Pool Party

 19 September - 25 September 2022

One highlight of my week was the Saturday night pool party, which was combined with another ward. It was at this huge home with a GIANT pool. They also had a basketball court and skate park in their backyard! I did not know if I was going to enjoy it, but I did! I stayed for three hours, and I played "Pig" with a bunch of others in the pool, and I was on fire! I was doing so good making shots if the person in front of me made the shot. I was in the final 2 people in both rounds! So that made it really fun. And I met some new people and one guy asked for my Instagram! We talked for a bit before I left and it sounded like he wanted to ask me on a date :).

I also realized this week that when I don't study my scriptures as intentionally, I have less power to resist temptation (specifically, when it comes to eating dairy treats like chocolate). Then I don't feel good, so I feel the spirit even less and have even less power to resist treats. It's a vicious cycle. So, solution? Have intense and powerful daily experiences in the Book of Mormon to help me eat healthier!

I got to talk with my friend Whitney this week, and I'm happy she is doing so well. She sounds so happy with her boyfriend Kenny, and I'm learning a lot about what healthy dating relationships look like from her.

Oh! Last Sunday was my first CFM study group, and we had a great turn out! Five guys and five girls! It seemed like everyone really enjoyed it and they want to keep coming back! Unfortunately, we won't be having it tonight due to a YSA devotional, so I hope it doesn't lose its momentum and people come next week! (Especially since next week is General Conference...)! 

As I went to the temple and did an endowment session with our ward Saturday morning, I felt the impression that God saved me specifically for this world and this time, in the darkest days, so that I can be the brightest light, and to not let anything of the world hold me back from rejoicing in the Lord and being fully engaged in enjoying the gospel and living as close to God as I can, no matter what others think or say or whatever my internal reservations or worries.

My only picture from this week is from this morning. Lucy, mom, and I went on a Sunday morning walk and Lucy climbed a fallen tree. We had some pretty crazy rain on Friday that flooded the house and apparently took down a tree! Also, I should mention that my coworkers really like me and keep saying how much they are going to miss me. Chris even said that he keeps hoping I'll change my mind last minute and stay instead of doing my internship. It feels nice to be appreciated!

Much love,

Emily Burnham

New Friends

 12 September - 18 September 2022

On Monday, I met with Crystal Bowman. It was fun talking with her and seeing their facility, and I'd love to help with creative content to get therapy info out there, but it's still up in the air if I'll be able to work with them. My internship won't be paid, but I'm hopeful that the Lord will bless me with opportunities to make money and pay my way through it all. I went to ministering night on Wednesday and found out some common connections with a girl in the ward named Cherish. Her sister married into the Tilley family that I babysit for occasionally! My boss said that we will have Fridays off for the rest of the year. They're looking for my replacement since I'm leaving them at the end of the year to do my internship.

I had a good weekend. Made some more toothpowder and a presentation on conflict to present to Symantha. Us girls went to Florence on Saturday to visit her and we had lunch and then went to her house where I gave the presentation. She seemed to really enjoy it. Then the two of us went to buy ice cream for everyone and we talked more about it. I feel like it was the first time we interacted in a way that was as equals, like she saw me as a mature adult for the first time. It was really cool. Then we played Unstable Unicorns and I roasted and toasted everyone on that game! Wahahaha!! I had 5 "Neigh" cards in my hand by the end of the game! I got to hold the baby a lot this weekend. After Val and I did inititories at the temple, we stopped by Breisa's place to say hi and got to hold the baby for a bit. Then Brei and Aaron came over Saturday morning and I got to hold the baby. Then they came over for dinner with us on Sunday night and brought the cutie. I got some adorable pics of Sean--Uncle Sean--holding her.

And, most excitedly, I had a good turn out for my Come, Follow Me study group! And I feel appreciated for my efforts by those who came, especially Nick and Jasen, who were so happy to have a group to come to. They're both new in the ward and searching for friends, and I think they were blown away by our invitation to have people into our home to study scriptures, play games, and eat treats! There were five guys and five girls, so a great, even turn out! God is so good.

Much love,

Emily Burnham

I'm an Aunt!

