Big Dreamin

This is what occupies my thoughts all of the time right now. It's the BYU Jerusalem Center. I've been wanting to attend the center for over 4 years now and I'm really hoping that my dream will finally come true. I'm applying to go in January!! Pray for me to get in! I want to wake up every morning and look out on the ancient city. And there is a field trip to Tel Aviv! And if things ever clear up, then there is a field trip to Egypt as well. I guess that remains to be seen. Oh Jerusalem...

Oh hey...

Oh hey, it's been a while. I keep thinking that none of the blogs that I follow are blogging very much lately, but then I remember that I'm not either. Probably because not a lot has happened worth blogging about. Here's something of interest for you I suppose- I'm in a dinner group, well actually 2 of them this summer. One on Tuesdays and one on Thursdays. I'm really really glad that I decided to join because it has been quite a good experience. I really do love cooking. And even more than loving to cook, I love to have people eat and enjoy my food. Perhaps its a vanity thing where I really just like to impress people and have them validate how awesome I am, but either way I really do enjoy it. I guess I also like having a reason to cook. It's so much easier to cook for a group than for just myself, plus I have more motivation to do it if I know that people are counting on me. I've cooked twice this summer. The first time I made Indian food- chicken tikka marsala. It was freaking good, I must say. And then this past Tuesday I made Banh mi sandwiches- which are French Vietnamese meatball sandwiches basically. And they were soooo good! Those sandwiches are one of my favorite things that my dad makes, so I figured I would give them a try.

Not only is it fun to cook, but it's also fun to chat and discuss things with people while eating good food. I have 2 awesome groups of people that are a lot of fun and I enjoy spending time with them. Plus they all cook well too! So it's just a win win situation all around. I want to always be in a dinner group now. Even when I'm married with kids, I still think it would be fun to do so. Now I need to be thinking about what I want to cook next.....

P.S. I am acing my French class. Not to brag, but yeah I guess it is to brag. Je suis intelligente!

New Post

Yeah... sorry about that whole not blogging thing. I need to be better. Here's the update for ya- I'm doing spring classes- French and Utah History. I am liking my French class and my Utah history class is a hit or miss. Sometimes I think it's not so bad- other times I find it hard to stay awake during it. I do enjoy the book I am reading for it right now though. It's called "Mormon Mother." It's an autobiography of a mormon mother who was a polygamous wife in the late nineteenth century. The manifesto declaring the end of polygamy came out while she was married. I can't believe some of the things I am learning about polygamy. It's just incredible how much I am learning about the simple logistics of a plural marriage and such. Either way- I would highly recommend it for an interesting read. Other than school, not much else is new in my life. Church and work are both going well. So I guess that's all I have for now- sorry for being so boring, haha. I'll try and be interesting next time.

Apparently my class actually starts at 1...

Well I thought my next class started at noon, but here I am waiting for it to start and am realizing that it doesn't actually start until 1. Awesome. I guess that gives me more time to blog though, right? Well winter semester ended last Thursday and Spring classes already started yesterday. I would be lying if I didn't say I was slightly relieved though. I was really bored those few days between school days and I didn't really know what to do with myself. So I'm glad to be back in classes- and I'm only taking 2 so that should be even more enjoyable.

I've been thinking a lot about God lately. Mainly about my relationship with him. I'm struggling to know what is and isn't ok to ask Him. I feel like I just want to lay down how I want my life to go to Him and for Him to just grant it to me sometimes. And it's not like I'm asking for some crazy, unrealistic things. I have righteous desires, and yet I still struggle to ask for them sometimes because I want to ensure Him that it is His will that should be done, not mine. What if my will and His will are aligned though? How can you really tell? I guess that's one of life's lessons that I am still learning slowly but surely.

It Friee day

It's Friday night. When I want to be out doing this:

Don't these people look like they are having fun? Well that is the message I am trying to convey at least... Instead I am doing this:

Aren't finals fun? Tomorrow is my first one! And what is up with having a scheduled final on a Saturday, BYU? REALLY?! Well I could get down on my rather dull Friday night, but then good old google images reminded me that:

when I searched for an image to portray having fun. So I guess I'm having fun either way! Don't be jealous!

As Promised...

