Change.

I found some really fascinating videos on the effects media has on young girls. It makes me SO frustrated. If during my life, I could change one thing, I want to show people that they are worth so much. 

In D&C 18:10 we read, "Remember the Worth of Souls is great in the sight of god" 

Girls: Your soul is the most beautiful part of you, Don't tarnish your soul by letting what everyone else thinks rule your self-worth. You are important.

Boys: I wish boys would stop reiterating and repeating everything we hear from the media. As a girl, I already hear a thousand times a day that I need to be skinny and beautiful from media, magazines, and the mirror. The last thing girls need is for the men in their life to only care about phisical appearances.

Yup... These videos basically say everything else that should be said :) 

Creative Portfolio

So as some of you know, I recently applied to the Creative Track in advertising. Here is my portfolio that I sent in. I really wanted to make something special so I came up with a concept for a book, placed all of my work in it, then got it printed out into a hardcover book. At the end of the book I put in a link to some of my other work including videos which I display on this page: http://beccasoup.blogspot.com/p/advertisements.html

Here are the pages. Hopefully I'll make it in cross my fingers :)

(as always... click on a picture to view slideshow style)

A Year Behind and Another One Ahead. How the Missionary is doing, and the Waiting is going

So February 23rd was Logan's 1 year mark! This post is a little overdue, but I have to keep with tradition and write about the mission every three months, so better late than never right?

It's hard to believe that a year has past since Logan went into the MTC. A year ago, I would have thought that his year mark would be the best day ever and I would be so happy to be half way done. A year ago, I also didn't realize how incredibly long two years actually is. The year mark has been by far the hardest month of Logan's entire mission. 

Logan is doing pretty good. We both got hit really hard trying to believe that we had to repeat another year of the hardest sacrifice we've ever made. For a good week, Logan was pretty sure that he would come home that he couldn't do it anymore. Luckily he has an amazing testimony and family and decided to stick it out and I'm really proud of him. 

Logan had a rough few months from about August to January because he was in a dead area, with not very much hard work from his companions. He luckily just got transferred to a better area called Selkirk, Manitoba, with a hard working companion, so life is looking up now and I think he'll be lots happier. 

Back here in Utah, the waiting has been pretty rough too. There's been lots and lots of pressure to date other boys, but every time I almost fall into peer pressure, I am reminded of my love for Logan, and my promise to him. I also think the spirit has been giving our relationship strength to last through these hard times. 

The biggest thing that I think we've both learned through all of this is that we just have to trust in God no matter what. Everyone has trials in life, and they may push us to our limits. No matter how hard they may seem or no matter how much we feel like giving up, Heavenly Father will be there to guide us through it all. And I know Logan and I will be together again someday. We are growing and learning so much through all of this and I know that this will be worth it. So keep Log in your prayers and don't forget to send him an email for his birthday on March 19th!! 

-Becca Soup.

**********

So this next part is just a small side note... Lots of people keep asking me how I am doing and they want to understand what it's like to wait. Others like to judge and pretend they know what it's like when they don't and give me a really hard time. Well here is my response to both of  those groups. : 

We don't always get to choose when love will enter our life. I certainly didn't expect  to fall in love at 16 years old. But I did and I have loved every second of it. And when you love someone with all your heart, life with that person becomes the most important thing in the world. You would do anything it takes to make things work and love them and be with them. Life suddenly has meaning and you know that that person is the one you are supposed to be with forever. This is how it was when Logan and I first fell in love. We went through everything with each other by our side growing up, waiting patiently for that day we could finally become a family. 

We waited for a long time, growing in love to be old enough to be together forever. We helped each other through life trials, and no matter what we were best friends and there for one another. Finally after three years of dating, we were ready to be engaged and married, but Heavenly Father had other plans for Logan and I. We then knew that we would have to make the greatest sacrifice of our lives: each other. It would have been super easy for Logan to not go on a mission, to stay home and marry me and live happily ever after, but what is easy is not always right. We have always put the gospel first in our relationship, and we weren't about to give that up.  So off Logan went, and living without each other hurts us both, but we trust in our heavenly father and know that he knows what is best. 

Every day I wake up knowing that I will go the entire day without seeing or talking to my best friend in the entire world. Then I go to sleep knowing that every day will be spent without him for many many more months. I live at a school where people meet and are engaged in the time that it takes me and Logan to write 2 letters back and forth. I see people fall in love before my eyes and they don't even realize how lucky they are to be able to have that person to themselves in a matter of a couple months, when I would give anything to just have one hug, one moment, one loving glance from the boy who I love.

