I think that Christmas Eve is my very favorite part of Christmas!
I always like to take a little bit of time on Christmas Eve to ponder on the birth and life of my Savior Jesus Christ. What a beautiful time! I imagine the anticipation of His birth, just as we all experience the anticipation of Christmas morning. Then I think of my own anticipation for the time when I will get to stand before Him.
Christmas Eve is when we have our Christmas Eve program. Some of my family members put together a program of Christmas music to remember the birth of the Savior. Then we have soup for dinner with my extended family that's here. That's what Christ's coming was all about - families being together forever. Because He came and lived and died and was resurrected, we can all be resurrected as well - to live with our families forever! That means absolutely everything to me!
Christmas is a beautiful day full of presents and more family time, but I really think that Christmas Eve is my favorite. The excitement, the gratitude, the peace, having these small moments that remind me of how much the Savior loves me - and how much He loves all of us. Christmas comes to mean more to me every single year.
Happy Christmas Eve! And Merry Christmas tomorrow! May we all feel the peace that only Christ can give and recognize how much He loves us! He - the very Son of God - came to earth. And because He did, we can become so much more than we will ever be on our own.
Monday, December 24, 2012
Friday, December 7, 2012
Dear Men That I Have Crushes On
I really like men!
And I'm supposed to be writing a paper, but instead I'm writing on my blog...twice...in one day!
So here are my letters to men that I have crushes on!
Dear Smart Guy,
I think we should date! Yeah...I do! Because you're fun and smart and being around you makes me smile! Even though you're a lot smarter than me and I don't know how to use modern technology, I feel like we could still make it work.
Dear Super Attractive Guy,
You have a super great smile and even though I don't know you very well, I wish that I did! From what I've seen, you're super nice and a great dancer! And I think you should ask for my number...because I'm far too scared to ask for yours! If only I could get up the nerve to have an actual conversation with you, we'd be golden!
Dear Super Nice Guy with a Girlfriend,
I feel like maybe you should dump your girlfriend and date me instead. Just saying! You like being outdoors and so do I! We could shoot guns and climb mountains and live happily ever after! Yep, it's true! I feel like you would probably even watch history documentaries with me, which is a huge plus!
Dear Guy with Incredibly Nice Arms,
Why are you so nice? And so attractive? I don't think you realize the effect that you have on us women! I know that you will never date me, because you like brunette girls. And unfortunately, I am blonde! So even though I know that we will never be together, I still love dancing with you and admiring you from afar! I guess I could always dye my hair...
Dear Thor,
I love you. And I am here waiting for you anytime that you decide you want to get married! Pick me. That is all I have to say!
Lots of Love,
Anna
Now only one of them has to realize that I am the one for them and this single life could be over and done with! I just need one...out of the five! That's all!
And I'm supposed to be writing a paper, but instead I'm writing on my blog...twice...in one day!
So here are my letters to men that I have crushes on!
Dear Smart Guy,
I think we should date! Yeah...I do! Because you're fun and smart and being around you makes me smile! Even though you're a lot smarter than me and I don't know how to use modern technology, I feel like we could still make it work.
Dear Super Attractive Guy,
You have a super great smile and even though I don't know you very well, I wish that I did! From what I've seen, you're super nice and a great dancer! And I think you should ask for my number...because I'm far too scared to ask for yours! If only I could get up the nerve to have an actual conversation with you, we'd be golden!
Dear Super Nice Guy with a Girlfriend,
I feel like maybe you should dump your girlfriend and date me instead. Just saying! You like being outdoors and so do I! We could shoot guns and climb mountains and live happily ever after! Yep, it's true! I feel like you would probably even watch history documentaries with me, which is a huge plus!
Dear Guy with Incredibly Nice Arms,
Why are you so nice? And so attractive? I don't think you realize the effect that you have on us women! I know that you will never date me, because you like brunette girls. And unfortunately, I am blonde! So even though I know that we will never be together, I still love dancing with you and admiring you from afar! I guess I could always dye my hair...
Dear Thor,
I love you. And I am here waiting for you anytime that you decide you want to get married! Pick me. That is all I have to say!
Lots of Love,
Anna
Now only one of them has to realize that I am the one for them and this single life could be over and done with! I just need one...out of the five! That's all!
December 7th
Okay, so December 7th is an important day in the history of the United States.
December 7th is the day that Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, bringing the United States in to World War II. Millions of lives would be changed as American men and women pulled together to fight against the Axis powers. The war would last for four years for the United States, ending in 1945.
This day also has special meaning for my family as my great-uncle Johnnie Bistline was killed on this day in 1944. I had never heard of him until I came to Utah State as a freshman. I was walking around Logan when I saw a monument near the courthouse. I went to check it out as I'm always curious about monuments!
Upon closer inspection, I realized it was a monument to all the war veterans from Cache Valley. As I was reading through the list of soldiers, I saw the name John Anthony Bistline Jr. I was blown away! I had never heard of Bistlines living in Logan before. Long story short, my dad told me that Johnnie was my grandpa's older brother!
Since then, I've spent a lot of time trying to find out more about this great-uncle of mine! I don't want him to be forgotten. Not after the sacrifice he made for our country.
Johnnie was only 18 years old when he enlisted in the United States Marines. He went to California for 6 months where he was trained. He was then stationed in Hawaii for another 6 months. Johnnie was to be on the amphibian tank crew when he made it to the island of Saipan in December of 1944. His first day on the island, there was a brief aerial attack by Japanese planes. Johnnie was walking with three of his fellow soldiers when he was struck by a bullet from one of the airplanes.
He was killed at the age of 19.
While I never had a chance to know my Uncle Johnnie, I'm grateful for his courage and his brief life. And I don't want to ever forget his sacrifice.
December 7th is the day that Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, bringing the United States in to World War II. Millions of lives would be changed as American men and women pulled together to fight against the Axis powers. The war would last for four years for the United States, ending in 1945.
This day also has special meaning for my family as my great-uncle Johnnie Bistline was killed on this day in 1944. I had never heard of him until I came to Utah State as a freshman. I was walking around Logan when I saw a monument near the courthouse. I went to check it out as I'm always curious about monuments!
Upon closer inspection, I realized it was a monument to all the war veterans from Cache Valley. As I was reading through the list of soldiers, I saw the name John Anthony Bistline Jr. I was blown away! I had never heard of Bistlines living in Logan before. Long story short, my dad told me that Johnnie was my grandpa's older brother!
Since then, I've spent a lot of time trying to find out more about this great-uncle of mine! I don't want him to be forgotten. Not after the sacrifice he made for our country.
Johnnie was only 18 years old when he enlisted in the United States Marines. He went to California for 6 months where he was trained. He was then stationed in Hawaii for another 6 months. Johnnie was to be on the amphibian tank crew when he made it to the island of Saipan in December of 1944. His first day on the island, there was a brief aerial attack by Japanese planes. Johnnie was walking with three of his fellow soldiers when he was struck by a bullet from one of the airplanes.
He was killed at the age of 19.
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Christmas Devotional Adventures!!
It is now December!
December is Christmas time and Christmas time = The First Presidency Christmas Devotional!! (The First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has a Christmas Devotional every year during the first week of December! To listen, watch, or learn more visit www.lds.org).
My best friend Brittany got tickets for us to go to the devotional and she's always great at getting me out of my comfort zone. So she decided it would be a great date idea.
She asked her friend Jonathan and I asked our friend Mitch. So off we went to drive to Salt Lake this afternoon so we could get there early. The drive there was uneventful. We go to the devotional and it was great! The Mormon Tabernacle Choir performed beautifully as always and we were super close to the front! We watched the prophet and his counselors take their seats. We also saw a number of the members of the Quorum of the Twelve come in. It was just great!
After the devotional, we walked around Temple Square to look at the lights. It was all beautiful, but really windy. Okay, we survived that! It's fine!
We went into the Assembly Hall on Temple Square and listened to some more lovely music before heading back outside.
Rain drop, rain drop, LIGHTNING!! Wind, wind, raindrop, hail?! Yep, hail! So all of a sudden, it starts pouring rain and hail on us! And my car was parked two blocks away!
Needless to say, we were completely soaked by the time we got to my car that was parked in a parking garage. Off go our wet shoes and wet jackets and time to make sandwiches! So yep, we made sandwiches in the parking garage...soaking wet...without shoes! Pretty great my friends!
But it was so much fun!!! Even though we were cold and wet and hungry! Greatest adventure so far this year I must say...
Maybe Brittany and I shouldn't plan dates?! :)
*Favorite Christmas Song: Little Drummer Boy
December is Christmas time and Christmas time = The First Presidency Christmas Devotional!! (The First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has a Christmas Devotional every year during the first week of December! To listen, watch, or learn more visit www.lds.org).
My best friend Brittany got tickets for us to go to the devotional and she's always great at getting me out of my comfort zone. So she decided it would be a great date idea.
She asked her friend Jonathan and I asked our friend Mitch. So off we went to drive to Salt Lake this afternoon so we could get there early. The drive there was uneventful. We go to the devotional and it was great! The Mormon Tabernacle Choir performed beautifully as always and we were super close to the front! We watched the prophet and his counselors take their seats. We also saw a number of the members of the Quorum of the Twelve come in. It was just great!
After the devotional, we walked around Temple Square to look at the lights. It was all beautiful, but really windy. Okay, we survived that! It's fine!
We went into the Assembly Hall on Temple Square and listened to some more lovely music before heading back outside.
Rain drop, rain drop, LIGHTNING!! Wind, wind, raindrop, hail?! Yep, hail! So all of a sudden, it starts pouring rain and hail on us! And my car was parked two blocks away!
