Fictive Kin

In a couple of my classes at school we have been talking about a social construct called "Fictive Kin." Basically, your fictive kin is the family you choose... those friends you find that become a part of the family.

I was super lucky today and got to see two of my "sisters" in one day! I spent the morning in Centerville at my friend Lindsay's wedding shower that her sisters-in-law threw for her. It was super fun to get to see her around her family. They were so warm and accepting of me. Lindsay and I didn't really click at first. I was SO intimidated by her, and she thought I was a snob. However, we got to know each other really well in 7:30 am music theory. By the end of our first semester we were BF. We bonded over our computer retardedness and our mutual crush on the professor...(imagine if Linds, :) Sorry, inside joke...). Ever since then we have been tight. We go on super great shopping adventures, vent about choir to each other, work out at the gym together, and enjoy excellent Tesoro hot chocolate on a regular basis. I am so glad that first impressions don't always last! And I'm so honored that she is including me in her wedding.

My other "sister" showed up with "our" mommy at my work tonight. The two sweet ladies then brought me back a smoothie. It totally made my night! I was having a bit of an attitude about being there, but they cheered me right up. Andrea and I met my sophomore year of high school, and started really hanging out right before we moved to Pennsylvania. She was one of the few people who made an effort to keep in touch. At that point of my life, that meant so much to me! We, ironically, got really close that year, and have stayed that way since. She is a beautiful, graceful, and kind-beyond-words person who just gets me. We definitely speak the same language :) We talk/laugh/cry about anything and everything together. (Mostly we laugh...oh boy, do we laugh together...good times!) I know we can always count on each other when we need it. It's nice to have some one who you can lean on, and who can lean on you.

These are just two examples of my dear Fictive Kin family. I don't know what I did to deserve such great people around me; my actual family is amazing, plus I have a pretty good sized list of people like Andrea and Lindsay who I have "adopted." What a good day!

My (Eternal) Childhood

Since my last post was pretty negative, I decided to write about something happy this time.

So let's talk about my wonderful mother! Those of you who know her know she is seriously one of the happiest people; if you don't know her, you are missing out big time!

I've taken quite a few Development classes as of now. The more I learn, the more I realize how lucky I am to have my mom. One class I'm in is called Parent Child Relationships. Almost everything the text book says is "ideal" parenting is just common sense to me because that is how my mom parented! She was always willing to get down and play with us and be silly. She made sure we knew she loved us, by telling us, and showing us every day. She respects us as individuals and works really hard to help us however she can. Though some of you might be shocked by this, I actually got in trouble as a child. Yes, it is sad but true. My mom would always take the time to explain why I was in trouble, why whatever it was i had done was wrong, and to give an appropriate punishment. She has helped shape me in to a motivated, (mostly) competent, (mostly) good, adult. And when I mess up sometimes, it's not because she neglected to teach me anything; it's because I didn't listen.

So many people have told me, after they meet her the first time, that they feel like they have known her forever. I think I figured it out; she must have been super popular in heaven! Really, I think our spirits recognize other spirits we knew before this life. Every one feels like they have known her because they have! She was probably one of the valiant ones who talked us all in to comming down here in the first place.

I love my mom and I am so blessed to have her in my life. :)

Ok, I just need to get something off my chest. If you don't want to read a bitter diatribe feel free to stop reading right now... ( the last paragraph is ok.)
If you're still with me, don't say I didn't try to warn you.
I am so SICK of rude people. Why can't we all just have a little common courtesy and love each other? Why? Is it really so hard to hold the door open for someone? Would it make you late to work to slow down and let someone merge in front of you on the free way?
Today at work a lady was in the store for 30 minutes after we closed. She didn't apologize, made a huge mess, and was very rude. How arrogant is it to expect two people to keep a store open just for you? I mean really, it's not like I have things to do, or a family who I want to spend time with or anything like that. (That was sarcastic, in case you couldn't tell.)
Most of the rudeness that we see day to day is pretty harmless, just thoughtless. But there is a line, and the news media has crossed it. One of my very best friends lost two of her nieces this week. It was so tragic and obviously beyond heart breaking for her and her family. The news media, however, couldn't respect that. They have been calling, showing up at her and her brothers house, pushing for a statement, and in general intruding on their grief! Where is their sense of decency and respect for the family? I have been on the receiving end of this behavior and it stinks. I don't care if you need a story or if you have a deadline. There is no need, NO need at all, to treat people that way. In instances like this rudeness becomes more than thoughtless. It hurts people.
I guess what I'm trying to say is, just slow down please. Think before you speak. Look before you run around in such a hurry. I am totally guilty of this too. However, now it is has been called to my attention, and one of my new new years resolutions is to be kinder. Imagine how much happier we could all be if each of us decided to do one or two less rude things a day? Just thought I'd throw all this out there...

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.