Weekend in AZ

Howdy, my few faithful readers! I had an absolutely amazing weekend because I was able to spend time at home with my family in Arizona.

Monday
I finally went back to work and was tired. It will take a while to get back in the flow of my schedule after being sick threw it off so much. I went to basketball class, and then my Psych 310 class. This weekend we will be launching our survey for our research project. I've spent so many hours already working on it! After class, I went and took a test. Surprisingly, it took me less than an hour, and I did very well! That evening, I went to a Family Home Evening that my mission president was holding. He was in Lehi, UT visiting one of his children. It was a hassle getting there because I forgot that I was super low on gas, and then a road was closed, so I got stuck in some traffic for a frustratingly long time. But I made it there in good timing and in one piece! It was so weird to see my mission president and his wife outside of the mission, wearing normal street clothes without their tags. And to see all the previous missionaries similarly attired, some with a spouse or fiancé. And my mission president greeted me with a hug and a "Hi, Emily!" Definitely strange at first! But I got to take a few minutes to catch up with him. They bought a house in Gilbert, AZ!! Close by where my family lives! It was a wonderful evening, albeit a little strange/nostalgic.

Tuesday
I am still so tired after work and basketball. I definitely took a nap after class :). I went to an interview for a leadership position in a club, "Dealing with Divorce," (which I did not get). I really enjoy going to institute in the evenings and learning more about the gospel. Even though I am often thinking to myself, "Ugh, I don't want to go" because I'm lazy and don't want to walk to the church building, I'm always glad I go.

Wednesday
I went to work, then basketball. My teacher was grateful for the effort I am making to speak up and talk on the court, since everyone else is quiet and keeps to themselves. My goal is to learn everyone's name and cheer them up to help the class feel more bonded and connected. I lucked out last term with an amazing class, and this term the group of us is not as tight-knit, unfortunately. Since Valerie was gone, I carried over the treats she had made on Sunday to the Relief Society spa night that evening! I'd invited some girls to go with me, and they showed up! It was so good talking with them, and I felt like a good ministering sister and disciple of Christ. Ironically, we just had treats and watched a movie—no one actually painted their nails!

Thursday
I noticed after my basketball class, with complete shock and horror, that our hot water heater broke. But I was already in the middle of showering, so all I could do was brave the ice-cold like a soldier! I met Valerie for lunch at PF Chang's because I haven't seen her all week! With her working the ATC camps overnight and then going straight to her day job, she is literally gone 24/7. It was great talking with her, though the food wasn't very impressive, especially for the price I paid. After lunch, I walked around the mall and noticed that Macey's was closing down, so everything was marked down in there. I got four items of nice clothing at a super discounted price! Then I went to Sprouts and got some fruit and found gluten/dairy/egg-free frozen waffles! Discounted ;). Yummy. I also forced myself not to work on my research project, because my teacher is giving us all of class tomorrow, and there wasn't much left to do anyways!

Friday
Today was a good day. After class, I had wanted to go ice-skating, but the rink was closed! Fortunately, I was able to use that time to go and do an endowment session at the Provo City Center Temple. The parking garage was so full and crowded. I was worried the session would be packed, so I was praying I would get in. It actually wasn't that full, so I easily got in. And I also got to sit next to a friend from the ward, Emily Allen! During my time in the temple today, I felt so overwhelmed with my weaknesses and sins. I felt unworthy to be at the temple, even though I knew that was something Satan would tell me to discourage me from going. As I thought about the story of Adam and Eve, I remembered how merciful God was to them after their transgression, and how after everything, they were glad to have fallen because their eyes were open and they had children. They grew as a result of their sin. I realize that even though sinning is bad, as we choose to repent and learn from it, we grow in perspective and knowledge. It can be for our good, but only because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. My friend Kathrine drove me to the Provo airport that evening to fly home to Arizona. Stepping off the airplane that evening felt like stepping into a sauna (though much less wet, since AZ is very dry)! The flight was uneventful, and my parents came to pick me up in their new electric car! It's always so weird at first to see my family after not seeing them for such a long time. They always change in little ways, but overall are very familiar and comforting. When I got home, I was surprised (yet again) how tall my brother Sean has become. Granted, I'd only seen him for just over a month after getting home from my mission before I headed up to college, and then six months passed again. Sweet little Lucy offered up her big bed for me to sleep on!

Saturday
I had today planned for weeks now, and it went just how I'd hoped. I was able to leave that morning with mom to go to a shoe store and get new running shoes. Then we went to the Shoe Carnival and my mom bought me some new sandals. We went out for lunch at Zupas, and then drove to DI, where I found some shorts that fit perfectly, along with a few summery shirts. Lucy and I painted in the afternoon, and I chose a scene with fire-flies. That evening, we went to Garcias with Grandpa Jim, where I ate some yummy stake tacos! I loved how easily my little sister and I got along, and I enjoyed getting to talk with my mom about things in person.

