Inky

Yes, that is ink on my hand, but no, I didn't write hard enough for it to explode in my hand. I just happened to write a little without realizing that it had exploded in my bag. Then, because I didn't want to get distracted by leaving this little section of the library, I tried to clean it off with hand sanitizer. Just because this might happen to you, let me just forewarn you that this doesn't work. And ink gets EVERYWHERE! Not only was it all over my hands but there were smears all over my papers, on other pens, and my headphones. Because of the last one I ended up with some ink in my ears. Not to mention the ink smeared on my face. What an adventure, a nice distraction from my paper. I can't help but wonder what the guy at the checkout counter was thinking when I kept coming back for hand sanitizer, each time with a little more ink smeared on my face.

I am getting so close to the end of the semester (only 3 early morning finals, one take home final, and one/two papers left) which means lots of studying and writing. I am not sure if I have ever spent so much time in a library in my whole life. There have been a few days that I leave 28 (my apartment) at 7:30 and don't get back to 28 until midnight. Today (a Saturday!) I left at 8:45 and am not quite sure when I will be getting back, maybe 10 or 11? But honestly I don't mind. It's not like I have had more to do (ok maybe I do), I just found that I get a whole lot more done while I am tucked away in a quiet place in the library.

(countdown til the end of the semester & the end of finals til April)

I decided to start a countdown at work with a ridiculously long title. I guess I should have taken a more recent picture because there are less than 10 days left!

Christmas is just around the corner...

Kid History - Episode 7 (Christmas) - by BoredShortsTV

I am not sure how popular Kid History is, but I thought I would share. "Christmas is a magical time of joy and wonder...Like you wonder when you are gonna get to open presents." This has so much truth to the thoughts that kids have I just love it!

Final Stretch

Hopefully this is really all that I have up until finals...but there always seems to be something that I forget to write down. I am literally stretching myself! I am running on three hours of sleep for the second day in a row. Hopefully I can get a few things done at the library today so that I can get to bed at a decent time and really enjoy my Sabbath tomorrow. Tomorrow at 6pm Mountain standard time(Utah time)is the Christmas Devotional given by the First Presidency (President Thomas S. Monson, Henry B. Eyring, and Dieter F. Uchtdorf). My roommates and I are planning on going up to Salt Lake to Temple square to look at the lights and watch it. I cannot wait! Hopefully the weather doesn't try to stop those plans.

Time Out

(Cindy Pennington, Natalie Pennington, Sheri Dew, Karee Brown, Hannah Rackham, Emily Baer, Breanne Anderson)

Life is busy! Life as a college student, life as a friend, life as a daughter. Though some of my roles are not quite as pressing at this point in my life, I still need to take some time out and to be still. Time Out for Women, is one of these such opportunities. This year the theme was "Choose to Become: Discover your possibilities." This amazing weekend of learning, music and fun is put on by Deseret Book. For those of you who do not know about Deseret Book, it is a LDS (Latter-day Saint) owned and operated book company that I hope to someday write for. This weekend I was able to hear a few really inspiring talks about happiness, beauty, love, friendship and more. All of the lessons that I learned were things I really want to apply to my life and am going to share within the next few weeks.

What Mom should know

( I just love the trees in the background!!)

I am now almost finished with my first semester of my sophomore year, it's hard to be believe how fast it has flown by. I normally talk to my mom at least twice a day (depending on the day, but sometimes more). But I was thinking that it would be nice to share with all of you who I don't talk with quite as much, a little about what I have been up to.

10. Don't worry!!! I don't have a boyfriend...not that that is really bothering me, that's just one of those things that Mom (and Dad) would be concerned about, right?


(Mike Davis, who took me to this beautiful scene. We went rode four-wheelers, hiked, rode paddle boats, skipped rocks, and had a picnic. He let me drive a couple of times and I have to say it was kind of scary at first, but he thought I was pretty good.)

