To finals!

Today was our Christmas program in sacrament meeting. While the choir was up there singing multiple Christmas hymns, I could not help but think, "I really do love all of them. I love all people!" What a wonderful sentiment! What a wonderful attitude to have.
I am feeling pretty good. I am not really stressed at all for finals, which may not be a good thing...
I am very excited to go home. I know five finals stand in the way of that, but I have got this under control. I am feeling happy. I am feeling positive. I am feeling love for the world. What could go wrong?
Perhaps the same disappointment I just recently wrote about?
In the end, none of this matters, anyway. So, I shall not let gray hairs appear or an eye twitch develop over something that is not even going to matter in a short time.

I bid this blog adieu.

College can be pretty frustrating sometimes. I guess I feel as though being a junior-and-a-half in college, I should be at the point where there are no surprises anymore. And definitely no more slaps in the face... Maybe I feel like at this point in my college career and even life, I should be responsible and experienced enough to no longer makes mistakes? However, this is not the case. We will always be making mistakes in life, no matter what age or where we are. So, even as a junior in college, I will still makes mistakes and receive grades I am not proud of.
We are never perfect in this life. Each day we are trying to learn and progress. We cannot progress if we have nothing to learn from. We learn from our mistakes.
And what I really need to realize is that college is not going to get easier just because I am further along in it. So I need to accept "unacceptable" grades and move on... Because that was certainly not the last one.

I really do not ever get stressed. It's just not in my nature. If I have tons of assignments due, I am pretty good about scheduling each day out to accomplish all that I  have to. I also work very well under pressure, which is why I procrastinate on everything. The pressure relieves the stress.
However, my roommates all stress a lot. They will spend hours in the library every night. Yesterday they spent the entire day in the library. I decided to clean the entire apartment while they were gone so that they could come home to a nice clean apartment they did not have to worry about.
It was a simple gesture and easy to accomplish for me. I felt good knowing they would be able to walk in to a clean apartment after a stressful day doing work.
This assignment also really helped my realize how I do never get stressed. So I could have done something for just about anyone because they are most likely more stressed than me.
I like to just live life simply. It's a good time.
So clean apartment and stress free makes for a good upcoming week of the last days of classes.
I am beyond excited for this semester to be over.
It would be pretty cool if next semester didn't exist and we could just jump to spring.

Yesterday I took a day trip to Moab and it was beautiful.
What a life!
Then I got my first speeding ticket on the way home...
For going 17 miles over the speed limit. My bad.
I really need to grow up in multiple ways. Whenever I do something irresponsible and disappointing, I realize how much growing up I still need to do.
It's crazy to me to think that girls my age are getting married or have been married for even more than one year...
I got a boot on my tire and then a speeding ticket all within one week.
How do you even learn how to pay bills and such?
Granted, I am only TWENTY. Perhaps I lose sight of what being a 20 year old girl is actually supposed to be like in respect to the rest of the world.
It doesn't have to mean married with 3 children...
Can I just go home now?

just my luck.

Just found a lovely yellow boot on my tire. I hope that is not a sign of what this whole weekend will be like.
Why does parking enforcement have to exist?
And why can't there be better parking south of campus?
At least it's pay day.

Something I realized this week is that there is nothing to fear. Ever.
So Obama was reelected. That's okay. Because there is a higher power who leads us. He knows all and He wants the best for us. He will not lead us astray. He will always protect us. I am not scared nor worried about the outcome of the election. I know that I have a Savior and I know everything will be okay in the end.
I am not scared about anything in life.
This was an incredible week. So many blessings.
My roommate got her mission call to Australia. Wow.
I wish Thanksgiving would be here already. I also wish there weren't so many assignments due before it gets here.

Life is wonderful though.

Tonight my roommate informed me that her parents decided that this Christmas, they would use all of the money they would normally spend on gifts for each other, on sending different supplies to those affected by Hurricane Sandy. I was so unbelievably touched. Especially because I know many people who are in need of things because of how badly they were affected. I am so incredibly grateful for that decision of theirs. I am also so grateful for all of the people that have been offering aid and support to the victims of this natural disaster. We should always be trying to reach out and help others in big and small ways. We should be reaching out in any way that we can. We should always be following the example of Christ: to love and serve everyone. My heart still goes out to all of those in the place I call home who are still suffering from this event.
On an unrelated note, the Walking Dead was crazy tonight and blew my mind. I cried and cried when Lori died. And Daryl! Oh, my heart.
I can't wait for Lincoln to come out.
I also can't wait for Thanksgiving.
It'll be swell.

