powerful read...

I read The Peacegiver from start to finish today.  It pretty much took me all day, but it was so worth it!  

(I started this book back in January I believe, but I never read any book all the way through.  I usually only read a couple chapters and then I never pick it up again.  I'm so terrible at finishing books that I made a new year's resolution at the beginning of the year that I would read at least four books from start to finish by the end of this year. This is the second book I've read this year, from start to finish at least. Twilight was the other one.  I couldn't even make it through New Moon.)

Anyway, The Peacegiver is amazing!  I love it, and I highly recommend it!  It's very insightful on forgiveness, repentance, peace, love, and the atonement!

now we wait...

I can't believe I didn't write this on Wednesday!  Actually, yes I can.  It's because I was on the phone with Corey for an hour and a half on Wednesday.

Wednesday night was THE night!  Corey met with the stake president, President Hendrickson, and his papers were sent in yesterday I believe!  I can't believe it!  This is SO exciting!  I think I might be more excited about Corey serving a mission than he is, and I know he's way excited!

Anyway, now we just wait for his call...  I can't imagine him leaving home!  It's so weird! But SO exciting!!!!!

okay, now it's freezing!

It's been kind of cold here, but not too bad, like the 40s and 50s.  This morning I had to go turn in a midterm paper, so I just threw on a sweater and ran out the door.  There was frost on my car, and I had to scrape it off!  It was SO cold! I knew that it hadn't gotten this cold yet.  The best part is that the sun is shining and there are blue skies, so it looks like it would be warm outside.  Definitely not!  I came home and checked the temperature... 17 degrees!  That is FREEZING!  

too good to be true!

I don't know if things are supposed to work out this perfectly.  Maybe something's wrong with me.  Pinch me, is this really happening???  

I just found out today that one of my really good friends, Caitlin Hendrickson got accepted to study abroad on the MesoAmerica Tour.  Yes, the same one as me!  Only 30 students are selected.  What are the chances?!?!?  She and I are SO excited!!!!  I can't wait!

By the way, today was simply amazing, as all Sundays are! And life just keeps getting better!

MesoAmerica, Here I Come!

I found out today that I was accepted to study abroad in MesoAmerica next summer! I'm so excited!  Especially since they could only except a little more than half of the applicants.  

I will leave sometime towards the end of April/beginning of May and come home at the end of May/beginning of June.  I can't even wait!  I'm so excited!

Now, I just have to start saving!

something's not right...

I just want to go home.  That doesn't make any sense.

Prop 8

I'm so bummed because since I'm not in California I didn't get to hear the fireside.  I take it there was a huge push to spread the word of prop 8 to as many people as we can, and then to explain why to vote yes on prop 8.  So, I sent out a mass e-mail, well something kind of similar to check out a couple sites about the prop.  Two people responded back very negatively.  I wrote them back as positively as I could while sharing what I know to be true.  They kept arguing the point.

It amazes me how some people think about some things. They automatically assumed I hate homosexuals, which is not true.  I am grateful for the prophets and for the truth they have given us, like The Family: A Proclamation to the World.  I'm so grateful to know and understand the truth.

I really don't even know how I feel about politics or anything like that, but this is one issue that I know exactly how I feel and where I stand.

Yes on Prop 8!

I just don't understand...

It snowed today, and I drove in it.  And I actually loved it!  I thought about how beautiful it is to watch the seasons change.  That's not something I grew up seeing since San Diego pretty much has one season.  I just thought about how the holidays are coming, school will be over, my brother will leave on his mission, etc.  Life is a beautiful thing, and I'm learning to cherish every moment.

I am a little overwhelmed right now by the love I have felt from those around me and for the love I feel for my family and friends.  I am grateful for my relationships and the blessing they have been in my life.  But it makes me sad to see relationships deteriorate and diminish.  I understand how it can happen, but I don't understand why.

I just wonder if relationships really can be healed, if people really can find happiness in each other as well as themselves, and if we as a people really can become one... 

the first snowfall

I almost cried!  It snowed yesterday!  It made me so sad! And now it's freezing cold up here, but the snow didn't stick. Unfortunately I think there is supposed to be a big storm tomorrow, so it will be here to stay after tomorrow forever, but oh well.

I have friends that keep telling me I need to learn to enjoy the snow... hot chocolate, snow angels, snowmen, heaters, hoodies, blankets, cuddling, etc.  But I am a pure San Diegan!  I don't do well in the cold!  And it's not like I have someone to keep me warm. ;) Anyway, the snow can be fun, but I don't think I want to live somewhere where it's cold for 8 months out of the year.

