Trials Faced and Lessons Learned.

This semester has been the hardest couple months ever. I can't really explain to you why that is, but its been that way for everyone here. I have had many conversations with different people about how hard this semester has been, and none of us can quite figure out why. But I can tell you that I did learn a lot of lessons! I learned that I love drinking from a straw. I don't know what it is about it but I love it! I also discovered that the smell of laundry and clean clothes is one of my favorite things!

Along with those silly things, I learned a lot of big things.

1. Being aware of people is central. But the way to be aware of them is through the spirit. That is the only true way you will ever know how to help someone.

2. Trust does not come easily. It shouldn't either. But once you are friends with people that you can truly trust, you are affected for the better.

3. When you get mad at people, usually it's because your expectations for them are not met. You can't have expectations for people when you know they can't meet them. It's not fair for them or for you.

4. I had a hard heart towards missionary work. Not in the sense that I think people who go on missions are crazy or that actual missions are bad, they are ESSENTIAL in continuing the growth of our church. But I wasn't fully convinced of member missionary work.. until this semester. A situation happened that has become a missionary teaching experience for me, and I am super excited about it!

5. Pray! Pray! Pray! I have prayed more this semester than I have in my entire life. I received strong personal revelation this semester and that came from a constant stream of communication between me and Heavenly Father. I would be lost without his guidance and the comfort that prayer brings.

6. "Patience bring joy"-Jared Attridge. When we are patient we are showing Heavenly Father that we are submitting to his will. Doing that brings blessings, which brings joy.

7. I have a testimony of trials for myself. I know that as I struggle I grow and that trials are a part of life. I realized that I don't have a testimony of other people having trials. I realized that I didn't understand why others had to struggle. But just like I need trials to grow, others need them to. I can't help them like I want to, but I can support them! And thats what I need to do. I realized that this semester I care so much for other people that I sometimes forgot myself. And thats something that I need to work on. I am important too.

8."Its not a pattern of the Lord to give reasons."- Dallin H. Oaks  We don't need to know why. Its not in the Lord's pattern to always tell us the why, but he does have a pattern of testing our trust in him. Trust is the key and I am still working on that every day. 

9. Our hearts have the ability to love a lot, and they can hold a lot of love for a lot of people. 

10. I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I love this gospel. It brings me true joy and comfort and peace. It is the one thing that is always constant in my life and that will never change. I am beyond grateful for my Savior who atoned for my sins so that I can be with my Heavenly Parents again. I am grateful for the priesthood and leaders who serve in the church everyday. I am grateful for ward families and caring people who work to uplift one another. God is a God of miracles and he works in mysterious ways. He has a hand in everything. I am so grateful that I am a member of this church! 

Last Week of Fall Semester! Dec 7-12

We made it! Oh the journey!!

Monday I worked a double shift in the dinning hall. For one of my shifts Brady was trying to find something on Amazon for his wife for Christmas and his constant commentary was the best! Cody, Jared, Emma and I went on an adventure. We went to Walmart and then to buy Jared eggnog who has been asking me to take him for weeks. We blasted the Pentatonix Christmas album and I would like to announce that our band's album will be out next year. All the RA's got invited to our boss's little girls birthday. She is pretty much the cutest girl ever and is obsessed with dancing. Needless to say, her two year old birthday party was a hit! That night I worked on finishing up a group project and was walking home around 10:30 at night. It was so foggy and I felt like I could have gotten murdered. But no worry! The crazy gun man that was on the loose over the weekend was found and killed himself earlier in the day so all was well.

Tuesday I didn't have a final. I woke up and it was so foggy again. All I could see out the window was white. Kadee and I got back from campus and on Emma's side of the floor the ceiling was starting to come down. We put a work order in, but not before our Lofts GroupMe exploded with funny gifs of boys crawling and animals sneaking around, both ideas we had for why the ceiling was falling. All of us were going crazy Tuesday night! I realized just how much I had to do and I couldn't handle all the girls needing things and I just needed a break! So John John and I went for a walk at 10:30 at night. It wasn't that cold. We have been having the nicest weather here!

