And So It Goes

Although I have talking of a decision about a mission ever since the beginning of this school year, I am proud to say that the decision has in fact been made. I am handling all the details with my school for deferment and will soon begin the process of paperwork with the church. I am going on a mission! It's such a glorious thing to say!
To say this idea has been troubling my mind for the past year would be beyond an understatement. I think it has been troubling my mind since the time my brain developed the capicity to think for itself. With so many wonderful examples leading the way in front of me, I have witnessed the great experiences and opportunities for growth that a mission can offer; however, I have also seen the wide span of stress it can cause before a person actually leaves. The past twenty years of picking up and dropping off missionaries at the air port keeps flashing in head and I am now constantly feeling excited, nervous, scared, ready , unprepared, and a whole slew of other contraditing emotions.
It is a scary thing I am doing here, but at the same time I can sense the future blessings and the beginning sweet taste of adventure. I can't wait to take advantage of the opportunities to serve the Lord and his children in whatever part of the world (or country) that God deems me to serve in. (Everybody cross your fingers for South Africa since I have already started learning Zulu this year, but anywhere will be beautiful I am sure.)
Now I just need to study and prepare myself spiritually and mentally, get all my schoool affairs taken care of, go get my passport, finish this quarter and spring quarter of school, and then... oh yeah actually fill out and turn in my papers. It's going to be a busy next few months but...
Such is life.

Holi-of-days Past

With the Christmas and New Years as no more than a fond memory to me now, I have begun Winter Quarter of my second year in college with what I hope with be a lasting energy. Fall Quarter did a number on me and for quite some time I found myself reeling in a state of panic not only my present mental state but for the mental state of my future as well. Winter Break proved to be the perfect way to recover however and now that I am moving back into the flow of things, my only hope is that I don't burn out again like I did last quarter.
My break back home was full of fun, rest, and a whole lot of "me" time which I thoroughly enjoyed. I was able to see some of my good old friends, ski with family, eat my weight in yummy Costco quesadillas, watch movies, and take long naps. Truly my idea of a good break.
I returned to my humble abode up north on the eve of New Years and was able to enjoy the turn of the calendar while watching magnificently synchronized and colorful miniature bombs explode off the Space Needle. Yes, I think watching fireworks in downtown Seattle had to be much more fun than waiting for a ball to slowly descend down a pole on t.v. four hours after it actually happened.


(Reunion! The old gang out to our traditional lunch.)


(Rennie's Senior Recital)


(Look what Mommy got me in LONDON!)


(One tall Space Ship!)


(Russell and I at the Seattle Center)

I am now fully immersed into my class and work schedule and once again I am exerting all my energy just to balance all my commitments and still get to sleep, eat, and occasionally exercise. My reading load is rather large due to the brain malfunction I had which caused me to sign up for two intense literature classes in addition to my required theology class. It has been tough so far and although I know it will probably only get worse, I can't really complain because let's be real...most of my homework is reading books that I would want to read anyway.
Ah, I love my chosen major!
Such is life...

HP at Midnight!

Oh how epic the night came on as I locked the glass doors that guard my place of work when no one is there. Walking up the never ending hill in the chill of the oncoming night I felt the excitement build within me. As every minute passed, my heart raced faster.
Once my feet had returned to the cobblestone pathway that runs the length of my campus of knowledge--and I had filled my growling stomach with nourishment purchased with my virtual money campus card--I proceeded to wait.
Wait for a friend with an auto-vehicle to pick me up.
Wait for our other friend to arrive with the tickets.
Wait to make our way into the massive theater.
Wait in line for more nourishment.
Wait for the previews to start.
And then.......
Chills run through my body and all the hairs on my arm stand alert.
The music begins and overwhelms me.
I know it is coming.... the near end of a saga that has defined my generation.
It begins and my life--for the moment--seems complete.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 is AMAZING!!!

Sticky note of thankfulness

So I know it is almost Thanksgiving and that I should therefore start pondering about all the things for which I am thankful; but I have to say, despite all the blessings I know I have, it has been hard to 'be thankful' lately.
School has me in a rut. Despite my best efforts, I am falling behind in all my classes and currently have grades that to me are considerably less than desirable. I have not been able to find time to exercise other than my once a week four mile run to my institute meetings, and my general well being is therefore rapidly depleting. Then there is the fact that the holiday season is drawing ever closer which in turn means longer work hours, more papers and tests, and that nasty looming week that haunts all college students near to their grave. Finals.
I am stressed, overworked, and I probably sound like the whiniest dumb college student in history because I know there are billions of people with far worse troubles than mine, but for some reason I can't shake the feeling that I have taken on way more than I can handle. Feelings of this genre make it hard to be grateful.
Yet, I know I have a lot to be grateful for. I am living in one of the most amazing cities in America and due to the great amount of financial aid I receive, I am able to go to a great school that would normally be far out of my reach. I have friends who love and respect me, a family that is ever caring, a ward full of strong people who love to serve and share the gospel, and two jobs to help me pay for whatever my financial aid can't cover. I am blessed in so many ways but I have let my struggles get in the way of me remembering that.
So for this Thanksgiving, my message for myself and for anyone else who cares: take the time to consider your blessings. Write them down on a sticky note and post them somewhere you can see them daily (like on your mirror); and when a hard day comes along and you are ready to give up, look at them, and you will have the strength of mind to continue.

The sunshine-less state of life

I am proud to announce that for two whole weeks now I have successfully balanced 18 credit hours, 30 hours of work, and an undetermined but high number of institute volunteer/calling hours and have lived to tell the tale. Now, whether or not this feat is going to continue to be manageable is questionable but I will try nonetheless.
Classes are growing steadily harder, and I am realizing I have a serious problem with being over-committed but, at the same time I have been receiving mental help and support from all my lovely family members to help me deal with the stress. Now all I have to do is continue until that blessed last day of finals and then I get to spend three glorious weeks doing nothing but ski and chill with family. Yes, I am aware that it is sad for me to already be looking forward to Christmas without even having had Halloween yet.
I have nothing of new real significance to speak of here because at this point, my life is run on a very set and mundane schedule. This is the best I can do in terms of an update at this point; and I know you are all disappointed by the fact that it doesn't even include pictures, but...
Such is life.