6 Days Left

Well, I began the day by waking up at seven A.M. to get into the shower and get ready for the day. I debated on just wearing my glasses but, because contacts help keep me awake, I put them in. Then, around 7:40, I headed to the WILK to take my Book of Mormon final. Got there about 7:45, started taking my test around 8:05. 89%!!!! YAY!!!! Yes, not the best score but, that is pretty good for me! Returned home around 9:30 and was asleep again from 10-12. I needed that nap. Felt so good!!! Then, I made myself some mashed potatoes from a package (usually they aren't very good, I know, but, these turned out quite well. :) ). Ate and then, checked out facebook and my e-mail before I sit down to study for conducting and American Sign Language (both of the finals I have tonight).

Did some photo editing of pictures from yesterday. Quite proud of them! Yes, I should have been studying but, picnik will only be open for a few more days (yes, I could have done them after finals) so, I decided to do them now. Aren't they cute?!?!?! hehe



Well, after having some fun, I became productive for a little bit and worked on the pieces I had for my conducting final. It was a little difficult to do the one I chose since I could not find a recording of the version I am conducting of "Beautiful Savior." Luckily, I think it should still be ok. After quite a bit of practice, I decided to take a hot chocolate break & finally do my hair & make-up for the day since I looked DEAD TIRED. This ended up with curls again. It does not look as cute as yesterday but, that's fine. It's a rainy day anyway (as I found out AFTER curling my hair......)

I wish this is the hot cocoa I had but, alas, mine was in a Y
mug and did not have marshmallows...

Took my conducting final. The teacher came a little late so we just sat around practicing until she arrived. It was pretty fun but, I feel that relaxed my nerves so, when she arrived, they went crazy again and I no longer felt ready. Oh well.... It is in the past and I can just continue improving my conducting for myself.

Then, it was time for American Sign Language. This final went better and worse than I thought. The numbers (that I was worrying about) were not as hard as I thought. However, I forgot about a few things (such as culture/history stuff) that I am pretty sure I did not do well on. Oh well. Luckily, it is done and I have survived.

This was my first profile picture on facebook ever.

After returning home, I took a trip down memory lane and looked at my old profile pictures. It is interesting to compare what I look like now to when I was only a few years younger. It's amazing how much you can change in just a year and within a few years. It's funny to see how I used to do my hair and make-up and see what worked well for me and what really did not. I look so much younger and I had bushy eyebrows and my eyes were not typically open enough to be able to tell they were even there! I have grown up a lot in the past few years and especially this year at college. Just comparing a profile picture from when I was leaving home to now is a big difference.

Summer profile picture before college.

Well, the evening progressed after my time to reminisce. Went to Whitney and we roasted marshmallows and hot dogs over a fire. Then, a friend made enchiladas and so we headed to the basement to eat them. Quite tasty I must say! He has learned how to make my mother's enchiladas. I'm quite proud! haha Well, after we ate, the boys went to go play a video game so, me and my roommate got a party together and headed to our apartment to watch Footloose. It was fun. We were all gathered in out kitchen passing around popcorn and laughing/talking & simply enjoying the evening.

I'd say it was a great end to day six. ♥

7 Days Left

Woke up today and began by getting ready. I curled my hair and did my make-up. Then, I went  to a physical science review, again. While we discussed units three and four, we discussed the relative dating of rocks. This made me and my friend laugh and think "I think we should relatively date rocks!" I think that is the only reason we stayed alive during this review...

Well, I got home and ate and relaxed for awhile. Then, we joined the boys in using their budget to buy ice cream and so we enjoyed some yummy ice cream. Then, the fun began.....

Laying in a bed of rocks is Heavenly.....Kinda...

I met up with my friend to go rock/boyfriend hunting.... We walked around the little stream by Heritage and took pictures galore with rocks. It was so much fun! We laughed so hard. I continually kept saying "I like this game! We should play this more often!" It was hilarious! I had never noticed how many rocks there are around us. It honestly made my day! There were rocks to climb on, ones to pick up, ones to sit on, ones to look at, ones to admire, etc. I have found I LOVE ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!

