Welcome to ISU :)

Monday was orientation here at ISU!

I should have listened to my parents and roommates and stayed home.

It was WAY boring.

I wish I had gotten a picture of a sign in the gym where they were feeding us

It said in BIG BOLD letters, "No food or drink in the gym."

Nice one, ISU.

Anyway, it's been a lot of fun, believe it or not.

Kristin brought one of her roommates along and we had a blast walking campus.

Oh yeah, Kristin got up and hugged Benny the Bengal in front of like 2000 students...no picture ;(

After we sat through like a billion speakers they had all of us walk down to campus for...

March through the Arch

It's a tradition here at ISU.

The arch is the doorway of a building that was torn down years and years ago.

It was the first building here on campus and every year since it's been knocked down

the incoming students march through it onto campus

When we graduate we'll march through it in the opposite direction.

I felt extremely dumb marching through it to be honest. 

Everyone was all, "Congratulations! You made it!"

and

"You're officially a student at ISU!"

The only things I could think were, "uhhhh, yeah..."

and 

"Actually, I think I was officially a student back in January when I got a letter than said, 'Congratulations, you're now a student at ISU.'"

Still, it was pretty cool.

This is the Arch that we all marched through. I don't remember the name of the original building though...

This is Kristin's roommate. Doesn't she look JUST like Brianne Kline? No joke, they're like identical!

This is Kristin and I walking down for March through the Arch. She would kill me if she knew I put this picture up

That was Monday, but today is Tuesday...which means that today was my first day of class. 

I can't tell you how scared I was to go to my first college class, 

but the truth is, it wasn't bad at all.

I had Biology 101 at 9:30 this morning

I got there 15 minutes early, which is good considering it's all the way

across campus from where I live and I was walking

I opened the door and the place was PACKED!

I found a chair at the front of the class (surprised?)

I remember most of the material from sophomore year, so I don't think it'll be much of a problem.

I got done there at 10:45 then headed straight to speech (BLECHHHH!)

I expected to get there right on time because it's in the middle of campus,

but I got there with like 10 minutes to spare...I guess I'm a speed walker or something

We were assigned to prepare a short biography to share with the class on Thursday

That shouldn't be so bad, right?

I had an hour break before Calculus, so I went home and made myself some sandwiches :)

mmmm, ham and turkey

Then I headed to Calc, which probably had me more worried than any class.

Turns out that it's basically the same as my high school class.

I even had to correct the teacher on a couple of things, which I thought was freakin' AWESOME!

Tomorrow...Chemistry and more Calculus. I think I'm going to like tomorrow :)

Anyway, I gotta go do some homework...it's due TOMORROW!!!

On my own...literally!

Okay, so I really am ON MY OWN. None of my roommates have shown up yet (the one who has is in Minnesota, so I haven't met her). The apartment managers weren't home all day yesterday when I actually came to move in, so the assistant manager let me in. I just crossed my fingers and prayed I was in the right apartment. The managers were back today, so I went down and got a key. Let me tell you, it's awfully nice having a key to where you live. I kinda feel welcome now :)

So far living on my own has consisted of:

• Unpacking my room (which took an hour tops).
• Reading The Merchant of Death by DJ MacHale for about 56 pages
• Falling asleep at 7:00 thinking I was just going to take a brief nap
• Waking up at 11:30 and convincing myself to read my scriptures, write in my journal, and say my prayers
• Falling asleep again
• Waking up at 8 and deciding to get my lazy butt out of bed (I was almost disgusted that I slept for 13 hours!
• Sitting around and playing my iPod, talking to Maci for 30 minutes, and Mom for 20
• Convincing Maci to bring my straightener with her to Pocatello because I left it (she was doing a driver's lab and the teacher wasn't that thrilled that they had to stop to give me my straightener)
• Getting myself presentable
• Going to the IT help desk to get my laptop configured to the school's wifi
• Trying not to die laughing when the guy said, "Maybe I have the wrong computer code. Not LIKELY, but I guess it's been known to happen...I have the wrong code." When he couldn't get it to connect.
• Messing around on facebook
• Blogging :)

Anyway, I posted some pictures of my apartment for your enjoyment. Maybe I should go think about getting myself some Spaghettios for lunch...but first I have to walk back to my apartment :P

This is your first view of the apartment. Definitely a college apartment,
but who could ask for better for 150 a month? Not me!
I'm not picky :)

Here's the kitchen. There's another fridge on the opposite wall and some
shelves just around that wall there on the left.

All those post it notes on the wall have quotes on them...from
the girls living in the apartment. I can't wait to add to it! And I also
can't wait until I actually get what half of them mean!

Here's my room!! Yes, those are ORANGE utility storage shelves :)

Is there any question whose bed this is? Orange and purple
all the way :)

TV cabinet with an ORANGE lamp and ORANGE flowers :)

Girls' Night!!

Okay, so before I post anything about moving to Pocatello, I have to post some pictures of my very last girl's night...before I moved to Pocatello. I'm sure there are many to come. These are such a blast! We all dressed up in prom dresses and watched a chick flick (She's the Man in this case). We had a fire and roasted marshmallows afterwards and had a blast and a half :)

We have come to call this one The Brendan Pose
because I think I have more pictures of Bren
doing this than anything else (especially smiling!)

haha, HARRY! You're hands are freezing!!

