Godliness and honor (not to get honor, but to be honorable).  We had sessions all last week on characteristics of honor such as integrity, loyalty, purity, valor, humility, excellence, etc.  We heard these same sessions back in November or so when the January class had their week of the ring.  It was good to hear the sessions over again though.  The ring is to be a symbol and a reminder to us of our commitment.  I can't believe this is already over.  This year has gone by so fast!      It was so exciting!  We got to dress up and do our hair and we all stood up, raised our right hand and made our commitment.  I wore the blue kind of sparkley dress my grandma made me.  They gave us plastic rings for now, since the real ones haven't come in yet.  They should come in in about 2 weeks though I heard.  I'm really excited!  I

        I'm working on making butterflies out of the same type of yarn as the little hearts I've made before.  Yesterday some of our core and brother core group went out to a girl in our core's grandparents' house for a sort of birthday party for some people in our group.  That was pretty fun.  I got to pet some horses and I fed them chunks of an apple I had been eating.  We also went on a hayride and some cows kind of chased us.  I think they just wanted to eat the hay though.  They had a bon fire too.  Some of the guys kept wanting to run up a giant log that was in the fire and jump over the whole thing.  Our core advisor (Sarah) wouldn't let them though.  The stars looked really amazing.  Then we had some brownies and ice cream, which was really good.  After that we went snipe hunting.  That was interesting, but I was not thrilled.  The girl's grandparents said it was fun to have us come over because sometimes it can get kind of boring with just them there or