Lucky

So, a few hours ago, I wrapped up my sophomore year with a 145 question test. It was exhausting, and I think my neck is going to be stiff for the next couple of days--but regardless of all that melodramatic stuff, I feel blessed beyond measure. Honestly, I feel like I might just be the luckiest girl in the world.
Here's why:

I seriously can't imagine what my life would be like without these girls, and I can hardly believe I've known them for just a year and a half. They've made such a difference in my life, and I know that they will do the same in every single place they are headed to (London, Paris, Daejeon, Bahia Blanca, Toronto, etc. :)). 

And a few more reasons why I feel pretty blessed:

I get to see my fam bam this weekend

I only had to take one test in the JSB auditorium during finals week

I found out the BYU creamery has gluten-free hamburger buns

I get to spend my summer in lovely Provo

I have a new job at the MTC

I get to spend time with a super cute boy (seriously, he's so great!)

My list might be able to go on for awhile....

But seriously, I feel so fortunate. I know with all of my heart that Heavenly Father knows me perfectly. He has a plan for me. I know that the Atonement of Jesus Christ is enabling and has the power to transform every mediocre part of my life. By myself, I can do nothing--Christ's Atonement makes all the difference in changing me from where I am now to become something better. Even though I get frustrated sometimes by my total lack of even being close to perfect, I know that every single day, step by step, Heavenly Father, through the remarkable power of His Son's sacrifice, takes me by the hand and walks with me through my weak efforts to become more like Him. 

I'm blessed. 

If I were president

If I were president:

1) You could buy packages of just pink Starbursts. At Costco.

2) It would be illegal to eat a tuna fish sandwich in the middle of your college lecture hall. Mmmm, I can almost smell it now.

3) More people would stand in the middle of the sidewalks at Brigham Young University during class change... making out. Yep, that was totally a joke.

4) Everyone would cheer for you if you slipped and fell on the ice.

5) My background music would sound a little bit like this:

Would that be awesome or what?

6) There would be a National Si Robertson Day where everyone would, yep you guessed it, talk like Silas Robertson himself.

7) Everyone would, on that note, grow a Robertson beard.

8) No one would smack their lips while they were eating or lick their fingers when they were done. Naaaasty. 

9) The stairs up the hill to campus wouldn't look like this: 

But rather, would look more like this:

10) Honey Boo Boo would be my VP. 

Vote for me.

Just in case you really want to know what I think about guns

"First it's pretty tires, then it's pretty guns...next thing you know, you're shavin' your beard and wearin' capri pants!"
-The Si Robertson

So... Obviously people have been going a little cra-cra over the topic of gun control. President Obama came out yesterday with his concrete plan of action regarding it. I think it was a good one. People can still have guns (which is good because maybe people will stop posting memes about gun control, pictures of themselves with their guns in front of their fireplaces, etc. It's a little odd, people!)  BUT, don't you think these tragic acts of violence aren't actually all about the guns? 

I'm probably kinda ignorant because I practically know diddly squat about all the details of the second amendment... blah blah blah, BUT yeah. From my perspective, guns can't always be the problem. Taking guns away from people isn't going to end any violence. 

What about the kids that are allowed to sit in their basements all day playing Call of Duty? Or the kids whose parents who aren't involved one bit in their lives? To me, that is the source of the problem. Nothing the government can do will ever be able to change what we do inside our homes. 

What is it teaching kids when they watch uber violent movies and the "hero" is just like shooting people right and left without any punishment? It's just weird to me. 

Let's face the truth. I'm only 19 years old, and obviously I've never raised a child, so duh.. I don't know how hard it is. I am also not named Metta World Peace either, so yeah, I think guns are okay... maybe even necessary.

But hello, people! Bad things are happening here! Something obviously has gotta happen! I personally think it should start in the home through being more involved in the lives of children and having a control over how much of the junky violent media comes into the home. 

Obviously every situation is different, and obviously I am not super informed on the whole issue, but doesn't it just make sense that things that are happening in the homes probably are having the biggest impact on society? It's not just about whether you can go stock up on guns and ammunition. I think the violent tendencies and thoughts start a lot earlier than the moment the wackos have the guns in their hands. 

I bet we, as individual families, could probably make the biggest difference. 

