Back At It!

I just started my fourth week of my last semester at BYU.  So crazy to think about that.  I don't say my last week of school, cause who knows?!  I just might be crazy enough to go back someday, but probably not to BYU.  So I feel like I'm safe to say that.  I'm really loving school.  More that I thought I would.  My last in the classroom experience was hard.  Really hard.  And I questioned if teaching was for me or not.  Well, I've been through 3 weeks in a second grade class at Barnett Elementary School in Payson, UT, and I'm loving it!  I feel like I'm thriving down there instead of just surviving!  I'm excited about my lessons and I LOVE those kids!  Who knew you could love a bunch of 7 year olds in such a short amount of time?!  I'm also loving actually getting ready and wearing teacher-y clothes :)  Still had to take a first day of school pic to send to my mom!  Ha

While I'm loving my schooling part of being back at it, school most definitely does NOT rule my life!  I've been loving the things of my single/college/BYU/Provo life.  

One of my favorite things of being back is the gym.  I got a pass to VASA this semester and it's been so nice!  I don't ever have to wait for weights or machines, and it's literally a block and a half from my apartment.  

I'm loving my roommates!  I knew Ashlee (the super cute blonde on the left) a little bit, and we both met Jessi (the babe on the right) when we moved in.  We had a fun ice cream party on Wednesday night with a bunch of our friends, and it was a hit!  It was so fun for me to meet more of their friends and to see some of mine.  We're definitely doing it again next month :)  I also really love our apartment and ward.  Everything about it is great!  

My mom has already been down to visit twice, and there's no complaints here!  I LOVE when she comes!  This past weekend we hiked Timp and did our center street walk.  We found this fun bookstore down there!  Pioneer Book.  So great!  I'm not a lover of reading, so for me to say that is a pretty big deal...

I'm enjoying concocting my own meals again.  I've had some interesting ones.  The most random one was probably taco meat with spinach, brown rice, and plain greek yogurt.  It was actually quite a bit better than in sounds!  I also have no clue what I would do without eggs.  I've eaten at least one every single day.  

I've also just loved being back at the Y.  I really do love BYU.  I love the campus, I love going to the games, I just love the spirit of this place.  I'm not like a psycho fan or anything, but I'm so so glad I came to school here.  I've met so many good people here and while I'm not going to stay here forever, I'll forever be thankful for the time I have spent here.  It's definitely special to me.   

My cousin Sadie is finally down here at school too, and it's been fun to do some things with her!  I just love how comfortable I can be around here and we've had fun on a few hikes.  I've also been able to do some things with Liz Dayton from Cokeville, and that's been fun for me to get to know her better.  She's a great girl!  

Life is really good right now.  I'm really feeling content with what's happening, and I feel like it's God's way of letting me know that I'm on the right track.  I'm thankful for that.  

A Year Ago Today

So right now Facebook does this awesome thing where they remind you what happened on this day a year ago, or two, or seven years ago.  It's really fun, and you have the option to share it.  I don't think I've ever shared one, but today one put me in tears.  

This picture was taken the week Tessa started her mission papers. I hadn't completely come to terms with the idea, although I knew that that's what she was supposed to do.  I was determined to be supportive and help her in any way I could.  We spent this whole day together, just the two of us up in the mountains.  We hardly crossed paths with anyone, and I wouldn't have had it any other way.  We just talked and talked as we enjoyed being out in God's beautiful creations.  I just wished the day would never end.

 So, you can imagine what happened when I opened my Facebook this morning (which I rarely do before I leave the house).  I immediately started bawling.  All those emotions from that day came back.  A year ago I honestly had no idea how hard it was going to be for me to have Tessa gone. I knew it would be hard, but wow!  She was my workout partner, my grocery buddy, my conversation at dinner, my confidant, my best friend.  It's definitely been another adjustment to be at school without her.  Obviously I'm doing it, and it really is going well, it's just different.  And I miss her a lot.  

Peru!!!! .....again :)

I had the awesome opportunity to go back to Cusco, Peru.  I lived in Cusco for 3 months back in the fall of 2014, and I never dreamed I'd be able to go back this soon?!  This time I even got to take my mom!!  It was so great!  We went with our high school Spanish Club and community members and it was so fun to go with friends :)  Here are some of my favorite moments in pictures. 

The best juice in the world is found at San Pedro Market :)

 Pig head anyone??

Familia Delgado.  I lived with these sweet people the three months I was in Cusco.  I was able to go over one evening and have dinner with them.  They are so great!  

So many people on the trip brought suitcases full of clothes down to donate.  We left them with Flor, Andres, and Daniel to distribute where they see need, because they know.  I taught preschool with Flor and she is probably the most Christ-like person I have ever met.  Such a blessing to know her and I am so glad I was able to go to their home and introduce so many friends to her and her family.  

 Stairs to Cristo Blanco.  These people are troopers!

The view of Cusco from up there is fabulous!

The Plaza at night

Mom and Brooklyn in a doorway in Saqsayhuaman.  

Pano of the ruins. 

