And Now Life Has Begun

Wow wow wow! The last few months just FLEW by! I really should update this more often, but when I finally find time I end up being social, gross right?

So much to say in so little space! Lets see, Summer was AWESOME!!! I had so much fun hanging out with all my friends. I went on a few dates, which is great because now I can say that I sort of have (or had) a dating life! I went cliff jumping a few times and paddle boarding a few times, zip lining in Park City, celebrating a birthday or two, or six, with some very good friends, and played a radical game of capture the flag with paint guns. Not to mention our late night movies and the million times we played games. There was so much more to this summer than can be said here and now! After being blessed with amazing roommates I think  I was supposed to learn to live with people I didn't get along with. This summer there was the slob, the mom, the rude one, and the workaholic. Luckily, I was rooming with the workaholic and we got along very well. I definitely learned a lot from them, and I will definitely be teaching my children how to live, LIKE ADULTS, on their own before they actually move out so that they aren't the roommate nobody can stand. It sounds rude but if you have lived on your own you definitely know what I'm talking about! Unless you are the one that nobody can stand... ;)

Next on the list: I lost my job at Call Assistant in the beginning of the summer and shortly after that I decided that I was supposed to serve a mission.   I got my papers all filled out and I actually submitted them and my call was on the way when I decided to wait to serve, the timing was not right. So I postponed my call, undid my leave of absence from Utah State, filed for financial aid, and registered for classes. What a trip it has been! After all the hustle to get into school, I accepted a position at Herberger's, a department store in the mall. I'm about a month in and it has been great! It is an easy job and it is nice to have an income again, and I can honestly say that I am very excited to get to pay tithing again because I have such a strong testimony of the blessings you can receive from paying a full tithe.

And now life has begun...

School is great, my grades aren't suffering just yet. I'm taking Anthropology, Religious Studies, Social Work, Yoga, Institute, and FCHD and these classes all work together so well! It seems like every time I learn about a new topic in one class, it helps me understand something better in another class, even yoga! Its been so good so far. Jessica and Kyle FINALLY got engaged! Good new for everyone because now I get to move back into Old Farm next semester. That is if I have enough money to do so... but so far that it what I am counting on. My birthday is coming up fast, just 2 more months! Crazy, eh? I'll be 20 years old, I do wish I could stay 20 forever. I'll probably say the same thing at 21, 22, 23, and 24! Up until like 28 and I'll be wishing I was 20 again. My new ward is SOOO much fun! It is full of a lot of really young guys thins year but that's okay. I have been making lots of friends, even living at home. I am meeting lots of new people on and off campus, at work, at activities, in my ward, in my classes, and it has been so amazing! I wish I would have been this friendly last year because it is so much more fun. It has been such a blast though, I am keeping busy with school and work but I've also been doing all sort of fun things with my friends! Country swing dancing is one of our things we all like to do together, I'm actually getting pretty good. Not to mention all of our movie nights, temple trips, and dance parties that we have.

I love all my friends and I am so thankful for their examples to me and all the love and kindness they show me, especially my "roommates" They are such a blessing in my life and I don't know (and don't want to know) where I would be without them. The church is so good you guys! I love this gospel and the many blessings I receive from being a part of it. I am so thankful for the knowledge I have of my savior and his Atonement, for the knowledge I have of the next life and God's love for me. I love my ward and my calling and I will aways to everything I can to expand my calling as much as possible. The church is true and the church is good.

XOXO :)

Time to Say Goodbye

Today is the day, Taylor is on her way to New Hampshire as we speak! I am so excited for her! I am taking over all her social medias so I just can't wait to start getting letters and pictures. She is going to be such an amazing missionary. I am excited to watch her change and grow as her testimony gets stronger. What a great experience!

I haven't had any awesome summer experiences yet, its just been so great overall. I've been hanging out with the neighbor boys lately for a number of reasons, let me walk you through it:

1. They are boys, and boys are cute! Especially these ones! 
2. Boys have no drama, they just go with the flow and do whatever they want.
3. They are very oblivious, this means I can practice my flirting and see what actually works. So far I  haven't made any progress.
4. They are great company!

AND NOW... FOR THE GRAND FINALE...