Needless to say, we were completely soaked by the time we got to my car that was parked in a parking garage. Off go our wet shoes and wet jackets and time to make sandwiches! So yep, we made sandwiches in the parking garage...soaking wet...without shoes! Pretty great my friends!
But it was so much fun!!! Even though we were cold and wet and hungry! Greatest adventure so far this year I must say...
Maybe Brittany and I shouldn't plan dates?! :)
*Favorite Christmas Song: Little Drummer Boy
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Biology Paper - BAM!
I, Anna Marie, got 30/30 on a biology paper!
"What?!" You might ask.
"Impossible!" You most likely exclaim.
But yes, yes...I did get 100% credit on my biology paper.
So what's the big deal?!
The big deal is that I am terrible at biology! So this is probably my favorite A to ever get on a paper!
And I have come up with a couple of reasons as to why I did well this time!
Reason #1: My paper was about mangoes. That's right, my friends, mangoes! Three whole pages of pure mango bliss! Where they originated from, how they're cooked,
where they're found, etc. etc. etc!
Mangoes are delicious...and maybe they're a favorite of my professor's?
Reason #2: There are like 150 students in that class, so maybe the professor didn't read very closely.
If so, that's fine! Because if I was supposed to write about how mangoes make seeds
or what proteins and amino acids are in them, I would definitely not have done as well as I did!
Reason #3: I added a little bit of a personal touch by explaining that I gained a love for mangoes while living in Australia! I'm sure my professor loved it that there was a little story in there!
Do you think they ever get tired of reading about plants?!
I know I would!
But I guess they probably don't, since they went to school for so long to learn about them
and then teach about them e'ery day!
But no matter how I got that A, I still got it! I might have to frame that paper - to remind myself that
I'm not completely hopeless in the sciences! :)
I just had to share my joy for the day!
Monday, November 26, 2012
Thanksgiving, Being Home, and Back to Real Life!
Thanksgiving!
The holiday of food, family, and fun!
Mine was fantastic with all of the above!
We always have a plethora of food and this year was no exception!
I ate far too much pumpkin pie (but I liked it!) and who knows what else?!
At least I left room on my plate for some vegetables!
I loved being home with my family!
I even worked a little bit on my thesis paper!
Cooking, learning a new line dance (the Fake ID one from the new Footloose - everyone always knows it at country swing dancing and I don't! But now I do!),
cleaning out my old room, chatting with the siblings...
it all made for a wonderful weekend!
And now I'm back to real life -
The life of homework and research and writing
and stress!
But the stress part will soon be over...
at least for a few weeks!
And then I will sleep in...well, at least on the days I don't have to work morning shift.
I ate far too much pumpkin pie (but I liked it!) and who knows what else?!
At least I left room on my plate for some vegetables!
I loved being home with my family!
I even worked a little bit on my thesis paper!
Cooking, learning a new line dance (the Fake ID one from the new Footloose - everyone always knows it at country swing dancing and I don't! But now I do!),
cleaning out my old room, chatting with the siblings...
it all made for a wonderful weekend!
And now I'm back to real life -
The life of homework and research and writing
and stress!
But the stress part will soon be over...
at least for a few weeks!
And then I will sleep in...well, at least on the days I don't have to work morning shift.
*Good Movie: Lincoln!!!!
*Good Song: Lego House by Ed Sheeran
Monday, November 19, 2012
New Addictions!
I have some new addictions!
Number 1: The TV show "Once Upon A Time." I know, I know, the acting isn't always that great and the special effects leave much to be desired.
But I just can't help it! Maybe it's the little girl in me that still loves fairy tales and happy endings.
Or maybe it's just the incredibly attractive men.
Or maybe it's the idea that we are much more than we think we are...
That we're capable of great things even when we have a hard time believing in ourselves.
Either way, I just finished the 1st season on Netflix and
I have no idea how I'm going to get caught up on the 2nd season! Bah!
Number 2: Pumpkin pie. Okay, this one's not really that new...in fact, it's not new at all!
I just rediscover it every year during the holiday season!
Number 3: Smoothies! I can't get away from these guys! My roommate Lindsey showed me how easy they are to make!
I've always heard that they were easy, but for some reason,
I had convinced myself that I didn't have time!
Well, let me tell you I love those things! They are delicious!
I throw in some frozen fruit, a banana, some spinach, some milk and orange juice
and Wa La! Delicious nutritious breakfast!
Or lunch...
Or dinner! Whate'er floats your boat!
Number 4: Researching for my senior thesis.
Maybe this isn't so much addiction, but necessity.
Because I know that the second I stop thinking about it, it's going to be due!
And I'll still have heaps of it to finish!
But for the most part, I'm really enjoying what I'm learning.
I have a feeling that I will probably go crazy over Christmas Break when I don't have anything to do!
Withdrawals...I will be experiencing you very soon!
Number 4: Researching for my senior thesis.
Maybe this isn't so much addiction, but necessity.
Because I know that the second I stop thinking about it, it's going to be due!
And I'll still have heaps of it to finish!
But for the most part, I'm really enjoying what I'm learning.
I have a feeling that I will probably go crazy over Christmas Break when I don't have anything to do!
Withdrawals...I will be experiencing you very soon!
Number 5: Sleeping. It's just a pity that I don't have time to feed this addiction.
Because I have a feeling that this is my favorite one right now.
So there you have it! If you want to win me over, bring a good fairy tale, pumpkin pie, a fruit smoothie, and/or letters written by African American soldiers during the Civil War!
We will be friends for life! :)
We will be friends for life! :)
Monday, November 12, 2012
Making Life Decisions!
I had a little bit of an emotional weekend!
Don't worry...it wasn't anything too dramatic. Well, for me it was a little bit, but it has a happy ending!
Today was registration for Spring semester day! I was all excited this last week, looking at which classes to take for my last semester of undergraduate work. But then I discovered something that could change my fate forever! (Okay, well change the next year of my life anyway). I need a Quantitative Intensive class to graduate. In looking at the course descriptions, I realized that all of them have Math 1050 as a prerequisite.
I've taken Math 1050! What's the problem?!
I took Math 1050 over 6 years ago...that's the problem! And for some reason, schools like to have you all caught up on your math classes and make sure that you took them like last year. Why?! I don't know! I feel like there are other classes that are more important to be caught up on than math classes.
So I've been freaking out all weekend thinking that I wouldn't be able to graduate. On top of that, I would have to take the Math Placement Exam which would not go very well. Did you see that number for how many years it's been?! Six...yeah six! So that means I don't remember anything! Which probably means that they would put me back in like Math 990 or something...This whole situation was just beginning to look worse and worse by the second!
But no fear, my friends! I stayed up til midnight last night to register for classes and guess what?! I got registered for a QI class! That's right! I'm taking it and I am graduating in May! Bam! Who needs math anyway?!
On the other hand, I'm starting to consider teaching seminary as a career option. (In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, we have a seminary program for youth in high school to take religion classes in conjunction with their high school classes). That would be pretty fun right? Maybe...? :)
Don't worry...it wasn't anything too dramatic. Well, for me it was a little bit, but it has a happy ending!
Today was registration for Spring semester day! I was all excited this last week, looking at which classes to take for my last semester of undergraduate work. But then I discovered something that could change my fate forever! (Okay, well change the next year of my life anyway). I need a Quantitative Intensive class to graduate. In looking at the course descriptions, I realized that all of them have Math 1050 as a prerequisite.
I've taken Math 1050! What's the problem?!
I took Math 1050 over 6 years ago...that's the problem! And for some reason, schools like to have you all caught up on your math classes and make sure that you took them like last year. Why?! I don't know! I feel like there are other classes that are more important to be caught up on than math classes.
So I've been freaking out all weekend thinking that I wouldn't be able to graduate. On top of that, I would have to take the Math Placement Exam which would not go very well. Did you see that number for how many years it's been?! Six...yeah six! So that means I don't remember anything! Which probably means that they would put me back in like Math 990 or something...This whole situation was just beginning to look worse and worse by the second!
But no fear, my friends! I stayed up til midnight last night to register for classes and guess what?! I got registered for a QI class! That's right! I'm taking it and I am graduating in May! Bam! Who needs math anyway?!
On the other hand, I'm starting to consider teaching seminary as a career option. (In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, we have a seminary program for youth in high school to take religion classes in conjunction with their high school classes). That would be pretty fun right? Maybe...? :)
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Faulty Sinks
I go to one of the best engineering schools in the country.
So my question is, why do I get doused in water every time I wash my hands in the women's restroom?!
Yes, it's true...the sinks are the sensory ones. You know the ones - where you put your hands under there and the water just comes on. But the sinks in the library...this is what happens: I slowly put my hands under the faucet and cringe waiting for the blast of water to come.
Nothing...nothing...WHAM! Water spraying everywhere!! It comes out so fast and with so much pressure that I feel like it doesn't even get on my hands! It just bounces right off and gets all over the sink, the mirror, my arms, and my shirt! Everywhere!! What?! Isn't there some way to turn down the water pressure?! I feel super bad for the custodians! I bet they're mopping up water in that place like every 15 minutes!
On another note, today is the presidential election. I'm kind of nervous for this one. But I haven't gotten as caught up on my politics as I should be. I used to be all about politics - knowing what was going on, arguing over controversial issues, and reading all kinds of politicalness! I still have a very strong opinion on what's going on...I'm just not as informed as I used to be!
All I know is that I am very glad that I live in the United States of America! I love this place!! And many people have given up a lot for us to be able to vote and to enjoy the freedoms that we do! More than a lot of people realize...
