What's been on my mind lately?

A little of a letter to my missionary friends may shed some light...

"Spring Semester at USU has been good so far. It hasn’t been as cold this semester as I remember other springs being. I definitely like that! I am taking a pretty big load of classes. My schedule consists of Textile Science, Family Consumer Sciences Education Methods, Clinical Experience, Technology for Teachers, Science of Food Preparation, Multicultural Foundations of Education, and Education of Exceptional Individuals.  This semester I’m also taking Doctrines of the Gospel Part 2 at the Institute.

The Young Single Adult ward that I am in sure has gotten big over the past few months and I love having the opportunity to go to church with people who are our age. It sure is fun to attend church with friends. Right now I am attending the Mission Prep class. I absolutely love this class! “Why are you going to mission prep?” you might ask. Because I’ve decided to go on a mission!!! This Fall and Winter I thought a lot about and decided to serve a mission. On December 6th I went to my Bishop and talked to him about going. I started my papers in December, submitted them online on January 24th (I thought, but I didn't fill the papers out all the way so they weren't officially completed until February 2nd), and interviewed with the Stake President January 29th. My papers were officially sent to Salt Lake on February 11th and I’m now waiting for my call! I hope to leave soon after Spring Semester ends so that I’ll be home Spring Semester 2014 where I can work on finishing up my last two quarters of school. I’m pretty sure I will add a minor to my degree though because of a scholarship I’ve gotten which will pay for more of my school, so I’ll probably have two years once I get home. But truly, I can’t wait to go! It’s been so fun to hear about missions from friends and I know it is something I need to do. Once I get my mission call I’ll let you know where and when I’m going!"

I feel very blessed to have had the Gospel in my life, and I am very excited to be able to share with others the things that have brought me much joy and happiness.

I'm going on a MISSION!!!

Some Fun in SLC

Over my Christmas Break I had the opportunity to get together in Salt Lake with my best friends from high school.  And truly, these girls are the BEST!  I've always felt really lucky to have such good friends.  These girls are fun, smart, talented, happy, and beautiful individuals.  Although I don't see a few of these friends very much I'm glad that we keep in touch because they have definitely impacted my life in positive ways.  Thank you Lauryn, Stephanie, Allie, Michelle, and Mariah!  You guys are awesome!

Also, over the holiday my family decided to take a trip to see the lights at Temple Square.  On our way down to Salt Lake we stopped and did a little shopping as well as filled our stomachs with Olive Garden.  Yum!  Look at my content brothers.  They loved lunch!  I think Spencer's face says it all. 

In Salt Lake we went to the Temple Square Visitor's Center, Deseret Book, and spent some time outside.   (Look who I found at the book store.  Ha ha!)





The lights were beautiful!  I loved spending time with my family while looking at the lights and thinking about Christmas. 

I am grateful that this time of year allows us to refocus and think about what is truly important.  I love my family and I am thankful for the relationships that I have with each one of them.  They mean so much to me!

Sew, Sew, Sew A Skirt, Make a Pattern Too!

Man do I feel like I've been sewing a lot lately.  This semester I am taking an Advanced Clothing Production class for my major.  I've been meaning to put a few pictures up of the sewing projects I have been making, so here they are.  For my sewing class I decided to make a Halloween Skirt for my lined project.  I wore this skirt to the Howl that I went to this year with a few of my friends.  Fun huh?!

In my class I also designed and created a half scale pattern which I then sewed to fit a mannequin.  I am quite excited how it turned out.  In fact, all of the designs that were created in my class look so awesome that they are going to be put on display at USU next week.  I'm pretty excited we get to show off all our hard work in such a cool way.  Here's my dress! 

This vintage style dress is paired with a boat neck and yo-yos placed around the waistline which make this dress a great pick for any occasion.  This article of clothing was inspired not only by the classic design of the pattern but by the unique color combination as well. 

Today: I am Thankful

Last week I enjoyed a few days off of school enjoying Thanksgiving break.  It was so nice to focus a little less on school and to be able to spend more time with my friends and family.  Speaking of friends I thought I thought I would post a little of a letter I wrote to missionary friends because I feel it sums up a little of what I've been up to and felt the last little while.

"Fall has been absolutely beautiful in Cache Valley this year! More colorful than I’ve ever seen it. Fall is my favorite season. I love it so much. Every time I walk up Old Main I can’t help but feel so grateful to live in such a wonderful place. We had our first snow last week so winter is officially here! I’m really excited for the holidays. I’ve already starting listening to Christmas music. I promise I’m not crazy; there is just something about music that makes me so happy. Also, for my work with the USU Extension we have done a few "Holiday Happenings" classes where we give people in the community ideas about how to get organized, cook and have good nutrition, create holiday projects, and get ready for the holiday season. I love my job (it seems more like play) because they are fun subjects that we share with the people of Cache Valley.

