Life is like Ice Skating

I made it home!

Thank you to the Garfields for picking me up, fun games, yummy food, and a place to sleep!

I had lots of thoughts driving home from the Garfields house.

-Im so excited to be back in Virginia!

-Where is the 75 degree weather from when I left?

-I am so excited to see all of my friends!

-Hamilton rocks!

-How am I going to move my room around?

-AHHH! I am so excited to see people

Overall... I think I was pretty excited.

I got back to school and started to unpack for a few hours and then got back in the car to go to Roanoke to pick up John John. It was so good to see him and we went to Cook Out for dinner! Got to love Cook out :) 

We went to the both the basketball games and it was fun to see a lot of people. Then I went back to Roanoke to pick up Kadee. The next day I also went to Roanoke. I really know how to get to the airport now.

I don't think you can read this.. But it says 'My mom loves John-John more than me." He wrote that on my car. 

There has been a lot of hanging out, eating food, sitting and talking, buying books, organizing, unpacking and laughing.

Friday one of the Orientation activities was Ice Skating.

Ice Skating is hard. I clung to the wall the whole time unless Genny pulled me. I apparently have no balance.

Life is like Ice Skating.

Its hard. It takes balance. And the people surrounding you make all the difference!!

I have thought a lot about how we are creatures of habit. 

We do things in a set way, but not only are our habits restricted to our nightly routine and the way we study. It also goes for how we think.

Our minds are crazy powerful.  

We convince ourself of so many things that aren't true. And that is just a tool that Satan has! We have to learn how to combat that.

That is not easy. But its something we can work on everyday by praying, reading our scriptures, following Gods will and surrounding ourselves with wonderful people!


Some amazing scriptures I found about following God's will are 2 Nephi 10:24 and Hebrews 10:36.

Thoughts of a Traveler

The airport.

Airports are one of those places that always fascinate me.

There are thousands of people at almost every airport in the world, scurrying from gate to gate catching flights, missing connections, trying to get to new places or return to old ones. I look around and realize how many people there are in the world, and how few I actually know.

You have the guy working on his computer over at the front of the gate. The teenager sprawled on the floor asleep to the world. There is the energetic mid-twenties girl already on her third cup of coffee before 9AM. You have the couple about to leave on their honeymoon. The mother chasing her two year old down the hallways as she tries to make a break for it because this is the biggest place she's ever seen and all she wants to do is explore. 

I've always thought that you really need to stop and look at the people that are in your life. Think of the billions of people that have come before us, the billions that will come after us, and the millions that are on this earth right now. Everyone that is in your life is suppose to be there. 

So maybe all these people at the airport are suppose to teach me something!

All right... I don't think that is necessarily the truth. But I do think observing those around us really does teach you something. 

In theatre they say that observing others is one of the key things to do when preparing for a role. You look at the character and think of times you have encountered or watched someone similar to that character you will be playing. It makes it more believable. You have to learn to understand people and one of the best ways to do that is to observe them. 

Everyone has their own way of doing everything. The way they hold their phones, read their books, sit on the uncomfortable black airport seats that have no arm rests (really? Who thought that was a good idea?). 

So I guess as I sit here waiting for my first flight, I think about people. How amazing they are. How we are living, breathing, thinking beings. 

Even though we can't meet every person that is at the airport let alone the planet, we should work on being aware of those we do know. Observing them and being aware of them are completely two different things. 

Observing someone implies just watching. No conversation is really necessary. 

To be aware of someone means that you know them. You are able to help when they need it and are ready to do so. 

One of the lessons I learned last semester was that the only way to be truly aware of someone is through the spirit. That is something that I still find very very true. Heavenly Father has allowed me to be over some amazing girls as an RA. I want to serve them to the best of my ability and that comes through being aware of them. I love the quote below.

Im sitting here in Denver now and I had this epiphany. A lady sitting across from me is in a wheel chair and can't reach down very well. Her cane fell off her lap and I could see her start to reach down. I thought, "I need to grab that." The guy to the left of me and the lady to the right of me both got up and grabbed it. 