*Good Book: Race and Reunion: The Civil War in American Memory by David W Blight (this one's for all those people who like to read historical study books...because that's what this is! But it's good if you're a nerd like me!!)
So my question is, why do I get doused in water every time I wash my hands in the women's restroom?!
Yes, it's true...the sinks are the sensory ones. You know the ones - where you put your hands under there and the water just comes on. But the sinks in the library...this is what happens: I slowly put my hands under the faucet and cringe waiting for the blast of water to come.
Nothing...nothing...WHAM! Water spraying everywhere!! It comes out so fast and with so much pressure that I feel like it doesn't even get on my hands! It just bounces right off and gets all over the sink, the mirror, my arms, and my shirt! Everywhere!! What?! Isn't there some way to turn down the water pressure?! I feel super bad for the custodians! I bet they're mopping up water in that place like every 15 minutes!
On another note, today is the presidential election. I'm kind of nervous for this one. But I haven't gotten as caught up on my politics as I should be. I used to be all about politics - knowing what was going on, arguing over controversial issues, and reading all kinds of politicalness! I still have a very strong opinion on what's going on...I'm just not as informed as I used to be!
All I know is that I am very glad that I live in the United States of America! I love this place!! And many people have given up a lot for us to be able to vote and to enjoy the freedoms that we do! More than a lot of people realize...
*Good Book: Race and Reunion: The Civil War in American Memory by David W Blight (this one's for all those people who like to read historical study books...because that's what this is! But it's good if you're a nerd like me!!)
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Old Records
I know that I've made it blatantly apparent that I have a passion for history.
So here's another post about how much I love the past! And people!
We were having an indexing party last night for home evening, complete with pizza, great friends, and delicious treats. (For those of you who don't know, indexing is digitizing old records to be used in genealogical research and such!)
I just get so excited at looking at images of original records! There is just something about looking at a record that was written by a person over a hundred years ago! They're not here anymore, but that record is! And it gives us a little peek into their lives!
Some of the records I was working on were old pension records for retired United States soldiers. I got so excited at one point because one of the records I was doing was a pension record for somebody who had served in the Colored Infantry. Since I'm doing my research on Colored Infantry, it made me really excited! (Sorry I keep using the word excited - but that's just how I feel!)
I love being able to help make that information more available for people to use! I just wish that I could help digitize a lot more records - like diaries and letters and such! How incredible would that be?! When you look into other peoples' lives by what they leave behind, you learn more about how incredible human beings really are!!
*Good Song: What the Water Gave Me by Florence + the Machine
*Good Movie: Tangled (Love it!!)
So here's another post about how much I love the past! And people!
We were having an indexing party last night for home evening, complete with pizza, great friends, and delicious treats. (For those of you who don't know, indexing is digitizing old records to be used in genealogical research and such!)
I just get so excited at looking at images of original records! There is just something about looking at a record that was written by a person over a hundred years ago! They're not here anymore, but that record is! And it gives us a little peek into their lives!
Some of the records I was working on were old pension records for retired United States soldiers. I got so excited at one point because one of the records I was doing was a pension record for somebody who had served in the Colored Infantry. Since I'm doing my research on Colored Infantry, it made me really excited! (Sorry I keep using the word excited - but that's just how I feel!)
I love being able to help make that information more available for people to use! I just wish that I could help digitize a lot more records - like diaries and letters and such! How incredible would that be?! When you look into other peoples' lives by what they leave behind, you learn more about how incredible human beings really are!!
*Good Song: What the Water Gave Me by Florence + the Machine
*Good Movie: Tangled (Love it!!)
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Changes, Fall, and Life!
Yesterday I was driving around Logan trying to find me a good pair of snow boots. While I was driving, I was loving the sight of fall leaves - some on the ground, still plenty on the trees. I feel like fall is such a beautiful time of year!
But then I realized that every time of the year is beautiful!
There's summer when everything is sunny and bright and happy! The trees have their green leaves on them lookin' all pretty and such. Then comes fall - the colors change, but it's even more beautiful. Then those beautiful leaves are gone and the trees are barren for awhile. They don't look very pretty at times. Then the cold winter comes. And even though it's cold, there's still an incredible beauty in bald trees lined with crystal snow. And finally, after months of bitter cold and empty limbs, new life starts! Little shoots of green start to appear and the green leaves look even more beautiful than they did the last time we saw them!
Here comes more of my thinking... :) I feel like sometimes I'm in a beautiful stage of life - I love everything about it and I'm so happy!! But then it starts to change, I start to lose some of those beautiful things (or people depending on the situation). It's like the leaves falling to the ground and I feel bare, and alone, and sometimes not all that attractive! :) I go through a bitter winter of sorts - but there is still beauty in the pain! Just like those ugly bare trees become beautiful through the snow, even in the times of trial there are beautiful things!! How can I appreciate the new green leaves in the spring if I don't experience the beauty of the winter?! Sometimes the winter is longer than I want it to be and spring doesn't come as quickly as I want it, but it does come. It always comes!
So that is what I need to remind myself of when I start to focus on the baldness of the trees instead of the beautiful glistening snow! Appreciate every stage of life...even when it's hard! Or maybe - especially when it's hard!!
*Good Movie: Glory
*Good Song: I Will Wait by Mumford and Sons
But then I realized that every time of the year is beautiful!
There's summer when everything is sunny and bright and happy! The trees have their green leaves on them lookin' all pretty and such. Then comes fall - the colors change, but it's even more beautiful. Then those beautiful leaves are gone and the trees are barren for awhile. They don't look very pretty at times. Then the cold winter comes. And even though it's cold, there's still an incredible beauty in bald trees lined with crystal snow. And finally, after months of bitter cold and empty limbs, new life starts! Little shoots of green start to appear and the green leaves look even more beautiful than they did the last time we saw them!
Here comes more of my thinking... :) I feel like sometimes I'm in a beautiful stage of life - I love everything about it and I'm so happy!! But then it starts to change, I start to lose some of those beautiful things (or people depending on the situation). It's like the leaves falling to the ground and I feel bare, and alone, and sometimes not all that attractive! :) I go through a bitter winter of sorts - but there is still beauty in the pain! Just like those ugly bare trees become beautiful through the snow, even in the times of trial there are beautiful things!! How can I appreciate the new green leaves in the spring if I don't experience the beauty of the winter?! Sometimes the winter is longer than I want it to be and spring doesn't come as quickly as I want it, but it does come. It always comes!
So that is what I need to remind myself of when I start to focus on the baldness of the trees instead of the beautiful glistening snow! Appreciate every stage of life...even when it's hard! Or maybe - especially when it's hard!!
*Good Movie: Glory
*Good Song: I Will Wait by Mumford and Sons
Monday, October 15, 2012
Spielberg's Lincoln!!!
I cannot wait for November 16th!
What is so special about this specific date you might ask?
Well, I will tell you. It is the day that the movie "Lincoln" (directed by Steven Spielberg!) comes out in theaters. Why am I so excited for this movie?
Because I love love love historical films...when they're done well. And Abraham Lincoln happens to be my favorite U.S. President! The trailer gives a peak into the movie and I see African American soldiers in there. And since I'm writing my senior thesis paper on African American soldiers in the Civil War, I'm excited to see them get some attention on the big screen (even if they're not the main focus of the movie). The cinematography looks amazing! So if this movie ends up being a dud, I will be devastated!
Until then, I will be counting down the days until I can see the movie!!
What is so special about this specific date you might ask?
Well, I will tell you. It is the day that the movie "Lincoln" (directed by Steven Spielberg!) comes out in theaters. Why am I so excited for this movie?
Because I love love love historical films...when they're done well. And Abraham Lincoln happens to be my favorite U.S. President! The trailer gives a peak into the movie and I see African American soldiers in there. And since I'm writing my senior thesis paper on African American soldiers in the Civil War, I'm excited to see them get some attention on the big screen (even if they're not the main focus of the movie). The cinematography looks amazing! So if this movie ends up being a dud, I will be devastated!
Until then, I will be counting down the days until I can see the movie!!
Friday, October 5, 2012
Adventures of Being Clumsy!
I'm pretty sure that I've mentioned on here before how clumsy I am. Well, do I have a story for you!
It was Tuesday, October 2nd, 2012 approximately 8:12 am. I was running a little late for my archaeology lab class. I also had to return four history books to the library. A heavy backpack + my little legs moving too quickly + my clumsiness....it's just a recipe for disaster!
There's this apple tree just east of my apartment next to the sidewalk. And this sidewalk is pretty crazy! So now that I've set the scene, let's continue.
There I am with my stubby little legs working their fastest, the weight of my backpack propelling me forward when all of a sudden my foot hits the edge of this crazy sidewalk that's all uneven and whatnot. I feel myself falling forward and my backpack swings to the right and with all my speed my right knee goes skidding on the sidewalk.
What's the first thing you do when you're in this situation?! Yep! Look around and make sure that nobody saw you fall! So that's what I did. Then I feel this stinging sensation in my knee. So I look down and at first, I think to myself, "Oh, it's fine!" But then it starts bleeding!! "Oh great!" I thought. "Now what?!"
My thoughts turn to my faithful sidekick and best friend Brittany! So I call her up and ask her if she'll give me a ride to class and bring me some Band Aids! And she does. I didn't even take time to clean my wound...because I was late for class k?! I just slap three Band Aids on there and I'm good to go! Bad idea...