We're moosen! And dorky ones at that!
Me and Brandi

My gorgeous little sister and I

Sara dear :)

Brianne, my angel :)

We all dressed up in prom dresses :)
Who says you only use them once?

The Beginning of the End

Today was a very sad day at work. It wasn't a bad day or anything...it just marked the beginning of the end.

I work at Grace Educational Opportunities, which is a developmental therapy agency in Grace, a town about 15 minutes away (10 if you fudge the speed limit a little...not that I'd know). I would post some pictures...but I'm pretty sure that's against the law. I hope you enjoy the story anyway :) Here's my story:

 I started working there in March of 2009. 

I didn't even know it EXISTED until my dad took me along when he went to go give a lady a blessing.

 I saw a friend of mine working with a kid I didn't know, so I walked up to talk to her and that's where I found out exactly what they do. 

Bryan Jensen (the boss's husband) was the other priesthood holder who was giving the blessing and as we walked out he said to me, 

"You should consider working here when you turn 17 (the minimum age of any therapist). 

I told him I would think about it, but in my head I was thinking, 

"Heck to the no! Not a chance!"

 I would guess that was in January.

 In March I got a call from Lorrie'L Jensen asking if I was still looking for a job. 

Not knowing what to say, I told her that I was. I believe her exact words were, 

"Great! Would you like one?" 

Before I knew it, I was sitting across from her being offered a job. 

She kept telling me that she really needed someone like me. 

I didn't even know her...and she didn't know me, how could she possibly think that she needed me? 

I never told her that mentally handicapped kids scared me. 

I didn't tell her that I didn't think I could do this. 

I didn't tell her that I thought she had the wrong person. 

I just kept nodding.

The first few months went by and I couldn't decide whether I loved it or hated it.

Some days were great, but more days were awful.

I remember the day that everything turned around for me...

I was working with one particular kid (I can't say more than that due to HIPPA laws), and we were working on a program they particularly struggled with.

I asked a question that I asked every single day...

...and every single day they answered it incorrectly.

I was beginning to get frustrated, thinking I was DEFINITELY the wrong person for this job.

Then I heard the right answer come out of their mouth.

I can't tell you how excited I got!

We had our own little party right there in the kitchen. Jumping up and down and giving each other high fives and knuckles. I think we even did the Butt Dance (long story).

They looked up at me and they were just so happy.

It was then that I realized that I was making a difference in this kid's life.

I was making a difference in this family's life.

But most importantly, they were making a difference in MY life.

Now I can't believe that I ever looked at these kids and had shivers run down my spine.

I had so much fun! 

Center days were the best!

We would go on long walks to the park or the library.

Some days we would sit in the shade of the trees and try to get every semi that passed to honk.

We would race down slides and get snow cones.

We would get fries and ice cream.

But most of all, I realized that these kids were just like everyone else.

I put myself into my job 110%

I began to understand how to work with each individual kid, their strengths and their weaknesses.

And together we worked and made more strengths.

I will never be able to convey to you how good it feels to hear a child who can't speak say a word,

or see them wash a dish without being prompted, 

or wheeling themselves up a ramp in their wheelchair,

or to have them tell you that they love you.

That is why today was a hard day at work. 

Today was the beginning of my last week. 

I still can't believe that I may never see some of these kids that I have worked with for a year and a half again.

Honestly, how can I give this up?

I have never been so grateful for anything in my life (except for my family and the gospel).

I will never forget the things I learned along the way.

This job has changed my life and I hope that I was able to change a few lives along the way.

Learn of Me

Today in Sacrament Meeting one of my friends was in charge of the musical selection. When they announced it from the pulpit she looked a little surprised, like she forgot about it...how she can just get up there and play a song flawlessly (and INCREDIBLY beautifully) is a mystery to me. Anyway, she played Janice Kapp Perry's Learn of Me. The words came to my mind as she played and I knew she chose to play that song for me. Maybe not knowingly, but for me.

I walk today along the path of life.
No more a child protected from the strife.
Now I must face whatever foes may comes
And fight with strength until the battle's won.

I trembling fear the task is far to great,
On every side the Tempter lies in wait.
What can I do? I plead to Him above,
Then hear Him speak these gentle words of love:

Learn of me and listen to my words,
Walk in the meekness of my light
And I will give you peace,
My love will never cease,
For I am Jesus Christ.

When I was yet a child so clean and pure,
I doubted not and knew God's love was sure.
I knew He lived for every bird and tree,
By breath and leaf, were witnesses to me.

But now the world would fill my mind with doubt,
And so my soul, in search of truth cries out.
How may I know? I plead to Him above
Then I recall these gentle words of love:

Learn of me and listen to my words,
Walk in the meekness of my light
And I will give you peace,
My love will never cease,
For I am Jesus Christ.

My life is blessed to have His sacred word,
To feel His love and know my prayers are heard.
With in my soul his light has found a place,
It leads the way as I receive His grace.

