Love is All Around/ Choose the Joy

Thursday, November 17th, 2016

Love is in the warmth of a smile, the hug of a friend, and the sunshine that fills your soul in a laughter.

As I was walking home from a long day on campus, drawing nearer and nearer to 9,000 deadlines before thanksgiving break, I ran into one of my roommates and dear friends, Caroline. As we embraced, shared a laugh or two, and encouraged one another on our endeavors ahead, the dark chill of the oncoming storm seemed to brighten and by burdens felt light.

This sudden change in my mood led me to reflect back on the week, the nearly finished semester, and the last 8 months since returning home from my mission.

Through all the hardships and triumphs, trials and joys, and experiences both good and bad, it seems to always connect back to love.  In these last 8 months I have learned what it means to be loved in a hundred different ways. Love from the Lord, from family, from friends, from roommates, from a boyfriend, from classmates and teachers, and so many others. I’ve learned that although relationships may end, and people come and go out of your life, love never does. in a world of ongoing turmoil and ever growing hatred and evil, love continues to be all around. All it takes is to recognize whatever love we have in our life, no matter how great or small, and embody that love, and give it back to the world.

If there is one thing I learned on my mission, it is that there is infinite worth to each, and every individual soul. I came home and felt as if I was yanked out of a better spiritual world into a cruel wicked one, but it is the same world with the same people and the same love. We just have to find it and in return, give it.

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Monday, December 19, 2016

I just came across these thoughts that I wrote down and realized I never shared them. It’s better late than ever but I also wanted to share a few other things that I have since learned. It has only been about a month since I wrote the following thoughts down, and while somethings have changed, love remains. I just want to add my testimony to this and express my gratitude for trials, and for people.

Yesterday my mom taught a Sunday school class to the 16 and 17-year-old youth of our church and asked each of them to share an experience that has brought them closer to Christ. Each of their experiences strengthened me and allowed me to reflect on recent experiences of my own. Trials and people. This may sound like a repetitious cry from every return missionary ever, but returning home from a mission was hard. As a missionary I learned all about consecrating my whole heart, might, and mind to the Lord. I had every intention of doing the same thing when I got home, but I was surprised by the challenge of finding balance in that. Instead of living everyday with one very specific purpose, I now had to learn how to consecrate my job, my schoolwork, my relationships, my church calling, and my own spiritual growth. I felt like I wasn’t doing enough or doing it good enough. I struggled with this for a long time until at some point, and I’m not sure really when or how this happened, I had a change of attitude and had pretty much the opposite challenge.  I told myself I was probably doing better than I thought, I got caught up in living life in pilot mode, and started forgetting the role of the lord in my life.

I reached a point when I felt my relationship with the Lord was declining and trials started hitting. When I made this connection I felt a sense of relief, because I have enough knowledge about this gospel that I knew exactly what I needed to do to get back on track. I spent more time on my knees and in the scriptures and making necessary changes without becoming overwhelmed by my imperfections.

It never ceases to amaze me that Christs atonement works. Every time. I still have so much to learn but I am beginning to find the balance of consecrating myself to the Lord and not becoming discouraged and downhearted by how far I have to go. The Lord loves us and encourages us every day to just do a little more to be a little better. He comforts us when we fall and then helps us back up. And what I have seen this semester more often than not, is that he does that through other people.

As I sit and reflect about the many people this semester that have changed me or been answers to my prayers, I am overwhelmed with gratitude. It’s left me with an unfinished blog post for days because I can’t quite put into words the gifts I have been given by so many individuals. I know that God works through people and his light is manifest through each and every soul He has created. I love my savior, and I love God’s children, especially those I have been blessed to have in my own life.

I testify that God knows us and wants us to succeed. I know he places people in our life at specific times for a specific reason. We learn from them, we gain love, and we find happiness. His whole purpose is for us to have joy. He has given us agency and His gospel to find that joy for ourselves, but he never leaves our side as we journey on in this life. I pray that today and forever we can recognize His hand in our life, in whatever way in comes, and choose the joy.

Some moments of captured joy:

When we hardly knew what good friends we would become

 Mission companion/ sister/ best friend. 

Always healing to be with my girl Lauren!

