College

"Men and women who turn their lives over to God will discover that He can make a lot more out of their lives than they can.  He will deepen their joys, expand their vision, quicken their minds, strengthen their muscles, lift their spirits, multiply their blessings, increase their opportunities, comfort their souls, raise up friends, and pour out peace." -Ezra Taft Benson

When everything you own fits in the back of a truck and a car, life kind of hits you hard. Am I really ready to be own my own?  Am I ready to break the bond my mother created with me when I was a baby?

I found out the day before I left that I wouldn't be allowed to bring a car to college until Rachael left for her mission and I just cried and cried and cried.  I was SO scared to be so far away without a car.  I don't mind walking and riding my bike places every once in a while, but "what if".  I was terrified.  I love my sister though, so I didn't argue.  She was set on having her car and I didn't want to make her give it up because I was throwing a fit.  I feel like it was a huge sacrifice though.

This is how my room was originally organized.  As the days have gone on, me and Megan have switched beds and become more organized.  Megan freezes every night and I wake up at about 6:30 without fail every morning because I am sweating like crazy. haha We switched beds because the vent was above her original bed.  I think it helps a little bit... but St. George is still HOT HOT HOT!

Megan is the best roommate I could ask for.  She is one person who can ALWAYS make me smile or laugh.  Our roommates are probably sick of us because she almost makes me pee my pants every night because she gets me laughing so hard!  We have fun though :)  I think we were separated at birth.

My family stayed for a couple of days and I was SO grateful!  On Friday, we went to Tuacahn to see "The Little Mirmaid".  It was fantastic!  I got sick at about intermission though, so my mom had me stay at the condo with them for a couple of nights.  I got better litterally the day they left, so I think it may have been a mental thing to get my mom to take care of me one last time.  I  enjoyed getting to spend so much time with them before they left and I have missed them lots since then.  I cried when they left and the first week of school I cried almost every night because I was so lonely.

Rach threw Daddy in the pool so everyone had to gang up on her to get revenge.  It took forever and it took like three or four people and Dad's cut leg to finally get her in!

 Planking in the pool.  How funny

 Those are two of my favorite people in the whole world! For the past year (and definitely longer), they have been my very best friends.  I miss them a lot!

 When we were saying goodbye, Izaak just kept hugging me.  It made me cry (which obviously wasn't that hard to do this week).  He said he was going to miss me and that he loved me.  I hope I can still be a big part of his life even though I am so far away.  Hopefully one day he will have the courage to come visit me.

 Rachael of course is totally Bad A and kicked all the boys' butts in the trick competition.  I don't know how she does what she does... but she is GOOD!

 Everyone lives on their laptops haha

 FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!!!

 Drew Peterson came down with his family and I got to spend the day with them.  It was SO much fun!!  We just hung out and I got to get to know his family lots better.  When he went to the play that night with his parents, I still hung out with two of his sisters-in-law and their little two-year-old girls.  They were a blast!  Drew is such a good guy and it was so fun to see why he is the way he is by hearing all of his family talk about him and listening to all of them tell funny stories and everything.

 This is our neighbor Daniel.  He was bragging about how he dies his mom's hair all the time and I had just bought dye for my hair so I asked him to do it.  It was pretty funny.  He kept saying, "I feel SO homosexual right now!!" haha He did a nice job though :)

 Final product :)

 I made me and some of my roommates dinner one night :) It was really fun and REALLY tasty

 Megan and I go to the gym everyday so I thought I needed picture proof haha

 Brittany made us this DELICIOUS banana and chocolate chip cake/bread thing.  It was gone FAST!

 Running through the sprinklers late at night :)

 Kenny is Haylie's best friend and he is a male cheer leader for Dixie. I think they're in love but apparently "it's complicated".

 Haylie turned 21 so I made her a cake and we had a little party. Megan bought her a present at the dollar store. It was epic.

We were BEAUTIFUL singers for sure :)  haha But we really are going to start an apartment band because everyone has a unique musical talent (except for me) haha  I volunteered to play the triangle because everyone here sings and plays the piano and Darcee plays the violin.  We are going to be famous someday.

 We got funny glitter tattoos from the dollar store too :) haha they look freakin awesome!

College is a whole new experience.  I have had experiences from a guy talking to Megan about marrying me the day after he met me, to being so lonely that I just cry by myself.  I am growing as a person and trusting in the Lord that I am exactly where I am supposed to be.  This is hard, and I don't know that being SO far away from home is as great as people might think; but I am turning into an adult and deciding really who I want to be in life.  No, I am not attracted to the guy who is eager to get married, but it is an interesting experience for me to be able to hold my ground in deciding that he isn't what I am looking for.  I don't want a boyfriend as I take on a whole new life too, and I definitely don't want a boy who is desparate to get married! haha  That is just a funny example, but I really am developing into the person I am going to be for the rest of my life. I'm maturing and making decisions for myself that I've never had to make before. I found a quote in my scriptures on Sunday and I decided THIS is the woman I want to be.

WOMEN OF GOD....

"Women of God can never be like women of the world.

The world has enough women who are tough;

we need women who are tender.

There are enough women who are coarse;

we need women who are kind.

There are enough women who are rude;

we need women who are refined.

We have enough women of fame and fortune;

we need more women of faith.

We have enough greed;

we need more goodness.

We have enough vanity;

we need mroe virtue.

We have enough popularity;

we need more purity."

-Sister Margaret Nadauld

(General Conference--October 2000)

I think this quote is incredible.  I want to be a Woman of God.  I want to be picky in finding an eternal companion.  I want to do well in school and make lots of new friends.  I want to become even colser with Megan so someday we can spoil each other's kids and live close to each other and all of that fun stuff.  I struggled the first week with having so much change.  I was bored a lot because my schedule was so different from all of my roommates' and I had TONS of down time that I wasn't used to.  At home, I always had something to do and I was always going going going.  I really struggled with having so much time to be bored.  Hopefully I will find out this week if I am getting a job, and hopefully I will continue to make new friends.  I just keep praying.  I am here for a reason, and I am going to do my very best.  Drew has helped a lot by texting me and calling me.  We've become such great friends.  My mom has also heped a lot with her texting and calling.  I know I have great people supporting me and cheering me on to success.  This isn't just the party everyone expects... but I am becoming a much better and stronger person because of my experiences.  I am looking forward to the next few years here.