Moving Forward, Choosing Joy

Ok, so I am not a very consistent or frequent blogger... But when I do post it usually has some heart in it, so that counts for something, right?

First off, I was accepted to BYU! I am so grateful and excited! It is amazing how everything works out, isn't it? I am definitely looking forward to starting Spring classes on April 30th.

The last few months of my life have been very interesting. I have definitely learned a great deal about myself and I am a stronger girl than I was before. I'm so grateful I had to go through this sometimes lonely, difficult, and seemingly stagnant time. I see now that it taught me what I am made of.

When you are going through a trial, keep holding on, don't give up. Keep trying, keep praying, keep the faith. The light will come.

Epiphony in the Shower

Sometimes my best thinking happens when I am in the shower. Which was definitely the case yesterday morning. I set my alarm for 4:40, got up to get ready, and hopped in the shower and started thinking about where I am in my life. If you have been following my blog you know that I left BYU-Idaho (deferred for a semester after getting my Associate's Degree in December) to move to Provo and work full-time while waiting to find out if I am accepted to transfer to BYU. When people would ask me what I would do if I weren't accepted, my response was "I have no idea." It was so hard to picture myself going back to BYU-I after picking up and leaving, saying goodbye. Here's where the shower epiphony comes in. I realized yesterday morning, that I am truly and sincerely happy with whatever happens. Of course I am hoping I am accepted to BYU, and I am eager to further my education there, but if not, I will be thrilled to return to a school that is so good, and that I really do love so much. If that were to happen, there would be no part of me that would wonder why this little "detour" has been a part of my journey. I have learned so much from my experience of going where the Lord wants me to be. I have changed a lot these last few months, I feel, for the better. So, basically, I hope that everything works out with BYU, but I truly will be glad for whatever happens.

And that is the epiphony I had in the shower.

Sorry, It Has Been A While.

I don't know how many people even read my blog, so the above apology is me assuming there is anyone who cares. :P

Life is good. It is pretty busy, which I don't say to my friends who are actually in school this semester because I know they would kill me. I have been working full time at the Charleston and today I start my new second job (part time) as a personal assistant to a woman who is quadrapalegic. She is so sweet and I am excited to be her little helper!

I am also being so good and going to the gym consistently! Whoot! Lemme tell ya, buying a gym membership and new running shoes really motivates you because you want to get your money's worth! When I would work out for free at the BYU-I gym I would stay there for like 1/2 an hour and be so proud of myself. These days I am working out for about an hour and a 1/2 every time I go! Go me!

Also, I have become obsessed with crocheting infinity scarves. They are so cute and warm and trendy and make every outfit look so cute, I wear them almost every day and I love making them for my friends too. I have also been selling some too.

Life is good, I am so blessed. :)

Here I am in Provo!

Hello folks, sorry I haven't posted in a while. :)

Well, here I am, where I feel I was told to go, where I feel I need to be, in good old Provo, UT, living at Glenwood with five other girls in a BYU ward.

My application to transfer to BYU is completed, now I just have to wait a couple of months to find out if I am accepted. Some people have asked me what I am going to do if I don't get in...I honestly don't know. It is hard to imagine going back to BYU-Idaho after the experience I had where Heavenly Father told me to come here. We will cross that bridge when we come to it but for now I am loving life, having faith, and praying every night that everything will happen the way it is supposed to.

I am loving my new life here. This ward is full of amazing people and very social, it is lots of fun. Being a "new" person has been kind of weird since I have never been that before. I have only been new when everyone else was new too, so meeting all these new people and making all these new friends has been fun and interesting. Also, the weirdest thing happened. I was told by a couple of people that I come off as intimidating. WHAT?!?! Anyone who knows me knows that I love all people, you can come to me for help with anything, and I love making new friends. When I heard this I was shocked and a little bit crushed. Inside my brain I am a very kind and easy going person, I guess I need to make sure to be that way on the outside even when I am feeling quiet and shy.

