Soul Searching

 22 March - 28 March 2021

Honestly, this past week wasn't anything of note. I just did school, homework, work, and watched a show on Hulu called Shadow Hunters. I did hang out with some friends over the weekend and visited a kid's fair on Saturday to see some kids I sometimes babysit for. But overall, I just felt blah this week. Lonely, tired, missing home and family. I decided to throw an April Fool's prank party, which has given me some invigoration and excitement. I'm all caught up on homework and working to get ahead.

Sunday was a very much needed day. I was feeling lost this week, and I realized that I'm missing a sense of purpose and a sense of family that acts as a secure base. I felt out of my groove, but I felt so much peace today that everything would be okay, and that it was okay to be out of my groove and feeling empty. We had our Easter program, so we got to hear a lot of musical numbers and talks, which brought the Spirit. I also filmed an object lesson about baptism and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost for my YouTube channel, which was intense. Wow, cutting through that glowstick with our kitchen scissors was so hard!

Much love,

Emily Burnham

Movie and Game Nights

 15 March - 21 March 2021

Monday: I drove with Mira to FHE at the Witt's house. We played pickleball! I did quite good! Then we went inside and had treats while playing a game called "blank slate" which was also super fun. The Witts have such a wholesome spirit in their home. 

Tuesday: I had the opportunity to respond to a question on my Plan of Salvation video regarding the existence of the spirit world. I don't know all the good my YouTube channel is doing, but I'm grateful for the opportunities I have to share my testimony about Jesus Christ and God's plan of salvation. Also, I started studying about Jesus Christ in the topical guide because like President Nelson promised, I want to become a changed woman. Studying specific scriptures about Jesus Christ brings the Spirit more powerfully into my studies and throughout my day.

Wednesday: I finished watching the four seasons of The Good Doctor, and again, I am blown away by how much crap is in media these days, and I have way more respect for healthcare workers/doctors.

Thursday: I finished up with tons of school work and felt social, so I invited some people over for a movie night, and six people came over! It was good to talk and chat. We ended up just watching the first episode of Stranger Things because I didn't want to pay money to rent Wonder when I'd thought it was free on Amazon Prime. It turned out to be the birthday of one of the girls who came so after the movie, I played T-Swift's song 22 and we had an impromptu dance party.

Friday: I worked all morning on preparing a review, and then I took part of the afternoon to hang up the paintings Lucy gave me. I had a game night which turned out super fun, even though a lot of the people I invited were unable to make it.

Saturday: Some tough things went down this weekend in my job as a TA, which I won't dwell on, but suffice it to say, God is good at bringing peace and love in our troubling moments. And people to support us. I finished up all my homework by around 12:30pm, which is usually unheard of! To have the rest of the day with nothing needing to be done!! So I binge watched more episodes of Stranger Things and relished the break (but I could not recommend watching Stranger Things because the cussing only becomes more and more frequent and it ruins the show). 

Sunday: I had an amazing Sunday. I felt the Spirit and felt so loved and forgiven. My roommate Claire helped build me up this morning after I told her that I was feeling like the worst TA ever and bad for watching the show Stranger Things all afternoon and it had so much cussing in it. Sacrament meeting was so good. The talks were inspired and enlightening. Then I had the opportunity to teach Sunday School and got everyone to participate and speak up. It went really, really well. Tonight I will go to Come, Follow Me with Whitney and friends and then stay to celebrate a guy in our friend group's birthday.

Much love,

Emily Burnham

Mom's Birthday and Pi Day

 8 March - 14 March 2021

What a joy it was to be home, and oh how fast it flew by! I was able to go to ultimate frisbee with the YSA on Tuesday night with my two brothers. I wasn't very good in the game, but I had an enjoyable time tossing around a frisbee with Aaron on the sidelines (because they had too many players so we had to sit out). I got to spend quality time with Lucy, my mom, and talk with Valerie. She swiped up on guys on my mutual and sent a message to two of the guys, inviting them to come to our house for a game night on Friday. That was such a genius idea that I decided to start doing it back in Provo! I got to help my grandpa work on his puzzle, which he spent SO many hours on each day. My dad fixed an oil leak in my car and changed my oil. We also went on a uni ride together. All in all, I loved being home with my family, and I was always excited to jump out of bed so I could see my family. For our mom's birthday, we played pickleball and then went out for lunch. That evening, Symantha came over and we made pizzas.