 Few things can bring joy the 

way dancing in the rain does

 Blest to have served in the best mission

 where my favorite people live so close. 

 Catching up with old friends 

is a treasure. Freshman friends.

 Those who know me know 

that Joy= FOOD. And those that know 

Lauren know that she IS joy. 

 The Wyoming temple open house 

almost made me smile as big as 

getting to see Sister Lawson there. 

(mission comp)

The Eberhardt's.

 My Mission President and His wife 

truley embody the light of Christ. 

 Biggest perk of General Conference is 

running into old companions!

 Sweet Sister Earl was my last comp. 

 Mrs. York! 

A whole day of pure joy. 

 Every so often we put on hoodies and 

red lipstick and say what we love

 about each other. Its our thing. #dressedtobless

 Puppies. Obviously. 

 Celebrated finishing finals with a Polar Plunge. Genius.

 My little Camilla Ri.

Hatch Girls.

Christmas and Sisters are two healing things. 

 Sweet Reunion with my best friend. 

Returned Missionary from Seoul, Korea!

**These are amongst the few memories with a few of the people I love. Thanks to all of you and more!

My Crazy Summer Roommate

It's been over a year now since my first day living in a dorm, meeting a complete new crowd of some of the worlds greatest people, and attending the best university on the planet. I guess you could say I am feeling a little sentimental. I have been thinking a lot about the people back in Utah that were so dear to my heart, and also about some of the lessons I learned last summer. So todays topic: My first roommate and books.

Never judge a book by it's cover. A common cliché we've been taught since elementary school. I never doubted the truth of this cliché, but it wasn't until last summer that I really connected to the truth of it. Mary Katie was my first experience with a roommate besides my family, and needless to say, it was a rough experience in the beginning. Let me paint a little picture for you. Mary Katie is a 5 foot, 100 pound California girl who drives a black convertible V.W. Bug. She is obsessed with running and often does it in the middle of the night. She is very confident in her self, and knows it. She has more clothes than the dorm closet fits, is always dressed perfectly, and she only travels in dresses. I never hung out with her when I first met her because she was gone off on a date almost every single night, sometimes she even had two dates a night. She is almost every way different than me. Got an image? I sure had one.

What I learned is that images are not definitions. After getting to know the girl underneath the book cover, I came to know the beautiful story of Mary Katie. If you asked me to define this girl now, I would say she is one of the funniest, most caring, compassionate, hardworking girls I have ever know. She worked 3 jobs while at school because she likes to be able to support her self. She was always in the library, not because she didn't want to study with me like I thought, but because she wanted to keep a 4.0 to get into the nursing program at BYU. She adores little kids, she was a nanny back in California and one day she is going to be the worlds greatest mom. She likes cuddling up with her best friends, especially when we have movie nights, and she gives the best hugs. Her favorite movie is Peter Pan, just like me. She has a contagious laugh and will do anything to cheer you up. She is always up for a good time and always has a smile on her face. She is one of the most real people I know, she tells you how she feels about you and only complements you when she genuinely means it. She gives great advice and is always there when you need her. She is one of the best friends I have ever had.

Thank you MK for teaching me how good the Story can be on the inside. I love you for you, thanks for your friendship and loving me for me. Cutest summer roommate award forever ;) Miss you setsy laydee!   

**Mary Katie also says funny crap.. Like always. So I started writing it down. Enjoy**

~FAMOUS MK QUOTES~

-I look the best. I'm hott.

-Sianara faggots.

-Don't judge me, I look like a man.

-See, thats the best thing about me, because even though I'm in love with my self I can still make fun of my self.

-You have to kiss a lot of frogs to find your prince. 

-I'm not allowed to weigh myself.

-*Lays flat on the floor* I wanna see how skinny I am.

- Jessie Mariah:Who do you like the most in this room? 

MK: me.

-Look how much I love you your on my wall paper... But I'm on it too. 

-Jessie Mariah: Taste this sparkling cider, does it taste fermented?

MK: I can't get drunk anymore .

-This quote book about me is fantastic we could sell it.

-I've done nothing with my life.

-People think I'm evil but it's not true!

-Friend zones are great, I love those things.

-Bye I'm never gonna see you again unless you come to brick oven with your ma!

-I gained 13 pounds now I weigh 107.

