I just love when people do things that truly show they know and care about who you are.
Last night I returned home in a bit of a tizzy from a long and stressful day of class, homework, meetings, problems with the library, work, and everything else that is crazy and inclusive in finals week. Needless to say, I was exhausted. I also knew my visiting teachers were supposed to come and that I was late so I rushed inside, and to my great surprise, there on the table, was the most magnificent and beautiful cake I have ever seen. Our visiting teachers have been so great to us this semester, and they definitely took the time to show us they were listening as we so often ranted and raved about our love for both Michael Jackson and Red Velvet cake since they COMBINED THE TWO! It is so delicious and we were a little sad to have to cut it up so we had to take pictures to document the occasion before we did so. Mmmm, perfection.

Here we go a caroling.

Tonight we had a ward closing social planned that I honestly was not even remotely looking forward to. This social consisted of caroling door to door in 3 degree weather for canned goods to donate to the Idaho Foodbank. I was not excited in the least, but I knew as a last hoo-rah before the semester ended (and as FHE mom) I should go. So after sufficiently bundling up in 6 layers of sweaters and jackets, leggings under my jeans, and a fuzzy hat not unlike Elmer Fudd's, we ended up having a great time! We were laughing and dancing and bonding with our FHE sisters (since the guys copped out on us) and in the end were rewarded with a nice warm Christmas dinner with the ward and actually won a gargantuan bag of Starbursts for collecting the most food (118 pieces all together to be exact). It was cold, yes, but it was very worth it. Passing along the Christmas spirit was a boost to both the people we sang to and ourselves. I love this holiday season and the happiness that is in the air everywhere you go!

Today

There comes a day towards the end of every semester when I conclude that it was a really poor choice for me to skip all those days of class. The day when I sit there with a dazed and confused look on my face because I have absolutely no idea what the teacher is talking about. The day when I sit in class and realize I still don't know anyone. The day when my insides start to contort at the thought of how doomed I am for the final that is quickly coming up for that class. The day when I wonder why I even signed up for that class in the first place. The day I near breaking point, but know it's my own fault that I am not as prepared as I could be.

today is that day.

Finals are going to be the end of me.

grim reality

Today's weather forecast for Rexburg, Idaho: 7 degrees.
Today's weather forecast for Antarctica: 33 degrees.

It is moments of realization like this when I really question my choice to go to school in such a frigid and brutal town. The sun is shining, the sky is perfectly cloudless and blue, and yet, it's all a facade. Everything hurts as I walk to my classes..my nose, my ears, my lips, my hands. We are doing a secret Santa within our apartment, and I find it sad that 3 out of the 5 of us asked for gloves. Need I further emphasize my dislike for winter and cold? No, I think I will leave it at that.

and therefore it was important to Him..

My Heavenly Father is so prevalent in my life and I feel it's important to share the experiences that I have as evidence of His love. I share this as both a reminder to myself of His presence and purest love, and also in hopes that my testimony can in some way benefit others with open hearts.

So this evening I lost something very trivial and seemingly unimportant (a new contact lens to be exact) and I was very frustrated that I knew I had brought it into the apartment but couldn't find it anywhere. I searched in every pocket of my jackets and jeans, through the many pockets of my purse, in the couch cushions, and the bags we threw in the trash earlier, but I could not find it. I was really starting to stress out when it came to me that I should pray to my Heavenly Father to help me find it. Of course I felt like my plea was insignificant in the scheme of things but I plead to my Father anyways to help me know where to look. In that moment I grabbed my jacket (which I had already searched through thoroughly several times) and headed out to my car with my hands in my pockets. I searched through my car frantically, finding nothing of course, but as I shut the door and hit the lock button to head back inside, I reached in my pocket as I walked away and wrapped my hand around that little contact case, and in that moment a smile came across my face and a realization came to me of the unfailing kindness and love of my Father in Heaven.

I know that this is something simple and in reality pretty minor, but tonight I had a testimony builder of the presence of my Father in Heaven in my life, and His willingness to bless me with the things I desire after if I will just come to Him and ask. He knew that it was important to me and therefore it was important to Him. He loves me, He loves you, and He will never leave us to do things on our own. The Church is true!

Mom and Dad

Today my parents celebrate 28 years of an eternal marriage..

Thank you mom and dad for everything you do. I could not have asked for better parents. You are my everything and you have never failed me. Thank you for falling in love and bringing me into our family. Thank you for loving me and caring for me in every way. Thank you for teaching me right from wrong and being my examples. I love you both and could not have asked for better parents. Thank you for showing me what a happy, loving couple looks like on a daily basis and supporting me in everything I have ever done and hope to do in the future. You guys are more than my parents, you are two of my best friends. You have had the biggest impact on the person I have become in my nearly 21 years and I am grateful for all you do. I love you and happy anniversary!

simple pleasures

It never ceases to amaze me how the simplest things greatly amuse me. Today's source of amusement: A quote from Sue Sylvester on Glee.

"Schuester! I'll need to see that set list for Sectionals after all, and I want it on my desk, warm from the laminator at 5:00 p.m. And if it is one minute late, I will go to the animal shelter and get you a kitty cat. I will let you fall in love with that kitty cat, and then, on some dark, cold night, I will steal away into your home and punch you in the face."

HA I am incapable of reading this quote without smiling.

Welcome to Idaho..

Weather for Rexburg, Idaho: currently 26 degrees, feels like: 15.