I still had work and classes, but they didn't seem as stressful or overwhelming down there, and I think it was because I was surrounded by those I loved and who love me. Coming back home made me a bit sad because I missed my family immediately, but it also sparked a deep desire I have to create a family of my own. I want a family so bad, and I look forward with hope and joy for the time when that desire will be filled. I was surprised by how much my roommates had missed me, but it made me feel good to be missed. On Sunday, I made my first home-made pie ever, and it turned out pretty good. The crust was DELICIOUS! And the filling was a bit runny, but also really good, because it was just raspberries and sugar, basically! Also, I attended our "ward family walk" and a lot of people showed, which was fun!

One spiritual insight I had this week was when reading in Doctrine and Covenants 27:2. The verse talked about it doesn't matter what we use for the sacrament as long as our eye is single to the glory of God. Immediately, these words came into my mind: "It doesn't matter where you go to graduate school as long as your eye is single to my glory." It was like a huge weight was lifted off of me. Any choice I made would be great, as long as the intention behind the choice was righteous.

Much love,

Emily Burnham

Rose Rosenhan

1 March - 7 March 2021

Monday: Mira and I actually attended Home Evening, since we want to be better about attending ward activities. We played minute to win it games and I had a fun time throwing marsh mellows at one of the guys and he tried catching them in his mouth (even if they had been on the floor from another activity). I have really enjoyed getting to know Mira better. We have a lot more time to talk and hang out now that she has broken up with her boyfriend, and it has honestly been such a huge blessing to me. 

Wednesday: We had our COSTUME CONTEST family history activity at 8pm that evening, where everyone was supposed to come as an ancestor and share something about the ancestor they dressed up as. I dressed up as Rose Ida Rosenhan, and in preparation for this, I had gone to DI to find an old lady jacket and then that day I put my hair in rollers to make it super curly (then, when I wanted to ride my uni, I couldn't because I couldn't be seen with such an atrocious hair style. So I thought I'd cover it with a beanie... but that only looked worse! LOL like a palace guard in England or something!) We had a really good turn out at the event, with our RS pres taking the prize. She ordered a $14 wig on Amazon! Haha she went all out.

Thursday: In the afternoon, I went and donated plasma for the second time, so I should be getting another $100 dollars. Fortunately, this time only took under 2 hours. I attended an online Zoom meeting for psych graduates, and a lot of things they said stood out to me, but particularly this: "You can't make any decisions until you have options." I realized how I am trying to decide what I want to do and which school I want to go to... and I have no offers! So how am I supposed to decide? I realized I need to seek after every opportunity and then I can worry about deciding what I want to do once I actually have some options to choose from. I also decided to wait until after I graduate to look into schools or different options so that I can just focus on finishing my undergraduate degree. 

Friday: Shelly came by to drop off a smoothie and chat for a bit. She is so kind! She said she would worry about me driving to AZ enough for the both of us so that I didn't need to worry at all. Then I went to DI to trade out that ugly yellow jacket that didn't even fit for some exercise clothes (maybe having the wardrobe to work out will motivate me to actually work out?? ;) lol). Then Whitney and I went down to the Harman building to work, and we went on the walking machines, which was really fun. It's 1,000 times better than sitting all day while working. That evening, I worked on finishing up homework. 

Saturday: Welp, I did it! I awoke at 5:10am and started driving at 6am and successfully surprised my mom that afternoon around 4:20pm! I didn't break down or have any car problems, which was a huge blessing. I had lots of friends praying for me as I made the drive. As I turned down our street in AZ, I called my mom and asked her if she got her birthday present from me. She said she hadn't. I told her that it said it had just arrived. She said she would look. She checked out the front door and it wasn't there (obviously), so she started heading over to look at grandpa's front door, right as I pulled up in the driveway. I jumped out of my car and gave her a big hug and said "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!" My mom was so surprised and pleased and overjoyed to see me! Then Valerie looked out her window to see what all the commotion was about and saw me. I waved to her shocked face, and she ran outside to give me a hug. Then my dad drove by and was pulling into the house when he saw me and expressed his concern that I made the drive in my car (which I guess is his way of saying "I love you"). Then I snuck in the house and surprised Lucy and Aaron with my presence! Lucy immediately jumped up from the couch, shouting my name, and gave me a big hug.

Sunday: I went to church with my parents and took the opportunity to bear my testimony about how there are a lot of things I don't know, but like Nephi, I know God loves me. I don't know what my future holds, but God has a plan and it's going to be amazing and bring me so much joy. Mom teared up. Then I went to the YSA ward with my siblings. That evening, I spent time painting on a big canvas.

Much love,

Emily Burnham