-At least I can admit im not pretty and pure ... I'm gorgeous and perfect.

-I think you're ugly. Just kidding I love you more then anything.

-DUMP that duh du duh.

-Charles is really tall his name is James. Sorry I have too many boys in my life right now.

-*Talking about a 2nd grader) Christian is a faggot I hate him. 

-*On Face Book* Wanna see the boy I last kissed? ...Wanna see the boy I really like... Hmm, who else have I been making out with recently. 

-I hiked the Y (mountain at BYU) in heels once.

-*Showing me a pic of her boyfriend* This is a bad pic of him but I look hot

-Me: I want to go to Disney land but I don't have money. MK: WE COULD SELL LEMONADE!

-My sister doesn't want to marry anyone with aids so she's gonna make a dating website for them so they all marry each other. 

-It hurts so bad to be punched in the stomach, like if was in the head I wouldn't really mind." 

-*When I read these quotes to her* These are great where do I even come up with this shiz.

-My mom would be upset that I wore that dress to meet the presiding bishop of the church because it would bring shame to the family name- but I do that a lot.

-I hate that movie- remember when she had a baby SO GROSS! (the 3rd twilght movie)

-I feel awkward cuz I'm looking at your crotch

-I'm not this funny when I'm with my parents, you guys are gonna be sad.

-Jacey is pretty party-licious.

-Let's see, am I a spiritual person? No.

-I'm pulling something out in your eyelashes... You're welcome butt nugget. 

-Then the next year she switched schools because she was so embarrassed about peeing her pants and cutting off her nose.

-I can't see my hair!!!!

- I'm only funny twice a day.

-I'm a little chipmunk short and stout here is my handle here is my spout. 

-then I found out I wasn't allowed to do that... So I wanted to do it even more.

-Shut up your soo hawwt.

-*In a text to me * I said the best one liner ever today and I was really sad you missed it

-(what I missed)Alex was trying to race me downstairs and my jeans are too big for me and so I yelled Alex this is unfair because these jeans are only double 0! Not triple 0!

-Oh and btw..you're not allowed to go on a mission. I can't deal with that kind of separation

-Haha I miss you. Show me my dang good quote book though. I'm missing my sense of humor.

-Gosh that is good shiz. It makes me miss you even more than I should though!

-I'm sweet on Fridays. Not all the other days though. But really! How have you been?

-Haha oh my gosh. This is gonna be fantastic. I'm dang excited to see hott pictures of myself.

"There Are No True Endings, Only Everlasting Beginnings." -President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Sherry, Jason, Caleb, Haley, and me.

Five AM. The sun is about to rise, and the bitter cold has driven us back into the building. Sherry, Haley, Caleb, Jason and I have been outside since 12:00 A.M. cuddling, chatting, laughing, singing, and creating a final memory for the last night of my freshman year. My memory filled dorm room has now been stripped of all its happy decorations, so I am now sitting on the floor of Sherry's dorm room as I reflect on this joyous night.

Opening my call

“Sister Hatch, you are hereby called to serve as missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the Utah Salt Lake City, East mission. It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 18 months.”

So excited!

Tonight was the night that I waited in anticipation for with anxiety and excitement. I had been praying that where ever I get called to serve, I would feel excitement. I would have never guessed I would be called to Utah, but as soon as I read it out loud, I knew it was where I was needed. I have the feeling I always hoped I would have. Pure bliss and peace with a sure knowledge that this is the place I am meant to share the gospel with God's children.

So greatful for my dad!

I believe so strongly that The Lord knows each of us personally. He knows our wants and desires, He knows what is best for us, and He always, always provides a way. He knew that going to you BYU would be one of the best things for me in my life, so he provided a way for me to get in. . .despite my far below BYU average ACT score. This past year at BYU has blessed my life in more ways than I know how to describe. It was here that I gained the desire to go on a mission. Here that I made life long friends. Here that I made discoveries about my self, and about my hopes and dreams for the future. And here that I was able to fulfill my child hood dream of rooming with my best friend/ cousin Jessie Mariah.

