Because of Him

Wow, what an amazing weekend I've had! I always get so excited for Conference weekend and this year in particular I felt like I really needed to hear what our dear prophet and his apostles had to say. Saturday we just stayed here and watched it and Dad came for the first half. I really did feel like the talks were prepared for me and had the exact words that I needed to hear. I felt like many of the talks on Saturday focused on temple marriage and the family unit. L. Tom Perry's was one of my favorites. He focused on letting people know that the other world religions believe the family to be very sacred and important. And it's so true! It is so much better to look at others who are different from us and try to find the similarities rather than the differences. Later that night we headed down to Hooper to Jess' house to dye Easter eggs which I hadn't done in years! It was way fun and I love spending time with her family. We stayed up laughing our guts out all night haha. It made me really sad that Jessica won't be living with us next semester because I really have grown to love her. She is just beautiful inside and out and she's basically my sister haha.

We woke up and ate pancakes for breakfast. It was so cute because Jess' mom Kelli even make an easter basket for me and Brooke and let us hunt for it. So cute. I felt like a little kid again. We watched the first session which was AMAZING! Elder Holland's talk was definitely my favorite and was so powerful. Then we headed to Salt Lake to the Conference Center! I'm not gonna lie, I was a little nervous with all of the crowds and stairs. But all of the ushers were so kind to me. We actually got really good seats. It was so awesome. I just love President Monson. I feel like he isn't going to be with us much longer. It breaks my heart. But once again, it was an amazing experience and a happy happy Easter. I love the mormon message video from last year entitled, "Because of Him." I absolutely LOVE it and the new one for this year entitled, "Because He Lives." Here's the link to watch it: https://www.lds.org/church/news/watch-and-share-because-he-lives-easter-video?lang=eng

The gospel is so real and true and I cannot explain how happy it makes me. Because of Him: Everyday is a new beginning, No goodbye will last forever, I can leave my past behind, the world is filled with second chances, we can start again again, and there are no endings. Because of Him, I am everything I am and everything I can be. Let us remember his atoning sacrifice and that HE LIVES. Happy Easter. Gotta run! XOXO

Wedding Bells

Hello! Well this week was pretty uneventful. Same old same old. It rained for the first half of the week and my hood kept falling down over my eyes which made seeing difficult haha. But on a happier note, Kim got engaged on Friday! Happy day! Me, Brooke, Jeremy, and Adam's brother Ben all helped string lights on the konker tree up on Old Main hill. Haha we had some technical difficulties because it was too much power to plug into his car. But it all worked out and he popped the question after he took her on a walk to all the places they have had memories. We went wedding dress shopping on Wednesday at a local shop here in Logan and found a few dresses that she liked. She had seen this dress online that was in Salt Lake that she had her heart set on so we went to try it on on Saturday morning. We found some really pretty dresses, but in the end she chose the one she loved and it's just beautiful! Their date is June 6 in the Logan Temple. Hopefully I have my boot off by then haha! ;)

And since it's Sunday, I just wanted to take a minute to brag about three of my beautiful best friends serving missions. :) Andi has been my friend since sixth grade and is serving in the Edmonton-Alberta, Canada mission. Amber has also been my friend since sixth grade and is serving in the Chicago, Illinois mission. And Aubree has been my friend since eighth grade is serving in the Nagoya, Japan mission. And let me tell you, these three beautiful women have been such an example to me. They have voluntarily put their lives on hold to serve the Lord. They are selfless and make me want to become a better person daily. I love reading their weekly emails and can't wait until they're home! I just love love love them to death. <3

Well, I hope you all enjoy the rest of your Sabbath Day and find something to smile about. :) Gotta Run! XOXO

Minor Setback for a Major Comeback

Happy Hump Day! I'm about to the 3 week mark with my crutches! My incisions have started to scar and my foot almost looks normal minus the swelling around my ankle. I went into the training room today and Coach Grinnel saw me and asked me how I was. He was so genuine and said something that really empowered and motivated me. He said, "This injury is just a minor setback for a major comeback." I don't know what it was, but that really hit me. It made me want to focus on the end result and not focus on the negatives of my situation. I know this is only going to make me stronger and I can't wait to get back to running.

