Finding time to be thankful

The table was set at Grandma and Grandpa Brown's house. Before the food and cousins arrived, it was quite and I was able to sit back and think about all the things and people that I have been blessed to have. I really am such a lucky girl!

I have one of the best families ever! Parents that love each other and their children. Both of whom will drop everything to help make our dreams come true. I have an older sister who has been my best friend since I was born. She has recently taken me under her wing and bought me whatever I have said I needed. Since moving out of the house (temporally), I have really come to miss my brothers who seemed to be so annoying. I miss: Calvin's companionship, Colten's exotic cooking, Katelyn's creative mind, Kelcey's constant interest, and Klarie's little self. I am thankful that I have a phone that allows me to talk to at least one of them on a daily basis. I am thankful that I am going to fly home to them over the Christmas break. I am thankful for the friends that I will get to see. I am thankful that those friends have kept in touch with me. I am thankful that I have the opportunity to be away at such a prestige school to gain a higher education. I am thankful for the friends that I have made here and the fun times that we have shared. And their willingness to want to know me. I am thankful for the things that I am learning and for the opportunity to grow and become a better person. I am thankful for the people who have been their to teach me and set an example for me that have made me the person that I am today. I am thankful for the challenges that I have on a daily basis because they are shaping who I am. I am thankful for the body I have and the opportunity to take care of it. I am thankful for my Savior who has not only suffered for my mistakes and those that I will make, but for everyone that has lived and everyone that will. And I am thankful for my knowledge of this.

Funny how when during dinner all I could muster to say that I was thankful for was that I had the opportunity to be at BYU because I could not say anything else without crying. And I could not do that at dinner.


(top left: Camille, Me, Britta, Tara, Cynthia, Brooke, Tia, Amy, Kaitlin. Bottom left: Shaylah, Natalie, Mikayla, Rachel, and Lindsey.)
This was a building activity (not a good turn out, but lots of fun) called journals and Julius. We decorated little notebooks and made them our gratitude journals. And yes there were homemade Orange Julius drinks! Yummy! It's a good thing that I have a lot to be thankful for because I have a gratitude journal that I need to fill.


(Mine is on the left and the right one is Britta's.)
I chose numbers because I am counting my blessings...and because I liked the colorful numbers. I liked the stamp "Happy me", and thought that it would help me remember to be happy with what I was given. I also liked the way that Britta decorated her journal, the bird is a nice touch.



I made sure that I left the 3's for the back so that I wouldn't cover them up. Then I used some glitter glue to make them stick out a little. I guess I need to get writing.

Here comes Santa

I volunteered to help out at the Provo city Christmas parade. When I signed up I had no idea that there were going to be below freezing temperatures during the whole thing. It was very cold, but in the end it was worth it because we got to go behind the firetruck that Santa was riding on and tell the crowds waiting on the side that they needed to go back to the center of town to watch Santa light the city lights.



I was surprised by a lot of the creative minds behind the floats this was a big group of Star Wars fans that had authentic outfits. One let me hold his light-saber and it was surprisingly heavy so it must have been real.

I'll be home for Christmas

Before, Thanksgiving was just a time to eat a really big meal and have pie. There would be food, games, lots of cooking to do, and then having fun shopping on Black Friday. But this year is different! This year I realize what I did have. Family.

It hurts when people talk about going home for Thanksgiving knowing that I am not. It hurts when campus seems empty because people have gone home early. It hurts to see friends' families around campus knowing that I will not get to see mine for another month. At church someone was talking about this (in a way). They said that they were really grateful for the opportunity to be away from home because it gives meaning to the song "I will be home for Christmas." Although it is hard for me to appreciate being away, the song truly has become to mean a lot to me because it truly is how I feel.

I'm dreamin' tonight of a place I love
Even more then I usually do
And although I know it's a long road back
I promise you

I'll be home for Christmas
You can count on me
Please have snow and mistletoe
And presents under the tree
Christmas Eve will find me
Where the love light beams
I'll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams

Christmas Eve will find me
Where the love light beams
I'll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams
If only in my dreams

(The result of boredom!)

If I could I would be home for Thanksgiving. In fact I just looked at flights for the 3rd time today.

But this year it looks like I will be spending Thanksgiving with my grandparents. Cousins will be coming (all younger, but it is better than nothing, right?) Then on Black Friday I will be in a parade to light the city! I am going to be one of Santa's Helpers and happily lead the city in following the fire truck to city hall where Santa will turn on the Christmas tree. I am pretty excited to see how that goes, I will let you know.

Friday and we're free falling

Every Friday my friend Britta and I have a tradition of going SWKT golfing. This means that every friday we go to the tallest building on campus, ride the elevator all the way to the top (11th floor), go to the staircase, climb up another two flights of stairs to the 13th floor,



(it is a very long way down!)and then drop ping-pong balls down between the railings. The one who makes it down to the bottom floor in the least amount of drops wins.



His name is Tommy. And he has won a couple of times (he's mine).



Her name is Rosey (she is Britta's) She has done pretty good too!

Too good to be healthy

I tried out a new cookie recipe a little while ago. Sorry there is no picture they were just that good!