I've gained a huge respect for all the people in the world who lose ones they love, or have to spend time apart. I never realized how empty a day or a month can seem without love in it. So I hope that everyone out there will cherish the memories and happiness of love, and never take it for granted. I am so grateful I have what I have. I'm grateful for the letters I get so often and the ability I have to talk with him. Most of all I am grateful for a Heavenly Father that guides and gives strength.

How I know I'm Loved... The Parable of the Locket

So today is Valentines day, and I don't really feel like talking about romance because we hear enough about that. Instead I want to share a story about the purest form of love that is available to everyone; The love of God. This is a story that happened to me over the last year, and it taught me that I am important and I am loved. And I hope you all know that somebody loves you this Valentines. I hope you enjoy.

The Parable of the Locket

So last Valentines Day I recieved a gift. It was a beautiful  1930's antique pure gold locket. I was given the locket as a last token to remember my best friend by as he left me for two years. I held the locket deep in my heart, and whenever I felt sad, I clung to the locket with all of my heart, and it kept me strong during hard times. The only time I took it off was to sleep and bathe. It was the most beautiful gift I had ever received and I was determined to keep it safe and always close to my heart, it's how I knew he was close to me. 


A month later I was staying the night at my friend Kate's house, and took off the necklace and carefully placed it in my pocket for the night. When I awoke, the locket was gone. I searched the bed, the covers and the entirety of her house. It was nowhere to be found. Crushed, I drove home in tears.  I had promised to keep the locket safe and I had failed. I prayed and prayed every single day that I could find my locket It took a good month before I could even bring myself to write my friend that I had lost his precious gift to me. 


 For months I searched my laundry and my apartment for the locket. I never found it, but I had faith that Heavenly Father would answer my prayers, so I kept searching and praying. 


In May, it was time to move out of my apartment. I carefully searched every inch for the locket hoping it would be there, but I had no luck. I would ask my friend if she had found anything at her home, but she had no luck either. After moving out, I gave up on the locket. I figured it had been lost in the streets or the laundry machine, never to be seen again. But still there were some nights where it would enter into my mind and I would pray to find the lost necklace, and search my room in hopes of a miracle. I didn't want to believe that Heavenly Father would let me down, but I started to doubt that I would ever see it again.


Later that year in October, I lived in a new place, and my friend who's house I believed the locket to be at, was studying abroad in Italy. During the most stressful period of school, in the middle midterms and projects, I lost something else: my cell phone. Just as I had done with the locket, I prayed and searched and prayed some more. I had faith that if I prayed, certainly this time God would help me. I prayed for three entire days and searched everywhere for my phone, and it was nowhere to be found. 


I remember walking very frustrated across campus, knowing that I desperately needed my phone for communication. Watching the sidewalk cracks pass under my feet, I said another prayer. Feeling lost and hopeless in the world, all hope finally departed from me. In a moment of anger I thought to myself, "Of course I'm not going to find my phone. God doesn't care about me. He wouldn't even help me find my locket, which meant so much more to me than my phone. Praying and searching are a waste of my time." 


I slowly walked home, staring at the ground the entire way, trying to fight back my tears. I fiinally found my apartment and sat on the couch letting all tears hit the floor. In an effort to take my mind off of the situation, I logged onto my Facebook. Scrolling mindlessly down my news feed, something caught my eye. It was a photo my friend Kate had posted from Italy. I clicked on the photo, disbelievingly. There, around my friends neck on the rooftops of Italy was the locket that I thought was lost forever. 


Guilt sunk deep into my soul, for only moments before I had accused God of not caring, I had given up all faith. Yet there it was, my lost locket in perfect condition, kept safe in the hands of my dear friend. For eight whole months, God had kept that locket safe for me, and because it was precious to me, it was precious to him. God did love me. He loved me enough to save a small piece of metal for me. He had heard my prayers!


Of course, Kate had no idea that it was mine, and assumed the locket was her little sister's and was so glad to have found it.  However, I had to wait 5 more months for Kate to come home from Italy to finally hold the locket in my hands again, but I didn't mind. I was just happy to know that it wasn't lost forever, and that it was safe. I was so glad to know my prayers were answered, and God was watching out for me. As if to only confirm my joy, only a few days later I also found my phone. 


