No More Counting Dollars, I'll Be Counting Stars

You know when Christmas comes around and all of the sudden you are faced with an even greater demand of your time? You have to find out what people want, buy presents, follow traditions, decorate, buy a tree, find time to listen to Christmas music, bake, and so many other “Christmas-y” things. I got caught up in all of the hustle and bustle before December even began. You see, I wanted to get everything done before I started my job. I bought all of the presents for my family and had them wrapped before December 1^st. I had it down. The 1^st is when work began. On the first day of work my boss gave to me the longest day of orientation you ever did see. Sad thing is that this song isn’t quite as fun as the original because the second day was the same thing. After two days of orientation I actually started work. Thursday I felt like I spent all morning in traffic. I was thinking how a lot of my paycheck was going to go to tolls and gas. I got to work, and I did not know what to do. To be honest, I barely made it to my office. I was shown so many rooms all over the hospital the day before, and it was a little overwhelming for me. Worst of all, I had to stay late on my second day of work. Can you tell I had completely forgotten the spirit and meaning of Christmas? That night was the hospital’s tree lighting. That was exciting, but before the lighting, I got to go around the hospital with Santa Claus and pass out presents to the patients. At four we started, and the realization that I was focusing on all of the wrong things hit me. Seeing the stars in the kids’ eyes, seeing them be so genuinely happy no matter how sick they were, seeing them be so thankful for even the smallest presents, hearing a mom say, “This is the best hospital ever!” and give us all hugs as tears filled her eyes, and being able to be a part of this made my heart grow three sizes. After going around with Santa, we had the tree lighting and then we had him come out and kids could come and sit on his knee. Kids from all over came to see him. Most of them gave him a hug afterwards and said thank you multiple times. I loved the smiles that came to their faces (except those that took one look at him and burst out crying). After they saw Santa they each got a stuffed animal. I got to be an elf and pass them out. Once again I saw the stars. Even the kids that were crying smiled and hugged tight to those stuffed animals. The stars in those kiddos’ eyes were so bright it was like seeing the Christmas star in person. That is what Christmas is all about. It isn’t about the presents, Santa Claus, or shopping. Christmas is about remembering the most wonderful gift our Heavenly Father could have ever given us. It is about Christ, about His example. It is about love and service and joy. He is the gift. 

The Best of the Best BYU Experiences

I know everyone thinks I raced through school. I know. I've heard it. Over and over and over again. I've heard it from my mom, my dad, my aunt, my grandparents, my friends, people from my ward, people from my old ward, and people from school. I. Have. Heard. It. It makes me upset not because I think they are right but because they don't understand. I do not feel like I raced through. I feel like I went at a good speed and I happened to finish early. I am sad that it is over now, but sadness often comes with change. I, however, do not feel like I missed out on anything. Not long before graduation, I went to dinner with Dani and her husband Tyler. One of the questions Dani asked was whether or not I felt like I got the full BYU experience. I smiled and felt my eyes sparkle as I answered with a resounding yes. Yes. I feel like I got everything I wanted out of BYU, and I am so thankful for the opportunity I had to go there. Let's start at the very beginning because as we all know it's a very good place to start.

