Time:Moving Forward

Time is a funny thing. Within the last few months I have felt like time was dragging as well as moving too fast (is that possible?). Getting my mission call 4 months before entering the MTC has given me some wonderful blessings as well as tried my patience. Within the last few months I have had the wonderful blessing of being able to have time to say goodbyes and 'see you later's' to friends and family that I love as well as get some wonderful experiences working on BYU's newspaper, The Daily Universe, as the Arts and Entertainment Editor, in which I learned many valuable lessons under that patient tutelage of my two bosses Rich and Kaye. I'm grateful for the time I had this summer to gain friendships and learn lessons from those around me. This last month has been a bit hectic trying to buy and prepare everything to pack into two duffle bag suitcases for the next year and a half of my life. This last week I was able to spend some precious moments with my niece and nephew tyler while my mom and I took the kids overnight to the oregon coast. I am going to miss these precious children as well as all my friends and family but I'm so grateful for this chance to serve the Lord! Below are a few pictures of the last few months of my life, enjoy! :) My beautiful neice Aubreyt and I, love that little girl!

Attempting to take a picture at the coast (it as a bit windy as you can tell lol)

Beautiful Oregon Coast, (My heart resides in the Northwest :)!

My niece Aubrey playing in the sand

My nephew tyler at the Oregon Coast

My new haircut, the shortest I've ever had it!

The next generation of Lacy's (Thomas, Steven Jr., Aubrey, Tyler)

Lacy Sister's together again! (L-R: Terisha, Brooke, Steph, Sommer)

The Lacy Siblings together one last time before I head on my mission :).

(L-R: Sommer, Brooke, Steph, Steven)

Viewpiont: If you want to be a 'twihard', that fine, just don't take the kids

This is my recent article that was printed in the Daily Universe at BYU today. :) :

Viewpoint: If you want to be a ‘Twihard,’ fine, just don’t take the kids By Stephanie Lacy

Mania surrounding openings of films in the “Twilight” saga, “High School Musical” and the “Harry Potter” series never cease to amaze me.

Without embarrassment, I admit I went with a friend to see the new movie, “Eclipse,” that came out last week. I am by no means a “Twi-hard,” but I enjoyed the books in the “Twilight” series. There is no question the newest edition to the “Twilight” phenomenon, “Eclipse,” was the best by far. However, while I thoroughly enjoyed the movie, and thought all the crazy fans who were screaming over Edward and Jacob were hilarious, I was quite disturbed by the little girl sitting next to me who looked to be about the age of 5. She was crying and holding her hands over her face throughout the movie.

Most of the fans who go to the “Twilight” movies have either read or heard a lot about the books they are based on. Mothers and daughters alike go crazy over the battle between Edward and Jacob, which I think is just fine. Although people fainting and crying over fictional characters is a bit extreme, if that’s what makes them happy, so be it.

I do, however, have a problem with mothers who have read the books, complete with violence and inappropriate scenes transferred into the movies, yet still take their young children to see them.

There is a reason movies have rating systems. While “Twilight,” in my opinion, is appropriate for audiences over 13 years of age, the violence shown in the movie is not appropriate for children younger then 8.

As I watched the little girl in the seat next to me, I noticed through the majority of the movie she had her hands over her eyes and started to cry during one of the more intense battle scenes toward the end of the movie. I also took notice of a father ushering out his two little girls because they had also gotten scared.

While there are some parents who have not read the books and may think “Eclipse” would be a great family film for their little and older children, I beg to differ. We all need to be careful about what we are exposing our children to and protect them from seeing the kind of violence that is going to give them nightmares.

A PG-13 movie, according to filmrating.com, is defined as standing for “parents are urged to be cautious. Some material may be inappropriate for teenagers.” The site then goes on to say that a PG-13 motion picture “may go beyond the PG rating in theme, violence, nudity, sensuality, language, adult activities or other elements, but does not reach the restricted R category.”

Just because a movie is not rated R does not mean that it is appropriate for young children. A lot of the violence, language and nudity in PG-13 movies can be just as detrimental to children.

http://universe.byu.edu/node/9431

A year of fun and learning :)

Alison, Adam and I after going through the Manti temple and attending the Manti temple Pageant this last weekend!

My sisters and I after I went through the temple in Portland, Oregon!

My Family and I outside the Portland Temple after I went through the temple!

Alison and I on our pioneer trek we took!

