Been a while... Welcome back!

It's been a while my friends, but I am back and ready for a new adventure of life and happiness.

I have been through A LOT this summer.
There have been things that have tested the limits of my ability to forgive and forget.
I have learned that everyone deserves to be loved and cared for, no matter what they have done or what they believe. Everyone deserves to be forgiven and loved.
And that is my goal for the year. To show people that no matter their circumstance, no matter how far they feel they have fallen off the edge, they are still here, still deserving of every ounce of love and compassion that is out there.



Everyone has been through things that have changed their perspective, life, and hearts.I have been through the hardest test of life and still struggle with it DAILY. It never leaves me. But I chose to push through it and let the warm sun radiate my spirit because I can't let the gray clouds of doubt and fear seep in.
If they do, I am afraid that I will go back to who I was.
So, I will be happy. I will chose joy and smiles over sorrows and pity.
I will help others be happy and want to choose joy over their sorrows. I don't want anyone to feel the pain and sorrow that comes from mistakes and a PAST.

Thanks to a special friend of mine, this is what my answer has been to many of my questions.

Now my brethren, we see that God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth. Now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks unto my God forever. Amen. (Alma 26:37)

In Sister Byers words, "it doesn't matter where we are physically, spiritually, or emotionally- no place is too far to not feel his love."

In Jeffrey R Holland's words, "the thought I heard many years ago that surely the thing God enjoys most about being God is the thrill of being merciful, especially to those who don’t expect it and often feel they don’t deserve it."

I want to be more like the Savior and be merciful and show compassion because everyone deserves that. Because that is what I deserve.

I love my God. I love my faith. I love the mercy that comes from a Savior who knows EXACTLY what I am going through, each and every day.

Lots to do. So little time.

Okay, so my laptop was in the shop for a week and a half so I didn't get a chance to describe some really awesome things that have gone on in my life. And some not so great things.

1. I got an Idaho driver's license. (not awesome) I nearly failed the test because of the random animal laws in Idaho..... But I watched as the lady took my Colorado license and put it in the shredder. I might have shed a little tear. Colorado is my home and that was one of the things that reminded me of it.
2. I was accepted into my program at BYU!!! I am not officially a Communication Disorders major, also known as ComD. Eeeeeep! I am so excited for my classes that I am going to take in the Fall. It is going to be sooooo much fun!!!
3.I got a job through the Temp Agency, working at an Electrical Manufacturing company doing labor work for 12 hours, 3 days a week. Sounds like fun? Why of course! Actually, it was hard work and I got really good at it.
4. I quit my job at the Temp Agency. Quick, huh? Hahahaha! It turned out that the people I worked with weren't the best of people and the environment I was in was not beneficial to me, spiritually and physically.
5. I got a job at the Movie Theater. Woohoo! Free movies for the summer!
6. My brother and his wife just announced that they are going to have a baby!!!! I am going to be an Aunt and I cannot begin to describe how happy that makes me.

There are plenty other things that have been happening, making life crazy and busy.
I love life and I love being home!

Testimony

"You will have all kinds of trials to pass through. And it is quite necessary for you to be tried as it was for Abraham and other men of God; and God will feel after you, and He will take hold of you and wrench your very heart strings, and if you cannot stand it you will not be fit for an inheritance in the Celestial Kingdom of God." - President John Taylor

I have had many experiences this week that have pulled on my heartstrings.

It felt as though the Lord was telling me that I needed to struggle, I needed to go through hard things so I could, in a way, prove to him of my worthiness to achieve the Kingdom of God. 

He knew I could do it. He knew that I had the strength and the capability to overcome my obstacles.

But He also knew that I couldn't do it alone. 

He knew that I HAD to turn to Him and seek His power and grace. I know that I am going through hard things because He wants me to return and live with Him again.

He provided a way for me so that the pain and sorrow from my tender heartstrings wouldn't hurt as bad. He strengthened my back so that I was able to bear all that was placed on me. 

I will continue to be tried and tested. I will meet people who will make me doubt my worth and my potential. I will be confused and afraid.

But I can overcome. Through the power of the Atonement, I can do all things. 

I love this gospel more that life itself. I know my Father in Heaven loves me enough to place trials in my way to test my faith and my dependence on Him. I know I will hurt, but I also know that the happiness and joy will overcome it.

I'll let you in on a secret.....

So this has been a secret, well, sort of.... I have talked about it, but while being home it has become official....

I am planning on beginning my training for a Half Marathon.

Yup.





13.1 miles.





If you have known me for a while, you know that I am most definitely not a runner, in fact, I loathe it because I am terrible at it.

So why am I going to run 13.1 miles?


Well because I want to do something for myself. I want to be able to make a goal and complete it. I am giving myself the entire next year to do it, but I would like to do it by the end of next semester.  I want to one up my brother.... ;)
He ran a half marathon, but the idea that his little sister who can barely run 3 miles is going to run 13.1 is a one up. (better go run a full marathon Matt)

I want to do this because I want to prove myself wrong all these years. I am not a bad runner, just untrained. I am capable of doing anything I want! I am not the one in my family to just watch as my siblings do fun, adventurous things.

my fears.
I'm scared that I will talk myself out of doing this.
I'm scared that I will injure myself because I have no idea what I am doing.
I'm scared of running for a long time all by myself.
I'm scared that I won't be able to do it in less than 4 hours. (like i said, i'm a bad runner)
I'm scared that my family will let me talk myself out of it and won't push me.
I'm scared that I will have to do this alone.

So now that I have those useless fears out of the way, watch out world, here comes me, a girl with a head full of dreams.

My name is Emily Jex.
I am going to run 13.1 miles in 2014.
And I am telling the entire world.

Here I come.