Deep Roots are Not Reached by the Frost

Tonight I kind of went crazy.  After a day on campus doing engineering homework and then Spanish homework I was tired.  I came home and tried to do more homework, but alas, I failed utterly as illustrated by my body strewn across my bed having no movement; I was tired.  My roommate came in and told me about FHE, but I told her I wasn't going to come tonight.  No energy. I got up a few minutes later because I shouldn't be sleeping at 7 pm.  So I got up and realized how hungry I was!  That may have been part of the reason I had no energy....  So I ate a bagel with some delicious cream cheese.  Mmmmm. :) Side note* I'm trying dairy again because maybe that is the problem I'm having with my back, maybe it's not.  So I'm going back and forth for now.  2 weeks without dairy, 2 weeks with dairy, 2 weeks without....and then we'll see how much of a difference it makes.  I'm eating my bagel and two of my other roommates are going off to...

Today!  Ah ha! My car : I should take care of it, right?  And since I'm handing it off to Lydia soon it should probably be in tip top shape when she gets it.  I took it to the auto shop today just to have them check it out and see if there was anything they needed to fix.  Initially the mechanic said a diagnostic test would be $20, and then anything they find will be added to that, but they'd let me know before they did anything. "Okay! Sounds good!" and I left my baby with them. Then they call me back a bit later and tell me my clutch is having issues, but it's still drivable.  Replacing it would cost about $600.  I already knew that though, so I just said not to do anything with that.  And then they mentioned something else, but the mechanic said, "If I were you, I'd just drive the heck out of it until it breaks and then replace the broken parts or get a new car." Well, thanks for your honesty Mr. Mechanic.  How much will the services yo...

I had dinner with these lovely people tonight.  I lived with them the summer after my freshman year, so it's been almost 2 years since we first met each other.  Times goes quite quickly, if I do say so myself.  Kelsey is now getting married in a month and a half.  Janelle is going to teach 10th graders at Orem High starting this fall.  Kirsten is in limbo, waiting for things to come together so she knows what she'll be doing.  She'll most likely be teaching in the fall too!  And I'm in limbo too!  Waiting for Laurel to come home, waiting for classes to end, waiting for my farewell, waiting for Spain to come... And these wonderful ladies filled another evening, and it was a wonderful way to spend the evening.  Kelsey and Janelle Kirsten and me

Today I had a Spanish oral exam which I know I did not do well on.  I forgot how to conjugate verbs for the future tense and everything I had to explain was pretty much in future tense.   No good. At the end of my exam, my professor asked me how I thought I did and I related the aforementioned feelings to him.  Now, my BYU professors tend to criticize their students by first uplifting them and telling them what they did well.  I have seen this pattern in many professors and been told to do this on peer evaluations many times.  So, what goodness could my professor have to say about my terrible performance?  "Let me tell you what you did well!  You weren't familiar with the conjugations, but you went for it anyway.  You put yourself in an uncomfortable position to say what you knew how to say, and so many students don't even touch things they aren't comfortable with.  You weren't sure about it, but you tried it anyway.  That's rea...

This morning I went to the TRC (Teaching Resource Center) at the MTC (Missionary Training Center) because I am required to go at least once for my mission prep class.  What I did was pretend to be a less active member of the church and 3 elders came in and practiced teaching me.  I felt terrible saying that I felt the church wasn't for me and that my family didn't really fit in with all the other Mormons. During our discussion, one of the elders bore his testimony about God's love for each of His children and shared an example of how he had come to know that for himself.  The Spirit was so strong. I was proud of myself for holding back tears.  I wanted to tell him, "YES!  He loves me!  I know that with my entire soul!! And I know that you are telling me the truth. I know He loves you just as much as He loves me."  But I was acting as an inactive member and a characteristic of that was not knowing how much God loved me. I hope and pray that when I t...