Being thankful for my trials is definitely difficult, but trusting in the Lord makes it that much easier. Don't let a small setback ruin your future. Gotta run! XOXO

Days Like These

It's finally spring break! After 3 tests this week I am definitely in need of a break haha. So I finally gave in tonight and signed up for the premium subscription on Runnerspace.com to watch the video of my race when I got hurt. It was so weird to watch. I could see everything that happened from another perspective. It was hard. I can't help but think if that was the last time I'll run the 60 meter dash. Still trying to have patience and faith. And let me tell you it is not easy haha! But with the Lord's help we can do all things. I am a strong believer in that. Tomorrow will be the one month mark of my injury. And one week down with Booty and 5 more no weight bearing! Days like these make me feel so extremely grateful. I am especially grateful there is no snow for me to crutch through! It was the perfect weather today so me, Brooke, Kim, and Adam took a trip up to Old Main Hill and sat at the top of the Amphitheater. I love Logan.I love Utah State University. And most of all I love my sisters. Happiness is a choice. So lets be grateful in all circumstances and choose happiness. Gotta run! XOXO

And a Boot to Match

Well, this week was crazy. Two exams and a post-op visit at TOSH. I went and stayed with my Dad Wednesday night and had my appointment on Thursday morning. I cannot tell you how excited I was to get my splint off! Not only to see how my stitches were healing, but so I could hopefully get a boot! The nurse removed my splint and the ace bandages and my foot was still swollen and of course still orange from the iodine haha. I didn't expect my stitches to be as big as they were! my heal and calf was still pretty bruised. My legs were disgustingly hairy from not shaving for over 3 weeks and my calf... my poor calf looks like an old man's calf. It's about half the size of my right leg's and feels like a ziploc bag with water in it. My quad is about the same way. Saggy and completely has atrophied. I'm still pretty depressed about it... So Dr. Morgan's PA came in and looked at more of the x-rays they took and said they couldn't ask for it to look any better. Which I was extremely happy about! 6 more weeks no weight bearing, then 1-2 months walking in a boot. It's going to be a long recovery but I gotta believe in myself. The nurse took my stitches out which was the oddest feeling in the world! I did not like that. And then I got my lovely new boot! His name is Booty. Haha Kim named him. Good thing I just learned how to wrap ankles in Athletic Injuries because I have to keep ace wrap on my foot for the next few weeks to reduce the swelling. And just to let everyone know: I CAN FINALLY SHAVE! :D The nurse encouraged us to take pictures so here they are!

All year I have been begging my friend Shad to buy me kimchi to let me see what it tastes like. He sereved his mission in Korea and I almost didn't believe him when he told me that kimchi is fermented cabbage that they ferment underground for a year! So anyway, he has been coming to visit me on some days after practice and asked me on a date to the Korean restaurant her in Logan. I was so stoked! He was such a gentleman and ordered in Korean haha. I got a spicy rice, vegetable, and pork dish and Shad got a spicy soup with tofu, vegetable and beef. We also got a thing called Kimbob which is seaweed and rice rolled with vegetable in the center. It also came with four different types of Kimchi. Normal Kimchi was alright. Definitely an acquired taste! Two of them which were some type of pickled noodles were awful! The restaurant was so old and cute and had the cutest chopsticks which Shad taught me to use and by the end of the meal I wasn't too bad at it! In Korea everyone shares all of the food prepared. So that's what we did and it was just a cute and fun date with a good friend.

I got a boot and Korean food this week so I guess I can't complain too much. :) Gotta run! XOXO

God Uses Broken Things

Hooray it's Monday! (said no one ever) So this post was bound to happen sometime so I guess what better time than now? Two weeks ago at a meet in Boise I dislocated and fractured my ankle running the 60. Sad thing is I won my heat and made finals. I just remember hitting the mat and turning to run down the ramp and hitting the ground. I looked down and my foot was completely perpendicular with my leg. You always learn about these types of injuries happening to people and the closest you'll get to actually seeing it is the pictures in your textbook. I can't decide if it's scarier knowing what is wrong with you than not knowing at all. I had officially become the picture in my anatomy textbook. I knew exactly what was wrong with me and all I could think was my season was over. I sat in shock as the trainers piled around me and then it hit me. The realization and the pain. I couldn't stop the tears and I just kept repeating over and over again, "Someone please help me. Please help me." They put me in a splint and carried me outside. It's so weird when your body is in shock because nothing feels real, yet everything is intensified. I could hear the crowd clapping as I was carried off. I can't begin to say how thankful I am that both of my parents were there. My dad told them to not call the ambulance and RAN to get his truck. He said he felt so good being able to run again. That made my heart happy. The pain got worse as we drove to the ER. Once we got there all I wanted was some drugs to numb the pain. I could barely stand to look down at my foot. They hooked me up to my IV and gave me Percocet and morphine. Man did that feel good. Haha I can see why people get addicted to that stuff! They took x-rays and the doctor explained to me that they were going to need to reset my foot to reduce it. They gave me 'milk of magnesia' and man does that stuff work magic! I vaguely remember them pumping me with the medication with low doses at first and I was slowly getting dizzier. I don't know how much time had passed, but I said something to the effect of, "Is it going to be like on the movies where they reset it and it's really painful?" Everyone started laughing and I looked down and my foot had been reduced and put in a splint. Grandma and Grandpa were there too. Grandma told me that Grandpa could barely get of the stands because he was crying so hard. I couldn't even imagine my grandpa crying. I know they really care about me though. Turns out I fractured my poor talus right down the middle. They took me to get a CT to make sure I wouldn't need surgery. When the scans came back they said I was good to go. No weight bearing for at least 6-8 weeks and a cast. I got wheeled out to the truck and realized I had to go to the bathroom. My mom wheeled me back into the hospital and then it all really hit me. I couldn't run, let alone go the bathroom by myself. I tried to stop crying but it just kept coming in waves. I wanted to know why this was happening to me.

