Continue in Patience

Funny how the Lord works. I came across this video today. Today was "one of those days"- I was reflecting on my life and wondering when the Lord was going to fill me in on what's happening. I've come to the conclusion that sometimes he doesn't fill us in. He trusts us enough to let us grow by walking in faith and waiting patiently for him to bless us. I guess that's the boat I'm in. But, like the movie, perhaps when I do get the blessings I so much desire I'll be blessed for waiting patiently (like the kids who waited and got two marshmallows).

Internship Possibilities?

Remember that "dream internship" I recently wrote about? Well, yeah... I didn't get it. :( SO... that means I am looking for an internship for winter semester (January-April). I need to complete one in order to graduate. If anyone has any information or leads to possible internship opportunities in the Public Relations/Communication field in Utah County (or Salt Lake), PLEASE let me know (paid or unpaid)! Thanks!

As a side note- I am working on my "Fast Grad" application. So, if I don't end up finding an internship for winter, I will hopefully go to school winter semester and do an internship summer semester.

Pizza and Poverty

My roommates and I decided to make pizza together tonight, as we knew that most of us would be doing homework this evening and it'd be a fun break. Well, it has been a really long week and I'm just not thinking straight. Unfortunately, I accidently doubled the amount of salt the pizza dough recipe called for. We tried to compensate by adding more flour, planning on just doubling the recipe. Too bad I lost count of how much flour I added. So, I decided I measure out the flour in the bowls to see how many cups we had. But, I forgot I put water in the measuring cup, so I accidently poured that into the flour bowl. We finally decided it'd be best to start over. Thankfully, the pizzas turned out really well and were delicious.

After dinner I started reading my homework for my developing world class. The readings have been about poverty throughout the world. Here are some statistics:
•More than one billion people in the world live on less than US$1 a day
•2.7 billion struggle to survive on less than US$2 per day
•More than 800 million people go to bed hungry every day, including 300 million children
•Every 3.6 seconds a person dies of starvation, and most of those who die are children under age of 5
•Every year 6 million children die from malnutrition before their fifth birthday
Source: IFAD
Aren't those numbers heartbreaking?

As I've been reading in greater detail about specific areas of the world that are dealing with the horrible epidemic of poverty, I've been filled with gratitude for what I have. Too often we take what we have for granted. We are blessed to have 3+ meals a day and water available to us whenever we need it. I sometimes feel like a "struggling student," but really, in comparision I have SO much. I think this fast Sunday I am going to be a little more grateful when I go without food and water for just a few hours.
(P.S. I was feeling guilty about all that flour gone to waste, but my roommates were able to use it to make tortillas!)

Busy, busy, BUSY!

Wow. This week has been BUSY! I guess that's just how the semester will go. I like being busy, but not to the extent that I lose sleep. I woke up Friday with my eyes bloodshot and burning. I don't know that I've ever been that exhausted in my life. Ok, maybe close to that on my mission, but at least on the mission I usually got 8 hours of sleep. This last week I've averaged 6 or so hours of sleep at night. If you know me, I love my sleep. I need my sleep. No bueno. I just don't know how I can get everything done and still have time to sleep and socialize. I'm taking 15 credits, but it's really like I'm taking 17 or 18. My 1 credit practicum is 3 hours in class every week and 3 hours of work outside of class. Ridiculous.

I'm also working on applying for an internship. This has been time consuming and a bit stressful. I want to make sure my resume and cover letter are perfect. (P.S. Yes, I did do a post about this a few days ago, but I decided to delete it in case I don't get the "dream internship.")

My life got a little bit busier this morning when I went in for an appointment with a member of the bishopric. I was called as the Relief Society Secretary. I'm excited for this new calling. I was told that this is the calling the Lord would have me have at this time.

We got out of church at 4:30 today. We had a stake fireside at 6:00. There were many things said which I really loved. The stake president said he felt prompted to say that "The Lord has prepared the way for you to be here (BYU-I) at this time, in this place and at this season." I know that's true, but sometimes I forget it. It was nice to be reminded of it. As we know, sometimes I wonder why I didn't graduate from college years ago. But, the Lord had a plan for me to go here at this time and he prepared me and my life for that to occur.

Another thing I really liked that the stake president said was something to the effect: "What matters most is what you desire. If you come to me (meaning Christ) and tell me what you really desire I will make-up what you lack." I love that.

Anyway, that's my life as of late. In the words of Dory, I "just keep swimming, just keep swimming." :)

Back to School

Me, my roommates, and two of one of my roommates' sisters (they came for a visit).

Classes started last week. Things are going well so far. In fact, things are going surprisingly well. Yes, I am already up to my eyeballs in homework. But, I feel so blessed. I've felt overwhelming peace. I've felt the Spirit whisper, "You can do this." School is just something I do. It's second nature to me. I eat, sleep, breathe school. (Of course, I do have some fun here and there.) School is hard for me, but I know I can do hard things.

Waking up at 6:30 again has been hard. When my alarm went off the first day I realize how very spoiled I've been the past few semesters. I haven't had an 8:00 class for a long time. Truth be told, I avoid 8 a.m. classes like the plague. The only reason I am taking this 8:00 class is because this was the only time it was offered and I have to take it this semester. I've been spoiled, spoiled, spoiled!

What I am taking: Doctrine and Covenants, Public Relation Fundamentals, Beginning Editing, Child Development, Practicum, Developing World and Communication Career Workshop.

