I Have Been Blessed

So remember when I briefly mentioned how stressful and crazy life has been lately? Well that was kind of an understatement, if you're anyone I see regularly you know my continual complaints about my frustrations with school.  I'm not saying this to get attention or have a pity party but as a preface to the extremely humbling and faith building experience that has slowly been happening inside me and I don't know how to express that without explaining things completely.
I've always been good at school and without much effort. I wrote off all the people who told me that BYU was hard but it turns out they were right because I constantly feel like I've picked a fight with someone many times bigger than me; however, I know I'm not the only one but I tend to feel like it.
Surprisingly I've also started to develop the homesickness I had expected but I thought I was immune to the first couple weeks of school.
Even though I am terrified of failing and how bad I think I'm doing right now in comparison to the rest of my life leading up to now I am so incredibly thankful to be here.  During the times in my life where I feel like I have absolutely no control of how things are going, no matter how hard I try, it's those times when I feel beaten and near defeat that I can notice the quiet miracles taking place that I might not notice if my pride was glaring any brighter.

First of all, I couldn't ask for a better family. Every time I call home I am showered with love and support and when I don't call home very often I get texts and messages about how they miss me and those words comfort me more than they probably know.  It's weird how absence really does make the heart grow fonder.  Obviously I always loved my family immensely but being away makes me miss the moments I didn't spend with them.  The dating bubble I live in now has also made me love and appreciate my dad and I know that his example of continually service and devotion to his family and all that he believes in is something I wont settle for any less than if I ever get around to dating boys.

Second, I have amazing friends.  Luck smiled down on me when I got paired up with some of the best roommates ever.  You read about them before but I'll add again how nice they are.  I think we've bonded even more. In addition to my roommates, I have met a lot of other incredible people in my ward and on campus that make pleased with mankind.

Finally, I went on a media fast for my communicatons class.  It was only three days and luckily Alex Halladay was doing it with me we could be media-less together.
Things I miss about the about the media fast:
-cuddle time with Alex
-lots of naps
-less distractions while studying for my sucky midterms
-realizing how strong my dependence is on technology and how much better life is when we slow down and focus on what matters most.

Things I missed while I was on my media fast:
-encouraging conversations with my family
-being able to talk to people without the help of my friends with techonology
-being distracted

Life is hard but it's also amazing and filled with wonderful blessings that luckily there is someone who loves me enough to cut me down so that I can grow into something even better.

ps. sorry there are not pictures in this, the downside of a media fast, but i hope you enjoyed all the gospel links.  Check em out, I don't think you'll be disappointed.

so...i'm a cougar

Turns out i may not be cut out for blogging on the regular.  Since i've been at school life has been pretty crazy but in the best way possible.  Leaving Camarillo wasn't as difficult as i expect, probably because i had lots of months to prepare for it. I got homesick for the first time a couple days ago because i was sick and wanted my mommy. I had a hard time saying goodbye to these little ones though.

we were kinda sad my last day babysitting

i'm just going to pretend like this is what they'll be doing until i come back.  I facetimed with Mallory the other day and when i asked her what she wanted to do when i came back she said "just give you the biggest hug ever!" melts your heart right? i almost bought a plane ticket home.

My last few days were still filled with adventure.

Santa Clarita double date with Skyler, Mikey and Chelsea

I found a baby iguana just chillin outside.  I wanted to bring Beck, that's what i named him, with me so bad but i can't have pets and that's probably a good thing since all of mine usually die, so Kylie and Jeff are taking care of him for me.

These are the hott babes of Madison 5.  Kimmy, Alex, Rachel, Samantha, Ashley and yours truly. Taken on our first Sunday in Provo YSA 35th ward.

(notice the Transcending Eden shirt i'm sporting. It's Mikey's brand he's starting out that i may have a small part in.  Check it out and let your local sales rep, me, know if you're interested)

I got so lucky with all my roommates.  They're seriously the nicest, coolest, perfect for me girls.

Kimberly Jensen

 is super smart but amazingly generous in helping me since she's also a Chemistry major and in a lot of my classes.  She's tall and beautiful and very dedicated to everything she does; church, school, friends, family, you name it.

Alex Halladay

 

So i stalked most of my roommates blogs before i came to school.  Alex's was particularly interesting  and gave me lots of insight on the type of people i would be living with for the next two semesters.

Alex is super smart(i'm probably gonna say that a lot since i'm realizing everyone at BYU is pretty much a genius), stylish and a really great friend.  From the beginning she offered to share her clothes with me.  I wasn't sure if she thought i was totally homely and needed help but i soon realized she's just a sweetheart and caring in almost everything she does.

Rachel Callister

                         

Sometimes we call her Kim because of her striking resemblace to the Kardashian.  She's new to the blogging world but you check her out here.  This lovely lady is roomies with Alex, they roomed together last year in the dorms too so they're totally BFFs.  She's also from California so we like to talk about how cool we are, even though she's from the other end of the state.  She's got the casual thing going that i'm all about but she's also super sporty which i totally admire.  She's also smart and nice, this is gonna have to go without saying because everyone in our apartment has these qualities.

Samantha Boyce

Sam rooms with Kimmy.  I don't have pictures with either of them unfortunately.  Just group ones.  I'm gonna have to work on that.  Sam is our youngest one.  She's real witty and keeps surprising me with the things she says once she gets more comfortable around us.  We're both in the same boat as far as adjusting to a new school.

Ashley Faldmo

I also stalked this South Dakota babe before coming to BYU.  I get the pleasure of rooming with this crafty and spunky cougar.  Of course she rarely sleeps and when she does she sometimes chooses the couch instead.  I don't know how she does it but somehow she still amazes me with all she does.  We've had some good talks and i definitely feel like we're getting closer, i couldn't ask for a better roommate.  She made sure i felt included even before we officially met.

We're all hott babes.

I got to re-meet baby Collin my first day up here.  I also have a new nephew, Joshua James.  Natalee and JJ sure made a cute one with him, I'll put picures up sometime...hopefully.

I've also been lucky to have lots of familiar faces pass through and say hi to me.

 

First was the inspiring Mikey Murphy.  I also got to meet Ryan Pearson finally.  The two of them together equal the best guys i have ever had the pleasure of knowing in my life. I always go away from an encounter with either of them wanting to be so much better than i am. If you want to know high caliber dudes let me know and i'll see if they can show you what's up.

 

My BFF shelbee came next on her way up to Idaho.  I wish she was here in Provo with me but I know she's living it up.  Miss this girl.

Justin, i mean Jesse Miles stopped by while he was in town for conference.  Such a good guy, you can always count on him for a good story or two.  He also woke my roommates up at 1 in the morning in a gorilla suit. Enough said.

 

Mikey stopped by again while he was in town for a mission reunion.  He served his mission in Texas so naturally his favorite ice cream is Blue Bell which they just started carrying in Provo.  Those missionaries must've tired him out because for some reason he thought our kitchen floor was a comfortable napping location.

I had the pleasure of going to a Real Salt Lake soccer game.  They may have lost 3-0 but great company and free food really leave no room for complaints. 

These have all been really great distractions but it turns out school is kinda a lot harder than it's ever been in my entire life.  I really got to start to focus more.

Oh also it snowed.  First week in October and it's still 75 degrees back home.  Keep in mind i've only been in the snow like one other time in my life.  I don't really know how i'm gonna survive.

I'm missing a lot of different things that i've documented but this is already a super long blog.  I'll try to be more on top of it.

But to sum things up, life is great.  Super confusing and stressful at times but full of opportunites for growth and lots of other happy moments that make everything worth it.  I can't believe the semester it almost halfway over already.