The ride home was terrible. I tried to sleep but every bump hurt more than the last. You never really realize how bumpy a road is until you dislocate your ankle haha. The first week back was hard. I didn't go to class at all so I was confined to my couch listening to hours and hours of recorded lectures and accumulating bedsores (haha not really). But let me tell you one thing: I am so loved. Thank goodness for sisters. They literally are bending over backwards to help me do anything. Sometimes bending a little to far because they're so worried I'm going to hurt myself haha. Brooke has been camping out in my room because she doesn't want me to sleep alone and Kim had to help me shower. I'll leave it at that. Haha. And I just love Jessica. She bought me a caramel apple spice at Starbucks and is currently driving me up and down campus because unfortunately our campus is on top of a steep hill! Heather brought me a cute little stuffed dog and a balloon with chocolate. Landon Watts, bless his heart, brought me flowers. I literally almost cried. And I've had lots of visitors to whom I tell the same story over and over again but it's worth it. <3

The following week I went to the orthopedist here in Logan. I was so ready to get a cast and start recovering. He took one look at my x-rays and said I needed surgery. I was so angry. The doctors in Boise told me I wouldn't need surgery and now I most definitely need it. Later that week I went to Salt Lake to see the ankle and foot specialist at TOSH. Dr. Morgan was great and really took care of me. He took the splint off and took more x-rays. My foot was still slightly turned in and looked like a rotten banana all the way up my calf. He concluded I needed surgery. He then told me that because of the level of athletics I participate in, he couldn't promise I would be able to get back to what I do at a hundred percent. After he left the room I cried and my dad just held me. Surgery was on Friday morning. All of the nurses were so kind to me and the surgery went without any complications. So now I have three screws in my talus and am officially a robot haha. I've had really good days and some pretty low days. Still trying to keep the bad days to a minimum. Some days I feel so angry with myself and sometimes the Lord because I don't understand why he would have this happen to me. But over the weeks I've seen so many good things come of this. It's allowing me to become humble and patient and trust in the Lord and his plan for me. And it's allowing others to serve and possibly grow from this as well. I've figured out how to do most things by myself and am trying to keep up on my core and one-legged pushups. Every night I have a dream where I'm running and then I wake up to reality. I don't know if I'm going to run again. But I do know that the Lord has a plan for me and I need to trust in it. And I know that I am so immensely loved.

(please excuse how homely I look in the majority of these pictures haha) One last thing to add to my gigantic post. As I was sitting here blogging, I got a letter in the mail from my grandparents and it was the cutest thing ever. Something so simple has made my day ten times better. So try and do something good for someone today. They might really need it. I wanted to share this quote because I've pulled a lot of strength from it and I just love it:

"God uses broken things. It takes broken soil to produce a crop, broken clouds to give rain, broken grain to give bread, broken bread to give strength. It is the broken alabaster box that gives forth perfume. It is Peter weeping bitterly, who returns to greater power than ever." - Vance Havner

We all must be broken to become our best. Have a lovely rest of your Monday! Gotta run! (or crutch haha) XOXO

Cheers to the New Year!

Is it against the rules to blog more than once in one night?.... Sadly I think I'm breaking some unwritten rule. Oh well! Haha. I can't believe it's already 2015. Crazy how time flies. Celebrated New Years with my momma and Brookie in Idaho and came back to start spring semester! I'm enrolled in 17 credits and it's been kickin' my butt! Indoor season started and I couldn't go to the first meet in Boise because I tweaked my Achilles tendon right before. Coach Rosel is still crazy and clueless as every but what's new haha. Started my season off the following week in Boise again and finished fifth in the 60. 200 was terrible but I guess I can't complain. The next week we went to New Mexico and I got my butt kicked! There was only two other white girls in the 60.... Wasn't a great confidence booster. Track just isn't the same anymore. Trying to stay positive. Here's some pictures from the last few weeks!- XOXO