The next day, the plasma (I finally found out what it was!) was leaking through my Band Aid so I decided it was time to change my wound dressings. :)
It took me 30 minutes to get those dang Band Aids off!! I was running my knee under water, but those Band Aids were so stuck to my scrape! And it hurt to just rip them off! (I'm such a baby, it's true...but I really hate pain!) So what did I do?! I grabbed my ninja star knife that I'd gotten for my birthday and I cut those stupid Band Aids off! Okay, so I only cut one off...the middle one because it was stuck the worst! (I realize that sentence structure was terrible, but you know what I'm sayin?!)
But the worst part of the whole situation is that this wound scraped off my favorite scar! What?! A scar that I'd gotten from another tripping incident (but that one I tripped on my shoe lace when I was like 9 or something). If I'm going to get scar inducing wounds like this one, why couldn't it have happened on my other knee?! Then I would have scars on both knees!
Now I'll just have one big one on my right knee...where my favorite scar used to be... :/
But don't worry, I made it to class on time!!
It was Tuesday, October 2nd, 2012 approximately 8:12 am. I was running a little late for my archaeology lab class. I also had to return four history books to the library. A heavy backpack + my little legs moving too quickly + my clumsiness....it's just a recipe for disaster!
There's this apple tree just east of my apartment next to the sidewalk. And this sidewalk is pretty crazy! So now that I've set the scene, let's continue.
There I am with my stubby little legs working their fastest, the weight of my backpack propelling me forward when all of a sudden my foot hits the edge of this crazy sidewalk that's all uneven and whatnot. I feel myself falling forward and my backpack swings to the right and with all my speed my right knee goes skidding on the sidewalk.
What's the first thing you do when you're in this situation?! Yep! Look around and make sure that nobody saw you fall! So that's what I did. Then I feel this stinging sensation in my knee. So I look down and at first, I think to myself, "Oh, it's fine!" But then it starts bleeding!! "Oh great!" I thought. "Now what?!"
My thoughts turn to my faithful sidekick and best friend Brittany! So I call her up and ask her if she'll give me a ride to class and bring me some Band Aids! And she does. I didn't even take time to clean my wound...because I was late for class k?! I just slap three Band Aids on there and I'm good to go! Bad idea...
The next day, the plasma (I finally found out what it was!) was leaking through my Band Aid so I decided it was time to change my wound dressings. :)
It took me 30 minutes to get those dang Band Aids off!! I was running my knee under water, but those Band Aids were so stuck to my scrape! And it hurt to just rip them off! (I'm such a baby, it's true...but I really hate pain!) So what did I do?! I grabbed my ninja star knife that I'd gotten for my birthday and I cut those stupid Band Aids off! Okay, so I only cut one off...the middle one because it was stuck the worst! (I realize that sentence structure was terrible, but you know what I'm sayin?!)
But the worst part of the whole situation is that this wound scraped off my favorite scar! What?! A scar that I'd gotten from another tripping incident (but that one I tripped on my shoe lace when I was like 9 or something). If I'm going to get scar inducing wounds like this one, why couldn't it have happened on my other knee?! Then I would have scars on both knees!
Now I'll just have one big one on my right knee...where my favorite scar used to be... :/
But don't worry, I made it to class on time!!
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Staying Up Way Too Late
Okay so it's like 12:15 am and I should be in bed because A) I have class at 8:30, B) I have a lot to do tomorrow which = absolutely no time for a nap and C) I just need some sleep that's all.
But it's Wednesday night! (I guess it's now technically Thursday morning...) And Wednesday night equals Country Swing Dancing! Happiness!
I feel like every time I go there I find a new man to have a crush on. Yes, it's true. I just love good looking men who know how to dance well. I can't help it!
But I just have to say that I absolutely love Mumford and Sons' new song "I Will Wait." It's super fantastic! And now that I have gotten my little bit of typing out that I guess I needed to do before I went to bed, I will now go get some good ol' sleepy time! Hopefully I can stay awake tomorrow morning while sorting through rocks, fish bones, and charcoal....or sitting through my Plants and Civilization class...(that's the more likely class to fall asleep in...)!
*Good Movie: Swing Kids
But it's Wednesday night! (I guess it's now technically Thursday morning...) And Wednesday night equals Country Swing Dancing! Happiness!
I feel like every time I go there I find a new man to have a crush on. Yes, it's true. I just love good looking men who know how to dance well. I can't help it!
But I just have to say that I absolutely love Mumford and Sons' new song "I Will Wait." It's super fantastic! And now that I have gotten my little bit of typing out that I guess I needed to do before I went to bed, I will now go get some good ol' sleepy time! Hopefully I can stay awake tomorrow morning while sorting through rocks, fish bones, and charcoal....or sitting through my Plants and Civilization class...(that's the more likely class to fall asleep in...)!
*Good Movie: Swing Kids
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Biology...
Biology...how I hate thee!
Why can't I understand biology?! This is a question that I have asked myself every time I take one of those dumb classes!
I'm taking a Plants and Civilization class (Biology 3040) this semester for my depth science requirements. Yep, it's a real class!
I've been learning all kinds of interesting things...about how flowers get pollinated and fruit develops, how tomatoes and cucumbers are berries, and how peanuts are fruit. (True story!) So to mix in with all this confusion (why have I been lied to my whole life?! I thought peanuts were nuts!!), I have to remember the processes of meiosis and mitosis. What?! I feel like they're kind of the same thing...or maybe that it's just that I don't understand either one!
I can pick apart the American Revolution and identify multiple political, economic, and cultural reasons why we shouldn't have won that war. I can give you the details of what happened on a field in Gettysburg in the summer of 1863 and the significance of the battle of Antietam, but when you try to get me to remember the different parts of a plant...epic fail!
Why?! Why why can I not remember these simple things?!
I took a test today...I'm pretty sure I failed it. So many large words...polysaccharides (what?!), polymers, and endosperm. Yep...no idea! Hopefully I'm a good guesser...
I think I better stick with my time lines and old documents...just sayin!
*Good Song: "Ours" by Taylor Swift
*Good Book: "Les Miserables" by Victor Hugo (I'm trying to read it amidst all my homework and work! And I am loving it!!)
Why can't I understand biology?! This is a question that I have asked myself every time I take one of those dumb classes!
I'm taking a Plants and Civilization class (Biology 3040) this semester for my depth science requirements. Yep, it's a real class!
I've been learning all kinds of interesting things...about how flowers get pollinated and fruit develops, how tomatoes and cucumbers are berries, and how peanuts are fruit. (True story!) So to mix in with all this confusion (why have I been lied to my whole life?! I thought peanuts were nuts!!), I have to remember the processes of meiosis and mitosis. What?! I feel like they're kind of the same thing...or maybe that it's just that I don't understand either one!
I can pick apart the American Revolution and identify multiple political, economic, and cultural reasons why we shouldn't have won that war. I can give you the details of what happened on a field in Gettysburg in the summer of 1863 and the significance of the battle of Antietam, but when you try to get me to remember the different parts of a plant...epic fail!
Why?! Why why can I not remember these simple things?!
I took a test today...I'm pretty sure I failed it. So many large words...polysaccharides (what?!), polymers, and endosperm. Yep...no idea! Hopefully I'm a good guesser...
I think I better stick with my time lines and old documents...just sayin!
*Good Song: "Ours" by Taylor Swift
*Good Book: "Les Miserables" by Victor Hugo (I'm trying to read it amidst all my homework and work! And I am loving it!!)
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Why Men Don't Date Me!
Okay so here's the thing. I don't get asked on dates...ever! Seriously, the last time I went on a date was like 3 months ago and that was a blind date. The last time before that was like six months! I find myself wondering why men don't consider me a dating option. I mean, I have nice blue eyes, I'm fairly intelligent, I make great chocolate chip cookies, I love children, and I'm not high maintenance! So in thinking critically about this issue I have come up with my top five reasons why men don't want to date me! Ready?! Here we go!
1. I don't know how to flirt! My male friends tell me that flirting is key when attracting the male gender. But when I practice on my guy friends, what happens?! They laugh uncontrollably at my attempts. Epic failure! So I suck at the games of flirting and trying to show interest?! Strike one!
2. I'm incredibly clumsy. Running into doors, falling up stairs and hills (seriously! This one happened today...I was walking up the hill to school and I took a short cut, tripped on a step that was really a tree root and fell right on my face! Bahaha!), slipping on ice, and bruising my knees on any object that is at knee height! No man wants to be constantly catching me or fixing up my scrapes and bruises!
3. I'm great at awkwardly rejecting friendly male gestures. Example: So one day, our home teacher was bringing us brownies and Brittany and I were standing in their parking lot. My hands were full with who-knows-what (history books perhaps?!), but I took the brownies graciously, smiled widely, and thanked him profusely. I tried to show my appreciation by taking a piece to try it, but with my hands full and note reason #2, I dropped the plate of brownies right there in the parking lot...face down!
4. I'm incredibly nerdy and far too passionate about my favorite subject - history! No man wants to listen to how much I love learning about the American Civil War, the crazy quirks of Roman emperors, or how turquoise ended up in Central America. And I like watching historical documentaries...I think that every male subconsciously knows that I would ruin their lives by having the TV on the History Channel instead of the football game!
5. What was number 5? .....I'm sure I had a good one. Oh yes! I'm too funny...not in the "I'll-make-you-laugh-every-second" way, but I have far too many weird quirks that are crazy! Whether it's me tripping over my short tongue and saying something unintelligible, being way too tired to form cohesive thought, or not remembering what you said to me like five seconds before, there would be far too much funniness going on...that usually ends up in the form of me being made fun of!
