Rejoice Through Fasting

     A couple days ago I went to the Provo temple with my roommate and two of the guys in our ward to do baptisms for the dead. We got there and could see through the window from the front desk into the waiting room for the baptistry that it was completely full. The worker at the desk told us there would be at least a two hour wait, so we went on in and started our waiting!
     I love the Spirit in the temple. Because we had a couple hours of just sitting and waiting to do confirmations and baptisms, there was a lot of time for reflecting and studying the scriptures. I read out of the Book of Mormon in Alma about Moroni's battle victories, and then I read the first verse of Alma 45 and something hit me that I'd never realized before:
     "Behold, now it came to pass that the people of Nephi were exceedingly rejoiced, because the Lord had again delivered them out of the hands of their enemies; therefore they gave thanks unto the Lord their God; yea, and they did fast much and pray much, and they did worship God with exceedingly great joy."
     The Nephites fasted to thank God for delivering them in battle! I'd never thought of fasting as anything except a way to ask God for things that you need, but the Nephites used it as a method of Thanksgiving. I guess that makes sense, though...we're told to pray not only when we want blessings, but also to thank our Father in Heaven for all that He has given us. I believe that praying and fasting are a blessing given to us more for our benefit than for God's, so maybe it would do me some good to have a fast every once in a while where I'm strictly thanking my loving Father in Heaven for all He has done for me. When's the last time you fasted just because you love God?
     I felt such a great peace and warmth this time that I went to the temple. One of the ladies working in the women's dressing room said that was the busiest she's seen the baptistry ever since she started working there, and we ended up being at the temple for 3 hours. Isn't it great that there were so many people there to do the work? I love living in Provo so close to a temple, and I know that my Heavenly Father loves me.

How Quickly Things Change In 33 Days:

33 days ago, I wasn't an aunt. Now, today, little Kalan is a month old! 33 days ago I didn't have pierced ears, and my hair was more than halfway down my back. 33 days ago I had 430 less iTunes songs than I do now. 33 days ago Oakley's ward boundaries were the same as they've been for the past 30 or so years. 33 days ago I'd never been snowboarding. 33 days ago I wasn't quite sick of Freshman guys. 33 days ago I didn't have a metronome for practicing my oboe, and I didn't even have my own oboe with me. 33 days ago I wasn't worried about keeping my scholarship. 33 days  ago my room was clean. 33 days ago I didn't have a boyfriend. Oh wait, I still don't! Darn. I guess some things take a little longer than 33 days to change.  

Back to Blogging...

I haven't blogged in over a year, since my 18th birthday. Now's as good a time as ever to start again, I guess! I don't know if anyone even reads my blog, but here goes!

Today's blog is going to be more of a stream of consciousness...Because I don't really have anything in particular to write about, I'll just keep rambling on for a while! Today is my first day back to college after Christmas break, and I'm going on to Semester #2! I really think I'm going to like my schedule this semester. I had Music Theory at 8:00 this morning, and now I'm done for the day! That's how my Fridays are going to be as well, and Wednesdays aren't too bad.

One may ask, "How has Jillian been at BYU a whole semester and she's not engaged yet, let alone gotten a boyfriend?!" The answer is simple: I'm in a Freshman ward! It really is a lot of fun. I love my bishop, and the kids in my ward are just fantastic. It's kind of sad how the world works at BYU; Freshman girls meet all those super-fun guys during their first year, and then all of them leave on their missions so us girls have to start all over again our Sophomore year! It also stinks for the guys 'cause when they get off their missions all the girls they met before are married. But life is good!

My roommates and I decided upon a new theme for our apartment this semester (Last semester it was Hawaiian pictures everywhere)...Disney princesses!! We concluded that, since only one of us six has ever kissed a guy, we're going to make "2010 the year of men!" It rhymes! On our front door into our apartment we have a castle and then underneath a picture of the 6 main Disney princesses with each of our names under them. I'm Sleeping Beauty, Amy is Snow White, Chanel is Jasmine, Sarah is Belle, Jessica's Cinderella, and Amanda is Ariel. When you come in through the front door and into our hallway, we have pictures of each of our princes. My Prince Philip is just dashing! But, yep, it's lots of fun!

With it being a new year, I decided to give in and make some resolutions. Here are a few of them:

• Go to the temple to do baptisms for the dead at least twice a month
• Clean my room at least every Saturday night so that it's clean for Sunday
• Get together with my older brothers (and Jennifer and Danielle) here in Provo at least twice a month (I only saw each of them a couple times last semester, which is pretty sad seeing as we all live within like a mile radius of each other)
• Be on-time for my 8:00 Music Theory class!

I think this year is going to be fantastic, and a big changing time in my life. (How could it not be fantastic with the theme "2010: The Year of Men"??!) I'm excited to continue on with school and all that good stuff.

Whelp, I'm off to do laundry and other important things! Adios.