the life and times.

I think it's about time that I dust off the neglected pages of this blog and carry on. I don't mean to disappear, it just happens because although I love blogging, my life now is such that there is rarely a moment not scheduled for something. As of late...

Em got her mission call to Vancouver, Canada and reports to the MTC June 26th. Thank goodness, that's not until the week after I get back from Europe. Em, I don't know what I would do without you. You are my best friend and I am so grateful for your light and example in my life. 

We went to Syd's farewell on Sunday. She is honestly one of the most amazing girls I know and New York will be lucky to have her. We went for lunch together Monday and it was so nice to talk and catch up. Ours is a friendship where it doesn't matter how much time passes, we can pick up where we left off - laughing, being silly and supporting each other. 


My baby sister Kat turned 18 and is officially an adult. What?! Girl, you are growing up way to fast for my liking. 

The countdown continues... there are only 61 more days until I am off on my European adventures!

I have been assigned to do my 3 weeks of field work in a Kindergarten classroom this semester! I am very excited and at the same time, completely terrified. A lot of things in my life seem to make me feel this way lately. School is good, lots of hard work that will pay off in the end. I love my classes and though at times I feel completely inadequate to be choosing this career, I feel that with God's help, I will succeed and make a difference in my student's lives. 

I have come to the decision that I will serve a LDS mission. However, I feel that it is best for me to finish school first. Thus, I will be spending the next year completing my Elementary Education degree and preparing to serve. I graduate next Spring, 2014, and will then put the rest of my life on hold to serve God and help spread His Gospel. I couldn't be happier with this decision! I know that God not only sees where I am but He also sees where I can be and He will help me get there. I know that I am not perfect. I also know that as I put my trust in God, work hard and do everything that I know to be right, He will guide me and help me to become someone worthy of carrying His message to others. 

"Today many sisters are being called to serve. Many more are preparing to serve. Not because they aren't married or don't have anything else to do, but they have the desire to serve. One reason that the Lord wants more sisters to serve is because within the next generation He will send His priesthood army to the earth. He wants to send choice spirit children to mothers who have been prepared, properly trained, and taught in the gospel. What better schooling can a mother have than the experience and growth she gains through serving a mission?"

President Gordon B. Hinckley

Happy Sunday.

"God is fully aware that you & I are not perfect. Let me add, God is also fully aware that the people you think are people are not. And yet, we spend so much time and energy comparing ourselves to others - usually comparing our weaknesses to their strengths. As a result, we never celebrate our good efforts because they seem to be less than what someone else does."

Dieter F. Uchtdorf

God doesn't give you the people you want, he gives you the people you need. To help you, to hurt you, to leave you, to love you and to make you the person you were meant to be. I know that I am the daughter of a King who is not moved by this world. My God is with me and goes before me. I do not need to fear because I am His and whatever happens, happens according to His plan. Until God opens the next doorway, I will keep faith and continue to praise Him in the hallway because I know that His plans are better than my dreams. 

Question of the week: "Have you prayed about it as much as you have talked about it?"

Happy Sunday

I teach in a CTR 5 class each Sunday, and it's the best thing ever. Today we learned that Heavenly Father trusts us to follow His plan and He is waiting for us to come back to Him. He trusts us to choose the right. Teaching five year olds and holding their attention long enough to finish a lesson is a challenge. Today was no exception. However, I think I learned more today from them and their questions, thoughts and answers than they did from us.

We also talked today about how each of them was a prince or princess - a child of a Heavenly King. The looks of happiness I saw in their faces when they realized (perhaps for the first time, or maybe they just don't get tired of hearing it - I know I don't) we weren't kidding was absolutely fantastic. When they sing "I am a child of God", they know who they are. As individuals, each of them is special, unique, a part of God's plan and they are happy to choose the right and follow Him. These children are beautiful and I hope they always remember that they are royalty, and that they are loved.

"I am a child of royal birth.
My Father is King of heaven and earth.
My spirit was born in the courts on high.
A child beloved, a princess am I."
-Anna Johnson

Ciao, il mio nome è Aubrie.

