A Molly in Babylon procrastinating homework

I have a lot of time to reflect while I'm here in Norway. There is plenty of time to think when I'm traveling to and fro on trains, and when I have hours on end of sitting in my room not wanting to work on my thesis, but not wanting to do anything else either. I think of the absolute immense plan of our Creator, the immense plan of God. I just finished reading the October Ensign (a church magazine for those of you that don't know) cover to cover and I am amazed at the amount of things that Heavenly Father has His hands in. One person is led to the missionaries in a miraculous way, the Liahona magazine is being revamped, people are helping other people come back into the fold of God, the church helping hurricane or tsunami victims, and a thousand other things that are happening around the world. As I sit in the armpit of Norway, though, God is with me as well. With ME, one small speck in the middle of this huge world, and Heavenly Father is always there to help. With billions of others out there that need so much more help than me, He's still there, and always will be, even when I don't realize. Then I think of all the people that live in "Babylon," the people that live without God, the people that surround me, and I wonder at how amazing they are as just people and why I am so lucky as to have been born into a family that believes in God and believes the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I am ridiculously blessed and have NO room to complain about ANYTHING....although I do. I often talk to the missionaries at church and are in awe of their goodness. They are ambassadors for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and they truly live up to their potential. My little brother is about to serve a mission for my church in Brazil and he will make an incredible missionary. He is nothing short of "elect" and I am so proud of him. I am proud of my whole family, they are such good people and great examples to me...and most of you know that I don't have a small family, so there are plenty of people that are there for me and whose examples I should live up to. Through being here in Norway, I kind of take a spiritual beating, but through all of it, my testimony of the Gospel has gotten stronger and my reliance on the Lord has grown deeper. I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints IS the true church and I know that Jesus Christ died for each of us so that we can live with Him and Heavenly Father again. I know that the Holy Ghost is REAL and He leads us through everything we're faced with. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, as well as the Bible. How grateful I am for those books and how grateful for the fact that we are led by a prophet. Life is more amazing than we could ever imagine.

So, this Molly Mormon in Babylon is excited to come home, again. I should be headed home sometime in early February for good. I'll be writing the remainder of my thesis from home after that and will turn it in at the end of April. I can't believe how fast this time has gone!

Anyways, these are my current reflections as I sit in my room not doing the report that I should be doing. It's amazing the reflections that come when you procrastinate homework. :)

Back to the Grind

Just wanted everyone to know that I'm back in Norway once again. The long stints of time are over and I only have about 8 months left! It's weird to think I'll have a masters degree in May. Isn't that for old people??? I must say that I'm excited to finish so I won't have to travel 5000 miles every time I want to go home. The time has FLOWN by, though. I'm not exactly excited to be back this time, I ain't gonna lie. Fun at home sure does beat a lonely night with nothing to do in Norway. The next two semesters should be busy with thesis writing and a couple classes...so at least there won't be AS MUCH pure boredom. We'll see! I have determined, however, that with my boredom I will not be making cookies. This time around Lindsey refuses to put on those few extra pounds by fine-tuning her baking skills and inhaling ALL her creations.