Wednesday I studied in the art hallway for a while and got a few things done. I sat and talked to Kadee for a bit and was helping her out and then went to the library to look over a few last minute things for a final with Emma. I had my first final which was Art history. Man I love that class and am sad it's over. I think the final went really well! After I got done with that I went and sat in the art hallway again this time with John John who needed me to make sure he got his take home final done. Let's just say, everyones motivation was gone! I went to my Literature and Film final that night. We were in three groups and each group had to make a film so we watched those. His wife also made us these delicious chocolate brownies with peppermint and root-beer floats. After I got back from that I got some things done in my hall and ran my monologue a few times.

Thursday I woke up and got ready. I had my Acting 1 final. I performed a monologue from the play Chapter Two. I did really well!! I was happy! I ate lunch and then went and ran for my jogging final. I cannot feel my legs now. I took a shower and delivered the Christmas presents to my girls and then I went down to campus. I was in the dinning hall for a bit and then went to the library to attempt to memorize my spanish presentation for the final on Friday. It was so nice outside so Kadee and I went and sat out side of Jonzzeys.

This was the elevator at 12:30 at night. We don't know how some girls broke it, but they managed to get it working again!

Friday it was so nice outside!! It was 70 degrees! I checked girls out of their rooms all morning and panicked till 3pm when my spanish final was. I don't think it was the best... But it's done!

Saturday I went with John John to take someone to the airport at 7 in the morning. Then we hung out in Roanoke till about 1pm and drove home. We ate breakfast at this way southern pancake house and it was awesome! Then we went Christmas shopping. 

Here is the strangest double feature ever sold... 

I got back and Kadee brought me food which was the best! We helped Emma finish cleaning and packing her room. It was 75 degrees again so I announced that we are all going on a walk. We ended up at Robey and made John John drive us to Cook Out for dinner. We had such a good time! Kadee and I then drove Emma to the airport and that was a whole adventure but everything finally got figured out :) I love Emma and I am going to miss her a lot!! 

Sum of our friendship in the picture below. 

Emma: "I am so funny!"

Me: "Who are you?" 

Kadee: "Haha. I'm just going to go a long with it." 

This semester has been crazy! Lots of laughing and tears. Friendships gained and strengthened and many lessons learned. I love SVU. I love being an RA. I love my friends. 

Last Week of Classes! Nov 30-Dec 6

This semester has felt long but also I am sitting here thinking, "How is it Christmas again?"

Monday was a Monday. We had group FHE which was our ward Christmas party! We made ornaments and decorated a tree for bishop! It was a lot of fun. 

Tuesday I went to the composition recital that night which was fun! They out up a big Christmas tree in the ballroom and I love it :) Emma was in my room till like 1:30 in the morning. I love her and she is leaving on a mission next semester so it will be hard to not have her here!

All of the sudden it was Wednesday! This week flew by.  I think a lot of us feel like this though...

Thursday was crazy! One of my girls had surgery so John John and I went to Walmart to pick up some other things and flowers and a card.We had a crazy dinner because we were crazy and then we had a big group RA meeting which was super sassy. Haha I love it. 

Friday was the last day of classes! Yay!!!! It was a great day. We had our Christmas choir and orchestra concert. It was a lot of fun with a lot of funny moments. 

Saturday my friend Nate wanted me to come talk to him. He was working in this donut truck so I brought him lunch (Subway). I just chilled for the rest of the day. I packed, cleaned, watched a Christmas movie, and worked on my Spanish final. Later that night I went on a fun adventure exploring around, drinking hot chocolate, and searching for Christmas lights :)

This was us all in Emma bed having a "going crazy" party. We were crazy! 

Sunday was good! I love feeling the spirit and partaking of the Sacrament. In Lexington there was this program that the choir was apart of. They set up a whole bunch of antivirus from around the world and then we sang some songs. It was really beautiful! 

Thanksgiving week!!

This week was so good! 

It started off on Monday with a 9pm trip to Macadoos for wing night. You get 10 wings for like $4.95 or something like that. They were delicious! We had a very adventurous group that was full of exciting things! 

Tuesday was the happiest I have seen campus in a while! Everyone was so excited for a break. I had an Art History test which I feel pretty good about. I had to work the dinning hall from 1:30-4 which was a little crazy. But I had some visitors! I then packed, went to dinner, and then went to the men's basketball game which we won in overtime! It was awesome! Rylee and I then drove up to DC. 

