6 Months

I guess you would think that because it's technically Christmas right now I would be writing a post about Christmas and how it snowed today and I was able to get all of my shopping done in 3 hours this afternoon, we were able to skype with my sister in Thailand for a couple hours, and I am now sitting here writing this in my new zebra print footie pajamas... but that's not what is on my mind right now.

I have been thinking recently about the past 6 months. You know, some people have a hard time living in the present because they are so busy looking forward to and planning for the future, I'm not like that. I have a hard time living in the present because I like to remember the past... it's one of the curses of having a ridiculously good memory. It's how I am able to see someone I met once and place where I met them and what we talked about, and how I was able to keep myself completely head over heels for a guy that I hadn't seen or talked to in 2 years. Anyway, these past 6 months I think it's safe to say have been the most life changing for me out of any other 6 month period so far in my life. Let me explain a little bit.

6 months ago I was living in London. I was immersed in a world that was unfamiliar but I loved so much. I was surrounded by amazing, fun people all the time. I was using foreign money and spent my time going to museums via the tube. I spent a couple of hours a day on skype and the rest of my down time dreaming of the next couple of months to come.

You know on 500 Days of Summer when there is the split screen of expectation and reality? Looking back on this 6 months feels a little bit like that.

I came home from London and went to Colorado and had a perfect week. I cannot think of a single thing that went wrong during that amazing week of four wheeling. Then I came back to Provo and things changed. In the past 6 months I have felt hurt and pain unlike anything I have ever felt before. My heart was completely crushed and I found myself having to work my way back up from what seemed like nothing. The pain has dulled now, that's something that I have found happens over time.

Good things happened too, amazing things actually. I applied for graduation, making this past semester my last full semester of school ever! I was blessed with the greatest roommates in the whole world, one of which is my kindred spirit and has been a life saver for me. I secured a job for next semester that will give me a set schedule.

 I have completely re-evaluated my life and straightened out my priorities. I have become the kind of person that I want to be and that I am proud of, all on my own (with help from a loving Heavenly Father, of course) but without the influence or motivation of another person. I have made changes in my life that I did not even realize that I needed to make before.

My best friend got engaged 5 months ago and was married this past weekend, and I was able to go! I turned 22, which is an age that I have been really excited about for a long time. I had a party and just gave people an open invitation to show up if they felt like it. I had 30 people who I love so much from all of the 4 years that I have been at BYU show up at my apartment to wish me happy birthday! I still can't believe that I have met so many incredible people here! I love them!



This past half year did not go at all the way that I planned, but sometimes God has a better plan for your life. That's what I've learned.

Something to Smile About

Today was one of those days when I had to look for things to smile about just to keep me going. It was a rough day to get through. You'd think that it was going to be a good day considering I took my last final this morning but I woke up sad. I didn't get much sleep last night and I didn't get any studying done either. Then on my way to my final I felt the need to do something that just made me more sad, it might have been a little bit dramatic to do, but I felt like it was necessary. Then I walked to my final, on the way it started to rain. I got my test... the first question was about something that I had no idea what it meant. There was a concept in another language that we were supposed to talk about, I didn't even know what language it was. That combined with everything else almost made me burst into tears right there. but I didn't. that would have been embarrassing. I ended up guessing what language it was and the deducing what it meant. I found out later that I was right, luckily, it was German. From that final I went to go help my class finish a movie that we've been working on. The sound guy never showed up or even contacted us, so we didn't get to finish that. In all, I was just zoned out today. On my way home I called Chloe and she happened to be home. I haven't seen her in a few weeks so I went over there. That's when my day turned around.

Chloe is one of the greatest people I know and the best friend a person could have. She was busy writing a paper but when she realized that I needed help she stopped and gave me a huge hug. From there I started finding things to smile about. The little things that could get me through the rest of today and probably the next little bit while I adjust to my new normal.

I have amazing friends like Chloe and her roommates.
We went to the corner store and bought a bunch of candy, Chloe's suggestion
I leave for London exactly 2 months from today. (I wish it were sooner though)
I got my new study abroad backpack today, I quite like it. I've had my other backpack since I was 17.
People shared their pizza with me today
I got a high score on my phone game that I have been trying to play recently
My teacher wrote a really complimentary note in my class binder before he handed it back
only one essay stands between me and the end of the semester
I get paid tomorrow
My little sister called me today and we got to talk for a while
Despite everything, through the sadness, I still feel peace and I am mostly thankful for that

2011

I finally had a spare moment today so I put a bunch of the videos that I took last year together. Actually, it took a little bit more than a moment. I happily spent a few hours going through videos and moving things around. It was a great reminder of why I love my major where I get to edit things all the time, of course it's very different when you're putting together your own videos. It's more fun, not gonna lie :)

So here's my compilation of videos from 2011:
(I didn't realize my friends and I danced so much haha)

While I was in the editing lab today cracking up while watching these videos, I kept thinking, wow my friends are so stupid, but I love them!

Moving out

So Chloe just left. and I'm so incredibly sad. Living with her the past 4 months has been one of my favorite experiences ever! Seriously, I barely knew her when she moved in and now she is one of my absolute best friends. We were together almost constantly from the day she moved in. I miss her already. It was one of those friendships where she would call me every day on her way home from work to tell me she was on her way and I would get excited to see her. I know that not living together doesn't mean that we won't be friends anymore, because we will. It will just be so different.

I'm gonna miss my roommate slash best friend Chloe!

