Today was a great day!

This has been one of he most pleasant Sundays that I have had in a while. Everything is just so peaceful and happy.  Everywhere I turned there have been smiles and joy.  At church today I received my Young Women medallion.  I have really enjoyed the young women program and have grown so much through out it.  I have had so many great leaders and have been surrounded by so many beautiful and inspiring young women. I did not realize until recently how much influence that I can have on these girls and the amount of influence they have had on me.  I will miss them dearly, and am so excited to see where they go in this world.  There is no other group of young women that I know of that can make as much of a difference in the world as these girls will.  

This church is so unbelievably amazing.  I cannot in words describe the joy that it makes me feel.  I know that the only way to truly be happy in this life is to stick to the teachings of the Gospel.

My friend also received her medallion today as well.  It is her last Sunday in our ward before she heads off to BYU.  I will miss her dearly. She has one of the strongest testimonies that I have ever seen, and will definitely do amazing things with her life.  I am sad to see her leave this week, but I know she will do amazingly.

When I was driving home from babysitting for the Bishop's wife, I was thinking about all of the fun I had just had with the three cute kids, and I was looking at the beautiful nature of Virginia, and the thought that came to mind, was that I am really going to miss this place.  I have had so many good memories here and have made so many good friends that I will never forget this place.  At the same time I also had a huge sense of peace, I knew that though life from now one will be different, it will be okay, and it will be good.

I am excited to start this new area of my life and I feel ready for it.  Young womens, church, family, school, seminary, leaders, and friends have prepared me.

One week from yesterday till I will leave on a plane to explore a new part of my life.

Here comes a grand new adventure!

-Emily Ward