I voted! I sent in my absentee ballot on Tuesday and I just feel wonderful. This was my first time voting so I was very excited. I do believe that voting is a privilege to be taken advantage of. Right when I turned 18 I registered to vote. And I sent for my absentee ballot about two months ago. It feels good to have completed my civic duty.
My home state was just hit by a huge hurricane. My family was extremely fortunate to have not received any severe damage. Though the surrounding cities were not as lucky. There were tons of homes and buildings destroyed due to the flooding and winds. It has definitely been a terrible experience NJ has never forgone. However, I have great faith in my home state to rebuild what once was and regain their reputation as a place of wholesome family-fun.
NJ often takes a beating when it comes to its stereotypical reputation. However, since I have lived there my entire life I know there is much more to the people and the places. It was extremely saddening to me to see the results of this storm and the effects it has had on my neighbors.
It has helped open my eyes even more, though. I am certain these are the last days. I know there is much I need to do to prepare. Despite this unfortunate and terrible disaster, we will all come out stronger and even more prepared for when Christ comes again.

This past weekend my best friend's mom and sister came to visit from New Jersey.
'Twas a wonderful time had by all.
Trips to Bridal Veil, Sundance, Salt Lake, Heber, and Lehi.
Sunday I gave a talk in church. A good time had by me.
What a wonderful life.
If only I was better at documenting it..........

What a wonderful weekend full of spiritual growth! I love conference. I love every second of it. And I definitely gained a lot from all 4 sessions.
Friday afternoon I decided I would buy a candy bar and give it to someone sitting by themselves in the Wilk. I saw a girl all the way in the back against the windows by herself. I was a bit nervous, but I walked over to her, tapped her on the shoulder and said, "This is for you. I hope you have a wonderful day." And she looked me in the eyes and said, "Thank you." It was such a simple gesture that took all of three seconds. But it made me feel so good about myself that I added some sort of goodness to her day. With the candy bar I included a note that read, "I hope this little gift can do a little something for you today. You are loved. Happy conference weekend."
Sometimes people don't need candy bars, but they do need to be reminded that they are always loved.
I certainly don't show my love for my brothers and sisters enough each day. I don't reach out enough. I don't serve enough. I felt so good after giving her that and knowing that her appreciation was sincere.
I really want to work on being a better person in every way; but I especially want to work on just doing simple deeds each day for others. Charity never faileth!
A happy day, a happy life indeed.

Maybe forgetting to write in your blog is actually a good thing. Maybe there's so much going on in your life you completely forget to document it all in your blog assignment. Or maybe there's really nothing going on and yet you still forgot. Last week was week of hell. Glad it's over. However, it's never really over. Nothing ever really ends. Once you're done with one thing, it's on to the next thing, right? Life is crazy and it doesn't slow down ever. It's so important to keep up, though.
So I'll just keep trudging through the journey. While trying to not forget the important, as well as the not-so-important things.

Life's lessons

A few lessons I learned this week:

Apparently it was cold enough on Friday to wear a Northface jacket. It was 85 degrees...

If you see someone you know on campus, they usually didn't see you. So don't wave. 

Utah fans are pretty stupid. 

Raspberry froyo will always be the best froyo. 

SNL got 4 new cast members... And I'm a little bitter. 

Chick-fil-a two days in a row is worth it. 

Getting homework done early is possible. And being ahead on homework is just brilliance. 

No matter what time of day, there will not be an open computer in the no shh zone...

I gotta find my jacket.

My life gets better every day. I haven't one complaint. 

So yeah, just trudging along while learning and progressing each day. 

It's a good life. 

work hard, play hard.

Yesterday I worked the Legacy Tent during the football game for BYU Catering. While I was handing out soft drinks to guests with a frozen arm from continuously reaching into the cooler of ice, a stranger approached me and handed me an envelope. She told me it was for the smile I kept on my face the whole day while passing out these drinks. I guess she thought that was a pretty difficult task. It was....
Inside the envelope was a $50 gift card to Wal Mart. I couldn't even believe my eyes.
Hard work pays off. Hard work is essential. And if you do your hard work without complaining and even with a smile on your face, it not only will be less hard, but it will get you noticed. Noticed by someone who just happens to have a $50 gift card to Wal Mart in their purse...
It was such a tender mercy to have received that during a tough day on the job. It helped me work harder and want to work harder. It also made me grateful for hard work.
Hard work is good work.

to life to life l'chaim

Finding things to write about can be so easy it's difficult...
I could easily ramble on about my first week back at school.
Or the fact that my car died and needed to be towed today.
I could complain about all that is wrong in life, like being out of fruit snacks or the fact it's so cold in this apartment (I live a hard life, tis true...).
But maybe instead I'll briefly touch on what I really learned this week. Or at least gained better perspective on:
Sometimes the things you need to do aren't going to be easy. Actually, probably always.
And sometimes, the outcome will hurt others and maybe even yourself.
But, if you truly feel that it's something you need to do, you can't second guess yourself. You can't weigh the options of how you can avoid other's feelings and choose a different route.
When you come to a full-hearted decision, after much thought and consideration and you know what is the right thing to do... go with that thing.
Sometimes it's going to be downright terrible. But, in the end, will be completely worth it.
Just some food-for-thought!
Now if I could only maintain this mindset...