NeW, NeW, NeW. YeS PLeaSe!

So along with my 

NeW aPaRTMeNT,

which is ADORABLE if I dare say so myself,

(don't worry, there are pics to come)

 come a couple other new things.

NeW RooMaTeS.

SuZY and MaCY. 

They are so so great!

But seriously, 

I couldn't have asked for better roomates. 

Right now we are sitting in our living room watching 

and eating oTTeR PoPS

It's ok to be jealous :)

also come a

NeW WaRD

I wasn't able to attend the actual ward yesterday

because I was over at my home ward.

My Dad is the new 1st Councilor in the Bishopric and I'm so excited for him :)

But last night MaCy, BRee and I went over to 

DeSSeRT NiGHT 

where we met a few new people.

Literally minutes after we got home 

the Executive Secretary came over 

and helped me get my records transferred!

Talk about efficiency, I hadn't even been to the ward yet!

Then tonight SuZY, DoM and I went over to FHE.

I accidentally left my phone at CaMDRea's.

I was over there earlier for his BiRTHDaY PaRTY.

So when SuZy and DoM weren't home yet, 

I went over all on my own! 

(if you don't know me, that's kind of a big deal. I don't ever go to places like that on my own)

The two people that were there before I was were so nice! 

After everyone else got there, we packed up the cars a headed up to 

RoCK CaNYoN 

for 

Then we found out you aren't supposed to have fires up there. 

So we came back and had one on the back patio instead :)

It was such a blast! 

Turns out my FHE dad worked EFY with me two years ago!

and so did another girl MeLiSSa, 

who I actually recognized from my DiXie DaYS

I'm so excited for this new ward! 

My FHE family rocks! 

and everyone is so nice! 

HooRaY for NeW BeGiNNiNGS!

PS. HAPPY BiRTHDaY CaM!!

THe 5 TRuTHS

I absolutely love the talks given in General Conference, CES Firesides, etc. But what I love doing even more is 

1) PRiNTiNG THeM ouT 

and

2) MaRKiNG THeM aLL uP

(in a non-destructive, mark all the goodies kind of way)

Well today I read this one.

It's by KRiSTeN M. OaKS

(wife of Dallin H.)

Both of them just spoke on the 11th in a CES FiReSiDe.

That's where this one comes from :) 

Now I know the title of her talk is 

"To THe SiNGLeS oF THe CHuRCH"

and it definitely is a good one for that group of people.

But really there are some gems for the not so single people too.

Here are some GeMS I found.

Along with some goals I set. 

I'm hoping that by putting them up here I'll have more motivation to follow through with them. 

THe 5 TRuTHS

TRuTH #1: THe LoRD LoVeS US, He ANSWeRS oUR PRaYeRS, aND He DeLiGHTS iN BLeSSiNG THoSe WHo KeeP HiS CoMMaNDMeNTS. Maybe I'm the only one that feels like this is such an easy thing to forget. Maybe not. But I think that as life goes on it's easy to get comfortable. To feel like you really aren't struggling; and it's very possible that you aren't at that time. But then we slip into this place where we stop doing the things we need to. Not necessarily that we are doing anything wrong; we just aren't doing the things we've been taught we should. Then when it comes time that you do need help, you've forgotten what to do. Maybe it's just me. I'm thinking it's probably not though. 

GoaL #1: THINK ABOUT THE DECISIONS I'M MAKING. Don't just fly by the seat of my pants. I know every decision may not be black and white. But I also know that making rushed decisions can be a very bad thing. I want to step back and think about what I'm doing and what the consequences might be. 

TRuTH #2: We aRe NoT SaVeD iN iSoLaTioN. This one I know was said exactly for me. I'm a girl who is completely content hanging out at home just keeping myself occupied. As a matter of fact I usually prefer it. But that is not how we are supposed to live. We were sent to this earth to be a blessing to the people we come in contact with. Which is where the next goal comes in to place. 

GoaL #2: WHENEVER I AM CONTENT AT HOME, WITH NO REAL REASON FOR BEING THERE, FIND SOMETHING TO DO FOR SOMEONE ELSE. 

TRuTH #3: oUR ReSPoNSiBiLiTy iS To BeCoMe THe BeST DiSCiPLeS oF CHRiST We CaN BeCoMe. She said something I absolutely loved when she was expounding on this truth. While talking about an experience she had had, she said "Those words were a call to action for me to make my life wonderful regardless of any situation or difficulty I faced." 

GoaL #3: TO DO JUST THAT. MAKE MY LIFE WONDERFUL REGARDLESS OF ANY SITUATION OR DIFFICULTY I FACE. I know that's not easy, but I also know that living a life feeling sorry for yourself is much worse. It's so much easier to play the victim. I want to look for the best in every situation I'm in. 

