Beauty Is How Humans See God

This post is long over due, but the stress of college swallowed me whole. College is a strange place. I went from a world of being sheltered all the time to a place where I have to figure everything out on my own. I went from the comfort of home, a place I love, to always getting outside my comfort zone. I have made memories that will last a life time. My roommates are crazy and I learn to love them more and more each day. We have our ups and down, but I get to practice patience and communication. 

I walk to class each day wondering who I will meet next; wondering what cool things will I see or hear. Some days are good. I meet interesting people that help me see the world differently. Just the other day in humanities someone said, "beauty is how humans see God." That statement left an imprint on my soul. How profound. BEAUTY IS HOW HUMANS SEE GOD. God loves us so much that he left us beauty. Imagine an Earth without sunsets, mountains, stars, or even something as simple as a smile. Without all that we might as well stay in the comfort of our homes. I now when I wake up and hear the sound of rain I get to look outside my window and feel God's love. The weather is changing, leaves are falling, and the rain has picked up, but you know what it's all because God loves us. 

I ALSO GOT TO GO HOME. The longest I have been away from my family has been three weeks. So after midterms I decided it was time to surprise my family. It took everything I had to hold it in, but it was a success. When I rang the door bell everyone ran to get the door (because everything is a competition in my house). Then it was a blur. Hugs all around. Being away from home I have learned the value of family (and home cooked meals). My family is great the older I get the stronger bonds I have with them. Life is good.

A Summer to Remember

Congratulations you made it!

This summer was a thrill. So many memories were made. Not all good, but not all bad. I will forever be changed by the events of my summer. One event in particular. AFRICA

My first journal entry before I landed, "Here I am making my first journal entry. I am a little nervous. I will be in a land that has a different language, people, food, and culture. It is so much easier to interact with the people when you speak the same language. I also don't know anyone in my group (besides Jaycie). I met one girl, in our group, in the airport. She seems super nice. These next few weeks should be fun...."

Well that was the first of many journal entry. Most of them were just a simple recap of the day, but others are full of stories that have touched my heart forever. Each person in Cape Verde, Africa has a very unique story. Their lives are unreal. How could such horrible things happen to such good people? When we had down time in the evenings we would get together with the Young Single Adults from the island. The ones that spoke, broken, English told us their stories.  I was privileged to hear the story of one person in particular:

"Do you like it here?" He asked. 

"Yes, I like it very much. My life is changing each day. I am becoming a better person because of all of everyone here" I replied. 

"That is good, I wish I could be like you."

"Why do you want to be like me?"

"You come from America. I want to go to America. Everyone is kind and you are free. That is my dream. You know I love to sing and dance right? I will be able to do everything I love if I go to America. When I was little my father married another woman. She is not a good woman. She made my father tell me I can no longer sing or dance. I was in a band, but there is no band anymore. She took away my passion. I am also the only member, of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in my home. It is hard. I am also the only one that hasn't tasted alcohol. Well, if you don't count the time my brother forced it down my throat."

Do you know that feeling you get in the back of your throat? The one you get before you cry, and no matter how many times you swallow it won't go away. Well, that feeling hit me like a brick. I didn't know what to say. I have a good life back in the states. I have a siblings that loves me, great parents, a house that wasn't made out of cinder blocks, and a strong testimony of Christ. What more did I need? Plus the fact that I live in America is a blessing on its own. I have gone through some hard things, but nothing compared to anything he had gone through. What was I supposed to say? 

He continued to tell me, "Sometimes I just want to hide from the world. I am small and not seen, but every time I try to hide from the world God works a miracle. He brings the missionaries to me. (To find out more about LDS Missionaries visit lds.org or click on Believe) I go on splits with them and they give me hope. God knows me, and you know what he loves you too."

I had an answer for that one. "It's because you are strong and a great example for others in the ward. Not are you an example to those in the ward, but you are an example for me. You are needed in the world, and I know you can do it."

The conversation continued but WOAH. The people never ceased to amaze me with their testimonies. If we just rely on God and the love he has for us we can overcome anything. I could go on and on about my trip and all that it taught me, but who has time for that. 

