One month + Busy life = One long post

I know, I know.

It's been a while.

But let me say something, while I haven't been blogging, it's not because I may have forgotten to, or because I didn't want to. Trust me. I really wanted to blog. But I didn't blog because I didn't have the time to for one reason or another, or whatever I wanted to put on here I hadn't quite finished thinking through in my mind.

What am I talking about, you might ask? Well, for instance, my New Years Resolutions. I wanted to put those on here, but I didn't know quite what they were yet. Classes I was taking, wanted to make sure all of that was final. You know, cool things like that. :)

But now that Christmas, finals, and coming back and forth from Rexburg is over, I can finally sit down and write what has happened in basically the last month. Maybe they'll be individual posts, maybe this will be just one long post. But one thing is for sure, I'm going to write about it all.

Okay, mind is made up, it's all going on this post. This post right here. So if you have reading glasses, or you want to pop a bowl of popcorn, you might want to hop on that. It's not like this will be too terribly long, but it's exciting enough, you want to get a blanket, some hot chocolate, and munch on your popcorn as you read along.

December 2012

• Yes, for all who are still alive from the 2012 end of the world catastrophe, I LIVED. (Does that make about 5 end of the world catastrophe's I've lived through?...)
• My great friend, Sarah Haderlie, was proposed to right before Christmas break by her wonderful fiance, Colten Sponseller. They make such a cute couple, she has a beautiful ring, and they're going to have some stinkin' cute red-headed chillins. :) Their wedding is on March 8, 2013 in the Timpanogos Temple, and I couldn't be more excited for both of them!
• I lived through college finals week, and honestly, it wasn't even that bad. I finished everything a few days early, so i was able to come home a few days earlier than I had originally planned! 

• Christmas was amazing as always. Mary Engelbreit calendar, school supplies, warm slippers, gift cards, and much more. This Christmas felt much more laid back and less stressful, probably because I didn't have a million piano and violin concerts/recitals that month. It was super nice for a change. :)
• I went and watched "Les Miserables" with my friends (twice), and I loved it so much! It was great being able to see my friends, as well as watch a play that I absolutely love!
• I hung out a LOT with my friends (Robyn Kirkland, Dallin Wegner, Tannen Bills, Connor Haynes, and Ian Johnson) and I absolutely loved it! It was a blast every time we got together!

