Counting Sheep

So basically I am getting really tired (get it) of not being able to sleep. I have tried a bunch of different things including melatonin, listening to the sound of rain on youtube, and reading to help me sleep. Yet I still end up waking up multiple times during the night. I guess there are worse things but I really just want to have a good night's sleep! It's been a while! So if any of you have any suggestions for someone sleepless in Provo I am open. Other than that I have been doing pretty good. I have been very blessed with so many things while here including skype, cousins and a loving aunt and uncle, and being able to be at such an amazing campus. But I would like to get some sleep!
Love,

Abby

Blessed

Today and last night I have felt so very blessed. I just feel so filled with gratitude. The past few days I have been so stressed and emotional and last night I felt like I finally couldn't take it anymore. It was hard for me to even focus on doing my reading for my American Heritage class I was so stressed. At this hard time I had roommates that I have only known for a few days being so loving and compassionate and talking to me, a loving aunt and cousin come visit me, and a good friend come over that brought me the greatest comfort over all. I know that the Lord watches out for us. That His tender mercies are over all who come to him and put forth faith and effort. He knows our problems and concerns and knows how to bring us comfort if we but come to Him first. He cares about us more than we know and loves us. I now feel such a sweet and tender peace and the love from my Heavenly Father. It is so amazing to me. 
Love,
Abby

Time Truly Does Heal and then some

 Frame that I painted and decorated (picture is of my niece Annika)

 Flowers made from Keenan's old t-shirt. I tea dyed some and used geraniums and beets for the others.

As I was driving yesterday I was thinking about how time really does heal emotional wounds. It's amazing how I can look at myself now and see how much I have healed from losing my mom. I am so much stronger. As time goes by you just kind of get better and better, learning little by little. When trials hit, you aren't always so sure how exactly you are going to handle them. But if you simply wait it out you can find that the load gets easier in a way. I have found that it is so important to talk to others through your trials. If you don't it's like you are trapping a beast inside of you. Talking and writing things out are so often an emotional release for me. I have also found that by reading my scriptures each day I am just stronger in dealing with the pain. I think about her and miss her each day but I believe that one day I can see her again and that this was made possible through my Lord and Savior. I'm not giving up, I'm going to keep going. That's what she wants me to do and that's what I want to do. Life is too short to be unhappy and miserable about something for too long. Anyways, we don't want to be "a bunch of losers" as mom would say.
Love you mom
Love,
Abby