I really am so blessed in my life. I have a great family who I love so much and despite my many flaws, I know that they love me too. I have a wonderful man- Daniel Jordan- in my life who respects the priesthood that he holds, has an unbreakable testimony, and loves serving the Lord and other people (he is currently on a mission in Roseville California, is a zone leader in the Granite Bay area which is the same area as the mission president as well as the Area 70... I'm sorry I'm bragging but I can't help it!) and who loves me and treats me like a queen. I get along great with Daniel's family and love them like they were my own (yes, I am aware they are not actually my family... yet... ;] haha). Despite struggling financially I am in school and have had great experiences throughout my college experience without over-stressing about money because I have been blessed with grants and scholarships and currently an internship that I am super excited for. I had the opportunity to go to school at BYU-Hawaii where I made good friends and tons of great memories. I could go on and on but let's just all come to the conclusion that- my life is abundantly blessed!
In Daniel's last email (he sends weekly email updates to his family and close friends) he gave us a challenge to pray out loud. Well, I pray every night and before I eat and okay I'll be honest, I usually forget in the morning, but I try to remember. Granted, I should be working on consistency in my morning prayers. Okay so I took his challenge and said okay this seems like a great idea! I was praying about a few main things. First, if I should plan on transferring for the next semester (the one that starts in January) and second- here's the biggie!- I was praying... and kinda begging the Lord to help me get this internship that I applied for. At the beginning of the semester I learned that I was getting about $2,500 less than the previous semesters and I was struggling to get by as it was. So I made sure I was a 100% full tithe payer and I prayed a whole lot and I trusted that the Lord would provide some way to get me through because I know that school is the right thing and taking a semester off was NOT what the Lord wanted and it definitely wasn't what I wanted! So when I heard of this internship teaching and tutoring Math in the local schools here in Northern Colorado I got really excited! I started putting all my information together, wrote some pretty dang good essays- if I don't say so myself!- and asked the people I thought would be best to write me recommendations. I ended up having Daniel's Uncle John and his dad write me recommendations and I also asked one of my old math teachers, Mr. Maline and one of my old english teachers who I absolutely adore, Mrs. Kruse also write me recommendations. Well it ended up that I only needed two and since I was in a rush I only used the one's from John (who knows me well because I work for him when I'm not in school) and Brother Jordan (Daniel's dad- who I respect a whole lot and spend a lot of time with his family and have tutored a few of his kids).
So anyways! Getting back to my point... When I prayed out loud I decided to really ask the Lord to help me get that internship (did I mention it's a paid internship?! that plus the experience... I really wanted it!). To help the people reviewing the applications to see why I would be a great choice and so on and so forth. I hate to admit this.... But it's been too long since I have sincerely prayed out loud for something I really wanted. It has really only been a couple months but every time I pray out loud, it helps me get much more in the mind-set that I am talking to my Heavenly Father and it helps me remember that I'm not just praying for what I want... I'm praying to know and understand His will and His plan for me and accept it even when the whole understanding part comes slower! Well when I prayed I felt the strongest impression that things would work out. Sometimes it's hard for me to not just get the answer, "Hey! Carlie! It's me. Heavenly Father. Don't worry, you're going to get the internship. And while we're chatting, I'm also going to throw some missionary experiences your way so be ready for them! And you should probably call your sister today and tell her you love her because she's feeling a little lonely. Talk to you soon..." Haha wouldn't that be great?! Okay well my answer was definitely not that forward. But I knew things would work out. And I knew that it was important for me to continue being faithful and share my testimony whenever I got the opportunity. And low and behold, I got the internship. And I couldn't be more excited and grateful!
That was just one of many great, testimony strengthening experiences that I've had since I got back to school and it's such a wonderful thing to know that Heavenly Father loves every single one of His children and when we have faith and are willing to serve others Heavenly Father will bless our lives. It's not luck. It's faith and showing our faith through our works. I love this Gospel and I'm so grateful for it in my life!
