It's been awhile!

Partly because I don't know what to write

and

Partly because I have so much I could write.

Kind-of silly I know, but it's the truth.

But today I have lots on my mind. Monday's tend to stress me out. I look at my planner and become overwhelmed with all that I have to accomplish. I have so much I need and want to do, but not enough time. However, come Friday it's all gotten done and it really wasn't too bad. But alas, I'm still stressed come Monday. Will I ever learn?

But busy also can mean exciting. This semester, I've been on a research team and boy oh boy has that been fun! Our research topic has been on dating and we've found some pretty cool stats. For example:

-The average person (at UVU) goes on 3.5 dates per month
-The number one personality trait both men and women look for is honesty
-Women are more confident in dating than men
-And the number one source of advice sexual advice is sought from parents

I also got an Internship through United Way, super excited about that.

It's a hard balance between good, better, and best for me. I want to do and help everyone, but I'm realizing I can't. It's hard to pick what would be the best use of my time. Ahhh...why can't I just be superwoman? I've decided it's because that would be toooooo easy. Instead, I have to learn to live by the spirit and truly do what is most important.

Oh life!

School fills my head with lots of thoughts.

Sometimes it's to-do lists, other times its day dreams or traveling adventures.

But sometimes a class discussion will especially grab my attention it will be all I think about for days. Like yesterday in my class we talked about hate crimes in America. When I see things like that I'm convinced I was raised in the most protective bubble-totally unaware of what's happening around me (being sheltered can be a good thing though...). For a minute I was not proud of our American history.

I also think a lot about the future and what I'm to do with myself. I struggle with feelings of inadequacy or not doing enough. I wonder where I'll be in a year and what I should/ought/could be doing. I wonder if I'm preparing myself enough and taking all the opportunities I can.

Here's another class discussion that has eaten my thoughts-dream interpretation and early childhood development (specifically mine).

But don't worry-there is a small area of my brain that thinks of random things like....

my facebook account being hacked

or

when it will finally be warm

will Phil the groundhog see his shadow?

Oh, and here is one more



Tell me this isn't the cutest baby you've ever seen!

I couldn't not post on 1/11/11...hello!!!

After a great break it's back in the groove. School will be busy as usual, but also very exciting.

I fear my poor blog will be neglected this semester. I'm in one of those moods where I think blogging is dumb and that social networking is ruining our social system.

You've all felt it right?

Like why can't we just go visit someone instead of texting them?

Why is a facebook status the expected spot to post exciting news?

We all have busy lives so why do I waste time social networking? Obviously I'm participating in this as I speak...but really. Since my work and school schedule have changed, I don't spend as much time on the computer as I usually would. I used to have a big list of blogs I'd check almost daily...why? Now I realize that was a waste of time.

My goal this year: Spend less time in the virtual world

So there you go. I wasn't expecting to rant about that, but I guess that's what was on my mind.

Let's get together sometime ok?

Holly Jolly!

Isn't Christmas break wonderful!

After a long, hard semester Christmas break has been a bit of heaven. I've been doing Christmas projects, being the official taste tester for holiday goodies, taking naps, reading fun books, and staying in my PJ's.

Christmas morning finally came-it's caused me much lack of sleep (sense the sarcasm). But with some excited younger sisters, we finally got to open gifts. If it weren't for the fun younger kids bring-I would boycott Christmas morning. But seeing as we still have young kids around, there were squeals and giggles and lots of hopping around.

Everyone got something special, but were especially excited to give their gifts. I had a fun gift up my sleeve. My sister has lots of old t-shirts-you know we all have them. The ones from high school clubs and a shirt we got from a tourist shop...but after you wash them, they do weird things and they become unwearable. So I had collected a whole bag of her shirts and made them into a quilt. A labor of love for sure! But I was happy with how it turned out!

But most of all, I'm grateful for all the little things that make my holiday season complete. As the years go by I find myself being more and more sentimental about my favorite things. It's the quiet nights by the Christmas tree with all the lights off except the tree lights. It's the movies we watch each season. And it's the singing around the piano. It's my parents sharing Christmas stories and the yummy meals around the dinner table.

