Living the dream

Hey guys! 

So this Wednesday was my anatomy lab final! I survived, got a decent grade, and now I am totally free!! I have 8 extra hours in the week now, and it is fabulous! I'm not going to lie, I will miss it. Anatomy was one of the most interesting, enjoyable, and fun classes I've taken. It was also one of the most demanding ones. I highly recommend that class if you are at all interested in the human body. It is very rewarding. If you think about it, we are created in God's own image (see Genesis 1:27). Essentially, then, anatomy isn't just the study of the human body, it's the study of the gods! Pretty cool! Heavenly Father designed our bodies absolutely perfectly and brilliantly. For example, you have a vein in your leg called the great saphenous vein that is really unnecessary for blood circulation. You have other veins that are more vital in circulation of your legs. However, it is often removed and used for coronary artery bypasses. Heavenly Father essentially gave us this “spare part” that could be used elsewhere. The complexity and plasticity of the human body is a huge testament of just how valuable our bodies are. 

The rest of my week has been super relaxing!! I loved it. All my tests and assignments are done until after Thanksgiving so I'm smooth sailing until the break. :)

Friday night I got to hang out with my fabulous friend Angie! We went barn dancing at a real live barn! It was the cutest place and we learned some fun country dances accompanied by a live folk band! It was way fun! Then, we went to visit some of her summer friends. We had a major jam session--Angie on the uke, me on the piano, and her friend rocking the guitar. It was a blast. We made a midnight run to In-N-Out (I'd never been before and it was pretty good!). We, of course, had to do some red light dancing. It was seriously so fun. 

On Friday I had a really neat experience with the power of prayer. I testify to you that our loving Heavenly Father hears and answers each and every one of our prayers. I know this because He has heard and answered all of mine. I am so blessed to have this direct line of communication with my Heavenly Father. 

Saturday morning, I went and played tennis with some of my friends. It's always a lot of fun with those crazy boys. But I love it. Saturday night I went out to dinner at Culvers with some friends and went bowling. 

Today Sarah and I performed a special musical number in church! Then we had an awesome lesson in Relief Society about the importance of raising your children in the truth and light of the gospel. Obviously, I don't have any children and don't plan to anytime soon. However, it made me start thinking about my parents. They are absolutely wonderful. They have done such a great job of raising me and my siblings to have strong testimonies of the gospel of Jesus Christ. So much of my success can be attributed back to their great examples and important lessons they taught me and my siblings at a young age. Being in college, you realize just how much your parents do for you. I am so grateful for my hard-working father who always encourages me to do the very best I can. I am blessed to have a wonderful, caring, kind, compassionate mother who is always willing to listen to me and help me. They are both the epitome of selfless service and devotion to the Lord. I would not be the person I am today without them. 

Take time to thank your parents this week. Especially with Thanksgiving approaching (which I am stoked for). 

Hakuna matata,
Mallory