I was talking to Mom on the phone today and she mentioned that I haven't posted in a while and seeing as how it's been nearly three months I figured it was about time.
The winter semester ended on April 22, which boy was I glad for that. Matty left on the 26th to go home to Houston for the summer, and I must admit that it was hard for me to see him go. Two of my roommates, Jessica and Michelle, graduated in April with their degrees in Elementary Ed. and History respectively. I was so happy for them, they both deserve it! It kind of worked to just make me all that much more impatient for next spring though when I will be receiving my degree and having a similar experience.
The Spring term here at BYU started April 28th. I took three classes, Intro to Family Processes, Strengthening Marriage and Family, and Intro to Stats. It was 9 credits which is equivalent to taking 18 credits in a normal semester because the spring and summer terms are so compacted. Boy, did it keep me busy. Other than that not much else happened. Our new roomates Jenny and Lacey moved in in early May. They're both super sweet girls and I'm glad that I get to have them as roommates. I'm trying to learn as much from the people around me as I can and they have definitely taught me a thing or two.
For Memorial Day at the end of May Michelle and I took off for San Francisco which was uber fun. We stayed with Michelle's Sister-in-law's family who were very nice and hospitable. We did Fisherman's Wharf, and Alcatraz, and the beach. And it was just so much fun. The only down side was that the weathery was kind of cold and blustery most of the time we were there. But hey, what can you do?
After we got back from Memorial Day we only had about two more weeks left of spring classes which went by rather quickly. Sometime in late May/early June I went and volunteered in the TRC (teaching resource center) at the MTC for the first time. Basically you go in, they give you a scenario and you pretend to be an investigator so the missionaries can come in and teach you a discussion to give them practice with stuff they'll be doing in the field. I've made it a goal to try and volunteer there once a week but I haven't had any luck so far. One Friday I couldn't go because of Brian's wedding, once I'd been sick and they wouldn't let me volunteer so I didn't risk getting swine flu (they've had outbreaks in the MTC), then I was out of town, and then this last week the TRC wasn't open because it was mission president week.
Mom and Dad came in for the weekend of June 5th-7th for Brian and Laurie's wedding. It was really good to see them, I just needed some time with my parents. On June 8th Michelle and I volunteered to give blood. It was the first time for both of us and we both admitted that we probably would've backed out if the other hadn't been there. I was a little nervous going in just because needles freak me out, I got through the screening just fine, but the freak out hit hardest when I actually sat down in the chair and they started prepping to shove a needle the size of a capri sun straw into my arm. The technician taking my blood was good natured about it though and talked me through it. I was surprised to find that it actually didn't hurt that badly, in fact the finger prick that they did in screening hurt worse. And it was actually kind of cool to see my blood running through the tube and knowing that my blood could actually help save someone's life. I've since set a goal for myself to start donating blood every eight weeks (which is the least amount of time you have to wait between donations). Also one Saturday earlier this month I went and volunteered at Habitat for Humanity. The house that they were working at that day was mostly completed so I got to spend 3 hours out in the sun shoveling rocks but it was still rewarding to know that I was helping someone, and Habitat is something that I've always wanted to do. I've since decided that that's something that I'm going to try and do more often as well.
Jessica finished her first year of teaching as an intern on June 12th, and so to celebrate she and I went and got Manicures and Pedicures...guess where...Wal-Mart! Haha That just makes me inordinately happy! They didn't do a half bad job either.
Spring classes ended June 15th and finals were scheduled for the 17th and 18th. Two of my finals were in class/take home so I got to knock those out on the last day of class. Which meant that I only had to take one test (Intro to Statistics.) in the testing center during finals days. I took my Stats. final the morning of the 17th and then jetted off later that evening to go spend the weekend with Cherstin, Dan, Abby, and Emmet in OKC! It was really good to see them. While I was there we went to a science museum, a water park, and an amusement park, and basically just spent time together. Which I was having a bit of Provo-itis so it was good to get away. Dan also was kind enough to give me a blessing while I was there, and in it he said some stuff that I really needed to hear. It's amazing to think that those words came from the Lord. I've counted and I have had four blessings so far this year...and it's only June. I really am quite dependant on the spirit and the priesthood. It just makes me that much more appreciative of the gospel and all that much more determined that I want in my home when I have a home of my own some day.
I got back from OKC last sunday night and summer term classes started the next day! haha
I was up early the next morning trying to get into my last english class for my degree but it was full. I then went to another section that afternoon again trying to get the professor to add me....still no dice. So I'm taking a Critical Inquiry research class, and then my English class I'm taking up at the BYU Salt Lake Center. It's kind of a pain having to drive all the way up there but in the long run I think it'll actually be better. For one thing it's a TTH class along with my other one so I'm completely free from classes MWF, so say hello to four day weekends. Plus it'll put me up in SLC more often so I'm hoping to stop in and see G-pa more often, which is something that I've been slacking at. My classes though this semester are worrying me a little just because I anticipate them being A LOT of work. But I think I'll pull through. I just found out yesterday that I got two A's and one A- in my spring term classes, which I was pretty stoked about.
I've recently set a new goal for myself to try and go to the temple to do baptisms every week, and I've decided at least one of those weeks I want to go to a different temple around here other than Provo. There are so many around here and why not go to them while I'm in the position to do so. Yesterday I went to the Mt. Timpanogas temple (Provo's closed for cleaning and it's the closest). It's a beautiful temple, but a lot different from Provo. It's interesting to note how different each temple is in architecture, design, layout, and decor. I was pondering that yesterday as I sat inside the Mt. Timpanogas temple but then it hit me that though each temple is different, each is still considered the house of the Lord, and the work done in each is the same. It was a real testimony to me that this gospel really is true.
I have this pair of pants that I bought back in February and a few weeks ago I noticed that the hem in one of the legs had completely come undone. I was at loss as to what to do, when Jessica mentioned to me that she could teach me how to fix it. I bought some thread and she loaned me a needle and yesterday morning I fixed the hem in my pants all by myself! It was kind of a crude job, I'm not going to lie just because it was my first time and such but I was quite proud of myself! I figure that no one is going to be concentrating that hard on my ankles anyway. But it kind of got me thinking that sewing is one of those things that I fought my Mom on when I was growing up, but it's a nice skill to have, especially when you're a wife and Mother I'm sure. So I asked Mom if she would teach me how to sew when I go visit in August! I'm really excited. I've also decided that I want to teach myself Spanish. It's not going so well but I'm not going to give up!
So far this summer I've read Massacre at Moutain Meadows, The Miracle of Forgiveness, Go Forward with Faith:The Biography of President Gordon B. Hinckley, and am working on reading Jesus the Christ. Matty kind of got me into reading churchy non fiction books and I must say I'm rather glad that he did. Reading them has opened my eyes and expanded my view on so many different gospel subjects, it's amazing. Jesus the Christ is a beastly book, 700+ pages but I'll get through it. It's a really good book!
So, there's an update on my life!
PEACE!