Oodles of Doodles and Yarn

Brennen leaves this Tuesday. I can't believe its finally actually leaving. He is going to be such an amazing missionary. I know he has grown so much over the past two weeks.
"Those sent to warn sometimes do not know of the danger." -Elder Eyring.
My best friend has the most uplifting assurance in the love of our Savior. The Lord blesses us for making the right decisions. Brennen made all the right ones. This is so hard already, but "the night is darkest just before the dawn" (good ole' batman).

Its been hard to focus on school lately. I feel like my mind is a tangle of yarn. There is always so much I'm thinking about that extracting one thought is like pulling a splinter out of my foot. My focus wants to be on the important things, but it wanders to others. I have so many questions lately that I don't feel like any one person can answer.
Midterms are in about two weeks. I have three big ward activities coming up too. How do I make the most out of those when I can't focus? Geez, someone get me medicine for my ADD.

I've taken to doodling with markers when I get bored.

I really wish I had art skills like Rachel and Juli so I could paint...

I've been reading the Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites. They are so much fun and they really help paint pictures for the awesome stories of the Book of Mormon. Chris Hiemerdinger keeps to the facts in the Book of Mormon really well while making such a fun story! YAY Teancum!

Renewed.

With the start of the new year, I never imagined I would change so much. Maybe that's why Mom loves butterflies so much. I know she loves us so much. She wants us to grow and change into the butterfly creatures she knows we can be.



I ended last semester with all A- and one B+ in American Heritage. I was satisfied.

Spending time with the family over my break was so ridiculously great! We have the funnest family. I really wish we had more opportunities to be together. When I was little I never really felt connected to the rest of the family. The older I get, the more I want to be like my big sisters. They have such a positive, happy outlook on everything. They have become beautiful mothers who teach their kids in astonishing ways. They have inspired me to follow my instincts and the spirit. My parents have become my closest friends. They love and support me when I don't deserve it. They show more every day how to follow the Lord's will. They continue to uplift me at times when I myself feel low. My big brothers truly show me love and respect which I expect from my future husband someday. They give me the biggest hugs and encouragement (especially when it comes to dancing). I feel so blessed to have to opportunity to be with all of you for the eternities. I love the gospel and the knowledge we have of families. Doing Grandma's temple work completely solidified that blessing in my testimony.

This semester so far has been a "fountain of living water." I am constantly surrounded by goodness. Every one of my classes, not just Doctrine and Covenants and Book of Mormon, have intertwined gospel teachings in with worldly knowledge. I realize more and more that this is why I came to BYU. The Lord knew I needed to have relentless reminders. BYU is making my potential even more possible than I ever imagined it would be. I still have heights to reach in my growth, but it has begun. Inch by inch I will accomplish, I will succeed, I will love.

"Live to see such miracles as forgiveness." -Elder Holland, BYU campus devotional


"I will not leave you comfortless. I will come to you." -John 14:18

SNOW!

Oh boy! This week it finally snowed! It was the first time I had gone out and actually done something semi-fun. Snow is so beautiful. I love the crunching sound it makes when you walk on it. I even love that it makes me slip and fall on my butt. The mountains look even more beautiful covered in snow. Shelby had fun taking pictures of me being a little kid in the snow. She still loves that I haven't really had the snow experiences.







Brennen is here! He came snowboarding with his sister Nikki so they're here for the whole week! Monday night we went to temple square. It was great. I love sharing peaceful nights like that with him. I can't believe he leaves in nine days.


Finals were this week too. They went really well for the most part. I got really good feedback from my dance teachers which was plus because I was gross with mono when I performed my final. Hopefully I'll end up with all A's! Keep your fingers crossed!

Cracking Down with a Crack Up Body

Man oh man.

Well where to start? Thanksgiving was perfect. I missed my funny sisters and their crazy kids more than I thought. I missed hugging Dad whenever I wanted. I missed Mom's spasticness. I miss Brennen and his beautiful smile. I know Brennen got more time than the rest, but I couldn't help it! It was fantastic spending every minute of every day with him. I love that kid. I can't believe he leaves me so soon.

The Thursday after I came back up here we had a ward activity. We took everybody out to Temple Square in Salt Lake and saw the beautiful lights. We also went and saw the Joseph Smith movie. I think it is amazing how different a spirit you feel watching movies or hearing beautiful music.