So there you have it! I'm expert at repelling males and their advances, so if you have any more reasons why they don't want to date me or how to fix my situation, leave me a comment! Or shoot me an email! annamarie914@hotmail.com :)
1. I don't know how to flirt! My male friends tell me that flirting is key when attracting the male gender. But when I practice on my guy friends, what happens?! They laugh uncontrollably at my attempts. Epic failure! So I suck at the games of flirting and trying to show interest?! Strike one!
2. I'm incredibly clumsy. Running into doors, falling up stairs and hills (seriously! This one happened today...I was walking up the hill to school and I took a short cut, tripped on a step that was really a tree root and fell right on my face! Bahaha!), slipping on ice, and bruising my knees on any object that is at knee height! No man wants to be constantly catching me or fixing up my scrapes and bruises!
3. I'm great at awkwardly rejecting friendly male gestures. Example: So one day, our home teacher was bringing us brownies and Brittany and I were standing in their parking lot. My hands were full with who-knows-what (history books perhaps?!), but I took the brownies graciously, smiled widely, and thanked him profusely. I tried to show my appreciation by taking a piece to try it, but with my hands full and note reason #2, I dropped the plate of brownies right there in the parking lot...face down!
4. I'm incredibly nerdy and far too passionate about my favorite subject - history! No man wants to listen to how much I love learning about the American Civil War, the crazy quirks of Roman emperors, or how turquoise ended up in Central America. And I like watching historical documentaries...I think that every male subconsciously knows that I would ruin their lives by having the TV on the History Channel instead of the football game!
5. What was number 5? .....I'm sure I had a good one. Oh yes! I'm too funny...not in the "I'll-make-you-laugh-every-second" way, but I have far too many weird quirks that are crazy! Whether it's me tripping over my short tongue and saying something unintelligible, being way too tired to form cohesive thought, or not remembering what you said to me like five seconds before, there would be far too much funniness going on...that usually ends up in the form of me being made fun of!
So there you have it! I'm expert at repelling males and their advances, so if you have any more reasons why they don't want to date me or how to fix my situation, leave me a comment! Or shoot me an email! annamarie914@hotmail.com :)
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Remembering a Great Friend.
I have a music minor. This music minor requires me to have four semesters of choir. I finished three semesters of choir before my mission and now I have one more semester of choir to go.
Last Friday, I found myself walking through the halls of the familiar music building. I have spent many hours there, learning music theory, playing the piano, and singing my little heart out. I've also had the opportunity to make some incredible friends in that building.
Time came for choir to start and I was surprised at how incredibly hard it was for me to step back into that room as part of the women's choir. I looked at the front row where I used to sit. Then I looked to the seat next to mine where my dear friend Celeste used to sit. Freshman year...an incredibly hard time of life...moving out, making new friends, being out on my own. That's when Celeste and I first became friends. She had an incredibly lovely smile and an infectious laugh. I was super jealous of her hair, because it was thick and curly!
We were both second sopranos and we had the greatest time laughing at people and just enjoying music! She moved into my ward the summer before I left on my mission, but I ended up moving home. I went on my mission and when I got home and everything had settled down, I was devastated to learn that Celeste had been diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma about the same time I got home. She had just barely graduated with her degree in Music Therapy the month before.
I kept close tabs on her progress by reading her blog. I prayed and prayed for her recovery. I got to see her when she came to Logan to attend a benefit concert that some of the music therapy students were putting on for her. She was just as happy as ever and she played the piano so beautifully that night. I was ecstatic when the update in January said that she was in remission! She was so strong and I knew she was going to be okay!
A month later, she found out that the lymphoma had come back and that it was much worse than when they had first found it. On April 9th of this year, she passed away at the age of 22.
Walking into the choir room this last week made me realize how much I missed her. As I think about it, I'm reminded of how important it is to cherish every moment spent with the people you love. Life happens so fast and you never know when somebody is going to be taken from you.
But I do know that when I make it to the other side, I will see Celeste again. And she will have that beautiful hair of hers that I'm so jealous of! And I am going to give her the biggest hug! And we are going to sing some good songs!
*For more information on God's Plan of Happiness for us and what happens when we die, visit http://mormon.org/plan-of-happiness
Last Friday, I found myself walking through the halls of the familiar music building. I have spent many hours there, learning music theory, playing the piano, and singing my little heart out. I've also had the opportunity to make some incredible friends in that building.
Time came for choir to start and I was surprised at how incredibly hard it was for me to step back into that room as part of the women's choir. I looked at the front row where I used to sit. Then I looked to the seat next to mine where my dear friend Celeste used to sit. Freshman year...an incredibly hard time of life...moving out, making new friends, being out on my own. That's when Celeste and I first became friends. She had an incredibly lovely smile and an infectious laugh. I was super jealous of her hair, because it was thick and curly!
We were both second sopranos and we had the greatest time laughing at people and just enjoying music! She moved into my ward the summer before I left on my mission, but I ended up moving home. I went on my mission and when I got home and everything had settled down, I was devastated to learn that Celeste had been diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma about the same time I got home. She had just barely graduated with her degree in Music Therapy the month before.
I kept close tabs on her progress by reading her blog. I prayed and prayed for her recovery. I got to see her when she came to Logan to attend a benefit concert that some of the music therapy students were putting on for her. She was just as happy as ever and she played the piano so beautifully that night. I was ecstatic when the update in January said that she was in remission! She was so strong and I knew she was going to be okay!
A month later, she found out that the lymphoma had come back and that it was much worse than when they had first found it. On April 9th of this year, she passed away at the age of 22.
Walking into the choir room this last week made me realize how much I missed her. As I think about it, I'm reminded of how important it is to cherish every moment spent with the people you love. Life happens so fast and you never know when somebody is going to be taken from you.
But I do know that when I make it to the other side, I will see Celeste again. And she will have that beautiful hair of hers that I'm so jealous of! And I am going to give her the biggest hug! And we are going to sing some good songs!
*For more information on God's Plan of Happiness for us and what happens when we die, visit http://mormon.org/plan-of-happiness
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Let It Begin!
It has begun...the school year...
Striving to stay awake in class, swallowing extreme dislike for students who raise their hands and make comments every 5 minutes (come on! The professor knows a lot more about his or her subject than you, so can you please just let him or her teach us what they know?! We don't care about your weird stories, endless questions, or your ignorant opinion!), studying for hours, losing myself in historical archives, and knowing that I will always have a mountain of more reading to do...even when I think I'm caught up!
I'm only taking thirteen credits this semester - which doesn't seem like a lot, but I am going to be BUSY! Senior thesis (I'm actually really excited for this because I love historical research, but also extremely nervous because it's going to take up a lot of my time!), being an undergraduate teaching fellow for an American history class (which I'm also excited about!), working part-time, taking an archaeology lab, and trying to stay on top of my other classes! Oh...and I'm looking at grad schools and getting ready to take the GRE soon!
I have also started a new job at the rec center here. I will be working the front desk. I'm happy about this job, but there's a lot to learn. Sometimes I wonder if my brain can hold all of this information inside of it! :)
So bring on the late night studies, the extreme fatigue, the endless stress, and the beautiful joy of learning!
*Good Book: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Striving to stay awake in class, swallowing extreme dislike for students who raise their hands and make comments every 5 minutes (come on! The professor knows a lot more about his or her subject than you, so can you please just let him or her teach us what they know?! We don't care about your weird stories, endless questions, or your ignorant opinion!), studying for hours, losing myself in historical archives, and knowing that I will always have a mountain of more reading to do...even when I think I'm caught up!
I'm only taking thirteen credits this semester - which doesn't seem like a lot, but I am going to be BUSY! Senior thesis (I'm actually really excited for this because I love historical research, but also extremely nervous because it's going to take up a lot of my time!), being an undergraduate teaching fellow for an American history class (which I'm also excited about!), working part-time, taking an archaeology lab, and trying to stay on top of my other classes! Oh...and I'm looking at grad schools and getting ready to take the GRE soon!
I have also started a new job at the rec center here. I will be working the front desk. I'm happy about this job, but there's a lot to learn. Sometimes I wonder if my brain can hold all of this information inside of it! :)
So bring on the late night studies, the extreme fatigue, the endless stress, and the beautiful joy of learning!
*Good Book: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
A Word on Moving
Moving...oh the joy!
So I'm only moving across the street from where I was living this past year, but I have mixed feelings about moving. On the one hand, there's all the cleaning I had to do to get out of the one place. And realizing that I have accumulated far too many things that I do not need! (I was really surprised to see how many books I had in my tiny apartment - with many big fat ones on the Civil War!) There is also the nervousness of new roommates...are they going to be nice? Weird? Crazy? Messy?! (Good thing my best friend Brittany is still going to be my roommate - at least for this year!!)
On the other hand, there is the opportunity to discover how much I have that I don't need and then get rid of said things. And the excitement of new people and new opportunities! And getting organized! And planning on keeping everything organized! I set this goal every couple of months and it usually only lasts for a few days! :/
So with that said, I get to move in to my new apartment today. Bring on the new ward, the new people, and the new memories!!
*Good Song: I Won't Give Up by Jason Mraz
*Good Book: Time Enough for Drums by Ann Rinaldi
So I'm only moving across the street from where I was living this past year, but I have mixed feelings about moving. On the one hand, there's all the cleaning I had to do to get out of the one place. And realizing that I have accumulated far too many things that I do not need! (I was really surprised to see how many books I had in my tiny apartment - with many big fat ones on the Civil War!) There is also the nervousness of new roommates...are they going to be nice? Weird? Crazy? Messy?! (Good thing my best friend Brittany is still going to be my roommate - at least for this year!!)