Why didn't I?

The thought was good, but thats all it was. A thought. 

If I just "think" of my girls not much can happen. If we just "think" of those around us that we can help, it won't do much good. We all have a responsibility to serve. Service is an action. Service is key. Reaching out and just genuinely being a good person is a service. 

There is another goal I want to add to my 2016 list. It is not enough to just think of something good to do. Start seeing others through Heavenly Father's eyes (and this will take prayer and help from him) and I believe the world will grow a whole lot brighter. 

See??? I did learn something from the people in the airport! 

My 2016

Highlights of my 2015
-Finished my Freshman year of College
-My best friend flew to Virginia for my birthday and to drive home with me
-Sent my best friend on a mission
-Went to Disney World and a Cruise
-Parasailed
-Swam with Dolphins
-Read all of Harry Potter in a summer
-Saw Laura Osnes perform twice
-Saw Newsies with amazing friends
-Became an RA
-Made some new wonderful friends at SVU
-Spent a day in Roanoke with one of my best friends
-Had a very relaxing Christmas break (complete with a Tardis bluetooth speaker)

Now, stop everything and watch this wonderful 3 minute and 8 second video! 

Every year I think we all look back and say, "That was the hardest year yet!" "That was the most fun I've had in one year." "I sure learned a lot last year." Etc....

I don't doubt that this is the truth. Every year the world grows more difficult to live in. New and harder challenges come our way. We meet new people, experience different job opportunities, have many different trials; no wonder each year is the toughest, most fun, and biggest learning experience. I for one am quite grateful for this. Wouldn't life be so boring if it was the same monotonous thing over and over again?

My 2016 is kicking off with my second semester as a Sophomore at good ol' SVU. I am more than thrilled with this start to my year! But I do know that this will also be a challenging semester. I have much harder classes than ever before. I have more responsibilities as an RA (which I wouldn't exchange in the entire world!). I have a calling that I want to be better at. I have friendships that are so important to keep strengthening.

I want this to be an amazing semester. 

So....
I got thinking.

Every New Year people around the world set goals. I have always loved the idea of goal setting, but never seem to follow through on very many of them. This semester, if I am going to be focused and get the most out of all my opportunities, I am going to have to set and stick to some 2016 goals. Goals for fun, religious goals, friendship goals, just to name a few.

One thing is for sure, I can't set very many goals or I will get very frustrated and confused! 

Now... I am not going to share my new goals with you. They are my secrets and I don't feel like sharing them is the important thing. 
What's important is that I have set them. Have you? I think asking the question that Larry R. Lawrence talked about in the October 2015 conference, "What Lack I Yet?", is the perfect place to start when setting goals for the new year. 

Now back to the video at the top. Some of my favorite lines for the video above are, "You can't go back. So you might as well live foreword in the best way you can." And "Everyday is the beginning of a new year, and its the first day, literally the first day of the rest of your life."

Now, it could be the English major inside of me, but I love the analogy of writing our own lives. Life is our very own personal story. My own adventure story, love story, travel journal, fantasy, and isn't that the best? We would't every book to have the same story over and over again, so why would we want to live the same story? 

I am grateful for everyone that has been apart of my story so far. My life would be a sad novel without all these wonderful characters. It would be like Old Man and the Sea-part two. 
(It's still a great book and many valuable lessons can be taken from it!)

Now a friend of mine shared a quote with me on in the first hour of the New Years. Dieter F. Uchtodorf said, "In His plan there are no true endings, only everlasting beginnings." They pointed out that we get new beginnings not just every year, but every Sunday. Goals and new beginnings don't just come once a year. 

So if one of your goals is a complete fail by week two, don't give up. Continue to adapt and change and make new goals. The most important thing is that you are accessing the potential that you have inside of you to become the person you are suppose to become.

So here's to another year, another chapter, another page.

And personalizing one of my favorite quotes from Dieter F Uchtdorf:
"I am a princess, destined to become a queen.My own wondrous story has already begun. My "once upon a time" is now."

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!