Leading Up to College

First, the year before going to BYU, I went up to Utah with my family and Kaitlyn's family. We did the BYU tour on the golf cart, and our tour guide had an English accent. So, it started well. Fast forward to the application process. So stressful. I would have been able to get into any university in Texas automatically, but we all know I did not want to go to one of those. All of the girls in my seminary class and I anxiously awaited that acceptance email. The day finally came and I was screaming at 5:00 in the morning. It had been a hard choice deciding between BYU and TCU since I got a hefty scholarship from TCU, but I feel like once my decision was made no one was going to change my mind. I went to seminary that day, and Kaitlyn and I got out of our cars, looked at each other for a minute, and we both smiled because we knew we both got in. We were going to be Cougars. I will admit I creeped on my roommates once they were assigned. I couldn't decide if I was going to like them or not. Meghan was a track star and looked fun but a little crazy. Was she going to be loud and always have weird friends over? Makenna had only just gotten a Facebook and there was nothing on it. That was a little weird to me... Emilee I seemed to like when I talked to her as I anxiously awaited the time for me to be able to sign up for my first classes. And then there was Dani. Cute, beautiful, and pictures of Europe on her Facebook. I was jealous and wondered if she was going to be amazing or one of "those girls." I was just going to have to wait and see how two Utah, two Washington, and two Texas girls were going to get along.Senior year of high school flew by along with my summer, and all of the sudden I was in the car with all of my stuff on the way to Utah. I threw everything in my room as quickly as I could and kind of introduced myself to my roommates before I had to go. My mom signed me up for Foundations of Leadership. I did not want to go. I was already nervous enough about school without having to go to a leadership conference beforehand. I went and loved it more than any HOBY conference I had been to. Not only did I love it so much, but I met Rachel there and was introduced to BYUSA. Little did I know how great an impact this would have on me, but more about that later.

Fall 2011

I got back from FOL and hiked the Y with my cousin Becca since we went up to BYU the same year. How we managed to get up there without acclimating ourselves first I will never know, but we did it! Going back to the dorm I slowly got to know the roommates better. I loved all of them! I still spent plenty of time with Kaitlyn going to football games, tracing our faces on the mirror with an expo marker, hiking and lighting the Y for homecoming, being part of the homecoming parade, going to conference at the Conference Center, doing the blue foam slip and slide down a hill at Helaman Fields which is a homecoming tradition, laughing at the plastic wrapped statues on campus when the Utah game came, and took walks in our cowboy boots, but spending time with roommies was always fun. We played spoons in the elevator, ate cookies from our FHE brothers, got candy when someone (Dani was first) went on a date, watched a crane collapse, went to devotionals (especially the one with President Monson), went to the football opening party at which I won a sweatshirt, going out to play in the snow that had the biggest flakes I had ever seen, and having sleepovers in our living room.

Winter 2012

I didn't go home for Thanksgiving, but I got to go to Washington to spend some time with my favorite aunt (don't tell the others) and her cute family which may have been the best thing I could have done. I loved going home for Christmas, but it was even harder to go back to that winter semester. I think I lived off of tortillas with butter, hot chocolate, and Jamba Juice. I am not a winter fan, but when I came back I had fun roommates to look forward to and a class by Hank Smith. Winter was filled with time with FHE brothers that included shoving 13 people into a car and having the cops show up at the park we were at, walking to the temple with Kaitlyn, planking in the elevator and down the stairs, more sleepovers, spending time with a friend from FOL and heart-attacking our peer mentor's door, roommate shirts with individual quotes from our song "Party Rock Anthem", blanket forts, room decorations, snow, snow, and more snow, and of course the festival of colors. Yes, all this time I was in classes and doing presentations for BYUSA. Those presentations are where I met one of my best friends. Eric. That boy always made me laugh. I eventually made a point to go to devotionals early so I could sit in the front row because he was on the stands. Apparently he noticed because one day he texted me and asked if I could come meet him in the office. He offered me a position on his team the coming school year. I didn't really think about it before I said yes because I loved BYUSA and he was pretty great too. My mom did take some convincing though since I would be coming back to BYU for summer. I won her over. At the end of the year we had a BYUSA retreat and a BYUSA party where I beat Eric on a blow-up obstacle course, and I was in heaven!

Spring/Summer 2012

Mom came to pick me up after winter semester, but I had to go to my first friend's wedding reception first. One down! When I came back to school for summer the fun really started. Friend dates with Eric were like once a week whether we went for crepes, J Dawgs, or frozen yogurt. I lived with Meghan this summer which was easily the best choice. We went to Seven Peaks almost every day, started a Fourth of July tradition that continued every year, and became even better friends with Janessa who had lived across the hall from us freshman year. Janessa, her roommate Leah, Dani, Meghan and I had watched "When a Stranger Calls" together during the school year. After that we slept on the living room floor falling asleep to church music because we were so scared. Anyways, Jan, Meghan and I watched scary movies all summer at Jan's house. :) That summer I also was in the Fourth of July parade and made s'mores on the belltower lights with Meghan and Mallory and Jessica from BYUSA. That summer I was also a peer mentor for FOL and had a blast with my BYUSA team every single day.