I found out Monday this week that I have mono. I'd been feeling crappy for quite a while but refused to go get checked out because I figured it would just go away. Mono has terrible timing. Three of my finals were this week and the rest are this next. The last couple weeks I get to spend with Brennen I have to be sick...I'm a little bitter about it. I was pretty dang miserable for a couple of days because I was waking up with night sweats, fevers, chills, headaches, and dry heaving at 4 in the morning. But yesterday and today have been much better. I've had to take much better care of my body. Its really a lot harder than you'd think...I did complete this huge poster presentation while feeling like death. We also decorated our apartment with Christmas stuff! Out tree was so cleverly designed out of a green plastic table clothe.



I'm so excited that Rachel is coming home. She is such an amazing example of faith to me. Having her so close again will be so much fun. Her testimony still impresses me.

JEALOUS!
I still can't believe that South East Texas has now has more snow that we have. I think that is just absolutely ridiculous. I woke up to pictures of Brennen snowman. What kind of world is it when it snows in Texas and not in Utah? I mean seriously!

CANT WAIT!

Oh my goodness! I can't believe my thanksgiving break is so close! It is very much needed. Things have been a little nuts up here.
"Cosmo the Ladies Man"


This week BYU plays the University of Utah. It the biggest game of the year. Kind of like UT and A&M...A couple years ago some U of U kids came and painted the statues on campus red so this week all of the statues have been wrapped with plastic wrap. This statue had a caption taped on it this morning. "Sealed for time and all eternity."



I have a research paper due for American Heritage tomorrow. That class has really been kicking my tooshie, but my professor is amazing. I love BYU because you can tell that you're learning under the guidance of the spirit. Professor Holland is really an amazing example of a disciple scholar. I respect the way he directs his class. We discuss government but he always find significant ways to incorporate gospel teachings. Its great!

Saturday we have our second ward party! I hope it runs well! It has been so stressful figuring all the catering plans and what not but everything is pretty much finished now!

Spending an entire week with Brennen and seeing family is going to be the BEST break I could ever ask for! I've missed him and everybody else so bad! Yay for babies!

I found these funny videos of me and Taylor "skittles bowling." They're pretty entertaining!

A Snowy Hawaiian Thanksgiving

The first snow was this weeeeeek!!!!! AH it was so beautiful. I ate my breakfast out in it. Utah is such a beautiful place!!


So..if you didn't know, I have the most amazing boy in my life. Brennen helped pay for me to fly home for Thanksgiving. We had talked about it a lot but because of our...unusual circumstances we didn't know if it would end up happening. I got my ticket on Tuesday night and I'm so freakishly excited to get to spend a whole week with him. I've missed him terribly, and Mom and Dad of course!! Love you guys =)I get to come camp for a day or MAYBE more with the rest of the family so that should be great!

Our ward started this get to know you activity at the beginning of the semester. One apartment of guys and one apartment of girls get together for a themed dinner they draw out of a hat at ward prayer. It was our turn this week and I drew out LUAU! The boys attempted to make some Hawaiian chicken but they didn't know that you have to thaw chicken before you cook it (which I didn't know either). We ended up ordering Hawaiian pizza and drinking fruit punch. Real creative huh? We were in charge of decorations and costuming. I love stuff like that so you can imagine how crazy Iwent with the streamers! A lot of Shelby's family is Maori because her mom is from New Zealand, so attempted to teach us a little bit of hula. The boys were terrible.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Saturday was our last home football game and it was super fun because the guys sitting by us were completely NUTS!



I love how every time I'm confused or have no idea what to do, there are these perfect instances when the Lord helps me figure it out. This week I found my true feelings about certain things. Life seems a little more clear.

A bloomin awesome Halloween

Man this week was crazy fun!

My first ward activity as activities co chair was this week and it went great! We had a ward talent show and the room was so packed people were overflowing into the hall! It was lots of fun and some of the kids had really impressive talents! I dressed up as a dude- facial hair and all.




Last night our stake hosted a dance. I helped 3 different people come up with costumes AND helped make them for them. My friend Gavin borrowed my Minnie Mouse outfit. Shelby was "Stupendous Shelby" the super hero, and my friend Sarah rocked my aviators as a eighties rocker. We had a really good time getting super sweaty at the dance. Ryan was a rocker that "rocked a little to hard" and broke his drum sticks.At the stake dance I went to go get a drink and then out of no where this crazy man in a curly wig, short jean shorts, and a mesh tank top came and started dancing around me. I got a little freaked! Then I realized it was my friend Caleb. Then I saw all of his roomates. Those are some crazy guys! Their costumes were a little disturbing...






Our apartment was pretty dang disgusting after everything that went on this week. We finally cleaned it today and it felt SOOOO good. I love cleaning and making things all organized. It relaxes me. I still remember when mom made fun of me because I asked her for a label maker..