Welcome to Finals Week

I just keep waiting for the elephants to show up...

The Harold B. Lee library at BYU is a circus tonight... and I mean that quite literally.

Friday will mark our first "reading day" before finals. I can just smell the stress and desperation hanging heavily in the air.

Something is different.

Tables are full.

No light music greets my ears as I sit on the second floor in the history section.

The regularly hoppin' periodicals section which is known as a social haven is silent.

This is a bit freaky...

Just when I thought all hope was lost, the circus rolled into town.

I saw the monkeys- I was met with freshmen running around in Santa hats... dropping pens then making farting noises.

Tide rope walkers-Next, I felt like I was surrounded by the fifty million engaged couples that push their chairs together and attempt to cuddle. Look, I see a sign next to them! It reads: "Please don't feed the engaged couples, they will bite...or hold your hand." Man, I don't know what's worse...

Here are the tigers-Then note to my left the married Asian couple that fights in Chinese. The wife slaps her husband several times as he tries to move her computer. They then proceed to storm angrily in and out of the library.... over and over. Get over it people!

I'm in a quiet zone, and I keep busting up... probably embarrassing my boyfriend. Everyone turns their eyes to give me annoyed looks. I cover my laugh with a cough...

It's not my fault! I guess they don't know we're in the middle of a circus...

As my boyfriend and I were leaving he put on his HUGE coat. With me being a California... and it being 5 degrees outside... I put on my first two jackets. I then put my HUGE jacket on.I was so chubby, Chad had to put my backpack on me. Then we left....laughing....

And there you have it folks, the finale... the elephants. :)

The circus is leaving town...

Wow! Harold is on a role tonight!

Learning Life Lessons

In the past week, I have been looking for something meaningful to blog about. Something that has come up with several of my close friends is something that I myself went through last year. It was something I did not really address publicly, and I do not wish to do so at the present time. However, looking back over what seemed to be one of the gloomiest times of my life, I gained several valuable messages. One of them was a message that the most important thing to do in every bad situation is to take a step back and to see what you can learn.

Sometimes our closest friends are the ones that hurt us the most. They have the most power over us of any of our other friends. Letting someone in is hard to do. Watching them run out is even harder. However, when a bad situation arises, we need to learn from it. Pick ourselves back up and try to stand; Even when all you want to do is fall back to the floor. Let the wound heal, and meet other people. Most importantly, let it go. Forgive the wrong. Someday, when the time is right, they'll remember what they did. Maybe you'll be friends again... maybe not. Either way, you get what you take from it. So, take away a lesson in life and a learning experience.

In order to do this, maybe it's just time to pray about it. The Holy Spirit is the way to gain closure. The Spirit can give you closure when you are in your darkest hour.

He's a great friend.

Though these experiences are hard, and it seems like you might not ever get over them you will. These experiences make us who we are and shape our personalities. They give you gifts. Gifts range from compassion, empathy, knowledge, a listening ear, maturity, charity, and many others. Everyone gains unique insights and gifts.

So, if you're having a hard time, pray for strength and look for the silver linings. There's always at least one.

Party at our pad in Provo...

So, most people think the end of summer is a sad time. Not for us! BYU is the most amazing university in the world! Three weeks ago, I had the opportunity to move into my new apartment with five other amazing BYU students: Sarah Cluff, Elise Seniki, Susie Ingoldsby, Melissa Calkins, Sarah Duke, and me!

A picture's worth a thousand words

So, most of my summer consisted of working. However, I did have a few fun moments. A picture is worth a thousand words. So, here are some highlights from summer 2009. :)

KNIGHT'S FERRY WITH HYRUM

HORSEY- BLESSING

MELISSA CAME HOME FROM GERMANY

CALIFORNIA YSA CONFERENCE-- FRESNO

MARC ETCHEPARE- (METCH)

I ALSO HUNG OUT IN LAS VEGAS WITH JOSH, BUT WE DIDN'T TAKE MANY PICTURES. :(

Congratulations...

Yesterday, I was grocery shopping for my mom, and I decided to take my siblings with me. At the end of one errand, I let them each get a piece of candy. As we were walking out of the store I was stuffing Milky Way in my mouth, and I said to one of my sisters:

"I think I have a problem. I think I'm addicted to chocolate..."

She said in a very joking manner: "I'm so proud of you... you're admitting you have problem."

After this my youngest sibling pipes in and says "Congratulations, Kate!!"

Congratulations to me...

They're on a Mission...

So, I’ve been giving a lot of thought to this blog seeing as this is a topic that is very close to my heart for more than one reason.