Fall 2012/ Winter 2013

Fall came around which lifted some responsibility off my shoulders since I was acting as VP in BYUSA. Eric was done with his internship and took over. I had new roommates but lived in the same building as most of my old roommies so we still did stuff together all of the time. We went to the stadium party and got pics with Van Noy and Brandon Davies. #winning. We also played in the park at night and went to the Brigham City temple open house. For football games this year I had 50 yard line seats on the front row with BYUSA. Best thing ever. Seriously. BYUSA took up most of my time, but I had fun with my roommies too. I even dressed up with them for Halloween (which I NEVER do). I spent Thanksgiving in my apartment this year with Becca. We made a delicious dinner and even had a meringue war when we were making the pie. The trees with red and yellow leaves somehow changes to bare branches with snow overnight. Christmas came and went. With the snow we made giant sculptures on the patio of our apartment. Michael came to visit and Becca and I took him to Temple Square, Hogle Zoo, and the This is the Place monument with about a foot of snow on the ground. My roommates and I also went to the Festival of Colors again this year. Why miss the chance to become a rainbow? This year of BYUSA included even more adventures such as a day at Boondocks with go-carts, bumper boats, an arcade, a batting cage, and laser tag, a luncheon in the brand new convention center, a leadership ceremony where I won the BYUSA dedication award, our final winter retreat, and multiple fun, random days, events, and activities.

Spring/Summer 2013

This was the year I also dated a boy for the first time. Andrew. It lasted for one month which makes me laugh, but it obviously just wasn't meant to be. That spring I got to see Wicked for the first time for my birthday, and I spent my last birthday taking pictures with my best boy. That summer he died which took me what felt like forever to stop crying about. Needless to say I didn't get the best grades in my classes that summer. Oh! And the first of my roommates got married. Emilee got married!!! I made some of the best friends at BYUSA, and I applied to be the VP like Eric was. I didn't get the position, but I realized why later. That summer my best friend, Eric, got married, I made my first solo road trip, spent more time with Meghan (we enhanced our 4th of July tradition by going to the fireworks and concert at Thanksgiving Point on the 3rd as well as the Stadium of Fire fireworks on the 4th), made a trip to Washington with the roommates, got to see the Manti temple pageant, fell head over heels for a boy that moved away and suddenly stopped talking to me, went to a hot air balloon festival, went to the rope swings in Mona, saw a Pioneer Day parade, went to another wedding reception, got showered in glitter on a rough day, got a job, made a new friend (Julie Anne), and did the ropes course at the Olympic park. And, at the end of the summer, I was once again a peer mentor at FOL (I loved it even more this year) and was roped into being a peer mentor for New Student Orientation. 

Fall 2013/Winter 2014

This semester I roomed with Dani, Kaitlyn, and Makenna again, and we went back to our fun shenanigans and adventures which included wedding ring shopping one night. My new job was with the Alumni Association planning events. I mostly worked with the Student Alumni. It was a lot like BYUSA, but I got paid for it and worked in the Hinckley Center! This job had its perks. I got to watch the BYU v. Texas game in the President's Loge with the First Presidency of the church and the head honchos of the school. I drove the Alpine Loop in the fall, had picnics in the park with Meghan, drove in the convertible with Kennedy to the pumpkin patch, went to football games with Dani and her boyfriend/fiance Tyler, and was Becca's companion for a day before I dropped her off at the MTC. Jan, Julie Anne, and I made a trip to Park City in a blizzard, my roommates and I saw the Catching Fire midnight premier since we had seen Hunger Games together the year before. I made a trip to Arizona where I got sick for the first time since going to college, but Ami, her family, and I still ended up going to Cali anyways (my first time!). Dani and Ty got married and I got to be a bridesmaid! I survived winter once again and saw the lights on Temple Square and drove through the Thanksgiving Point lights with the top of the car down. I went on a retreat with my Student Alumni group and got to go tubing at Soldier Hollow. I went to the hot springs, planned and attended Traditions Ball, got to see Andy Grammar in concert, met and hugged Sister Dalton, and just had fun! 