TRuTH #4: LeaRN To ReCoGNiZe THe WHiSPeRiNGS oF THe HoLY GHoST iN YouR LiFe.

GoaL #4: RECOGNIZE AND ELIMINATE THE THINGS THAT WOULD DISTRACT ME FROM FEELING THE SPIRIT. 

TRuTH #5: aLL SiNGLeS SHouLD ReMaiN aCTiVe MeMBeRS oF THe CHURCH. It's sad to know that most members of the church are lost during this early adulthood stage. I think that this truth has a lot to do with it though. The easiest way to feel misplaced is to not attend things your ward does; wether it be going to church, FHE or even the activities. It also makes it very easy to slip. 

GoaL #5: DON'T JUST BE ACTIVE, BUT BE A PROACTIVE MEMBER IN MY WARD. 

Really though, take 15 minutes and read the talk. 

I promise you'll get way more out of it that what I just summarized. 

And to anyone who made it all the way to the bottom; 

I would love ideas on how you would accomplish these goals. 

I've got some good ideas but the more the merrier! 

Besides, someone else reading may be just as curious :)

THiS iS Me #3 & 4

ToDaY = Me+SiCK

I started feeling it yesterday afternoon; but it wasn't to bad. 

So what did I do this morning?

I woke up and did what I was planning on doing.

1) I jumped in the shower

2) I finished the last of my EMT Workbook Chapter

and

3) I moved a few things into my new apartment :) 

(Carrying boxes up two flights of stairs doesn't quite equal REST)

I'm pretty sure thats what did me in. 

I did make it to SaMMyS with CaM, CaNDaCe, RaCHeL and Cam's pest control buddy, CaSeY. 

I left there with every intention of going to class, but by the time it rolled around I knew that was definitely NOT going to happen. 

SO, I spent HOURS watching this instead! 

THiS iS Me #3: BoNeS

Although I did LoVe my aNaToMY class, that's not the bones I am talking about.

CoNFeSSioN: I'm seriously, I'm aDDiCTeD!

Seasons 1-4: OWN :)

Season 5-6: WiLL OWN

Season 7: STOKED FOR!!!

THiS iS Me #4: oRGaNiZeD

I'm a tad bit of a perfectionist when it comes to having things organized. 

My DVD's are in alphabetical order. 

My books are in order, tallest to shortest.

My closet, color coordinated. 

It's all true.

So what did I buy today?

a PLaNNeR

I'll never forget anything! Hopefully...haha

and to finish the day off, 

I've got a date with Tylenol Cold PM 

and

GooDNiGHT!

THuS BeGiNS aNoTHeR SeMeSTeR!

CONFESSION: the last time I actually went to school FuLL TiMe was in SPRiNG 2009. 

2 1/2 YEARS AGO!

I didn't even realize that until 5 minutes ago when I was looking at my transcript!

No wonder I've been in college as long as I have.

Well..

THIS SEMESTER

13 CReDiTS

+

32 HouRS @ WoRK
=
HOLY HANNAH

But I definitely don't mind :)

Because you see...

BUSY > BORED

BUSY 

means 

PaRK CiTY THiS WEEKEND

MeGaNS WeDDiNG NeXT WeeK

DIRTY DASH NeXT WeeKeND

and

MoViNG To PRoVo Too!

so be excited for future posts!

cause like I said

BUSY > BORED

:D

SePTeMBeR 11th. 2001

I had only been in junior high for a couple of weeks now. But my love of change had made a transition like that easy, and even exciting for me. I must have stopped by my locker before making my way to the second floor. That's where my first class was. The room I was headed to faced south, and as I approached the door, I could tell that the blinds were up letting the morning sunlight in. It had been a little brisk that morning, but that could be expected for a September morning. Before walking through the door, for all I knew it was just going to be another school day. 

Entering my 7th grade English class I could tell something wasn't right. The TV on the front, right side of the room was on. Ms. Sluder and all of the other students in the room were watching intently. Usually everyone was talking, finishing homework, or laughing at the mornings mishaps before class started. But this time there were only whispers or concern. Something was seriously wrong.

As we watched, a country learned that both of the World Trade Centers had been hit by planes; hijaked. In the minutes before class was to start, the Pentagon was hit too. What was going on? It seemed as if the whole country was frantically trying to figure out that same question.

I don't remember much about school that day, only that people were worried. Was it a coincidence that it was September 11th? 9-1-1. We were definitely in a state of emergency. Many other speculations were talked about. Nobody really knew what to do. 