A few posts back I told you all that I haven't taken any pictures this semester0 which is definitely true. But I also promised that as soon as I took a picture, I would post it on the blog, so there it is. This is Emily and I at the conference center in Salt Lake City. It was a beautiful day, even though it snowed and was kind of cold. I do enjoy the dreariness- if not only because it gives perfect lighting to pictures. Ah yes...

I pulled out my lavender cardigan for the "Spring" and got a ton of compliments on it- so thanks again Mom! I think she bought that for me when I turned..... yeah.... 17? 18? Some teen year. Or maybe it wasn't even for a birthday.... haha. Either way- it kept me warm but was still a nice spring color.

Tomorrow is also the last day of classes for the semester. Can you believe it? I can't. Wish me luck on finals!

Reflection

Well I've had my blog for about 2.5 years now. Crazy how the time has flown. For some reason I decided to go back and read my blog from the beginning and I've really enjoyed what I had to say. I can't believe how much I've grown as a person (and blogger) since October of 2008. A lot of rough times and a lot of really good times. My blog seems to only reflect the good times- which I guess is a good thing. I'm surprised at some of the realizations that I had come to and somehow forgotten. So I'm glad I went back and read them because I was able to remember and reflect on those little epiphanies. I feel like I blog way differently now than I used to... And I'm not sure that's a good thing. I loved reading my older posts but as I got closer to the present I got kinda bored. But maybe that's just because I was tired of reading- it kind of took a while to get through them all. I couldn't believe how much my posts used to be filled with testimony and small praises to the Lord. And I've kind of stopped doing that. Which I definitely don't think is a good thing. Especially since Elder Uchtdorf encouraged us all to share the good message of the gospel more on the internet through blogging and social media. And so I need to get back to that. The Lord has blessed me beyond compare and it continues to amaze me on a daily basis. I feel so empowered and strong lately- probably because of conference. I'm filled with strength that the Lord has given me, for without Him, I am nothing. The Lord is full of patience and mercy. And that is what I've truly learned/am learning recently- especially within the past year. I want to get back to a simpler me, where I realize that the small things in life are what really matter. I wrote several posts in the history of my blog that were lists of tender mercies or small moments that blessed my life, and I'd like to do it once again. Simplicity is key- I truly believe that. So here are a few of the small things as of late:

1. I know I've already mentioned conference once in this post, and also in my last post. But I really am grateful for the chance I had to listen to the great council from the Lord's servants. They really know what they are talking about!

2. I have really enjoyed going to school this semester. All of my classes are really great. Today in class my teacher called on my by name! I know this seems like an odd thing to recognize, but I never really know if my teachers know my name, and it took me by surprise when he used my name. And it made me appreciate my professor more.

3. I really needed some chocolate the other day. That craving pretty much never comes to me- but for some reason it did the other day. And then I remembered that my mom had sent me a bunch of chocolate for Valentine's day! And it was delicious...

4. My roommate started a dinner group that meets every Tuesday and Thursday. We all take turns cooking and it has been really fun. I made chicken tikka marsala (Indian food) on my night. And it just reminded me how much I love to cook! Especially when I'm cooking for other people.

5. My bank account was extremely low the other day and it was kind of getting to the scary point. But when I went to check my balance to make sure I hadn't overdrafted, I found an extra $100 more than I thought I had in there. It was like magic! Some amazing angel had transferred the money into my account from above (or from St. Louis...thanks again Mom!)

6. Rereading my own blog (although it may sound weird) really gave me some inspiration today. I felt uplifted by my own positive experiences that I had fortunately recorded. It just goes to show that bearing your testimony only makes it stronger- even if you are reading your testimony from over 2 years ago.

7. I got some really cute sandals at Target! And they were on sale! And it was fun to shop with Emily this past weekend.

8. I'm going to DC this summer!! It's been a life long dream of mine to go- literally since the 2nd grade. Hopefully it doesn't disappoint...

9. I cut back on my hours this semester with school and all and although I have a lot less money, working less has been grrrrrrreat. Such a blessing.

10. I've been doing indexing for the church- just ask me about it if you don't know it is. But basically its taking digital copies of old documents like censuses from the early 1900s and typing in the information so that the names can be temple ready. Its a quick and easy service I can do anywhere that has internet connection- and it's pretty fun! At least I think so...