Almost Done!

School's almost out for the summer.....or christmas!! I cannot believe that this semester is basically over already! I think that this has been the fastest semester I have had here at school.  Just yesterday was September and the first day of school, which I was dreading.  I was excited to be back at school and to be in the college life again, but having to come back after two years was a little daunting in a way.  As much as I love school, I really did not want to come back and have to go through so many tests, papers, and presentations again.  I had to though and so I came back to the lovely Provo to live with my wonderful friends.  I thought that this semester would drag on because I would be bored, would not want to do homework, and would be overwhelmed with everything I had to do.  I must admit that in the beginning I was not very good at homework and struggled to really get into school because I did not want to be at school.  Through time though I overcame those feelings and became better at being a good student who studied hard.  Luckily, I enjoy most all of my classes which helped me get back into the swing of things as well.  I still think that it is crazy we are in finals week because this semester went by so quickly!! To define this semester is to say it was fun, crazy, tiring, stressful, enjoyable, and memorable.  I am grateful to be here at this great school and to learn so much, even when I am struggling to really focus on it.

ArG!!!

I had such a wonderful Thanksgiving break that was stress free, but once I came back to Provo all that changed.  I went to class yesterday morning and tried to hit the ground running.  I have so many papers, presentations, tests, and portfolios all due this week and next week.  Sometimes I just feel like I should laugh at how much I have to do in the little time that I have.  I am now feeling all of the stress that I did not have during the break.  I understand that since it is the end of the semester final projects and papers are due, but sometimes I feel like it is overkill.  For one class, I have my final and an extensive portfolio due on the same day with a huge paper due two days later.  Really?  And that is for just one class.  All of my classes have this similar story and as a result, I am dying.  These next two weeks are going to be horrible, long, and filled with stressful days trying to get everything done.  Following that week will be the wonderful week of finals where you stand in the testing center line forever. 

            I understand that I am in college which makes you work and demands the best of you, but sometimes it is downright exhausting.  Where are the days of snack time, recess, and not always having to worry about homework and jobs?  Lamenting about this makes me that much more grateful for the childhood I had.  Life moves quickly and I am learning again to seize the moment before it is gone.  We have one life to live filled with challenges, struggles, triumphs, and happiness.  No life is perfect, but it is perfect for us individually…to grow stronger.  We may become frustrated, overwhelmed, or stressed with life, but this is all part of the process of life.  These lessons teach us patience, endurance, strength, and even true grit at times.  So, even though I complain that I am overwhelmed and stressed with everything I have to do right now, I am strong and can get through this.  I am blessed in so many ways and have the privilege to attend a wonderful school that challenges and teaches me new lessons each day.

Wedding Time!!

This year for Thanksgiving, my roommates and I headed out to California together on a road trip!  Instead of going home, we all came out here since one roommate is getting married this weekend.  We love her so much and want to be here to support and help her during this exciting time!  She is the second of our little group to be married, and we are so happy for her.  She and her fiancé are so cute, wonderful, and strong together.  They have been a great example to me about what a couple can be and should be.  I have loved watching how they interact and treat each other because they have shown me what I like and don't like in a relationship.  I know the Lord truly has a specific plan for each one of us, knows exactly who we are, and knows the person we need to marry to help us become the best we can be.  

            Yesterday, we had Thanksgiving with family of the groom and it was really fun.  So many people were there, but they were all so nice and welcoming.  After we ate, they set up an inflatable slide that was really fun.  The best attraction though was a padded bar that we had to dodge.  In an inflatable arena, there were four spots that you stood on and as the bar came around you either had to jump over or under it.  We were so full that we could not jump very high, so it kept taking us out.  We had so much fun though!  I have never done anything like that before, so I am glad I was able to experience a new thing that was so fun!  So far, this week has been wonderful and I am loving it here.  The weather is hot and amazing, the food is never ending, and I am surrounded by some of my favorite people.  I am so grateful for all I have been given and the opportunity I have to be here for the wedding.  She is getting married in the morning!!! J

Football!

     This year I had the opportunity to work at the BYU football games as an event staff member.  I had a great time and really enjoyed my time working at the games.  I was the south stroller check member and made sure all the strollers were taken care of and safe during the game.  That was not the most exciting post that I wanted, but it was still really fun to be there.  I was able to talk to a lot of people since I was on the main level watching everyone come into the stadium.  Many people asked for my help and were grateful that I was there to help direct and guide them when they needed help.  My supervisor was really great and was always so nice.  He knew that I loved sports and wanted to see parts of the football games, so he would rotate me around with other workers to be in the portal and watch the game.  

