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!