It's Christmas Time!

This is one of my favorite Mormon Messages of all time, and I hope you like it!

Time Flies...

President Peterson, Sister Peterson, me, Cynthia, and Jessica

This past weekend, a few of us went up to South Jordan to visit our first mission president. (Most of the people I served with had two, the second (President Dalton) is still serving in Hawaii.) It was so fun! We had dinner, and of course talked about all of the crazy things that happened while we were in Hawaii. We definitely had a lot of adventures together, and though I've known these people for less than two years, they are a huge part of my life and some of my best friends.

I still feel weird being home, and especially being at reunion type settings like this, it really hits me that my mission ended. Not only is it over, but contrary to what I keep thinking, I won't just wake up one day and be a missionary in Hawaii again. It's not that I want to go back, I just keep thinking that I will. (It's also not that I don't want to go back- goodness knows I could handle being at the temple every day or being in celestial Kalaheo again.) But, there are also times when I think, "Did I ever leave BYU? Did I really serve a mission?" It just seems like all of the sudden I'm a year or two older than a lot of my peers and anything that has happened since February 2010 is somehow blocked out of my memory.

But life is good- in about 45 minutes my Thanksgiving break will officially begin! I definitely need a break- good old BYU and their lack of fall break- woof. And then it's only two weeks until the semester is over. I wish I could pretend to be more sad about that. ;)

Not Forgotten

This week was so good!

First off, I took a math test, and what do you know- I didn't fail!!! (failing math tests is a common occurrence at BYU, so this actually was a bit of an accomplishment) Good things.

Then on Wednesday I registered for classes. It felt good to actually have chosen a path and be continuing on it. Haha I guess I'm lucky econ is a short major, because it's a little rough to be 22 and just barely start taking upper level classes. So- I am way excited about my classes! The two I'm most excited about are International Trade and Finance and then Introduction to Development Studies (as in the development of countries). I am just so excited- you know you've chosen the right major when you look forward to the assigned reading and signing up for classes is like going shopping. I've also decided to minor in International Development. This just makes me so happy.

So after registering, I was walking through the Wilk and decided to stop by the Service Office. Good thing I did because I ended up meeting this guy who knows the director of a micro business organization here in Provo. Um, what are the odds?! So of course he hooked me up with all these connections, and I'm just excited because I know it wasn't by accident.

None of what's happened has been just coincidence actually, hence the title of the blog post. It's just nice to know that not only is my life going somewhere, but that it's going the right somewhere and my decisions are being guided.

So Fun!

So tonight I went on a date with my friend Dan- it was fantastic because we were an ipod!!! We went to a couples costume/dinner party, and he was nice enough to humor my idea of being an ipod. So- here are the pictures!

I Love This

Today started out as overcast and progressed into a fairly rainy, cold day. Although the rain caused me to slip on the way home (I wore flip flops today- I'm a genius), I loved it. I love the smell of the air when it's cold. I also love how things sound when it's raining- everything splashing and dripping. I don't know, I just like it. I also realized that I haven't had a cold rainy day in a really long time; it rains in Hawaii, but only for 5 minutes and it's very warm.

Also, to add to my satisfaction, I went for a run further up the mountain. It was so beautiful- the fall colors and the mountains coming out of the clouds. All enveloped in crisp cold air with a steady drizzle. I was so happy. :)

It was also cool that after a few miles, I could see steam coming off my face and arms. ;)

Don't Stop Believin'

My life is ridiculous. But every once in a while, well maybe every day, Heavenly Father throws a little gem my way to remind me that things really aren't as bad/overwhelming/important as I make them out to be.

For example, I went home this weekend because my friend Erica was going through the temple. I showed up for the session a half an hour early in hopes of getting a good seat and not being rushed. As I was making my way to the temple from the parking lot, I saw this couple in jeans walking on the grounds. The distinct impression came that I should talk to them, so I did. It turns out they were from Belgium and were on their way to Wyoming. When they saw this crazy huge white building with a gold statue on top, they thought they might stop by. We talked for a little bit about religion while I led them through the maze of construction, etc., that led to the Visitors Center. We got to the Visitors Center, I handed them off to the sisters, and went back to the temple.

