Brothers are the best!

I have been SO busy! I haven't done anything with my blog for a really long time and I figured that if I worked on homework rather than on my blog Heavenly Father would help me more. I have some time today so I thought I would do as much blogging as possible.
A few weeks ago my brother Tim was sent by his work to visit BYU. I haven't had the opportunity to write about it yet. Tim is number 8 of the family and is 6 years older than me. He is living in Michigan with his wife, Rachel, and his new baby girl Kennedy. His work sent him here to BYU to recruit people.

Kevin is number 9 and his 4 years older than me. He is also attending BYU. While Timmy was here visiting we had the opportunity to spend some time together. It was just like the old times when we were home together! I absolutely loved talking and laughing with them!

I can't believe how different these two are! I love them both, but wow they have differnet personalities! (Not to mention they look nothing alike) I'm blessed to have them as my brothers.
I wanted to write about one experience that I will probably remember for the rest of my life. One morning I went to campus to take a Biology test in the testing center. I felt really good about the test, but when I saw my score... that was ALL gone! I don't even want to tell you my score, so I won't. Well anyway I was feeling really down after this dumb test! I had no desire to tell myself it was ok or that I would do better next time. With my discouraged spirit I walked to my next class on the verge of tears. I didn't want to look at anyone. I didn't want to go to my next class or do anything for that matter. I think this was one of the first times I really felt down.

Well my brother, Tim was on campus that day and on the way to my next class I stopped to say hello (It was very fun to see him on campus by-the-way). I told Tim about my test and how it didn't go very well. He immediately started to tell me that first tests were hard and that really it's ok. He told me about an experience that he had here at BYU. He said, "Dave(the brother just older than Tim) and I were taking a class together my freshman year and I studied really hard for the test. Harder than Dave did and he still did better than I did. It wasn't fair that he was better at school than I was". I thought about those words for the rest of the day. It was very comforting to hear that other people felt the same way I did. Not only did other people feel this way but my own brother did! I love and have always loved how Tim has the ability to notice when I was down. I won't forget that day because I felt very alone, but after I talked to my older brother I suddenly felt happy. I'm pretty sure he doesn't know how much he helped me that day. BYU is full of smart people and sometimes it's hard to feel smart, but that's ok. I still work hard:)
We also had the opportunity to throw the frisbee around, just like the good ol' times. Even though college life is fun sometimes I miss being at home with my siblings. I'm grateful for my siblings and I know my life would be very different without the strength I get from them.

Proposition 8

Last week my sister Janet wrote a post on her blog about Proposition 8. I really enjoyed what she wrote, because my knowledge about this was expanded. On my sister Janet's blog many people commented on it and there are many different opinions. I want to thank my sister for writing about this because it gave me this desire to research it out for myself. Even though I'm not from California and I won't be voting on it I still think it is important that I know what is going on. If you don't know much about Proposition 8 then I highly suggest that you look it up for your selves. You could look at my sister's blog. Also here are some websites you could look at:

www.ifprop8fails.org
www.iprotectmarriage.com
www.preservingmarriage.org
www.whatisprop8.com

I have Elder Holland's son as a teacher here at BYU and he said a few things that I really loved about this topic. He teaches American Heritage, so he mentioned how this would affect our society and our country. He said that the founders of this country did not include anything in the Constitution about whether marriage is of a man and a women because it was simple assumed. They didn't think that we would need clarification. He also taught that a heterosexual marriage and family is essential to sustaining free societies. Generating and rearing children would not be possible without a mom and a dad. That is just how it works and how it is designed to work.
I don't know if you know much about how involved the church has been in Proposition 8, but they are very clear that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints votes yes!
The church came out with an article called "Divine Institution of Marriage", which talks about the roles of a father and a mother.

The church has been discriminated for taking this stand and being involved. The argument has up come that it is "unconstitutional" to be this involved. But in fact we are protecting our beliefs.

In this months visiting teaching message there's a quote by Elder David A Bednar that says:

"Gender in large measure defines who we are, why we are here upon the earth, and what we are to do and become. For divine purposes, male and female spirits are different, distinctive, and complementary. . . . The unique combination of spiritual, physical, mental, and emotional capacities of both males and females were needed to implement the plan of happiness"

We were female or male before we came to this earth and we were created differently. Each gender has different qualities and different roles to fulfill, and substituting these roles is difficult, if not impossible. To gain to fullness of joy we need each other.