To end, here is the last journal entry I made in Africa, "Yet another day has passed and things are still getting better and better, well except for today. Today is the day I have to say goodbye. I'm not ready for this. I am going to hate leaving this country. I came in not knowing what to expect. I didn't know anyone, besides Jaycie, in my group or any one that lived in Cape Verde, I didn't know a lick of Portuguese, and I didn't know I could love as much as I did. I have fallen in love with everything I didn't know. Well, the food I could live without, but the culture was one of love and humility. Those are two things I could never live without. I am thankful for the gospel and how it influences my life. Without it I wouldn't have met the people I did. I know that wherever I got the gospel of Jesus Christ will always remain the same."

NEVER TAKE YOUR LIFE FOR GRANTED

Alleigh

The Day I Fall In Love

     LOVE: the way someone's eyes shine as another person laughs; not being able to live without the person that makes you happy. 

     The day I fall in love will be a strange day. I am only 18. My whole life is ahead of me college, an LDS mission, and just plain old life. There is so much to do and so much to see with only a little time. Yet from the time I was in diapers I always dreamed of my wedding and being with THE ONE. My wedding "style" was always changing. One day I wanted everything country and the next it was all sparkles. Currently, I just live one day at a time because everything is constantly changing no matter how hard I try to stop it.

      The one thing that has always stayed the same is my image of "The One". First things first. TALL. I am 5' 11", so if he isn't tall he isn't the one for me. Eyes: big and brown. Smile: the bigger the better.

      But really the physical attributes aren't what matter most to me. "The one" will be someone who has a strong testimony of Christ because through Christ all things are possible, and having a strong testimony of Christ is more attractive then someone who is tall, has brown eyes, and a perfect smile. He is someone who is willing to love me for who I am. He is someone that will put up with my mistake because I am in NO way perfect or even close to it. He is someone who is smart and loves hard work. He not only loves works hard but knows how to build and create with his hands. There is nothing more attractive then seeing a guy work hard. Well, seeing a guy who is really good with kids is equally as attractive. Lastly, someone who is willing to adventure with me and try the things I love. 

     Although I am not quite ready yet I know I will be one day, and I'll be okay with that. Because that will be the day I fall in love.