1. What flavor of jam is your favorite? Strawberry. My mum makes it and it's delicious. 
2. If you were given the chance to either attend Hogwarts or Star Fleet Academy what would you choose? ...Hogwarts. Always. 
3. Who would win in a fight, Liam Neeson or Chuck Norris? Liam Neeson. 
4. What is your favorite song? Right now... The A Team by Ed Sheeran, Price Tag/Don't You (Forget About Me)/Give Me Everything/Just they Way You Are/Party in the U.S.A./Turn the Beat Around by Barden Bellas - Pitch Perfect, London Calling by The Clash, and anything by One Direction or Parachute. 
5. What is you favorite part of Disneyland? I love everything in and about Disneyland, but I especially love Splash Mountain and Tomorrowland.
6. What is your favorite book and why? Oh my, what an impossible question. However, in particular I love Harry Potter, Elantris and Mistborn. I have a thing for fantasy - I love to escape into a world completely different from my own. 
7. Summarize yourself in five words. Nerdy. Clutz. Bibliophile. Friendly. Dreamer. 
8. Name three things that frighten you? Sharks. Blood. Spiders. 
9. If you could spend the rest of your life doing one thing, what would it be? I would travel the world with my family - seeing pieces of history, learning from different people and cultures and experiencing the beauty Earth has to offer.
10. What is your favorite thing about blogging? I like it because I've never been good at keeping a journal, but this is a way I can write about and express my thoughts and dreams. It allows me to share a piece of myself with you, my readers, and others in the world who may stumble across it.

happy sunday.

Stand a Little Taller.

"The time has come for us to stand a little taller, to lift our eyes and stretch our minds to a greater comprehension and understanding of the grand millennial mission of this The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. This is a season to be strong. It is a time to move forward without hesitation, knowing well the meaning, the breadth, and the importance of our mission. It is a time to do what is right regardless of the consequences that might follow. We have nothing to fear. God is at the helm. He will overrule for the good of the work."

Gordon B. Hinckley

"I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won't look back, let up, slow down, or be still. I no longer need pre-eminence, positions, promotions or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, recognized, praised, regarded or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk with patience, am uplifted by prayer and labor with power. My face is set, my gate is fast, my goal is Heaven. My road is narrow, my way is rough. My companions are few, my guide is reliable, my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, divided or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool or popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity. I won't give up, shut up, or let up until I have stayed up, stored up, and paid for the cause of Christ. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops me, and when He returns for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me, my banner will be clear."

Henry B. Eyring

I think that the secret to a happy life is every day giving God part of your day, giving Him the first priority to every decision and the first place in your heart. This year, I hope to stand a little taller and I hope to change and become closer to being the woman I want to be. I will stand as a witness at all times and in all things and in all places. I know this Gospel is true, I will continue to live it and I will continue to share my love for it. I will live by faith and put my complete trust in God. Where He wants me to be, I will go and who He knows I can be, I will become. I hope to become more patient, to read and study the Book of Mormon on my own and attend the temple more regularly. As I serve in the primary, continue in the Elementary Education program and spend weeks traveling abroad, I hope to become a better person - one who is more understanding, loving, caring and kind. I hope to be a good example and light to those around me. I want to live my life in a way that when Christ comes again, He will have no problem recognizing me, because my banner will be clear. I am on the Lord's side. 

happy sunday.

"Hearken unto the voice of the Lord your God, while I speak unto you, Emma Smith Aubrie Broadbent, my daughter; for verily I say unto you, all those who receive my gospel are sons and daughters in my kingdom. 

A revelation I give unto you concerning my will; and if thou art faithful and walk in the paths of virtue before me, I will preserve they life, and thou shalt receive an inheritance in Zion. 

Behold, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou art an elect lady whom I have called. 

Murmur not because of the things which thou hast not seen, for they are withheld from thee and from the world, which is wisdom in me in a time to come. 

...And verily I say unto thee that thou shalt lay aside the things of this world, and seek for the things of a better. 

...Wherefore, lift up thy heart and rejoice, and cleave unto the covenants which thou has made. 

Continue in the spirit of meekness, and beware of pride...

Keep my commandments continually, and a crown of righteousness thou shalt receive. And except thou do this, where I am you cannot come."

D&C 25: 1-4, 10, 13-15

Found Poem.

Loving this Crazy Life

Bubbly, adventurous, intelligent and loving

Daughter to Tony and Lollie, older sister to Kaydee, Spencer and Taylor

Who loves sunshine, messy hair and bright colors,

Seeing and traveling the world,

And photography.

Who feels passionate about leaving the world better, 

Expression through art, poetry and music, 

And believes in God with all her heart.

Who gives love out unconditionally,

But trust out slowly,

And could through an excellent Harry Potter party.

Who fears dying without really living,

Needles and blood,

And anything categorized under "creepy and crawly",

Who would like to see the world and space,

Herself graduate with a Master's degree and start teaching,

And see herself get married in the temple and start a family. 

Resident of a universe never-ending.

Aubrie Broadbent

I believe I wrote this poem as an assignment in my tenth grade english class. I found it while cleaning and organizing my room. With a few minor changes, it still perfectly sums up my life and who I am.