Because of the time this took, I ended up not making it to the session, but went and did sealings instead. First of all, I felt pretty grateful that I was in the right place at the right time to talk to the Belgium couple. How neat! And then this was my first time doing sealings. I kept thinking about how cool it was that regular people like myself and the others present got to take part in such a special thing. Here we were, making it so families could be united even after death. You know, just part of our Saturday morning.

Another cool experience I had was a few weeks ago at Temple Square. A bunch of us from the mission got together and went to Salt Lake for the evening. We were at Temple Square for a couple hours and stayed long enough for the sisters to be gone. My friend and I were walking around and ran into this group of people taking pictures. We offered to take a picture for them, and found out they were from New York, and wanted to know more about this church. It was so cool to be able to answer their questions and just share a few things about the temple and families.

I guess I just feel grateful to know that there are ways I can help people. I think that's one of the greatest blessings of the Gospel- whoever we are, we have something to offer that can help someone else. And who knows what happened to the couple from Belgium or the group from New York, but I think I'll let myself imagine a happy ending for all involved.

That's the Way We Get By

Just a typical Wednesday night- 1am, WalMart, getting Ben & Jerry's.

A Girl Has Got to Eat

It is Saturday night and I am at work. I think this is a good time to blog. And what should be on my mind, but dating. What makes a quality date? Well, some day I shall find out. But these last three weekends have certainly not led me to the answer.

All of these dates have two common threads, and I would like to discuss them.

Thread number 1- plans. When someone asks me on a date, I have in mind that there is something happening that they would like me to be a part of. I figure there is something they want us to do, hence them calling me specifically for the occasion.

When I get in the car/to the apartment, and he turns to me and asks, "So what do you want to do?" I have to bite my tongue before I say something rude. If I had no filter, I would say something like, "Well, now I want to go home. Why don't you call me when you have something planned, mm?" Instead, I say, "Um... well, um... hm. I'm not sure." What am I supposed to say?! I don't know what his price range is, and it catches me totally off guard. These things require advanced planning. I mean, what was he hoping for? That I would say, "Oh yeah! Sure I just so happen to have this perfect idea! You know what, I can't even think of what that idea would be while I'm blogging afterward about how dumb going on a date with you was!" I mean, I guess I can have some sympathy and figure they're trying to put me first and do what I want. They could have asked me beforehand though, so actually no- I have no sympathy. All no plans says to me is that you didn't put very much effort into taking me out, and I respect you less for it.

It would be funny if that hadn't happened more than once.

Thread number 2- dinner. If the date is between 5 and 8, I do not think it is unreasonable that I would expect dinner. I'm just saying. If you drop me off hungry, I won't be saying yes if you ask again. What I don't understand is how someone can ask me on a date, take me out at dinner time, be unsure of what we should do, and not take me to dinner.

Haha so I'm thinking of creating some sort of screening test for my dates (assuming I get any more, that is. The feast may be over, it could be time for the famine). It could be like a process of elimination though. "If you answer no to any of the following questions, then my answer is no for going out with you. Do you have actual plans for the date? Will you feed me? Are you going to talk about something besides your mission? Will you actually listen to what I have to say? Alright then. Your time, and possibly money, would be better spent elsewhere. Go find a freshman. Thank you."

I guess the good news is that it won't be too difficult for someone to impress me. If you have the date planned, you take me to dinner when appropriate, and can have a good conversation, haha I will think you are a rock star.

The Other Girl

One of the best parts about being back in normal life, and at BYU, is all the drama. I'm not sure if it was like this before my mission and now it's just a novelty to me, but good night there is a lot of drama right here in P-town. For the most part, I love it, and I think it's so funny. Sometimes though, it does get a little stressful.

Of course, the bulk, or probably about 99% of the drama is centered on dating. I happened to have totally lucked out this year and have the most awesome roommates ever, so no drama there. We're all different ages, at different points in our lives/majors/whatever, but it works. Maybe that's why it works.