The Mariah's

As I leave to go back home to Arizona, I'm leaving behind another home with a whole set of family members. Who would have thought that living somewhere for less than a year would leave such and impression on my heart? I have learned so much from all the people that have come into my life this year. My ward family, my dorm sisters, friends from classes, teachers, and co-workers. I know God knew that we would need each other. I will be posting more about our specific adventures soon but until then I wanted to say thank you to my BYU family. Thank you all for the many memories!  

Maggie, Lauren, me, Alayna, Mk after opeing my call

Sherry and I 

Haley and I

BYU 107th Ward- my family<3

 Janice Ian, Gretchen Weiners, Regina George, Karen Smith, and Cady Harring
We're best friends :')

Mark, Mariah, Maddison, me, and Caleb
Our last sunday.

The Hinckley Hotties ;) <3

My Best Friend Alayna <3

Alayn's future husband Gabriel
We're pretty tight.

My cousin Kenzie/ care giver at BYU
<3 <3 <3

My Friend Sherry Is a Gem <3

**These are just a few of my favorite captured moment from my last few days a The Y. I love you all so much!!** <3 <3 <3 

Making Memories in a New Place

Living in Arizona in the same tiny town on the same street in the same perfect house my whole life, I never thought I would ever consider anywhere else my home. But in the last 10 month I have come to find that I now consider my cozy little dorm room on the third floor of Hinckley Hall my home. Of course Holbrook will always be my home home, but so many memories have been made in my time here at BYU that I don't even know where to begin.

It was rough start. I had a place in my home town. I had friends that have known me forever. I knew everyone I went to school with. I was the nice mormon who could be seen in all the school and town performances and dressed with a unique style. Here? Here I go to school with 33,000 people, am one of many, many, mannnny “nice mormon girls”, all of which can either sing, dance, act, or play some sort of musical instrument exceptionally, and I have probably seen of total of 5 girls not dressed in trendy clothes with perfect hair and full make up, regardless of how early in the morning it is.

When I got here in June I didn't get along with my roommate, I didn't have a single person I considered my friend, and I had a case of home sicknesses I didn't think was curable. Long story short, it took some self discovery, lots of phone calls home, and long nights of prayer. Now here I am, thinking back on my year, a new girl in a new place, with new friends, new ideas about the world, new and improved talents, and new plans. I have memories and more memories and I want to share them all. But for tonight i'll start with a messy memory.

It was combined Family Home Evening night, we were going to have a paint war in the dorm court yard. In the “family group” that my family combined with was a fun, spunky girl named Lauren. Lauren was in my Hall but I had only met her once before in the freshman cafeteria on the 4^th of July. When I sat with her that day she was dressed in full on red white and blue, with a big red bow in her hair and she the first thing she noticed about me was how many sparkles I had all over me. She went on for a couple minuets about how she really needed more sparkles. She had a crazy personality similar to the personality I had when I was back home with my regular friends. The personality that I felt escaped me since I left home and became weirdly shy.

I was excited too see she was there at the paint war, even thought it wasn't exactly a social event. Everyone just sorta closed their eyes, squeezed the paint bottles in their hands, and flung their arms around. But afterward Lauren and I talked a little more and took pictures of how cool we looked covered in paint. That turned out to be something we both enjoy. . . doing weird/ fun/ crazy things and getting great documentation of it. Since then, Lauren has become one of my best friends at BYU. We have had countless adventures together and I think we will stay friends for a very long time.

Cosmo Cougar

Lauren is one of many examples that has showed me that God does look out for us. I wanted friends right away and I wanted to fit it. I felt I was the only person in my whole dorm building who didn't have a distinguished group of friends. But after finding Lauren and a few other girls in my hall, I found they all the same way. College can be scary. Really, starting anything new is scary. However, if we put our trust in our Savior, Jesus Christ, he will make known his love for us. He wanted me to have friends and make the best of my college experience, but first He needed me to learn patience, to come closer to him, and build my relationship with Him. Because of my faith and trust in the lord I was blessed. Not only blessed to find my friend Lauren but to find my self.

meal plan probs

 So from me to you: Life is short so don't be shy. And if you are shy, find a friend in Christ, he's the only friend you need, and when you learn that, you'll find you have more friends than you realized. Reach out and be a friend too. Its very possible there is someone around you who really needs one. And make a memory today.  