9. I have been keeping really busy with 16 credits and 20 hours of work. I am enjoying my new job as an assistant accountant. It has been nice to switch to an indoor job right as it was getting cold. I really enjoy the people that I work with and sitting in front of a computer hasn't been too bad. I am learning so much about how to run different programs (call me a nerd) and I actually like it.

8. I am not so sure about my major... I really enjoy writing, but not so sure I like literature.


(Halloween party...Yeah I am with Lady Gaga!)

7. I am wanting to write books or even be an editor. I am planning on interviewing the CEO of prestigious company called Deseret Book to see if I would like to work in that field.



6. I am keeping my grades up for the most part.

5. I am trying to not stay up too late. OK so maybe I am not trying too hard because I am planning on staying here in the second floor of the library til midnight.


(Thank you Hannah and Natalie!!)

4. I have wonderful friends who are looking after me. Two of which surprised me on my birthday with a sign and breakfast! Later my roommates throw me a "surprise" birthday party. They are so great! I am trying pretty hard to keep branching out and making new friends.



3. I am currently serving on the Compassionate Service Committee at church. This isn't as time consuming as my last calling as second counselor in the Relief Society, but it is what I make of it. For those of you who aren't quite as familiar with the Relief Society (I really didn't know much about the Compassionate Service Committee myself) I work with a group of four other girls to plan different activities for the girls in my ward. I have been put in charge of the different challenges each week. This week the challenge was to write a missionary, of which I need to do myself. We are also designing a system of "Tattle telling" that if someone knows of a need of a girl we are going to anonymously leave a note. So if there is a girl who is sick (but wouldn't tell anyone) her roommate would leave a note telling us and we would arrange for someone to take her soup or something.

2. I have had so many homesick moments and am looking forward to Christmas break. It is hard to think that the kids are growing up without me. And I often feel left out because I keep hearing about all the fun things that you are doing without me. BUT I like it! So don't stop.

1. I am going to Arizona for Thanksgiving!!! Why? A boy! Well I do have family there, in fact, that aunt is my only connection to this boy, well young man, she is setting me up. I don't know much about him... not even his name, but I know he is tall, blonde, and smart. He will be heading off to dental school in the Spring. I guess we will just have to see how it goes. I will have three or four days to go on dates and get to know him, not to mention Thanksgiving dinner which my aunt has so conveniently set up for me. (She is so nice!)

Mom and Dad, I hope that you are proud of me. Proud of what I have done and where I am right now. I am trying my best! I love you!

Gabbi Gator

Meet Gabbie the Gator, my new co-worker. I have worked for BYU landscaping for a week and a day and already this Gator and I have a history. We have developed a love-hate relationship.



It goes a little like this: Gabbi is kind enough to let other workers, such as myself, ride speedily along within the stadium and the practice fields. Sometimes she likes to buck her passengers around, especially the person sitting in the back on her flatbed. To me she likes to bounce me back and forth and bruise my back. One day she ran over my foot and I got right back at her by running her side into a gate...later that day she proved that she had the upper hand by "running out of battery" as I was spreading seed. But we made up with some quality driving time making me feel quite confident in my newly developed ability to drive stick.

So far work is going great. I am finally as tan as I should have been on the second day of summer! Just in time for the winter to set in right? Ok, I still have about a month before the first snow. And hopefully, because I have to shovel snow, it won't be a very cold and snowy fall. As for now, I have the simple duties of: pulling weeds, sweeping under the cement around the stadium field, spreading seeds, patching up torn up grass on the practice fields, spreading sand on uneven parts of the field, and my personal favorite... stomping on all the stadium seats to scare away bees so that I could spray them. Overall a very exciting job.

Morning Ramblings

Is it normal for food to be the first thing on my mind when I wake up? I always hear how guys love food, "The way to a man's heart is through his stomach." So why do I, a girl, think about food so much?