Most people reading this know that I’m a student at BYU and that BYU is a religious university. The majority of students that attend BYU are Latter-Day Saints or (as we are commonly referred to) Mormons. Something unique occurs every year as freshman years ends. All of the boys that are or are turning 19 years old turn in papers to church headquarters. Several weeks later, an envelope comes for the guy. This envelope contains where the guy is being “called.” For some missionaries, they stay in the United States and others are shipped out across the globe. Some speak foreign languages. Speaking a foreign language, they stay in the MTC for a month or so. If they are speaking English, they stay in the MTC for about three weeks. No matter how long the missionary spends in the MTC, all the boys are supposed to be out for two years.

In my last year at BYU, I have made many amazing friends. A lot of those friends are guys. So, many of my closest friends (including my best friend and my boyfriend) are leaving/ have left. It might sound strange to people outside of our faith. Young men, having no contact except letters for their entire two years... all over the world... preaching our religion. However, I believe it is one of the greatest acts of service that anyone can do. These boys pay to go on their missions, and they serve others for two years of their lives.

I am so grateful for the missionaries. They brought my dad’s side of the family to the gospel. if it weren’t for the missionaries I might not be here! :) They also bring comfort and truth to countless people and change lives for the better.

I want everyone to know how much I love this church, and how grateful I am for missionary work. The gospel is amazing. I would not be where I am today without it. It is so comforting to me that I am never alone. Not only do I have other church members, but I have, God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. No matter what I do, or what others try to do to me, I will always have Jesus Christ. The gospel has helped me through many hard times in my life, and I know that it can change lives.

Finally, I just want to tell all my guy friends especially Josh Prince and Kurt Hanson how proud I am of them for their decisions to serve missions. Josh is going to Ukraine and speaking Russian, and Kurt is going to the Seattle, Washington Mission. I am so proud of you guys. You both have touched my life in so many ways. I will not be the same without you. I will miss you both so much, and I will be praying for you. Kurt will report on August 19, 2009 and Josh reports August 26, 2009. God Speed, Elders!

So, if you ever find yourself having a hard time or you need some questions answered. Let these wonderful missionaries come and talk with you. They are inspired by God and they can help. Also remember, these guys are my friends, neighbors, and classmates. They’re cool guys. :-) You’ll like them.

For further Information on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints please go to LDS.org or Mormon.org or just ask me! :D

STOP. Dollar time!

To beat the heat, my sisters and I hit the dollar store. I bought my normal haul of sugar while Lar and Liz looked for a toy. They sure did find toys. :)

Laura found some fun pictures that taught her about the "Happy Horse" and how cows go "Moo!"

I found some new and very stylish sunglasses. ;-)

Liz found her toy...but then Laura found this doll. We called it gangster baby... "What you lookin' at fool?!"

It reminds me of the hand gestures and facial expressions of a guest that a team member helped at Target. He kept talking about his "beat machine" and making this face and movement.

Ah, summer.

Every dog has his day

So, I was picking up Laura from something, and I brough our dog along. I was listening to the music Josh sent me and it made me smile and laugh. However, my dog... not so much...

Sympathizing with a Clam

"Patience is waiting. Not passively waiting. That is laziness. But to keep going when the going is hard and slow - that is patience.”

I am certainly not as happy as a clam right now.  Things have been bugging me left and right, and I have tried to fix them quickly. Recently, a friend told me to just sit and wait.  I had to take one of my headphones out and stop rapidly typing emails.  I asked him to repeat himself.  He replied that being patient was the best thing for me to do.  He said that if I feel like being patient, to just sit and wait... or to run.  Either way would work.

It occurred to me that I am not a patient person. I do not look that long before I leap, and I live for the moment. My mom used to tell me that I needed to think longer and harder; I needed to not just go "Splat! Oh well, it's done." 

I hate waiting for an important piece of mail to come; I hated waiting for my driver's license; Christmas can be torture if my parents are trying to surprise me. It is ESPECIALLY hard for me to wait for someone to be ready to talk and express themselves. Sometimes I get carried away in trying to resolve things or in expressing myself... because I AM ready to not be worried about the problem.  

I think a big reason for my impatience is that worries and problems feel like they are all my fault when in fact they are not my fault.  Even if the worry or problem is out of my control, it irritates me.  I feel like a clam with a small grain of sand inside of my shell, and I want it OUT NOW. 

In thinking over my current dilemmas, I see the need for patience and understanding on my side...even if I feel like other parties are being unreasonable, and not seeing how much I love and care... how much I am sacrificing...how much I am putting my heart out in the open (this is against my nature.) The friend said I could wait and be patient... or run. He said to wait if I cared or to run if it was not that important.  I have slowed down for once, and I realize the need for patience. I will not run and go "splat."