Wheat Grass Shots XD

Provo Chalk-Fest

The Many Memories of Mariah. . . Coming Soon.

 I started this blog for an English project, loved it, and decided to keep it going after I graduated high school. Well, with my first year of college under my belt I'm sorry to say I haven't done too well, considering my last entry was the day I left home and headed off to BYU. Lots has happened since June of 2013 and I can't believe all the twists and turns my life has taken. So I'm going to take these next few months to hopefully catch you up on some of the excitement. From Home sicknesses to the Fourth of July. From new life long friends to crazy roommates. College freshman events, the disappointments of college boys, dorm life, cafeteria food, ridiculous meal plans, bad jobs, good jobs, college foot ball and basket ball games, insane midterms, new found passions, holidays away from home, spontaneous Friday nights, life changing decisions, and much, much more... all coming to you soon. What a roller coaster its been here in the strange land of Provo, Utah. I'm So grateful for the person I've transformed into in this short time, look forward to reading about it soon! Peace and blessings. XOXO

Never Grow Up

"Laughter is timeless, imagination has no age, dreams are forever." -Walt Disney

Graduation was nearly nearly a month ago, my days as a Holbrook High School-er have come and gone, and in about an hour I will drive out of the drive way of my life long home and start the next chapter in my life. In honor of this whole "moving on in my life" stage, I wanted to share my graduation speech that we were asked to write for Mrs. Caffey's class for the last week of school. So here it is. . .

******************************

Never Land, second star to the right and straight on till morning. This is my favorite place. This is where I have lived the majority of my life for the past eighteen years. When I was three I would go to Never Land in my best dress up clothes to have tea parties with princes and princesses. I took my cousins a lot too. We would go on adventures and explore. Sometimes we would have to explore jumping from rock to rock because the ground beneath us was lava. Later I even took some of my friends with me. We would take our swing set horses there during recess and journey on for miles. 

Now, I'm sure your wondering, what is Never Land? You may be thinking that my Never Land is a lot different the the mermaid lagoon, and pirate's cove in Peter Pan's Never Land. I believe Never Land is different for all of us. As described in Steven Spielberg's movie, Hook, "Never Land is the place between sleep and awake, the place where you can still remember dreaming," Never Land is the child with in us.

I still love to go to Never Land. I go to Never Land almost every weekend with my little sister when we snuggle on the couch and giggle at our favorite Disney Channel shows. I went to Never Land about a month ago when i lied on a grassy hill holding hands with my two best friends, Cierra and Kylie, and laughed about absolutely nothing. I went again last week with my entire choir family when we decided, without speaking a word, to forget about our school work, our responsibilities, and even the show we were about to perform, to play in the Park Elementary School cafeteria. We played basket ball, jump roped, and hula hooped like five-year-old's without a care in the world. But as my days slip into years, i hear more and more about "growing up". It is not acceptable any more to just simply forget about school work and responsibilities. I have to worry about more than just the imaginary boiling hot lava beneath my feet. My worries are now about paying for college and deciding on an education that will ultimately decide my future. These big responsibilities make me question if I will ever be allowed to return to Never Land.

Growing up is expected. We are expected to graduate this Friday, expected to go on to college. Expected to start a career. Most of us are expected to eventually get married and star a family of our own. It is expected for us to take on all of these responsibilities. And it should be! Growing up is a part of life, and it does have value. I have learned so much throughout my years, and if I were to trade my age for youth, I would loose far too much valuable knowledge. But just because we have to grow up, does not mean Never Land has to cease to exist. In the wise words of Walt Disney, "Adults are just grown up kids anyway!" Never Land lives in all of our hearts. Yes, on Friday we will march to the field in our caps and gowns and we will graduate from high school. We will each be expected to take on huge responsibilities. But I hope that as you continue on your journey, you can sometimes forget about that deadline and remember to help someone in need. Forget about being on time and remember to fall in love. Forget about finances and remember to spend time with your family. Just every once in a while, forget about reality and fly to Never Land. Class of 2013, I invite you to "come with me, where dreams are born, and time is never planned, think of happy things and your heart will fly on wings, forever, in Never Never Land." 

Graduation 2013

Graduation party- my best friend Cierra (:

"party on the roof top, top of the world"
Last night in town <3