Joy to the World

Merry (late) Christmas!! My mom was sort of sad that I didn't post yesterday and told me I should, even though I'm living at home and she knows what I'm doing...oh well.  Maybe someone else besides her reads this too xD

So, obviously, my parents did make it back safely (3:00 am Monday morning but safe enough...) Thanks to them, I have now officially been on vacation.  Staying up late (mostly Skyping to friends in California.  The 3 hour time difference is kinda lame) followed by sleeping in way later than necessary (10:00 at the earliest, 1:00 at the latest).  This last week has actually been a huge blur.  It really seems like the only thing I did was sleep, clean and pack my room, mess around on my computer and hang out with the family.  But that's not a bad way to spend vacation :)

I guess I did do a few "exciting" things this week...I went to the annual Christmas party for my group of friends and I went to early morning seminary (it was just like nothing had changed :)

Decorating cookies at the Christmas party

Me and Kelly being Kelly ;)

Typical Seminary: Food (today it happened to be ice cream) and no one paying attention!

On Christmas Adam (aka Christmas Eve Eve)/Festivus (depending on what you celebrate), I had a baking and hanging out day with my sister and mom.  We made chocolate cake, an assortment of muffins, sugar cookies and Hannah and I decorated gingerbread houses.  It was a really fun day.  I loved spending time with my sister.  She's super crazy but what else can you expect from a seven year old?

The DELICIOUS muffins we made :-d

The front door of my gingerbread house.

Bridger and his Festivus pole

Me with my cookies :)

Christmas Eve we did our traditional reading of Christ's birth from Luke 2 followed by opening pajamas from our parents, then running to various bathrooms and bedrooms to change.  Next we congregate back in the family room to open one more present.  After the second round of presents, we kids sit down and watch A Christmas Story on TV.  The four of us all sleep together in our basement family room on Christmas Eve night.  As we sleep my dad sets up "traps" for us (usually pots and pans connected to a string connected to the door handle so that they make noise when we try to come upstairs).  This year, we almost made it all the way upstairs without a peep because we disarmed the traps! Then Hunter kicked a pot and it fell down the stairs waking up our parents.  After the traditional jumping on the bed to wake my parents up, we line up at their bedroom door from youngest to oldest and march out to the family room to see what Santa brought us and to open the rest of our presents.  

My Christmas was fantastic this year.  I think my favorite three presents were a new digital camera, a waffle iron (now the Breakfast Club can have waffles! Yes, that really was my first thought as I opened it ), and I also got a new pair of boots that are super cozy and warm :)  I loved spending the day with my family just relaxing and hanging out.

Church was wonderful.  I love my home ward in Marquette, we are really one big family and it is awesome :)  I got to play piano in nursery this week and the kids were extra sweet.  I then spent the rest of the day reading (it was WONDERFUL! I can't remember the last time I did that).  I helped de-decorate my house and we had a family cancel (not council, but a cancel, long story...) After our family cancel, I Skyped my friend from California which was also wonderful.

I woke up this morning and went to breakfast with the girls from my ward who are back from college and their moms.  It was really fun.  We were loud and obnoxious but if you know the group of us you wouldn't expect any less.  After breakfast I came home and read again, followed by shopping with my mom and sister.  Then our family, including Maggie my puppy, went to get pictures taken.  It went by quick and wasn't too painful ;) After we dropped the dog off at home, we went out to dinner at my favorite restaurant, Casa Calabria.  Now, I am in a food coma and don't want to do anything but my room is in need of serious work...

The former Young Women of the Marquette Ward :)

Finals and Family

Oh what a crazy and relaxing week this has been.

This is what happens during finals!

Monday I took THREE finals! I took Book of Mormon and Physical Science before noon :D Then later in the afternoon, I took my Child Development exam.  Monday night was wrapped up with a white elephant gift exchange for part one of FHE followed by going over to a bishopric member's house for FHE with another family.  After we got back I stayed up until 1:30 studying for American Heritage.

Tuesday I woke up and studied a few more hours for American Heritage, then I went and bombed it :P Oh well, it was my last exam and I was over it.  I spent the rest of the afternoon packing and the evening hanging out with a few friends before my grandparents picked me up to stay at their house for the night.