I am taking D&C with my roommate, which is fun. It's nice to instantly know someone in the class. Our teacher is hilarious.

PR Fundamentals is going well. I've had the teacher before. I find the course material very interesting. I also already have a few friends in there whom I've been in classes with before.

Beginning Editing was and still is a bit intimidating to me. I am the only non-English major in that class. I know I am not perfect at grammar and sentence structure, but I really want to learn and improve. Hopefully I can get a good grade in there. Something that really scares about the class is that we have a 15-hour editing project we have to complete. Basically, we have to find someone who is writing a book or document-such as a life story- and edit it. When our teacher told us this I was scared out of my mind. I don't know anyone who has a large document I can edit. So, I went straight to work. I started praying that the Lord would place someone in my path who would help me with this project. Well, my roommate went to Blackfoot, Idaho yesterday (which is about an hour and a half away from here) to visit some family friends. She ended up coming back with a project for me. It's amazing how the Lord really does bless us.

I'm really excited about Child Development. The fact that I am even taking this class is an interesting story. I'll have to explain later. It does go towards graduation, though. Being around my nieces and nephews has really made me want to learn about child development, so I'm glad I get to.

I am going to be editing the student newspaper for my practicum. Believe me, it needs it (I mean that in the nicest possible way). This will look great on my resume.

I'm taking Developing World online. I love learning about other countries and cultures, so it should be good. Plus, I can use that extra hour I would have spent sitting in class to learn on my own. I generally really like online classes.

My Communication Career Workshop class seems like it will be very helpful. It's a class that is all about helping you prepare for internships and careers. It's stuff I'd be doing on my own anyway (such as refining my resume and cover letter), so it's nice that I get credit for it!

Anyway, that's what I'm up to these days. Sorry if that was a long, boring post. I probably talk about school way too much, but that really is a big part of my life right now.

Farewell, Summer...it's been grand!

I'm always sad to see the Summer go. I'd be perfectly happy if Summer lasted all year. But, we must have our seasons and enjoy each one for what it is. I can already feel Fall in the air. It's coming- whether I like it or not. Luckily, I really do like Fall. It's a gorgeous time of year.

Tomorrow I head back up to Idaho for school. That definitely snuck up on me. Seriously, how is it time to go back already? I didn't accomplish all that I wanted to during the break- scrapbooking, reading, and visiting people (I'm sorry if I missed you). Although, I did have a really fun break and got to spend lots of time with family. I definitely can't complain.

Time keeps on passing by. It's already September of 2010! That's amazing! I was thinking this morning and I realized that I am actually moving forward with my life. I've realized this before, of course, but it just kind of hit me. I'm really not too far away from graduation. Graduation has always seemed so distant- and it still does sometimes- but I am closer to it than I was a year ago. I only have three semesters (including this one) and an internship left. If everything works according to my plans (which, we all know that doesn’t always happen) I will be done in December 2011- around the time Christi gets off her mission. That’s only a little over a year away, my friends! I have a feeling when I get even closer to it I am going to be freaking out. Something I’ve wanted so much is going to scare me to death. It’ll then be time to find a job, etc.

But, I’m really working on this thing called FAITH. It is sometimes a very hard principle to live! Yet, it is the first principle of the gospel- so important, something so essential to our everyday lives. It's crucial to have faith in God. He knows what the future holds. We don't.

I'll definitely need faith this semester. I'll need all the help I can get from my Father in Heaven. I am taking 15 credits, which is pretty hefty for me. School stresses me out. But, I've got to do what I've got to do (part of it is my scholarship requirement). We've just got to do our best, and let God do the rest!

Someone in church today mentioned that the Plan of Salvation is the Plan of Happiness. God's plan for each of our lives is a plan of happiness. We're here to be happy. Sometimes its easy to forget that. I'm still working on it at times. I'm going to do my best to find happiness in every season of my life. I hope you will too.

A Visit to Philadelphia

We had a great view of the Ben Franklin bridge from our hotel room.


We got to go see where coins are made. We visited on a Saturday, so unfortunately they weren't in production that day. It was still neat to see where it happens. Oh, and just in case you were wondering, taking pictures is not allowed inside the building. I learned that the hard way. Thankfully, I still have my camera.:)

Mom and Dad walking the streets of Philly.



Outside view of Independence Hall.

Inside Independence Hall, where The Declaration of Independence was signed. The chair at the front is the original chair which George Washington used.

The door to Independence Hall. We arrived in Philly in the evening and we were able to go visit before they closed up for the night. We were the only ones there. We walked out and the security people locked up for the night. Interestingly, they use the original key. That thing was gigantic! It was pretty cool.
I especially enjoyed learning about and visiting the home of Betsy Ross. Maybe because she's a woman that was involved in it all. But, also, I was intrigued by the fact that she had never made a flag before making the U.S. flag.

At the Liberty Bell!

The original inkstand that was used to sign The Declaration of Independence!

The inkstand display.

As you can see, we visted Philadelphia, PA on our trip back East. I've discovered that history is so much more interesting when you can go see where it all happened. Philadelphia was really neat. We walked where our founding fathers walked over 200 years ago. That is crazy to think about.

Oh, P.S. It costs $2 to see Ben Franklin's grave. If he knew about it, I'm sure he would not be happy! Ridiculous!