Rewind into the past about 5 months ago

I had been accepted to BYU Hawaii for this fall and I had payed my down payment to secure my spot. I was set. I WAS going there. 

The only problem was how was I going to pay for college with no scholarship awarded yet? I was STRESSING OUT! 

A little earlier I had been awarded a full tuition scholarship to Utah Valley University and being the silly girl I am I turned it down. Like I said earlier I was set on Hawaii. 

Then one night I had a very strong impression to contact my scholarship person and ask for it back. They told me there was no way and that they already gave it away to someone.

There was my answer (right?) I was going to Hawaii. 

Then something happened… somebody's heart was softened by the Lord. i received a phone call from the scholarship people that Friday saying the they never do this but they were going to give me back my scholarship. WHAT THE WHAT!! really?? Was this really happening? I couldn't believe it. I was astonished. I was ecstatic. I knew it was right. After the phone call I had ultimate peace. I knew it was a blessing from the Lord and I no longer had the stress of how i was going to pay for college. 

so basically I was ultimately blessed and I will be eternally grateful for this blessing in my life. I will be attending uvu in the fall and I couldn't be more excited. 

you never know what may come your way

Have you ever been so set on a plan that you are determined to put all your focus on that “one plan”. “the plan” that you thought would be best for you? 

well I had a plan. My plan was to attend BYU Hawaii in the fall and to turn in my mission papers this month in august. that was aways the plan. I thought it was such a great idea and I knew it was going to make me happy. 

well I learned a very valuable lesson, sometimes the Lords plans aren't always the same as yours. Its not like my plans were bad or something they just weren't what i needed to be doing in my life at this moment. 

STOP IT

I love President Dieter F. Uchtdorfs talk titled "Stop It"

This is an amazing video and I highly suggest spending the time to watch it. I know it changed the way I look at being sarcastic with people or not being observant to who needs a friend that day. (click on the link below to watch)

Stop it video

18

18.

My BIG 18th Birthday.

How do I feel? Not different. 

How do I look? No difference.

Was it the best day EVER? YESSSSSSSSSSSSS. 

WHY? oh. i'll tell you why...

I wake up thinking it was just going to be like any other birthday I've ever had. no no no. I was surprised as I walked out of my room in the morning with a house filled with balloons, pictures, and nice notes from all my friends and family members. My mom had created a book filled with people who I love and who bring me joy. I simply love my mom and all those who made that book come to life. I will forever cherish it. Then I went to school. Nothing particular happened at school that day. Later we went to dinner with my family. Yummy Asian star :) At dinner I opened my presents. A little back story first. i am going to Thailand on a humanitarian trip thus summer and so my parents for my birthday thought it would be fun to surprise me with something for that trip. They are actually flying down to meet me after my trip is done and then we will be spending more time in  Thailand and then flying over to Tokyo and staying there for a while. Talk about coolest birthday ever? I feel very blessed to have this amazing opportunity to travel this year. 

xoxo//gabbs 

A day that will stand out from the rest

I know it has been a while since i last blogged...who am i kidding? its been forever and i have been feeling like i just need to write my life story now because SO many great blessings have come since i last wrote anything. I will start off telling you all a little smidgen about one of the most exciting days of  my life thus far...

Twas the day I found out from BYU Hawaii.. It was a lonnnnnnnnnnnnnnggggggg wait to hear back from this college about my admission decision, and trust me it literally felt like it had been many moons since i applied there. At the beginning of February I knew my admission decision would be made soon. I was seriously stalking my besmart account to see what if i was denied or not. I had already told myself that it was all going to be okay if I did not get accepted.. obviously it wasn't where i needed to be if i didn't get in..yayadadadodo life goes on right? But on the deep inside of my soul I knew i was going to be torn if I didn't get in. So this one magical day i was on my besmart account for BYU and I saw I had my admission decision. My hear SANK. I did not want to open that letter. BUT i clicked on it and took a deep breath and my eyes couldn't believe what they saw I WAS ACCEPTED. It was the best news i have ever received. I cannot even explain my joy. I know it is the right place for me to be at in my life right now. 

So a little advice, I know that even if I wasn't accepted I would be able to move on. Life has its ups and downs. But one thing i do know for a fact is that with every down there is something better that is going to come from it... that's where the lovely trial of patience and being of good cheer comes into play. 

                                                                   xoxo//gabs