Fall, Faith, and Friends

I never really know what to blog about. Maybe when I become a mom I'll suddenly get amazing blogging skills, but right now my skills are lacking! I write in a journal every day, update my Instagram, and somewhat update my Facebook, but I always forget about good old Blogger!

So....Fall semester 2014 has been going pretty dang great! I absolutely LOVE where I live, love my roommates, and love the fact that I have less school work than last semester (see post, "A Splendidly Stressful Semester" haha) And not to mention, fall time is the best time of year (in my opinion), so that adds to the loveliness of this semester. Of course I have my stresses too...but I've done pretty well with trying to focus on the positive parts of life! Because I'm the Relief Society president this semester, I feel like I've gotten a little bit more involved with the ward and with the girls that I live around, which has made a huge impact on me. I think getting involved in the church, the community, or with service, can work wonders.

The fact that I'm Relief Society president is kind of hilarious to me. My Bishop (church leader) wanted everyone in our ward (church congregation) to fill out this form about what callings we've had in the past, what we're interested in, etc. I specifically wrote on the paper, "I do not want to speak in church or teach any classes." I didn't even think about the possibility of being the Relief Society President, or I would have added that to the list! When I was called to come into Bishop Barnes office, I knew I was going to get a calling. Usually they call you by apartment to come in, so I knew something was fishy when they called me to come in right at the beginning of the semester, alone, without my roommates. But I didn't expect he'd ask me to be the Relief Society President. I completely panicked when he asked. I started getting teary eyed and I said I didn't think I could do it. I've been having a little bit of a struggle with feeling inadequate, comparing myself to others, and feeling nervous to get in front of people and talk (hence why I put that I didn't want to speak or teach on the form). The thought of getting up in front of people as "The Relief Society President" sounded like about the least appealing thing in the world. I think at that moment, I would have rather gone dumpster diving or eaten fish (I hate fish with a passion.) But let me also say that I started to feel a sort of peace and Bishop Barnes even said, "You seem very calm now, when before you seemed very panicked." I couldn't deny that, but I was still frustrated that I'd been asked to do this.

I knew I wasn't supposed to go against what Bishop Barnes felt inspired to ask me to do, but I needed some time to think about this, and felt relieved when, without my prodding, Bishop Barnes said I should pray about if I should do it and get back to him the next day. I put off thinking about it that night, but the next day it was ALL I could think about. I felt a peace that I hated to feel! It was so frustrating to feel so much peace about something that was NOT something I wanted to do! I wrote a "pro-con" list in my journal...all the reasons I should accept the calling and all the reasons I thought I shouldn't. I noticed that all the reasons that I shouldn't were very selfish...things such as, "I don't have time." "I don't feel adequate enough." "I hate speaking in front of people." "I'll be stressed all semester if I do this and I'll dread Sundays." It was allllllll about me.

I hadn't made my final decision yet, when I went into Porters Craft Store to get something for one of my classes. I was drawn to the scrapbook paper section and started looking for paper that could be used for a "compliment notebook" for my Relief Society Sisters. I didn't even really realize that I hadn't made a decision yet. It was almost as if I made the decision without knowing. I was thinking about what would make the girls in the Relief Society happy, and stopped thinking about all the reasons I didn't want to do it. That was my answer! I told the Bishop I was happy to accept the call. So anyways, I may not be the most confident, "I love all of you so very much and am here for you anytime you need me," (but I hardly know you), super sweet mushy, Relief Society President, but I'm trying my best and doing what the Lord wants me to do. And I'm sure I'll get better at it with time :)

Other parts of my life that are worth mentioning are roommates, dating, and school (ya know, cause that's why I'm here haha).

MY ROOMMATES ARE AWESOME, YET AGAIN. WHY DO I ALWAYS GET SO LUCKY?

There's Mallory, who is hilarious, confident, talks with a Boston type accent a large majority of the time (for some unknown reason), and is sassy as can be! Right off the bat, I knew I would like her. We see eye to eye on a lot of things, can have deep conversations, and have tons of fun! I'm so blessed to have her as one of my roommates.