Breakfast. First and most important meal of the day, so choose wisely! Growing up I would have my option mostly made for me. Sometimes it was hot cereal (oatmeal, Malt O'Meal, cracked wheat etc.), or cold cereal (non-sugary only. Cheerios, Rice Chex, Bran Flakes, Rice Krispies, and occasionally Honey Bunches of Oats). Some days my mom would make pancakes or waffles served with warm syrup. She might make eggs, cooked to each of her seven children and husband's desires. I liked it when she made egg burritos. There is something about tortillas that I just love. And then there were the "I am too late for anything days" in which case we would grab a bagel and go. These days were not my favorite because bagels never seem to satisfy my morning hungers.

I guess it's a good thing to have so many options, I mean it is the most important meal, right? But even for an avid "Breakfast Lover" I find the options to be a little overwhelming at times. Have you seen how many different kinds of cold cereal there is to choose from now? And most of them are just sugar and not very filling. I like to stick to the basic oatmeal on weekdays. A friend showed me how to make it in a cup so that I can take my breakfast with me in the morning and eat on my way to school. It's a great way to start the morning because it keeps me satisfied til lunch. I can add as much or as little sugar as I want. It's perfect! Just for me!

A common trend coming up short

The Brigham Young University Campus is beautiful and full of people from places all over the world. As I walk around I pass so many people who's stories are mysteries to me and sometimes I am curious and want to know those people behind the faces. Know where they are from, what kind of family they come from, and what they like to do. I want to get to know them and at least reach the "friend" status on Facebook. Of course there are a few guys that catch my eye and make me wish that I was brave enough to ask their name or "accidentally" run into them. But in my surveying of the different people on campus, I have noticed a common trend... There are a lot of shorter guys.


For some this is not a problem, especially those girls of average height, and really height shouldn't be an incredibly important factor. However, ask any girl taller than 5'6" or so, and she will tell you that being taller than the guy is a little weird. I am 5' 8", and when I can see over a guys head I find it a little odd. Not that I don't want to get to know that guy or be his friend, because I am always looking for more friends, but as far as going a beyond the friend status... well let's just say that it is hard for me to see myself with a guy who's shoulders are lower than mine or worse...at my elbows!

I am pretty sure I am not the only girl that has this opinion. And for some the natural response might be to slouch a little. In fact, I recently read an article written by Sheri Dew, by the age of 12, had reached the height of 5' 10". She recounts her twelve year old self as a "social disaster." Though she wanted to slouch so as to not stand out as much, her mom counseled and urged her to "Stand up straight." She then goes on to encourage women to stand up for their beliefs even if it is not common or even popular. I really enjoyed this article and learned so much from her insights. I know that not ever girl has to worry about being taller than the next guy, but this article has something for everyone and I encourage you to read it. (Stand Tall and Stand Together)



"No woman is a more vibrant instrument in the hands of the Lord than a woman of God who is thrilled to be who she is." ~Sheri Dew

Searching, searching...

(A view of Down town Salt Lake City from Ensign Peak)
So far I have been on two hikes since coming back to Utah. That's two more than all of last year so I guess I am off to a good active start.

Tomorrow marks the second week I have been back, but it doesn't feel like I have been here that long. I am so luck to have my sister and her husband, Trevor, who have graciously opened up their spare room for me to stay until I am able to move into my apartment. It is, however, a long commute by bus from Holladay to Provo. Five hours round trip if I am lucky enough to catch an express bus. Believe it or not all of the commuting and the job searching is really wearing me out. I would have never guessed that travel could make me so tired? I can't help, but wonder how much easier things would be if I had brought my car...

Other than job searching like a chicken with her head cut off and trying to get used to the altitude, I don't feel like I have done too much, which is a little depressing because at the end of the day I still don't have a job and I am just another day closer to school starting and the list of things to pay for is just building. I have decided that it doesn't matter as much what the job is, but having one that is important. I have a few calls to make and a few emails to send out (actually what I was supposed to be doing before I got distracted) and hopefully something works out.



(My ponytail that hopefully will be much enjoyed by a little girl)
Kamber helped me out with this one... the day after I arrived I mentioned that I have been wanting to donate my hair to Lock Of Love. She grabbed her bag and went to work. I didn't cry! But I am still trying to get used to the short hair.

