I have to say... I have SO MUCH to be grateful for. So freakin much. I have a good job, an incredible family, a wonderful boyfriend, and some close amazing friends who mean the WORLD to me. I have all the basic human necessities and much much more. I have the ability to enter the house of the Lord, God's temples on this earth. I have an incredibly strong knowledge of the reality of my savior. I feel his presence often, and that of the Holy Ghost. I am privileged to be guided in my personal endeavors by a loving Heavenly Father. I know that is true. I KNOW I am not just a leaf tossed in the wind. I know I have a purpose and that I can ONLY accomplish it through applying the atonement in my life because it is IMPOSSIBLE to do alone, with my human weaknesses and shortcomings. I love the Gospel. I do. And at times I feel I fall short, and my many many weaknesses make me SO FRUSTRATED and I wish I could be like "this person" or "that person," but then Heavenly Father reminds me, through soft promptings of the Holy Ghost, that HE LOVES ME, and that as long as I am progressing (not in relation to anyone else) then I will receive the fullness of what he has for me as his daughter. I know that love is real, and I pray to share even a TINY FRACTION of that love God has for his children.

I am so happy with life, even through the trials. Life is stressful, and it seems that as I get better at this thing called life, the stress only gets harder. It's an ongoing cycle. BUT IT'S OK. I must be that way, or there would be no way we'll be as prepared as God wants us to be when we leave this life. We must learn work, see trials, hear death knocking at our door, and KEEP GOING, relying completely on our God.

The actual update: I'm working full time. I'm on a diet and have lost about 12 lbs and keep losing (finally back again). I will probably be attending UVU in the fall. I am in a long-distance relationship with a freakin incredible guy who I love. I MISS MY HERMANAS!!!!!! But through the tears, I go on, only being able to talk to them on the phone. I am going back to Tennessee to visit in NOVEMBER. I am moving apartments on Saturday. I signed a year contract, but plan to try to sell my contract before that time is up. I plan on buying a new wardrobe once I lose 50 lbs... (I'll need one, naturally) I want to move outside of Utah (to Oregon or Tennessee) but don't feel now is the time - within the next year this will happen most likely. Oh yeah, one more thing... I'm considering going for my cosmetology license. :)

Well, that's all for now. Loving life, smiling, and having fun!

You comment, I'll respond. It's a promise.

Kalli Dawn