So back to this dating thing. Gooooood night it's crazy. I could feel it as soon as I stepped on campus, especially during the first week of school. Everyone here is on the hunt. Everyone. I'm getting used to it, and kind of rolling back to my old self, except better because now I'm better at talking to people. (Thanks mission!) It's kind of fun though, almost like a game with a points system.

He stopped to talk to me: 2 points
He asked for my number: 5 points
He texted: 3 points
He called: 10 points. Make that 15. Nobody just calls! It makes me nuts!
He asked me out: 15 points
He never called again: lose all points
And, to transition to the title- it turns out there is another girl: Negative points. Must find other boys to break even.

Over the past week, 3 of us in our apartment have been thrown into the same boat, though at different extremes. Each of us had a certain someone we were thinking about, and then, one by one, each of us discovered the truth. Another girl. Someone else that he needs to resolve things with first, couldn't let go of, has liked since the dawn of time and now she's showing interest, etc., etc.. Oh these other girls. This is not new to me. She's always there, this other girl. You know, the one you scour facebook to find, and once you do, the analysis begins. Is she really cuter than you, or is it just because she wears so much makeup? And look at all these stupid picture of her and her roommates- she definitely is not very smart. And on and on it goes. In reality, you might be friends with Other girl. She's probably a good person, but you hate her by default.

I think my sister Elise put it best when she once said, "That's how it always is. Either you don't like them as much, or they don't like you as much. And when you like each other, you get married."

This is For Real

Funny/interesting/'signs that I'm one of those kids who can't quite get over the mission' tidbits of my life the past few weeks:

I went on a date last night, and when he was teasing me and I had no response, I shrugged and said, "I don't know, I'm just a missionary." Yeah... oops. He probably won't ask me out again, which is mutually beneficial anyway I think.

I left the house the other day and realized I forgot my tag... and then realized I forgot I didn't need one.

I give unsolicited advice!!! And I'm trying to quit.

If it weren't for the mission, I might not have friends right now.

I feel like my world is spinning circles around me, and even though I have a really solid plan for today, tomorrow, next week, and next semester, I still feel dizzy.

One Week Strong

Ok, so first of all, I recognize my header picture is unnaturally huge. I will be asking my blog master sister Elise how to fix it soon, don't worry. But- I took that picture one morning from my apartment on my mission. Hawaii = beautiful sunrises and sunsets, every single day.

As for my blog theme, I decided on something that would always make me post positive- the morning. I love the morning. It's my favorite time of day. I like it because it's so full of hope- in the still of the morning, when the sun is just rising, nothing bad has happened yet. Whatever happened the day before, you can make today better, you can do the right thing today. It's so refreshing.

It's also a good depiction of how I feel. I just got back from my mission, and I'm on to new adventures. Things are similar to how they once were, but they're also different. And in the next 5 years, who knows what my life is going to bring. Graduation, career, marriage...? I really don't know, but it's going to be new, and I want to make the best of it. I feel like lately God has been giving me all these pointers in various aspects of my life, but it's like He's giving me just enough to know that He's involved, and a plan is in the works, but not enough for me to know exactly what's going on. Hence the need for a positive and grateful perspective- it's so tempting to be frustrated. But- life is good, tomorrow is a new day, and it will be good, right? Right.

In other news, I'm trying to curb my facebook addiction. I just can't help it- I have all these people I forgot existed for the past 18 months, and now they're all married and having babies! It's crazy.

Real Life. New Blog.

I just want to say that I am over this real life business. It's not that I'm dying to be back on a mission, but things sure were a lot more simple when I only had one thing to worry about. I know everything will work out, it's just a matter of getting back on my feet.

As it were, welcome to my new blog friends!

Haha I wanted to post that I am tired of all the stresses of real life, but when I got to my blog, I noticed a few things. Firstly, I was a little annoyed by my pre-mission self. Next, I wanted to change the layout but I couldn't figure it out. These two factors combined, I decided to just let my old blog float into cyber space, and start this fresh clean new one. :)

So here it is! I've been home for about 5 days, and I feel like I'm running in circles. It will be good when school starts again.

President Dalton, Sister Brown, Lisa, Me, Sister Dalton