Wednesday I woke up at 5:00 am to two texts from my littlest brother saying how excited he was that I was coming home that evening.  My grandpa took me to the airport and I got on my plane and waited for an hour while they de-iced the plane.  I landed in Detroit and found my mom who also had a layover there at the same time.  After I got to my gate I talked to Jordan before getting on the plane to fly home to Marquette! I flew home and was greeted at the airport by my friends, Meagan, Maria, Dilaine, and Nichole :D We went to Jilbert's to get some ice cream and then I went to watch Hannah at her swim practice.

Here is the sign that my mommy left for me

Hunter and I :)

 Thursday I got the siblings off to school then slept until noon (jet lag and I do not get along well.  It usually takes me 3-4 days before I get used to a time change) and I played the piano for a bit.  After picking them up from school, I went with Hannah and Hunter to see Tangled.  It was super cute :)

Here is my accomplishment of the day.  I relearned "Crush" by David Archuleta

Friday was more of the same.  Hannah had her Candy Cane Olympics for her swim team so my brothers and I went to go watch her swim.  My friend Kelly was also on her team and it was super nice to be able to see him for a few minutes before I left to take Hunter to the Northern v. Tech hockey game.

My little fishy :)

Hunter and I at the hockey game

Saturday was our ward's Christmas party.  It was so fun to catch up with some of my other friends who are off at other schools and just to see the people in my ward :) Marquette definitely is one of the best wards I've EVER been in.

Hannah and I getting ready for the Christmas party

Today I went to church in my home ward.  It was so good to be home! I got asked to play the piano for Primary.  It was so nice to actually play and feel useful again.  I went to go pick up my parents at the airport but their flight got canceled.  Now they are figuring out something to do to get home.  Hopefully I'll see them tomorrow!

Four Words For You Finals: You. Are. Going. Down.

Yup, I'm in the homestretch of my first semester at BYU! Finals start tomorrow!! Gah!!!!

Since I am a slight slacker and am only taking four classes, I am taking three finals on Monday (hopefully) and one on Tuesday and flying home to Marquette Wednesday morning!! I'm super excited :D I'm hoping I will do well on my exams.  I made it through my last week of classes in one piece, now I just need to get through finals.

Over the course of Thursday, Friday, and Saturday I spent close to 15 hours with my good buddy Harold (aka I was in the library being anti-social for the past three days.  I seriously do not know how I still have friends).  I went to the library on Thursday with the hopes of getting a study guide filled out and my reading for my Book of Mormon exam done.  I didn't get everything done but I got most of it done on Thursday at the library.  My friend Jordan came to study with me for an hour or two before our brains were too fried to do much else so we headed over to the Cougareat to grab some dinner (neither one of us were able to function enough to actually cook something back at our dorms).  After letting my brain rest by going to a cookie social for Relief Society, Jordan and I studied some more for Book of Mormon later that night.

Friday I went to a Physical Science review from 10-11 followed by being invited by Emily to go get ice cream.  How could I say no to Creamery ice cream? Especially their peppermint ice cream! YUM!! :-d We proceeded to talk for 2 hours.  That was not what I was planning on doing but it ended up being very good and a nice way to make my brain stop hurting.  Then I was off to set up camp again in the library.  By the time I got home, Heather was just leaving for a concert so I sort of chilled and ate dinner.  Sydney and Alex came over for a chick-flick night.  We watched 27 Dresses while eating lots of chocolate and cookies.  Following the movie we ran outside barefoot in the rain because we were filled with euphoria and on a HUGE sugar high.  We came back in FREEZING and watched Leap Year while eating Graham Canyon ice cream.  After THAT movie we of course had girl talk :) They ended up leaving at like 2:30 in the morning but that's ok because we had fun and it was a good way to let my brain rest (again).

