My, My, I Should Not Have Let You Go

I should know this by now, I really should. I just keep forgetting. So I groan and gripe about it and put it off until I have to sign up for a class that makes me. And then I love it.

That's right, I said it: I love the gym.

As required by my major, I am enrolled in a Health Science class. I started the class hoping that there would be no performance aspect to my mark - I am totally okay with learning how to be healthy, but don't ask me to actually internalize any of it - but no such luck. The teacher required us to create and sign three contracts regarding improved health and wellness. And one of them had to specifically involve physical fitness. Gah!
I made my goal to make it to the gym for at least 30 minutes once a week. Now, I know it sounds a little pitiful - some people were agreeing to increase their physical activity by 150 minutes or more per week - but let's keep in mind that I only found out where the gym even is 2 weeks ago and I only got around to buying my own BYU-I approved gym wear 4 days ago. So I figure these are some pretty big steps I'm taking.

Anyways, long story short, I went to the gym, very reluctantly. And I enjoyed it. So I went again with my roommates to play wallyball. And loved it.
Then I even found myself trying to rearrange my schedule so that I could go to the gym for a third time in a week - well beyond what I'd previously agreed to. It's craziness, I tell ya. Craziness.

Don't tell my roommates, though. After the big stink I originally made about having to sign these contracts, I'd feel a little silly if they found out it was all just a big lie.

Children Will Listen Pt 3

"I never understand when people say they're too full to eat any more. I mean, sometimes I'll say 'oh, I could not eat another bite', but only because it's considered socially acceptable."

- Camille Jasperson

She's my soulmate.

May Your Days Be Merry and Bright

It's that time of year again!
The time when teachers realize they haven't taught you all that much and pile on the homework; when students lose all motivation to accomplish anything and spend their evenings playing Jerkface for hours on end. That's right, it's the end of the semester!

I jest (kind of). We all know what time of year it really is. And, oh boy, am I excited about it!

First off, thank you, parents, for the Christmas Tree and decorations. Jessica made a construction paper star for the top and it really completes the spirit of our apartment. This past Wednesday night, Jessica, Allisyn, and I made loads of paper snowflakes and chains to put around our apartment. We even have a countdown of Christ-related scriptures to the end of the semester. I find great joy every time I enter our home.
The only music we listen to these days are the Christmas albums of Justin Bieber and Michael Buble. I'm loving it. And I highly recommend Justin Bieber's version of Drummer Boy. Instant classic. Like Rebecca Black's Friday.
Last night, I went with three of my roommates to the BYU-Idaho Christmas Concert featuring the Symphony Orchestra, Men's and Women's Choirs, an a capella group called Vocal Union, and special guest Brian Stokes Mitchell concert (I'd never heard of him, but apparently he's a big deal). They were all so fantastic. Favourite song: Sleigh Ride arranged and sung by Brian Stokes Mitchell with both choirs and Vocal Union, accompanied by the full orchestra. (Yes, Mom, I did think of you.)
Tonight was the First Presidency Christmas Devotional! I'm sorry to say that I think this was only the second year that I've attended it. And the first that I haven't slept through it. But it was great!

And I'll be home in less than two weeks!
Merry Christmas!

But Since I Left Me Cannon At Home, I'll Simply Have to Say, Thank You Very, Very, Very Much

Happy Thanksgiving!
And I really am feeling grateful.

Have I told you how much I love visiting my Aunt Loreen in Gunnison? Cause I do. I really, really do.

When I was in grade three, I went with Loreen to her grade five class and we told them I was a new accelerated student. She gave me the answers to difficult multiplication problems and obscure geography questions in order to pull off the hoax. Then, again in grade six we pretended I was a new student. So I guess it's become a little bit of a tradition for us now.
On Wednesday morning, I went with Loreen to her fifth grade classroom, this time pretending to be a junior at Utah State studying Child Psychology, conducting a study within her classroom. I sat in the room with a list of all the students' names, observing their behaviour and taking notes. I tried to give one kid a complex by watching him and writing conspicuously as he walked to the kleenex box, blew his nose, and walked back to his seat. At one point, I even took half of the kids out in the hall to interview them individually - I tried to pick the ones that seemed most fearful of my presence. Right before lunch, we let them all in on the ruse and they feigned some anger, but really were pleased and excited to be a part of the practical joke. It was good fun. Loreen and I definitely get a kick out of it.

The next morning, we took an extensive walk around the farm. I'd never seen so much of their land before; I didn't even realize they had so much. And they have tons of old junk piles and even hundred-year-old houses on their property! It made for the greatest adventure I've had since my first week in Rexburg.