January 2013

• Had my very first official boyfriend, Connor Haynes. Although the relationship was exciting, it only lasted for about two weeks. I think we are too good of friends for anything to actually happen between us, that's all. He is one of my greatest friends, he really is, he's a person I look up to and admire for many different reasons, but for whatever reason, I think we're just meant to be friends. I'm glad I got the short experience though, and I'm glad we're still really good friends. 
• I came home to see the farewell of my great friend, Dallin Wegner, and got to see my friends again. It was an expensive weekend, but I did it for friends and to see my family. You only get one mission farewell, and I wanted to see Dallin's. He's been such a great friend to me, I couldn't miss it for the world! He's going to be a great and very wonderful missionary. If I had just one word of advice for him, it would be what President Hinckley said concerning missionary work. "Forget yourself, and go to work." I don't know if Dallin will ever read this, but I hope he does. Because I want him to know how amazing of a person he really is, and how outstanding of a missionary he will be. The people in Sapporo, Japan are extremely blessed to get to know and meet Dallin, and be touched by his amazing spirit and testimony. Sure, we will miss him greatly back here at home, and our lives will be pretty different when he gets back, but it is where the Lord needs him at this time and those are the people that Dallin needs to teach. I am going to miss him so very much, but I am extremely excited for him as well! God be with you until we meet again, Elder Wegner! We love you so very much!
• I hung out with my friends a lot as well. It was a lot of fun! Lots of laughter, but too many goodbyes. Some of them were pretty final ones as well. Missionary work. Gotta love it. :)
• I made some pretty good friends, and am branching out of my little bubble a little bit here in Rexburg. Actually talking to people randomly, getting to know people a little better, and becoming more comfortable with who I am. I really like it!
• I found out that I'm probably lactose intolerant. Not something I had in my youth, but I guess lactose intolerance can come when your in your teenage/early adult years. Unfortunately, it doesn't really go away. It's basically taking away the food category that I am in love with. Milk, cheese, chocolate, PB cups, cheesecake. Yeah, the good stuff. Now it makes me sick. I'm trying to get used to soymilk, but it's definitely going to take some time to get used to. But I'm going to keep my chin up and smile through this entire process. It's one of life's little trials to test me, but I'm going to make the best of it.
• Through the above lactose intolerance stuff, there were also some other things that were bothering me. And because of this, and a lovely Young Woman leader who inspires me more than many people do, I am now going to try living a "Plant Strong/Vegan" lifestyle. It's definitely going to be a challenge, trying new foods and recipes, but I'm actually really liking it so far! I don't think I'll completely cut meat out of my diet, but I'm definitely going to keep it to a minimum--I'm not fond of the veggie meat substitute stuff. But I have yet to actually go buy meat, so we'll see what happens with that. But the few recipes that I've had are super delicious, and I feel great! Cutting the lactose out of my life has completely made me a new person, and I can see better health on the horizon! Speaking of health, my friend Natalie and I do workouts a couple times each week, which sounds wimpy, but with a busy school schedule, it's amazing we actually find time a few times a week to fit it in. I hope to be a much healthier and happier person by doing this--so far it looks really really promising!
• It seems like when I'm doing everything I'm supposed to (reading my scriptures, saying my prayers, going to my church meetings, eating healthily, etc.), things fall into place without much struggle. Already, just this past week, I've met a lot of cute boys and actually started to talking to some of them. It's awesome! I really feel like I'm out at college and finding myself. I know, that took a while. But I really feel like myself, like I've found myself now. Before it kind of seemed like I was finding myself, but I think I've pretty much found myself and what I'm capable of doing. I love it! I love being away from home, as bad as that may sound, but it's made me really find myself and love who I am without people I know telling me. Does that even make sense? If it doesn't, that's okay. I've heard it from myself and I love me, so what does it matter? ;) Haha!
• I'm doing really well in my classes! 
• Book of Mormon: I absolutely LOVE my teacher! He is so funny, and connects with me (teaching-wise) in such an amazing way! Every single class period, I feel the Spirit so amazingly strongly. I love that class so much! We also have a midterm test, but he's the one that takes the test, not us. He says the test is him being able to know our names and us individually, so we have to participate in a teacher/student 5 minute personal interview. He said we'll munch on Cheez-Its while we're in his office, and he'll just get to know what we're interested in, what we're like, etc. I don't care what else he asks, I was won over when he told us we would have Cheez-Its. Greatest teacher ever. Also, he quotes Nacho Libre and Napoleon Dynamite occasionally, and that automatically dubs him as greatest man in my book. :) Haha!
• Math Fundamentals: No, I'm not remedial, don't worry. It's the math class that everyone has to take. It's a generals class. It's not hard. I never take notes, since we don't really do anything to take notes, but I do well on the homework and the tests so far. It's nice when textbooks are specifically made for certain classes for BYU-Idaho. It seems like your notes are already in your textbooks. Also, buying Used books or renting books is the best thing in the world. :) You have other people's insights when reading, and you save a boatload of money! :)
• World Civilizations: Although I hate history, I actually LOVE this class. It's definitely hard work, in that it's not like any other history class I've ever had. We are reading Hugh Nibley (hard reading!), the Aeneid (hard poetry), and a textbook. We have several huge papers and reports due throughout the semester, as well as an oral report to present to the entire class. There is a lot of memorization, lots of tests and quizzes, and the teacher can call on you whenever. You can't fall asleep! Although that sounds horrible, it actually makes me learn really well! Also, I've tried sitting in the front of my classes, which definitely helps--I learn so much more. And I can't fall asleep in the front of the class in front of the class and the teacher. Highly recommend it! It makes such a huge and noticeable difference, I don't know why, but it really does.
• History/Philosophy of Education: This is actually probably my least favorite class. I love education, and I absolutely love my teacher and my classmates, but I HATE philosophy! I don't like the huge never-ending unsure questions we are asked to figure out. I also don't like debates or arguments. For example, last class, we had to figure out what side we would stand on for a law suit of a certain case and then debate it out. Not my favorite thing. I love my class though, and my professor is hilarious and just almost a loving grandfatherly figure, I just don't like the reading of philosophy books and homework. You know me. I hate philosophical, deep, rhetorical questions. Ask me straight up! :)
• Child Development: I love this class! I really do! It's really hard though, let me get that across. It's not a class for the faint of heart, or for the girls that just love kids and want to get married and have kids and not do homework. There is a lot of work, and a lot of information to remember. Children and people are very complicated, and there are so many stages you need to know in order to raise your children or treat those around you correctly and understand what they're going through. It's incredible! It's also incredible to see how miraculous life is and especially how it came to be. It seems almost impossible under the situations faced for life to even start or become. Creating life is so incredible, and is so amazingly beautiful. I had no idea how much has to happen for just one of us to be here. Taking this class, especially at BYU-Idaho where the gospel is intertwined with the course content, has made me really appreciate and love my Heavenly Father and the absolute love and genius He possesses. It's incredible! I feel so humbled when I go to that class. That probably doesn't make sense, but it's something you have to experience. It's really amazing. I am so glad I came to BYU-Idaho! There is something here that I've never felt anywhere else, and I absolutely LOVE it. 
• The Developing World (Online): This is actually an online class, so I never have to go attend a class. I get to do homework on my own time, and I don't learn from a teacher, I learn from myself and the readings/videos I have to watch. I am really learning to love it, too! Yet again, another geography/history class, and I love it! I have to "adopt" a country and watch it and keep track of how it's doing. I chose South Africa, since it is a country that I don't know very well and Bryson is serving his mission there as well. It's been an interesting class, and I actually am really loving it!
• I love myself and I love my life! I wouldn't trade it for anything! I love the gospel, and I love my friends. I love my calling and I love my testimony. I love the people in my life, and I'm glad for those who have been there for me, as well as those who will be in my life in the future. And I love all of you. 

Live. Love. Laugh. Grow.