That is for certain. I am so cold and must admit NOT pleased with this change in temperature and new white scenery I am having to endure here in the Burg. It is never enjoyable when you get an insta-runny nose and numb appendages the second you walk outside. I will admit that Christmas would not be the same without snow and am therefore grateful that this wonderful state of Idaho I live in gives me that, but I am thinking that if I ran the world I most certainly would make winter last December through January ONLY and then this white stuff would GO. To all of you winter lovers out there--I don't understand how you could love this. BUT welcome to Idaho I suppose.

NeW mOoN

I have been waiting a year to go see New Moon with Kyndra and the girls (t-shirts, twlight candies, and squealing included) but plans changed and we ended up coming to St. George a few days early so I no longer had my posse to go with and nobody here could give a hoot about the show-- Needless to say, I was very upset about this turn of events. I asked everyone if they wanted to come with me: shut down. We decided to go to the movies as a family so I recommended it: shut down. But, the guys all went golfing (for the millionth day in a row) so mom, being the thoughtful person she is, took me on a date to lunch and (you guessed it) NEW MOON! It was, arguably, the highlight of my Thanksgiving break. I think it's safe to say that (after a necessary recapping of Twlight before it started) mom even enjoyed it much more than she thought she would and may even read the rest of the series.

We tried to take some pictures to document the glorious occasion, eventually having to rope one of the theater workers to come take some for us (I'm pretty sure they all thought we were obsessive crazy people too by the way) but I don't care! I love loved it!

Snow Canyon

We went to Snow Canyon state park while we were in St. George for Thanksgiving and joyously expanded our appreciation for red rock, red sand, red dunes..and plenty black lava rock (aka Aa --as I so eagerly learned from my geologist father) just to mix things up a bit. As sarcastic as that may have sounded, it really was beautiful and we had a great time hiking over petrified sand dunes, climbing rock towers that overlook the entire park, scrambling down into collapsed lava tubes, finding 200 ft. windblown arches (that I was certain they were lying about as the hike went on), and smiling at the the natural artwork that I'm starting to think God puts here for our simple pleasure.

Obsession #1

So I was laying in bed last night thinking about how obsessed I am with some things and how pathetic some of my obsessions really are--however, I can't lie and say they aren't a huge part of what makes me so..well, ME. For the sake of those reading, I will try to keep my gushing to a minimum..

Obsession #1: BOIIIISEEEE....STAAAAAATE! Yes, that's right. FACT: I am the biggest Bronco fan EVER. I never miss a game (unless of course eastern Idaho isn't considerate enough to broadcast for me, but we won't get started on that). Most of the time, however, that entails me sitting on the couch (alone), decked out in my BSU paraphernalia, screaming at the t.v. and jumping up and down cheering along with..no one, swooning over my fabulous Austin Pettis, Jeremy Avery, and Kyle Wilson (to name a few). I think it's safe to say I bleed blue and orange and I am not ashamed. Yes, my obsession has gotten me into many an argument (and I'm pretty certain has consequentially frightened a few people in the process), but it's only because I care. Nothing gets my heart racing faster than the sight of the smurf turf and a good looking bronco in uniform, mmm. Now, you may be wondering to yourself- If she goes to BYU-Idaho, why isn't she a BYU fan? My answer: GAG. In the brilliant words of my father, 'My favorite team is BSU.. or anyone playing BYU.' I'm certain God must be a BSU fan because the sky is blue and sunsets are orange..That's all I will say on that subject though. I love my boys! I was a die-hard fan BEFORE the Fiesta Bowl (the greatest game ever played in college football, fyi), and I will be till the day I die. :] GO BRONCOS!

Family.

Oh where to begin..my family is my everything. I thank my Father in Heaven every day that my family is just that: MINE. I know for sure that I got them for a reason and they have played the biggest role in making me who I am today. There is too much to say about each one individually to put into one post but I hope that through this I can write posts to each of you to show you at least a fraction of how much you mean to me, and hopefully share experiences involving each of you that have helped me to grow and made me grateful for you on levels only family can reach. I love you guys and thank you for always being there for me, for loving me, supporting me, encouraging me, and shaping me into the person I am. I look forward to spending eternity with you all.. no empty seats please. I LOVE YOU.

FamilyHomeEvening.

I absolutely LOVE my fhe family! I have been so blessed this semester to finally have an amazing family home evening group that I look forward to spending time with every week. Once again I was called to be fhe 'mom' with my crazy partner John and it has been an adventure that's for sure! I love my girls and the guys are so crazy hilarious it makes things so fun. There is definitely power in groups within the church! (Yes, the cheesy grin in the front is my 'husband'. Gotta love it :]

A little of me.

Well, 20 years old has found me in little old Rexburg, Idaho facing the brutal winds and freezing temperatures to get a college education, and yet, I have no doubt that this is where I am supposed to be right now. I had every intention of staying at Boise State for the duration of my college career (mostly because I didn't have the grades or necessary credentials to get into a better school, let alone a church school.)In all reality, I know that staying in Boise would have played a hand in my heading further down the wrong path and getting into trouble I didn't need. Everything pointed to a rejection letter coming my way, but I am certain there is reason behind my being accepted, even if there are times I still don't fully see it. Whatever the reason, I am here, and I am now finishing my junior year studying Social Studies Education, focusing on History Ed. I never would have thought this is where I would end up or what I would decide to study, but I know now this is not only where I am supposed to be right now, but have had many confirmations this is what I am supposed to do with my life, and I'm excited about where I'm heading! Nothing happens by coincidence..

A new chapter..

I hope this will become something I can use to keep those that are dearest to me up to date on my life and experiences while I am away from all of them. I hope it can be a blessing in my life and to yours as well as I record the events and moments that make me who I am on a daily basis.