There's Sera, who is also hilarious, but is also super sweet! I knew I would like her right away too. She's got one of those can't-help-but-like-her personalities. She always shows genuine interest in other people, is great at comforting, and makes the whole apartment feel a lot happier. When she's not in the room but everyone else is, you can definitely tell somethings missing. It feels incomplete without her!

There's Taylor, who is a football fanatic, has boys all over her, is so fun to be around, and is such a sweetheart. It's also impossible for her to take an ugly selfie. She tries and fails. It wouldn't be the same without Taylor!

There's Jane, who is completely and unapologetically herself. If I had to describe Jane in one word, it would be, "Real." We also relate in a lot of ways, which makes our conversations very interesting and deep! Jane, you're awesome!

Then there's Ainsley, my room roommate, who I absolutely love! I am SO happy that she's my room roommate for so many reasons! Besides the fact that she's the easiest person to live with, she's also one of the funniest people I've ever met. We stay up way too late laughing at each others stories and helping each other out with our various strange problems haha. She's engaged (why do all of my roommates get engaged-I hate you all haha) so the fun is ending after this semester but I'm sure we'll be life long friends!

The fact that I have great roommates makes my dating life bearable. Don't get me wrong, going on dates, playing games (not that I play those...what?), rejecting guys and being rejected is SO MUCH FUN (but not really) but it would be nice if someone right for me would magically appear in front of me so I could skip all this stuff! In the words of my roommate Ainsley, "I'm sooooooooooo glad I don't have to deal with dating anymore." I think we can all relate to this haha.

My classes are going great. I'm majoring in Marriage and Family Studies because I want to be a counselor, so my classes are very interesting, for the most part! I love learning about family dynamics and psychology! I can't wait to be a counselor and to also practice the things I've learned, in my own family, someday.

10 Things I'm Grateful for Today:
1. Fall time- It just feels so happy outside! I love straw mazes, hot chocolate, cuddling, sweaters, not having to wear a coat yet, pretty leaves, pumpkin carving, Halloween, and everything else about fall time!
2. My ward- This ward has been my favorite ward so far. The people are great in it and I love the Bishopric!
3. My family- I'm so blessed to have so many family members that I love and who love and support me!
4. Theme parks- Mallory and I were talking about Disneyland, Disneyworld, SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, Six Flags, and Universal Studios today and I decided that the world is so much better because of theme parks. Adrenaline rushes, cartoon characters walking around, cheery music, and the general theme park atmosphere....ahhhhh I wish I was at Disneyland right now!
5. Movies- They let you escape away from the stresses and reality of your life and they just make life a whole lot more entertaining!
6. Kind, non-judgmental people- The kind you can say what's on your mind to without them judging, the kind that you can be yourself around, the kind that genuinely care about you and want what's best for you.
7. Pesto- Because it's pesto. Do I even need to explain?
8. Living in an apartment that has an awesome gym- It's pretty cool that it's here so I don't get fat from the 500 meals I eat a day.
9. Ear plugs- Because they make it so I don't need other people to tip-toe around me when I'm sleeping. I just go to sleep and never hear a thing, no matter what's going on around me. Party on, roommates!
10. That despite the fact that everything's not "perfect" in my life, I can choose to be happy.

Decisions and Delights

I've always known that I'd have to make adult decisions someday, but I never knew that it would be so frustrating, tiresome, and exciting all at the same time! The past two years, I've gone to college and made a few important decisions, but I feel as though lately and in the near future I've been making/I'll be making more decisions than ever! I guess that just comes with being 20 years old and trying to buckle down and figure out what I want to do with my life. I'm glad I have this time, without a husband, to figure out who I am and to gain decision making skills! It really is exciting to me that I get to choose which direction my life will go in. Of course, I have Heavenly Father's help along the way, which I am thankful for. I've had to make/am still deciding on and making: 

-financial decisions (I'm trying to become more financially independent-something I should have started on a long time ago)

-college major/class/am I at the right school decisions

-job decisions 

-where I should be and at what time decisions

-spiritual/emotional/health decisions

Lately, I feel like my choices remind me of a quote I recently came across on Pinterest (it's funny how often girls share things that they find on Pinterest ha ha) 

