11 Days Left

So, as the title of this post states, I have 11 more days left in Heber City. I have loved growing up in this beautiful valley, especially with the gorgeous mountains, picturesque sunsets and sunrises and much more. I love the farming feeling Heber has, although with more major things coming to town, such as the shopping centers, that small-town rural feeling is leaving. 

But I'm going from this small-town Heber, to this small-town Rexburg. It has more farms and small-town feeling that I love there. Whenever I have gone to Rexburg, there is such a right feeling! I feel like it's home now!!

Before, I was really nervous to leave, but as I'm packing things to take to school, the excitement and anticipation level has dramatically increased and the nervousness and anxiety has gone downhill. I am still quite nervous, but I'm started to get to really excited! I hope I get everything I need before I leave! 

This is probably my last (almost) full Saturday at home. Next Saturday will definitely be my last, but I am working a double shift at my job, Dairy Keen. I will be leaving around noon and get back around 10 or 11 that night. When they post the new schedule on Monday, that will be my last work week! I am so excited! I have loved having Dairy Keen as my job, but I am really excited that I get to go get an education about something I love so much! Teaching spunky and crazy kids! 

I teach Primary one more time, hopefully. My teaching partner teaches this week, but I don't know if I will be released this Sunday or the next. Hopefully I get to teach them next week, but if I don't, maybe that's good too, I don't know. I might be a little stressed getting ready for school. 

Although most of my friends have left for school already, I do still keep in touch with the friends that I'm the closest to, and I've gotten closer to some friends that I didn't think would want to. For example, I went to dinner and the movies with a girl that I've been friends with for a while, but we've never been the "best" friend material for each other. Come to find out, after dinner yesterday, we like a lot of the same things, and we have both been feeling pretty lonely due to our friends leaving for school. We are basically the only girls left in Heber that haven't left for school yet. She will be going to UVU this fall, and I am so happy for her! We looked for cute guys at Olive Garden, had creepy guys hit on us while walking to the movie theater, and attempted to eat a bucket of popcorn at the theater together. It was a lot of fun, and I'm glad I got to spend time with just us two. Usually when I've been around her, it's been with other people there too. We also decided to have a chick flick day! When that will be, I have no idea since she starts school on Monday, but it will happen sometime! 

I am so thankful for my many friends and for all the support they have been to me! Hopefully I have been somewhat of a help for them as well through the years, because they mean a lot to me! 

So, as I'm packing up some little things like my jewelry today, I remember that if my friends have gone to college and they're doing okay, I will be okay as well. 

After all, 

I was meant to go to BYU-Idaho.

It's the right place for me.

Thanks to inspiration and guidance, I know I'm going where Heavenly Father needs me to be.

Live. Love. Laugh. Grow.

You Just Gotta Have Friends!

Due to my last post, I will now be posting about 4 friends of mine in each blog I write for the next few times. Or until I run out of friends. Whenever I get bored. :)

So, without further ado, let me introduce my good friends!

Nate Clegg

Oh Nate. Where to begin? It all started on a dark and stormy night....Just kidding! :) Nate and I met probably at Midway Elementary school, but I don't remember him from that age. I do, however, remember being in his social dance class, and him playing the trumpet very well. We knew each other from the dance class, but I think we were more of acquaintances rather than friends. We both work at Dairy Keen, and long story short, after a very short time, Nate and I "liked" each other. He was actually the very first boy I ever held hands with, and it was exciting for me. :) This picture of us was at Preference, a dance held in November at our school, but shortly thereafter, sometime during Thanksgiving break, we came to a mutual agreement that we both liked each other, but more as really great friends, not that mushy gushy like where cooties are involved. :) Although it was hard to kind of lose someone I kind of liked, I am so glad that we are just simply great friends today. Nate has a beautiful girlfriend that is so much better for him--and they're so dang cute together! Nate and I played in the orchestra pits together, we were in social dance together, we work together a lot, and we talk about a lot of things together. Nate is a boy that came into my life and changed me for good. He has strong character, has a great sense of humor, and knows exactly what I need to hear to help buoy me up or help me stand on higher ground. His opinions on almost everything mean a lot to me, and he is mature beyond his years...that is, when he's not hyper. :) I have loved being Nate's friend every day, and I'm so grateful for his knowledge, advice, genuine concern, and everything else he does for me. He leaves for Lubbock, Texas on November 7, 2012 to serve the Lord on a 2-year LDS mission, and I couldn't be happier for him! He has such a strong testimony and is so willing and excited to serve the Lord, I know great things will come his way. I hope I can make it to his farewell! :)