I look like this in so many pictures.  It's just incredible?!  Anyways, this guy was playing some fun Peruvian music.

The Sacred Valley coming into view. 

 Mom having a stare down with the Condor. 

 The alpaca vest that I wanted SO BAD!

 Awesome niches in Ollantaytambo.  

So many stairs!

 All of the group in Ollantaytambo. 

 The sun coming up on our hike up to Machu Picchu.  

 With my mom :) :) 

 Mom and Carol Clark.  Two amazing ladies!

 These guys are just too much fun! 

The sign of a dang good day--dirty feet.  

We just had so so so much fun in and around Cusco.  I just felt so comfortable there this time around and it was so fun to see everything that was still so familiar.  The people, the streets, the smells.  Memories just came flooding back and so many new memories were made.  I love that place.  'Til next time :)   

The Miracle of Mary

After my sophomore year of college I wondered how I was going to go back.  I loved school, but mostly because of my roommates.  They all decided to go on missions and I had no idea who I was going to live with when I returned in the fall.  I was bummed.  

The day I returned home for the summer I got a call from my cousin Mary.  She was heading back to school down there and wondered if I wanted to live with her and two of her mission buddies.  I said yes not knowing it was going to be one of the best decisions of my life.  Here are some of the miracles I have been a part of because of Mary.

I made so many friends because of Mary.  I really realized that last night at her wedding reception.  I was surrounded by people I love and I know most of them because Mary introduced me to them.  

Every since my first day at BYU when I would tell people who I was or where I was from they would ask me if I knew Mary.  They immediately loved me.  

Mary was my first roommate that I had that was super diligent.  She inspired me to be more committed to everything I was doing.

I always want to put people first.  Mary always does put people first.  She is friends with so many and reaches out to everyone around her and makes them feel loved.  

Mary asks the best questions.  When I would see her at the end of every day instead of asking me how my day was, she would ask me what the best part of my day was.  Way better question!  Instead of just responding with "good," I had to reflect back on my day and come up with a good answer.  Another one of my favorite questions of hers was, "What's your favorite thing about ________."  Whether I'd been out with someone or talking on the phone it was fun to answer her question and think about all of the good things about the people I choose to spend my time with. 

Mary is so frugal and thrifty.  I've saved many pennies trying to be more like Mary.

Mary always puts the Lord first.  She always studies her scriptures, prays, attends her meetings, and serves those around her.  You can see it in her eyes, her smile, and her countenance.  She just glows.

Mary got married yesterday and I was privileged enough to be asked to do her hair.  I don't know if she knows how much I really loved doing it or not, but it meant a lot to me.  She was a stunning bride and Ryan is one lucky man!  It was so fun being part of her day. 

Living with and near Mary since I've been at college has been a huge blessing to me.  I'm sure she'll continue to be a large part of my life since we're related and all, and just because she's a great person like that.  I'm so thankful for The Miracle of Mary in my life.  

My Room

So, the bedroom in my parents house has been mine since Tyson graduated in 2004.  That's a pretty long time.  I've chosen the wall paint, the bedspread, the pictures, and all of the little things that make the room mine.  This room is a space that is totally ME.  I was putting clothes away and cleaning up a little bit this afternoon and I was reading all of the quotes on little papers and tiles, and looking at the photos, and thinking about the different pieces of furniture and how by surrounding myself by all of these things every day have shaped who I am and who I am becoming.  

Anyways, here's a little "tour" of my room. 

 Here we have the beds.  The room recently became Tessa and I's (at Christmas time) because all of my married siblings felt the need for another double bed in the house.  I'm not really sure why??...  So, now we have bunk beds and I sleep in a cave.  

I made the quilt on the bottom bunk.

My mom or grannie made the quilt on the top bunk years and years ago.

My grandma Teichert made my pillow case.

She also made the baby blanket you can see wadded up in the far top corner of my bed :)  

Taffy made the pillow case on the top bunk.

The stool has my jammies on it.

I recovered the stool last summer.  I got it out of Stan Larson's yard and redid it, but I'm not super pumped about how it turned out.  

Above the bed is this quote.  I really love it.  Taffy gave it to me for Christmas one year. 

This is also above the bed.  This picture was given to me by my grandma Teichert.  It reminded her of Tessa and I, and it basically is.  

Also, I just notice my lovely corsage from my junior prom?! haha

 Now we have my closet.  It is almost always like this with one door open because that's the best place to hang my towel.  I know I have way too many clothes because they don't fit in here very well...

On the open door there is a picture of the Logan Temple and the Young Women's theme.

There is also a quote by President Hinkley that says, "Of all the creations of the Almighty, there is none more beautiful, none more inspiring than a lovely daughter of God who walks in virtue with an understanding of why she should do so, who honors and respects her body as a thing sacred and divine, who cultivates her mind and constantly enlarges the horizon of her understanding, who nurtures her spirit with everlasting truth."  

On the closed door is a picture of me with Mylie and Tel at the airport waiting for Violet to get home from her mission.  

Here was have a collection of all of my things.  