The peace I feel, my joy in sacred things,
Surpasses all the world could ever bring.
With humble heart I take a valiant stand.
I will obey this gentle sweet command:

Learn of me and listen to my words,
Walk in the meekness of my light
And I shall give you peace,
My love will never cease,
For I am Jesus Christ.




What comforting words for a girl who is absolutely terrified about going out into the real world on her own next Monday...


I can't tell you how many times I have questioned my own strength...not in the gospel, but in myself. I think about having to go out on this new path of life where I will have to face the foes on my own and it scares me stiff. But this song gave me my answer. "Learn of me, and listen to my words. Walk in the meekness of my light and I shall give you peace, my love will never cease, for I am Jesus Christ."


I don't know why I'm so scared. I have a mom and a dad 45 minutes in one direction and a sister, a brother-in-law, 2 brothers, and a sister-in-law within an hour in the other direction...and I have a Heavenly Father with me at all times, and in all things, and in all places. I now know that I just need to take the advice given in Proverbs 3:5-6. "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths."

I will sincerely need Him on this new path I'm taking, but He will give me peace and His love will never cease, for He is Jesus Christ.

Photo Shoot with my Best Friend

So, I a couple of months ago I decided that I wanted to go out and get some pictures taken with my best friend (not in the family). Because I didn't have a blog back then, I just posted the pictures on Facebook. I figured that I may as well post a few of my favorites on here too, for the people not absolutely addicted to Facebook like me :) Carley Seyfried is my absolute best friend in the world. She and I complete each other in a way that I've never seen with any other friend. We do everything together and I love her to death. Here are a few of my favorite pictures taken by an AMAZING photographer that I recommend to everyone. You just might know her, Maci Owen. Yeah, you know, the little girl who I grew up with? Shared a room with? Yeah, that one. Oh, and these pictures are kinda caddywonkus (or however you spell that) because I didn't have the patience to figure out how to make them be all symmetrical and stuff like that. You get the idea right?

I just kinda love the intensity of this one :)

Railroad tracks :) Love the positioning of this one.

Absolute favorite :) Hence my banner.
Maci entered this one in the fair and it got 2nd :)

We were looking at her phone when
Maci snapped this one. One of my favorites :)

We kept looking at a pretend seagull, so we decided to
point at it

This is what we get when Maci tell us
to be loose haha

I really love the angle of this one.

So yeah, pretty sure that's all my computer will let me put up. There were like 80 of my favorite ones that it wouldn't load. It just couldn't stand the awesomeness of them I guess. They were pretty intense haha. Anyway, hope you like the pictures!

What is one of my favorite things EVER?

So, if you know anything about me you should know the answer to this question...
If you don't know the answer, I'm very disappointed in you! Honestly! Do you know me at all? Shamey shame...not really. For those of you who don't know, here is the answer. MUSIC!!! I seriously listen to music 24/7, just ask anyone in my family. If we sit down to play a game of cards, my iPod is out. My iPod is constantly having to be recharged because I listen to it so much. I love that thing :)
Anyway, so I was thinking a while ago about some things I could blog about (I know, thinking about things to blog about when I didn't even have a blog...that is the definition of not having a life) and I came up with the idea to do a church song every Sunday (or at least when I remember). There are so many church songs that I absolutely love that it was hard to narrow it down, but I finally did. It's not a hymn, but it's still amazing. I was on my way to work the other day when it came on my iPod. I had my iPod set to my Never Gets Old album (the one I use while I drive because I never have to skip a song. It's all of my absolute favorite songs.) There are only a few church songs in that playlist because most of them are really slow or I just don't know them well enough. This one is by Jericho Road and it's called Not Too Far From Here:

Somebody's down to their last dime
Somebody's running out of time
Not too far from here

Somebody's got nowhere else to go
Somebody needs a little hope
Not too far from here

And I may not know their name
But I'm praying just the same 
That you'll use me Lord to wipe away a tear
Cause somebody's crying 
Not too far from here

Somebody's troubled and confused
Somebody's got nothing left to lose
Not too far from here

Somebody's forgotten how to trust
Somebody's dying for love
Not too far from here

It may be a stranger's face
But I'm praying for your grace
That you'll move in me 
To take away that fear
Cause somebody's hurting
Not too far from here

Help me, Lord, not to turn away from pain
Help me not to rest while those around me weep
Give me your strength and compassion
When somebody finds the road of life too steep

Now, I'm letting down my guard
And I'm opening my heart
Help me speak your love to every needful ear
Jesus is waiting
Not too far from here
Cause Jesus is waiting
Not too far from here

This is seriously one of my VERY favorite songs. It's got an absolutely fantastic message that I think we all need to listen to. I wish that all of us prayed for things like this. The world would be a better place, wouldn't it?

Oh, one more thing...today was my last testimony meeting at home. I bore my testimony for the very     last time to some of the people I love most in the world. I still can't believe it...not too long ago I was at Logan's graduation and thinking that I would never get to that point, but here I am. I move into my apartment on the 16th! I am really excited, but I'm still a little weary about this whole business. No matter how much I wish I could have just one more year at home, I know that I am moving on to bigger and better things. I just hope I have the strength and patience to get there.