Apple Sauce Oatmeal Cookies

Preheat oven to 350.
Mix together: 1/4c. butter, 1 c. brown sugar, 1/2c. sugar 3/4c. applesauce, 1 egg, and 1 t. vanilla.
Sift together and add: 1 c. four, 1t. salt, 1/2 t. baking soda.
Stir in: 3c. rolled oats
Add if desired: Rains, dried cranberries, walnuts, pecans, coconut, or chocolate chips (this is what I added and they were great!)
Bake cookies for about 12 mins.
They are so easy to make, delicious and believe it or not (mostly) healthy!
I personally think that they tasted better frozen (I am not sure why, but they just did) but give them a try. They will be gone before you know it!

Sunrise . . . Sunset

I am living the college life day to day counting down the days until I get to go home.



There are 38 by the way!



I am trying really hard not to get lazy and forget to study; it is so hard.



I bought my ticket yesterday. I am not getting to leave the day that I wanted because I have one last final. So I will be getting home around 8 evening Friday the 17th. (so really it is more than a whole day later than I wanted) I am so excited! I will be flying into Kansas City and then driving the rest of the way with a friend from high school. We haven't kept in touch very well so I am sure we will have so much to talk about for the three hours. And then I will be home again. Among my friends and family! I cannot wait!

First Down

(I am not sure how to fix the pictures, but if you click on them then you can see the whole picture and in this case me.) I don't know very much about football. In fact a few times during the game I have to ask some knowledgeable person around me "What just happened?" I do know a little though. Like being there the third row from the in zone is even pretty much awesome!



(yes I snapped this picture right as they scored a touch down!)



After a score the following happens: a cannon is fired by the ROTC (totally taking you off guard and sometimes making your friend throw her phone in surprise), , the scoring team kicks the ball into a net, another cannon is fired (this one a little less of a surprise), the men cheerleaders run around the field holding these big flags while the whole stadium (except for the fans from the other team) sings the school's fight song. Rise, all loyal Cougars
And hurl your challenge to the foe.
We will fight, day or night,
Rain or snow.
Loyal, strong and true,
Wear the White and Blue.
As we sing, get set to spring.
Come on Cougars, it's up to you!
(STAND)
So Rise and Shout, the Cougars are out
We're on a trail to fame and glory.
Rise and shout, our cheers will ring out
As we unfold our vict'ry story.
On we go to vanquish the foe
For Alma Mater's sons and daughters.
As we join in song,
In praise of you, our faith is strong.
We'll raise our colors high in the blue
And cheer our Cougars of BYU.
Some cheering and shouting follows and then a couple of ROTC members go to the in zone and do push ups as the crowd counts until they reach the amount of points that their team currently has.
At least this is what happens at BYU football games.



When you are at the game you notice random funny things, like this backpack that somehow got stuck on the net.


The mascots like to do fun things like going crowd surfing up a steep crowd of fans. And lastly, you just have more fun!

PS BYU beat UNLV 55 to 7! I know that is good!

Planning my life out at midnight

I have decided on a major! English teaching (at the high school level) with a minor in Earth and Space teaching and also in Spanish! Hopefully that all works out OK. It will supposedly make me very marketable.

I am not sure why they assign me to schedule my classes so late at night because I am hardly in the right mind to be planning out my future, but I stayed up late to schedule for next semester and ended up with:

Book of Mormon (2ND half) T/Th 9:00-9:50a with Jeff Marsh (2 credit hrs)

ENGL 295 Writing Literary Criticism M/W/F 10:00a-10:50a with M. Suzanne Lundquist (3 credit hours)

ENGL 251 Fund Literary Interpretation M/W/F 11:00a-11:50a with Jamin Rowan (3 credit hours)

A HTG 100 American Heritage M/W 9:00a-9:50a and F 8:00-8:50 with Christopher Karpowitz (3 credit hours)

SPAN 205 University Spanish 3 Every day 4:00p-4:50p (4 credit hours)

For a grand total of 15 credit hours... unless a seat opens in Music 113... then I would have
Music 113 Beginning piano M/W 8:00-8:50a or T/Th 8:00-8:50a (2 credit hours).
And 17 credit hours. I really want to take that piano class!

To help me get two minors I am going to be taking online classes over the summer AND..
I have also decided that I am going to try to go on a Study Abroad to London! either the spring or the summer of next year (my sophomore year). It would be so much fun! And a great experience from what I hear.

Birthday-ed

My desk...



My bed... those really freaked me out when I woke up.



Bamboo plant that my pen-pal Maggie surprised me with. No I am not holding the plant sideways to fit it all in the picture, although that would be something I might do. My computer is being difficult and would not let me flip the picture right side up.



Kamber gave me this beautiful vibrant fall flower bouquet along with a huge bag of Veggie chips. Which don't sound too appetizing, unless they are Sensible Portions brand. Those chips are so good!



Hunger games from Colten, a money management book (I needed that), some cozy pajamas and slipper boots along with The recipe club from Hayley, and a bright yellow shirt from when my mom and I went shopping are all pictured above. What is not shown are a cute little journal and gift card to Deseret Book from my aunt, a whole bunch of candy (like a 5 pound bag and then some!) which has been tempting me, the Iphone that is on it's way to me, the other outfits that my mom got for me while she was here, Bear naked granola from my dad (which is very yummy), dinner with family, and the time I got one on one with my mom!



My favorite gift! My mom flew up to help Kamber with wedding planning, but showed up a day early to surprise me for my birthday.



Kamber and Trevor (my future brother-in-law). They came with us to dinner at PF Changs, a Chinese restaurant. It was delicious. I really need to work on using chopsticks though.
PS I have a picture of us in front with the stone horse and also a picture of me turning bright red after they sang to me, but once again my computer is not working with me so the pictures would be sideways, but I can add them anyway.