What may seem illogical- saying no when hired for my dream job (as a gymnastics coach)- is in fact, something that I felt very right about. It turned out that it wasn't my dream job, at least not at the place that I was working at. Soon after I gave up working there, I was hired at a trampoline center. It pays less and may seem less "awe, that's such a cool job!" provoking, but I know it will make me happier. I'm realizing that I have to follow my gut (and God's guidance) in order to be the happiest I can be. This life is about being joyful and I plan on making choices that will help me be that way! That doesn't mean that life doesn't also take hard work, but I think that I can make it a lot less difficult if I make smart choices.

Though life can seem like it's consumed with disappointments, decisions to be made, chaos, sorrow, and loneliness, it's important to set time aside to try to let those worries go. Gosh, sometimes that seems impossible to do, but it's so important...

Last week I let my worries go by taking a day break at Disneyland with my sweet mom and siblings. 

It's hard to have many worries at Disneyland! 

It's not always possible to escape real life and go to Disneyland, so another great way to be joyful amidst this crazy life, is to enjoy the little things.

I swear that I actually touched the seal (even though it really freaked me out). Spontaneous moments like these-touching seals, dancing in the rain, putting random notes into books at bookstores,etc- have always brought me a massive amount of happiness!

Ya know what else leads to extreme happiness? Chick-fil-A...specifically the spicy chicken sandwich, well done, no pickles, with pepper jack cheese and a medium fry. After 4.5 months of working there, I got my favorite sandwich down to a t. 

Quality time with family also gives a sense of relief in all the chaos of life. A few days after I got here, my almost-two-year-old brother Miles decided he wanted to model for us, which is so unlike him. He's not an attention seeker at all! But it was sure cute :) Here are some of the model-shots I got! 

What a cutie!

Other simple pleasures: 

-watching certain T.V shows (Parenthood, Hart of Dixie, etc.)

-listening to catchy upbeat music

-taking naps

-serving others (babysitting my siblings)

-going to church

-reading 

-jumping on trampolines (I got the perfect job for me!)

-swinging on swings

-eating at Taco Shops

-having home cooked meals

-not having to worry about school work

I'm so grateful for every part of my life, even the unpleasant parts! I've got it pretty good though so I  can't complain! Life is great and I can't wait for the many more adventures to come :)

A Splendidly Stressful Semester

This semester has been one heck of a time! I don't think I've ever felt so much stress in my life, but I also don't think I've had as many little tender mercies, learning experiences, and joyful moments throughout such a stressful time. My grandma put it well in her letter below. It was a semester from hell!

Thinking that I could take eight classes at one time (I only have six now, because two of them ended after the first block), three of them being online, was a disastrous mistake that I won't be making again! Throughout all of the chaos, I've felt blessed because I don't think I could have managed all the stress if it weren't for the sweet, hilarious, silly roommates I got this semester. Being with them makes me feel a little relief from all the pressures of school work. Below are a few of the many pictures Abby, Anna, and I took when I needed a break from my homework.

 

I love my roommates Anna and Abby and I also love my wonderful roommates Cydni, Lindsey, and Madison. I feel as though I was put with each one of them for a reason! 

Madison: She is hilarious, real, and fun to talk to. We have one of my favorite types of friendships, the teasy kind! We love to tease each other and be ridiculously goofy. Sometimes we fail to get sleepy until very late in the night. In those instances, we have become hyper to the point of making strange photo edits of ourselves and then laughing at them-I was going to say for hours...but we are still laughing at these pictures! Haha! Here are just a few!  

So, there you have it! Madison and I are a little on the weird side...in a lot of other ways too, that I should probably not mention over a blog. I just LOVE HER! 

Cydni: Cydni has a billion friends, I feel like, but she still makes time for our friendship. She makes me feel fun and special, and that's the kind of friend I like to have. Friends should always lift each other up, not tear each other down. Cydni and I also have a somewhat teasy relationship. She is just oodles of fun and I love her. She started this thing, where she often comes into my room and has me say three things I like about myself. She won't accept things like, "I'm good at brushing my teeth." She has me say those three things, and then I have her say three things. We are there to build each other up! 