Well I suppose it's time for me to get back to the job search...

Three Bags, two tickets, one passenger

1:05am Fall asleep
2:08am Wake up
2:16am Dressed and eating a half a PBJ (Breakfast)
2:35am Fill up the car with gas and grab some powdered donettes
2:43am On the road, try to catch some sleep
4:03am Realize the flight was at 6, not 6:30 (increase in speed)
5:20am First lightning flashes
5:26am Down pour of rain and almost constant lightning, plus some hail (dramatic decrease in speed, very scared!!)
5:52am Arrive at airport, quick goodbyes, rush in to check back
5:54am Too late, nice man at the counter gave me tickets for a new flight leaving at 2:30pm.
6:35am Find a few things for breakfast and lunch at a grocery store.
7:20am Ride airport shuttle bus with Kelcey and Klarie. Got complements on how much "my children" looked just like me.
8:45am In Independence, MO at the visitor's center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
10:02am Say last goodbyes and get hugs
10:03-2:29pm Sitting alone at airport, snacking, wandering, reading a good book
2:59-3:15pm* Up in the air, trying to sleep
4:30-7:02pm* In the clouds, above the mountains reading a fantastic book
7:12pm Officially in Utah reunited with my bags waiting for brother-in-law
*Time changes made the trip look shorter

This was not my original plan on getting back to school (I was supposed to drive), actually I am not sure if any of my plans went the way that they were supposed to, but just like the change of flight, things happen and plans change. I know that everything happens for a reason, but I am still trying to figure out why I ended up on the flight that I did. I will probably never know.

A Forever Family

I have been doing some summer cleaning and found a few family pictures over the years. I had a few laughs at some of the weird years. But its pretty cool to see how our family has grown and changed throughout the years.

"In a world of turmoil and uncertainty, it is more important than ever to make our families the center of our lives and the top of our priorities. Families lie at the center of our Heavenly Father’s plan." Elder L. Tom Perry

"The family. We were a strange little band of characters trudging through life sharing diseases and toothpaste, coveting one another's desserts, hiding shampoo, borrowing money, locking each other out of our rooms, inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant, loving, laughing, defending, and trying to figure out the common thread that bound us all together." Erma Bombeck

"It is imperative that you not neglect your families. Nothing you have is more precious...When all is said and done, it is this family relationship which we will take with us into the life beyond." President Gordon B. Hinckley

I have a fam’ly here on earth.
They are so good to me.
I want to share my life with them through all eternity.

Fam’lies can be together forever
Through Heav’nly Father’s plan.
I always want to be with my own family,
And the Lord has shown me how I can.
The Lord has shown me how I can.

While I am in my early years,
I’ll prepare most carefully,
So I can marry in God’s temple for eternity.

Fam’lies can be together forever
Through Heav’nly Father’s plan.
I always want to be with my own family,
And the Lord has shown me how I can.
The Lord has shown me how I can.

Children’s Songbook, Families Can Be Together Forever, 188

Lessons of life...

taught by three year olds:
If you fall you will get your fingers stepped on.
Hope up, brush it off, and move on.
It is good to be friends with people who are bigger than you.
Love yourself.
Share a wish with someone special.
Kisses make everything better.
Everyday find time to stop and pick a flower for a friend.
Remember to always tell someone you love them, even if they are upset.

All good things that come to an end with tears

I am no longer a Freshman. I just finished my last two finals today. I cannot believe the year has gone by as quickly as it has. Leaving to go back home is bitter sweet.

