Lessons Learned From a Broken Laptop

I think I've mentioned in previous posts about some of the computer issues I've had in the past few months. There have been many. My sister has the same computer and has had very few problems. Guess I just have bad luck.

Well, I sent the laptop in for repair well over two weeks ago. If you remember, I was a bit frustrated, as I was talking to customer support located in some foreign country- and their accents are hard to understand.

Not only that, it was going to cost me a pretty penny to get it fixed.

Well, I sent it in.

Days and weeks go by. Because I am a worry wart, I start to worry about it. "What if the support lady didn't hear me right? (What if she got my address wrong) "What if... what if...."

Seriously, this start to become a huge thing for me. I was very worried. Part of my worry comes from lesson #1 I learned:

*Always, ALWAYS, copy down the Serial number and keep it in a safe place!!!

Did I do that? NO! I was in such a hurry to get the thing sent in, that I didn't! So, when I tried to check the status of the repair online, I couldn't because it required me entering in the serial number! (I really don't like gateway's customer support, by the way...)

Because this was something weighing heavily on my mind, I started seriously praying that I'd get my laptop back. I really thought I may never see it again. My roommate and I even included it in our prayers at the temple on Saturday. Even if something doesn't seem like a significant matter to someone else, it matters to the Lord. Our problems are His problems. I know the Lord loves me and everything would work out- whether or not I got my laptop back.

Well, the good news is- my laptop arrived at my apartment this morning. It is fixed. Also, I was not charged for it. I guess the warranty covered it. (Funny though- the customer support lady told me it would still be $200. to fix- even though it was still under warranty.)

In the midst of all of this, some other things I learned include:

*Humility- For one of my classes we are required to have a laptop in class. Not having one required me to be humble enough to ask my roommate and my sister to use theirs (which required me walking up hill back and forth several times to get the laptop from my sister). (I really like doing things on my own- I have a really hard time asking for favors!)

*Something I had always know, but became even more apparent to me is that there are effective ways to use your time other than on the computer. Not having computer acccess 24/7 forced me to be creative. There were times when I sat in my room wondering what to do (besides homework). I usually decided to clean my room and I even read a book as well.

*It is possible to get the songs on your iPod back onto your new iTunes! I was worried about this as well. In fixing my computer, they took everything off the hard drive (I had no way of backing things up before- it was shot). :( But, this was a small price to pay in order to get my computer back. I learned how to get my songs back by visiting: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtRFsX6FBVo.

I am very, very grateful that I am even fortunate to have a laptop... and an iPod! Seriously, we live in a society where these things are tending to become necessities. But, in all honestly, it is possible to live without them. I think we really need to be grateful we live in a day and age where we have access to such wonderful things. There are so many people in the world who will never in their lifetimes be able to have and experience the things we have.

I am reminded of something I heard a while back: "The best things in life aren't things."

Potato Harvest

As you may know, a few weeks ago I was given the assignment to take pictures of the potato harvest (for BYU-I's newspaper). It was very interesting. I was out in the middle of it all- in the fields, etc. I even got to take some potatoes home with me- fresh from the ground!

I can't post pictures on here because the files are too big. But, if you'd like to see some of the pictures, you can visit http://kickapps.byuicomm.com/_A-Season-of-Harvest/video/815238/96698.html?b=. It is posted as a video entitled, "A Season of Harvest."

Rachel and Bradley's Engagements

This weekend I took my friend Rachel and her fiancee, Bradley's engagement pictures. Now, who wants to help me buy a D.S.L.R. so I can go full-swing in this and start my own business??? :)

God Must Love Me

I've had an eventful past couple of weeks!

The other night while cooking dinner the following occurred- I put a cookie in the microwave to defrost, but unfortunately kept it in too long. It burned and sent smoke into the air. Meanwhile, I had some rice cooking on the stove. I failed to put enough water in the rice, so that was interesting. Also, I forgot that I had left another burner on. Too bad I leaned over and burnt a hole in my shirt! Thankfully it was just a T-shirt that I've had for a couple of years.

Ok, then there's my laptop. It's had issues. About a month and a half ago the power cord went out. So, I got a new one. Then I discovered my computer had a virus. I was able to get that fixed. Also, for a while one of the mouse buttons has been broken. Well, last night it gave out completely. It's wedged into the computer now. While I was looking at that problem, my computer completely turned off. It won't come back on. The power cord isn't the issue, either. This thing is only a year old! C'mon!

So, today I looked up Gateway support. Well, they only had two options listed: chat with a representative or e-mail them. So, I chatted online with one. He basically left me high and dry and said, "If the problem persists, call us back." Well, I was thinking, "We didn't fix the problem! Gee!" I was able to get the actual phone number for them and call them back. It was, of course, a lady from the Phillipines. No offense to them, but it was just very difficult to understand her. I guess they have customer support based from there, as it is cheaper labor. Well, it turns out that I paid a pretty penny to ship it and have it fixed. Sad, sad day. Hopefully it gets back to me fixed and like new.

Oh, boy. oh boy! Just a little venting there. I say God must love me, because he sure keeps sending hardships my way. But, I realize there are so many out there who have it worse than I do. For instance, my roommate had a bunch of items stolen while she was down in Utah this past weekend. Her laptop, wallet, textbooks, etc. Her father just passed away a couple of months ago too. It must have been a high crime weekend, because the photo editor of the school paper also had his laptop and camera equipment stolen while he was in Utah for the weekend.

So, I am very lucky to have the trials that I do have. These "learning and growing" experiences are for our good. Deep down inside I know that- even though they are hard at the time. I am learning more and more that life isn't just going to get easier. In fact, it gets harder and harder! I, like many others, have lots of questions for God when I see him. We, in our finite, mortal states don't understand so much. And we try so hard and wish we understood everything- why things happen to us. But, we must follow what D&C 90:24 states: "Search diligently, pray always, and be believing, and all things shall work together for your good, if ye walk uprightly and remember the covenant wherewith ye have covenanted one with another."

God truly does love us- that is why He gives us these experiences that will shape us into who He wants us to be.

Fall Photoshoot

In between conference sessions today Chad, Buffy, Christi and I went up the canyon for a fall photoshoot. Here's a sampling: