Hunt for a Black Truck

20 July - 26 July 2020

Monday
Now that I quit three of my jobs, I have a lot more time to dedicate to studying for the GRE, and I like to spend that time in the library so I can focus better. We had a ward FHE activity at the park, complete with chips, hot dogs, and games.

Tuesday
I was studying on the first floor of the library, and my right hand/arm felt weird. It became hard for me to write, so I took a break and watched an episode from a show my family likes called Chuck. It was okay. I was super worried about my arm though, but it didn't get worse. My roommate Lily also received her mission call today! We watched her open it that evening, and she got called to serve in the England Leeds Mission! I'm so excited for her! It's been awesome being her roommate because she comments many times how she believes she moved in here so she could meet me and that I've helped her a lot in her preparations to serve the Lord.

Wednesday
After meeting with Marty, I got ready and went to campus. I worked all afternoon, studying and working for BYU Online. Okay, confession time... I started watching Twilight. Yes, the acting is awful! But I just felt like taking a trip down memory lane and seeing why it was so popular back in the day.

Thursday
I attempted a shopping trip, not realizing that masks are now required to go inside the stores. I didn't have a mask on me, so I turned around and went back home, feeling dejected. After a lunch of stolen stale chips and old beans, I went to the library to study. Then I went over to Whitney's house, and her neighbor Keturah invited us over for Indian food that she had made. It was a blessing because I was so hungry! Then Whitney took me shopping with her and loaned me a mask.

Friday
I studied a bit for the GRE and also finished watching the last Twilight movie (seriously, so bad, don't know why I wanted to rewatch them all). I went to Lexy's game night with some fellow friends in the ward in the evening. We first played this game called Diception (aka Pirate's Dice)... and I won with four dice still intact!! It was a very proud moment. Then we played this game called Snake Oil... I did not do as well in that game.

Saturday
I had a productive morning. I actually did a pretty intense workout, got ready, did a bit of cleaning, and then drove around Provo to scope out some black trucks. I got my friends Matt and Whitney to pose for the book cover of the novel I'm writing for my sister Lucy. It was so funny because Whitney was scared the owner of the truck would come out and see her close to his truck holding what looked like a can of spray paint (but really it was a can of starch. I took off the label and painted it). I spent some hours studying for the GRE. I am feeling a bit more prepared for it, which is good because I am taking it in about three weeks!!! I also edited a video for my channel and worked on the cover of the book. Photoshop can work miracles! Let's see how many differences you can spot:

Sunday
I slept in so late! I got over 10 hours of sleep. I got up and ready for church. It's a bit weird still that we get to meet in person, but everyone wears masks. I guess now is the time when people would want to volunteer to give talks because you get to take your mask off when your speaking. Otherwise you only get a two second break for taking the sacrament. We had an absolute beautiful musical number, Savior, Redeemer of My Soul. The woman's voice rang out so clearly on the high notes! I also visited an apartment of sisters (there were only two there) and chatted with them for a bit before asking about ministering. They are so cute! After lunch, Kathrine came over and we did a bit of family history. She helped me attach a source! So I am slowly, but surely, making a difference in the world!

I believe in Christ, but I also believe Christ. I believe that He has the power to fulfill all His promises, and that He can save and redeem me. I mess up daily. I'm very aware of how far from perfect I am. Yet I have confidence that God will bless me with all things as I continue to desire to be righteous. I'm grateful for the sacrament so we can renew our covenants and be clean again.

Much love,
Emily Burnham

Burning an Organ

18 May - 24 May

Hey y'all! This week has actually flown by pretty quickly. It was a pretty lit one ;)

Instead of giving you the usual day-to-day run down of things, I'm going to just give you the highlights. (That's what you're most interested in anyway, right?) Besides, nobody wants to hear about the hours I spent vacuuming, taking out trash, calling people, conducting research, and who knows what else that I did for work ;)

On Tuesday, I was able to babysit the Nixon kids and help them with school work. Some days can be a little crazy, but I really enjoy being with the kids. Plus, I get to revive my hair-styling skills!

I spent many hours this week on a piano at the church... and it was great! I am so close to finalizing the piano part of my song. Honestly, I'm just trying to get good at singing and playing it at the same time.

Also, I downloaded the mutual app and have been chatting with a guy this week. Well how else are you supposed to meet any guys during a global pandemic when you're in lock down? Yup, an online dating app. We are most likely going to do something this week, so stay tuned! I'm super excited :)

I went to a bonfire Saturday night. The main source of fuel? A baby organ. No worries, it was broken beyond repair and so old! It was a sight to behold as the flames demolished it! I took my best friend Whitney with me, and we had an enjoyable time, even though we both were stuck there way later than we would have liked (it's no bueno when the people you carpool with are total night owls and so you don't get home until 12:30am). Yeah. But oh well, apparently socializing is important, so... ;)

Sunday
My roommate sung a musical number for our ward devotional this morning with her ukulele and it was very cute. I am so grateful for the Spirit of God, for the individual guidance He gives me. I am grateful for the hope and joy that makes sacrifice worth it. I am grateful for the covenants I made at baptism and the help I receive in keeping them. I am also so grateful for the Savior. Because of Him, our past mistakes, no matter how foolish, are covered. He extends mercy and helps rectify the mistakes we make that we cannot fix alone. I love Him.

Much love,
Emily Burnham

Peace and Contentment in Turmoil

16 March - 22 March 2020

Hey there, fam!

When you're feeling content and comfortable, that's when you know disaster will strike—something that will come along, rock your world, and shake you out of your comfort zone. That's what I always heard. But our prophet has been sharing a different story lately. In the midst of hard circumstances, trials, adversity—you can experience joy. Joy comes from the focus of our lives, not the circumstances going on around us. I felt this personally throughout the past week. Were there times when I was lonely? Sad? Disappointed? Frustrated? Absolutely yes. But there were also frequent moments where I felt absolute peace, contentment, hope, and gratitude. I felt my Savior and my Father's presence and guidance. I felt hope and excitement for the future. A future that God is shaping. God, who is my Father, who has my best interests in mind. I truly do have so much to look forward to, and these bitter moments will only make the future good moments that much sweeter.

This week I said goodbye to my roommate Miranda. Her room is completely empty now, and the house feels a lot more emptier as well. In fact, I am often the only one home. Miranda LOVED the card I had everyone in the ward sign for her. She was so touched by it and said it helped give her some closure and that it was such an inspired thing to do (which I can confirm, because it was literal inspiration from Heaven one morning when I woke up and prayed for ways to serve others).

Classes are going well. My motivation to listen to the recorded lectures and do my assignment varies day by day, with some being more productive than others. But classes are going well! I got to lead out a group discussion on Wednesday for almost an hour. My giant research paper that got accepted all those months ago for publication is finally in the process of getting edited (which means that editors send their suggestions to me to fix up). It's a lot of work! It's made me question if I ever want to get published again! But I hope that it will be worth it in the end. Also, I went up to campus to study and had a classroom all to myself in the middle of a weekday! #CoronaVirus19

I feel so blessed to have Whitney (my freshman roommate) in my life. She is a literal godsend in my life at this time. We've hung out quite a few times this week because we are both in the same boat with having no family or roommates around. On Saturday, she came over to sing with me, then later that night invited me to a movie night (we saw the new Emma). She walked me home and we ended up talking for another hour and a half. It is so easy for us to talk about anything! We are quite the pair of goofballs, for sure!

Other highlights of my week: I've been working a lot on videos to post on my YouTube channel (I'm excited... y'all are going to be impressed with the new introduction and end screens). When I went out to practice jumps for my ice-skating assignment, I ran into two guys in the ward playing Frisbee (well, I went over to tell them not to think I'm crazy for randomly jumping and twirling in the air) and was invited to play with them for a bit. That was good because I'd been all alone that day at my apartment, so God sent me some company. Also, when I did get around to practicing my jumps, I was glad no one was around because I was SUPER terrible. I almost fell over so many times, haha. I also had a couple of really great talks with my roommate Katie throughout the week. She has taught me the importance of truly listening to my body. Sometimes your body needs a break or wants a treat, and you don't need to fight it all the time. Be in-tune with your needs, both physical, emotional, and mental.

Sunday was so good! I got to partake of the sacrament in my very own living room, courtesy of my FHE brothers. I got to listen to to my family's Sunday school lesson and learn some great things from my family that I was then able to use for when I helped teach Sunday School over Zoom for my ward here in Provo. It went SO well. All my fears immediately dissipated within five minutes of the call because so many people were willing to participate and we had over twenty people listening in. It was sooo good to see everyone in their homes and feel connected. Everyone seemed to really enjoy it! My heart was so full at the end with love and gratitude that it had turned out well, and I was sad to see it end, honestly. God is good. Because He is good, He blesses us. Even in the hard times (especially in the hard times), I feel His love.

Love you all SO much,
Emily Burnham