I am not going to miss: all those stairs at the RB (no matter how much time you take to climb up them, you will be out of breath), grocery shopping with my own money, cooking for one, having to climb up into bed and hitting my head on the ceiling when I wake up, being away from my family, not having a dog to protect me, climbing up three flights of stairs when I am super tired, doing my laundry at a laundry mat, not having a car and having to rely on others when I need to get somewhere, wearing holes in my shoes because I walk so much, having to call to talk to my family and not having their full attention when I am talking to them, not being able to sing along with the radio in my car, not having kids around, food not sounding good because all I want is my mom's homemade dinners, cramming for tests,

I am going to miss: BYU's beautiful campus (Flowers are just starting to bloom), the mountains topped with snow, BYU's environment of kind people who share my same standards, being able to make new friends anywhere, being able to make food to make others feel better, throwing newspapers up stairwells, making funny faces and waving like crazy out our kitchen window to our neighbors in the building next to us, random adventures going no where in particular, fun events that are located in close proximity, being so close to friends, being able to serve in the relief society presidency in the 94th ward with the most inspiring leaders, Bishop and Sister Davis who have become my parents away from home, the sidewalks that you can take to get anywhere, quick runs to the Creamery to get ice cream with friends, running to the temple with Hannah and Natalie, having so many friends that I can always have someone with me, knowing I have someone to talk to when everything else is going bad/having a total support system of friends who are always willing to comfort me and bring me chocolate let me cry and whine about my "troubles", living within 30ft. of some of the most amazing inspiring dedicated loving friends that I have ever had, I am really going to miss all of the people that I have come to love and all the fun times we have shared together.

I am sure that there are some things that I have missed that I realize how much I will miss when I pull out of the parking lot in a car full of my things...tears streaming down my face, memories of the past flooding my mind.

I may be gimpy, but I am going to be a buff gimp

(yes it was very cold and wet and cold, but so worth it!)

A visit with the doctor, a knee massage, and 4 x-rays later the doctor still wasn't able to tell me exactly what is wrong with my knee so I get to have another appointment this Friday. This time with a specialist (I thought I was seeing the specialist this first time...oh well). For now I am left to hobble around on crutches, which are not the funnest when you walk almost everywhere you go... and school is a campus full of people, stairs, and snow.

Regardless of my "gimpiness" I had a FANTASTIC weekend! I drove up to Salt Lake City with Hannah Rackham (who was the reason I made it through the weekend because she was constantly catering to my needs and making sure I was comfortable and not in pain. So thanks HJR!) We attended General Conference for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I was amazed by how much was said that was just what I needed to hear. Including a talk by, Elder Kent F. Richards about pain (imagine that). I am sure I will be blogging about some of my favorites.

As for here and now, I am going to crutch over to the Wilkinson building to see if lost and found has my phone. It would appear that I need a crutch for my brain because I am being forgetful and scatter-brained. Hopefully a long summer will be the cure, but I have 5 papers and 4 finals before that comes...wish me luck!

I think I will just get fat

Monday started my third week of being fit and running 2 miles a day with ab workout and extra leg work (lunges and squats). I don't think that I have ever been so motivated to run. It might be that I have two faithful running buddies. After a nice weekend I started Monday like any other, a little bitter, that just happens on Monday, right? Then out of no where my knee started to feel quite funny. Now I am flat on my back icing my knee. I have been limping around for a few days and my knee is kinda elephant-looking. I haven't wanted to stop running because if I stop I am afraid I won't be able to start again, but maybe this injury is a sign that I need to stop all exercise and become FAT! I guess I will see tomorrow.

Numbers on the clock

On September 11th 2001, the lives of many Americans changed. I am not sure that my life necessarily changed that day, other than the fact that I became aware of the fact that America wasn't the big invincible country that I had always assumed. But as I have grown and have learned more and more about the terrorist attack it has had a bigger impact on my life. The "image" that I chose is one that I see quite frequently, a clock that reads 9:11. It is strange how I always seem to glance at a clock only to see 9:11. The numbers, when on a digital clock, seem to beam brighter and say remember. My mind then floods with the images that I saw on the news that terrible day. The faces full of fear and confusion, the billowing clouds of smoke, and the broken towers. When I read 9:11 on the clock, I always seem to stop for a minute as I remember the shock and the sadness that I felt as though I am back in time watching the news reply those shocking scenes over and over in my head. I know that as a child, I wasn't able to fully grasp what was happening other than the fact that people were dying and it was sad. But the memories of what I saw that day on the news and the numbers 911 mean so much more to me and will forever hold a special place in my heart.