Life is great. The church is true! Speaking of which, one of the residents at the Charleston (where I am so blessed to be working full-time right now) told me that I need to pray again about going on a mission because he is convinced I am supposed to serve. Hahah, it was cute. Of course I am open to whatever the Lord wants me to do, but I still feel like I need to be focusing on my education and keep doing what I am doing right now. :)

New Adventures

It has been a while since I last blogged, but not because I haven't had anything exciting or important going on in my life. Lots has been going on and life is full of new experiences.

I graduated from BYU-Idaho with my Associate's degree. I wasn't sure whether or not I wanted to do the whole cap and gown ceremony thing, but I am really glad I did. It gave me a really wonderful sense of closure as I left BYU-I. I am so grateful for the 5 semesters I attended there. I learned so much about myself, life, the gospel, and of course Child Development (my major).

I came back to Utah and bought a car. a '99 Toyota Carolla for $2,000. Her name is Mahidable Saphira Jones. I quite like her.

I have been moving all my stuff into my apartment in Provo. I am so excited to room with my dear friend Heather and to get to know my 4 other roommates as well. 

I love my Dad! He came to pick me up from Rexburg and support me at my graduation.

Life is so very good. I am learning that happiness is in the right now. If you live your life waiting for the next stage, you will wish your life away. There is magic in this moment. The past is behind you, the future isn't here yet, live today.

Also, I saw Les Miserables with my family on Christmas Day and then again on New Year's Eve with my wonderful friend Amanda. I love it! I am a huge Les Miz fan and I absolutely loved the movie. 

I loved playing the part of Fantine in my High School's production. Seeing the movie brought back so many memories and reminded me why I love the story so much. It is all about mercy, redemption, and Christlike love. 

Also, my 17-year-old brother Evan is my very favorite person. Today he helped me move a bunch of my stuff down to Provo and then we went out to lunch together. He is so fun to talk to and laugh with and I love his guts!

Life is good. :)

A tip for finals, and for life:

If you work hard, it will be easy; if you work easy, it will be hard.

Our Christmas and some other things.

My cute roommates, our two favorite (yup, we definitely play favorites) FHE brothers, and I decided a little while ago that for us and our love, December 9th would be Christmas. We have a cute little tree set up and it had lots of fun little presents under it that we got for each other. We made two yummy kinds of soup and ate them all cozy and then opened our presents. I figured out that I could MAKE a cute infinity scarf, so that is what I gave my roommate Aubrey, as well as a manly one for my FHE brother Parker. Here is a picture of Aubrey's, it turned out quite fabulous, I must say! (We love mustard yellow at our house.)

I also made a crocheted headband to match it. 

FUNNIEST story. When Parker unwrapped his present (an infinity scarf) he exclaimed, "An eternity robe!!!!" We aren't letting him live it down. 

I liked my outfit today. I wore the cute denim shirt my good friend Alee gave me for Christmas, and the darling Anthropology belt my roommate Emily gave me. I felt so very spoiled!

Our mirror was dirty when this picture was taken...don't judge.

In case you are wondering, I should definitely be studying for finals right now...this is what happens when I try to do homework in my apartment instead of at the Library.

So...I am really excited to move to Provo. These last couple of weeks have been a teensie tiny bit scary. I won't find out if I am actually accepted to go to school at BYU until February, but I am moving there anyway. It feels kind of like a gamble, even though I know I shouldn't be so worried because I have a high GPA. I just feel like a little bit of a leap of faith is being required of me. But it's ok!!! Everything will work out the way it is supposed to, I just know it!

I also feel so strongly that I need to go there. At first I was planning on just living at home during Winter semester before moving to Provo in the summer, but I just feel so strongly and undeniably pulled to Provo, obviously I don't know why. I am excited for this new adventure!

This was kind of a rambly post, I apologize.

Tonight we had a ward closing dinner/talent show and I sang "Part of Your World." When I sat down afterwards my roommates held up a plastic fork and said I should have used it as my "dinglehopper." Is it weird that I wish I would have?