I have decided to start my mission papers! I am so excited!! It is the best feeling in the world to have a goal in mind and to have something to work towards. I was supposed to get surgery in May, as soon as school got out but May came and went and I never heard anything. I decided to call the surgeon and see what was going on. I was hoping for him to say something along the lines of, "Sorry it took so long, but we can do the surgery whenever you are ready!" Instead I was told that I had two options, I could wait a year to get yet another bone scan, or I would replace by joint with a rib on top of all the other procedures. At first I didn't even think about a mission, and I was so upset that my mom wanted to wait the year because all I could think about was what happened when I have waited a year and I'm still growing? I just wanted this to be over with already! But then my mom mention a mission. Before I knew I had to get surgery I really wanted to serve a mission, but because of the surgery I just figured that would never happen. When I talked about a mission with Sarah or Taylor they kept telling my that I should plan on a mission and if I felt like I should go on a mission then I should go and I remember always saying that is I was supposed to serve a mission the Lord would make it work out, and he did. What a blessing! The Lord has need for me somewhere in the world and I am so blessed and so excited to go on this adventure! I am so excited to grow and learn and gain a stronger testimony and a stronger foundation in the gospel. 

The Lord can work wonders and he will bless us so much as long as we are doing what he askes and trusting in his time frame and have faith that he can do all things! I have such a strong testimony of this gospel and I am so blessed to be a part of this church! This church is true!

Mich love :) xoxo

S U M M E R T I M E

It's finally SUMMER!! Moving out is almost more stressful that finals, and unpacking is my least favorite thing to do, but summer has already been a blast and it's only been a few days! I have friends to hang out with and cute boys to be around, I am so excited for the rest of summer. There will be plenty of late nights, movies to watch, and lots of bonfires!

This weekend I am going down to West Jordan for Rachel's Missionary shower! I am so excited for her to go on a mission, she is going to be such an amazing missionary! She has always been such a good example to everyone around her and is always so kind and loving. She is always laughing, and let me tell you... her laugh is so contagious! Whenever I hear her laugh, even if I don't know why, it always makes me giggle.

It has been so weird not living with these girls, I spent almost 9 months living with them , they are my best friends and I couldn't have asked for better roommates. I'm so glad we got to become so close. I'm also glad that they don't live on the other side of the country so I'll still get to see them every now and then.  SLUMBER PARTY!

Next week I'll start working the morning shift, 6-2, am I excited to wake up at 5? Nope. Am I excited to double my paycheck? Yep! I am hoping that I will be able to get my sleep schedule on track, but until then caffeine will be my new best friend. I'm going to try to stick with the morning shift for next semester and see how that works out for me. I'm worried that because I'm a night owl I'll still stay up all hours of the night hanging out with friends, even though I have to wake up early. WOW! It just hit me that I'm a sophomore now... I actually survived freshman year! I managed to stay single, and tattooless. I should get a reward for that.  I've also decided to learn to play the ukulele, I'm so dedicated that I bought a cute blue one!

I'm so excited to see what the summer holds, so much will happen and so much will change! Will I survive?! I guess you will just have to hang around and find out!

Much Love :) xoxo

A Lifetime of Conversion

I want to yell at the top of my lungs how grateful I am for this Gospel! Its been amazing week, I've been so filled with the spirit with so many experiences I don't even know where to start!

On Friday Al Fox Caraway, more commonly known as "The Tattooed Mormon",

   

came to Utah State and shared her story and her testimony and I learned some very valuable lessons. She taught me that even though I have "tattoos" of my own, or sins from my past, God doesn't see them. To him, I am cleansed and my skin is no longer marked with my mistakes. I am so thankful for the Atonement for the blessings that I can receive from taking advantage of it and using it as much as possible. Without that I would be accountable for all the tattoos I have and all of the mistakes I have made. How grateful I am that we have been given a way to cleanse ourselves and start fresh every week. She also taught me that the Gospel is a way of life. When we are baptized, or even every time we take the sacrament, we are making a commitment that we will follow our Savior. We are making a commitment to God that we will follow his commandments. My favorite thing that she said was that you either choose to always try, or you don't. She choose for herself that she would always try, everyday! She would never ever stop, and never take a break. When you take a break that is when fear and doubt sets in and that is when the devil tries his hardest to influence you to do wrong. I loved hearing her story and how far she has come. She talked about how much her Missionaries influenced her, even though they didn't feel like they were making a difference at all. I read her blog and follow her social medias but seeing her in person was such a powerful and life changing experience for me.

On Saturday night we had the evening session of Stake conference. We had to elders from the quorum of the 70 come and speak to us, Elder Clark and Elder Porter. I missed the beginning but when I got there they had four college students from Utah State up on the stand for a panel. Two were recent converts and the other two were recently reactivated. They shared their stories and bore their testimonies and it was just so amazing to hear how far they had all come in their lives. It was a great experience to be able to hear the stories of people just like you and me, to learn about all their hardships and everything they had to go through, yet their testimonies were at an all time high. They were still learning and growing and still overcoming hard things but their faith was strong! I want to continue to strive to be more like these people, to overcome my trials through faith and repentance.

