Too Passionate?

Sooo... this last August I attended BYU Education Week for the third time, it is the highlight of my year. I highly recommend that you go, it is amazing. One of the classes that I went to was called "Dating vs. Hanging Out." It really changed my perspective on the dating that is going on in the LDS Single Adult scene. I won't rant and rave too much about it here, but instead will post a link to a talk where you can read what Elder Dallin H. Oaks has to say about it, because I agree with him whole-heartedly.

https://www.lds.org/ensign/2006/06/dating-versus-hanging-out?lang=eng

I feel passionately about this subject. Call me crazy, but I think it is another one of the Adversary's ways of trying to thwart eternal families. I am done being a part of it. Nowadays when I guy asks if I want to "hang out" (aka let him bum on my couch while I provide him with food) I say "Sorry, I don't hang out, but if you would like to go on a date I would be glad to."

Feeling and acting this way places me in a very, very small minority here at BYU-Idaho. Everyone here hangs out casually, it is what they do. But I am done with it. Sorry!

Today I think...

Today I am wearing the most ridiculous shirt. Have you ever seen Anne of Green Gables? Do you remember the light blue dress that she wants so desparately and Matthew buys for her? The one with "puffed sleeves"? Well the sleeves on this blouse are easily comparable to those. I got this blouse at Savers and I just love it. I wear it with some pointy-toed shoes I got at DI years ago that match the color of teal perfectly. I love thrifting.

I really like crock pots. They are so easy and they make everything so yummy.

Ok, here is something. I think that what "dating" has become in this day and age is ridiculous. Here are two things I won't budge on:
1) The boy is the one who asks the girl out. I have had so many people tell me that I should stop being so old fashioned and ask boys I am interested in on dates. I won't do that because if there is a boy I am getting to know who hasn't asked me out it is either because a) he doesn't want to go out with me, or b) he is too afraid/awkward/whatever to do so. Both of those are good enough reasons for me to just kind of drop it. I will be friendly, I will flirt, I will encourage, but I will not ask a boy on a date. That is just not my job.
2) I really think it is important to go on a for realsies date. "Hanging out" makes the objective so unclear and just confuses everyone.
I realize that I sound silly and old-fashioned, but I feel strongly about these things, and I have experienced it all. The traditional ways are the best ways in this area, in my opinion.

I really think everyone should read Leadership and Self-Deception by the Arbinger Institute. I just finished it last night and it changed my life!

Mmmm, the yummiest sandwich of them all.

Today I made the most scrumptious sandwich for lunch. It consisted of fresh spinach leaves, tomato slices, avacodo, cheese, turkey, and mustard on wheat bread. Mmmmmm. It sure hit the spot.

This semester I have been eating healthier than I have in the past, and it feels so good. The inspiration that caused this? My Early Childhood Nutrition class and my American Epidemic class. After learning just a few things about health and nutrition I see how important it is to take care of my body. A huge perk to this is that I feel like I am doing better in other aspects of my life! I am more alert and attentive in my classes and I just feel better all around. :)

An "Epic Fail" and some other silly things.

Guess what I did yesterday. Probably the silliest thing anyone has ever done in the history of silly things. I tried to go to my 3:15 class at 4:15. I went in and sat down and thought to myself "Hmm, I don't recognize any of these classmates." Then everyone around me started talking about an assignment that was due that day that I knew nothing about. I started to panic, how could I have missed the assignment? It was then that I realized that this was in fact NOT my class! Silly, silly Merrie. I went home and felt a tad ridiculous, as you can imagine.

The other day I saw the people in the paramedic program learning how to climb trees. It struck me as completely hilarious.

Today in the library I was gathering up my things to leave and when I pulled my jacket off of the chair then it (the chair) very loudly fell apart and everyone looked over at me as I felt myself turning red. The nice boy next to me helped me reattach the top part of the chair.

My science teacher has a Mr. Potato Head tie. He wears it with a peach colored shirt and he reminds me of a male version of Miss Frizzle.

Here is a picture of my niece Melissa and Me in 2006. I ran across it the other day and it warmed my heart. Shouldn't every backyard have a swing like this?

Also, here is a picture of me doing the splits when I was 12, unless this post wasn't random enough.