Spring/Summer 2014

All of the sudden my final terms at BYU came. James and Kaitlyn got married, and I was the Maid of Honor! I finally went to Arches National Park, I hiked the Narrows at Zion National Park, Meghan, Janessa, and I went to the actual Stadium of Fire concert where Carrie Underwood performed, I spent most of my time with friends, I made a 4.0 for spring and summer, I had an internship with the Department of Child and Family Sservices, and I had almost a week long vacation where I missed class and went to California. 

So, I had good and bad roommates, I was in love and heartbroken, I had good and bad wards, I had fun and worked hard. I was involved. I made friends. I had adventures. I went to football, basketball, and even some volleyball games. I had experiences that most students don't get to have. So, thank you to everyone who made my BYU experience a FULL BYU experience. Roommates: Kaitlyn, Dani, Emilee, Makenna, Meghan, Jenn, Alanna, Melissa, Mallory, Alexis, Maren, and Ashley, their husbands, my BYUSA team: Bryon, Angela, Kennedy, Austin, and Devon, Eric Cecil, Angela Blomquist, Amanda Nuttall, my favorite teachers: Anne Hodge, Erin Holmes, Justin Dyer, Hank Smith, and Katie Isaak, my bishopric members, the Bishop's wives, the Student Alumni team: Flint, Michael, Mady, Christina, Brett, and Brody, Curtis Isaak, Julie Hatchett, my internship mentors: Liz and Kobie, Janessa, Julie Anne, Justin, Andrew, the best visiting teachers ever: Brooke Ellis and Blythe Beecroft, Alyssa Harkness, Becca, and Aubryann McClune. Thank you for allowing me to say that I had the best of the best experiences I could have ever asked for at Brigham Young University. I am thankful that I could leave my mark at BYU, but I am even more thankful that it left its mark on me.

This Is What it Feels Like

Edmund Lee once said, "Surround yourself with the dreamers and the doers, the believers and thinkers, but most of all, surround yourself with with those who see the greatness within you, even when you don't see it yourself."

BYU was that place for me. It was a place in which everyone was trying to not only do better but to be better. We learned and then we went out and did. Most importantly, you always had people to believe in you even when you did not believe in yourself. I learned more than I could ever have asked for. I learned in the classroom, from others, and I learned about myself. I loved every minute at BYU, but the time eventually came for me to graduate. 

The day before graduation my mom took me out to take pictures so we would not have to fight for the more popular spots on campus. They turned out lovely, and I think we both had some fun doing it.

Graduation day... Well, part of it. Convocations. Cute outfit, curled hair, cap, gown, dang it... I forgot my stole. Oh well, there is always tomorrow. I have no one to stand with. Everyone is lining up with their groups of friends. This is awkward. Some girl keeps looking at me, and I feel like I recognize her from somewhere. Aren't we Facebook friends? How do I know her? She's coming over. It's Melissa. I know her from BYUSA. I had someone to talk to and sit with through the ceremony. Thank goodness for BYUSA. They are getting us into single file lines, and we are starting to walk. Good. It's so hot outside. All of the faculty are out waving to us. I don't see anyone I know. I'm too excited to try to focus. We are filing in through the tunnel. How many times have I been through here this year? So many. This is my last time... 

Get out of the ceremony. Practically run to the exit. I was so excited for Elder Russel M. Nelson to speak, but marriage? Was that a necessary topic? At graduation, BYU?! Come on! Where is my family? Okay, I'll just wait at the meeting spot. Oh! I see them coming! Picture time! 