So I haven't really written anything of much importance to me lately.  Yeah, new music is fun to find, and crazy schedules are thrilling to get through, but they're not all that important.  A bit reason for me not writing is that I don't want to get it wrong.  Heavenly Father has been such a tremendous part of my life these past few weeks and I fear that if I write it down I won't be correct in my relating the experiences, so I just sit there with an uneasy feeling, knowing I should write.  And then I go to bed without writing in my journal, feeling like a failure because I was unable to dictate to my journal or blog what I've been learning and experiencing.  There were so many things I should have written down, but haven't and now have forgotten.  I KNEW that would happen, but for some reason I didn't care.  I regret that now.  I shall now do my best to communicate this one overarching idea that I haven't recorded from the past few weeks: My ...

Thursday. March 14. 2013. 8:00-11:00    Spanish 102 studying for test at 4:00 11:00-12:00  Civil Engineering Seminar. Topic: Our Civic Duty 1:00-3:00      Some food eaten and a quick nap amongst studying Spanish 3:00-4:00      Spanish conversation with mi companeros de clase para mi tarea. 4:00-4:15      SPANISH ORAL EXAM 4:30-5:00      SPANISH WRITTEN EXAM 5:15              Home.  Grab engineering books. Put away Spanish books.  Leave home. 5:20-8:30      Engineering homework due Friday. DONE. 8:40-9:15      80s attire and make-up created. 9:30-11:00    Ward activity with roller skating.  BLAST. 12:00            Zzzzzzzz...... It was a very full, exciting day!  And...

Tonight while doing my Spanish homework dutifully, I had my Pandora stations playing on shuffle and up pops a song entitled, "Hallelujah" by MaMuse and I just fall in love with it!  I love it so much I google it and find a website that will let me listen to it over and over and over. And not only that, but all of their music can be listened to for free!  Ah!  I'm quite enjoying it. :) They've got banjos too. I love banjos.  SO MUCH.  And guitars.  And ukuleles.  And other stringed instruments one plucks.  Like mandolins. My heart strings just dance as those instruments are plucked.  http://www.mamuse.org/music I think they're my new favorite for now.

"My daddy is the greatest, without him I'd be lost. Funny, smart, and talented -  priceless is his cost. When I have huge problems, and throw a nasty fit, He helps me to get rid of them, then makes me promise I won't hit. When Daddy's sad or angry, he doesn't throw a fit. He's a good example. I'm glad he'll never quit. He rewards me for the good things, but punishes for bad I know that it's for the best but sometimes I still get mad. If I did not have him, what would happen then? I wouldn't be read bedtime stories or be tucked in at ten. My Daddy's really awesome. I'm glad that he is mine. I know my dad real well. He loves me very much. Because of Jesus Christ my Dad will never leave. My family is forever throughout eternity." - Amelia Theobald, 2005 I found this quote a while ago and the moment I read it I thought of my daddy.  I discovered it shortly af...

Tonight my roommate invited me to go watch an intramural soccer game her brothers and a few other girls and guys in the ward were playing. Normally I would have said no, but I decided to do something different with my day so I agreed to accompany them.  They played a great game (we won 6 to 3) and Audrey and I had a great conversation while sitting on the side lines watching them and their tricky foot work.  At one point I said, "I miss middle school!!" She laughed at me in reply, "I don't think I've EVER heard someone say that." You see, I played on a soccer team in middle school when my family lived in Maryland and I loved it a lot. Now I have a deep desire to play soccer again semi-well. It's one of those desires that always sits there down in my feet, never satisfied.  WHY?  Because I always psyched myself out by saying, "You'll get in their ways, they're all so much better than  you, you're going to make it so they don't h...

A spontaneous 80s night with two of my roommates during which we dance around our apartment complex with 80s music blasting and delivering heart-shaped cookies... A most fabulous Valentine's Day full of people I love and amazing examples of how I am loved not only by them, but also by Heavenly Father... Another Engineering test out of the way... An apartment almost entirely clean... The temple to begin my Saturday of cleaning... Some progress made on logistics of mission stuff... A skirt bought for my mission that looks pretty awesome if I do say so myself... Thoughts of Laurel coming home and being here with me floated through my mind... Another week come and gone with 73 days left until I leave for Spain... :)

So I'm sitting in my bed, right? And I'm thinking about how prayers are answered.  I'm supposed to be studying about covenants, but my mind is wandering.  I think about the many times I've prayed to my Heavenly Father and begged, sobbed, pleaded for something to happen, for someone to do something, or for my heart to change.  I think about the times I've gotten answers to those prayers in one form or another and realize that almost never have they come instantaneously, but rather they were answered after I put myself in a position where others could be the answer.  I have gotten so many answers through sacrament meeting talks, stake conference talks, late night roommate talks, mommy and daddy talks, seeing other people interact in the homework lab, listening to a professor, etc... So many prayers have been answered through other people, so naturally I wouldn't have been able to get that answer on my knees with no one around.  There are of course many other ways ...