 5 September - 11 September 2022

Briesa had her baby Monday night around 9pm. I woke up early on Monday morning, feeling like it was Christmas and wondering if I'd become an aunt already, but alas, Briesa was in labor for 41 hours! The baby took her time coming! But she was worth the wait because baby Gracelyn is SO stinkin' cute and adorable. Yes, ALL my pics from this week are of her, hehe. I got to hold her Tuesday morning before going to work over at the hospital, and my heart was so warm and joyous. For the rest of the day, I was just like, "How can I be mad or frustrated or impatient when I just got to hold a little angel baby that came straight from heaven?" Holding her is so therapeutic. I quite enjoy the baby snuggles now. It was so cute to see my parents holding her, and my mom teared up. My dad looked happy and I actually got a picture of him laughing/smiling, which is so rare! The other amazing thing that happened this week was that I had a phone interview on Monday for a potential internship site with Michele Mulcahy, and it went well, so she invited me to come in person and check out the facility, which I did on Wednesday morning before work. I love the look and feel of the place, and Michele seems great. I am so excited to start an internship with her in January at a place called Clear Counseling in Chandler. Like, so pumped. I get to finally START doing what I've been wanting to do since I was a freshman in college! Practice therapy! Not just learn about it, but put everything I've been learning for YEARS into practice! I'm so pumped. I think I feel like I moving towards one of my great purposes here on earth, and I'm excited for how fulfilling it is and will be. Thursday night, Val and I went country dance swinging at a stake center in Mesa and there were actually a couple of cute guys there that we danced with! We are going to keep going back and hope that we follow in Aaron's footsteps and meet our eternal companions there! ;). So life is really looking up because I am really feeling that my life is meaningful just as it is, and it'll only go up from here as I continue to enjoy where I'm at, what I have, and live with hope and peace about the future blessings that are promised to me, including a cute family of my own.

She's so soft and squishy!

I got to teach relief society on Sunday. I spent the majority of Saturday finishing up all my final assignments for school, so I did not have a ton of time to prepare. Fortunately, I'd read and listened to the talk multiple times throughout the week and talked with Valerie that night about her insights, and though I didn't have a clear plan of how to bring together all the points we'd discussed, God blessed me because I woke up Sunday with this plan in my head of exactly what to do. And it went marvelously. The spirit was so powerful as I testified of their divine identity and invited them to get to know each other better. If we remember who we are, children of the most powerful Being in the universe, Whose voice completely vanquishes the darkness of the adversary, then we can overcome any temptation.

Much love,

Emily Burnham

Laser Power

 29 August - 4 September 2022

I had a good week! And some breakthroughs :). On Monday evening for FHE, there was ballroom dancing, which I convinced Sean to attend. Surprisingly, he didn't put up much of a fight and reluctantly agreed. And it seemed like he had a good time! At first, it sucked for me because I was one of the 6 girls out of 35 who didn't have a guy choose them as their partner, so I sat out the first several dances. Then the instructor had all the guys change partners and make sure to get the girls from the back, so then I got to dance with a handful of guys and had fun! We mostly focused on the waltz. 

Other highlights from this week... I finally turned on mom's laser machine and learned how to work it. My first couple of cuts were very frustrating and disheartening as I am trying to learn the settings and program. But I have hope that it'll get better from here on out. Here is the laser in action and a picture of my failed attempt to make cute baby milestone plaques:

I've also spent a lot of time researching more intern sites and called several places. I have a few promising leads! I had a phone call interview with one lady today that went really well and I am very excited to move forward with her and become an intern at her practice! But this process has also been a lot of rejections and no-responses. However, I have been trusting in the Lord that it will all work out and that he will provide the best place for me to gain the experiences I need to be a better instrument in His hands.

On Saturday, there were moments when I could have felt overwhelmed by all that I "should" or "could" do, but for some reason, I was in a place where I decided to focus on doing one thing at a time. I would just fixate on one task and work on it until it was done. Then, without overthinking it too much, I would just move on to another random task to do. It was such a blessing. I carried this mindset on to Sunday, where I thought, what can I be doing right now? What task can I accomplish? Then thoughts of "focusing on the prayer" or "going up to bear my testimony" or "make comments in Sunday school" came to my mind and I acted upon them! I was so proud of myself. When I got home from church, I ground up some gluten-free flour mix and cleaned up the house. I was surprised by how much energy I had, considering it was fast Sunday. I made fudge for dessert, and I didn't think it turned out that good, but my family loved it! I think it would be fun and cute to make different fudges for Christmas treats this year. Aaron and Briesa were supposed to come for Sunday dinner, but... Briesa's water broke (on her due date!) so they spent the evening at the hospital. No baby yet! Poor Bri is having painful contractions but they aren't bringing the baby out yet. So basically, this is my last blog entry before I officially become Aunt Emily! I am so pumped!!

I feel the Spirit and God's love. I haven't been the best at studying scriptures, but God knows that I am doing my best. I got to talk with Janette Rallison this week about the crazy world of publishing, and I learned some really good things. It was so kind of her to take the time to talk to me. I feel so blessed and loved that things are working out.

Much love,

Emily Burnham