In the spirit of enjoying the cold, or trying to anyway, I bought a pair of earmuffs today.  My old roommate said I look ridiculous.  I told her I don't care, my ears are warm now.  Haha!  I never thought I'd buy scarfs, gloves, or earmuffs and now I am all decked out in my warm clothes.

It wouldn't be so bad if the wind weren't present.  The wind makes it feel 10 times colder.  

I guess I'll learn to have fun in it!

conference weekend

This weekend was great!  It was perfect!  I wish it had been longer, but it was an amazing weekend!  I got to see so many friends and the best part was that I got to see Corey!

Friday I met up with Bishop Smith and Corey in Provo.  We went out to lunch at Cafe Rio with Kate Herrod.  Then we went to the MTC.  That was really neat!  I've driven past the MTC, but I've never been inside.  The building is old, but the spirit is amazing!  I want to serve a mission.  It would be amazing!  Corey hasn't turned in his papers yet because he still needs to finish up his medical, but after that he just needs an interview with the stake president and then we wait for his call.  I'm SO excited for him!  I can't believe he's almost 19!  

Since he doesn't have his call, we took this illegal picture by the well-known map in the MTC.

Then we drove to Salt Lake.  They checked into their hotel, and then we went to Temple Square.  

We went to the Joseph Smith Memorial Building.  Corey had never been to the top to see the view of the temple, so we went up there.  

We were going to go to the observation deck on top of the church headquarters building, but it was closed by the time we got there.  Bummer!  I've never been up there either.

Then we went to the mall and ate at this place called the Sky Box.  It's a pretty cool place!  Then we played games in the arcade room, like air hockey, pinball, etc.  

Saturday I met up with Corey and bishop in the tabernacle for the morning session of conference. Then I went to the Joseph Smith Memorial Building and went to this luncheon for BYU Law students with an old roommate who got accepted into that program.  The food was okay, but the cookies were delicious!

For the Saturday afternoon session, we had tickets to the conference center, and that was great.  I saw Bishop, I mean President Hoeveler and his wife.  I also ran into the Reads and some others.  It was rainy all day on Saturday. Then I left and Bishop Smith and Corey went to the priesthood session in the conference center.

I went to Amy's and hung out with her and Chelsea.  They made oatmeal chocolate chip cookies which were delicious! Then I went on a blind date with Amy's husband's cousin, Casey.  He's a cool guy.  We doubled with Amy and Aaron and went to Zupa's, a soup, salad, sandwich place.  Then we went back to their house and played The Office DVD Board Game.  It wasn't as fun as we all thought it would be, but it was still fun!

Sunday morning, I went to go meet up with bishop and Corey, but they got into conference at the conference center, and they were the last two in.  (What are the odds of that happening!)  I was bummed because I really wanted to be with them, but I was happy that Corey got into a third session of conference.  I ended up watching that session in the theater of the conference center.  

After that session, I found out that Corey didn't even stay for conference.  He left because he had a weird feeling, so he ended up just listening to the session on Temple Square.  I felt so badly because I could have at least been with him during that session, and I wasn't.  We met up with Vohn and Gail Woodfield, which was way fun!  I hadn't seen them in two years, and I'm pretty sure it's been 3 or 4 for Corey. Gail is in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.  I love the Woodfields!  They're great!

Then we met up with bishop at the car for lunch.  Corey and bishop had gone to the store and bought sandwiches.  They were huge!  I could barely put my mouth around it! For the final session of conference, we went in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. After the session, we went to President Chambers office in that same building and Preston Coffey was ordained an elder.  Corey got to stand in the circle, which was pretty cool because it was the first ordination he had participated in since receiving the Melchizedek priesthood.

Our last stop was President Hinckley's grave.  His grave stone is made with left over granite from the conference center.  We all thought that was pretty cool!  Then Bishop Smith said that it was time for them to go.  I was like, no!  I want you guys to stay forever!  He was like, I need to get home to my family.  I said, that it true.  What a sacrifice! I'm grateful for his wife who was willing to stay home and watch their four kids while he took this trip with Corey.  I said bye, unwillingly.  And I was sad to see them go.  It had been a fantastic weekend.

Right as I'm about to get off the freeway, I see their car ahead of me.  I knew they left before me, so I wondered how it was possible.  I called Corey, and I guess they had stopped somewhere.  They had drove past me, but I hadn't even noticed.  So, we drove alongside of each other for a minute, and then they sped up and I got off the freeway. It was nice to see them one last time!

This weekend was awesome!  I couldn't have asked for anything more!  Pictures to come...