Shhhh!!!! My boyfriend is a rock!!! 

We took so many funny pictures and I cannot post them all on here so, I've posted a few of my favorites that my friend took of me. I guess getting ready for the day really paid off because some of these are actually really cute! ♥

I'm holding it's hand.... tehehe

After rock hunting, I went to a surprise party for one of my home teachers. That was also fun. We ate and had a water fight/tickle fight and danced and took pictures and such. I LOVE MY WARD!!!! I am going to miss all of them so much when I leave in seven days. They have become some of my bestest, closest friends. We have not know each other very long but, have shared so much. It will be weird to not have all these  guys next door when I return in the fall but, they will be serving the Lord across the globe and becoming the best men this world has ever seen. They will become great fathers and husbands; great students and teachers; great friends and listeners; great servants of the Lord.

dead guy pancake :)

For dinner, my roommates made dead guy pancakes. So funny! It was hilarious and I felt like I was in Despicable Me!!!! I ate a dead guy.... :P


After, we headed to the guy's dorm to play murder in the dark. My roommate and I stuck together and would go sit in the back room and wait to be killed. Eventually, we did get killed by one of our friends and we dove to hide under the table to wait to be found. Then, we headed up to a friend's dorm to "study" since finals start tomorrow. And so ends day 7.

8 Days Left

Thursday before I head back home to Chicago-land.
After having a Wednesday filled with packing........ We begin day 8 with making a last big Denny's run. Of course, we were all exhausted but, it was a blast (as usual). We made our trek there and, of course, reminisced in old jokes made on earlier trips. It had been quite some time since we had made a run to one of our favorite restaurants to go to at hours past midnight. As we walked, one of our memories was when I pushed the button at the light it automatically changes. Well, after someone else pushed it first and we had to wait for quite some time, I got my job back and, I succeeded in having my "magic touch."

At Denny's I had a sausage slam & chocolate milk shake. Sadly, it was too much sugar so I could not finish it all. While we were there, a friend of mine asked if he could borrow a dollar to make some origami. He made me a snail with said dollar bill. Quite cool, actually.

Well, as it usual with me being around, I got into a few "tickle fights" with this same friend. He actually found, and remembers, where one of the few spots on my back is. I typically don't even remember!!! But, he used it against me enough last night, I remember....

As we headed back, we were all quite wide awake and just acted goofy. We are all pretty crazy but, I feel, last night was quite a bit so. We started by having a "Hunger Games" which turned into a bunch of werewolves chasing me which ended in me getting attacked which ended in many laughs.

Upon returning to Heritage, a different friend and I decided to roll down the hill a few times, for old times sake. Then, three of us just laid on the hill for a bit talking and laughing and playing "I Spy" until we all headed in for bed around 3:30am.

Quite a few hours later (around 11am) I woke up and got ready for the day. I put on my Superman t-shirt and some jeans and grabbed a jacket to head to a Physical Science 100 review for finals. Yes, I feel the review was good to go to but, it was a long review with many more hours of studying needed. After it, I came home and made some scrambled eggs with bacon bit, parsley, and basil. So good! Then, it was time to grade my Book of Mormon take home final and work on my Mission Prep Final Celebration. These were both interrupted by my roommate that received a mysterious egg with a puzzle inside to ask her on a date to go rollerblading. Pretty funny. Lots of final reviews going on tonight so, it was a nice break from the stressful life of a college student.

Ran from a Physical Science review with people in my ward to an ASL (American Sign Language) review in the library. Then, came home for a bit before going to the guy's dorm and seeing a friend get his mission call. Then, study party in the basement of our building. It's amazing to me how much can get done when everyone is quiet and willing to work. Yes, college kids can be quiet for more than an hour because we just did it! Now, time for bed. And so ends the countdown day 8. ♥

Gethsemane Song

Today in Book of Mormon (the last day), our teacher had his little girls come and sing this song called "Gethsemane" for us. It was so sweet. I had to come home and look up this song. So, here it is to share. Listen to the words and I think it is easy to understand why it touched me so much.

