Jocelyn Brave

This is a great picture of Jocelyn all dressed up for the Disney Brave premiere. 

  While I was in Provo a couple weeks ago I had the chance to spend more time with Jocelyn than I had in quite a while. It was really fun to be with her.  She has such a fun, flexible easy-to-laugh personality.  It makes hanging around with her, no matter what you are doing, fun.  She is thoroughly enjoying the BYU experience, and seeing her there brought back memories of her trying to choose a college three years ago.

She had worked her entire high school career to be able to have the choice of where she wanted to attend college.  When she was accepted at BYU, I thought it was a no-brainer, but she wasn't quite sure that is where she wanted to go. I'll admit it was very difficult for me to stand back and let her pray about her decision with the freedom to choose her own college.  When she came back with the decision to go to SUU, I wanted to revoke her free agency and force her to go to BYU--which I deemed was the best college for her.  I reasoned with Shawn and God that perhaps she wasn't quite ready to make the decision and still needed me to tell her where to go.  However, reasoning by Shawn and a clear prompting by the spirit had me relenting and paying deposits at SUU.  When January rolled around we took her on the "college tour" and fully invested in her going to SUU in the fall.  (Which I found out is a really fantastic college, by the way.)

When she came to Shawn and I a few weeks later saying she was feeling uneasy and wanted to pray about it again if it wasn't too late, I was a little surprised.  After a father's blessing, prayer and fasting on her part, she  came to the decision that Heavenly Father wanted her to go to BYU, even if she didn't want to go there.

It took quite a bit of bravery and courage to redirect herself and to change her plans for the fall.  While I was happy she was going to the college I would have chosen for her, I was more grateful and so very proud of the way that she sought the promptings of her Heavenly Father and followed what she knew was right for her.

She is responsible, kind and generous.  I am very proud of the woman she is becoming.  Thank you Jocelyn for letting me still be a part of your wonderful life adventure.