Wednesday was a very relaxing day. Raquel let me sleep in and then we went shopping. I got a new phone for an amazing deal! We played games and had yummy food. We had homemade apple crumble! Life is great. 

Thursday we had a relaxing morning and we got ready for dinner. I played lots of games with Davis to keep him entertained. We bonded. We ate around 2 and another family from there ward which was fun. The food was delicious! I love home cooked food! 

Friday was an exciting day. Andrea came over and we went shopping! I bought a lot of Christmas presents :) we ate leftovers for lunch. I think that is my favorite part of Thanksgiving, the leftovers! Rylee came and met me again to drive home with me. We left about 4 and got home around 6:30! I love campus when no one is here and it so quiet. I went on a walk when I got back and it was perfect and warm! 

Saturday I got some things done in the morning and then went to lunch. John John and I went to the store and I helped him work on an essay for a class. We also went to Walmart and watched a movie. 

Sunday all the afternoon wards were combined. It was great! Such good meetings!

It was a great week! I'm excited to come home for Christmas! Two weeks! 

A Musical Week Nov 16-22

Monday I woke up to a text from someone telling me that it was only 32 degrees outside but that the high was suppose to get up to almost 70! I wasn't sure what to wear! My classes went well and for FHE we played mormon family feud. I was the score keeper and it was getting very heated. Such a fun game! I went into Reva and Cody's that night when I got an interesting text from Emma.

So I ran up there thinking "this is probably just an Emma emergency." I walk in and Emma is lying on her floor wearing her happy birthday hat holding a balloon. She says " I have never talked with helium so you need to be here for this moment." I love Emma!

Tuesday started the musical week. Last week John John and I were talking about watching the 25th anniversary of The Phantom of the Opera. He went to the library and had them order it. It came in Tuesday and we were very excited! I helped work the dinning hall at 11 and then I went to spanish. I worked the dinning hall again from 2-4 and came back down for dinner at 5. At 7 John John texted me that he was on his way up to Reva's to start watching Phantom. We both had to do things at 9 so we didn't get to finish it. But its great! It also is Alley's favorite movie so it made me miss her even more than I already did!! I talked to some of my girls and then went to bed.

Wednesday was the day of my final scene performance from the Glass Menagerie. It went pretty well. I felt a little off but the professor seemed to liked it! The rest of the day went pretty smoothly. I usually sit in the art hallway off of the music building from like 1:30-3:30 to work on homework. There were lots of people there on this day though so I picked up all my stuff and came in the dinning hall. It was quiet and basically no one was here. I got a lot done! John John came in and we talked for a little bit and then I went up and finished my homework in the third floor lobby. I came to dinner which was good but kind of crazy because I was in the weirdest mood!

Thursday I don't really remember... haha I had part 1 of an Art History test. I think it went well. I went and played piano for about 25 minutes and then went and did homework in the art hallway. I ate lunch and went to Spanish. I then ate the most delicious ice cream ever. Mint Moose Tracks. I was in heaven. I worked the Caf from 3-4 and then went back home. I did room checks and then took two girls to go pick up prescriptions. I went to dinner with Lexie and Kaylee and then talked to my mom for almost an hour. I went to Spanish tutoring and let me just say that I absolutely love Jared and Cody! They are the tutors and they are just the best! They tease me, but they help me!

Friday was a very musical day! Adele's new album came out! YAY! And we had a musical forum. The Concert Choral sang two songs and we had many small groups perform. It was a strange day because I felt like no emotions. It was like my whole body was numb. Haha.

 I went to dinner and Provost and his Wife ate with us. Provost got up and made us all a dessert. It was a cinnamon waffle with raspberry ice cream and syrup.

Lexie made me go and stop by the wrestling match. That was interesting. Then we went to the orchestra concert which was really good! They did a wonderful job! After that we went to the Shenanigans show which was hilarious like always!