  

A New Year

Seriously?! 2012 is already OVER? Crazy crazy craziness. Like where did the time even go? My 2012 consisted of :
 an 18 credit winter semester
late-night LOST marathons
a 4 credit Italian class
saying goodbye to my precious freshman year
relationship ends and beginnings
a dreamy vacation to Southern California
the annual camping trip to Pine Valley
summer afternoons working at the dry cleaners, plus..
 summer nights working at Pancho and Lefty's
moving into my new apartment at Liberty Square
changing my major like four times
my first experience disco skating (yeah, wasn't pretty)
BYU football games
thug Thursdays
being diagnosed with Celiac Disease
tears after Mitt the man was defeated
spinning around I-15 during a snowstorm
volunteering at an elementary school in Provo
post-test Cafe Rio celebrations
having the best roommates in the world
a huge obsession with Duck Dynasty
lots and lots of burnt meals

etc. etc. etc.
Simply put, it's been a wonderful year.

A side note:
You probably haven't heard about this movie or been bombarded with Facebook statuses of how beautiful it is or viewed like two hundred Instagram fanatics posting model shots of  Marius or sung "Do You Hear the People Sing" in the shower everyday, so let me fill you in. Okay, but really. I will join in with my social media peeps and say that this was the most incredible movie ever.

That's all I've got. Happy 2013.

Some webcam gems from twenty-twelve:

I love my Hayden, but I don't love my hair

I can't believe I'm allowing this to go viral.

Hope ya like my neck.

Hold onto your seats, folks

I'm back, ladies and gents. Here's what I've been up to lately:

I love my roommates, Halloween, and caramel apples.

Matchy matchy roomies before the ward Halloween party! Don't worry, Lindsey and I totally won the 'Best Nerds' award. 

Okay, so we took this picture right after the dedication of the Brigham City Temple. These twelve girls are amazing! We were in the same ward together last year, and now we are all next door neighbors. Let's just say it's always a party! Totally love them!

My favorite Sunday afternoon spot. I am such a lucky girl to have this right down the street.

It doesn't get any better than a good BYU football game.

My cute friend Dacy came down to Provo, and we all went to a haunted house together. Holy cow, I haven't screamed/laughed that hard in a looooong time. 

So, there's a little bit about what's been going on around these parts. 

School is wonderful. It really blows my mind everyday that I have the opportunity to attend BYU. I love this place. 

But, I'm not gonna lie, we are right in the middle of the semester, and amid all of the tests and study groups and papers and presentations I sometimes want to quit.

Yeah, I'm a little melodramatic probably.

But there are some dang tough, discouraging days. 

You would think I would've figured this out permanently by now, but every single day Heavenly Father reminds me that I really can do hard things with His help. 

I'm such a weak girl, but because Heavenly Father sacrificed His Son for me, the difference can be made up. 

And that makes a world of difference to me. 

Don't mistake me for your babushka

 

Look at what college is doing to me!

Check out those bags under my eyes and those wrinkles on my forehead.

Uh oh, talk about premature aging.

Next week I'll probably sprout a patch of gray hair and kids on campus will accidentally call me grandma.

 

Today was a long day.

 

But everything is so good.

SO stinking good.

 

 

 

 

 



I love summertime

I always feel a little ounce of melancholy when I realize that I have one more week of summer left.

I will miss a wallet that is currently full of quarters (hello, college laundromat).

I will miss driving with my mom to drop my siblings off at school. They really love it when I yell "remember who you are" out the window as they walk away.

I will miss being attacked by bats on our nightly walks.

I will miss the 110 degree weather (haha!)

I will miss seeing the St. George temple everytime I drive into town.

Basically, I will just miss home.

BUT.. I decided to be a die-hard fan yesterday and jam out to this...

and I think I started crying.

Honestly, I love being a BYU student, and I'm excited to go back.

Time for today's random fact:

Last week after having some blood work done, it was discovered that I probably have Celiac Disease. This means that I am now on a gluten-free diet.

Is it sad that when the nurse called to tell me what they found I immediately thought about the fact that I can't eat my mom's mint brownies anymore? Seriously, if you haven't ever had those brownies before then you must live a very sad life.

Happy last week of summer!

Also, watch this Mormon message. I loved it! It's so powerful.