Hardest & Happiest

*Oh man. I've been trying to finish this post since Saturday and I keep putting it off...but I'm getting my wisdom teeth out tomorrow morning and I figured I should probably finish it before I am all wack. ;) Ooo, what if I wrote a blog post while I was all loopy?! Now THAT would be a good post.*

  My Aunt Kathy is a sweetheart and sent me a link to "11 Life-changing Quotes from John Bytheway" last week. Go check em out! But here are my favorites: 

  

This past week has been the hardest one I've had in a really long time... yet it was one of the best I think I have ever had. But HOW?! It wasn't because I did anything super extravagant or adventurous, but through the pain I felt, I learned how to experience true joy. 

  This week has made me realize a couple of things:

1. My family is everything to me. I already knew this, but I especially know it now. I know it because of the pep talk and back scratch my mom gave me while I laid in bed. I know it because of the extra-long hug my dad gave me when he saw sadness in my eyes. I know it because of Anthony's random "hi Lauren's!" to me throughout the day. I know it because of the silly conversations I have with Drew on the way to the gym. I know it because of how Trevor can't fall asleep unless I am in the room with him. I know it because of the way my whole family laughs uncontrollably as we quote The Office. I know it because of the incredible feeling I felt when I saw my whole family in the temple together. And I know it because of all of the "I love you's" I hear in this house every single day. 

2. Technology sucks the life out of you. It may have taken a traumatic phone casualty for me to realize it, but now I know. Haha. Three days phone-less was probably the best thing for me. Scrolling through Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. [usually] never uplifts you in any way... if anything, it can make you feel worse. So what's the point? Why sit on your phone all day when you could be spending time doing things that make you a better person? Now I'm not saying I'm ditching all social media...because I love social media. Haha. But I definitely am going to be wiser about how much time I spend on my phone because I love my life too much to let it pass by.

3. I'm finally starting to figure myself out. Who I am and how to express it, how to be confident in myself, how to become the best me, how to love myself and my [many] flaws, the type of people I want to surround myself with, what I want in my life, "and so on and so forth and what have you." (The Middle, anyone?!)  

4. Jesus Christ is the true source of peace. It's as simple as that. My testimony of Jesus Christ and the Gospel has grown more this week than I thought it ever could. You are never alone. Never, ever, ever. There is one person who knows your pains and heartaches perfectly and He is who you need to turn to for peace. 

"In the gospel of Jesus Christ you have help from both sides of the veil, and you must never forget that. When disappointment and discouragement strike--and they will--you remember and never forget that if our eyes could be opened we would see horses and chariots of fire as far as the eye can see riding at reckless speed to come to our protection."

Have a happy day and go hug someone you love.

xoxo,

Lauren