Saturday was such a relaxing day! I slept in till like 11:30 (I didn't go to bed till late though). Then I went and filmed some scenes for my literature and film class. I ordered a pepper jack cheese, chicken, quesadilla with chipotle ranch. It was delicious! I talked to Lexie for a few hours and laid in bed. I ate dinner and then Lexie and I got all ready for the winter formal. This is one of the dances the VMI jazz band played the music. It was a lot of fun to get dressed up and just have some fun!

Sunday was a very busy day in the morning. I had tithing settlement, ward council, visiting teaching, and church. Dinner was great and then the Tuttle's came and asked if I wanted a homemade whoopie pie. It was soo good! I talked to Lexie and Kaylee for a while and visited Cody and Reva.

It was a great week!!! I am very excited for Thanksgiving though! Garfields, here I come! 

The Open House Nov 8-15

This week has been crazy! Yes... I think I say that at least 90% of the time. Life is just crazy!

Monday my classes went well. I performed in Acting. It was a scene from Glass Menagerie. I was super nervous because my partner and I didn't have a ton of time to rehearse.. but it actually went well. That was our rehearsal performance and our final one is next week. My other classes went well! It rained and was kind of cold all Monday so I ended up just staying down on campus all the way till dinner. FHE was good. We smashed apples and pumpkins, drank cider and watched a church video.

Tuesday was one of those days where so many things build up that you just kind of lose it! I wasn't in my room all day. I left at 7:30am and got back at 1:30am! I am very grateful for amazing friends!

Wednesday was a good day. I spent the day finishing a book for my late class. I sat and read 70 pages but I did finish, and had time to squeeze in a 20 minute nap! My late class felt really long.... but it was funny. I came back and worked on homework and talked to some girls. I have to clear the lobby on Wednesday nights and I went down there and I saw Rylee (another RA) just lying on the couch. We ended up talking till 1:30 in the morning.... It was much needed though!

Thursday felt like Tuesday and Wednesday felt like Friday... no wonder it felt like such a long week! My art history class went well on Thursday. I left thinking, "Man, I just want to be in Europe! Right now!!!!! TAKE ME BACK TO ENGLAND!" I had a very funny and entertaining lunch with Emma and John John. Emma is super sick so she was half out of it and very funny as she told stories to us about her life. I could not stop laughing. Spanish was good but long. Its getting harder... which I don't appreciate. I worked a double shift in the dinning hall and Kaylee came down with me for while. I did room checks and went to dinner. After dinner Kaylee and I ran and crashed the high school bonfire because the donut truck was there :) I also had an RA meeting which went well but then we had to run around and find beds for the prospective students that were coming for the Open House. Lexie, one of my girls, came in to my room and worked on homework and didn't leave till around 1:30 in the morning!

Friday we had a great forum by our President. He announced some new changes being made to the school. I got some school work done the rest of the day. We filmed a few scenes for my literature and film project and we got dinner. I spent a lot of time with Lexie again that night. We ordered pizza around 11 and spent time just talking. It was a lot of fun!

Saturday was the crazy Open House day! I was down on campus by 8am and we set up and got already. I was a student guide again and had three boys in my group. Actually all three of them are coming here in January! We had a great turn out and a lot of excited prospective parents and students. That ended around 1:30 and then I went up to the last home football game. It was a little chilly... but it was good. I didn't stay very long before I walked back down to campus to be with two of my girls. We ended up just hanging out down here till 5 when Kaylee and I went to dinner at the Krites house. That was a lot of fun and very relaxing! After that I went back up to the lofts and spent some time by myself in my room. I hung up some new decorations in the hall, delivered some gifts to my sports girls, and just laid on my bed and watched Netflix. At about 10:30 John John and I went to Walmart and on a drive. It was a lot of fun! I got back home and just went to bed.

Sunday was good. It was another day where nothing really got done which was kind of nice. Ward Council and church went well. After church we hung out outside because it was so nice and then ate dinner. After dinner I facetimed family then went late to this fireside. It was a panel with three of the greatest couples on campus! One was my bishop and his wife and they just answered questions about dating and marriage. After that I went to the Lofts, talked to Emma, checked in on Reva and Cody and then got ready for bed!
This is a secret picture Kaylee took of me.

It was kind of a weird and tiring and long week. But in the end it was great! I will say that I am SOOO excited for Thanksgiving :)