ALEX

My name is Alex Coats, I love to rock climb and do ANYTHING outdoors. I love to laugh and have adventures. I am a hair stylist, adventure-craving, happy-go-lucky, Nebraska loving girl. I'm a lover not a fighter. And I’m a Mormon.

That about sums me up. In simplicity, that is what makes up who I am. I love to be happy. What makes me happy is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, my family and friends and nature. I find joy in accomplishments and achieving bucket-list dreams. And I firmly believe that with faith in Jesus Christ, all things are possible!

As you have read with Teri and her introduction, we are a family of 5. Teri is my oldest sister and we have a little brother, McCabe:  they are my best friends. I am currently at BYU-Idaho going to school to be a motivational speaker for delinquent teens. I have been home from my mission to Nebraska Omaha for a year now, and Nebraska still holds a very special place in my heart. My mission means the world to me, I still think of it daily and recognize the change that it created in my life. I had the privilege of also serving at the Winter Quarters Mormon Trail Center, teaching and testifying of the Pioneers and their journey to Zion. This place is sacred ground to me.

As I have said, I love the outdoors and teaching! Because of this, I’ve had the opportunity of working at Badger Creek-AFY over the summer(s) as a counselor for youth. This was by far the best job I have ever had. I lived under a handcart or in a tent all summer and was able to mentor the youth through devotionals and sacred learning experiences. Through this my desire is to help the youth and others come to understand their deep worth and potential within themselves.

Through out my life I faced many battles with lack of self-confidence and self-esteem, body image issues, and anything of the sort. I was living in my own personal battlefield; not only fighting against the temptations of the world, but also against my own ammo that I was beating myself with. I am grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the strength that it has given me to overcome these temptations. It is still a daily working process, a constant reliance upon the Atonement to overcome. This is why I am looking forward to this blog with my sister: through our joined experiences and trials, our prayer is that we can be used as instruments to help bless and encourage others to find hope in their lives. As you read our blogs and experiences, may you see that all things can be done and achieved through Jesus Christ.