Happy Halloween!

I usually hate halloween, something about all the gore and scary people kinda freaks me out. This year hasn't been too bad. I've gone to a couple parties with friends rocking my Katniss costume and I look pretty dang legit. Unfortunately I don't have any pictures... about that a little later.

I found a temple buddy! Alyssa-- one of my all time favorite people--volunteered! I loved going to the temple with her and grabbing breakfast at Kneaders last Thursday. We investigated the car accident outside the window and discussed our lives. Oh, and it snowed for the first time! It ended up being a really beautiful day. I visited Carla and her kids, they got to play in the snow for the first time!

About the phone thing... I have been having issues with calls lately, turns out I had to go all the way up to Murray to see if they could do anything about it. The erased my whole phone... no more pictures of playing with Carla's kids in the snow and no pictures from the previous weekend. Unfortunately my only source of journaling is through pictures, I'm in big trouble.

Saturday night I spent all night worrying about what I was going to speak on during Sacrament, then my bishop called and told me I didn't have to speak anymore! Bad news is, I have to speak sometime in November... I think I have spoken more than anyone else in my ward.

Sunday night I hung out with Carter and Leandra for a while. It was fun to catch up with them and see their new puppy! We had a nice dinner together, it was a lot of fun!

I feel like this week has dragged on forever. I still have to wait until tonight at midnight to sign up for next semester's classes. Fortunately I have them all picked out already, just need to wait until it opens!

Have a lovely halloween-and be safe! *This is the only holiday where it is acceptable to eat stranger's candy...sorta*

The Kids That Hold My Heart

This is David, the sweet boy that has captured my heart. Okay, thats a lie--his brother (who i call Gus-Gus) also has my heart... and his sweet sister. These three kids, all under the age of 4, belong to my visiting teacher, Carla. (I wish I had pictures  Her kids reflect just how amazing this woman is, she is kind, warm, and very patient with her kids. I had the privilege of babysitting Gus-Gus and his sister Sophie while Carla was--ultra--pregnant. Although Carla was limited to how much she could do per day she still made sure she spent time teaching her kids. It was absolutely beautiful to see.

I grew up with a mom that I imagine did the same with me when I was young, but seeing how Carla teaches her kids step by step and by example is something truly beautiful. It is wonderful to see a mother-not much older than me-be so strong. This is a woman who married her best friend, who not only believes in this gospel but applies it and lives it 100%. I am grateful for my mother and women like Carla that show me what it is like to be a good mom. I pray I can be like them one day.


In other news,

I had a good day today, and by good I mean RIDICULOUSLY good.

I don't really know why but it was a good one. I shouldn't have had a good day because I was running late this morning and I had a test in my astronomy class--which by the way I got a solid 85% on, please hold your applause.

A new song for today by Andrew Belle, who I completely fell in love with today, called "The Ladder". Enjoy!

My Little Miracle

This is the definition of 'Miracle' in a regular dictionary: 

Miracle: miracle |ˈmirikəl|

noun-a surprising and welcome event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws and is therefore considered to be the work of a divine agency.- a highly improbable or extraordinary event, development, or accomplishment that brings very welcome consequences

And this is what the Bible Dictionary says: 

"Miracles are and were a response to faith, and its best encouragement. They were never wrought without prayer, felt need, and faith.

"It is important to notice the different names by which miracles are described. They are called signs, as being visible tokens of an invisible power; they are powers or mighty works, because they are the acts of One who is almighty; they are simply works, or the natural results of the Messiah's presence among men; they are wonders, marvels, because of the effect produced on those who saw them.

"Miracles are a part of the gospel of Jesus Christ. If miracles cease it is because faith has ceased."

I mentioned in my last post that I have been trying a bit harder than usual when it comes to school... Well, I feel like it is finally starting to pay off. Math has been one of the hardest things for me to study. Senior year in high school my graduation depended on my math grade, last year I had the hardest time. Again. I ended up missing a C by 3 points, resulting in me having to take the class again this year in order to make it to 1050. Those who know me pretty well (and even those who don't) know that I absolutely DETEST math. I hate it with a deep and burning passion....

[rewind a couple months]

While choosing classes I ran across an interesting scenario.

I know that the nursing program requires a very VERY high GPA during generals in order to make it through.... How high? well like 3.8 high. I know I struggled quite a bit last year. I was definitely not dedicated to school like I should have been. Now, now, I didn't get horrible grades but I didn't do as well as I should have. Push comes to shove, turns out that without retaking classes from last year I would need a 3.99 this year to make up the difference.....

After half a heart attack and a bit of hyperventilating I decided there was no way I could do that. I absolutely HAD to retake math. How in the world could I manage a 3.9? Maybe if I busted my tush on all my other subjects I might scrape by, but definitely not with math in the picture...

[aaaand we're back...]

I've had several tests and quizzes this week. All of which I've done relatively well. I have yet to find out about my Anthropology test but besides that I have averaged nothing under 90%....

A couple math tests  and a few quizzes have also been handed back...

Quiz 1: 5/5
Quiz 2: 5/5

TEST 1: 93%..... complete shocker.

and the result for the test I was stressing over this past week....

TEST 2: 99%..... may or may not have almost passed out.

I missed one point. Not even one QUESTION. There is NO way I could take all the credit, at all. I think part of being human is thinking that we succeed on our own. We forget that there is someone above that looks out for us, that places trials in our life for learning and growth and someone that pours out more blessings than we can even begin to imagine.