On Sunday we had our  general session of conference, and had the privilege to hear Elder Porter and Elder Clark again. They focused on living a Christ centered life, service, and being a good example to all those around you. One thing that really stood out to me was when Elder Clark talked about having a Christ centered apartment. He taught us that we should be preparing now for our future families by having a Christ centered apartment by having apartment council, and apartment prayer. It really stuck with me because if we are comfortable enough to do that now they we will be comfortable enough to do that with our future spouses and our future families. The Gospel is something that we should never ever be ashamed of. It is who we are and what we do and the only person whose opinion matter is our Savior's and our Father in Heaven. Always remember who you are and what you stand for!

One common theme through out the whole week that really stood out to be was that we can never forget why we are here, we can never take a break, we always have to push to be our best and to do our best. Al Fox is a great example of this, she decided that she was never going to stop. She was never going to take a break because that's when fear and doubt sets in and you start second guessing yourself and the gospel. She is going to constantly be living the Gospel and trying everyday to be her best and she is going to become a little more converted each day. One thing that the Elder from the 70 taught was that with each person we have 7 occurrences before we are willing to accept the gospel. Meaning each one of us could be someone else's first, fourth, or even seventh. We could be the answer to someone else's prayers, but what if we decided to take a break that day? We can NEVER stop. We always have to do our best and be our best so we are always influencing good everywhere we go. Elder Clark shared a story about an old toolbox and how it was filled with old bolts,bent screws, and used and tattered tools. However, the owner  never threw anything away because he always found a use for everything in the box sooner or later. We always need to remember that God always has a need for us. Sometimes we might feel stuck, like we are in a rut. But we must always push forward with Faith and remember that God knows our path and as a plan in mind for us. We can never give up or stop trying our best to live the gospel because everyone around us is affected by our actions, words, and even our thoughts. One of my favorite quotes goes like this,

"Your beliefs become your thoughts,

Your thoughts become your words,Your words become your actions,Your actions become your habits,Your habits become your values,Your values become your destiny.”― Mahatma Gandhi

What an amazing lesson we can learn! Every single thing we do affects all those people around us. We must always remember Christ in our everyday life so that we never forget who we are, what we stand for, and what our mission is. We must always put Christ first in our life and if we can do that. then everything will follow. I love this Gospel and If anyone in the world actually reads what I write, I hope you can learn a lesson too.

Much love :) xoxo

Boys Have Cooties

Go to college they said, it will be fun they said. Its crazy how time flies, I feel like it was just yesterday when I graduated high school! So much has happened since I've moved up here. I am now engaged and I changed my major to mechanical engineering! Totally kidding, did I scare you? I scared myself a little bit just saying that! Anyway, forget all this mumbo jumbo, lets get into it!

College has been treating me so well! Its is the new semester and I'm taking more credits than I was last semester but its almost easier than it was last semester! My roommates and I are all very good friends, which is so awesome! Sometimes we have some drama but its easily resolved. We all have very similar standards and views so its super easy to get along with them. I love them all to death! Next year they plan on living at Old Farm but only Sarah and I plan on living together. Its a good thing, that way I will be able to get to know their new roommates and we will all have even more friends! I'm way excited! Next up:

SURGERY! Oh boy am I excited! It is coming fast! I had a consultation and we are planning on early May, depending on if I am still growing or not at the time. Its going to be a very long recovery. Wanna hear? The 6 weeks right after the surgery are the most crucial for healing so I will be on a "No Chew" diet. Meaning I get to eat everything through a straw for a week then for 5 more weeks I get to eat mashed potatoes and scrambled eggs! Then I have to ease myself into the chewing stage so that I don't screw anything up and end up having to get surgery again. Right now I'll just be getting X-rays and waiting for school to finish. It is a scary thing but I have been waiting so long for this, I can't wait! It will be hard but it will be so worth it.

