Wedding, Temple Visit, and Writing Essays

Yeah it's 10:23 pm. But it's still Tuesday. So I'm winning.

This week has been amazing, to say the least. Last weekend, I had a cousin get married up in Salt Lake. The day after the wedding, we had a family reunion for that side of the family. So I saw a lot of the Gray family over those three days, and it was SO awesome! Family has always been big for me, and extended family has always been huge as well. I'm really glad my parents come from good families and I'm glad we can see extended family so much.

While up north, I stayed with Chris & Allie, my brother and sister-in-law who moved up there a few weeks ago. It was really awesome. I'm glad that come August when I move to Logan, they'll be half an hour away! Everything is working out for Logan and I'm just pumped about it. I also got to see Shane and Kelsie while I was up there. And I went to the Draper Temple last week. So that means I've been inside 8 Utah temples- which is not the only reason you should go to the temple, but it does add a little variety!

HERE'S A CALL-TO-ACTION: If you haven't got the chance to go to the open house yet, DO IT! This week and next week are it. I obviously haven't been yet, but I hear that it's beautiful and magnificent and I will actually be there this Thursday. Yip yip!

I am getting ready to go back to the temple. REAL SOON. And I'm so excited. Not sure when yet, but by this time tomorrow I'll know. I haven't called Pres Arnold yet. But I've got two months left in my mission, which is the bummer because I could serve in the temple forever and I love it!! Haha.

Even though it's been hard to sit these last 6 months out, it's okay. Because I've had lots of good experiences and I've been able to see the Lord's hand in my life. I applied for a scholarship offered to cancer survivors, this last week. In one of the essays, I had to write about how cancer has impacted my college path. I wrote a thing or two that it negatively affected it, but while writing the essay, I realize there has been much more good than bad with college and this cancer. It helped me to choose my career field, gave me time to re-evaluate what I want to major in, helped me get scholarship money, and it's helped me with characteristics that will make me a better student- hard work and perseverance.

Heavenly Father knows what he's doing. I've said it time and time again, challenges help us grow. It'll be worth it in the end!!

Have a good week.

Elder G

PS. It's now 10:56. See how long it took me to write this email? Ha, your welcome. :)