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