     Yesterday, BYU played their last home game and won!  The downside of the game was that the weather was cold, windy, and rainy.  I was underneath the stands at the beginning of the game so I did not get caught in the first thunderstorm.  During the rest of the game, there was just mist and sprinkles coming down.  With about ten minutes left in the game though the heavens opened and we were caught in a downpour.  I had not brought a raincoat, so I stood there watching the game getting wetter and wetter.  Finally the game ended and the crowd started leaving.  My supervisor said we had to pick up all the stadium chairs in our section though since it was the last home game.  So, we went from the top of the bleachers to the bottom and picked up all the chairs.  This was quite the workout, but funny and super wet.  The chairs were so wet that by the time we were done, I was soaked all the way through.  I will always remember that experience though because it was so crazy but fun as well.  I loved working at the games and will miss it.

Last night, I attended a ward activity at Peaks Ice Arena to play broom ball.  I had only played broom ball once before, so I was excited to play again and see if I could improve my skills.  We got there and I immediately realized that I had worn completely wrong shoes to play the game.  I was wearing boots, but they had no traction on them at all.  When you are running around on ice trying to hit a ball, having no traction is a little bit of a problem!  I practiced sliding around to keep my footing and was doing okay, so I decided to just go for it and do what I could.  

         Unfortunately, I think I was a little ambitious because the first time I started running after the ball I fell.  I kept chasing after the ball and fighting for it with my stick, and always fell down.  The ice and I started to become good friends.  Sometimes I tried to see how graceful or cool I looked while falling to make it more fun.   Eventually I became goalie so I would not have to fall down as much.  That proved to be great and I made some great saves without falling.  I tried to make one last save at the end of the game and got really into the play.  I dropped down to stop the ball and landed hard on my knees to try and get the ball.  The ball went in and both my knees were numb because I hit them hard on the ice.  I lost in both ways.  Now, I have huge, colorful bruises on both my knees.  I can show off my battle scars now, while I limp around and try not to touch my knees.  Overall though, I would say broom ball was a success because I had so much fun and my team won!

Gratitude

   Today, we had a regional conference for church where 14 stakes met together in the Marriott Center to hear different leaders and an apostle of the Lord speak to us.  The meeting was amazing and taught me so much about the gospel, my Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ, and becoming the best I can be through different trials that come my way.  We are all going to have challenges and trials come because it is not if but when, but when they do come we can get through them with the help of our Savior.  He came to this earth and set the perfect example of how we should live our lives and learn and grow.  Then He felt all of our pains, weaknesses, sorrows, sickness, sadness, guilt, despair, and hopelessness.  He is the ONLY one who knows exactly how we feel and is there every step of the way for us.  He will lift us up, bring us hope and happiness, and will never stop loving us.  I loved learning more about how we are never alone, and that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are always there to get us through life.  I felt like the overall message was that life is going to be hard, but as we try to improve ourselves to be the best we can be then we will be ok.  We will receive the help that we need and be guided and protected throughout our lives.
   Being at the conference this morning was exactly what I needed!  There were so many answers to prayer, statements that were meant for me, and the knowledge that I can get through hard things.  The spirit there was so strong to me and helped me feel and realize more just how important I am to the Lord.  Even though things in life never seem to go how I want them too, it is going how the Lord needs them to go.  He knows exactly what I need to help stretch me, teach me, and make me become a better daughter of God.  Things are not placed in my path just for the fun of it, but because the Lord knows that I can handle getting through it and that I am strong enough to face another challenge.  He loves each of us so much and knows who we are individually.  We are so blessed to have a knowledge that He lives, loves us, and is there for us...always!!!  Today was a great day of teaching and remembering the importance of so many aspects of myself, this gospel, and the Lord!

I love school...

Let's be honest, school is hard sometimes!  This past week has been filled with assignments, presentations, papers, and quizzes that have tested me so much.  These next two weeks do not look much better either since I have more presentations, papers, and assignments coming up.  I feel like teachers just throw everything at you at the same time, and then you die because there is so much to do!  I love being able to learn new information and apply those teachings into my life.  My major classes are wonderful and have taught me so much about how I can truly help those around me.  I am grateful to know that I am in the major I need to be in because it all feels so right.  Having so many assignments due for all my classes at the same time is when I get frustrated with school.  I want to do well and do all I can to be the best I can be and receive good grades, but sometimes it just does not work out that way.  Even if I put in the effort and work, sometimes the result is not what you wanted.  College is wonderful though and I love the experiences I have been able to have.  You really have to come out of your comfort zone, and do things that you did not know you could do.  You are pushed to new limits, stretched, broken down, built up, and tired through the whole process.  Life can be tiring and hard, but I feel that you always come out of those experiences stronger with more knowledge.  I have learned through many lessons more about who I am, what I can handle and accomplish, and how I can get through challenges thrown my way.  Life is not always easy, but it is not supposed to be.  We would never grow and reach greater heights if we were not challenged and broken down sometimes.  I am grateful for the trials that I have and for being overwhelmed with school right now.  Not because I enjoy it or want it, but because I know the Lord knows I can handle it and that there are lessons for me to learn as I go through this time.  I just have to keep trying.