As much as the grain of sand inside this clam's shell bothers her, it is essential to be patient.  You never know when that irritating piece of sand that won't stop rubbing you the wrong way, will result in a beautiful pearl. 

When Your Hut's on Fire

My dad sent me this, and it made me cry.  I wanted to pass this on to anyone who might need this right now.

When Your Hut's On Fire  

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him. Every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. 

Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store his few possessions. 

One day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, with smoke rolling up to the sky. He felt the worst had happened, and everything was lost. He was stunned with disbelief, grief, and anger. He cried out, 'God! How could you do this to me?' 

Early the next day, he was awakened by the sound of a ship approaching the island! It had come to rescue him! 'How did you know I was here?' asked the weary man of his rescuers. 'We saw your smoke signal,' they replied.


The Moral of This Story:
It's easy to get discouraged when things are going bad, but we shouldn't lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of our pain and suffering. Remember that the next time your little hut seems to be burning to the ground, it just may be a smoke signal that summons the Grace of God.

The Benefit of the Doubt

Have you ever watched a corny chick flick, or maybe a TV show where the main character makes a huge mistake?  Namely mistakes with regards to friends, significant others, and family. And you sit there and yell at the tv screen because you see the irony. You see what both characters are dealing with... I know that it ties knots in my stomach. I think to myself: "if he/she could just see what the other is going through... they wouldn't give up on something they both want."

This is one reason I try to give everyone the benefit of the doubt.  You never know when your actions might help or harm another.  That's why it is so important to keep an open mind, and if things don't always go as planned... sometimes you show how much you care by holding on and being there for that person.

We all express ourselves in different ways.  Next time you think to judge another, keep in mind that they might be having problems that only the know about.  We're all in this world to be tested.  Sometimes life gets hard... we can all agree with that.  It's important to remember our hard times, and to look at someone and not judge their shortcomings. Remember: The worth of souls is great in the sight of the Lord.

This poem is a little off topic. However, I love it, and it fits pretty well.

The Touch Of The Master's Hand

Myra B. Welch

 Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer

thought it scarcely worth his while

To waste much time on the old violin,

But held it up with a smile.

"What am I bidden, good folks," he cried,

"Who'll start the bidding for me?

A dollar, a dollar, then, two! Only two?

Two dollars, and who'll make it three?

Three dollars, once; three dollars, twice;

Going for three . . ." 

But no,

From the room, far back, a grey-haired man

Came forward and picked up the bow;

Then, wiping the dust from the old violin,

And tightening the loose strings,

He played a melody pure and sweet

As a caroling angel sings.

The music ceased, and the auctioneer,

With a voice that was quiet and low, said: 

"What am I bid for the old violin?"

And he held it up with the bow.

"A thousand dollars, and who'll make it two?

"Two thousand! And who'll make it three?

"Three thousand, once; three thousand, twice;

And going and gone."said he.

The people cheered, but some of them cried,

"We do not quite understand, what changed its worth?" 

Swift came the reply:

"The Touch Of The Master's Hand."

And many a man with life out of tune,

And battered and scarred with sin,

Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd,

Much like the old violin.

A 'mess of potage,' a glass of wine;

A game - and he travels on.

He is 'going' once, and 'going' twice,

He's 'going' and almost 'gone'.

But the Master comes and the foolish crowd

Never can quite understand

The worth of a soul and the change that's wrought

By the touch of the Master's Hand.

A Work in Progress...

Recently, I've had a lot of time to think.  It is amazing how much a walk, a good song, or a quote can change how you think about something. 

Today in church we talked about how grateful we need to be for what we have.  

I know this:

I have always wanted to be independent; Moving away from home was the perfect opportunity to be independent and learn more about myself. 

I have learned:

How to do my laundry without  messing up the colors of my clothes.

Drinking soda every day will make me sick.

I need to sleep.

Making your own decisions isn't all it's cracked up to be.

Big jackets and hot chocolate are MUSTS in the snow.

Ice is evil and will cause you to get large bruises if you fall.

Microwavable food is amazing.

Friends are your family away from home.

It's easier to see who your true friends are.

I love my family so much

I have ALWAYS loved my family, but I never appreciated all of the nice things that my mom and dad did for me. I also miss Laura going through my closet before seminary... and singing at the tops of our lungs to whatever was on the radio. I miss when I would be sad... and Lizzie would come find me...no matter how much I wanted to be alone.  She'd bring me tissues and band-aids...even if I didn't have any cuts. :-)  I guess that growing up means understanding how much you love and appreciate your family. I like to think that I appreciate them now.  I don't appreciate them enough, but I know I appreciate them more than ever.