The last thing I want to say about this topic is very important to me. Not only have I been taught that same sex relations are wrong my whole life, but I personally believe that marriage is only between a man and a woman. I know that for myself. However, it just makes me sick to hear about members of our church thinking we are more superior. We aren't, actually we are commanded to love them. I can't imagine how hard it would be to have those tendencies. As members of the church we are taught what is right and what is wrong and sometimes that keeps us from being Christ-like. As we are standing up for what we think is right, we also need to be understanding.

Happy Birthday Julie!!!

Today is my dear friend's birthday! I can't believe she's 19 years old! Only one more year being a teenager. It seems like yesterday we were 6 running around bare feet, climbing trees, and playing with Barbies.
Those who know her, know that she truly and sincerely cares about the people around her. When I think of Julie and the friendship we have had, I think of the song "For Good" in the musical Wicked. Here are the lyrics:

I've heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
Well, I don't know if I believe that's true
But I know I'm who I am today
Because I knew you:

Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
I have been changed for good

It well may be
That we will never meet again
In this lifetime
So let me say before we part
So much of me
Is made of what I learned from you
You'll be with me
Like a handprint on my heart
And now whatever way our stories end
I know you have re-written mine
By being my friend:
Like a ship blown from its mooring
By a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a skybird
In a distant wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you:

Because I knew you:

I have been changed for good

And just to clear the air
I ask forgiveness
For the things I've done you blame me for

But then, I guess we know
There's blame to share

And none of it seems to matter anymore

Like a comet pulled Like a ship blown
From orbit as it Off it's mooring
Passes a sun, like By a wind off the
A stream that meets Sea, like a seed
A boulder, half-way Dropped by a
Through the wood Bird in the wood

Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
I do believe I have been changed for the better

Because I knew you:
I have been changed for good.

We have had our ups and downs in our friendship, but everybody does, right? I'm sorry for all the times I caused trouble. I'm grateful for the things that she has taught me and I have learned many things about life and about myself. I hope we continue to be friends, especially now because our lives are changing so much. She has changed my life for the better.

I'm grateful for her friendship and her example to me. She is so strong-willed and ready to change the world!

I love you Julie!!
Happy Birthday!!! You're 19!!! Woohoo!!! Have a great day!!!

College Life!!!

I haven't posted any pictures of my college life, so here it is.

Well I'm loving college. I'm attending BYU and I love it!
In the last month my life has changed a lot and it continues to change all the time. I think, for the most part, I'm getting this college routine down.
Here are few things that I have learned so far...

• You have to be bold sometimes even if you're scared
• If you sleep on the top bunk, don't sit up! Especially not fast because the ceiling is closer than you think.
• The bus comes on time almost everyday.
• There are a lot of students at BYU!!! About 30,000!
• Homework is not that fun because everyone else is playing and having fun.
• It's not very fun when your money starts disappearing... college is expensive.
• Callings are scary
• If you plan on walking to campus from Wyview, give yourself about a half hour.
• Getting letters in the mail is very fun.
• The gospel of Jesus Christ is in every aspect of life and I'm grateful my professors can teach me that.
• Learning new things can be fun.
• A singles ward sacrament meeting is SUPER quiet.
• There are a lot of buildings on campus.
• The BYU library is big! Getting lost is not that hard.
• Make sure you look at what room number your class is in before you actually walk in. ( I thought I was going to American Heritage but the class a walked into was Sign Language. The teacher was talking to me using sign language! It was silent and EVERYONE was looking at me! I just told them I was in the wrong class. It wasn't that embarrassing, I just laughed)
• BYU boys are really nice, but there are some that are a little weird :)
• Going to bed early is harder than it should be.
• It's really exciting to see a face you know on campus even if you've only met them once.
• Sometimes it's easy to miss your mom.
• Having roommates is fun!
  

Here are some pictures

I love my roommates so much! They are only three of us in our little apartment. I'm very blessed to be living with girls that I love and I get along with. They are both really easy going and I love them.




This is our chastity line that boys are not allowed to cross. Camille and I were having some fun with the camera!




Homework should be a bigger part my my life than it is... I'm a little behind, but I'll be ok. A lot of the time I plan on doing homework all day, but somehow that never works out... I wonder why!