Rent a Tattoo?

This is actually more like what really happens at a four hour review session...
(We made tattoos for each other and then needed a sign for marketing, so we used our textbook. And yes we spelled tattoo wrong, I am not sure why, but we did).



Four straight hours is a long time for a bunch of college students to sit and try to listen to a teacher's assistant jog the memories of the students in an American Heritage class. Lucky for me, I have a very entertaining roommate who came with me. We were also very lucky to have a roll of tape on the table with us. We took advantage of that and started to make funny little tattoos for each other. (We were staying occupied and quiet so that was good.) Chelsea's tattoo was a heart with "Karee" written inside. (I was going after those ones that say "I love mom" that you see all those "tough guys" on their log of an arm.)



After the tattoo business slowed down, we broke out the food and found more fun.



Chelsea thought the cookies looked like a Mexican wearing a sombrero so of course we had to make him a face. I am sure the other people at out table thought that we were strange or just sleep deprived.



As the semester is coming to an end, I have seen an increase in the amount of sleepy student. I am ready to be done with school for the summer, but not sure I am ready to leave all my new friends.

Sticky notes of love

I am just amazed by the tender mercies of our Heavenly Father. He knew I was having a hard time and He knew what I needed to get through.



Whoever these cream colored sticky note people were, are such kind and caring people who I am glad to know. They not only decorated my door with sticky notes of encouragement and love but they also left me some cookies that are delicious!

I am not sure exactly why they wrote some of the things that they did, but all of them put a smile on my face and the warm fuzzy feeling of being loved.



I am not sure who put the post-its on my door and I am sure they will never know how much the little words of encouragement meant to me, but it sure brightened my gloomy mood.











I wish I would have gotten a picture of the door when I opened it, because it looked pretty amazing. But I didn't want any of them to blow away in the wind so I hurriedly grabbed them all and brought a huge stack inside. I taped all the post-its inside my cabinet door (they will later be taped into my journal) to remind me how lucky and loved I am here! This is certainly what I needed to bounce back from a sad homesickness! I wish I could find out who it was that did this for me because I would like to give them each a big bear hug and a cookie!

Camping for a contract

Call us crazy, but we decided that we wanted to be the first to get a contract... so the obvious solution was to camp out three days before the contracts opened.



I am not sure who's idea it was to try to get into a competitive housing contract, but because we are we decided that we should camp out. "So wait, you are going to be homeless so that you can get an apartment?" Is a question that I have been asked when a friend found out about our plan. Basically.



I haven't even seen the inside of the apartments, but the outside looks pretty ghetto. I guess that is what I should expect for a college apartment that is so close to campus right? I am sure it will be great. But as for right now I am trying to get my self prepared for tonight when it is my night to sleep over... it is supposed to snow!

My Mommy Valentine

My wonderful daughter-
it's Valentine's Day
and these are my wishes for you...
I'm wishing that in the midst
of your busy life,
you can take a moment to relax
and enjoy your family and friends
who think so much of you.
I'm wishing you time
to look back on days passed
and realize what a difference
you make in so many lives.
And, I'm wishing you the excitement
of looking ahead
to all the good things
that are waiting for you
in the future.
Because your happiness
means so much to me,
I'm also hoping that you'll realize
what a gift you are
to everyone who is lucky enough
to have you in their lives --
and that includes me.
- P. Conrad

I love you Mom!

Missing Mommy

I feel as the distance between my mom and I has grown, we have grown closer together. I call her almost everyday. Most of the time, we just casually talk as I walk home or as she is making dinner. Sometimes I have to call her to get recipes because she is a really good cook. Other times I call her to vent when things aren't quite going my way. But really it is having there to talk to that makes the biggest difference. I am not sure she knows how much I enjoy our, sometimes short, phone conversations. And I think that I may take them for granted sometimes, but on days like today when I call her four or five times and every time I hang up knowing that I have the best mom in the world. And I would be lucky if I could be half the woman, wife, and mother that she is.

