All you need is love & Cafe Rio

 

Well the second day of school is in the bag! And what a day it has been! I only had two classes today, one of which was institute so it was a pretty laid back day. However, let me just tell you, I love my institute class! It is so awesome! So fun! I am really excited for institute this year, I dunno why, I just have a good feeling about it. Last year I struggled with going to institute..but I kinda struggled with college in general, so this time around I am changing my ways! It is going to be a great year. I can feel it! So I feel obliged to share a bit of what we talked about in institute today. Because one I had never thought about it this way and two it was just a really good lesson!

 

So firstly, we talked about how if Jesus loves everyone, then I need to be able to love everyone too. Easy enough. I have thought about that before, ya it is pretty simple. Wrong. It is very, very difficult to love everyone all the time. Like when your sister ruins your shoes, ya you're not going to love her for at least a good few minutes, or when the biker on the road flips you off because you go around and pass him..I don't think you're feeling the love there. It isn't as easy as I thought. Well then my teacher said something I never really thought about. "We can love people and still not like them" This made me really think...like what! Just because you love someone doesn't mean ya have to like them enough to hang out with them all the time. He continued by saying. I love everyone enough to want to help them get back to Christ. Because Christ loves me enough to die for me. Heavenly Father loves me enough to send his only begotten son to die for me. For ME! After my teacher explained this to me it made me really want to try and be better at this. No it is not going to be easy. But I can love everyone. I can be an example to others, serve others and maybe if given the opportunity help someone back to Christ. I challenge you all to do the same. And if you aren't in an institute class, y'all should sign on up because it is a good time! Plus they always have free food so that is awesome. haha. I am grateful I have the opportunity to be in institute and cant wait to learn more and more about this glorious church. Always remember All you need is love :)

 

 

Ok so now a funny story of the day. My friend and I wanted to go to lunch at Café Rio and meet our friend who works down at temple square. We thought we would just meet at a park and pick up our food on the way. So we call in our orders and head on down there...well first of all. We got lost going to the park, then we finally get to the park and start digging into our food and realize there were no utensils...have you ever ate Café Rio without silverware! It is not the cleanest meal! Still delicious...just slightly messy. Not to mention this whole time we were scarfing down our food because we had class in 20 minutes! It was definitely a memory for the books! We laughed a lot.. Oh how I love my friends and Café Rio :) Thanks for reading!

 

<3// Nessa

 

 



Sophomore Swag

I did it! I did it! My first day as a Sophomore at the University of Utah can be checked off the to do list! And let me just tell you, it was a great day! I mean I only got lost once. haha. And I am not even a freshman! However, I am pretty sure I am going to get lost up there for as long as I live. The campus is pretty dang big! Anywho, I just feel really proud of myself because for once I wasn't even nervous for my first day of school. Cause the first day of school is a big deal. I don't care how old or young you are, it is nerve racking as heck! But this year I was as calm as a cucumber. haha. I even rode Trax up to school all by myself! Which that is a pretty big deal because my whole first year of college I hated trax... I would only ride it if someone was with me and it was a rare occasion. Well let me just say that was the dumbest thing ever! Trax is like a beacon on a rail! Like you can make all sorts of new friends, you can study, you don't have to worry about traffic or driving in the crazy weather. Like it is great. So I rode Trax on up there and went to my first class which was all fine and dandy.. then I couldn't find my second class but I wasn't even late for it by the time I found it, which was great! And let me just tell you...that class was only ten minutes long cause my professor had emergency surgery so she wasn't even there and just had a sub fill in and explain some quick stuff! So I had a two hour break! That was nice! I went to my last class which I am so excited about and after that signed up for Institute! Because life without Institute is like a monkey without a banana..just not a good mix! So my day, ya it was golden!

I am excited for this up and coming year or school! I know it is going to be difficult, but I know I can do it. Through lots of studying and faith it'll happen! I hope everyone else who started school today had a great day! For all my cute friends who are just starting college or even high school, don't you worry your pretty little minds :) it will be good. It will be hard at times, but everything in life is hard. Don't stress the small things. If you work hard and have faith in The Lord and yourself anything is possible, even getting an A on your anatomy test :) Thanks for reading!