Saturday morning I headed to the library at 10:00! and was there until about 2:00ish.  When I came home, Heather and I were being filmed making Christmas treats and interviewed for a bit that is going to show on BYU-TV (I'll put up the link next week hopefully :) After we cleaned up our destroyed kitchen, we re-arranged it and had a little dance party before our friends Alec, David, Jordan and Emily and their friend Westin came over for a movie/game de-stress night.  Even with all of the guys voting, we ended up watching "She's the Man" It was SO funny! It is even funnier when watching that movie with guys because it is so AWKWARD!! David's comments through the entire thing made it one of the most entertaining nights ever.  After the movie we played a game and everyone left a little before midnight.  It was a wonderful night :)

Today we had our Christmas program for Sacrament meeting and it was super good.  I also taught in Relief Society and apparently did very well.  Sunday School was Sunday School.  Then I had tithing settlement followed by our home teachers coming over followed by dinner while Skyping my family.  Then I went to hall meeting and Ward Prayer followed by a visit from our visiting teachers (can you tell that it is the last Sunday of the semester ;) I Skyped with my dad for a little bit before my friend Alice came over for ice cream.  Then I called my friend Brittony and we talked for a good hour.  Now I'm writing this and will soon be studying a little more for my Book of Mormon exam and going to sleep.

I get to see my brothers and sister in THREE days!! I get to see my parents and my best friend in SEVEN DAYS!! I can't believe I'm so close to going home! I really cannot wait! I just have to make it through these STUPID exams >:-O

Oh well, it's all part of the BYU Experience, right?

Just a Quick, Random Re-Cap

Sorry I didn't write last week but I was not feeling so hot and was so exhausted that I could not stay up to write.

Thanksgiving break was fantastic! I loved spending time with my family :) I ran a 5K and did pretty well considering my ability and the fact that it was 5 degrees when I was running.  I went Black Friday shopping and lost my voice due to the fact that I was out from 11:00pm Thursday night until 5:00am Friday morning.  I could not talk all day Friday or Saturday, and if you know me well you know how hard that must have been for me.  Sunday it snowed! I drove my grandpa's truck down to Provo to attend church in my student ward and then I grabbed my two friends Jordan and David to join me at my family's for Sunday dinner/birthday party for my cousin Madison who turned 12!! It was lots of fun and my family was pretty normal, which was strange...

This week flew by! Monday and Tuesday I did a whole lot of nothing because I was so miserably sick.  I didn't eat voluntarily until Thursday when my stomach actually growled for the first time that week! I was very excited at that fact.  Another thing that made Thursday fantastic was that I got a phone call from a guy and got asked out on a date for Friday night.  So my date on Friday was amazingly fantastic! My date took me to see the Celebration of Christmas which was a concert by the various BYU choirs and the Philharmonic Orchestra.  It was AMAZING! People are so talented and I love watching them share their talents.  My favorite songs were when the orchestra played Sleigh Ride (my favorite Christmas song ever!) and the Women's choir sang Silent Night.  After the concert we went to the Creamery on 9th and got peppermint ice cream.  We were in a very Christmas-y mood as we walked around campus eating our ice cream and just talking.  It was a very fun, nice date :) Saturday I spent a lot of time with Harold (meaning I spent a lot of time in the Harold B. Lee Library) followed by coming home to an empty apartment.  So I hung out with a few friends and had a wonderful evening.  When Heather and I got back to our apartment a little after midnight we decided to have an art party on our kitchen floor until 2:30am.  We then "went to bed" which actually consisted of us lying in our beds in the dark and talking until 5:30am about anything and everything.  Since we were up so late, we slept through our morning meeting :( then I attempted to make rolls for our break the fast and epically failed so we ended up making breadsticks instead and they were quite yummy.  After watching the First Presidency's Christmas Devotional, I Skyped part of my family for a bit before Jordan and David came over for pie.  It was good just to chill and talk with them for an hour or so.  Now I am sitting here typing this wondering how much longer I can keep my eyes open.

This week is my last week of classes! It's even a short week because Friday is a reading day to prepare for exams which means no classes.  The next week is exams and I get to fly home! Since I only have 4 classes, I am taking my exams on the Monday and Tuesday of finals week and then flying home on Wednesday to spend the holidays with my family in Marquette.  When I talked to my sister tonight she was so excited to tell me that it was only 10 more days until I come home! Where has this semester gone?!? It seems like just yesterday it was August and I was starting my first class here at BYU.  It is so crazy how fast time goes by here.  I wish it would slow down just a little bit and that I would take the time to enjoy it a little more.

