Monday
This week at work, with all the extra time we have since there are very few people using the building, I've been cleaning upholstery. The chairs and couches in the hallway on the second floor were absolutely disgusting, with the dirty water coming out black when I cleaned out the machine. It is very satisfying, though. And you can see a noticeable difference!
Tuesday
Lexy invited me over to do homework with her, which I agreed to because I was quite sick of doing homework in the same spaces everyday. She has a nice and big room. At first when I got there we just talked and messed around for an hour, but then we needed to get down to business. I listened to my neuro lectures! We made plans to watch a movie that evening, and Vincent wanted to come because he was lonely with all his roommates gone. We all went to my place and watched the movie "Onward," which was really cute. Oh, and today I also finished my Marriage Enhancement video project. It was very adorable.
Wednesday
After work, I found out that my flight home with Allegiant had been cancelled. They closed down all their flights. Fortunately, mom was able to book me a flight through SLC, but it will be two weeks later. Katie came home and we had a "girl's night." I made cookies, we watched a movie and did our nails. It was great to have someone to talk to and spend time with. The movie we watched was the live-action Kim Possible, and now I'm really wanting to make some "Nacos" (Nachos inside of a taco).
Thursday
Today was really good. I found out that I won't be going home with Katie for Easter, which is okay. I know a lot of people are worried about the spread of Covid19. But I was able to have a video session over Zoom with one of the BYU CAPS therapists, and it was really good for me. I felt so validated and listened to. Honestly, there is just something about therapists. They truly have developed the skills of making you feel listened to and understood. Everyone needs one! We talked about some things and I felt so peaceful afterwards. I could clearly see the progress I am making in life. Plus, today I got to see Aaron as he was driving home from the airport and then when he first arrived home. He is quite the jokester. But I'm so excited to see him in a week and a half!
Friday
I'll tell you what. I cleaned so much today--mostly to avoid doing my homework. I organized my room and it's the cleanest it's been all year! I really detail-organized things and a clean room makes me feel so happy. I also went around and anonymously delivered Easter eggs to some people in the ward, which was fun. The biggest miracle of all was that I was able to get so much done despite fasting. I didn't know if I'd be able to not drink water because my mouth has been so dry lately, but I prayed and I know Heavenly Father was able to help me so that I could fast properly. Then Whitney came over to break the fast with me. We had a very simple meal of black beans, chips, salsa, and canned chicken. Then we just fiddled around (literally, I played some songs for her and then taught her how to play on the violin). We also talked for a long while after that, and it felt so good to have advice and insights that are helpful and needed. It was super cool and fulfilling.
Saturday
I'm sad to say that the only time I went outside today was to check the mail. And there wasn't anything in there. But I am grateful for the Savior and for the planning skills I learned on my mission. When I first woke up, the day felt daunting. I had a lot of things (okay, really just one really big thing) I didn't want to do, and I was feeling unmotivated and glum about how the day was going to be. I prayed really hard for things to turn around and wrote out a schedule for the day. I put a lot of good things to do on my list, including working on my song, videos for my YouTube channel, exercise and eating healthy (the lack of these two have hugely impacted how I've been feeling physically lately). And yes, I scheduled in big chunks of time to work on my neurobiology paper about neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. And that helped me feel better and get on with my day, and I was actually pretty productive! Until around seven at night when I decided I was done with all that and just wanted to watch a movie... or two... and a half. I enjoyed watching a movie (I think it was called "Go Figure") about figure skating and it made me miss ice skating.
Sunday
Today was the day I was finally driven out of my apartment for my own sanity. I just couldn't focus to read my scriptures and I felt highly unmotivated to do absolutely anything at all today. While it was great getting to talk with my family this morning and participate in Come, Follow Me with them, once they hung up and I was on my own, I felt so lonely, homesick, and sad. I decided to drive to a park and study my scriptures and enjoy the sun and beauty of nature. I drove around for a while to find the perfect spot where there weren't a lot of people, and I saw some amazing views up in the canyon, before finding a secluded area in Rock Canyon Park to study my scriptures. I gained a few good insights from my study, but most importantly, I felt relaxed and peaceful. I felt grateful and close to God. It was a bit windy and started to get chilly, so I didn't stay there for long, but I was just so grateful to get out of the house. Later that afternoon, my neighbors across the way from me invited me to have Easter Sunday dinner with them! They invited over some other people, and the food was really good! I had been craving some good ole vegetables and fruit, and that's exactly what they had! Potatoes, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, strawberries, grapes, and pineapple. I was super exhausted, so I didn't speak much, but I enjoyed listening to the funny stories other people told. Then I went to watch part of a choir production about the life and death of Jesus Christ over at Whitney's apartment. When I came back home an hour later, the party was still going on, so I jumped back in for a bit and got a picture with everyone. Also, McCall had gone around and delivered treats to all the girls, and in mine she had notes from Valerie and my parents to me! So sweet! It was such a good ending to my otherwise stir-crazy and kind of sad Easter day. I am so grateful for my Savior and to know that I am never alone. Whenever I feel lonely, I picture Him with me.
I know that Jesus Christ lives. It's amazing how much we know about Him and talk about Him even over 2,000 years later. There truly was no other that lived like He did and left such a legacy. He is the son of God and continues to guide us today. I felt such a feeling of peace and contentment today. I'm very satisfied with my life the way it is and have a feeling that more is around the corner. I am going to learn and grow in ways that I cannot presently comprehend, and I can't wait! Well, I can. I have been. But I'm super excited!
Much love,
Emily Burnham
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