The Best Way to Put Off Homework...

So much has happened since the last time I blogged, yet at the same time... Nothing has happened.


Before everyone gives up on reading, I'd like to give a special thanks to Lauren, Erika, Sarah, Cindy, Justin, Matt, Dallin, Tyler, Merrill, Eric, and Kraig for making this weekend super super awesome!


Anyways... Let's see.  First of all, I went to my first tall club meeting!  I was the tallest girl there (thank goodness!) and I even won something for having the longest legs!  Awesome - I know!  There is another activity tonight so I'm pretty excited!


Then... Hmm... I got asked on a date!  His name is John and he is my home teacher and is in my family home evening group.  Yes, he is taller than me.  We went to a Divine Comedy show and got milkshakes!  It was a lot of fun! 


This past week was lots of fun.  We came up with a wonderful scheme to steal oven doors from our friends Matt and Dallin.  We made ransom notes to try to make Matt think Dallin did it and make Dallin think Matt did it!  The notes told them to wear their house colors (Harry Potter) and meet at noon for a wizards' duel :] We almost succeeded with everything, too!  We got their roommates in on it and our friend's Eric and Kraig to help us house them somewhere besides our apartment!  The plan was to go at 4 AM and take the doors, but Matt is apparently nocturnal and was up until 5 AM!  We thought it would be best to go to sleep until 7 (which turned into 8:30 when I didn't wake up to my alarm...) and steal them then.  That time, we were successful! 


It was really funny going into Dallin's apartment because his roommate (the one not in on it) was sitting at the table eating breakfast.  We kinda scared him because he knew his other two roommates were asleep and he didn't know who the heck was coming in... It was great :]  


So then we went back to our apartment and went to sleep until 11. When we got up, we made muffins and got all bundled up and headed to a balcony right across from where the duel was supposed to take place.  Unfortunately, Matt came out and saw us.  We told him the plan and asked him to play along.  He didn't really want to, though.  For some reason, Dallin wasn't coming outside so we went over to his apartment and made him think our door had been stolen, too!  We said we got a note saying there would be a duel so that's why we had our cameras haha He then went out and tried to duel with Matt and we got it all on film!  It was really funny because Dallin didn't know if Matt was telling the truth about us stealing his door or if we were telling the truth about Matt stealing the doors!  It was great!

Sorry! It's turned wrong...

Then Saturday night we had a ward talent show!  Erika, Cindy, Lauren, Matt, Sarah, Justin and I all recreated the SNL Lawrence Welk Show skit. It was so much fun wearing ugly sweaters and acting stupid!  My ugly sweater seemed to have some magical charm in it because at one point, four boys were touching me at the same time!  It was ridiculous!  After the show we watched Harry Potter and chilled with Eric and Kraig.  I'm pretty sure it was the best day of the whole semester!


Yesterday wasn't so great, though.  I took a midterm for my Grammar of English class... and let's just say I didn't do too hot.  That wouldn't be a big deal if it didn't account for 20% of my grade :/ Then some other stuff happened and it just made the whole day really crummy!  I'm sure things will get better but it's hard to force yourself to not be down when there is certain stuff ruining any happiness.  


I emailed my mom about how I was feeling and I'm putting part of what she said on here...


"A few weeks ago at church someone used that expression "Feel Sorry for Yourself" and it hit me in the face...that's what I've been doing.  There is nothing wrong in my life but that I want more and I want it now.  We have a home, cars, jobs, religion and purpose, but yet it's just not good enough...WHY?  

Do your part now and get out and make new friends, or go help someone.  That's something I think you are missing out on...you were always service oriented and I haven't heard you say anything about doing acts of service since you've been out there.  

Make a plan my baby girl...keep doing what you are doing...be true to yourself and you will be fine.  Don't let other's dictate how you feel about yourself.  It's okay to cry and feel bad once in a while, but then put in your earrings and a little makeup, get all prettied up and go out and smile at the world around you."

So that's what I'm going to try to do.  That's all I can do, really. I'm going to try to not let little stuff get in the way of me trying to be happy.  That's the best anyone can do in life, so why not do it?

And now a PSA (public service announcement) for any boys reading: ASK GIRLS ON DATES! Why not do it?  The worst thing that'll happen is they say no!  And let me tell you, they most likely won't say no!  There are so many girls waiting for all of you awesome boys to ask them (us) on dates!  If you're a Mormon guy reading this (which most likely you are), and you haven't served a mission yet, it's okay to date someone without being girlfriend/boyfriend.  This is the time in our lives to get to know each other through dating, not just through hanging out.  It's a real self-esteem killer (not just for me but for every girl I know) to not be asked on dates.  You guys have more influence over us than you realize.  Asking a girl on a date can change the entire way she views herself.  So stop being silly and get to asking!

Happy Halloween!

Can I just say how much I love Halloween?


Thanks for the permission.


I LOVE HALLOWEEN!


Anyways.  Let me go back in time a bit.  Sorry I haven't been posting much (although I don't know who I'm apologizing to because I don't think anyone really cares all that much!).  I really can't begin to explain what's been happening because SO much has been happening!