The Breakfast Club of 18B

My post this week is all about my "family" and our Breakfast Club. My group of friends and I will occasionally get together on Saturday mornings and have breakfast together.  It is so much fun and a wonderful way to spend time together.   My friends are so totally awesome and I love them so much! I was looking back at my journal for this past week to see what exciting happened, and every night I wrote, I wrote about my friends and how amazingly fantastic they are :)

Let's start with my girlies

First in this picture we have Alex.  Alex is such an amazing person.  She was my first friend that I made at BYU.  I met her during Late Summer Honors and we were pretty much inseparable.  Alex has such a strong spirit and I love being around her.  She always says the sweetest things and helps me put my life back into perspective.  Alex has one of the strongest testimonies that I have ever seen: she puts it into action.  Her testimony helps me strengthen my own and I am so grateful to her for that. :)

Next we have Heather.  Heather is pretty much the best roommate in the entire world! She's not really a new friend (we met and became fast friends when we were 14 at Girls Camp) but she still sort of is since now I get to see her every day instead of every few months.  Heather is a very determined person.  She has a plan and knows how to accomplish it.  She is such a role model to me because I want to be a decisive person with goals and plans on how to accomplish those goals.  Heather is so dedicated and passionate about many different things.  She makes me want to find something that I am passionate about too.  It is so amazing to see the effort she puts into the things that she loves.  I want to be able to do that.

After Heather we have Emily.  I met Emily at a dance my first week of the fall semester.  She was so bubbly and happy, you couldn't not like her :) We became great friends very quickly.  I go to devotional with her every week and we have girl talks probably every few weeks.  She has been a HUGE help to me this semester.  If I ever need something I can always go to her.  Emily is one of the sweetest, nicest, most down to earth people you have ever met in your entire life.  She is an amazing photographer and I love what she captures with her camera.  Her pictures have such emotion and thought in them, it is amazing.  She is doing this thing where she takes a picture every day for a year and posts them with some sort of quote that goes along with the photograph.  It is such a neat idea that I am stealing it and will begin on January 1, 2011 I love Emily so much and am so glad that she is a part of my life.

Last, but most definitely not least, we have Sydney.  Sydney is roommates with Alex and I met her at Late Summer Honors as well.  Her, Alex, and I were inseparable during that week and made some pretty fantastic memories.  I love Sydney so much! We are so similar that whenever I am having a rough time or something is going on in my life, I know that I can talk to her because she is going through or has gone through the exact same thing.  We are so similar that I swear we had to have been separated at birth or something.  Sydney is such a caring individual and can always make me smile.  Wether it's one of her stories or her singing to me, she knows just what to do.  Probably my favorite thing about Sydney is that when she sits next to me in any sort of meeting, she will take my notebook and write sweet little notes to me.  They really do mean a lot.  One of my favorite notes that she has written to me was a day after I was feeling pretty sick.   "Meagan! I hope you are feeling better :) I love talking to you.  Never forget you are a daughter of God.  He loves you. (and I love you too)"

My girls are fantastic.  I can talk to any one of them about anything and they always know just what to say.  I love them so much and we most definitely have a special bond.  I am so glad for their examples; they make me want to be better every day.

My girls are so amazing but my guys are pretty awesome too :)

First up we have Alec.  Alec was my first guy friend that I met at BYU.  He is friends with Alex and one night when she and Sydney came over they brought Alec and we have been friends ever since.  Alec is awesome and is always willing to help.  There have been many times when either Heather or I have called him for help and he is always right over and willing to do whatever.  Alec is a lot of fun to be around.  I enjoy sitting next to him in my American Heritage class.  I am very entertained whenever that happens and he makes the class go by way faster :)

David is probably one of my closest friends at BYU.  We met at the same dance that I met Emily at.  One of the first things I noticed about David was that he was such a gentleman.  He opens doors for all of us girls and is always very nice to all of us :) He is also super smart.  It makes me happy that I have someone who appreciates geeky humor as much as I do.  David is also one of the most helpful people I have ever met.  I can't even count the number of times that he has walked me home from the library when it is dark (it's a long scary walk by yourself from the library to the dorms)  David also goes to devotional every week with Emily and I.  One of the greatest things us girls like to do is sandwich David.  It's pretty much the best thing ever ;)

Oh, Jordan.  That pretty much describes him.  Jordan is one of my favorite people in the entire world.  He is roommates/cousins with Alec and he was the second guy friend I made at BYU.  We met when Heather and I invited Alex, Sydney, Alec and "his roommate" over for dinner our first Sunday at the Y.  Jordan is such an amazing guy.  I talk to him about anything and everything.  He is always willing to come over if Heather or I need someone to talk to.  Jordan is crazy and goofy but is still serious when he needs to be.  He is such a wonderful friend and I don't know what I would do without him.