But most of all, this year I'm grateful for my family. My parents are golden and my sisters make me laugh.

And really

Isn't that what the holiday seasons are for?

I hope you all have a great holiday season!

Life has its ups and downs, big events, happy moments, and things we'll call "landmark" events. I would say some landmark events are baptism day, turning 16 and being able to drive, graduating from high school, first semester in college, missions, and marriages. One additional event I would add is going through the temple. This day has been long and coming for me. Since I'm not dating anyone-marriage seems a ways off. And I've decided that I won't be serving a mission (right now anyways), so I've just been waiting until I was "ready".

Now the word ready is an interesting word. First of all, what does one need to be ready for? And how do you know when you're ready for an experience? This is something I've asked myself for years. But one day, a switch was flipped and I just knew it was time. With lots of emotions and lots of preparation, the day finally came. Bright and early my parents and I headed to the temple.

What a wonderful experience-that's about all I can form into words. I was overwhelmed by the love of my family and of my Heavenly Father. I had most of my aunts and uncles attend. I was amazed at the blessings that our Heavenly Father gives to each of us. And I was overcome with a burning testimony that this is the true church-with all power, keys, and authority. I literally feel armed with God's power.

Like my uncle said, "it's kind of like taking a drink from a fire hydrant". I felt like I knew everything, but nothing at the same time.

But what a wonderful day!

For those interested in temples and why we have temples them, you can read this

Oh Merry Christmas!

I am so excited for Christmas this year and I'm not sure why. I think perhaps it's because my family is doing Christmas differently this year. We're not doing lots of gifts or big trips, we're focusing on Christ's birth, sharing the gospel, and having lots of fun "experiences".

To start the season off right I went to my favorite production with my uncle's family, The Forgotten Carols. Some say it's cheesy, but I love it :) It's all about personalizing Christ's message to the individual and remembering the birth story. I really just helps you take your mind off the commercialized Christmas traditions and focus on the the reason behind the season.

Then this last weekend I had the opportunity to go with my ward to SLC to spend the day watching the Joseph Smith movie, walking around temple square, and then doing baptisms in the SLC. What a wonderful day that was! I've never been in the SLC temple before-it was so amazing to be in such an old temple. Being in the temple was extra special for me this time as it will be the last time I will be regularly doing baptisms. With my focus being on the temple lately, I was so grateful to have the opportunity to spend the evening in such a beautiful place.

To top it all off, the First Presidency Christmas Devotional was last night. That might be my favorite part about Christmas. I love the personal setting and hearing from our beloved church leaders.

All in all, I am ready for Christmas! I hope you are too!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Isn't a little break nice? No school+no work= :)

I was a little disappointed that it was so cold down south, I was really looking forward to not wearing a coat. Oh well. But all in all, it was a nice break. I forget how busy family life can be. Someone is always doing something. I would have been happy just to sleep for the whole break. But alas I was jumped on in the early morning by my younger sisters and stayed up late babysitting a boat (long story).

On the big Thankful day, we all drove down to good ol' Hurricane to enjoy family and LOTS of food. By lots of food, I mean I took one look at it and suddenly wasn't very hungry. When it was pie time, my uncle's magic pie room kept multiplying pies. We ended up with 21 pies folks. It almost worked out to a pie a person. I'm sure they were all good, but I just took my fork and had a few bites and I was good to go.

I think I'm more excited for Christmas this year than ever before. I'm excited for the festivities around town, for the fun activities I will be attending, the lights, homemade marshmallows and hot coco, and lots of Christmas music. I have some fun Christmas projects up my sleeve as well. While I was home, I was able to got get our family Christmas tree with my cute little sisters. After my dad perfected the tree's shape, my sister and I decorated. I just love Christmas Trees!!!

But for now, I am determined to finish out school with a bang. I teach my big program tonight (glad that will be done), and then I have a few more tests and papers and I'm done. I think Thanksgiving charged my battery just enough to finish (thank goodness).

So I think I'm ready to move from November into December. Are we ready for 2011?