Now for the best part.... my awful dating story! I should win an award with this one! Where do I begin? I'm not going to share names so for the purpose of this story my mysterious man is Johnny! So Johnny and I met at church, at first I didn't have my eye on him but one Sunday he sat by me in Sunday school. That was probably the first time we had a real conversation (Beyond "hi, how are you?") and I realized HE WAS SO CUTE! I didn't make any moves but after he sat next to me in Sunday school a few more times I decided to show that I was into him by inviting him to a movie night! Then we sat by each other at ward prayer and he asked me to go ice skating on a date with him. HECK YES! I'm thinking, "Well basically we are going to get married now because he is perfect." Then after ward prayer we went to his apartment and watched a movie and then just hung out all night long, literally until like one in the morning. So then the next day we go ice sating and get lunch and the conversation just flowed, it was so fun! I definitely thought there was something there. That night he came over to our apartment for a movie and game night, and I was basically drooling the whole time. Things just clicked and I had this small hope that there was something between us. Saturday was Utah State's last hockey game for their regular season so I invited Johnny because he is also a hockey fan. Now I want you to know this was not a date but I did say, "You should come with me to the hockey game." Johnny was going to the temple that afternoon so he just decided to meet us at the rink. We get there and I save Johnny a seat next to me, but guess what? HE BROUGHT A FRIGGIN GIRL. Yeah, you heard me right, a girl. So my first though was. "Okay, this is okay. She is just a friend!" OHHH NO. Definitely not just a friend. Johnny not only completely zoned me out but he held her hand and has his arm around her and they flirted and were all cute while I just sat there. Talk about awkward!! Not only that but after the game they just got up and left and he didn't even say bye to me. Apparently I like guys that are taken because that isn't even the first time that has happened! I decided to just give up on Johnny. That was a HUGE downer to my self-esteem, I felt so awkward and belittled. It wasn't the fact that he definitely has a girl or even the fact that he brought her to the game its that he sat next to me with her. GO SIT SOMEWHERE ELSE FOR GOODNESS SAKE. Come on, Johnny! Anyway, I think that is a sign that nobody should try to date their freshman year of college! (Or that I am just destined to be a crazy dog lady) Either way, take my advice and make sure the guy you want to date doesn't have a girlfriend.

I am so excited to continue to see where life takes me. Its so exciting to see how much I've accomplished in just six months. I hope you stay a while for the journey!

Much love :) xoxo

Strangers

Hello strangers! I think it's safe to say that November and December are CRAZY BUSY! I thought it was supposed to be a break? I'm sorry you had to miss so much of my exciting life of Netflix, Family Feud, all nighters, and plenty of Mountain Dew to go around. Let me catch you up...

November:
I'M FINALLY 19!! Holy cow, I'm old! Its a weird feeling knowing that this year I'll be turning 20... but let's not think about that. Oh it was also Thanksgiving, which happened to be on my birthday this year... cool? Not only that but it was finals week... yay? I did pass all my classes so go me, and it's always fun to have an apartment all to myself for the breaks!

December:
I can't believe that Christmas already came and went and I'm about to start my second semester of school. Things are just flying by! All my roommates and the neighbors left for the break so I just hung out at my house with my dog, parents, and little brothers. We had lots of fun doing nothing and watching Netflix. It was very relaxing. However, I also had tons of errands to run and lots of working to do, no fun! It surprised me how different it was without roommates around and I realized how easy it would be for me to get into trouble if I wasn't surrounded with amazing people all the time. I am so thankful for my roommates and my friends that keep me on the right path to make good choices. Anyway, Christmas came and went and I was sent home with plenty of leftovers, a full tummy, and arm fulls of junk. This Christmas was different than any other though because I was more focused on getting to spend time with my family and giving the gifts rather than receiving them. I love my family and I loved the time I got to spend with them.

January:
NEW YEARS! I can not believe its already 2015! Big things are happening this year, lots of missionaries will be coming home, I'll finish my freshman year of college, get surgery, turn 20, and there is always a possibility of marriage (ew). I am so excited for what lies ahead and I'm so excited to make this my best year yet!

Much love :)

Meet The Crew

I know you have all been wondering, "Who are all these 'friends' Kamille talks about?" Well, today is your lucky day! Now I don't want anyone to get too jealous because I have a pretty awesome group of friends! Where do I even begin??

Lets start with my roomies!

I couldn't ask for better roommates, there are 6 of us in our 3 bed, one and a half bath apartment. It sounds tight, but its not squishy unless we all decide to use the kitchen at the same time. Sarah Scott is my roomie, she is the best there is! She is always in a good mood except at 8 in the morning, but she always has a smile on her face and is so easy to talk to. She can lighten anyone's day and is really good at falling up the stairs! Next we can talk about Rachel and Charity, the terrible twosome. When we first moved in and I didn't know anyone I was pretty sure they hated me or at least thought I was a freak. As time has gone on and we have all gotten to know each other better I have realized that they really do think I'm a freak! I love these two, Charity is very witty and can always find a way to make me laugh. She is super friggin' pretty and is so kind to everyone around her. Rachel is just so great! Her laugh is contagious, it doesn't matter why she is laughing, she can always make me laugh. She is such a great example to all of us. Sarah Isaac and Jessica have a very close relationship, its so fun to just sit back and watch them! Jessica keeps us all on her toes and keeps the apartment in order, and is so much fun to be around! She has a very dry humor, she tells things how they are, its hilarious! Sarah Isaac is the cutest girl you'll ever meet! I predict that she will be the first one in our apartment to get married. She is so sweet to everyone and always has a smile on her face. She is always fun to be around and can make anyone crack a smile.

