I Stand All Amazed

I've done it! I have two more hymns to add to my list of memorized ones (which happens to double my number of 2 :P) I've got (my most favorite one EVER... it holds a very special place in my heart) "Teach Me To Walk In The Light", "I Am A Child Of God", "Lead, Kindly Light" and "I Stand All Amazed" down not exactly perfectly, but totally downnnn. :D

I went to the temple today and went through just about every page in my hymn book (don't worry I didn't like actually read every word to ALL the hymns... mostly just the titles :P) and chose some of the ones I want to memorize and internalize and find true love for... preferably by the end of summer, but you know, all things take time, especially the things that are worth the most.

And yeah. Another thing that has been on my mind lately is my Issues Paper for my Wrtg 150 class I'm taking this term. I'm researching reasons as to why BYU should have a GLBSA (Gay Lesbian Bi Straight Alliance). I think it's a more than reasonable idea to provide a support system based on chastity, charity and education that will be for everyone of any sexuality. I firmly believe that anyone struggling with any trial big and small, be it  getting along with roomies to gossiping too much to harboring negative feelings toward people to recovering from substance abuse to avoiding pornography to same sex attraction, can successfully live the honor code here at BYU, and be great active members in the church and positive role models for those around them.

I've reflected, because of this paper, and hymn-singing, and scripture study (and well, basically just kind of living my life from day to day, thinking about the past, planning the future, and living in the now), about how GREAT God's love is for all of His children. I realized I was reflecting upon this when I was recently writing in my journal and thought I'd share it with the interested people who follow my blog.

Here it is:
     Ashley [one of my amazing co-workers] has taught me to master I Stand All Amazed and Lead, Kindly Light, and it was super great singing today at the bakery :D... I'm really happy I get to practice things like hymn-singing at work. Yeah.

     I’ve found that my writing of this research paper on GLBSA has been a great testimony builder for me and helping me to better understand the Atonement of Christ. Between reflecting on that paper and memorizing and internalizing “I Stand All Amazed” I’m gaining so much understand of Christ’s love, and how fully His atonement covers all of my sins, all of the sins of my family, my friends, and everyone on an individual level. It’s mind-boggling, confusing even to understand His grace and his love, and that He would save me, suffer for me, and then multiply me times a few billion and then some, and suffer all of that pain… in one night in the garden of Gethsemane. I truly do stand all amazed… well I guess sit right now, but yeah, it’s so great, it really really really is. I am a child of God, and He loves me so much, the world so much, every single one of His children so much, that He sent His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to save us all individually, and how charity—the pure love of Christ—succeeded and He successfully atoned for our sins. It’s truly amazing. So truly amazing.

So yeah... that's a little part of my testimony of charity, and the power it has to help shape and SAVE our lives. Also, i guess if some of you don't know the lyrics to "I Stand All Amazed" I figured I'd put them in here :D

I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me,

Confused at the grace that so fully he proffers me,

I tremble to know that for me He was crucified,

That for me a sinner, he suffered, he bled and died.

Oh it is wonderful that He should care for me enough to die for me!

Oh it is wonderful, wonderful to me!

I marvel that he would descend from His throne divine,

To rescue a soul so rebellious and proud as mine,

That He should extend His great love unto such as I,

Sufficient to own, to redeem, and to justify.

Oh it is wonderful that He should care for me enough to die for me!

Oh it is wonderful, wonderful to me!

I think of His hands pierced and bleeding to pay the debt!

Such mercy, such love and devotion can I forget?

No, no, I will praise and adore at the mercy seat,

Until at the glorified throne I kneel at His feet.

Oh it is wonderful that He should care for me enough to die for me!

Oh it is wonderful, wonderful to me!

It is truly a beautiful hymn :D

This is my favorite work of Carl Bloch. I literally cried every time I saw it at the exhibit in the Museum of Art here at BYU when I saw it a few weeks ago.

Lead Kindly Light

Okay, so, if you had to guess my favorite kind of music... what would it be?
Most people said RAP! and then hip hop, and then rock or metal, but yeah, I loved that rap was most people's first guess :P

The real answer, is HYMNS! ...even though I don't listen to them all day long, hymns even beats out my current love Ke$ha! :P

As I've not had a lot of time bored in sacrament meeting as a little kid, I'm trying to learn the hymns more, and memorize a few of my favourites because they really are sooo fantastic! So I'm singing them with muh girl Ashley at the bakery around 5 in the morning, and we are getting pretty good! ...and by we I mean I am learning, and by pretty good I mean the song learning not the quality of singing lolz. I'll have to admit, the background noise of fans (used to cool stuff when it comes out of the GIANT ovens), and mixers, and clanging pans, and the bagel machine, and the dough machine and all the other craziness there... my singing sounds decently not deaf-making!

Anyway, thought I'd share that. This week we've been working on "Lead Kindly Light" and "I Stand All Amazed" and we struggled through all seven verses of "How Firm a Foundation" Anywayssss its amazing, and I love it and such as!

The church is true through and through <3
And Hymns rock the world!