Last week USU played BYU in basketball and guess what?! We (USU) won! I am pretty excited about the fact that basketball season is here. I love wearing blue and going to games with friends where we can cheer on our team. It sure is fun!

I've also registered for Spring Semester! I can’t believe that students have to already be thinking ahead so far about the classes that they are going to take for spring, but I guess it’s a helpful thing to know. I was looking at my schedule and realized that I only have three semesters before I’ll be graduated. The crazy thing is that I really only have two more semesters on campus because then I’ll be doing student teaching in a high school. But, I’m pretty positive I'm going to add a Chemistry minor, so I may be on campus a little bit longer which is totally cool. I’m really enjoying college!

I’m thankful that November and December give us a time to think about all of our blessings. I am so grateful that I have the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life. I would be lost without the gospel. I love the commandments, church guidelines, and standards that the church has set for us. When living them they bring much peace, harmony, and joy into our lives. I am thankful that we have the scriptures, a living Prophet, and the Gift of the Holy Ghost. It is wonderful to know that the Lord has provided us with a way that we may hear his words and council. I feel very blessed to know that our Heavenly Father has provided us with a Plan of Salvation. How sweet it is to know that we can live with our families forever. I am especially thankful for our loving Savior Jesus Christ who lived a perfect life and then performed the atonement so that we have the chance to repent of our sins and return to live with our Heavenly Father."

Today I am thankful and feel very blessed.

21 Candles on My Birthday Cake

I'm 21!  Crazy!  It amazes me that I am that old.  And to say I was just getting used to telling people I was 20. 

This past week I had such a fun time celebrating my birthday.  On my birthday I got to sleep in, was surprised with a shopping trip with my Mom and Grandma Gloria, ate at Maddox for lunch, went to school for a bit, opened presents, received a "Delicious Bass" from my brother Nathan, blew out some birthday candles, and ate a very yummy birthday cake.  I had a wonderful day!

On Saturday my friend Michelle and I also had a combined birthday party at her apartment.  Because our birthdays are only 13 days apart we've always had the intention to celebrate with a party together.  This was the year we finally did.  I enjoyed catching up with a few of our friends as we celebrated.

I have have had an awesome past year and I am excited to see what this next year brings! 

Can I just say, I love September!

Books

While preparing for my first week of school I've devoted some time to the task of getting my college textbooks.  It seems as if the number of books I'm required to get is increasing, while the price of textbooks is increasing as well.  While looking for my books, I was reminded of my days in elementary school when book shopping was exciting and something I looked forward to.  I remember being so excited to visit the library when the school had a book fair.  It was so fun to look through the collection of new books that were available for us young children to buy.  I loved looking at the colorful books that lined the metal shelves, while picking up a few and thumbing through the pages. I also remember what a delight it was to have book orders passed out to the class a few times a year.  I spent a lot of time looking through each column of the book orders, searching for something that I might enjoy reading.  I was always in high hopes that my mom or dad would give me a few dollars so I could buy a paperback.  Ha ha now while in college I have to spend a couple hundred dollars in order to get the books I need.  Oh how I miss those elementary book buying days.  Thank goodness for scholarships and good friends who are happy to rent or lend their books.    

My, my how crazy summer has been!  I can't even begin to write all of the great things that have happened over June, July, and August.  Here are some pictures that highlight just a few of the fun things that I've done over the summer. 

 My family went to the Logan Fireworks.  The Miss Cache Valley Royalty was part of the program.  It was fun walking out on the field escorted by my dad.  The fireworks were spectacular that night.  I feel so blessed to live in a free country. 

I celebrated the 4th of July with my mom's side of the family.  I love my family so so much and I love spending time with them. 

Helping with Cruise In!

Stephanie and I on a hike to the Wind Caves.  The canyon was beautiful!

 My family spent a week during July in the Uintahs and at Wasatch State Park.  We hiked, fished, golfed, and shopped.  I hadn't been fishing in such a long time, and I definitely enjoyed it.  I bought a fishing pole for the trip, and I hope to use it more often.

 It was fun to spend time with my family in the mountains.

I got glasses.  How do you like them?

Whitney participated in the 4-H Style Dress Review during the fair.  She is a super sewer and made a darling skirt.  For my work I helped with this event.  I was one of the MCs for the night. 

This is the 4-H building that I spent the week working in during the county fair.  During the fair I helped with judging, set up the displays, worked at the Style Dress Review, did building watch, and assisted with the 4-H Junior Livestock Show.  The fair was so much work (more than I expected), but I had a blast!  I feel very blessed to have such an awesome job.

Thought of the day during the Livestock show: "I feel kind of guilty eating this roast beef sandwich in front of a helpless cow looking at me." 

Hope your summer is going great too!