junior year: check

HALLEH (freaking) LUJAH
I AM FINISHED
IT'S OVER
THE DEED IS DONE
The year I have been dreading since my days of recess ended.

Junior year...

I may be a little less sane, but sane nonetheless.
no worries though, senior year is slowly creeping by and I couldn't be happier!!!
Soo we are actually officially seniors since we made it through senior sunrise. It was a long night of partying and I am still catching up from my whole days lost of sleep.. BUT IT WAS TOO GOOD

road to state

The weekend we pretty much ate, drank, and breathed baseball. This weekend one big happy family aka "squad" took our first official road trip. The whole purpose of this little trip was to watch dixie TAKE STATE! We shook the car with our rockin' dance moves the whole way up. When we got there we had t minus 2 hours until our first game so we took a little tour around some temples (payson, provo, provo city center).

the "tylee leg" the names pretty fitting

temple trips

THE TIME HAS COME GUYS

It is officially the last. week. of. school.

dang I never thought I would EVER say those words.

It's been a long time coming and now after what seems like forever, the time has come.

But really, who actually goes to school that last week? Once the seniors leave it's practically over.

And because it is, me and my friends decided to take a (MUCH NEEDED) day at the temple.

It was literally freezing. Yes, it is freezing in St. George, Utah in the middle of May. 

Strange. I know. Utah has lovely bipolar weather. 

Anyway, it was nice to get away from the stress of school and just hang out on the temple grounds. While my friends wrote in their journals, I "sneakily" took pictures of them. of course.

getchyo head outta that book ko

I was kind of obsessed with black and white today

but dangg how could i not

Love them. Love the temple.

another word of advice: go to the temple guys it's really the best place to be

oh, and Josh Groban is freaking talented
another random post from yours truly
-Lex

sunday thoughts

There's a lot to be afraid of in this world that seems to get darker and more complicated each day. And while we shouldn't let them paralyze us with fear, we also shouldn't minimize the problems and complexities of our day. Some things we can control. some things we cannot. But there is an antidote to fear, and it requires us choosing to stand with God every day...

BE OPTIMISTIC 

" Stop seeking out the storms and enjoy more fully the sunlight" 

Our optimism can be more than just a positive, attitude. If we do our best, it will all work out. Put your trust in God, and move forward with faith and confidence in the future. The Lord will not forsake us. 

ACT FIRST IN FAITH

We can't see the future. That's what makes the unknown scary. Sometimes sticking with what we know, what we're comfortable with, what we can see, feels like the safest bet in life. But that's not how God intends for us to grow. Sometimes life requires us to take a leap of faith, especially when it comes to overcome our fears. 

*The requirement for faith is that we act first*

As we act, Jesus Christ blesses us with his power. Our faith for him grows, our confidence increases, and we can then navigate the most difficult circumstances in life knowing that we will never be alone and we will always have his help. 

Overcoming fear requires a divine power, and we gain that power as we chose to act first in faith. 

SEE THE LONG VIEW

Fears are apart of this mortal experience. We are never going to get rid of them, but having the right perspective can help us to overcome fears as we live with the right "end game" in mind. 

War, terror, debilitating illness, death. The fear of those things can paralyze us if we do not have an eternal perspective and knowledge that this mortal life is just a moment in our existence. But we know through the gospel of Jesus Christ that death is not the end. Family relationships can continue for eternity we can become all that God intends for us to be in this life and the next. 

- the atonement of Jesus Christ gives us hope - 

There is more to this life than what we can see in front of us. Choosing to live with the long view in mind helps us to keep these mortal fears from taking over our lives and allow us to more fully live by faith. 

SERVE SOMEONE ELSE

When we're paralyzed by fear, disappointments, and just the wrongs that happen as a result of mortality, it's easy to feel justified in focusing on ourselves. 

But spiritual power to overcome fear doesn't come in wallowing, self-pity, and inaction. It comes through action and often looking outside yourself. 

THINGS TO LIVE BY

it isn't as bad as you sometimes think it is

it all works out.. don't worry

the lord will not forsake us

he will not forsake us

if we put our trust in him, 

if we will pray to him. 

if we will live worthy of his blessings

he will hear our prayers.

God doesn't want us to fail. Because of Jesus Christ, no failure is final. No fear in this mortal life need to paralyze us. Faith can overcome fear. And if we trust that it does, we can move forward knowing that in the end, "IT WILL ALL WORK OUT"

HAPPY SUNDAY

-Lex