Thirsty for Knowledge

So the semester is off to a smashing start! (Wow, that was a nice alliteration...) I am taking some very interesting classes right now to kick off my new major! I love social science and all the different facets of study involved in it.
I was walking through the hallway of one of the buildings I have a class in and could hear some of the lectures going on. In on classroom there was a lecture going on about measuring statistical importance. Next door was a discussion about the affect of attachment in infancy across the life course. Across the hall from that was a creative writing class; "Your story should have a clear climactic center..." Then I went to my class, Parent and Child Relationships, and learned about the challenges faced in the adoption triangle. I was a little early to my next class and accidentally walked in on a graduate level chemistry class critiquing each others experiment models.
As I was trying to sit as quietly and unobtrusively as possible in the back of the room, I couldn't help but be amazed at how much knowledge is passed around at that University...knowledge about everything from developmental psych, to particle physics, to effective verb usage. The vastness of it all is a little awe-inspiring. And I was thinking, "How did I get to be so lucky, that I can come here every day and be a part of that?" Sometimes I take for granted the fact that I have all this information right at my finger tips. I learned today that only about 30 percent of the population of the United States will graduate from college. As someone who loves to learn, I am so blessed with the opportunity to do that. The University of Utah (and I think all universities in our state) is so special. There is something so comforting in knowing that human knowledge is expanding and being given to the next generation. Places like the U facilitate that in a beautiful way.
I also get to learn from some pretty amazing instructors. This is going to sound stalker-ish and weird, but I googled a couple of my professors today, just out of idle curiosity. I was amazed at the amount of research they had published and the other appointments they had held. There are so pretty prestigious minds at work right in front of me every day. On the other hand, I also discovered that they are just people, with families, friends, insecurities, and grocery shopping to do (yes, one of the was on twitter...) .
I don't know why all of this struck me so hard today, but it did. And I don't know what makes me think that any of you care, but I'm sharing it any way. I am one lucky young lady, that's for sure!

Oh my...Let's catch up...

OK, I have failed at this blog thing! It was recently brought to my attention that I haven't updated my blog since JUNE! That is unacceptable. So here is a quick recap of the last 6 months.

I started (and finished) my 3rd semester at the U. I love it there! It totally feels like home. I love the diversity and culture on campus, and getting to go into the city every day. I also decided to take this semester "off," meaning I took only general classes to help me decide what I want to do with my life. Well, I still don't know the answer to that, but I do know what my major is going to be. I declared as a Human Development and Family Studies major.

I took a Development in Infancy and Childhood class from a fantastic professor this semester that kind of cemented my decision. As part of the class we had to do community service, then write blog posts making connections between what we observed in our service and what we learned in class. It really made me realize that what I was learning had eternal principles attached. I loved it! Thanks Dr. Brehl! Right now the plan is to go to graduate school in developmental or child psychology, but if there is one thing I've learned this year, it is not to make too many plans. Heavenly Father likes to change them for you...

Speaking of change. Cory got engaged in November to Jena Morris-Williams. She is my BFS (best friend sister) and I am so excited to have her be part of our family :) Her birthday is in December, she has a "J" name, and she likes Tinkerbell...I think she will fit in just fine!

Another change that is coming is a new car for me in the spring, I hope. Poor Francis is on his last legs. He has broken down on me 3 times in the last 6 months. Luckily two of those times were just in our drive way. Once though, I had to call a tow truck. It was a little traumatic and I lost a lot of the trust I had in Francis.

Other random occurrences that you might be interested in:

~I had and broke up with a boy friend.

~I got a 3.9 this semester. My one A-...choir. Who would have thought.

~Wade is still dating cute Mali. Love her! She is so cute and smart.

~Dad is on the high council and is no longer the troop commander.

~Mom works at the oquirrih mountain temple now on Wednesday mornings, bright and early.

I think that pretty much covers all the bases! Sorry it's been so long everybody... My new years resolution is to keep this blog up to date! Best wishes for the new year :)

Ok, wow. I just read what I posted this morning. Sorry! What a downer! To make up for such a post, I am going to share something very cheerful that I have done recently. For her birthday, we suprised my mom by going to get our family pictures taken. Now, to most people this isn't a very exciting thing. But you have to realize that the last time we were all together long enough to have a portraite made I was 13!! Needless to say, those pictures are a little out dated. My good friend Andrea, who just happens to be a great photographer, took them for us. Here are some of my favs.