The best thing about all of my guys is that they hold the Priesthood and are planning on serving missions.  Both of which are so amazing to me.  I love how they worthily hold the Priesthood and are willing to use it.  They are able to do things for me that I cannot do for myself.  I love how they are willing to serve the Lord for two years.  I'm so proud of them and the three of them are such an example to me.  I do not know what I would do if I hadn't met a single one of them.  My life would be much different and I would have gone home a long time ago.

I have also made other friends at the Y too but these seven people that I have written about I spend the most time with and have the most memories with.  We have a very special friendship and I am so grateful to call them my friends.  

"It's Times Like These That You Need a Good Umbrella or a Boyfriend"

This is the advice that I got from my Book of Mormon professor on Monday after Heather and I walked into class dripping wet from the lovely rain :P In addition to the rain, I had a minor heart attack on Monday when I realized that an hour before my class, I had forgotten to print my 8 page paper that was due that day.  Heather was in class so I could not get her printer to work so I tried using the campus printer.  I downloaded the program but I could not get it to print.  I tried Heather's printer again and got it to work! It printed at 3:47 pm and I need to leave my dorm at 3:40 to get to class and still be early enough to get a good seat...I think others were having problems with their papers because I got there with 3 minutes until class started and I still sat in my regular seat :D Later that night for FHE our "family" went to the Bean Museum. 

Heather and our brother Tyler and Sasha the Liger

Me with my favorite animal :)

This is a Black Bear in the Brown Phase

Yes, I really was as grossed out as I look in this picture

Tuesday at Devotional I was told by David that I should practice the piano.  I actually listened to him because it has literally been a month at least since I last played.  I always forget how much I love the piano.  I actually played 3 or 4 times this week! I was pretty proud of myself :)  I also tutored again at the local high school.  It made me even more sure that I want to teach elementary school and not high school.  It also snowed in the middle of the day while it was blue skies and sunny.  It sort of reminded me of the randomness of the weather back in Marquette...Later that night I helped my friend Meagan with her math homework via Skype.  It was fun, as dorky as that sounds.  It made me consider taking a math class for a minute, and ONLY for a minute ;)

Wednesday nothing much happened.  It was Fiesta Night at the Central Building so Heather and I went over to Snow Hall and grabbed David and Alec to head over for food and salsa dancing...we only ate because we are lame xD After we ate, David went with Heather and I to the Creamery for Heather to do her grocery shopping.  David walked us back to our dorm and on the way over there were two guys that were running past us.  As they ran by, one of them did a front handspring thing and continued running.  David said, "That was for you ladies." Thanks for the clarification ;) Hahaha

Thursday I had a lovely date with Harold (aka I spent a good chunk of the afternoon in the Harold B. Lee Library on campus) followed by an RA meeting.  I'm considering being an RA next year.  I think it would be a great job for me.  I'm even thinking about being an RA for Spring/Summer terms followed by Fall/Winter semesters.  Since I don't have any other plans for a summer job, I might as well stay here and go to school along with working.  The new application comes out tomorrow so we'll see what happens.

Friday night Heather and I along with her friend Robert went to the Men's basketball opener.  It was super fun and I really got into the game but I warned Heather beforehand that that is what I tend to do.  We totally dominated and it was awesome :)  While we were there we saw Jordan working so we stopped to say hi.

Saturday was quite the day.  We started out by sleeping in very late (10:00 for me and 11:00 for Heather) Once we finally got up, we got ready and went to our Relief Society activity.  It was a musical program called "Women at the Well" It was really good and I quite enjoyed it.  Following that Heather and I went back to the dorm to clean.  We have cleaning checks on Monday so we decided we better get a head start on them now.  After we cleaned as much as we could, we sort of sat around and ate dinner while watching Harry Potter movies on TV.  At about 8:30 we decided we were bored and wanted to leave our apartment.  So we threw on some jackets and tall socks, grabbed keys, phones and a camera and set about wandering campus.  We took lots of pictures, jumped off lots of walls and benches and had a blast! At a little bit before 10:00 we got a hold of David and he came to join us.  Once we were super cold (about 11:00) we headed back to our dorm for hot cocoa.  On our way back we found Jimmy from our ward and invited him over too.  They left at about 11:30 so Heather and I started a movie.  At about 12:30 we called it a night and went to bed.  Then at 1:30 I got a call from Jordan returning my call from earlier.  When I woke up in the morning I thought the call was a dream and then Heather told me that she heard me talking to him.  I have NO idea what I said except for that when he asked if I was still awake I lied and said yes...When I talked to him today he told me that I made no sense last night, but he just went along with it because he could tell that I was completely out of it.  