On the other hand, there is the opportunity to discover how much I have that I don't need and then get rid of said things. And the excitement of new people and new opportunities! And getting organized! And planning on keeping everything organized! I set this goal every couple of months and it usually only lasts for a few days! :/
So with that said, I get to move in to my new apartment today. Bring on the new ward, the new people, and the new memories!!
*Good Song: I Won't Give Up by Jason Mraz
*Good Book: Time Enough for Drums by Ann Rinaldi
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Being Patient.
Today was a great day for me!
I've been working most Saturdays throughout the summer. And even on the Saturdays I've had off, I've had things going on. Well, today I had work off so I decided I needed to do something fun. My plan for something fun was going to Hyrum Reservoir to go swimming.
I'll just find some friends to go with me! Well, nope, the few I texted or talked to were busy. Looks like I was flying solo! So I jumped in my little Toyota Corolla and drove off on my lone adventure.
The sun was shining and there wasn't a whole lot of people there. I parked my car at the top of the hill so I would only have to pay $3 instead of $6. (I'm a poor college student k?!) Once I got to the water, I'm sure I was quite the image to behold - super tan below the knees...super white above! Super tan just past my shoulders and down my arms...super white on shoulders and back! Walking across those rocks to the water....HAHA! I almost fell a few times. I was even laughing at myself.
I finally made it into the water and it was just joyous! The little waves lapping at the shore, the murky water hiding my multi-colored body, the mud seeping between my toes. Loved it!
So after a couple of hours of swimming, laying in the sun, and reading my book I decided it was time for me to head home. I have a rodeo to go to tonight!
Climb back up the big hill to my car and what do I find?! The back tire on my car is completely flat! What?! How did that happen?!
Ok, I got this! One of my best friends from high school had taught me how to change a tire and I knew I could do it! Grab my jack, my spare and get to work! Okay, I finally got the hub cap off! Who knew it could be so hard?! Now to get the tire off!
So here's the thing - I'm not very strong. At all. I'm pulling on my loosener (what do you even call those things?!), doing a little bit of jumping on it. I can't even get those stupid things to budge. Meanwhile, a few cars have driven by and the more time I spend trying to get my tire off, the more I start getting angry at all the people that drive by without stopping.
Can't they see that I have a flat tire?! And that I'm a short little pudgy girl in a swimsuit?! I need help people!
After a little while, a middle-aged gentleman comes walking towards me from a house up the street. He asks me if I need help. "Yes, thank you! I can't seem to get my tire off!" Well he just grabs the little loosener tool and pops those things right off! What?! How am I that weak?! So my tire had been worn through on the inside and the little wire things were popping out all over the place. The man said that he was surprised that the tire hadn't blown on me when I was driving.
We put my doughnut tire on and just my luck! My doughnut tire is flat too! Bahaha - I can laugh at it now, because it's over. Well, lo and behold, this kind man has an air compressor at his house! So he fills up my tire for me and I was soon on my way!
What did I learn from my adventurous day? Okay, here comes more analogies! So there I was in a circumstance I didn't like. I saw other outcomes or circumstances that I would've liked better - like one of those people stopping and helping me. I got frustrated because things weren't going my way. But even in this small inconvenient happening, the Lord knew what I needed before I even did. I didn't know that my doughnut tire was going to be flat! But He did, and He sent me exactly what I needed.
If my tire would've blown on the road or if one of those other people would've stopped to help me, I still would've had to have my car towed back into Logan. But the one person who did help me had everything I needed to make it back safely.
So even though I sometimes get impatient with life and want things to go a different way, the Lord still knows what I need and if I'm patient and wait for it, everything will work out in the end! That is what I learned from my flat tire! And to be grateful that things aren't worse than they could be!
I've been working most Saturdays throughout the summer. And even on the Saturdays I've had off, I've had things going on. Well, today I had work off so I decided I needed to do something fun. My plan for something fun was going to Hyrum Reservoir to go swimming.
I'll just find some friends to go with me! Well, nope, the few I texted or talked to were busy. Looks like I was flying solo! So I jumped in my little Toyota Corolla and drove off on my lone adventure.
The sun was shining and there wasn't a whole lot of people there. I parked my car at the top of the hill so I would only have to pay $3 instead of $6. (I'm a poor college student k?!) Once I got to the water, I'm sure I was quite the image to behold - super tan below the knees...super white above! Super tan just past my shoulders and down my arms...super white on shoulders and back! Walking across those rocks to the water....HAHA! I almost fell a few times. I was even laughing at myself.
I finally made it into the water and it was just joyous! The little waves lapping at the shore, the murky water hiding my multi-colored body, the mud seeping between my toes. Loved it!
So after a couple of hours of swimming, laying in the sun, and reading my book I decided it was time for me to head home. I have a rodeo to go to tonight!
Climb back up the big hill to my car and what do I find?! The back tire on my car is completely flat! What?! How did that happen?!
Ok, I got this! One of my best friends from high school had taught me how to change a tire and I knew I could do it! Grab my jack, my spare and get to work! Okay, I finally got the hub cap off! Who knew it could be so hard?! Now to get the tire off!
So here's the thing - I'm not very strong. At all. I'm pulling on my loosener (what do you even call those things?!), doing a little bit of jumping on it. I can't even get those stupid things to budge. Meanwhile, a few cars have driven by and the more time I spend trying to get my tire off, the more I start getting angry at all the people that drive by without stopping.
Can't they see that I have a flat tire?! And that I'm a short little pudgy girl in a swimsuit?! I need help people!
After a little while, a middle-aged gentleman comes walking towards me from a house up the street. He asks me if I need help. "Yes, thank you! I can't seem to get my tire off!" Well he just grabs the little loosener tool and pops those things right off! What?! How am I that weak?! So my tire had been worn through on the inside and the little wire things were popping out all over the place. The man said that he was surprised that the tire hadn't blown on me when I was driving.
We put my doughnut tire on and just my luck! My doughnut tire is flat too! Bahaha - I can laugh at it now, because it's over. Well, lo and behold, this kind man has an air compressor at his house! So he fills up my tire for me and I was soon on my way!
What did I learn from my adventurous day? Okay, here comes more analogies! So there I was in a circumstance I didn't like. I saw other outcomes or circumstances that I would've liked better - like one of those people stopping and helping me. I got frustrated because things weren't going my way. But even in this small inconvenient happening, the Lord knew what I needed before I even did. I didn't know that my doughnut tire was going to be flat! But He did, and He sent me exactly what I needed.
If my tire would've blown on the road or if one of those other people would've stopped to help me, I still would've had to have my car towed back into Logan. But the one person who did help me had everything I needed to make it back safely.
So even though I sometimes get impatient with life and want things to go a different way, the Lord still knows what I need and if I'm patient and wait for it, everything will work out in the end! That is what I learned from my flat tire! And to be grateful that things aren't worse than they could be!
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
What?! It's August!!
Ok I can't believe that it's moving on to the middle of August already! What?! Where did my summer go?!
I made a list of goals at the beginning of the summer and I don't think I've even accomplished half of them! Not completely my fault as my job schedule turned out to be less than ideal, but what can ya do?! I have an education to pay for!
I've only been camping once, made s'mores maybe twice, went on maybe three hikes, and went swimming once! I haven't even been to a lake or a reservoir! What kind of summer is this?! I was going to become best friends with Logan Canyon, get skinny from all the swimming, and smell like campfire at least once a week. But alas, that has not happened.
I was hoping to have a summer fling, but we all know where I'm at in the dating scene - nonexistent. :) I guess I'm just too awesome for guys to take on dates!
So school starts back up in like 2 1/2 weeks...oh freak I didn't even realize it was that close! Bah! I'm excited to be super busy with studying again, but I will be taking my capstone course which includes my 30 page senior thesis. I should just accept the fact that my social life is over...I should've accepted that fact at the beginning of the summer when I realized I would be working every night!
I haven't seen my good friend the campus library in months, but we will be getting reacquainted very soon. And dear Old Main, how I have missed climbing those three flights of stairs to enter my beloved History Department.
But I do still have 2 1/2 weeks left! So now to accomplish floating down the Oneida River, exploring the canyons, camping at least one more time, swimming in a lake or reservoir, finding a man to take me on a date, work on my novel, write a song, move to a new apartment, and order my textbooks! All while still working most nights...so little time left...
Hopefully the shooting ban is lifted so I can go get some stress relieving target shooting done!! :)
Oh and there's a rodeo this weekend!! Happiness!!
*Good Movie: Newsies (I get to watch it with some friends tonight!)
*Good Song: (Kissed You) Good Night by Gloriana
I made a list of goals at the beginning of the summer and I don't think I've even accomplished half of them! Not completely my fault as my job schedule turned out to be less than ideal, but what can ya do?! I have an education to pay for!
I've only been camping once, made s'mores maybe twice, went on maybe three hikes, and went swimming once! I haven't even been to a lake or a reservoir! What kind of summer is this?! I was going to become best friends with Logan Canyon, get skinny from all the swimming, and smell like campfire at least once a week. But alas, that has not happened.
I was hoping to have a summer fling, but we all know where I'm at in the dating scene - nonexistent. :) I guess I'm just too awesome for guys to take on dates!
So school starts back up in like 2 1/2 weeks...oh freak I didn't even realize it was that close! Bah! I'm excited to be super busy with studying again, but I will be taking my capstone course which includes my 30 page senior thesis. I should just accept the fact that my social life is over...I should've accepted that fact at the beginning of the summer when I realized I would be working every night!
I haven't seen my good friend the campus library in months, but we will be getting reacquainted very soon. And dear Old Main, how I have missed climbing those three flights of stairs to enter my beloved History Department.