In Luke Chapter 15 we read, "Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.


I know that if Heavenly Father is willing to take notice and care from a small piece of metal missing from my neck, he will take notice of the sorrow in our hearts. He will search for us and hope for us, just as I had hoped and searched for my locket. For Heavenly Father loves each of his children dearly. I know that with all of my heart, and I will never again doubt that he cares, and I will always have faith that whatever we seek, we just need to ask and we will find. He will never leave us alone.


I hope you take notice of our Heavenly Father's love for each of us this Valentines Day. Remember that his love is perfect. See others as he sees them. For we shouldn't let any person become lost. 


To finish I just want to share the lyrics to my favorite LDS song. He cares for all the earth, and he will surely care for us too. 

Consider the lilies of the field,

How they grow, how they grow.

Consider the birds in the sky,

How they fly, how they fly.

He clothes the lilies of the field.

He feeds the birds in the sky.

And He will feed those who trust Him,

And guide them with His eye.

Consider the sheep of His fold,

How they follow where He leads.

Though the path may wind across the mountains,

He knows the meadows where they feed.

He clothes the lilies of the field.

He feeds the birds in the sky,

And He will feed those who trust Him,

And guide them with His eye.

Consider the sweet, tender children

Who must suffer on this earth.

The pains of all of them He carried

From the day of His birth.

He clothes the lilies of the field,

He feeds the lambs in His fold,

And He will heal those who trust Him,

And make their hearts as gold.

He clothes the lilies of the field,

He feeds the lambs in His fold,

And He will heal those who trust Him,

And make their hearts as gold.

Our Story ♥ Happy 4 Years!

So today I am just so happy. Logan and I have been dating for 4 years, and we have one of the best relationships. I've always wanted to write down our story, and maybe one day write a book, so this was the perfect opportunity. I know it's long, but we have one of the cutest love stories, so take a minute and read a little. I obviously can't include everything, but I did my best. Sorry it's small, you might have to zoom in. Here it is,...Our Love Story in a Timeline...

 I love you Log. Happy Anniversary ♥

2011. What a year!

Another New Years Eve and it's time to say goodbye to another year. And what a year it has been...


What a way to start a year. With a trip to Arizona for the BCS National Championship to watch Auburn and Cam Newton win it all with my favorite people in all the world.

The Next month was spent unseparated from my bestest friend Logan Smith. We spent our days watching every episode of Friends that we could possible fit in, finding every fun date that we could possible conjour up and loving every single second of it. We also celebrated our 4 year dating anniversary in February.

February was fantastic, until it came time to say goodbye to my Big brother Patrick to his mission in Ventura, California and only a week later, Logan who headed off to Winnepeg Canada on his LDS Mission. Luckily we made the promise to always stay together. 

The next few months were long and longer haha. But I had good friends and family always there. I barely made it through winter semester, and found out I was accepted into the BYU advertising program, plus I got a new puppy Dimitri. 

I also purchased myself an amazing new car in April! 

Summer came and I luckily passed my classes and had to say goodbye to my amazing friends in Mansion 12 

My summer was great. I spent every hour at Seven Peaks working. I made some awesome new friends and had lots of good times. Sometimes it wasn't the funnest, but I sure do miss it some days. 

I also celebrated my 19th birthday and had an awesome Summer Vacation at Cour d' Alene with my family.

After summer my semester started out rough with a double surgery on both of my feet. But I sucessfully moved into Crown 11 I met lots of new friends including amazing new roommates. During the semester I found out I will be headed to Disney World to work for my favorite mouse from April to May! I have survived fall semester and came out with some great new friendships that will last a pretty long time. Our adventures have only just begun... 

The year has ended with a fantastic Christmas with my family. I also got to talk with Logan and my brother for the first time in over 10 months. They are both doing great. 

Well, this may not have been the greatest year of my life. There were lots of tears, and lots of sad days, but I've made it through. and Despite all the sad times there were plenty of funny, crazy, silly, fantastic days full of laughter and I made many many new friends. Through it all, me and Logan have grown and our relationship is the most amazing thing I could imagine. We stay together with lots of letters and emails.  I can't wait to see what this next year holds and to be perfectly honest, I'm not too sad about leaving this one behind . I hope everyone has a fantastic new year! 

Happy New Years!!!

 Becca Soup 

Bring on 2012!!!