This morning I woke up and got ready for school.  A normal occurrence! There was a bit of a hiccup though, when I asked my roommate how warm it was outside.  She'd gone running so I figured she would have a good understanding of the current weather in Provo, you see.  The response was a happy one - "It's warm!" "Oh GLORY BE!! I don't have to wear my boots today!"  I promptly put away my socks and glance around for my most favoritest green ballet flats, but alas, a mere glance will not do and I end up throwing everything everywhere in search of my shoes.  I'm in dire need!  It's warm outside!! After some searching here, searching there, searching everywhere, I realize I should probably search somewhere I can't readily see.  So I look under the couch. Ta-da!! Just like magic, I found my shoes!  It's good practice for being a mom, yeah? I have to learn to find my own things before I can find all the articles of clothing, trinkets, toys...

an umbrella have i it is orange my umbrella is bent it appears as though from Dr. Seuss' imagination this umbrella's been broke iloveit my umbrella to keep because it'll work - umbrellas that stay keep me dry one umbrella brings joy when I dance with this umbrella as she plays on letting my umbrella carry me an umbrella in my possession i can hide behind its happiness but my umbrella can't hide my joy

I got engineering homework done. I didn't quite understand said engineering homework.   I made coffee cake.  It's in the oven. The strudel was difficult because I don't have a pastry cutter. I love every story my roommate tells me. Even if it is about her taking a nap on the couch with her brother on accident. I like making my hair look good in the morning. I like feeling like I have my whole day when I wake up, and not half of it. I have green eyes that sparkle. ----> * * (my green eyes) I've been reading Anne of Green Gables.  Entertaining and endearing. I'm scared of failing my engineering classes. I'm excited to go to Spain. I've got a lot to get done before I go to Spain. I'll be responsible and get those things done. I'm learning Spanish and in a year I'll be fluent. I'm listening to Frank Sinatra. Now I'm going to make a to-do list. :)

People say that Satan works harder on you once you've got your mission call.  I can attest to this. BUT. The Lord also works harder WITH you once you've got your mission call.  I can attest to this even more. A lot of things happen because I'm human, make stupid decisions, let my temper get the best of me, act selfishly...etc.  Those things definitely still happen.  Satan, I feel, has been making those weaknesses more prominent in my life, it seems.  As I've realized that, I've also more fervently said my prayers and more diligently read my scriptures. That has made all the difference! This week...oh man oh man oh man.  It certainly wasn't a "hardest" week, but it was a hard week. Mostly because my own thoughts plagued judgement upon the world.  And those judgements ate away at my insides. Last night and this morning I prayed, pleading for help in this.  During my morning prayer I knew what I needed to do and that was to trust the Lord...

I said a BOOM-chica-BOOM, I said a BOOM-chica-BOOM!  I said a-BOOM-A-CHICA-ROCK-A-CHICA-ROCK-A-CHICA-BOOM! *you may now imagine me dancing in my kitchen* Today was a good day in many ways.  Although I was unproductive to a frighteningly high extent, it was a relaxing day and I'm not too stressed about it since I've got Monday to get stuff done considering there aren't any classes because our nation is wonderful and celebrates our Presidents. I went to the temple this morning at 5:30 with Ryan and Dale, thinking we'd make the 6:00 session, and then we get there and are told the session starts at 7:00....so we wait for an hour and a half and then do initiatories so we could get back in time for breakfast at 8:30 with my roommates and John Anderson (an old FHE brother who came down from Idaho today.  Haven't seen him since June or July!)!!  We were all very excited to see him. One thing I learned today:  To-do lists are not important sometimes.  Someti...