My mom and dad came to visit me for easter and conference weekend! So fun! I love my parents!

My Nephew Tyler, and Niece Aubrey that I love with all my Heart at Christmas time!

My sisters, Sommer and Brooke and I had a sisters weekend up in Boise in the Fall! I love my sister's it was soo fun!

Heather, Alison and I at Halloween! (Heather was swine flu, I was a middle eastern person, and Ali was a flapper)

Right before the Homecoming football game at BYU in the Fall!

My Beautiful Roommates fo Fernwood 102 (L-R: Myself, Rachelle, Heather, Alison)

So it's been awhile since I've posted on here....exactly a year from now I was in the Holy Land soaking up the sun and learning about the Savior. Reflecting on the last year since I have been home from Jeru, I have learned alot. I loved living with my 3 roommates, heather, rachelle, and alison this last year. We learned alot from eachother and had loads of fun! I love these those girls. Since it is now summer again, Heather is in Jerusalem taking the same journey I took about a year ago and Rachelle is home enjoying time with her family. Ali and I have a fun spring together here at BYU. I am currently working at the Arts and Entertainment Editor on the BYU school newspaper and loving it!

I recently got my call to serve as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint in the Ukraine, Dnepropetrovsk mission. I leave for the MTC September 8th. I am so excited to serve the people of Ukraine and the Lord! I will add some pictures along with this post of fun things that have happened since I have been in Jerusalem.

Dead Sea!

A bunch of us covered in Dead Sea mud at the Dead Sea!
My roomates (Karen, Rachel, Monica and I) at the dead sea covered from head to toe in mud!
With Father Angelo (the Franciscan Monk) in the Old City. He is a wonderful Man!
In the Garden of Gethsemane, by the rock that they traditionally say that Christ prayed and suffered on that night.

Sea of Galilee!

At the point of the mountain next to the sea were it is said that the swine ran off the cliffs after the devils that Christ had sent out of the man went into them.
Near the point where Christ fed the loaves and the fishes to the 5 thousand. This is audrey and I standing in the Sea of Galilee just below that point.
On the Mt. of Beattitudes where the Savior taught the Sermon on the Mount. This was the spot that I chose to study for the 40 min. Brother Huff gave us to go off my ourselves!
At the Museum where the 2,000 year old boat from Christ time period is held. That is the Boat behind me.
On the Boat on the Sea of Galilee with a bunch of the other students in my class.
On the boat on the Sea of Galilee. Isn't it gorgeous here?
With Lisa, Lydia, and Mandy in the church in Nazareth dedicated to Mary.
At a church in the city of Nazareth. Every nation had a piece of artwork in this church representing the Virgin Mary. This was the United States depiction.
Regean, Audrey, Elise and I pretending to fight at Armageddon also known as Megiddo.
Standing on a rock looking over the Mediterranean Sea at Ceasearia Maritima. This is a beautiful place!
In Nazareth in the church that stands on top of the place where it is believed that the angel came to announce the birth of Christ.
At Ceasearia Maritima right on the Mediterrianean Sea with a bunch of the other students!

Kotel Tunnel Tour and the JC Academy Awards!

With Ashley and Erin at the Academy awards, such funny girls :).
At the Jerusalem Center Academy Awards night with some of the girls! (We had a night were we submitted a bunch of homemade videos people had made here and gave out fake awards, it was great!)
On the steps leading up to the Temple Mount. Jesus Christ walked on these steps!
Bethany and I in the Davidson Archeological Park below the temple mount.
In the Kotel Tunnel under the Western Wall with Rachel!
At the Rose Garden in West Jerusalem with Karen.

Bethlehem: The place of Christ Birth

Standing on the balcony of the church of St. Mary Magdalene
In the church of St. Mary Magdalene above the Garden of Gethsemane with Rachel.
On our way out of Bethlehem this is what we saw. This is the separation wall on the Palestinian side before entering back into Israel.
With Erin at the place where they layed Christ in the manger at his birth!
At the place where Christ was born in Bethlehem!
Sheep along the road in Bethlehem on our way to Bethlehem University!
My two roommates Rachel and Karen and I on the beach of the Red Sea after snorkeling!
At the Separation wall in Jerusalem, there are all kinds of writings about peace on the wall behind me.
The Separation wall between Jerusalem and the West Bank.
Coming out of the Garden Tomb! I love this place!
Inside the Garden Tomb where Christ was layed and resurrected!