First of all, I'm done with Italian for the semester.


Hal. Le. Lu. Jah.  


Too bad I don't know what  my grade is still.  Dumb.


Next,IT SNOWED!  That's right ladies and gentlemen!  It legitly snowed and I have proof!


Good thing I just bought a coat or I probably would have been in biiiig trouble!

After that, the only exciting stuff to talk about is the fact that Halloween occurred.  For Friday night (our stake dance) I was Snooki.  My friend Matt did my hair (it took so long since we didn't have a bump-it!) and some of my other friends (SABRINAAA!) did my makeup!  We loaded on the bronzer, eye shadow, and mascara to make me look as guido as possible.  I think we succeeded.  

You can't really tell in the picture, but I was fairly orange.  The dance was pretty fun but a lot of people didn't know who I was, even after I told them.  It seems as though being Snooki wasn't that exciting for many of the native Utahans (probably because a lot of them look like that on purpose ;]). 


For Halloween Eve, I dressed up as a sweet superhero for the Wyview activity. Erika was "Erika Scissor-hands" and she looked SUPER creepy!  It was really cool at first, but by the end of the night I was forgetting it was her and it really started to bother me!

As part of the activity, I got to carve a (second) pumpkin!  I have now done three in my entire life.  Two were this week and one was when I was 8.  I love it!  I will have to take pictures and post them later! 


Then we went to a "corn maze" although it wasn't really corn.  It was actually blocks of recycled paper and stuff stacked and formed into a maze.  It was really fun but really short!  After we had fun with all of that nonsense, we watched Cloverfield (there were no more scary movies left at Blockbuster :/) and that's basically it.  I wouldn't say it's the beeest Halloween of my life, but it's been pretty fun!  I'm just glad I got to dress up and be weird ;]

I Stand All Amazed

I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me 

Confused at the grace that so fully He proffers me

I tremble to know that for me, He was crucified,

That for me, a sinner, 

He suffered, 

He bled, 

and died.

Oh it is wonderful that He should care for me

Enough to die for me!

Oh it is wonderful, wonderful to me!

I marvel that He would descend from His throne divine

To rescue a soul so rebellious and proud as mine;

That He should extend His great love unto such as I,

Sufficient to own, 

to redeem, 

and to justify.

Oh it is wonderful that He should care for me

Enough to die for me!

Oh it is wonderful, wonderful to me!

I think of His side, 

pierced and bleeding, 

to pay the debt.

Such mercy, 

such love 

and devotion, 

can I forget?

No, no! I will praise and adore at the mercy seat,

Until at the glorified throne I kneel at His feet.

Oh it is wonderful that He should care for me

Enough to die for me!

Oh it is wonderful, wonderful to me!

Fun Fun Fun!

Can I just say: Jordan and Justin Orton are amazing. End of story.


Okay not really the end of the story.  Just the end result.  The full story goes something like this...


Justin and Jordan asked my amazing friend Lauren and I to go on a double date with them.  Ooobviously we said yes because Saturday night at 7 PM, two sharp lookin' boys showed up and my apartment to pick us up.


We did the whole "get pictures before the date" thing and this was the end result:

I stole this from Facebook...

Ok so I promise there were many awkward pictures but apparently they aren't on my camera... Anyways.


Then we left and in the car, we were told that we were going down to Utah Lake to make gingerbread (graham cracker) sculptures.  This was super awesome because earlier that day I was telling everyone that I had never made a gingerbread house and that I really wanted to!


When we got to the lake, though, there were crazy mutant mosquitoes that swarmed around us and chased us whenever we'd move.  It was kind of scary but really funny at the same time.  We gave up at being artists there and made our way over to the Provo Tabernacle.  It was really pretty as we sat on the lawn and made these wonderful creations. 

Lauren and Justin made this one... 

It's a plane.

Jordan and I made this one. 

It's obviously a submarine...

After we got done sculpting, we went to a frozen yogurt place (earth something... I can't remember what it's called!) and took our treats to the base of the Y to eat!  While we were sitting up there, everyone convinced me to finally give in and hike the Y at night.  So the boys drove us back to our apartments and let us change into more appropriate clothing.  We then headed back to the mountain and began our trek upwards.

I'm not going to lie.  It was really hard, mostly because I'm not really used to the elevation yet - but oh well! It was still fun!

We took a few pics along the way and at the top where Justin, Lauren, and Jordan decided to be insane and chill upside down on the Y.  I was too scared of dying to try it out!

As you can tell, it was LOADS of fun!  It was definitely a date catered to what they knew we'd like to do and because of that, at least on my part, it was the best date ever!  

Marvelous Epiphanies.

Tonight we (our group of girls) were discussing our woes, crushes, and frustrations when it comes to certain boys.  As we were talking about everything and analyzing every single thing these certain boys did, it finally hit me:


We were being completely ridiculous.