But I do still have 2 1/2 weeks left! So now to accomplish floating down the Oneida River, exploring the canyons, camping at least one more time, swimming in a lake or reservoir, finding a man to take me on a date, work on my novel, write a song, move to a new apartment, and order my textbooks! All while still working most nights...so little time left...
Hopefully the shooting ban is lifted so I can go get some stress relieving target shooting done!! :)
Oh and there's a rodeo this weekend!! Happiness!!
*Good Movie: Newsies (I get to watch it with some friends tonight!)
*Good Song: (Kissed You) Good Night by Gloriana
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Dancing, dancing, dancing!
This past year I have discovered a new favorite activity.
I love country swing dancing!!
So last October I was singing a different tune. I showed up at the Fun Park with my roommate Brittany and my good friend Ashley. I don't think I'd ever felt so out of place amidst cowboy boots and country music. I mean, come on! I'm from a small town. I grew up on country music. And I even have a couple of pairs of cowgirl boots myself. I can shoot my guns, ride horses, enjoy a good rodeo, and I did know a couple of line dances. But this was different. Oh yes!
Girls flying through the air, young men stomping their feet to the music. How was I ever supposed to learn how to do all those fancy moves?
Luckily, there were a couple of guys I knew there who could show me the ropes of this sort of dancing. Basic step...okay I got this! This isn't so bad. Twirl, twirl...I'm a little dizzy, but I think I can handle this. Oops! I stepped on his foot. Sorry!! I think I just elbowed him in the face. Wow! I will never get the hang of this!
So I pretty much hated it the first couple of times I went. I took a break for like...hmmm...probably four months. Brittany kept inviting me and I finally gave in again. I walked into the building feeling like I might pass out. People were going to get a good laugh tonight! I remember the exasperated looks of the guy I didn't know when he realized I had no idea what I was doing! But ahahaha! It was too late! He had already asked and he was in it for the duration of the song!
Yes! I even learned a couple of new line dances this time! And three guys asked me to dance! And even though I was apologizing for most of the song for my mess-ups, I enjoyed myself quite thoroughly.
Now I can't get enough of it! I've learned the majority of the line dances and sometimes guys even ask me to dance! Sometimes I'm still not quite sure what I'm doing, but with a good leader I can pick it up quite quickly! I love it!
Not to mention the men who know how to dance and can throw me over their shoulders and lift me off the ground! Now that's attractive!
I think I'll go again this week!
*Good Song: Wanted by Hunter Hayes
*Good Book: Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe
I love country swing dancing!!
So last October I was singing a different tune. I showed up at the Fun Park with my roommate Brittany and my good friend Ashley. I don't think I'd ever felt so out of place amidst cowboy boots and country music. I mean, come on! I'm from a small town. I grew up on country music. And I even have a couple of pairs of cowgirl boots myself. I can shoot my guns, ride horses, enjoy a good rodeo, and I did know a couple of line dances. But this was different. Oh yes!
Girls flying through the air, young men stomping their feet to the music. How was I ever supposed to learn how to do all those fancy moves?
Luckily, there were a couple of guys I knew there who could show me the ropes of this sort of dancing. Basic step...okay I got this! This isn't so bad. Twirl, twirl...I'm a little dizzy, but I think I can handle this. Oops! I stepped on his foot. Sorry!! I think I just elbowed him in the face. Wow! I will never get the hang of this!
So I pretty much hated it the first couple of times I went. I took a break for like...hmmm...probably four months. Brittany kept inviting me and I finally gave in again. I walked into the building feeling like I might pass out. People were going to get a good laugh tonight! I remember the exasperated looks of the guy I didn't know when he realized I had no idea what I was doing! But ahahaha! It was too late! He had already asked and he was in it for the duration of the song!
Yes! I even learned a couple of new line dances this time! And three guys asked me to dance! And even though I was apologizing for most of the song for my mess-ups, I enjoyed myself quite thoroughly.
Now I can't get enough of it! I've learned the majority of the line dances and sometimes guys even ask me to dance! Sometimes I'm still not quite sure what I'm doing, but with a good leader I can pick it up quite quickly! I love it!
Not to mention the men who know how to dance and can throw me over their shoulders and lift me off the ground! Now that's attractive!
I think I'll go again this week!
*Good Song: Wanted by Hunter Hayes
*Good Book: Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Remembering a Prophet of God
On June 27th, 1844 an event occurred that the world didn't take much notice of at the time. But I feel it's an important date to remember...the day that the Prophet Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum were murdered at Carthage Jail in Carthage, Illinois.
Who was this prophet some might ask? After centuries of being lost, the gospel of Jesus Christ was restored through a prophet - just as the Lord had restored it in the Old Testament and how Christ set up His Church with prophets and apostles.
So on this day, I would like to remember Joseph Smith and his testimony. He saw God the Father and Jesus Christ, translated the Book of Mormon, restored the priesthood (the power of God given to man to act in his name), built temples, and worked hard to establish the Church of Jesus Christ back on the earth.
While many may not know who he is, I do. And I know that he was a prophet called by God to restore the fulness of the gospel - so that we could have the knowledge of the plan of salvation and the priesthood. How grateful I am for that knowledge!
So thank you Heavenly Father for the restoration of your gospel and your Church! And thank you Joseph Smith for doing all you could so that we could have this knowledge now!
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Canyons and Why They Inspire Me
I am so excited! Why? You might ask...
Because I am going to see my mom and my bro Clayton this weekend! And I get to take some of my wonderful friends to see the Grand Canyon - one of the most awe-inspiring places that the Lord has put on this earth. Going there seems to put everything into better focus and perspective for me. Seeing the vastness of God's wonders and knowing that even though we can't quite see the bottom, it's still there.
I feel like canyons and mountains are a great symbolism for life. The view is breathtaking, but the creation of such magnificent canyons took thousands and thousands of years of hard work. They start out with a small stream running through them perhaps. A little spot of ground not worth mentioning. But through the years, that stream cuts through rock and sand to create something incredibly beautiful.
Life can be difficult, but when we look back at our adventures I hope that there's an incredible view. We will find that we too have deepened our understanding and our pain and our joy just as those small streams deepen those rocks into massive canyons. When I stand at the top of my own personal canyon, I expect it to be glorious beyond description!
*Good Song: Just A Kiss by Lady Antebellum
*Good Book: Anne of Green Gables
Because I am going to see my mom and my bro Clayton this weekend! And I get to take some of my wonderful friends to see the Grand Canyon - one of the most awe-inspiring places that the Lord has put on this earth. Going there seems to put everything into better focus and perspective for me. Seeing the vastness of God's wonders and knowing that even though we can't quite see the bottom, it's still there.
I feel like canyons and mountains are a great symbolism for life. The view is breathtaking, but the creation of such magnificent canyons took thousands and thousands of years of hard work. They start out with a small stream running through them perhaps. A little spot of ground not worth mentioning. But through the years, that stream cuts through rock and sand to create something incredibly beautiful.
Life can be difficult, but when we look back at our adventures I hope that there's an incredible view. We will find that we too have deepened our understanding and our pain and our joy just as those small streams deepen those rocks into massive canyons. When I stand at the top of my own personal canyon, I expect it to be glorious beyond description!
*Good Song: Just A Kiss by Lady Antebellum
*Good Book: Anne of Green Gables
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Work, Work, Work!
Working...it's pretty fun right?
I am pretty grateful for the jobs I have right now...especially because now I don't have to fill out any more stupid applications! Whoo! Glad that's over! So I'm working as a banquet server and also as a custodian at the aquatic center. Yep, that's right! Two jobs!
Serving food...cleaning up after kids who have been swimming...someday I will have a job where I'm not cleaning up after people! Or perhaps not...I've always wanted to be a mom so I guess this is all in good practice (if that stage of life ever comes for me)!
So while life obviously goes in different ways than we sometimes expect, maybe there is some order in the chaos. That's what I keep telling myself anyways...
*Good Song: Poison and Wine by The Civil Wars
*Good Band: Mumford and Sons
I am pretty grateful for the jobs I have right now...especially because now I don't have to fill out any more stupid applications! Whoo! Glad that's over! So I'm working as a banquet server and also as a custodian at the aquatic center. Yep, that's right! Two jobs!
Serving food...cleaning up after kids who have been swimming...someday I will have a job where I'm not cleaning up after people! Or perhaps not...I've always wanted to be a mom so I guess this is all in good practice (if that stage of life ever comes for me)!
So while life obviously goes in different ways than we sometimes expect, maybe there is some order in the chaos. That's what I keep telling myself anyways...
*Good Song: Poison and Wine by The Civil Wars
*Good Band: Mumford and Sons
Monday, May 14, 2012
Detours
This morning I drove to a trail head to go for a run. The sun was shining and the views of the valley were breathtaking. After a nice run, I got back to my car and decided I was going to drive a different way to get home. I love driving that way so I was excited to see the familiar homes and scenery. Driving, driving, when all of a sudden around the corner, orange signs! "Road Closed" and "Detour" - arrow pointing left.
Okay so a detour. I can handle that. Well, the signs kept leading me away and there was even a sketchy part of the road that I was a little nervous about, a dip with heaps of loose rocks! I navigated it quite nicely and continued on my way. While the area was unfamiliar, I felt okay because I knew the detour signs would lead me back to the road that would lead me back to my apartment.
As I was driving, I realized that my life is like this! I've had this idea in my mind of how I think my life should be. When all of a sudden, the road ahead of me is closed and I'm on my way into unfamiliar circumstances. But the Lord has placed detour signs for me along the way. So even though I might be on a different road than what I had imagined, the fact is that as long as I follow those detour signs I will get back to where I'm ultimately heading - back to my Father in Heaven.
