on top of the world

loving this song today. because i found out that i got an A on my music theory test which means. . . i get an A in the class for the semester and don't have to go to class ever again! here's to two more hours for studying or working out!
and i just feel like life is good.
i started my final year of school. finally. i feel like this has been years in coming! i guess it has. these two stud-muffins started their first year at BYU with me. it's been great/weird to have younger siblings here with me. i suddenly feel like i have huuuuuge shoes to feel to be an awesome older sister.

football season has also started! byu has not lost a game yet and i am loving watching them play- as usual. we've got an awesome group for football too. it's so fun to go to the game with "my boys"- Jake, Spencer, and Hyrum. it's never boring where we are.

i feel so blessed this semester. i know there are trials ahead, but at the same time i am happy. thursday was institute kick off and we had a wonderful speaker come talk about scripture study. i know that i this semester i want to improve and strengthen my relationship with Christ as i try to figure out what i'm doing after i graduate. i know that as i diligently study my scripture i will be able to fulfill my goals. i went to the temple on friday and was able to study and ponder the scriptures and my patriarchal blessing for almost two hours. it was wonderful!
so far this semester i've already been able to meet some wonderful people. there are a lot of new girls in the ward and my calling is allowing me to get to know them. i hope that i can be the best 1st counselor in the RS that i can be! i've met other great people through friends and i hope i can get to know them better as well.
i've made changes in my life too. good changes. things that i had been praying about for a long time. some of them were hard changes but i have felt so at peace about the decisions i have made.

Sunday dinner with the bros

i don't know what the semester holds in store for me! i won't be the richest girl ever. but can still be happy and succeed in my classes. it may not be the best semester in my life, but it will be the best semester for my life!

good news

guys i'm done done done with CNA class! i have officially spent 80 hours of training to become a CNA- 16 of those hours in clinicals. i also worked a little more than 20 hours a week while doing that. i am exhausted and have a lot to say about my class. i learn so much! but for tonight i'm going out on the town, i.e. to the dollar theater, with Allison and Jillian. Allison is moving back home tomorrow and i am super sad! she has been a wonderful roommate and friend!
on to other good news.
i received my financial aid notifications this morning. you may or may not know that i have been really stressed about getting the money to pay for school in the fall. i was so nervous to check if i had been awarded anything. blessing! i got more than enough money to pay for tuition and what else i need. i felt tears pushing out and i instantly said "thank you heavenly father for this gift." then i called my mom and we rejoiced. god is merciful. and he cares about what i care about. if there is anything i have learned in college it is that my education is important. and i am willing to work as hard as i need to in order to continue to receive this quality education.
i'll try tomorrow to post about every thing that happened this week as well as the posts i've been thinking about since starting the CNA class. but while you wait for that please enjoy some of my latest harry potter loves.

God Bless the U.S.A.

although the sign (created by BYU students) is quite humorous, i think everyone is just celebrating and expressing joy for the capture and death of Bin Laden.

i remember almost 10 years ago, that fateful september day. 

i've never forgotten what we're fighting for

and what we're fighting against.

as i look outside today i am grateful for a more free and safe world. 

i hope we can continue to combat any who try to limit or destroy freedom

i hope we can bring peace to the world.

i feel an incredible sense of gratitude to the men and women of the military who have put their lives on the line for the past 10 years, so that i might have a normal life and not feel threatened by those who wish to destroy freedom. 

our military troops are heroes and deserve our continued support

i pray that they can come home soon

i pray for a world where there is no fighting

no starvation

no hatred

no enmity

no power seeking dictators

i pray for a world where we work together as brothers and sisters 

to bring freedom to all. 

birthday celebration no. 1

this week is the most Celestial day of the year- aka my birthday! I will be 21, a real adult, this year. I see no reason not to celebrate the entire week. I don't have many set plans, but I want to document this week of joy. After all, the whole world is should be celebrating!

Today, I received the best gift. It is what I secretly wanted most, but didn't ask for. I got a real letter from my little [big] brother Spencer!!!! I won't open in until my birthday on Wednesday (because it's the only gift I will be getting that day), but it is sitting on my desk, filling the room with his awesomeness.

Four other things to celebrate about today are: 1) I went to the dentist. Yup, I'm one of those weirdies who actually likes the dentist. Like is an understatement. I love the dentist! It's like a massage for your mouth. I am still a cavity virgin (21 years of life and no cavities- I feel accomplished). All the boys should want to kiss me now, cuz i have the cleanest mouth in town. Heh heh. 2) I got a new drivers license- with a picture than actually is semi-attractive. And the wait at the DLD was only about 20 minutes. Woo! I'll definitely be flashing my ID more (don't get any dirty ideas, I'm just gonna show off my cute picture any chance possible). 3) I got a Valentine from a boy- outside my family. No romantic interest. Just my super awesome cool friend Andrew who it just that- awesome. I felt bad I didn't have anything for him- it was just like 3rd grade again. and I loved it. 4) It is warm!!! I think God knew that I needed warm[er] weather for my birthday and decided to give it to me. Please bless it stays in the 50s this whole week.

Look how blessed I am! Please, don't be jealous. This week is going to be crazy what with work and my Genetics test, but hopefully I will look around and see the gifts God has given me for my birthday :)

when i'm done with finals...

i will take a nap
maybe sleep in
start to have a social life
make amends with a friend
read read read!
go running every day
wrap christmas presents
wash my hair more than once a week
stop feeling guilty whenever i get on blogger or facebook
write my brother a real letter
send out fund raising letters
laugh more
maybe it will snow
have some extra money from textbook sell-back
go on a mini shopping spree
prepare for next semester
do something crazy
dread the inevitable 4-5 months of winter ahead
snuggle in a blanket by a woodburning stove
go snowmobiling
cheer on my cougars
eat healthier
did i already mention sleep?