Austin Roylance

Austin is one guy who honestly knows how to make me laugh super hard, and he'll laugh with me. :) Austin also worked at Dairy Keen, but hasn't for about the past year. He was always fun to work with though--it made the night go by faster. Austin is an amazing pianist, and will be coming to BYU-Idaho this fall as well!! I'll get to see him more often, hopefully, than I did this past year at school, but you never know. I'm so glad that I got to know this spunky boy, because he not only is musically gifted, but he is very academically gifted, and he is also one of the sweetest guys with one of the sweetest testimonies you will ever meet. I am so glad I get to see Austin at school this next year, and I hope we continue to be friends throughout the next few years. I love listening to his music too, so hopefully I'll get to see him in concerts throughout the year as well! I really wish there was a lot more I could say about Austin, but I honestly don't know him as much as I would love to! Austin is a great guy though--I know I can say that without a doubt. He has great character, amazing musicianship, a strong testimony, and is a great golfer as well! I can't wait to see you around campus in a few weeks Austin!

Taylor Paul

Taylor! Taylor has been in my ward for forever, and we've gotten to be great friends! She has always been there for me, and she knows how to make me laugh or even feel appreciated. Being the oldest Young Woman in church isn't easy, and she's made it easier, that's for sure! We've been through girl's camps together, Youth Conferences, and so much more! I really have appreciated Taylor and all she's done for me! She even wrote a poem on the back whiteboard in the picture at girl's camp for me, saying how much the girls would miss me when I left for school. If that isn't sweet, I don't know what is. :) I love you so much Taylor! Thank you for all you've done for me! You're a great girl!

Anna Dahl

Anna and I go way back. And when I say that, I'm serious. I used to babysit her and her siblings like 7 years ago. We have been in the same ward since she moved to Heber, and I have loved being in Young Women's with her! We have been through so much together, and we still do! She is one girl that I absolutely love being around, and I can't get enough! :) She makes me laugh so hard, and she has so much potential! I have loved being her friend! Girl's Camps were unforgettable. Youth Conference with lizard tails, Sobe's and loud music, horribly disgusting toilets, setting up tents, wetting our pants, and much more. Trek with our spray bottles, "s'mores!", and sap in my hair. From walking home from church or school together, to laughing and crying in testimony meetings, Anna and I have done a lot of things together. I will miss her so much! Thank you for everything we've been through, all that you've done for me, and all that we have yet to do together!

The Days are Winding Down

It seems like everything is ending.

But at the same time, it seems like everything is beginning.

Most of my really good friends move out this next week, and I won't be able to see them at all until probably Thanksgiving or Christmas. You're probably thinking it's not a big deal, but for me, losing the greatest friends I've ever had for the past 7 years is really hard for me. I have made the greatest friendships and have had the absolute best times of my life with my friends by my side. They have been there while I've cried, I've been there for them through their hard times, they know how to make me smile, and even when they drive me nuts, some part of me loves them anyways. Those are what truly great friends are made of. Here is a little bit about each of my friends:

Robyn Kirkland

I met this fantastic girl in gifted and talented after I moved in to my new house in 5th grade. I started attending Heber Valley Elementary, and the first thing I remember about her was her long brown hair and how quiet she was. But no matter what, she was ALWAYS nice to everyone. And she was very musical too, which I loved. We got to be better friends after we started orchestra together, although I don't think we were ever stand partners that year. Through the next few years, we stayed in orchestra together, and probably saw each other more as rivals or competition rather than friends, seeing as how we are just BOTH SO AMAZING at simply EVERYTHING! :) But I think we probably really became friends in about 7th grade. We were now both 1st violins, and realized that we could help each other get better--it wasn't a competition. We played everything together, and had such a good time. Each year that we knew each other got better as it went by, and it still gets stronger every day. We have played in orchestra since 5th grade together, and I have loved spending almost every day with her doing our favorite thing--playing music and being around each other! We have played in the school theater pits for Hello, Dolly!, Wizard of Oz, White Christmas, and this last one of Beauty and the Beast. I could go on and on and on about what Robyn and I have done together, and how many things we have been in, but what I want to do is let her know how much I love and appreciate our friendship, and especially her! She has grown into such a strong and beautiful young woman! I love you so much Robyn! Laughing together in French class, making funny pictures on our orchestra music, and laughing at everything and anything without saying a word to each other is what makes the good times count for everything. I'm going to really miss you when you leave for school--not seeing you every day will be hard for me!