Time has flown by, and March is upon us.  Today, we also discussed how we need to  appreciate every moment we have.  Every minute we waste being unhappy or ungrateful is time we will never get back. We discussed the talk "Finding Joy in the Journey" and it mentioned this quote:

"Pile up too many tomorrows and you'll find that you've collected nothing but a bunch of empty yesterdays." 

-The Music Man

I am a work in progress, but I've decided to try and appreciate every moment I have. I'm not going to rush to grow up or to be too independent... or I just might end up with a bunch of empty yesterdays.

Cleaning Up

DISCLAIMER: I have not proofread this.  So, if you find errors... it's because I had to go and proofread real homework. ;-)

It's dusk outside, and there's some snow on the ground... inside my bright dorm room, my roommate is listening to her rap... and doing a dance. The sink slowly drip-drops as our California flag sways away from our wall...N64 controllers, backpacks, shoes, and dirty laundry litter our floor... maybe it's time to clean up...

But first, I want to comment on ballroom try-outs...

 As I walked into the RB, I saw them in massive groups.  I noticed their athletic builds and their perfectly kept sandals.  Their makeup was flawless, and I could find no imperfection with any of them... I watched the masses parade into a room... I followed the sound of their Latin sandals clicking against the hard floor. I walked into the room and took a look around...Those Latin sandals that I had followed into the room gracefully clicked the floor...  I nervously clicked the heels of my own Latin sandals... secretly wishing that they would take me home... I was so intimidated. There was no way that I could dominate that dance floor.  So, I left the ballroom try-outs... without even trying out.  oh well, there's always next year! ;-)

Well, let's see... college life has been great, so far. It has been a month since I returned to school.  This semester, I have started volunteering with TOPS.  I basically go and help in a classroom.  I love the kids! They are all so cute! It has been fun so far!

Some more volunteering I'm doing is at BYUSA. I have started by writing a few press releases for BYUSA, and that has been going well.  Last week, I wrote one about "Knight Games."  It's basically a medieval carnival in the Wilk.  Next week, I have to write one on YBall.  That should be interesting.

Speaking of press releases, I get to write press releases for the Stanislaus County Fair!  I loved working there last summer, and I was so happy when they said I could write press releases for this year!

Unfortunately, I'm not writing press releases in my communications classes... I'm not even writing articles.  That really bums me out... I miss writing in my classes... my communications 275 class is fun.  Learning how to use video editing software is almost worth getting up at 7:15 for 8:00am lab. ;-)  The teacher for my communications 239 class is a cool guy, but I wish we got to write... like in communications 211...last semester. On the bright side, my presentation group scored a 90% on our project!! YAY! We would have done better if we hadn't gone 10 minutes over! Ooops! :-P

Speaking of scores, I am soooo excited about my American Heritage test!  American Heritage is a dreaded class...that EVERYONE at BYU has to take.  I was freaking out about my test... because the TA sent emails that said things like "if you're not happy with your score, don't worry...we'll curve them."  Well, I went in and took it... I felt my palms sweat in anticipation.  I read over the questions carefully and made a smeary mess of my bubble sheet. With shaking hands, I gave it to the testing center attendant. I quickly ran by the screen with not so much as a glance... I came home and turned on my computer... With my heart pounding, I clicked the link that would give me my score... I got a... 91.2%...wait?  Did I see that correctly?  I keep making sure it's real, and apparently, it's real! I still have to wait for the written portion to be graded, but I am sooooo grateful that my studying and prayers paid off!!

 

Matt's taking that class with me... which makes it awesome! :-)  He opened his mission call on Friday.  He's going to Tallahassee, Florida Spanish speaking!!  I am so excited for him, but I will miss him...

Man, I have been typing for a really long time...

As I have been typing, it has become very dark outside... there's some snow on the ground. Inside my bright dorm room, my roommate is still listening to rap... and doing a dance. The sink slowly drip-drops...our California flag makes a swaying movement... the N64 controllers, backpacks, shoes, and dirty laundry still litter our floor... maybe it's finally time to clean it up.

Would you sit with me and just forget the world?

I'm back in P-town. Christmas break was fun.  I went and saw "Phantom of the Opera" and watched a lot of Veronica Mars. :-D

I have started a new set of classes...

American Heritage,

Book of Mormon,

Marriage and Family,

Principles of Journalism,

Intro to Broadcasting,

 and Social Dance.

They all seem to be alright... for now. 

I have gotten to see Matt a lot more, which is really cool!! 

I'm just working on getting organized and ready for the semester.  I bought a wall calender (What a step!) and post-its are beginning to litter my desk.

Also, tonight, there are tryouts for the ballroom dance teams... I REALLY want to try... but I'm SO SCARED!!!  So, we'll see how that goes...

I'll write more later...