The next day is commencement. Ryan went up with me to the line. He laughs when someone thinks he is a graduate. He is bored, and I don't know where the rest of the family is. Here they come. Dad is hiding something under his jacket. Aw! They bought me a lei! They leave to find a seat. Again, I have no one to sit with, and I don't see Melissa. Oh my gosh. That annoying guy from one of my classes is here. Why me? Wow. He's actually kind of funny! He wants to be my "line buddy." Whatever. We're about to move. My feet are killing me. Heels were probably a bad idea. I will survive. Why are they taking us down stairs? They are trying to kill me. The tunnel! I guess this is my last time! I get to sit on the floor this time. I feel like the speakers are taking forever today. Why am I so anxious? My row is getting up. Here we go! They are going to take our photos. Wow. This lady is kind of forceful. They are taking my card. Dr. Roper reads my name and I walk across the stage shaking hands with people, some of whom I have never seen. I didn't trip!! All of the sudden I am done. I am a BYU graduate. Commencement doesn't last much longer. I go back out to meet my family. This time they are looking for me. 

I am a BYU graduate... This is what it feels like. 

Cali Lovin'

I have been going through Utah withdrawals. Already. I have not even left yet, but the thought of leaving makes me sad. So, I went to San Diego to get away and have time to not have to think about anything. Sunshine is my favorite accessory, and I am pretty sure that heaven is an endless beach with lots of chocolate. So many beach days. From Mission Beach to Ocean Beach to Pacific Beach. I love them all. I could spend all day there and just forget about eating and sleeping and everything. Also, we swam so much! After the beach we just had to go swimming to get all of the sand off. There was no other way. One day we went to Seaport Village. There are lots of little stores, statues, and and a carousel! We of course went and saw all of the above, and there was a hat store. Add that to the list of what heaven has. One day we went to Sunset Cliffs to hunt for crabs. It was fun to climb around on the cliffs even though Ami told me we were going later that night so I was wearing a dress. Another night we watched the sunset on the beach. So many colors. So peaceful and absolutely beautiful. The last day I was there we were swimming and the cutest boy was swimming too. All we said to each other the entire time was hi, but boy oh boy was he attractive. Perfect tan, perfect teeth, and blue eyes. We probably didn't say anything else to each other because he scared me to death when he dove in right after I did and came up right in front of me at the same time I did. Bummer. So, back to my love for the beach. I am a beach bum. I didn't choose the beach life. The beach life chose me. I love the soft warm sand (even when I have to walk in it carrying a sleeping almost 2 year old and thought my legs were going to fall off), the beach curl the salty air gives my hair, the blue water against the light brown shore, the sound of the waves, the seashells, the sound of kids playing, the colorful umbrellas lining the beach, and the surfers. Oh my! One more thing to add to the heaven list. So tan. So attractive. Someone please get one of them to teach me!!! I learned how to boogie board. That's one step closer to surfing, right?! It was so fun. I have been doing it wrong all these years. I think one of my favorite things at the beach was when I was going out to the deeper waters to boogie board and I would turn my back before a big wave hit me. As it crashed against my back if I opened my eyes there was a rainbow right there seemingly just for me. There was just so much beauty in one place! My drive back was a long one. There was an insane amount of traffic. But although there was a lot of traffic, I did finally get to see the Las Vegas strip! I do not think my eyes could get any bigger. I just wanted to see and experience it all. So many things to see and do! So much shopping, so many people, so many amazing buildings, and Hershey and M&M World?! Also, Treasure Island... Love. I have wanted to see it since Miss Congeniality 2. Mission accomplished. Although I miss sunny San Diego, seeing the Y on the mountain in stormy Provo was a welcome sight. Now I just have to wait a week and a half for my family to be here! Graduation is well on its way. Also, my mom and dad said I could get a puppy, and I get to redecorate my room when I get home. I am just so excited!!