And now everyone else!

 The boys next door are the best friends that we have at Old Farm. We met them a week or two into the school year and ever since that night we haven't gone a day without hanging out. There is Keagan, Kelton, Mitchell, Tyler, Bryce, Jory, and there was Nate. They are known as "the boys" and we basically do everything together! Keagan drives a Jeep (Yes, I have asked him to marry me) so we are always going up the canyon to find mud! That is probably, no definitely my favorite thing to do. Other than that we are always watching movies, eating sweets, or playing games. They are all a blast to be around and such great guys. They are all freshman and most are planning to serve missions. They are such great examples to all of us and are always keeping me out of trouble! I couldn't have asked for better friends!

The Lord has blessed me so much and I am so grateful for all the people that have entered my life. I learn so much everyday about myself and I am growing into the person I want to become. I am influenced to much be these amazing people and I would never give that up! I love all of these guys (and gals) and I hope that our friendships can last for a long time!

Much love :)

Wait, it gets better.

The Lord definitely works in mysterious ways! My first month of college has been lots of different things, exciting, spontaneous, scary, thrilling, stressful, exhausting, hectic, and lots of other things but I can't think of anymore words.  There are many things that have strengthened my testimony and also many things that have tested my faith.

A new friend we met while here has been to the hospital twice this month due to some illnesses and psychological issues he has. We have been trying to help him and support him as he goes through his trials but it has been very hard. I'm not going to go on a rant about all the things that are on my mind but a lot of the things he says and does really irks me and many other people. He is a great kid, don't get me wrong, but at times he is very contradicting and well, annoying. It makes it hard to be around him sometimes. Recently I have been getting very fed up with his lies and his attitude and I was feeling very conflicted at what to do I had been praying for help and asking for this boy to be comforted through his trials. One night while reading my scriptures I read 2 Nephi 2:1-8, In the first verse it says "...In thy childhood thou hast suffered afflictions and much sorrow, because of the rudeness of thy brethren." Then it goes on to talk about how much Jacob will be blessed for having to go through that but dealing with it with faith in the Lord. That was the first thing I read after praying for help, prayers answered? Wait, it gets better. Then the next day in institute we talked about the good Samaritan and being a good neighbor. That was when I realized that this guy just needs to be cared about and loved and we are the ones who can do that. And I don't mean just being tolerant of him, I mean actually loving him. Serving him and praying for him, truly caring. I realized today that that isn't as hard as it sounds. I look at him as a child of God and I remind myself that he is just as loved by our Father in heaven as I am.

Things are going better now and life is moving forward. Last weekend My roommate, Sarah, and my neighbor, Keagan, and I went to Keagan's grandparents house for General Conference weekend and, of course, for the USU vs. BYU football game. The weekend started out great with us totally defeating BYU 35 to 21. Then, as always, General Conference was AMAZING. I love listening to all the messages that come from our church leaders. They are all amazing people and truly are the words of our Father in Heaven. The rest of the weekend was spend jamming out to Guitar Hero, obviously I kicked everyone's trash! We had a lot of fun but it felt really good to finally be home. That was until I discovered that I had gotten food poisoning by puking up all the apples and granola bars I had eaten for dinner. It was SO MUCH FUN! My ideal vacation is laying on the couch either hungry or puking for 24 hours straight! My roommates thought it was the flu so they stocked up on disinfectant wipes (that kill the flu virus) and sanitized everything I touched. I felt better after I slept for about 18 hours straight but I still didn't go to class, just in case.

The rest of the week has gone a lot smoother and I haven't had much to worry about. Hockey starts tomorrow, against BYU! I'm so ready to watch them get slaughtered! It probably drives my roommates insane how much I talk about hockey but its too great of a sport to not talk about it. Anyway, the moral of the story is to always do what the Lord would have you do, always make sure your chicken is cooked, and always watch hockey!

Much love :)

That College Lyfe Tho

I thought that maybe I should start writing posts about my week, along with the cool experiences I have. Its always fun to hear about the life as a college student as it really is, not how everyone thinks it is.