What I am up to...

A friend said that she wanted to know what I have been up to lately because we haven't spoken in a while. I haven't talked with a few people lately because I really have been busy. Firstly, school...

I am taking 16 credit hours which just so happens to be six classes. My schedule is as follows: Mon- 9am-American Heritage, 10- ENGL 295 (literary criticism), 11- ENGL 251 (I am not really sure what this class is called to be honest; I just looked at the syllabus and it doesn't say.)
Tue- 9am- Book of Mormon part 2, 10-MUSC 113 (Piano!), 11-Devotional (this is not a class, but I try to make it mandatory for myself.) Then Britta and I go SWKT golfing.
Wed-same as Monday. But Chelsea (my roommate) and I go early and buy a bagel before American Heritage.
Thurs- same as Tuesday except for the devotional.
Fri- 8am!-American Heritage lab, 10-EGNL 295, 11- ENGL 251.
So I guess I don't have that much to do as far a school goes, but then I have...

A new calling at church. (We are asked, by the bishop, the one who leads the ward/congregation, to serve in various positions.) I was asked to be the second counselor in the Relief Society presidency. This means that I help the president look after the girls and make sure they are all doing alright and I will teach a few lessons on different Sundays. Also, as the second counselor it is my responsibility to plan (with a small committee) various activities. It just so happens that the first activity is tomorrow. At first it looked like the date of the activity was going to have to be pushed back, but miraculously things all worked out and the activity is going to take place as planned (actually a day early). But it was by no means my doing. I am really excited because we are having a guest speaker come and speak about finding our inner beauty. I coordinated a brief dinner before the activity for the presidency, the bishop and his wife, and the speaker, who happens to be the mom of one of the girls. Along with the planning of the activity I decided to make some cookies for desert. Thankfully, Hannah, the secretary in the Relief Society presidency, offered to help me make two different kinds of cookies this afternoon...

This picture actually makes it look like the cookie doesn't taste so yummy, but it was just kind of hot. We ended up eating a few too many I am afraid. Tomorrow, Brooke, my roommate, and I will be making some fruity pebble crispy things and Peanut butter Cheese Brownie Babes (which are little peanut butter cheesecakes on top of brownies). I also am going to attempt to make meatballs to go with the spaghetti for the dinner. I have never really made these meatballs and I probably shouldn't be experimenting for this dinner, but it just worked out that way...so I guess we will see how it goes.

I have found that I am a lot more comfortable because I know more people. We are starting to make some plans and hopefully we go through with them. For example, yesterday we organized a small flash mob. We all decided that at ward prayer (a little Sunday activity where we all get together; someone shares a talent, then there is a spiritual thought, and then we all kneel down and someone prays just like we are a big family and we are at home). It actually turned out pretty good, sorry no pictures or videos. What happened was one person jumped up out of no where and called out the first line of a little kids' song, "I looked out the window and what did I see?" then the rest of us, who had scattered ourselves out among the group, jumped up and sang, "popcorn popping on the apricot tree." This makes perfect sense to a group of people who grew up singing the song, but I guess it sounds a little odd to someone who has never heard the song. We did get an applause though, which was pretty exciting. I think we might have started something new... we will see.

I am also trying to get a little ahead in my school work because I am flying home for two days this week! I am so excited to see my family again and to spend a little time at home even if it is just two days. I can't wait to give some hugs and see how much everyone has grown since the month that I last saw them.

A date with grandpa

I am so blessed to have family here in Utah while I am away from home at school. Trying to set up time to spend with them is really hard. My sweet grandpa asked me out on a date. It was so kind of him to think about me and to drive an hour to Provo to come see me. We had a nice lunch followed by a nice tour of campus. I showed him around all the new buildings (well new as in they weren't there when he went attended the school) and he told me about what BYU was like when he was a student. I learned that he wants to take some art classes and become a better painter (I didn't even know that he painted), that he worked in the administration building when he was a student and that he has really pretty blue eyes. He is such a kind caring man and I am proud to call him my grandpa!