Here are some pictures of our crazy shenanigans :D

Let the craziness begin!

JUMP!

JUMP!

Heather in her awesome hot pink shoes

In the Tree of Life sculpture outside of the McKay Building.  We were sad because last time we were there Heather's friend Aaron was there and this time he wasn't :(

Just chillin' outside the Testing Center

Epic piggy-back ride FTW!!

Failed jumping picture with David :(

The look on Heather's face right after David jumped over the post she is sitting behind and almost took off her head xD

Sunday was today! Heather and I went to Sacrament Meeting followed by going over to my grandma and grandpa's for dinner and birthday celebrations for my baby cousin and uncle.  We then came back and I went to our ward's musical fireside.  It was sooo good! I loved it :) Now I'm just hanging out talking to my friend Brittony on Skype :) But it is definitely time for bed

This upcoming week is my last week of classes before a weeklong break for Thanksgiving!! I can't wait :D

"Is Your Name Google? Because You're Everything I'm Searching For"

So that is one of my new favorite cheesy pick-up lines.  It makes me laugh, a lot.

It is sort of applicable to this week I believe because I have searched a lot and have gotten a lot of answers this week.  Some of them I didn't really want but others I'm glad I figured out :)

Since it was missionary week this last week, we were encouraged to participate in a fast on Thursday.  We were supposed to fast for something missionary related.  I had been wondering all week if I was meant to serve a mission when I am 21.  So, for my fast, I had the question "Do I need to serve a mission when I'm 21?" I was thinking about it all day and after my afternoon classes, I packed a bag with my scriptures, journal, Conference talks, my patriarchal blessing and tissues and I went up to the Provo Temple to sit outside (it was a BEAUTIFUL day) and think, study, pray and ponder what to do.  I got my answer :) As soon as I got it, I felt so much lighter.  I was smiling the whole way home and for the rest of the night.  I felt amazing knowing what I need to do with my life.  Prayer and fasting and studying and pondering really are the ways to personal revelation.  What an awesome thing!

Also this week, I figured out (and got answers to) things and situations that were going on between me and various friends.  Some of the answers I got were not the greatest but I'm glad that I got them and am coming around.  In one situation, the answer I got was for the better for the both of us.  Deep down, I knew it was always the answer, but actually hearing it was still sort of a punch in the face.  But that's ok. It's been four or five days and things are going well :)

Sorry this post is so vague...if you really want to know more just ask. I'll tell you.  I like sharing the AWESOME and sometimes crazy experiences that I've had.  But, for some of them, writing about what happened for the world to see just isn't very good.  They're my very personal experiences that are much better told in person :)

I also discovered this week that I've grown so much spiritually this semester.  Being totally immersed 24/7 in the gospel is such a wonderful thing! I do need a break every once in a while but it really is the best thing that's happened to me in my life so far :) I say this so much but it's so true: I'm in the right place at the right time.  I cannot imagine being anywhere else.  I would not be happy.  I have such wonderful friends who make everything better.  I have a Father in Heaven who loves me so much and has blessed me with these great friends and this wonderful opportunity to be here at His university to learn as much as I can.  I'm so lucky to be so close to the Temple.  It's such a refuge and a wonderful place to be.  During testimony meeting today someone said a quote from a general authority (I'm sad I can't remember who said it...).  It said "We see who we really are when we are in the Temple."  It is so true.  Every time I go, I think about the previous week and think about what I could have done to make it better and try to fix my mistakes and be better the next week.  I think the greatest thing I've learned about and come to appreciate more this semester has been the Priesthood.  It is such an awesome gift and I would have gone home a LONG time ago if I wasn't surrounded by young men who worthily hold the Priesthood.  There have been many times where I've called my guy friends or my FHE brothers to come give me a blessing.   They are always over in five minutes, willing and able to give me a blessing.  The Gospel is such an amazing thing.  I feel so sad for those who do not have it, I want to share it with them! I've got such a wonderful life because of it and I want everyone else's lives to be just as amazing as mine :)

Happy Halloween!!