When I got home I remember walking down into my basement with one of my best friends, JaSoN, a little girl I always babysat, JaDyN, and my little brother TaNNeR. As we flipped through the channels it was clear that there weren't going to be any cartoons that day. Every station was broadcasting the news. 

We didn't want to spend the day worrying, although it was always in the back of or minds. And besides the two younger ones didn't even know what was going on. To them it really was just another day. 

So Jason and I did our best to keep it that way. What we spent the rest of the day doing, I don't really remember. I know we took a lot of pictures. We spent a lot of time outside. But the specifics of that day, I really don't know. 

But what's crazy to me is that all of that happened ten whole years ago. It really feels like just yesterday. 

It breaks my heart to think about all the lives that were lost that day. The hundreds of thousands of people who never thought they were saying their last goodbyes. The children who would grow up now knowing their mother or father. 

To all the people who risked their lives to save those in need of help, we are forever indebted. 

On a day full of so much heartbreak, A COUNTRY CAME TOGEHTER 

It truly was a day we will 

NEVER FORGET

LaBoRiN' LaBoR DaY

LaBoR DaY: a United States federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September that celebrates the economic and social contribution of workers. At least according to wikipedia.

So naturally, in honor of Labor Day, I found it most appropriate go into work and do some manual labor myself!  Truth be told, everyone else just asked for it off, leaving JyNeLLe, RaCHieL and I on the floor. But did we care? Nope! Why not you may wonder. Because a) LABOR DAY = PAY AND A HALF; b) the three of us have way to much fun; and c) FReD bought us DoMiNoS. Yep, working holidays for sure has it's perks! And working mornings, it doesn't really matter cause I still have the rest of the day to play! 

As soon as work was over, I ran home, met up with KaeSi and TaNNeR, and we drove on down to CaM & aNDRea's.

TaNNeR has hit the "TaYLoR STaGE"
aka he hates it when you take pictures of him.

Notice how closely random gold car parked to Kaesi.
Keeping in mind that yes, Kaesi had another car in front of her,
and that you could have fit another car and 4 scooters behind Goldy.

 LaBoR DaY also = PICNICS!

We didn't have a whole lot of time (Super 8 started an hour later) so we figured Subway was a good, quick option. Kaesi and I weren't even hungry so we opted for FRoZeN YoGuRT instead :) 

Then we wandered on over to the park, full of people, where Cam, Andrea and Tanner ate. I took their vitals for my EMT class, and Kaesi snapped photos. 

NOTICE the SUPER 8 CAMERA. 

Ok, now keep reading :)

Kaesi didn't want to go, but after the picnic the rest of us wandered on over to the dollar movies to see this good lookin' flick. 

We were running a little late, but that's what previews are for. What we weren't prepared for it to be sold out :( The Super 8 was with us and everything. Oh well, that'll just be another adventure for another day. 

But now we had time to kill before the 

BBQ @ G&G's.

We all went our separate ways and I decided to do something I had been meaning to do forever! As much and I love my computer, it was just running way to slow. 

It was time to upgrade the RAM.

Shout out to MacTraders, first for being open on Labor Day; and second for saving me tons 'o' money!

4GB UPGRADE

Simply Mac: $200-$300

MacTraders: $75

Totally made my day!

Then it was time for the BBQ :) 

EVERYONE minus CaNDaCe was there. 

Burgers, Dogs, Chips, Corn, Olives, and Jello. 

That's the way we do BBQ's.

And thats the way my family does LaBoR DaY :)

VaLiDaTioN. :)

GooD NeWS: MY CAMERA IS BACK!

Be EXCiTeD!!

There is something else I want to show you guys first though.

Last night I was checking my facebook when I noticed a video that my good friend JyNeLLe had posted. 

I don't usually take the time to watch these things, but above it she had written

"I dare you to take the time to watch this."

So I thought, "hey, I'll just put it on while I get ready for bed. Then I''ll just turn it off when I'm finished." 

Cause lets be honest, it's a 16 minute movie. It was already late. I hadn't slept much the night before. And I had to work the next morning. Sleep sounded much more appetizing. 

But I think TJ Thyne is great, so I put it on and started to get ready for bed. 

As I got ready, I partially listened until I finished and then I sat down to watch a little more before turning it off. 

But then I couldn't turn it off. 

I watched it all!

And then went to bed so happy! 

and then I watched it this morning again while I was getting ready for work. 

It is seriously so incredible! 

So take the dare, and watch it.

THE WHOLE THING!!! 

You won't regret it :) 

Isn't it great??

What a world this would be if everyone did the same thing :)