The blue trunk was my great grandma Duncan's that she brought out west with her when she was 16. 

The two boxes hold letters, journals, pictures, and other random fun things.  

Against the closet is a little trinket thing that was a gift from someone in the Philippines.  

On top of the boxes are an emergency lantern, my life quote "It's not all sunshine and rainbows, but a lot of it actually is," and my favorite sister missionary ever!

After the boxes comes a long line of books:

Panoramas from all over the world

Photo album from my summer of DC, Costa Rica, and Alaska

Two children's books, one about self esteem and one about making choices

History of Hugh and Flossie Brady (my grandma Buhla's parents)

Letters from my 4th graders at West Side Elementary

Photo album of photos of just Tessa and I through the years.  She gave it to me for graduation and we just keep adding to it!

Recipe book from my Oberg side  

Photo book from my senior year made by Taffy

New York photo book  

Family photo book

Four instagram photo books

Moab photo book from Kalbie

Spanish/English Dictionary

Farm Animal book from my favorite antique store in Provo

My latest journal

Laying on the trunk are my headphones and my almost finished letter to Tessa.

Then Violet picked up that cool old wooden desk for me for $50 at some antique store.  I love it. 

On top of that is a picture of my family and my globe.

Hanging above all that is the only decoration that goes with me to college: my favorite picture of Christ.  My space just isn't complete without it.  

  This is my "getting ready" area.  It's where the most clutter is.  I always get ready here instead of in the bathroom and I know it has saved me from many fights with my brothers, since I've always shared a bathroom with them.  

First of all, this mirror is the best with the swinging sides!  

On the mirror I have nice reminders and quotes that remind me to have courage, be kind, be diligent, remember Christ loves me, and to like myself.  

The table normally has some sort of hair tool, but at the moment just has perfume and lotion.  

The chair is my favorite.  It was my great grandma Minerva's.  

Tami made the pillow that goes on it for me for Christmas one year.  

The shorts and pants draped over it are work pants that are too dirty to fold up and put in my closet again, but too clean to throw in the dirties :)  

The little dresser thing holds all the things I use and all the things I don't use, but for some reason still hold on to.  

Then my jewelry is all hung up.  

The wall hanging above my necklaces is a board that I literally broke in half with my hand.  We did it at Girl's Camp one year and then painted it and put vinyl lettering that says, "I can do hard things.  The Lord is my strength."  So true.

Then I have my garbage and my clothes hamper.  

The part is pretty cluttery.......

I've got this picture hanging that Taffy made for me for Christmas one year.  The pictures are super outdated, but I really love them.

We've got Mylie, Connor, and Tel back when they were the only 3 grandkids, a picture of me with my fish I caught up in Seldovia, AK, and then Tessa and I kayaking up in Alaska. 

An the lowest shelf I've got a little tile that says "Be strong and of good courage"

The medium one has a picture of me and my dad at a daddy-daughter date for Merry Miss and a tissue box holder made by Norene Thompson.

The tallest box has a pretty framed quote I got for Christmas years ago that says "Daughter, bless your heart for the happiness you put in mine," a box with a beautiful hand held mirror from Nauvoo, and a jar full of my great grandma Duncan's buttons.  

Below the tallest shelf is my small doll collection with dolls from Alaska, Peru, Ecuador, a porcelain doll from my Aunt Linda, and a doll made by my grannie.  

Also, hats and belts.

So, there's my room.  It's amazing to me how much my room is just me.  So much of the furniture and decorations are sentimental.  I realize that I'm pretty lucky to have as many neat pieces of furniture as I do.  The quotes and pictures all have a purpose.  We internalize the things we put around us whether we realize it or not.  I've been thinking a lot about qualities I have and qualities that I want to acquire.  So many of these quotes are about self worth and confidence.  While I lack confidence in many areas, I do not doubt that I am a daughter of God and that He loves me.  I realize that all around my room are reminders of that very thing.  I know that these quotes have become a part of me and have given me confidence throughout my few short years of life.  

It's been fun to take a close look at my room and think about the little things that define me, and if you made it to the end of this post, good for you! haha  

Spring Fun!

This spring has been one for the books!  Since I've been home I've been able to do some really fun things!  Some of my favorites include (in no particular order): 

Branding with the Cornia's

Spending a day with Tami in Idaho Falls

Helping the Child's with sheep

Recovering Kelly's truck seats

(The coolest cloud over Deseret on the way home)

State track with my dad and the Micheli clan

(State Champs!)

Visiting my friends in Provo

Helping Taffy fix up their playhouse

Branding with Nate's

Walks with friends

Docking sheep with Child's

(Lunch Break)

Fires with friends

Working out with Kalbie (she's a fabulous workout partner!)

Getting the cemetery ready for Memorial Day

Sulli's graduation

Becoming an aunt again

Moab with Kalbie

Having all my sisters and their kids come for a day

Skyping Tessa on Mother's Day

Walks with my mom

Taking over the bread business again

As you can see, it's been pretty stellar.  I feel so blessed that I get to do such a wide variety of things with my days :)