Because our apartment is a greenhouse and a Disney movie

So my roommates this semester are plant lovers. It is really fun. In our apartment we have I think 4 different potted plants, which doesn't seem like that many, but when your living quarters are as tiny as ours, four plants makes the place look like a greenhouse. It is fun, I like it a lot. :)

Also, we have a lot of Disney lovers, which I obviously love. Not a day goes by that we do not all burst into a Disney song, usually while we are getting ready in the morning. Emily always amazes me because she knows every word to every song.

I love my roomies, they are great. :)

Grateful, Grateful, Grateful, Grateful. :)

I always have intentions of being a good blogger. And especially when I read my friend's cute blogs, friends like Amberly and Melissa, I feel inspired to blog. But sometimes I feel like I don't have much to say. But right now my heart is full of gratitude and I wanted to express how very happy and blessed I feel.

My mom, Cheryl Carson, is my best friend. She is the cutest, funniest little lady and she just cracks me up. I love talking to her, she is such a good listener and full of wisdom. I was born when she was older, so by the time I came along she already had had a ton of life experience. She is an amazing lady and I love her so much.

Last weekend she went to the Emergency Room in intense pain. On Tuesday she was tested for pancreatic cancer. For some reason, this whole ordeal was really hard for me. This type of cancer takes people very quick, and my mom decided long ago that if she ever had cancer she would not get chemo. The thoughts of possibly losing my mom broke my heart. I should have been able to tell myself to just not think about it since we didn't know yet the results from the MRI, but it was just very difficult for me for a couple of days.

The test results came back on Thursday and we found out that what she has are benign cysts. I was so happy and relieved and grateful!!!

What I learned from this experience is never to take your loved ones for granted, you really never know when they might leave you (for a time). I mean, just because my mom doesn't have cancer doesn't mean that she couldn't get in a terrible car accident tomorrow. My mom told me that she thinks everyone should have a week of thinking they might be dying, she says it really helps you get your priorities straight. :)

Other than that little story, I don't have a whole lot to report in my life. I am going to school and I love it. I have a great ward and wonderful friends. And I am planning on being a better blogger!

I haven't blogged in a long time...

Hello there! So I haven't written in my blog in 48 years. Here is what has been going on in my life:

1) I dated someone, a really outstanding person, but it didn't work out. It's ok though. :) The thing that was not very fun about it is that I have always felt that it is much easier to be broken up with than to do the breaking up. I don't like hurting people's feelings very much, but I always feel it is more important to be honest and to-the-point in a kind way. Anyways, I hope that his life is filled with blessings, he deserves them!

2) I have continued to work at the Charleston Assisted Living Community. I love my job so much. I get to be surrounded by such wonderful people every day and I learn so much from them. Sometimes the residents will just say the sweetest, cutest things and it just makes my day. :) My coworkers are some of my dear friends and they are amazing examples to me. I am so blessed!

3) I went to the doctor for some girl stuff. My body has been whacko lately, it is not my favorite thing. I think it is starting to replenish itself, which is great. Being tired and feeling like I needed 14 hours of sleep a day was not very fun. Especially because it is harder for your spirit to feel happy when your body feels like it got hit by a truck--not impossible, just harder. But I have so much to be grateful for. Sometimes looking back I feel like my trials are tiny pebbles compared to the mountains that so many people go through. (Knock on wood.)

4) My mom opened a cute etsy shop, check it out! I am going to be putting my crocheted headbands on there pretty soon too. :) http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheCrochetingHook

5) This week I attended BYU Education Week for the 3rd time. I LOVE it and it is the highlight of my year! I would highly recommend going. It was so fun to attend with my mom (the cutest, strangest, quirkiest little gray-haired lady in the world), my older sister Stephanie (the FUNNIEST, most artistically talented, loving and accepting person I know), and my 15-year-old niece Melissa (the most stylish, gorgeous, poised, cute and intelligent girl ever). I love these ladies to pieces! We laughed our guts out, cried together, and learned so much about the gospel, ourselves, life, and true happiness.

I love my life! I love the imperfections, I love the joys, I love the true peace and happiness the gospel provides, and I love MY journey. It is so exciting and I feel so grateful for each day.