At The Beginning

At the beginning of this school year, I was scared. I didn't know how my roommates would react to me. I didn't know how I would react to them. I didn't know how I was going to survive without my mom and dad by my side all the time. I didn't know how I was going to pass college level classes. BYU classes, at that. I didn't know what kind of friends I would make. 

Now that I'm at the end, pretty much heartbroken that my freshman year has come to a close, I am so grateful that I had such amazing roommates. They made me laugh, cry, smile, ...food. I learned so much from each of them. Paige is the most tender-hearted gal ever. I don't know that I ever heard her say a negative thing about another person. Sarah is so determined and so hard-working; I wish I had half of her gusto. Raquel is so sweet. Exhibit A: just two nights ago, she kept me company and tried to cheer me up by putting Tangled on while I was having an emotional meltdown. Tabitha is a sweetheart. She really does cares about everyone. Cassie. I learned so much from her, it'd be hard to list it all. She never hesitates to compliment or to extend her hand to someone in need. I love these girls. Paige, Sarah, Raquel, Tabitha, Cassie. Ladies, I miss you. You are all off to do bigger and better things already. 

At the end, I am so grateful to have had family nearby to help me through the harder times (including the quarter droughts so I could have clean clothing and Sunday dinners) and the fun times. 

 

At the end, I'm grateful for not only the study groups, test reviews, tutors, and curves, but for the life lessons learned, too. 

At the end, I realize that I have befriended some of the best people I have ever met. I've made a family. Okay, we were placed together, but still. That was most definitely Heavenly Father's doing. He knew who I needed and what I needed to learn to grow the most these past two semester. 

 

While I know this isn't goodbye, it will be different from now on. Change is scary. But just reflecting on this year, I went from being scared of what was to come to scared to lose what I had gained. So I know that the Lord has things in store for us all. Great things. Fantastic things. He's been preparing us all throughout our lives. For things we've already experienced and things we still have ahead of us. And He will continue to make us change and grow. Even though it's scary and hard. I know I will always look back on this time in my life with the utmost joy that I was able to meet the people I did and create the relationships I did. I love you all. God be with you till we meet again. 

Always Something There to Remind Me...

... Or is there? 

NOPE. BECAUSE I GOT ALL THE NAIL POLISH OUT OF THE CARPET THAT I SPILLED EARLIER TODAY. HEYO. Look at me, I'm domestic-like. 

My secret? Oodles of nail polish remover, warm water w/ a wee bit of dishwashing soap, and a lot of scrubbing. Thank goodness for nasty, old Heritage carpets that conceal most things. 

Rumor Has It

Today was just an Adele kind of day. It was kind of cold and rainy all day, so I think her warm voice and style offset that just a little. Anywho, just some updates.

Fact #1: I signed a contract. Finally. In Glenwood. I can take a big sigh of relief. I am no longer homeless for Fall/Winter semester.

Fact #2: I have declared my major as Recreational Management and Youth Leadership with an emphasis in Therapeutic Recreation. (That just sounds more important than Therapeutic Recreation) But I am very excited for next semester when I get to find out more about it!

Fact #3: I am done with my freshman year classes. Finals are here. Doom/relief/sadness/excitement are all settling in.

Fact #4: I have pretty great friends. But that's another story.

Fact #5: I don't actually have a plane ticket home yet . . . PLEASE LET ME COME HOME MOMMY. <3

Best Day of My Life

Okay, maybe a slight exaggeration. But it was a pretty dang good day.

It started off with a fantastic morning watching Music and the Spoken Word, followed by the most amazing session of conference. With my parents. That was more than I could have asked for.

Then, we went to lunch. My parents had been telling me for the past two days that United had lost their luggage, so after they got a phone call saying their luggage had arrived, we went to the airport to pick it up.

I had noticed my parents speaking in hushed tones on a few different occasions during the past few days, so I knew something was up. My mom made me come into the airport to avoid staying in the "creepy parking lot." Um, ok. So I went along with it all. I had no idea what was really coming.

As my dad took care of the luggage, my mom and I sat down in the baggage claim. I was settling into a quick game of Draw Something when a lady tapped me on my shoulder asking where the...

It was my sister. Kate and Sadie were standing behind me in the Salt Lake City airport. It took me a good 5 seconds of staring at her to fully comprehend that my sister, who had moved to San Francisco two months ago, was in Utah.

Good one, parents. So I spent the day with family. Happy April Fools!

Wasting Time

So my friend Maddie has an obsession with laughing baby videos. Which I think are hilarious. I think I may have found my youtube obsession, not nearly to the magnitude of Maddie's love for laughing baby videos, but it'll continue to make me laugh every time: old people dancing/singing/learning something new with a computer.

For your entertainment, (although I showed some to a friend and she did not find them funny. So maybe this is just one of those things that only I find funny. In that case, don't watch these cute little old people being adorable) here are some of my favorites.  

Feeling Groovy (59th Street Song)

Lorelai: Do you know how much pressure I felt, do you? All last week I felt like a giant man and his brother were sitting on my chest. 
Rory: A giant man? 
Lorelai: And his giant brother. 
Rory: Did they have names?
Lorelai: Clem and Clem. Huh, same names, which did not reflect well on the imagination of their mothers. 
Rory: Mother. 
Lorelai: Mothers. There were two Clems.

This is what my computer screen looked like for the past two weeks. 

Yes, there are 20 tabs on this one browser.

Yes, there are 5 Word Documents open. 

This is what my screen looks like as of 12:30 pm. After therapeutically closing each and every window, word document, and pdf. 

That's right folks, I have turned in my research paper. It is done. 

I hope you can close a tab or two today. It's a great feeling. 

Add My Effort

I have a confession.

At times, I'm scared to talk to strangers. Sometimes I'm even afraid to talk to people I have met. In person, on the phone, heck, sometimes I'm even afraid to text someone I don't know very well. I think a lot of that is because of all the technology we have at our disposal. Sometimes we forget the perks of face-to-face communication. I could talk about how technology has ruined social skills forever. Don't get me wrong, I love me some Apple products... okay, sorry. A rant for another time.

Anyway, you might be asking yourself why I am saying this. I noticed several different occasions today where I avoided someone because I didn't want to make awkward conversation.

Funny anecdote, actually. I came home in between two of my classes, and was greeted by a maintenance worker in my bathroom fixing the tub. I kept having the thought that I should ask him if he wanted some water or a cookie (that I had plenty of left-overs from my Spanish presentation). But I didn't. And before I knew it, he was leaving. And I was kicking myself for not being more friendly. Because it really doesn't hurt to be friendly! (Also, I had a random, and super appreciated act of kindness the other day in the form of a note and chocolate. This friend knows the way to my heart :) So ever since then, I've been especially aware of the opportunities I could have to make someone's day just a little better.)

So this is my goal. Have a conversation with a new person every day. (or maybe once a week. Cause let's be realistic, I'm not just going to wake up being a social butterfly. It don't happen like that.) Because I don't particularly like this fear that I have and I want to change it. So help me out, will ya strangers?