I just love this one of the 5 of us!
Cory is the best older brother ever.

This one of me and mom is great. She is amazing.Hehehe...we were sliding down the railing at the capitol building...it was fun :)

The Plan

As some of you know, I have had a minor nervous break down over the last few weeks :) Some stuff has happened with school that has made me question what I want to do with my life. I also lost my scholarship. It's a really bad feeling not knowing if I want to go to school, what I want to study, or if I can even afford it. For a long time I thought I knew what I wanted. Now all of a sudden there is this doubt. I'm not sure where it is comming from, but I don't want to make a wrong choice that will affect me for the rest of my life. This might sound a little dramatic, and I guess it is, but it is a big deal for me.

It's been a little frusterating because the Man Upstairs hasn't told me yet what He wants me to do. Sometimes it would be nice to have things spelled out for us. Or to have a map or users manual or something (ha, oh wait. That would be the scriptures and the prophet)...

But I digress. The point I'm trying to make here is that I am learning a very important lesson I think. I recently spent some time talking to one of my mentors about my dilema. She brought up a very good point; there is a difference between faith and trust. It is easy to say you have faith and belive that Heavenly Father has a plan for us. It is another thing to follow that plan, blindly sometimes. It remindes me of a diving board. It is one thing to tell Dad, yep, I beleive you will catch me when I jump off. It takes a lot more courage to actuall climb up the ladder and walk off the end! Trust is so much harder because it is so much more active. I know I have faith, and now I have to learn to trust.

Any way, I don't mean to whine or anything. I really do love my life; I just had this stuff on my mind and wanted to share. Thanks to all my amazing friends and family! Love you guys.

The Glory of a Clean Room

It has been a whole week since school ended. Dispite having watched an entire season of Gilmore Girls (6 in case you were wondering...) and almost a whole season of Jag (season 5...), not all my time has been wasted. Here are the results of my "hard work."

I think the first time my mom walked in to my room after I cleaned it, she almost had a heart attack. First of all, my bed is made! That is something that never happens. If you look closely you will notice that you can also see the floor!!!! Gasp! There are no dirty clothes, no books, no papers, no shoes. They say that cleanliness is next to godliness. I agree. You know, it is so relaxing to go in to my room and not be met with a big pile of stuff to put away. I don't trip over stuff when I get out of bed in the morning! More/most importantly, my mom is more at peace :) What could be better than that??

Wow, can you beleive that I've been graduated for almost a year?!? I feels really weird. Well, since it has been so long since I updated my blog (namely 5 months) since I've written, buckle in...this is going to be long.

I want to introduce you all to a few of my new best friends! I this picture, the girl on my right, with the brown hair is Emily. She is super fun to be around and gets me to break out of my shell a little. The red head on my left is Ali. She is so so so sweet! We always have a great time hanging out. She is a way talented singer and one of the only Freshman in the University of Utah singers. Love her! The curly headed girl in the front is Lindsay. Oh man, have we had some good times! We are pretty much the coolest bff's at the U. We have started many many traditions to include but not limited to; lunch at chili's after tests, hot chocolate and hot tamalies, we used to get diet coke and mountian dew but now we are healty and get juice. Basically the four of us together are awesome.

This picture is me and one of the most fantastic people ever. Jane (now Dr. Fjeldsted) was one of Dr. Allred's assistants. She is one of those people who just glows and makes every one around her feel great. I hope that someday I can be as classy as her!

Those are the people who have gotten me through this year (well, plus Andrea, my mom, Mary Ann, Lori,...wow, there are actually a lot of people!)

I am so blessed to have so many great friends!! Now my deleima is what to do next year!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I know I was going to update every week. I'm sorry. It has been more like a month.

Anyway, here is the scoop.

Finals are over! Can you beleive that my first semester of college is all ready over? It is so crazy! Now I am break for Christmas. I was really glad to get to spend some time at home. I got a digital camera today so here are the first pictures I took...poor Francis.

This is how much snow we got today. Can you beleive that? It was crazy outside all day. Francis couldn't get out of the drive way. But my Christmas was so so good, and I hope that yours was too!