Camille Ward

I really don't remember when we first met, but Camille claims that we met during a spelling bee. I wished her luck before she went up to spell each time, and she told her mom about how nice this "girl" was at school. Eventually, we were friends. :) I don't know when we were officially "come-over-to-my-house-and-make-cookies-and-play-scrabble" type of friends, but it was probably sometime in about 9th or 10th grade. We were probably in a science class of some sort, where we were for the next 3 years. In Physics, we always managed to have our project take a turn for the worse, and we were the kids that actually followed the instructions. Our online projects always caught in flame, our chemistry experiments turned the wrong color and started smoking and smelling weird, and things just never worked out scientifically between us. :) Thankfully she also played music, and we were able to talk to each other across the piano in the pit orchestras, or through french notes in Mr. Reynold's French class. Camille was the one that tried to get me in trouble in hilarious ways throughout high school. Writing "Zut!" on a paper and slapping it on the window in front of my face, but to our teachers' back, all I could do was laugh and fail my oral test. Thanks. :) But it was funny. Good thing Mr. Reynold's knows I laugh a lot...... From crazy driving adventures with car horns, through multiple girls camps, to calling each other and just needing a donut run, Camille has always been there for me for every single thing, and I really appreciate it. I'm not one to go off of emotions here, but Camille has usually been behind every supportive thing there is. So thank you Camille. :)

McCall Kelson

Where to even begin? McCall and I first met in 6th grade after she moved to Midway. We were in the same homeroom class with Mr. Jensen, and were the most nerdy, unattractive girls that hadn't quite found themselves yet. And that's putting it in a nice way. :) Anyways, there were several times that year where we grew to be really good friends--even best friends if you'd put it that way. We played with each other all the time, we read together, watched movies together, and even made bookmarks and knick-knacks together. We cried together, laughed to no end together, and even learned a foreign language for two years together. We had sleepovers together where we were so scared we held hands and prayed that we would be okay. We cried on each others shoulders when we had a bad day. McCall was one of the first people to know when I had my first kiss. We crumpled each others notes in every class, McCall drew hairy men and funny people for me to laugh at every day, and we laughed in almost every math class we ever had together by drawing a fat hairy man in a tutu with a huge head and a tiny face. :) I wish I had that with me. We can quote Nacho Libre, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure, the Three Amigos, and Napoleon Dynamite like there was no tomorrow. Singing songs in the bathrooms together, giving each other "drugs" in the hallway when we had a headache, and so much more. I can't even begin to write down all of our adventures. We had so many, and each were so great! I love you so much McCall, and I'll miss you like crazy when you're gone at BYU! We won't be able to continue our great adventures in person!

Sarah Haderlie

Sarah Haderlie and I met in the orchestra pit for Hello, Dolly during my 8th grade year. We didn't really get to know each other a whole lot during that year, but we did the next. We were in orchestra together and were able to get to hang out with each other at least every other day. Through the last years of her being in high school, we got to be really really good friends. We hung out almost every day, she was the first person to know everything, she taught me what I needed to know for teaching music students, and we were always talking with each other, laughing about everything, and helped each other through so many things. Even though we don't see each other basically at all now, we still talk once in a while and get together occasionally. Sarah has made me who I am today, and I am so forever grateful for her and her eternally changing friendship she has given me! I love you Sarah!

Robyn and Camille move to BYU on Wednesday.
McCall moves to BYU on Monday.
Sarah is living in Orem.
All my other friends are leaving next week for school.

And I'm stuck here in Heber.

Thankfully I have a few guy friends who are left before they go on their mission. :)

I want to thank my friends for all their support and love they have given me throughout the many years. Some have been friends longer than others, but they all mean the same to me. I love each and every one of them so very much!

Because I knew you, I have been changed for good!  -Wicked

Live. Love. Laugh. Grow.

So Close, But Still So Far!

Let it be known that I have 26 days left in Heber City, Utah.
26 days left until I arrive in Rexburg, Idaho.
27 days left until I move in my dorm at BYU-Idaho.
30 days until my first Sunday in the student singles ward.
31 days until my college career begins.
4 years until I graduate with my Elementary Education degree.

I have less than two weeks left with my friends before they leave for missions and college.

I'm leaving behind at least four of my really good friends who will still be at home when I leave for school.

While this is really hard and kind of emotional for me, I am having the time of my life. :) Why?

I went shopping for new clothes that are college-age appropriate. :) Yes, Robyn, these are my "adult" tops. :)

I am getting stuff ready and set up for college!

I am hanging out with so many friends before they leave!

I have gone on so many dates!

School starts a month from today! :)

The decorations in the stores are now Halloween, which is my favorite! :) It's getting close to my birthday!

Secret to being happy in life?

Being able to love someone. Having things to look forward to. Having things to look back on and learn from.

Live. Love. Laugh. Grow.