                                                                      

                                                                                             <3// Nessa

That Camping Life

This weekend I went camping up Spanish Fork Canyon! (I think Spanish Fork..coulda been American Fork..) It was SO much fun! The campsite we were at was in the heart of the mountains. Like I couldn't even get cell service most of the time! And when I did it was only one bar, so that is two weekends in a row without service! The struggle. Jk, I am not that attached to the world of technology. Anywho! It was so incredibly gorgeous! We went on a nice little hike and saw a cute little owl, ate lots of great food (everything taste better in the mountains) played catch a phrase and laughed our patooties off! It was a grand old time! Even when it was completely pouring! The people and the enthusiasm made the trip great! I am so happy I had the opportunity to go on this fun camping trip! I love camping and think that I could probably live in the mountains if I could. Like nature is just so pretty!! And the fresh mountain air is sure good for the sinuses! I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend! Sadly summer is coming to an end! I start school tomorrow...it is crazy! Wish me luck! Thanks for reading!
                                                                            <3// Nessa

91 and so young

On August 19th 1922 one of the cutest men to walk on the earth was born on the earth. That is right my very own Grandpa Bitner! Yesterday Gramps turned 91! I know, that is quite a number of years for a person to live, and Grandpa just lives on day after day. Some days are harder than others, and there are definite ups and downs. However, he handles being a 91 year old man pretty well.

For his birthday celebration we went and took him to his favorite place to eat which is Mcdonalds. haha. I don't know how but he could eat there like everyday and be happy as a bird with a French fry! After lunch we took him on the front runner down to Provo. Grandpa loves, like loves trains. All types of trains. So that is what he wanted to do was ride the train! He loved every minute of it. Even the part when we missed our stop. He was just glowing the whole time. After that we met up with some more of the family we went to dinner at the Sizzler and then opened presents. I gave Grandpa a Utah hat..of course :) and he loved it! Grandpa also went to the U so that is kinda cool for both of us!For being 91 he is doing pretty well.

I am so grateful to have this man in my life. He likes to call me his personal nurse because I help him with all his medical things like eye drops, his diabetic shots and take his blood pressure, so that is kinda fun. Grandpa is such a hard worker, even still to this day he helps me at the ranch more than any other person. He is a rancher at heart. Guess that's where I get it from.. haha. I love you Gramps and hope you had a wonderful day!! Now on to 92!

                                                                               <3// Nessa

Glamping

 

This past weekend my family had the opportunity to go up and stay at the Heber Valley Camp in Heber, Utah. Every year my Grandma's side of the family has a family reunion and this year we had it at one of the most beautiful locations on the planet earth. If you ever have the chance to go up to this camp. GO! It is truly amazing. There is definitely a special spirit hanging up there in them woods. Some back ground on the camp. It was thought up and pursued by President Gordon B. Hinckley. He wanted a place for the young women of the LDS church to be able to have girls camp. Well let me just tell you that this ain't no camping. It is definitely glamorous camping or glamping! You get to stay in cabins and take showers and the pavilion..well the kitchen in that thing is like a kitchen off of the food network or something. It is SWEET! Anywho, it is ran by 70 to 80 missionary couples who camp up there for two summers and then 8 of the couples stay up there year round because it is open during the winter! I am definitely planning on serving a couples mission there with my future hubby..it is super awesome.

 

My family got to stay at the Marjorie Pay Hinckley campground. Which for my personal family was a very cool experience because President Hinckley is my grandpa's cousin, so my third cousin..which doesn't seem that cool. But it was pretty cool to stay there. It just held a sentimental type value to us. So we left Thursday and came back Saturday afternoon. And well..who knew that there was no cell service..but there definitely was not. Which was a bittersweet moment for me. However, by the end I was rather enjoying that cause I didn't have anything to distract me at all! If ya want some pure family time or just time to think..turn off the electronics cause those things can bring us great things but also take away from even better things. So at this family reunion, well all ya ever do at family reunions is eat, play games and eat. haha. So that is basically all we did! The camp has different challenge courses and a lake so we did do those two way fun things as well. Just let me tell you about this challenge course for a sec.. So ya climb up this like telephone pole and then walk across this log that's like a good 20 or more feet in the air and then ya zip line on down. It was definitely a challenge! It was scary!!! But so rewarding in the end! Lots and lots of fun! Secondly this lake. Its actually called Legacy Lake. Well ya can either canoe or paddle boat on it. I chose to paddle boat with my cousin. It was a lot of fun! But if ya haven't ever been paddle boating before! It is a great workout! So just be prepared for that!