Learning from the Past

Well, earlier in life, I had a close guy friend, who I liked, tell me that he liked me. Shortly after, when he met a close friend of mine, I thought they might end up liking each other. Of course, this ended up happening. At the time it hurt a lot and for awhile I could not talk with them because I needed time to forget it and not cry about it anymore.

~~~History repeats itself~~~

This semester, I began liking a guy and, long story short, he likes one of my roommates and close friend. This time is a little different because my roommate knows I like him. For awhile, I was jealous and could not really stand it very well but, after talking it out with a few close guy friends, I went to the temple asking for peace because I could not be jealous of my roommate or hate a close guy friend. You cannot make people love or hate you. The heart has a mind of its own. Well, the temple really is a wonderful place to think and receive answers that are much needed. While there, I realized I was stressed about things to come in the next few weeks. I was stressed about getting a job, feeling like I do not belong at home, saying good-bye, and a few other things. Once I had finally confronted my fears, I realized the jealousy was gone. I had been wrongfully placing my stress into something that was not that big of a deal. 

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It is amazing how the Lord will give us similar situations so we can continue to learn and grow from them. This life really is a test to teach us how to be better and now, I have learned more to improve myself and I know not to get worked up so much over little things but, to look for what is truly making me upset. I am so grateful for a God to knows how to help me and who loves me so much he would have me go through hard things to learn what I need to. ♥

Reflections on Freshman Year

Well, with only a week of classes left and then, finals, I figure it's time to do an update on life here. On Sunday, I went to tunnel singing, as usual, and figured it would be the same as it recently has been: a great time filled with laughter and me scolding the boys for not acting their age, etc. Well, sad to say, this was not the case. It began that way, as usual but, then, it changed. The "spiritual" half of it went super spiritual. We began this change of events with The "EFY Medley" and, as the guys began to sing the armies of Helaman part, I began to feel the spirit like I did at EFY. I did NOT want to cry though. I do not like crying in public. I was able to hold it in but, I could not really look at the guys across from me because I felt such a great love for them. The guys in my ward have become quite close to family, if not family. They are all so amazing and have really touched my life and the guys across from me held a very special place in my heart and most would be leaving for missions shortly after the semester was over so, I would not be seeing them again for quite some time, if ever again. After the Medley was finished, we sang "Families Can Be Together Forever." Once again, I almost lost it but, I just kept myself calm and tried not to cry. However, when this ended, we started to sing "God Be with You Til We Meet Again" and with this one, I wrapped my arms around my friend and we turned around so we could not see "our boys" because we lost it. We both just started sobbing and could not keep the tears in. I could hardly sing! I realized how little time I have left here and how much I have grown to love those around me. I can feel the love the Savior has for them and do not want to lose them. I know missions are very important and will be wonderful experiences for them but, the selfish side of me wants to keep them here with me. It will be hard to make all new friends next year and find awesome guys I can trust and know will look out for me. I know they will be blessed for their service and will lead great and wonderful lives and have wonderful families but, it will be hard to say more "good-byes." I hate saying good-bye but, I know these will be good since they will be serving the Lord and focusing on teaching His gospel to His lost children.

After this whole crying fest and many hugs and a long walk home, more hugs and talks were given with others who had not made it to tunnel singing. I think me and my friend scared a couple guys with how much we were crying and how we both would start again very quickly. I love the people I have met this year. I have been so blessed and enriched by their examples and the times we have shared. I will miss it dearly but, I will always have the memories and the pictures to reflect upon and continue to learn and grow from. It would be very difficult to forget all the wonderful things I have experienced and learned from those around me. It will be difficult to forget the love I have gained for those I have met and the feeling of love the Savior has for each of His children. Even though it has to come to end, I am grateful to everyone I have met and who has helped me grow and learn more about myself. Thanks BYU. Thanks 46th ward. Thanks boys. I will miss this time together. ♥