Its crazy how time flies! It feels like just yesterday I was still living at home and letting my mommy do my laundry. I have been living on my own and providing for myself for a little over a month now! I LOVE it! I'm not even sure where to begin.....

Living without parents:
It is exactly what you think it would be like, no curfew, no food, and lots of friends and activities! The first 2 weeks were the best! We stayed up all night hanging out with friends and doing crazy things like rolling down giant hills in the middle of the night,  and running around in the pouring rain, trying not to be struck by lightning! My roommates and I were always having movie nights with lots of treats and playing pranks on the neighbors! Then we realized that sleep it good for you and helps you do better on tests, so thins week I have definitely gotten a lot more sleep!

Living with roommates:
It is definitely different for everyone and I have heard lots of crazy stories about roommates, mine are super awesome! Once we all got to know each other and warmed up a little bit we started having so much fun! All 5 of my roommates are from Utah and are LDS, which is so great. We all have the same standards and are very active in the church so we all look out for each other and help each other make the best choices and become better people. They are all clean people so our apartment is never messy, its fabulous! I love them all and I am so excited to have so many more fun adventures with them!

AND LAST......
Dating:
Whats that?

Haha, but seriously... I have only been on ONE date. WHAT IS THIS?!?! Yeah, I know.

Anyway, pretty much things are going so great and I am having an amazing time in college! I am sooooooo excited have more awesome experiences and get more out of my college experience! Wish me luck!

Much Love :)

Mistakes Become Knowledge

Time flies! Its September! I have been living on my own for 4 weeks and have been at school for 3 weeks, and so much has already happened! Where do I begin?

BOYS, of course!
I made a goal to push my personal boundaries and step out of my comfort zone as much as possible. As a result I have met TONS of new people, its incredible! I am learning so many new things about myself and others and I am becoming more comfortable talking to strangers, is that a good thing? I have decided that boys aren't everything they seem, and there are always going to be guys that you don't get along with or don't like but sometime you just have to deal with it for the sake of your friends. Sometimes you will be rejected and sometimes you will have to do the rejecting. Is it possible to reject a guy in a nice way? I haven't met anyone significant (not that I'm looking), but I have been interested in talking to some very cute guys. I have been told that I have a flirty personality and that is not always a good thing, people get the wrong idea about you and make bad assumptions, when really I am just trying to be nice and get to know people. Gossip isn't something that we should ever have to deal with but we are only human. I think it is good to remember forgiveness and that nobody is perfect, put yourself in others' shoes and look at things from a different perspective. I'm glad that I have friends that will stand up for me and that care about me enough to watch out for me. Bringing me to my next topic, friends.

We all love friends, right?
Just as I mentioned before, I have been meeting so many new people and I am so excited for this year to continue to progress so I can continue to meet new people and get my name out there. One thing that I learned is that it never hurts to say hi to someone or to strike up some small talk. What do you have to lose?
My roommates are all fantastic, we are all different but we all get along so well! There is always at least one of them that want to go do something with me and I loving having them around to talk with. We are all growing up and learning all sorts of new things and it is so fun!

School, School, School.
All I ever hear about college is that it is so hard, scary, overwhelming, and exhausting! I have experienced the exact opposite! School is school, yes, but I love being on campus and meeting new people in my classes. The discussions we have in class are so much more mature and intriguing. Nobody cares if you were the cheer captain or if you were the most popular kid in school, instead their impressions of you begin the first time you meet. So far, homework hasn't been completely drowning me! I have been able to stay on task and keep up with everything. I have been busy, that's for sure!

College is treating me well and I am so excited to continue to grow and improve in all aspects of my life! Hopefully I can continue to meet new people each day and build relationships. Wish me luck!

Much love :)

Moving out and Moving on!

When I think of moving out I think of staying up late, walking around in my underwear, and going to the bathroom with the door open. The independence and being able to do whatever I want sounds like a luxury!

LETS GET REAL.

I have to share a 3 bedroom apartment with 6 girls. I get to go from having my own room with a queen bed to a shared room with a twin bed and half a closet. At home I take up 2 drawers with all my beauty products and now get to downsize to one drawer half sized! The struggle is real. 

But wait, there's more! I get to buy my own food, makeup and hair products, cleaning supplies, and school supplies. How does independence sound now? Scary, hard, expensive, awkward, sad, and maybe even a little lonely?

However, I don't think I have ever been more excited to pack up my bedroom! Remember, optimism is key! Think of all the new people I will meet and all the amazing experiences I will have! Sometimes I over think things and this is definitely one of those things, but I know this will be amazing!