 

This weekend has been such a blast! I am so glad to be a part of the Perhson family, they are definitely one of the most amazing families out there! Being able to go up to this camp was such a wonderful experience! I am so grateful for a prophet to have thought this up! Gordon B you da man! I love being a part of this amazing church and knowing that no matter where you are whether it be the mountains or sitting on the couch in tville, Heavenly Father is all around us. The blessings are a sure reminder of that. I hope everyone has also had a great weekend! Thanks for reading! :)

  

    <3// Nessa

Happiness is the Solution

I have been really stressed lately. About school, finding a job, finishing my summer job, friends, missions, boys, you name it, it has crossed my mind. I just feel like I am always so busy trying to please everyone and then I end up pleasing nobody so I get frustrated and upset with myself. Only because things aren't going smoothly all the time. One of my big recent stresses as I mentioned is school. Not going to school, but figuring out classes. I was very upset about the fact that I wasn't able to sign up for the math class I wanted, and the photography class I wanted was full and the list just goes on and on. I felt as though I was never going to get anywhere with the classes I ended up enrolling in. However, I finally got my schedule all figured out and then I did some scrolling on Pinterest when I found this quote. For some reason Pinterest just relieves me a bit. Any who, back to the quote. When I read this I kinda just stopped and thought for a sec............and BAM! This quote says it all.

We need to keep trying for what we want, just because we can't see it right now doesn't mean it's not there! We need to believe in ourselves, which can be hard sometimes. But hey, nobody is perfect and it is ok to make mistakes. But most importantly, we need to BE HAPPY! Which I have not been too happy lately. My family even has started to notice my grouchiness and started questioning it. This was not good. I just need to always remember that everything is going to work out in the end. It really will. Even though the end seems so far off now, things will add up to what they need to be. Gordon B. Hinckley, whatta guy. I just love em.

So if you are having a hard time lately. Rather it be the same things I am struggling with, or something completely different. Don't give up. You will make it. If I can make it, we all can! Have faith in yourself. And most importantly, don't forget to Be HAPPY! It will make a difference. :) Thanks for reading!
                                                                                 <3// Nessa

Love is in the Air

 

I have been meaning to post about this since the day it happened..which was only last Saturday. But time has got the best of me. However I am finally able to have a little bit of free time on this beautiful Sabbath day, in between farewells. ha.

 

On August 3, 2013 another Mrs. Bitner was added to the family! My cousin David got married! Now just a little background. David and I could be twins. He's 2 years older but we are a lot alike and we look a lot alike. Blonde hair and blue eye genes are strong in our family. So we cruised on up to Twin Falls, Idaho. They were sealed in the temple for time and all eternity and as they came out the temple doors they looked happy as ever. The newly wed glow was upon them and it was a beautiful sight. That night the reception was held in the brides backyard. A summer backyard wedding, I know, couldn't be more perfect. Everything was so beautiful! From the newlyweds on down! The decorations, cake, food, plates, everything was just so perfect! One of my absolute favorite parts of the night was the paper lanterns, which were in fact inspired by the Disney move Tangled. They were slightly sketchy, but way fun and pretty once they got into the air.

Weddings are one of my absolute favorite things. Which for a girl is no surprise at all. I love them for many reasons. For one, its because I am a hopeless romantic and I love, love. Also, its never a bad thing to get delicious food and cake.. jk. I love being able to be with all my family. Everyone is just gathered together in honor of such a happy thing. Which for the most part, means everyone is pretty happy. Minus the little stresses of making sure everything goes smoothly. This trip to Idaho was indeed very memorable and I loved every minute of it. Congratulations to the newly weds! Love you guys! Supposedly, I am the next one to get married due to my current age, I'm the next in line in the family! However, we will have to wait a bit for that to happen! I hope everyone is having a wonderful Sunday! Thanks for reading!
                                                                                     <3// Nessa

A Letter A Day Keeps Satan Away

On October 6th, 2012 lives were changed. The Prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, President Thomas S. Monson announced at the first session of the 182nd General Conference that the missionary age had been changed. Boys to 18 and girls 19. I remember this day perfectly.     

This particular day I had the opportunity to sing in the choir at the afternoon session of General Conference. We had been practicing for weeks and weeks. Every Sunday at 5 we would head over to a chapel not far from my house and practice the songs we were to sing. The chorister was actually the choir teacher from my high school. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. My sister was also able to participate as well as many of our good friends. The spirit that comes from singing hymns is one that can't be tampered with. Many times I felt the spirit so strong during practices, I was brought to tears. Any who. So back to October 6th. We had to be down to the conference center by like 11 in the morning, even though our session didn't start till two. So we had to be at the church to get our passes, our outfits checked off and warm up our voices by like 9ish. So we missed the big announcement.... but to back track a little bit.. I was at a time in my life where I was really struggling. With school, with a break up and loosing all three of my best friends to college, while I was staying at home to attend college. So at that time I was really wishing I could just leave on a mission. Basically run away. Which is not the right reason to go on a mission. Any who.. fast forward. One of my best friends who is a year younger than me and was also in the choir, well his mom was driving us down to the conference center. So she is the one that told us about the announcement because her husband texted her. Immediately I started crying, I knew things were about to change.

