Vacation and More

Recently I've returned from the usual 2 week New Hampshire trip. We had to go extra early in the summer due to the fact that I have classes starting next Monday (*cries*). Until then, I have one more day of freedom, Youth Conference, and Sunday before I start waking up before 7:30am. I'm only excited because it now means I don't ever have to take gym for the rest of my life, and it's only a month and a half of going to class 2-3 days a week, 4 hours a day.
New Hampshire was good, though, and I enjoyed it for the most part. After Cherish left I was pretty lonely, but I managed to do a boatload of homework while my parents worked on the house. I did some tests and quizzes. My parents and I went to Castle in the Clouds (the coolest/prettiest house-mansion I've ever seen). One day my mom and I went out to pick fabric for a quilt she'll make for me. We played some games and watched a lot of Criminal Minds at night. I ran most mornings, doing 3-4 miles after the first week when I had previously only done 2 a day. That was about it for a week and a half until my cousin came. We went shopping, mini-golfing, out for ice cream, and dinner, etc. It's a little more enjoyable when you have someone else to hang out with.
Here's some pictures (mostly embarrassing ones) from the past 2 weeks...

One of the views from Castle in the Clouds...

I tried to take some pictures with my dogs and the end results were unfortunate for us all.

Have you ever seen so much fear in a dog's eyes?

Mia is so uncooperative, honestly.

Here are some golden ones from mini-golfing.

"If you were a booger, I'd pick you first."
Honestly, sometimes I really wonder about myself.

I often struggle with pictures like these because my arms are so short...

???? ... I ended up getting the ball in right after this... ????

Originally, we forgot the hats, but I made sure we went back and got the hats.
#traditions

The day of the 4th...

We went on this scenic railroad train ride thing and this guy let my stick my head out the window because I had a nice camera.  

We often struggle with getting nice pictures where we aren't laughing, but we got one.

The 'rents and me <3

Enjoying some nice, slightly not allowed fireworks on my cousin's beach. 

See the previous picture of us and this is what I'm talking about. 

S'cute.

Overall, the vacation ended up being pretty good. We came back on Sunday to hear Elder Holland (a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles). In the end what I got from it was that we as individuals matter and we're important. We are loved more than we know and can comprehend. 

I feel like I've spent a lot of my life not always believing I wasn't good enough at anything. It ranges from my physical appearance to how I act in social situations. I'm secretly a very insecure person. Social things wear me out and I have to put in so much effort just to have a simple conversation with people who aren't my family. I've spent a lot of time in my life feeling like I just couldn't go out and simply hang out with people. I've spent a lot of time not always believing in myself. I have asked Heavenly Father to help me realize my worth and importance for so long. Some days I see it, some days I don't. In the end, after hearing Elder Holland, I see it more. I see that there's a plan for me and that I have something important that I have to do. There's something special I have to do and He knows it. I have no clue what it is but I have faith. I prayed that I would find an answer to just one question or thing that was bothering me. I know it has been now. I know that I matter and that we all matter. We make a difference, even if we can't see it. If we stay on the path and do what is right, we'll end up where we want to be. We can be a light to others. 

"I am of infinite worth with my own divine mission which I will strive to fulfill."

---Maggie