My roommates seem really nice, but there is always an awkward tension ever time I walk into a room. Will that ever go away? They are all LDS and I feel so blessed! What a better way to start freshman year than with a bunch of girls that have my same values?

This year is going to be amazing and I can't wait to see what Utah State has in store for me!

Much love :)

Life Goes On

Many things this past week have really got me thinking! I have had some issues that I have been dealing with for a really long time and some trials that I've had to overcome. Along the way I have learned new things about my self and life, I would love to share them with you!

First, people will come and people will go.
 I have met some really cool people throughout my lifetime, some I would have liked to keep a friendship with, and others who I forgot we even had a friendship. However, one thing I know is that everything happens for a reason. When someone comes into your life they are there to help out, teach you, strengthen you, guide you, or hopefully improve your life in one way or another. Sometimes it is to teach you a lesson and sometimes that lesson comes after you have gone through a trial or a hardship with that person. No matter the reason, I know that I want to gain something from each person I interact with, and make the most out of the time I have with that person.

Second, prioritize your friends.
 Figure out who is important to you and who is the best fit to be around you. There will be people out there that you just feel attracted to and you just want to be around all the time! Sadly, that doesn't mean that you should be. If they are a bad influence on you or don't have the same standards all they are going to do is bring you down! My mom always told me, "You become who you hang out with." I never believed her until I got a whole new group of friends one year and really noticed how much my attitude and actions had changed. Surround yourself with uplifting people that will only make you feel better about yourself, people who will support your standards and respect them. If someone doesn't like you for who you are or what you do they don't deserve your time and attention.

Third, always remember who you are.
 High school is the hardest time in life, yet it can also be the most fun! They are going to be people who judge you, bully you, and try to bring you down. My advice is to be yourself and pay no attention to those who don't like that! Try to remember how certain people make you feel, how you act when your with them, and how they affect your attitude and actions. High school is the time to figure all that out about yourself. If you know what you like, what you believe in, and where you are going there isn't a single person that can stop you, except yourself.

Last, life goes on.
You are going to meet people you wish you were friends with, get really really really really really embarrassed, fall in love and get your heart broken, have arguments with people you care about, and do things you shouldn't do. We are all human, and this is life. Remember that each day is a new start and you write your own story, you get to decide who you are and what you become. Make the most out of life and don't worry about the little mistakes we all make. Don't worry about that one time you took a joke too far and everyone just looked at you awkwardly because you were the only one still laughing. Don't worry about the first time you had a friend over and your mom just dumped all your clean underwear onto your bed. Don't worry about your first kiss or your first date. Don't worry about the little things, but instead make memories that make you laugh and always remember that life goes on.

Much love :)

Friends Forever

Today we lost a classmate, brother, son, but most importantly a friend. Ryker Dattage was killed in a car accident. He will be greatly missed and prayers and thoughts going out to his family and those others involved in the accident.

After I heard what happened it really made me think, things like this can really happen to anyone! We always think it just happens to other people and we would never have to deal with it but today I was very humbled. I realized that I take a lot of my friendships for granted! I have so many amazing people in my life that support me in everything that I do, they laugh with me (and at me), but best of all they love me. I am so blessed!

This post is dedicated to all the people out there who have stood by my side in times of need or hardship! To those who have supported my decisions, good and bad, and those who have influenced me to do good and helped me become the person I am today.

There have been a lot of times in my life that I needed a friend, and no matter what there was always someone there I could trust! (you know who you are) She has always been there to laugh and cry with me, to support me, comfort me, love me, stand up and protect me, humble me, guide me, and give me the sister I never had. We have our differences, no doubt! But no matter what she has always been there for me and has always had my back, she has shown me what a real friend is and is such a good example of how we should treat our friends. She definitely has her fair share of trials, but it is so amazing to see the amount of strength, courage, and faith she has. She could endure anything. Her family has taken me in and treated me with so much love and kindness that, in all honesty, its almost overwhelming!! Haha, in a good way, of course! I love them just as much as my own family and I am so thankful for them and the things they have done for me! Boo Boo (no names for security reasons) is the best little sister I could ever ask for!!


She isn't the only one! My brothers (although related so really we don't have a choice but to be friends) are my best friends! The have been there since the beginning, literally! I know I can always count on them to put my in my place when I need it, but also to lighted my mood when I'm down.


I learned a lot about friendship today and I hope I never lose sight of who is important to me! I'm so thankful for the relationships I have and have had. There are so many people in my life that I just can't thank enough, I am so grateful. My heart is full and I hope that everyone can think about their friends and remember to tell them how much you love and care!