God is Great, Life is Good and People are Crazay!
<3 <3 <3

I drink DDP out of a HCM

I am currently drinking Diet Dr. Pepper (DDP) out of a Hot Chocolate Mug (HCM). I missed out on work this morning, becuase of the craziness of last night mixed with rain instigating pressure headaches (hence the DDP, it = good headache remedy). So I thought I'd put this picture up, b/c I look kinda really funny.
Anyways, I've accomplished much today, including doing laundry by walking in the rain :P, and like such as taking audio tours of the library while lounging on my couch, but yes, yeah, this hat is not the best to keep out rain. ...anywayysssss backkkkk to work! yay!

Happy MOTHER'S DAY!

This is my beautiful mother! (Check out our chins, we are legitly related!) I know this is a day late, but I just wanted to make sure that my mama knows how awesome she is. 

This past year I've learned so much about how great my mother is, and I just wanted to talk about a few of the things that she has blessed me with. (becaussseeee obviously, I would NOT be able to list them all :P)

This past summer I got my wisdom teeth jacked, and she took off some work time to drive me at 6AM to get them taken out! Then for like an ENTIRE week took care of me by makin sure I took my drugs on time, and by making me jello (of the most beautiful varieties of colour), mashed potatoes, my favorite tomato soup, and like and such as. I can't even imagine what it was like for her to take care of me as an infant, but yeah, shes way awesome, and even let me sleep on the armchair in the living room!

Our birthdays are right next to each other, and as I thought that I was going to have alternate thanksgiving plans (right around b-day time that is) she and pops came out to see me in here in UT for a couple of days. They took me out, brought me some groceries, and met the billions of awesome people that I get to call friends. Later, between checking out the bakery where I work, and going back to the airport, she told me "Heather, you have a really great life out here." She was really impressed with the sincerity and love that all of my friends had, and their excitement to meet the parents of one of their friends. And, you know, like I knew that everyone out here is so great beyond comprehension, but like, she made me see that from a different perspective, and realize how blessed my life really truly is. And I know it wouldn't be even close to the same without the perspective of my mother.

One last highlight of some events marking how fantastic my mother is, isn't really an event per say, but its just in the little things that moms do for their kids right? I get cards sometimes for the most random holidays (like such as Valentines day) from my mom, with "I love you" and "miss you babes" in it and it just makes me smile. Also in like every text message (since mom's like "you're too busy! I don't want to interrupt!" [and I'm like you're my mom! You trump everything woman!... but yeah anyways]) my mom never forgets to say I love you, and can't wait to see you soon! :D It's kind of awesome to realize how much you love you parents and how much you truly are loved, loved so much, in return... and yeah. I'm am so so very blessed.

I love you mom! And I can't wait to see you soon!

JUST FOR YOU ELISE OSARIO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

UHM SO YEAH, THIS IS THE BEST PICTURE EVER, I'M JUST SAYING.... FACE CLOSEUPS ANYONE??

basically. i love these guys :)

God is great, life is good and people are crazy! 

in the BEST way possible!

Well, yah see... I'm Heather Lagrosa

Good 'ol Mary Beth Matheson and I recorded a new rap and decided to preform LIVE in front of our ward. Everybody is calling me gangster, and well, you know I can't turn down a chance to make a fool of myself :P But it was soo fun and my back up dancers/roomies/besties made it all the better. Gotta love my girls, and give em a quick shout out. Carolyn (a.k.a. sistah Brown) was the favorite of my Gender of Psych class (I left class early the night we had this FHE, so my teacher had me show it the following week :P), Lindsey is rockin it like the most gangstah lady on the BYU track team, Codi rocked the shirt no one else had the lady balls to wear, Math's always doin her thang, Loren's the cutest 'lil G I know, and Kara, my girl! rocked the g-hat and gave me the cornrows that just made everyone's week on campus :P
      

CORNROWS!!!! (And such as) Kara Leigh Kitchens=AWESOMMEEEE

they stayed for a week and then I got the BEST surprise EVER (sweet, sick nasty awesome Polynesian hair!)

 Elise's hairs are all straight and mine look like hers! ;)

The Lady that made it allll happen!!!!

Yes, we have biiiiiiig hair!

Tanee doesn't love pictures, so we both made our sad faces :P  aaand my main man Jimi and I are both rockin the afro thang! :D

FIRST MONTH OF SCHOOL FIRST MONTH OF SCHOOL!

... soooo, spring and summer semesters here at BYU are way faaaaaast. One class is like a week of school, and  yesterday my writing teacher (who happens to be way awesome... especially since I wasn't expecting much out of the class) said to us: "Congratulations guys! You've made it through a month of school!"

But yeah, these bast two weeks have totally felt like a month! Between working well over 60 hours, reading, starting up my 6 credit hours, reading some more, going to meetings about volunteering at my favorite hospital, celebrating birthdays, even more reading, and writing ENTIRE PAPERRR there has been barely enough time for craziness! But, yeah :P

Anywaysssss nostalgia time before I'm back to homeworkin it up!!!

Bakery Ballers! :D

Our last game! :D

The bakery!!! (minus a few ballers that didn't make the game :P)

Ladies from the Villa [[former BYU 43rd ward]]

Rebekah Seastrand and Rebecca Johnson

(the two Becks on the team :P)

I figured it'd be only proper to end with our Jimmer yells...

I'm just gonna have to say we are pretty awesome, it was a great season, and all these girls were absolutely wonderful! :D