Alleigh

Life After High School

    High school. The time where most teenagers are trying to figure out who they are. I was one of those kids. I came in as a bright eyed and bushy tailed freshman who was eager to become one of the "popular" girls. I thought they had it all. They had all the friends, nice clothes, and what looked like, at the time, fun.
    Coming in as a freshman is a weird thing. I had so many questions running through my head my first day. Will I keep the same friends I had in middle school? Will I make new friends? Will being on the Varsity volleyball team help me make new friends? Will the boys like me? All of this was totally normal right? The school year went on, and it was pretty great. I was oblivious to half the things that happened, which was probably a good thing. It wasn't all I thought it was going to be, but at the same time it wasn't horrible. High school was just plain old high school.
    Sophomore year was a little different. I wasn't the low end of the totem pole anymore, so I had a little more "authority." I decided not to play volleyball, so I didn't have the same friends. I had to make new friends again. Friends in high school make or break the person you later become in life. No one likes making new friends, and moving from group to group really sucks. Plus there is nothing worse then feeling like you don't fit in. I thought I was doing good. I had fun and was making connections. There was just something that bothered me. I wasn't getting all that I wanted. I was always comparing myself to other girls. I wanted the name brand clothing, wore a butt load of make up, and tried way to hard to get attention from guys. Nothing about that was fun.
    Junior year is another story. Again I was trying to fit in with the popular crowd. Name brand this. More make up here. Tighter shirt there. blah blah blah. Not the ideal teenager a parent wanted to see. I wasn't doing anything wrong, but none of it wasn't feeling right. After second semester was over, my mom came to me and told me I didn't have to go to public school anymore. She was starting up her own private school, so I could attend that or I could do my own studying at home. I throughly considered what she was telling me and decided to "drop out" of high school.
    The next semester I did a little soul searching. I needed to find who I really was and not who I wanted to be by comparing myself to others. Man was that eye opening. I figured out that I really love learning. Not only do I love learning, but I love it even more when I find it myself. I have recently found my love for rock climbing and it is exhilarating. Over that next semester I preceded to read some of the classics. It was hard to motivate myself, but I did it. I really thought I had it all. I was able to control my own schedule, I learned a ton, and I still got to be with my friends over the weekend.
    Senior year rolls around and I had a decision to make. I knew I didn't want to go back to public school, but I wasn't self motivated enough to keep doing what I was doing. My mom threw out a few options: Her school, Kimber Academy, or Williamsburg Academy. There was no chance I was going to go to her school, so the obvious choice was Williamsburg. I didn't get a whole lot of information about WA, but there was a last minute camp that I went to. MAN ALIVE I FOUND WHERE I BELONGED. There was no question. Williamsburg Academy was the place for me. I got to control my schedule, I was able to learn at deeper extent, and the culture was phenomenal. There were a few hick ups along the way, but they were worth it 100%.
   So that brings me to LIFE AFTER HIGH SCHOOL...
I love it. I now know who I am. I am not the girl that wears a ton of make up. I hardly wear any now, and most days I don't even wear it. I don't want to be "popular" anymore because they don't have real fun. At least not the fun I am looking for. I want to see the world and explore the outdoors. No more name brand jeans. The only name brands I wear now are North Face, Mountain Hardwear, Patagonia, etc. I also learned that I could live as a minimalist.
    The last two weeks I have been camping. The first week I lived in a tent, but the second week I lived out of my car. I had 2 pairs of jeans, 4 t-shirts, and 3 pairs of shorts, but I was completely and utterly okay with that. I did wash as I went and didn't have to ask the question of, "what am I going to wear today." Those two weeks were the best. I was with like-minded people (who I grew to love), I got to climb as I traveled, and wasn't comparing myself to anyone. I would say the only reason my life is better after high school is because I had great friends that influenced me to be me, and  I FOUND OUT WHO I REALLY WAS. Not who I thought I wanted to be.

Alleigh

Dream a Little Bigger

There is nothing better then the feeling of unity. These people are from all around the country; they came, some on their own, to a place they may or may have not known. Some come to meet new people and others come to reach new heights, literally if they decided to climb or repel. They each come ready to focus, challenge themselves, become a leader, create harmony, and are willing to be transformed. 

This was nothing new to me. I was once in their shoes. I remember the feeling I had driving down to my first Elevation my stomach was churning with nerves, and my blood was pumping from the adrenaline. Who was I going to meet? Would they like me? Would I be able to challenge myself and become a leader? The answer soon came. Monday morning we smushed everyone in my car and headed to Veyo. 5 hours later we arrived to the bright smiling faces of our mentors and trail guides. The nerves were gone. The whole weeks was nothing but pure bliss. I fell in love with climbing, learning, and the idea of being/becoming a leader. 

Fast forward to last week, August 2nd. I was back in the car heading to Veyo for the 3rd time. This time, however, was different. I was no longer a student.  I was now the happy smiling trail guided that greeted the students as they arrived. Sunday the staff met and were able to connect through challenges. My nerves were calmed, but I was still a little uneasy.  New questions were running through my head. Am I old enough? I went to school with some of these people. What if they still see me as a student? Can I do this? Well, I was soon going to find out. Once noon hit, the kids started flooding in.  Some I knew others I was just meeting for the first time, but no matter who they were they all had smiles on their faces. "I can do this" was the only though running through my head. I could and I did. 

The whole week I was able to see the kids bond and grow. Walls and façades were broken, which helped their connections grow even stronger. Through all of this I think I was the one that changed the most. I was able to form my connections to the students by offering the advise of a fresh graduate. Most importantly, I was able to see the students challenge themselves. I spent most of my time at the climbing walls, and there is nothing better then watching someone who is afraid of heights finish a route. The smile on their faces is that of accomplishment. They, after a little struggle, know they are capable of anything. If anything climbing is a mental block more so then physical, and I was able to help the students through that. 

So I grew to love the people at Elevation. They are my family and will be forever. No more fear. No more questions.  All because connections were made, walls crumbled, stories were shared, and a family was created. 

Alleigh