The week also included horse-back riding, two Thanksgiving dinners, second place in a pool tournament, a trip up to the cabin (complete with multiple elk sightings), several rounds of Farkle, and even some Black Friday shopping! Oh my heavens, it was some good times.

Nearer the beginning of the semester, when I thought I'd be coming home during Thanksgiving break, I was thinking that I wouldn't be doing any celebrating of Thanksgiving, Canadian or American, this year. Lucky me, though, I've ended up getting to eat 3 different Thanksgiving dinners.

And now it's less than three weeks before I get to come home!
Be excited.
I am.

Children Will Listen Pt 2

While engaged in a discussion in English class about the difference between tolerance and indifference:

"I don't care about child labour in India. I just want my three dollar t-shirt!"

Hear, hear, Brother Dayley. Hear, hear.

That Little Bit of Good

You know what I really enjoy? I really enjoy the weekly devotionals here at BYU-Idaho. They are always so uplifting and often quite entertaining to boot. Of course, the speakers are fantastic, but, as is usual, there are some other aspects of devotional that deserve a little recognition, as well.

• Similar to the Salt Lake Conference Centre, there are two projection screens on either side of the pulpit and stand that display a countdown to the start of devotional. The organists playing the prelude music somehow always manages to time the end of the hymn exactly with the 00:00 on the countdown. I don't know how they do it! I'm impressed.
• I usually sit about 2/3 of the way back on the floor level, so I can see a lot of the other students sitting in front of me. I love when a speaker says something particularly insightful and you can watch everybody's heads go down all at the same time, trying to write down what was said in their notebooks. You can always tell what the next addition to all the apartments' quote walls will be.
• As the congregation, we get the words to each hymns projected onto the screens. The chorister, however, is expected each week to have all the verses memorized and look super peppy as they conduct the songs. Kudos to them for doing it. It always makes me laugh, though, when the chorister forgets the words and is left just smiling awkwardly on the big screen.
• You can always count on that one guy to laugh so much louder and so much longer than everyone else. Which then gets the rest of us all going again. It's a hoot.

Really, I love devo!

Three Short Days to Have a Lifetime of Fun

College road trip #2: Epic.

It was SO fantastic to see so many good friends again - my goodness, how I've missed you all! - and have such a fun filled weekend. I'm super exhausted, but I could not have hoped for any better of a trip!
Austen, Brock, and Dallin showed up at my apartment on Friday around 2 and immediately the fun ensued. Seriously, these guys are too funny. After singing and joking in the car for 4 hours, we arrived in Provo and were greeted by a very exuberant and emotional Courtney. With her and her friends, we all stayed up until around one...the following night - hooray for all-nighters! We had fun eating at two different places, walking around temple grounds, deciding not to go bowling twice and finally sitting outside Courtney's apartment for 2 hours talking. The apartment lobby hours were over, so we stuck it out in the semi-cold (actually, it was surprisingly warm) until 5 am when we changed and made our way to the temple for an early morning session - so great! Especially when followed by a trip to Krispy Kreme.
If for no other reason, this trip was a success because I was able to check off an item from my bucket list - on Saturday afternoon, we made the trek up to the Y on the mountain! And when I say trek, I mean it; we decided to skip the trail and hike straight up the mountain. At least it can be claimed as an adventure!
Saturday night brought my first ever American football game. Courtney indicated that there had been better ones, but I definitely enjoyed the marching band, cheerleaders, and excitement of it all. And BYU has a school song - why aren't we that cool?
We attended church as well as choir practice with Courtney on Sunday and then came home to eat (super recipe, Courtney!), play Monopoly, and then eat again with another guy's apartment. It was awesome to meet all of the other BYU students down there; they were definitely a lot of fun. In fact, we all bonded so much that Brock, Austen, Dallin, and I made some very special friends - Tia, Kelley, Beth, and Michael were some great two-hour significant others (and good sports, too).
Another 4 hour drive home, dropping off the guys at a friend's apartment, a 4 hour sleep before going to my psychology class, and we were off again to Idaho Falls to experience some all-you-can-eat steak at Stockman's. Afterwards, the guys dropped me off at home and started in on the 14 hour drive home.

There were just too many fun times this past weekend including belting songs in the car, piggy-back rides, and excessive chivalry! Thanks so much, guys, for making the trip down; it really was too much fun!
Now, if I can just get back to a normal sleeping schedule, I will be a very happy girl!