classrooms

the last few days i haven't had a lot of homework and it has been amazing. so... i've been helping other people out. and yes you feel better because you're serving others, but i just have to say not only is that great, but i also have felt such an efficient and productive busyness. instead of everything i am working hard on be for myself, it has been for other people around me and i love it. it made me so excited to help others even more. last night some friends and i went to nat's volunteer dinner/recipe book party and it was so much fun. the food was amazing and i got to make homemade reeses :) it is perfect because they are my most favorite candy ever. then liese came over and we enjoyed the evening together. i cannot wait to live with her next year. i have to say i just love spiritual and uplifting conversations. oh haha this morning on my way to school, i totally fell on my hands and face. my hand was crushed and now i have a black eye. haha maybe not a black eye, but hand is truly crushed. thinking about walking around with a hook calling myself hook. something that's been on my mind lately is that faith without works is dead. i know i hear that all the time but the power that is derived from that phrase is amazing. if i am willing to put a lot of effort in trying to feel the spirit, feel uplifted, read my scriptures and patriarchal blessing, then Heavenly Father WILL bless me with the spirit. If i just think that and move forward, then it will happen. over the weekend at home, my dad told me the best thing i can do for myself and my future family is to always move forward, no matter what. when i am always working forward, that fact detached alone from whether or not i'm struggling, means i am improving and doing what Heavenly Father wants. it is the effort. this makes me so happy. you know how there are some classes where the teacher basically just wants you to fail? well i feel like the plan of salvation is completely the opposite. Heavenly Father is the teacher and has set everything up for us to succeed.

who knew almonds could be so satisfying

so you know the song strawberry swing... well the line "its such a perfect day" ran through my head about a million times today. or should have at least. today was wonderful. i went to school, had a job interview that went very well and then came home because i had no homework that absolutely NEEDED to be worked on haha should have is another story. so then i picked up jenna and we went to bajios for lunch after buying myself seven dollar adorable shoes which later on in the day would give me massive blisters haha but well worth it. after we ate, went back up to campus for a few meetings--yes i am a professional at life. so many meetings to attend. i had three today haha--then was supposed to go to the temple but then it closes at ten am on mondays... who knew. and then becca and i went to the park and ate TONS of candy haha from the dollar store and its so interesting because candy that comes from the dollar store is just a little bit off from the regular priced taste. example: my sour gummy worms were

just a tad bit too sour. my sweet peach rings were way too sweet. but the chocolate was just right. then i came home and did some very crafty service type things in my favorite new boxer shorts. went to FHE and dyed easter eggs! so fun. and then kelse and i were supposed to go to the gym at eight... didnt leave till eight forty ahaha we got stuck in the quad taking model shots with some girls haha so fun. (as you can see above) i love it and then we went to the gym for a few minutes haha ran a bit and then i did some more crafty things. life is wonderful when you are really positive. something inside of me just clicked over the weekend while at home and its almost like i just never want to be sad again. and i never want that desire to go away and almost that is enough to make sadness go away forever. and its only possible with the atonement of Christ. tonight i gave a lesson in FHE about that and ended up bearing my testimony about Christ and how he is with us constantly. i feel like i have always known that but recently it's been on my mind more. i just have to say my favorite book in the Book of Mormon is definitely 3rd Nephi.

homely

it is time for bridal shower!!!!! kati, nat, mother and i have all been working so hard on things for the wedding ie. giggling while creating ingenious and innovative center pieces. perhaps i will post a few photos in a few days. liz and i went to the beach today and it was just perfect. i have sincerely missed the beach wow. so we drove there and ran serpentine down the hill to the sand and burst onto the sparkling sand. we then sang our way to the perfect clearing in the sand and then took a million pictures while basking in the sunshine. after a little while we felt like splashing and frolicking in the water and so we did--naturally. it was freezing! which made it even more liberating :) so then we came home and had deep thought-provoking conversations in the spa haha i love lizzie so much. i have missed her truly and am so happy i could have visited her. oh! funny story. nat and i were going to be late to the airport because of the insane weather so we decided to park at the airport. well we did not realize how far away parking is haha we just barely made it after trekking forever. i suppose we could have taken a shuttle but it said it wasn't going to be there for at least eight more minutes and time was running short. so as we were running, this car didn't see us and ended up laughing because we were running through puddles with all of our bags (nat mainly had the most) and this massive wedding gown in a cover. it was freezing and i felt like it could have been in a full house episode. ahaha even though it was stressful and slightly embarrassing, it added character to the day. i think that this day has been my favorite in a long time, i just love home and i am currently making a pro and con list about spring in provo vs. home. home may be winning a little right now, it definitely has the home advantage hahaha i love making up puns. wow its late

health

im going to be a high school health teacher! thats the plan so far. so im in my health promotion class and we are watching bud weiser commercials that make money off of laughing at the effects of alcohol. its scary the way that media seeps into families and homes. there are always underlying messages that we are receptive of whether we realize it or not. i listened to rocky raccoon on the way to school today and it made me think of lake powell and my uncle scott--i cannot wait to go to lake powell this year. it will be amazing. when my uncle scott sings this song it is the sweetest thing. oh two songs that make me want to cry are somewhere over the rainbow and clare de lun. im so excited for this weekend! im going home for nat's bridal shower. she is getting married may 1st. MAY DAY. its amazing that she is at that point in her life haha so old. im going to make sure i go to the beach and sleepovers with liz and being with my mom. i feel like this weekend away is coming at the perfect time: to get away... i have no homework and no other reason to stay in provo. and i cant decide if im going to stay for spring or not. there are pros and cons to both sides thus the ineffectivity of my pro and con list. and yes i did just make that word up.

and i have to say, i am just so grateful for good girlfriends right now, you know who you are and you have helped me so much :) you girls are the best and i love you all

first time ever

okay so i have an eight page paper due and i should be working on it. however, im in a spontaneous mood and this is the most rebellious and liberating thing i could think of that doesnt require me to leave the apartment. i was listening to the song white winter hymnal by fleet foxes and i decided i am in love with the line turn the white snow into red strawberries in summertime. i fell in love--that is exactly how i feel right this second. chin up :) oh and now im listening to this amazing french song. i wish i spoke french because then i actually could be a mysterious brunette who speaks a foreign language, haha id be unstoppable. and plus now im published :) oh ps. that picture above was taken in Siena Italy, i wish i was there this moment. i suppose though i will have to wait a while to travel to world--i really want to go backpacking or something insane like that.