The detour was even kind of nice - I spotted some adorable little houses and had more time to appreciate the new surroundings. So it might have taken me a bit longer to get home and I didn't get to see all that I had expected, but nonetheless, it was a great adventure!
And in the end, I still ended up safe, back in my apartment!
*Good Song: Dancing Away With My Heart by Lady Antebellum
*Good Movie: The Avengers
Okay so a detour. I can handle that. Well, the signs kept leading me away and there was even a sketchy part of the road that I was a little nervous about, a dip with heaps of loose rocks! I navigated it quite nicely and continued on my way. While the area was unfamiliar, I felt okay because I knew the detour signs would lead me back to the road that would lead me back to my apartment.
As I was driving, I realized that my life is like this! I've had this idea in my mind of how I think my life should be. When all of a sudden, the road ahead of me is closed and I'm on my way into unfamiliar circumstances. But the Lord has placed detour signs for me along the way. So even though I might be on a different road than what I had imagined, the fact is that as long as I follow those detour signs I will get back to where I'm ultimately heading - back to my Father in Heaven.
The detour was even kind of nice - I spotted some adorable little houses and had more time to appreciate the new surroundings. So it might have taken me a bit longer to get home and I didn't get to see all that I had expected, but nonetheless, it was a great adventure!
And in the end, I still ended up safe, back in my apartment!
*Good Song: Dancing Away With My Heart by Lady Antebellum
*Good Movie: The Avengers
Friday, April 27, 2012
Final Stretch for Spring 2012!
So happiness of all happiness! No more classes until the end of August!
Even more happiness - my World War II final is now optional! Less happiness...my Chinese history final and anthropology final are going to give me a heart attack! So much studying to do...(but will I actually do it?!)
So here's the thing. I really love finals week! I know that sounds crazy because most students hate it...late nights...studying...stress attacks... But here's how I see it: If I've been going to class the whole semester, completing my assignments, and doing my readings I should be okay. So while I will feel a little bit stressed and I will be doing a small bit of studying, I'm pretty sure I just won't know what to do with all the free time I'm going to have! So bring on the finals and bring on the summer!
*Good Song: Be Strong With Me by Jenny Phillips
Even more happiness - my World War II final is now optional! Less happiness...my Chinese history final and anthropology final are going to give me a heart attack! So much studying to do...(but will I actually do it?!)
So here's the thing. I really love finals week! I know that sounds crazy because most students hate it...late nights...studying...stress attacks... But here's how I see it: If I've been going to class the whole semester, completing my assignments, and doing my readings I should be okay. So while I will feel a little bit stressed and I will be doing a small bit of studying, I'm pretty sure I just won't know what to do with all the free time I'm going to have! So bring on the finals and bring on the summer!
*Good Song: Be Strong With Me by Jenny Phillips
Friday, April 20, 2012
Almost Summer!
It's almost SUMMER!! Camping, fires, swimming for hours, HIKING (!!!), shooting guns, napping in the sunshine. I cannot even wait! One week left of classes and then one week of finals and I'm FREE! So excited!
Okay so now that I've gotten that out, I am planning on staying in Logan for the summer. I don't have a summer job yet, but I'm sure I will be finding one soon. I'm also thinking about taking a summer class helping a professor/archaeologist here at Utah State catalog Native American artifacts. So I think I'm in for a great summer!
Okay so now that I've gotten that out, I am planning on staying in Logan for the summer. I don't have a summer job yet, but I'm sure I will be finding one soon. I'm also thinking about taking a summer class helping a professor/archaeologist here at Utah State catalog Native American artifacts. So I think I'm in for a great summer!
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Some Musings...
Well this year of 2012 has been interesting...letting go of some things, realizing more about myself, and making big decisions! I realize that life can be very painful...but it's so worth it! As I'm closing a couple of doors on my past I realize that I would not change a single moment in my life! All the good moments are completely worth the pain that comes with goodbyes and moving on. Because certain people come into our lives and completely change us. I have been so blessed with incredible people in my life. And while sometimes we have to say goodbye to some amazing people, they were there when we needed them. Loving people is never a waste! It doesn't matter what they do with the love that you offer them. As we love and allow the Savior to heal us from the pain, our capacity to love increases! So the next time we offer love to someone else, it can be bigger and mean so much more!
This is all kind of jumbled, but I've been thinking about this the last couple of days. I was thinking about it in terms of my mission too. My mission was so hard! And sometimes I wondered why I was doing it, but the things I learned from those experiences and the happiness I felt far outweighed the negative things. That's how I feel about loving people. Loving people can be so hard! Especially if they do things to hurt you or if you have to say goodbye at some point, whether through death or choice. But it's so worth it! The memories are something that you will always have! Nobody can ever take those away! Or the knowledge you learned from it!
So as you love and are hurt, remember that next time you will love even more! Life is all about what we do with the things that we're given...including people, experiences, attitudes, etc. And I want to choose to be happy! And love everyone! And smile through all the hard times! And remember that Heavenly Father always has a better plan for me than I have for myself!
*Good Song: Fix You by Coldplay (or check out the cover by Boyce Avenue)
This is all kind of jumbled, but I've been thinking about this the last couple of days. I was thinking about it in terms of my mission too. My mission was so hard! And sometimes I wondered why I was doing it, but the things I learned from those experiences and the happiness I felt far outweighed the negative things. That's how I feel about loving people. Loving people can be so hard! Especially if they do things to hurt you or if you have to say goodbye at some point, whether through death or choice. But it's so worth it! The memories are something that you will always have! Nobody can ever take those away! Or the knowledge you learned from it!
So as you love and are hurt, remember that next time you will love even more! Life is all about what we do with the things that we're given...including people, experiences, attitudes, etc. And I want to choose to be happy! And love everyone! And smile through all the hard times! And remember that Heavenly Father always has a better plan for me than I have for myself!
*Good Song: Fix You by Coldplay (or check out the cover by Boyce Avenue)
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Contemplating...
Well, life has a way of throwing some ridiculous curve balls my way! I found out some news last week that brought back some painful memories that I would much rather forget. Nothing seemed to be working out and talk about frustration!!
But despite facing something that should have knocked me flat, I am still here! And what's more, I'm not even angry or bitter! I feel great! I spent some time these last few months feeling sorry for myself over a few things. But how stupid! Why waste any time?! Life probably won't go the way I want it to like 90% of the time. And that's okay! Because life is so EXCITING!! So leave the past in the past and move on right? Something not so easy for a passionate history major! :)
Good Song: "Never Be What You Want" by We Are the In Crowd
Good Movie: "Life is Beautiful"
But despite facing something that should have knocked me flat, I am still here! And what's more, I'm not even angry or bitter! I feel great! I spent some time these last few months feeling sorry for myself over a few things. But how stupid! Why waste any time?! Life probably won't go the way I want it to like 90% of the time. And that's okay! Because life is so EXCITING!! So leave the past in the past and move on right? Something not so easy for a passionate history major! :)
Good Song: "Never Be What You Want" by We Are the In Crowd
Good Movie: "Life is Beautiful"
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
I love friends!
So this last weekend I was able to go hang out with some of my friends from my mission. We had such a fantastic time - from dance parties to eating lots of food to nickelcading! Yep, we went to a nickelcade and it was pretty much the best! It was so much fun! And when we were done, we bought mustaches and removable tattoos with the tickets we won. I loved it! I love doing random things like that!
And now school has begun once again and I love all of my classes!! Not kidding...I really love all of them! And I think I have finally decided what I'm going to do with my schooling. I have decided that I really am going to change my major from History Teaching to History and then I'm going to add an anthropology minor. Then it would be super great if I could get into a graduate school. So I need to start preparing for the GRE! But it will be great! With all of this, I should be able to graduate by next spring if I take a couple of classes this summer. So for now, that is the plan!
And now school has begun once again and I love all of my classes!! Not kidding...I really love all of them! And I think I have finally decided what I'm going to do with my schooling. I have decided that I really am going to change my major from History Teaching to History and then I'm going to add an anthropology minor. Then it would be super great if I could get into a graduate school. So I need to start preparing for the GRE! But it will be great! With all of this, I should be able to graduate by next spring if I take a couple of classes this summer. So for now, that is the plan!
Sunday, January 1, 2012
I Love Christmas!
This holiday break has been so great!! I absolutely love spending time with my family! We had such a great time...but now it's back to school and work and real life. Which is probably good considering all the food I've been eating since I've been home... :/ But it is the holidays!!
I've just been reflecting on the birth of the Savior and what a complete miracle it is...that the Son of God would come to earth to atone for the sins of all mankind is just completely incomprehensible to me. But how grateful I am that He did!
And now it's the New Year! I always love New Years! A time for setting goals, for having new beginnings. This last year has been great - experiencing the floods in Brisbane, returning from my mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, adjusting back to American life :), going back to university, making new friends, and definitely learning more about myself. I think that 2012 is going to be a great year!! More university, more working, making new friends. Who knows what this year has in store for me?? I am definitely excited to find out!
I've just been reflecting on the birth of the Savior and what a complete miracle it is...that the Son of God would come to earth to atone for the sins of all mankind is just completely incomprehensible to me. But how grateful I am that He did!
And now it's the New Year! I always love New Years! A time for setting goals, for having new beginnings. This last year has been great - experiencing the floods in Brisbane, returning from my mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, adjusting back to American life :), going back to university, making new friends, and definitely learning more about myself. I think that 2012 is going to be a great year!! More university, more working, making new friends. Who knows what this year has in store for me?? I am definitely excited to find out!
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