I am very grateful for the help of Heavenly Father. I know that without Him I would be knee-deep with school by this point. I have made a conscious  decision to let Him help me, I have chosen to do my ABSOLUTE best, then and only then, do I trust in leaving the rest to Him.

Let's not forget to see all the miracles in our lives. Whether little or big, a miracle is a miracle (anyone else think of Dr. Seuss with that one?). If we take the time necessary to see these life-changing experiences we will live a life full of gratitude and eternal perspective. 

Moves Like Jagger...

There are very few things I really, really, really enjoy.

Here are a few:

One: sitting in the library... Don't ask me why cause heavens knows I don't go anywhere near a book or a shelf...or a bookshelf, but I do. Maybe it's because it is so quiet, I can listen to music and be in my own little world.... Oh, and because I can be a creep and watch people with their weird habits while they study/read/waste money on tuition by playing video games (not that I care or anything). I think I've decided that the more you try and hold a sneeze in, the dumber you look (just a random thought). Oh and that guy who is too lazy to tie his shoelace so he kicks it in front of him as he walks, has been walking around FOREVER....It's starting to bug. Maybe that should go into the "Things I really, really, really hate" post... Maybe another day.

Two: I like being at school. Notice I didn't just say I like school. It makes me feel smart, whether or not that's true is a toss-up but I don enjoy being here. I was pretty excited about my classes this year, except for the fact that I tend to have random 2-3 hour long breaks in between.. why did I do that? I don't really know but it has helped me get homework done.... and spend more time doing the above. (I almost said doing number one... but that would have just been awkward between me, myself and I.. Oh, and you.). This semester I am taking: music, humanities, anthropology-Idk how I feel about this class yet.. I'm thinking I might go into cultural anthropology, this monkey business is not really my thing- I'm sorry, apes, not monkeys-, math, health and of course institute.

Three: Making my mommy happy. If you don't know my mom you certainly don' t know that whatever she says, goes. No matter what. She could decide to paint the whole house blue with purple polka dots, and she would. I, fortunately, am lucky to have a mom with impeccable taste so I don't mind the changes she makes. The problem kinda comes in when I have 4 sections of math homework to do, reading, and a test... "Oh, but Kathy, you have an extra day to do homework, no school on Monday..." HA! yeah, that's what I thought too... Instead, Friday, Saturday, Sunday (sorry Big Guy), and Monday were spent remodeling my mom's business (pictures will come, promise). Although it was kind of a pain staying up so late painting, nailing, building, moving, painting, drilling, painting and hanging, I believe it was pretty much worth it. We aren't quite done yet but it looks good and my mom is happy. Which in turn makes the whole house happy.

Four: My best friend. Having her gone makes things kind of hard sometimes, she's the only one who really thinks I'm funny.. Or at least I like to think she does.. So, in order to make up for all the time she's gone at Snow College I save up all my best jokes for when she visits. Yaaaay!!! Glorious weekend this one will be, hopefully my mom doesn't have me trapped helping her finish setting things up at the business and I can go play with my bff. I don't know what we will be doing, but it will be fun. Dan-g it!

Well, seeing as I should probably work on all of that homework I am behind on I will cut things off here. I'm going to go find out where that girl got her watch... I want it.

Oh man, here goes... Brace yourself...

One very, very wise friend of mine suggested I start blogging.... Seemed like a crazy idea two years ago, still feels the same. However, I realized I am absolutely HORRIBLE at journal-keeping. I thought it would be easier to just write down major events, keep little reminders and put them all into a note book. That seemed to work, at first anyway. Time went on and I have come to realized how much time I spend on my computer: hours and hours and HOURS-- thank you school-- sooooo I have concluded that this is the easiest and most convenient way to keep up on my life....as boring as it tends to be. So for all you readers out there (yes, you lonely 3...) Enjoy a glimpse into my life. Any bets on how long this will last? Hehe.

Here we go. I am going to try and summarize this whole school year without boring you to death, so hang in there. This might be a long one.

Yaaay!! For you non-believers, I have one thing to say to you: HA! Actually, I don't really blame you. I didn't think I would graduate high school either. After a very long long last semester I was able to pull through and get my diploma. Now the rreeeeaalllyy hard part: making it through college. The first semester was definitely different. Lots of changes and tons of homework. I started my school year with English, Math, Nutrition and Biology. What was the most important thing I learned? Night classes suck. Especially if it is something as exciting as nutrition. Never again. OH and to makes things worse, it was a once-a-week class... two hour night class. Awesome. Well, good news is I passed (surprisingly enough) and I don't have to worry about that ever again.

I made it through my first semester by the skin of my teeth, now prepared for my second semester. I like to think I was smarter to only take a couple classes. I was so overloaded the fist that I felt like I needed a break. I quickly regretted that decision. I have had way WAYYYY too much time on my hands. I was lucky to find a job that only requires me to go in for a couple weeks straight at a time, it allows me to stay busy and have free time every now and then. I guess I'm not a complete slacker.... I am almost done with my second semester here at UVU, my English and Psychology classes have been interesting to say the least. English has been a blast. We get tons of homework, mostly research papers, but I am happy with our final assignment. Psychology....well, that's another story. Let's just say that I am very happy to being so close to being done. One year down, how many more to go?!?! BAHHHH

Overall I have liked UVU quite a bit. I know how much crap I will get from all the die-hard BYU and other alumni but I have enjoyed it. I have met some really incredible people, there is a good diversity here, I like that. Let's not forget the fact that it actually let me in... That is definitely worthy of some points :)

P.S. Bob Marley makes me happy. Adds a spring in my step when walking through campus. Points to Mr. Marley.

-That is all.