We are young, fun, crazy girls.  We don't need to worry about finding the perfect guy, or any guy for that matter, right now.  We are at college and need to be making awesome memories together while we're single.  


I realized that it was silly to wonder why other girls have already had 8 bajillion boyfriends in the three weeks we've been here while we can barely manage to talk to guys.  I finally understood that it's because we don't need to be making memories about lots of boys.  When we find the right guy for each of us, the memories of past guys won't mean anything; the only ones that will matter will be the memories made with each other.  


We all have been promised that we'll get married at some point in time when we're ready.  Why are we making it our responsibility to decide when exactly it is that we'll be ready?  All we need to be doing is having fun, being ourselves, and developing ourselves and God will do the rest.  If we put ourselves out there and don't try to be something we're not, God will lead the right person to us and we'll be ready for him when he comes. 


It is so nice to finally have this hit me.  I am so tired of wondering why no boys show interest in me past the point of friendship and it's because I'm not ready to find that one guy yet.  Yeah, it would be nice to go on dates and know that boys like me, but for me, it may not be time for that.  This is the time that we need to be having fun and discovering who we really are.  I love epiphanies like this!  They make life so much easier!  Granted I may forget this, but that's why I am writing a blog - so that I can't forget the little bit of knowledge I received tonight!


Now I can go to bed :]




P.S. If any boy reads this, don't think I mean I don't want to date.  Feel free to ask me out ;]

Best weekend in a while!

While every weekend that I have been out here for has been fun, I'd have to say that this weekend was by far the best!  It started off Friday night at Erika's apartment.  Justin came over to hang out and we played CatchPhrase, Man Hunt, and got frozen yogurt from Spoon Me (so good!).  


When he left, we discovered a huge RED spider in Lauren's room.  I, of course, had to kill it!  Sarah gave me her tennis shoe and when I hit it, the spider exploded! It was SO gross!  I screamed and ran away and poor Sarah had to clean it up!  Then Lauren was too scared to sleep in her room alone so we moved Sarah's and Erika's mattresses into her room and Erika and I slept in there with her. 


On Saturday we woke up and got ready really fast so we could make it on the next bus to the most magical place ever: Fortune's Chinese Buffet.  We seriously ate SO much and it was only $6.50 for each of us! When we got home, we moved the mattresses into Erika's living room and collapsed so we could digest.  The BYU v Air Force game was playing on tv but the lack of skill and beginnings of a food coma overcame us and we ended up napping for the most part.  

Our stake conference was this weekend so after napping for a bit, we went to the adult session and tried our best to gain some insight even though there were serious technical difficulties.  We planned on getting up at 5 the next morning for the general session of conference the next morning because Elder Holland, Elder Snow, Julie B. Beck, and President Packer were all going to be speaking.  Unfortunately for Cindy, Katie and I, we didn't wake up until 8.  By the time we got to the Marriott Center, it was mostly full so we had to make the best of the seats we could get.  It still ended up being really good and I was able to get some really great notes!


The plan was to have my party after conference.  My mom decided to be clever and send a box will all the makings of a party (including some gifts!) to Erika so that they could surprise me!  With my awesome luck, though, as soon as we got back, I had to go to a ward council meeting that lasted almost 2 hours!  When I finally got back, the apartment was awesomely decorated but everyone was asleep haha  I woke everyone up and we hung out and ate cupcakes and I got to open presents! They were awesome!

Later that evening after the CES Fireside (which was also great!) some of us went to Bridal Veil Falls!  It was SO pretty!  I guess there used to be a restaurant at the top and shops at the bottom and a cable car that would take people up to the restaurant.  When it was still running, the cable car was supposedly the steepest in the world.  Sadly, an avalanche wiped everything out a few years ago.  Now, there are some run down buildings and (as bad as this probably is to say) it looks really cool - almost like a ghost town!  

After we explored for a bit we went to Squaw Peak and looked at the city lights.  We were almost 7000 feet above sea level (Provo is about 5000 feet above sea level) so it was really awesome!  The weather was so nice and it was so great to be able to just relax with some of my best friends!

Sadly, it's a little blurry :[

That is basically the story of my weekend.  It was so much fun and even though it was kinda depressing to be away from home, my friends here made it really special for me!

I Love BYU

Basically, BYU is amazing.  I have (almost) all of my favorite here and we have so much fun together!  


We had our first football game last Saturday and it was so awesome to just be able to walk over to the stadium from our apartments!  Before the game, we had a little tailgate party and Erika and I got all sorts of decked out! 

I think it's safe to say we looked awesome!  At the game, there was so much blue that I couldn't resist taking a picture of all if it!

For buying the "cheap tickets", we really had awesome seats!  We were forty rows up and really close to where the players came out!  It was so much fun!  


Afterwards, we walked to the bell tower and toasted Pop Tarts on the lights!  It was pretty awesome and a really fun way to end the night!


Days go by really fast and I know that there is no way I could possibly write about everything awesome that happens!  I'm so glad I chose to came to BYU, even if being away from everyone back home is pretty hard sometimes!