Much love :)

Meet The Family!

I know you think it's a little bit early for you to be meeting the family, but I think you're ready! I have the coolest family you will ever meet!

There are four munchkins, Craig is 20, ME, Tyler is 14 (15 in a month), and last but definitely not least, Matt just turned 14! My brothers are all so awesome! They keep me on my toes and always give me someone to pick on, so kind of them! As you can see, we all have a really good relationship with each other and my younger brothers and I are always going out and finding random fun things to occupy our time.

My mom and dad are equally as fantastic! My dad knows everything about everything, I swear. I ask him all my questions and he always has the best answers. He is the best cook ever and is continually teaching me all his tips and tricks, I am hoping one day I can just whip something together like he can! My mom is the one that keeps the family grounded, she is our rock. She keeps us thinking logically and reasonably! On top of that she is always optimistic and keeps everyone happy and lifts our moods when we are down, she always has time to listen and never lets us go anywhere without a hug. I love my parents!

My family continually teaches me new things and is helping me grow and become the person I want to be. My parents are amazing examples to all of us and my brothers help me learn how to treat people with kindness and selflessness. Leaving them will be hard because their lives will continue while I'm gone but I won't be there to see it. Luckily, I will be close enough to visit all the time! Haha, they thought they were getting rid of my for good!

Much love :)

Optimism Is key!

If anyone had a bad day today, it was me! Would you like a play-by-play? Good because I'm going to give you one!

It all started 7 months ago when I decided to get a job at all call center, it wasn't bad at first but the longer I have been here the worse it gets. So here is the low down: you make money for the company, get there on time, and meet all the hour requirements and you can bonus all the way! However they make that very hard, I call republicans asking for donations! Anyway, long story short I won't be bonusing very much this paycheck!

Next, I woke up early so I could get a lot of errands done before work. So at 9 am I was out weeding raspberry bushes for a few hours. That doesn't sound too bad until I remind you that raspberry bushes have thorns.... we have at least 8 feet of bushes. I finally finish and go inside to boil some eggs from my mom when I decided to check to notifications on my phone. This was when I was reminded that I had an orthodontist appointment in 15 minutes!

So I get to the appointment, right on time! And sit and wait for THIRTY MINUTES. What even is this?! So that was awesome. I get my wires changed and realize I haven't eaten yet and my mouth is going to be sore for the next week.

I get to work, do horrible, and go home. My house is empty and I remember that I was supposed to go to my grandma's house for fireworks! I hop in the car and drive the 20 minutes there and realize my parents van isn't there. I call my mom and she so kindly reminded me that we scheduled that for tomorrow.

What did I learn from all of this? Optimism is key! I know you are probably thinking, "How on earth did you learn that?!" Let me explain myself!

I believe that everything happens for a reason! Along with that I believe in Karma. In the past I would blame other people for my bad mood and try find reasons why I was having so much bad luck. Tonight I realized that it doesn't help anything or anyone if I try to put the blame on someone else and being in a bad mood also won't help you or anyone else! People are drawn to positive uplifting people, someone that is happy! If you are showing everyone that you are having a bad day who does that help?

I want people to remember me as the girl that was always smiling! The girl that was constantly uplifting others, not the pessimist. Which one are you?


Much love :)

New Beginnings

We all get so excited and look forward to the most awkward years of our lives, for what? We turn 18 and become adults! We get to move out, go to college, and become independent! I know you are thinking, how is that awkward? Here are 5 reasons why:

1. Shopping
Do I start buying my own socks and underwear? What about deodorant and chapstick? Toothbrushes? Can we still go school clothes shopping?

2. Responsibilities

Now I have to pay for my own phone, car, AND insurance? Not only that but I have to make my own dentist and doctor appointments?! 

3. Child at heart, adult by age

So now that I'm 18 that means I have to let all the little kids get food first? I want to jump in the bouncy house, too!

4. Moving out

What am I supposed to take with me? Can I just take some of Mom's towels? Where do I buy a can opener?

5. Roommates

So you are telling me I have to share two bathrooms with six other girls? Enough said.

You get the point, there is a lot to adjust to! So moving on to the point of this post...

WELCOME TO MY BLOG! I am here to take you with me through the journey of all this awkwardness, and let me tell you... I am pro at being awkward! I am just a normal (adult but technically still a teenage) girl, living my live to the fullest. I will be moving out and going to college in just a few weeks, I have some big changes coming up and what better way to document it than share it with the world?! Anyway, more coming soon! Stick around!

Enjoy! Much Love :)