Sunday
I went with my mother and father to my mission president's homecoming in Mesa. Fortunately, it was only a 15 minute drive from our house! When I showed up, I saw two full rows of returned missionaries sitting on chairs. I saw my previous mission companion, Sister Jarvis, again! I was amazed by just how many individuals came to support President Smith and Sister Smith. I loved hearing the Southern references and jokes in both of their talks. Yes, you really do get called, "Baby," "Honey," and "Sugar" by complete strangers! And after shopping at Walmart, I was always told, "Have a blessed day!" I do miss beautiful roads (often dirt) with canopies of trees. They both also testified how God knows us individually and orchestrates wondrous miracles for us to know that—putting missionaries in the right place at the right time, things that are too coincidental to be coincidences. Truly, Heavenly Father has never forsaken us.
We made it back home and went to our home ward, where I was privileged to hear my mom speak! Now, is that a coincidence? My mom getting asked to speak the one weekend I happened to be flying home this year? I was glad to be there to listen and be strengthened by her testimony of this gospel. I also enjoyed surprising the Hughes family with my presense. Little Ben and Hudson ran and gave me the BIGGEST hugs ever when they saw me! It was so cute! I sure love that family so much :)
After church and a nap, we ate a delicious home-cooked meal of roast and potatoes! My mom even made dessert for me and the family. We also went over to Grandma and Grandpa Burnham's home to visit all the cousins and family that I haven't seen in six months. It's so weird to face the facts that I'm an adult now. I do my own cooking and cleaning, and I see my family just a few times a year! But I was so spoiled and pampered getting to be home this weekend, with my mom cooking for me and taking good care of me. She is a super star. My sister also painted a mini-canvas of me ice-skating in Utah as a gift to take back with me. And she let me dress her up and take pictures of her! I did her hair and make-up for church, and she looked so cute!

Much love,
Emily Burnham

    P.S. I am still partial to Arizona sunsets!

Y-Group Leader

Howdy fam and friends! What another wonderful and amazing week! Just as classes finished up, they are already starting again. So quick! I am definitely not going to do year-round next year, because it can be very tiring and taxing!

Monday
I had my last basketball class for Spring term today, and our team won! I was somehow on fire today and made so many epic shots! I also went to a two hour review for my psych class, and then Home Evening, which was dinner at our Bishop's home. Yum! It was the fourth time in a row seeing our Bishop and his wife, which was super cool! I truly love them and am so grateful for them.

Tuesday
I studied some more today, and then because institute was cancelled due to finals, Valerie hosted a game night!! A lot of people showed up, including my friend Olivia from work! She is super chill. We had a fun time. I also got to go and see Levi's Boba bus that he bought and renovated. I hope his business does well!

Wednesday
I studied for and took my Psychological Testing final today. It was a relief to get it out of the way, even though I did not do as well as I had hoped for. It's also crazy that I don't get to see Valerie until the evenings! I've been going to work this week from 5am to 9:30am, and Valerie leaves for work before I get back. She works until after 5pm! I really cherish the evenings we get to spend together.

Thursday
Today was a very relaxed day. Finals were finished. I went shopping and then painted a giant sign that afternoon. It's a bulletin board, but I wanted it to have a cool background. It didn't turn out just quite how I was expecting, but it wasn't too bad, either!



Friday
I had signed up to be a group leader for New Student Orientation (NSO), so I left right after work to go. I accidentally missed the first hour when I was supposed to sign in, and I somehow got moved to a new group, but it was cool because I got two T-shirts, plus I was able to join the group of two guys from my Spring basketball class! The crazy thing was that my freshman roommate Bailey's younger sister ended up in that group, so I got to see her again! I really enjoyed serving, even though it was a long day! It really gave me purpose and joy to help others and look at campus through fresh eyes. I also got a voucher to buy something at the Cougar Café, so I ordered from Aloha Plate and got this giant dish of pork and rice, plus a yuppy mango-pineapple Dole whip. I got home around 3pm and went over to hang out with my friend Whitney. We all went to a pool party (but didn't actually swim) and then went to get free Jamba Juice! Then we went back to her apartment complex and played basketball. I got home just in time for dinner. What a tiring, but rewarding, day!



Saturday
It was so nice not to go to work this morning! I got ready for the second day of NSO, meeting my group of kids on campus at 8:30am. We went to the JSB for the devotional, which I really liked. It was a good reminder that I am at BYU for a specific reason, and I have access to so many tools and resources during my time here. The rest of the day was full of giving the freshmen a tour around campus, with a lunch break in the middle. I ate grilled chicken and fries from Chick-Fil-A (because they were out of salads). I really enjoyed the tour because I actually learned some new things from the presentations about some free stuff we have access to! When I got home around 3pm, Valerie and I went to do initatories at the Provo Temple.  That evening, I finished my readings for class, and then took Valerie with me to attend the NSO finale. We played a couple games, but it was kind of lame, so we grabbed some food and left.

Sunday
I travelled to Heber City this morning to attend the home coming of Sister Alyssa Caldwell! I was so happy to see Sister Morgan Black there as well, and it was so fun to catch up with her. After sacrament meeting, I also got to see Sister Bowman and her cute mom, so it was a mini FTM reunion! I attended Relief Society and prayed for inspiration of an insight I could share, and then followed the Spirit and spoke up, which was really cool. I don't always think I sound very eloquent when speaking--in fact, I know I don't. I stumble over my words and have a hard time trying to convey my thoughts and feelings. But I'm sincere and I know the Spirit can help communicate the things that I cannot. Afterwards, I went over to Alyssa's home for a luncheon and ate some very delicious food. Sister Caldwell (Alyssa's mom) made banana bread and sent me home with it! She is so kind! I drove back to Provo and made it back just in time to attend Reconnect at the Bishop's home, even though I was so exhausted and desperately needed a nap.

I am so grateful for the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. While many people have been brought back from the dead, according to the scriptures, what Christ did was unprecedented. He did not simply come back to life. He had power and authority to become an eternal physical being, never again to be corrupted by time and physical affliction. He is eternal, constant, and permanent. So many other things in this life come and go, including loved ones. But because of Jesus Christ, we can live again. Eternally. Together.