Last Weekend at Lib^2

So this past weekend was the last weekend I'm going to spend living at Liberty Square because I'm going to Florida this week. WEIRD! It's funny to me to think that I'm finally moving. I have been at lib square for a year now. I cannot believe that it has been that long. Although I was not a huge fan of a lot of aspects of liberty, I have really loved living there. I have made so many amazing friends and had so many great experiences. I have never gone to the pool so much in my life, it's amazing what having friends who like it will do to you haha. I'm not gonna lie, I'm going to miss it. I also wen to my last hot dog friday... sad!

Roommates!!

they love me, obviously :)



I seriously love the girls in my ward.





Goodbye Liberty Square! I'm not going to miss your cleaning checks, fines, or horrible internet.

Friday.

Today was a typical Friday.

I went to the midnight showing of Cowboys and Aliens. It was pretty awesome, not gonna lie. They actually successfully mixed western and sci fi. I was impressed. it was very Star Wars-esque as well, which was kinda fun. Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford are believeable cowboys.

I got up just in time to go to hot dog friday (HDF) which is always great! I love my friends :) it was my last HDF I just realized.... that makes me a little bit sad. but not sad enough to make me want to keep living here. We stayed by the pool for quite a while, Tom and Taryn came to visit, it was very fun to see them.

I went back to my apartment and watched Friends with Chloe. I had forgotten how funny that show is!! oh my goodness.

I worked on my History of Creativity project which happens to be a self portrait because it was the easiest thing I could think of. AND GUESS WHAT!! someone I showed it to actually knew it was supposed to be me without me telling them! It made my day.

Then I watched some Psych with Nich. I learned that there is a pineapple in every episode, sometimes it's really hard to find. I was amazed. I guess I learn something new every day.

Then we tried to have a dance party in the parking lot but the dumb night guard came and got mad at us. I will not miss him when I move.

After our party was ruined, we watched some more Friends with more people.

And now I am here... writing a blog. yay. it's 3 in the morning. I'm going to bed. Goodnight! :)


http://youtu.be/kH5JhYsfNMA?t=7s

Still missing spring

These boys miss each other

I still have the greatest roommate ever!

Mitch was the party starter... and now he's in California. lame

Just reminiscing a little bit. Bear with me. I'll only do this a couple more times in the next week and then I'll be done, I just have quite a bit to reminisce about recently.

Cleaning Checks

So last night while everyone was out partying because finals were over, Michelle, Chloe, and I were cleaning our apartment. We had cleaning checks this morning and we were terrifed of failing. We cleaned for 4 hours! well guess what:

We all failed.

we're angry.

the end.

College friends-

a group of people that never would have hung out in high school.

I was thinking about the friends that I hang out with now and how it really does not really matter what we did high school. People for some reason think that high school is one of the most important parts of your life, but I've found the complete opposite. The only thing that mattered about high school was how I did in my classes because I was able to get into BYU and that's when my life really began. I did my own thing in high school, I was on my own, I didn't talk much, people didn't really know me and most of the time, I didn't really care. But now I'm having the time of my life and it doesn't matter. Last night I went to Sammy's with a group of my friends, as I was sitting there I looked down the line of people.

There was Kamree who is 2 years younger than me but is one of my best friends and is awesome.

Chloe is one of the cutest, best dressed people I know, which means she would have intimidated me.

Mitch who is super sporty and goofy. He was on lots of different teams and had lots of friends but I never would have talked to him.

Garrett would have intimidated me so much in high school, I hardly doubt that I would have had normal conversation with him... ever. but there I was doing that very thing.

Nich was a band geek. haha I probably wouldn't have given him the time of day just because of that... well I don't know that. But I wouldn't have been his friend and known that he's absolutely hilarious.

Michael is really smart and was the valedictorian of his school. He played lots of video games and focused on homework a lot.

and yet, despite all of that, there we all were sitting around a counter eating shakes together and having an amazing time. seriously, who needs high school when you've got college? :)

I don't want this semester to end

Lately, people have all of a sudden been thrown into my life and they have made it so much better. And as suddenly as they have become such a large part of my life, they're going to leave again because the semester's ending. But I'm thankful for the times I've been able to have with them recently. I've enjoyed myself in ways that I haven't in a very long time. I went from feeling like I didn't know anyone and not having anyone to hang out with to having an amazing group of friends that are having fun every night. Every day brings a new adventure. I have an absolutely AMAZING roommate that I am convinced is exactly what I needed, a great friend that is so perceptive and catches things that not even I can catch, I can talk to her for hours and I do. We have the clown that can always make us laugh and I will miss terribly when he moves out, a guy that will argue absolutely anything but for some reason it's fun, a guy that will make witty comments and tells the funniest stories ever. And this semester I've even developed a tiny crush... not that it'll go anywhere but it still makes things interesting. I'm sad that it's all coming to an end but it's ok, because I know that good things are still to come.

Come what may and love it!

Also, I've learned that I really like being a sports photographer. I just need to get a faster camera and I'll be set :)

Arrrg! A Pirate's Life for Me

I'm not a planner, I don't like being in charge because it's stressful. But I really wanted to go to the midnight showing of Pirates of the Caribbean with a group of friends so I made a plan and invited people to go and it actually worked out! We went all out and got dressed up and everything :)

 Pirate roommates

We had a pretty good turn out.

Mission accomplished :)

Also, he is so fine! Definitely made the movie more enjoyable