 

                                         (This picture slightly struggles cause the sun was really bright)

 

Immediately hundreds of girls started working on their papers, and hundreds of guys started deferring scholarships for two years. Many, Many of my friends turned in their papers and got calls. And then the farewells began. I would average about three farewells a week but sometimes I would have 6, which was very difficult. However, everyone questioned me as to why I wasn't working on my papers and ready to go. Deciding to go on a mission is a big decision. It affects many people. Don't get me wrong I am ready to serve. The Lord has told me otherwise at the moment though, and I know by trusting in him, he will guide me where I need to be. So currently I am writing 7 missionaries. A lot still in the MTC. But their calls are spread throughout the world. From Finland to Dallas, the gap is quite large. So this is where my title comes into play...finally.

 

I literally get a letter in the mail once a day from a different missionary I am writing. And the writers of those letters don't even know how much they help me. Missionaries uplift. It's kinda part of their job description. But not only do they help all the people in the field they are serving, they help the people they write. I can be having such a stinker of a day and come home and see that letter sitting on the table and immediately my mood does a 360. I laugh through the letters and cry through the letters. But I love those letters. They make me want to be a better person. To always continually serve my Savior. And most importantly, what I love the most, strengthen my testimony. I still have quite a few friends heading out shortly and I look forward to be able to start writing them. I love my missionaries.

I would like to challenge you to write a missionary. It doesn't have to be a novel, just a little note. They will appreciate it more than you'll know. If you are not a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, I challenge you to just talk to a missionary. You don't have to be interested in the church. Just be their friend. Everyone needs a friend. And missionaries are good friends to have. I love this church with all my heart. I would not be who I am today without it. I definitely wouldn't be where I am today without it. I love you for reading this. Thank you so much!

                                                                             <3// Nessa

A Place of Love and Beauty

 

Happy Sunday everyone!! I love Sundays for so many reasons. It is just a good day of the week! This Sunday was spent driving home from Twin Falls, Idaho! We traveled up to that pretty place for my cousins beautiful wedding..but we will talk about that later. I want to talk about my experience of having the privilege of doing baptisms for the dead in the Twin Falls Temple. As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints we are able to have the opportunity to enter the temple. For more information on our lovely temples just go right ahead and click HERE. You wont be sorry you did :)

Whenever I have the chance to perform baptisms for the dead I take it up! Because I absolutely love it! And whenever I have to opportunity to go to a different temple I normally wouldn't go too I definitely take advantage of it. So I knew we were going to Twin Falls, Idaho, so I called up the temple and made an appointment for my sister, cousin and I to go to baptisms the day before the actual wedding. We arrived on time for our appointment and headed on in those big beautiful doors. Now normally when I go to do baptisms around the Salt Lake Valley the temples are very busy and I never have to make an appointment because their are always people doing baptisms so they just keep the baptistery open and more than once have I had to wait for awhile. Well at the Twin Falls Temple there is only one door that leads to everything in the temple. So we go on in and immediately there was just an amazing overwhelming of peace. Now don't get me wrong, I always feel peace when I go to the temple but this time for some reason it was different. It was one of those really special temple experiences where you can really feel the spirit. There was no one else doing baptisms, just the three of us. It was just for us, and it was such a special feeling. We were at the temple for about an hour, which is quite long for baptisms for only three people. However, they gave us the opportunity to baptize and confirm ten names as well as sit by the font for a few minutes. A fun fact about this temple is it is one of two temples in the church that has an oval font. So that was kinda cool. After we finished up inside we headed outside and took some fun pictures. Overall it was a very wonderful experience.

I am so deeply grateful for temples. They bring you exactly what you need, all you need to do is visit it. I am happy that I have the benefit of having so many temples in quick driving distance from my house, I can not even imagine having to drive such a long distance. I look up to those people who have to sacrifice great amounts of time so that they can visit the temple. They know as well as I that the temple truly does bless lives. The temple blesses lives in ways we cant even see. I look forward to the day when I am able to have the full blessings of the temple. I am amazed by the amount of youth that sacrifice their mornings as well as other times of the day to perform baptizes. I know here in Utah there is a great amount and it always warms my heart when I walk in and see as many people as I do. I am so grateful for this church and love it with all my being. I am beyond grateful that I could have this experience to visit the temple in Twin Falls. If you are every in the Twin Falls, Idaho area I invite you to stop by and take a look because it is extremely pretty!! Thanks so much for reading!!
                                                                          <3// Nessa