Happy Halloween to all of you who actually read my blog!!

It's been another crazy week of college life but the things worth writing about have definitely happened within the last few days :)

So Friday was just basically awesome.  I went to a reading by an author who wrote the book that my Late Summer Honors class was based on.  His name is Brian Doyle and he is one FANTASTIC author and person.  During my Late Summer Honors class we were actually able to interview him and have a conversation with him over the phone.  I went to the reading with my friend Jason who was also part of my class.  We had an awesome time and were able to get Brian Doyle to sign our books.  It was pretty epic :) I was also able to go to the Temple again this week with my friends David and Sydney.  We actually took a picture too!! It's one of my favorites from this semester :)

So Saturday night was our Stake Halloween Party/Dance thing.  It was super fun.  Heather (my roommate) and I had probably some of the best costumes ever!  She was Mac and I was PC (from the commercials)  What made this even more funny is that Heather has a PC and I have a Mac.  We met up with some of our friends at the dance and had SO MUCH FUN!!!  Here are some pictures :D

"Hi. I'm Mac..."

"And I'm a PC."

Ummm...Hold on a second...What's wrong with this picture?

One of my FAVORITES of Heather and I.  I think this describes our relationship quite well :)

So this tie is from my guy friends' RA.  I learned how to tie it all by myself! I know it looks bad in this picture but at this point, I was super hot and tired.

Me with Snape...I mean Jordan...and David

ALEC!! He's a flower.  It made me smile :)

The Chicas!! PC, Mac and the Goddess Nike (aka Emily)

Yay group!! Well some of the guys I have no idea who they are...but I'm pretty sure they are in David, Alec and Jordan's Ward.

Today Heather and I got our mission call! This week Heather and I are going to live like missionaries for a week.  We made our own "Mission Rules" and goals for the week.  This means no Facebook for me!! It's going to be tough but I'm really excited.  It's going to be fun and a wonderful experience.  I can still Skype and get phone calls so...CALL ME :D

Things are Changing

Another week has gone by in the blink of an eye!  It went by so fast I'm trying to remember what exactly happened...

The highlights of the week:

• Had an awesome FHE making scripture cookies with my FHE brothers and sisters.  They were very good :-d
• Spent many hours (and many late nights) in the library this week studying and working on a paper.  Yay for my guy friends who are always willing to walk me home! :) You guys really are the best!
• Had the best dinner conversation EVER on Thursday night when my friends Tyler and David came over to eat with Heather and I.  It was so hard to eat because we were laughing the whole time :)
• I went to the Temple on Friday with one of my FHE brothers and had a really good time.  Following that, Heather and I had a Phantom of the Opera party in our room.  Our other friend Heather and our FHE brother Tyler came over to watch it and have pizza. Very fun :)
• Saturday Heather and I had a roomie date day :D We went to DI with our friend Emily to get stuff for Halloween costumes.  Then Heather and I went to Wal-Mart and dinner and the mall and a dollar movie :)  
• Today Heather and I went to a morning side at 7:00 AM!!! Then we came back and crashed/hung out until we went to church...in the POURING rain...my feet are still cold :(  I gave my first Relief Society lesson today and it went well, much better than I thought it would go.  :) Now Heather and I are just waiting to go to our hall meeting followed by Ward Prayer.  Then I'm going to tunnel singing if I don't pass out first xD

We found a duck for Jordan...

A suit jacket for me and a table cloth for Emily

On our roomie date, Heather and I saw this truck and thought "only in Utah" until we saw that it was from California

YAY ROOMIES!!!

YAY for normal looking roomies!! :)

In other news...it is FINALLY starting to be fall!! The leaves were BEAUTIFUL this week and it finally started to cool off :) I also completed my first week of training!! I don't know how many of you know, but I am running a 5K on Thanksgiving Day with my aunt, uncle and cousin.  I've been running every morning this week (except for today :) and will continue to run every Monday-Saturday until I race.  My friend Sydney usually runs with me which is awesome!! She hates running as much as I do :)