Wow, first off who gets the award for the biggest blogger slacker? That would be me! Goodness I’m sorry, life as we know it has been CRAZY. With medical issues, work, family, callings and a almost social life, this has sadly gone to the end of the priority list. But not anymore! I miss updating my blog because as I write every time I realize that even though I’m going through trials I still have so much to be grateful for!
Alright so my life has been a whirlwind of all whirlwinds these past few months. So I’ll update month by month.
February:
-I withdrew from UVU due to sickness, I was in the doctors office almost daily, I worked full time everyday at Ancestry.com, I had some fun with family and friends…and it was just a sick/chill time.
March:
-Something sad and major happened, my jaw locked up. It hasn’t unlocked since. So singing is painful, and almost impossible. I suppose I am being humbled. basically did the same thing every single day. Went to work, then went to either the chiropractor (for my crazy body), the hospital for more tests,
or home to rest. (Work took a lot out of me sadly.) But I did some really fun things in the month of march! I spent a weekend with my grandma and aunts. We had a great time shopping, going out to dinner, and just being together. I also went to the FESTIVAL OF COLORS with a bunch of wonderful friends. Not going to lie…It wasn’t as fantastic as everyone says. Maybe it’s because I just hate the way the chalk smells? Or maybe it’s the thousands of bodies banging into each other? BLAH I’m a bubble kinda girl. BUT I wouldn’t trade the experience everyone needs to go at least once! Here’s some pics!
So that was a fun adventure. It was nice to feel strong enough to get out. I also got to sing for one of my best friends in the whole world. Jamie is such an angel she is the president of the International Study Abroad club at UVU so I sang with my wonderful friend Blake Burdge. For her banquet. It was great!
April:
Ah the highlight of April of course was General conference! Oh how I LOVE LOVE LOVE that weekend. I remember when I was really young and it was such a chore to sit still. The minutes felt like hours, and my princess coloring book just didn’t have enough pictures to color! Now it SPEEDS by and I just want to eat up every word. We have such an amazing prophet on the earth today, I just can’t get over how happy it makes me! I loved the theme (well the message I kept getting over and over) Is how loved Heavenly Father’s children are, and that I am not just a number . I am His daughter Julia Hess and that brings more joy to my heart than anything else. I love my Heavenly Father! Especially recently, but I’ll get to that later!
In April I also had the amazing experience of performing in “Women at the Well”
It’s a musical fireside that is all about the women in Christ’s life and the relationship that had with Him. I had a very interesting experience. For those who truly know me it doesn’t come as a surprise that I cry when I feel the spirit, or that I’m very happy or sad. I was chosen to represent Mary Magdalene and my song was called “Day of Tears” It is about the death of Christ and His sacrifice. I had practiced all week and felt very good about it. The notes came easilly and I was excited to share this message for those who would hear. Well the day had come and I was close to the last speaker. Here’s a little background to how my emotions are fragile when it comes to Woman at the Well. I love my Savior Jesus Christ so much. I can literally say that He is my best friend. More now than ever before. When listening to all the songs in this musical program your eyes are reopened to His love, sacrifice and perfection. Plus I always feel closest to Him through music. Well my turn had come, the narration was read of the sorrow Mary was feeling at this time, “How could they slay their Lord.” I walked up to the mic and something happened. I not only started to sing the lyrics, but I felt them. The very first line, “A crown of thorns, a cross to bear…” and I started to weep. I did not “sing” the song at all. I couldn’t. I basically spoke it through sobs. In front of everyone I was having one of the most tender and personal experiences with the spirit I had ever had. I realize that every emotion Mary had in the death of the Savior I share. The line that will never leave me is, “Yet through His lips, ‘Father Forgive.’ Oh how could they slay their Lord?” He was perfect, all loving, all giving, healer and Savior of the World. Yet they crucified Him. The song starts with Day of tears, tears of sadness. Then at the end of the song it is day of tears, tears of joy. Joy because He is risen, he conquered death. I feel so much joy in knowing that I will see my Savior someday and I will be able to hug Him and worship Him. It was a beautiful experience, one I will never forget.
May:
May was a month full of craziness! In the very first part of May I said goodbye to my very best friend, my brother Hunter. He seriously is the brother I’ve never had. Here are some pics of us over the years.
It was so hard to say goodbye.The week before he left we went to Porters in Lehi for dinner and talked for literally 6 hours. I was in heaven, Hunter has always been my favorite person to talk to. Then two days before he left I went to his house for a last hoorah! So many people were there to say goodbye to him, and it was so fun. It just wasn’t hitting me that he was leaving. He pulled me aside and we talked alone for a half hour. That meant so much to me because he had so many people there but he still took time to spend with me. That’s when it started to hit me, I was just tearing up then he gave me a big hug. We went back to the party and most of the people had left. Only a few of us lingered there for a while, WE DID NOT want to say goodbye. We took these pictures!
Notice we’re all ladies? haha SOOO Hunter. He then walked me to his car and gave me the biggest hug. The tears really starting coming. He then said, “Bye Jules, See you in 2 years. I love you.” I got in my car and BAWLED MY EYES OUT. Ah TWO YEARS is such a long time to be away from your best friend, and he’s more than that to me. He really is my brother. He’s just great. He’s doing amazingly well though and his letters brighten up my days! I’m so proud of him
Another big thing that happened in May is I quit my job! It was a LEAP OF FAITH. I was making good money, but I just wasn’t happy. but I was dealing with it because I needed the money for college. WELL I had a strong feeling to quit and I learned of some things the company was doing that was not ok in my book of ethics. So I quit. I HAVE BEEN SO HAPPY SINCE THEN. Oh so happy. Now to find a great job that makes me happy haha.
The BEST thing that happened in May was I found Kris. THE MIRACLE WORKER. I finally found a doctor who knew what was wrong with me, and she helped me reach a level of healing I didn’t know was possible. I know Heavenly Father inspired my parents to take me there. It was a painful and new process, but I have never felt my Savior’s love and Atonement more in my life. Healing is such a beautiful thing. You may go to all the doctors in the world and claim to be “healed”, but I have learned that to be truly healed it must be through the love of our Savior Jesus Christ. I am getting better each and everyday and I could not be more grateful.
Well there are my major updates for you! So many wonderful things, and my journey is going full steam ahead. I have learned that I love being on God’s path for me. It’s way better than my own, who would have thought?
Happy Day to You all!