I love football games! This is the game against UCLA. It was an amazing game!




I work at the David O. McKay at the front desk of the Tec Lab. Everyday I learn more and more about computers. It's much different then my last job at West Jordan Care Center, but I still like it and I get to work with my brother, Kevin.


I've learned that there is a whole new world out there! My knowledge about life is expanding in so many ways. We are here on this earth to learn and I'm grateful for this opportunity to experience news things and to meet new people.

I've been Tagged

I've been tagged... which means I have to post this on my blog

8 TV shows I love to watch
(I don't watch that much TV, especially now)

1. American Idol
2. Most Extreme on Animal Planet
3. Sponge-Bob Square Pants
4. America's Funniest Home Videos (I love it!)
5. What Not To Wear (I watch it on occasion)
6. The Office (I don't watch it that often but I still like it)
7. Full House
8. Family Feud

8 Favorite restaurants

1. Cafe Rio
2. La Luna
3. Olive Garden
4. Gandolfo's
5. Wendy's
6. Panda Express
7. Macaroni Grill
8. El Chihuahua

8 Things that happened yesterday

1. I slept in and almost missed the bus
2. I talked to my mom, who's in Michigan
3. Homework, of course
4. I worked for 5 hours
5. Ate a delicious dinner made by my roommate, Melanie
6. The chips I bought in the vending machine got stuck... Don't worry a strong boy helped me.
7. I went to Walmart with my roommates
8. I mixed up north and east while trying to find my brother's apartment

8 things I am looking forward to

1. The weekend!
2. The family reunion next weekend (I'm starting to forget about my family... )
3. Seeing my dog Tootsie
4. When I don't feel so clueless at work (I'm doing ok though)
5. The Millennium
6. Christmas time at college!
7. Getting married and having my own family
8. Visiting my friends at West Jordan Care Center! Oh how I miss them...

8 things on my wish list

1. To travel the world
2. No contention... ever
3. Time went by slower (sometimes I wish it went by faster)
4. Homework was more fun
5. I lived by the beach
6. Sometimes I wish I was shorter, just sometimes
7. I was more strong-willed
8. I wish I could be at two places at once (how cool would that be!)

I'm not tagging anyone... sorry

Happy Birthday Kev!!!

Today is, my brother, Kevin's birthday!!

I don't think Kevin realizes how much he helps me in my life, especially in the last week. I remember being very small and noticing Kevin and what he did. Ever since I was very young his opinion mattered very much. If Kevin thought it was funny, so did I. If he didn't like something that I did, suddenly I would question it. When I got older things changed a little bit, but I still look up to him a lot.
When I'm around I want to be a better person. Last month I saw the Dark Knight with my friends and I didn't like it at all. I almost felt dumb, because a lot of my friends liked it. If my friends talked about how cool the movie was, I sometimes left my opinion out. When I talked to Kevin about it he told me he hated that movie and that the spirit left him in the first scene. It was comforting to know that he shared my feelings. This is just a small example of how he helps me, but it happens more than even I realize. I am blessed to have him as my older brother. Someday I hope to marry a man that has that same strength.
As I moved away from home and started attending BYU, Kevin has been a great strength to me. It's been a little hard getting used to when life is so different. Without him here at BYU I would feel very lost and alone. The girl he marries will be a lucky girl, but I'm glad he's not married just yet:)
I love you Kevin!! I hope you have a wonderful day! I don't know what I would do without you!!

I love BYU!!!

So far, I love BYU! It's been very different to live here instead of with my parents. Now I have to do things on my own... I think I'm doing ok though. "Home" is now my little apartment down the street (it's very far from campus and sometimes, when I'm tired, I feel like I'll never make it home). I think if I was living alone I would go crazy! My roommates help me a lot and I'm grateful for them.
On Saturday I experienced my first football game as a Cougar! It was great, but I have yet to learn the fight song:) By next game I will know it!
When I first came to BYU I was very worried about how I will do with my classes. We had a lesson about how BYU is not only a place where we can learn and gain a career, but it is a place where we can learn how to be more Christ-like. I have felt the spirit so strong here and I do want to better myself everyday. I now realize that even if I don't do that great on my tests or on my papers, there are a lot of other things I am learning here.
Ra ra ra-ra-ra
Ra ra ra-ra-ra
Ra ra ra-ra-ra
Gooooooo Cougars!!!!