Lindsey: This girl is beautiful inside and out. Right when I met her, I though, "I like this girl." She has one of those likeable personalities. She is adamant about making right choices for herself, even when they are difficult to make. She's an example to me because of this. She's also goofy (goodness, I really did get some goofy roommates...I've said something like that about each one!) and says the most witty things. The other day she said, "You'd think it was Christmas morning!" when she walked out into the snowy parking lot (after it had looked like spring time the past few days...Rexburg, you suck). She says British words like, "massive" and "loads" because she served her mission in England. She also doesn't think I know what crumpets are...but I do! 

I'll also talk about Abby and Anna, even though there were pictures of them above!

Anna: She is also one of those people who's beauty shines right through! We have so much fun talking. We could talk forever and not get bored! The other day, I learned all about her life when I sat down and looked at tons and tons of pictures of her and her family. After learning about her life, I felt even more love for her, because she is just the cutest thing with the cutest personality and she has so much love for her family. Her love for her family reminds me of my love for all of my family members. She is stylish as all get out too! 

Abby: This girl has become one of my best friends this semester, just as all of my roommates have. She has stood by my side through some of the most stressful periods of time this semester. Even yesterday, she bought me my favorite soda, Raspberry Cream Soda, and wrote me an encouraging note, because she knew I was stressed. The other day she bought me yellow daffodils because I wrote her a comforting letter. We encourage each other and tell each other everything, without judgment or annoyance. Everyone needs a friend like that, and I'm glad I found one! I have never met someone as strong and caring as Abby. She is the entire package, so whoever gets to marry her, will be the luckiest guy ever! Along with comforting each other through everything, we also have A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF FUN! (I'm using the word massive because I think it's cool when Lindsey does it) Last night, for example, we use these little cups I have and poured Rasberry Cream Soda in two of them, and then took Rasberry Cream Soda shots, with the song Chicken Fried in the background! Welcome to Rexburg ya'll. We don't drink beer and sometimes we like to listen to a little bit of chicken fried.  By the way, I'm terrible at shots...good thing I'm at BYU-Idaho.

So there you have it, I got the best roommates a girl could ask for. 

I do have to say that I'm excited to go home to San Diego in a week and a half though...and this is because...

• I get to look for a job and then work-which is important to me because making my own money makes me feel a lot less stressed in my life 
• I get to pick up my sisters from school and watch them play soccer (I've really missed this!) 
• I get to go to the pool and tan (Which, trust me, is a good thing because right now I am pasty white as a pasty white saltine cracker with mozzarella cheese on it)
• I get to go to Disneyland (if I make enough money to afford it) and go beach camping (if my family goes this summer, like they usually do) 
• I get to see pretty houses, palm trees, and basically wake up in paradise every day (because living in San Diego is pretty much living in Paradise) Wooh! 
• I get to have my own room again! This is self explanatory (at least for anyone who has been an only child for the majority of their life and who has never shared a room) BUT I DO LOVE ROOMING WITH YOU, MADISON :) 
• I get to go to Colorado in the middle of my summer, to see my dad, Kate, Eli, and Annie, which is exciting! 
• I get to joke around with my mom all the time again...and go to Costco with her, go shopping with her, talk to her about boys, and whatnot! Mom-daughter special stuff!
• Singles ward might be cool and stuff...maybe...not sure if this should even be on the list haha 

Do you see why I am excited!? 

 

Before I go home, I have a speech to write and give, 1 test and 4 finals to take, 2 group projects to complete and about 40 assignments to get done...so I probably shouldn't get too excited yet! Eh, nah, I'm still gonna be excited no matter what! That's the only thing getting me through all this school nonsense! 

So there you have it. There's my life, as of recently, in a blog post. I hope you enjoyed it and will continue to keep reading my upcoming blog posts! Have a great day and remember that if you look for the little tender mercies, during your trials, everything will get just a little bit easier to handle, though it will still be hard, I'm sure.