This semester is so much better than Fall! Oh man I moved out of that smelly hole I was in and now I'm with fun girls in Colonial House. I lucked out with roommates this semester.

We went to the Peking Acrobats show and it was INSANE! Afterward we attempted our own acrobatic skills!
Nancy - she's the craziest funniest thing! Rec Management major, knits hot pads, wears literally whatever she feels like, she is the one with her mouth wide open in the picture below, has an unforgettable laugh, Nancy and Beth provide daily entertainment Finger painting for FHE
I am FHE mom this semester.Catherine- she is new to all of us this semester, from Thousand Oaks California, I'm a big fan of her.

Bethany - from Texas, boy-crazy, planning on serving a mission, she is best friends with Nancy and also has a unique laugh,
Rebekah - I lived with her last semester, sings beautifully, I've never heard her say anything harsh or negative, interior design major, from Boise Liz's birthday dinner at Craigos

Happy Birthday Whizard!
Juuuust being domestic! I was making Liz's birthday cake. Airplane! With Liz's boy Colby

Liz aka Whizard- My third semester roomming with Liz, she takes good care of me! finds my keys, feeds me meals, my personal mapquest, and she makes divine guacamole! Can't compain, life is good!

I can't comprehend how much goes on in the world all at once. Friday night Lindsay Millett's husband Derek was killed in a car accident. They had been married just a year. He went to work and never came home. Her whole world is upside down and those of you reading this will think "oh how sad" and then continue on with your day. And there is nothing wrong with that but it just boggles my mind. Lindsay and I are 4 days apart, shared all the same friends and memories through middle school and high school. I remember at the end of one summer in high school, we went through the calendar and figured out there were only 4 days of the 3 month summer where we were both in town and didn't see each other. Anyway, its just weird when unexpected heartache hits so close to home.
The moment Derek's life ended, Lindsay became a widow at 21, a husband, son, brother, friend, home teacher, student, coworker was lost. And at the exact same moment in time, wherever it be in the world, I bet somebody got married, a baby was born, a hilarious memory made, a first kiss, a conversion to the gospel etc. I just can't comprehend it.

Heidi Anna Roper Macey

After Christmas on the 28th I flew to Utah for Heidi's wedding on the 29th. She was married to Bobby Macey in the Draper temple at 9am. I went to her hair appointment with her at 6 in the morning! (I will never get married before noon!) Heidi has been my roommate since January 2007 and completed our little friend trio with Kelsey (who is now serving in the Philippines). I'm really missing them this semester!

I've met tons of people in the last few years- roommates, acquaintances, study buddies, friends from the ward... etc. Its interesting how all these people come and go and I don't give it a second thought. But there are those rare few that stick. Heidi stuck. Why? Because we love all the same things? No. I like shopping. She dreads it. She loves to read. I'd rather Sparknotes or watch the movie. Chocolate: I say milk she says dark. She wakes up at 5 to ponder the mysteries, I drag out of bed at 10, annoyed by the existence of morning.... The list goes on. But the friendship has turned into a deep, unique love that is more of a sisterhood. Its kind of undefinable. Maybe it happened over time as we laughed ourselves to sleep in the same twin bed, or ran a half-marathon together or prayed and fasted for one another's well being or ate too many heath blizzards and had to go on a no-sugar diet, or pulled each other through emotional messes or bickered about dumb things, or stressed over boys or carried each other's burdens and felt deeper pain for one another than we did for ourselves, or maybe it was all the times I felt understood and loved even when I was being ridiculous. Anyway, I can't describe the ways I've loved being Heidi's roommate. Here are some pictures from her happy happy day!

2009

January- I started at BYU-Hawaii. Kelsey left on her mission to the Philippines February: My birthday- Amanda and MyMom came to visit! Heidi left on her mission to Brazil
March: Temple Trip to Kona over on The Big Island

April: I flew back to the mainland and began working for the Schei's and the Allens.

May: Just working... Heidi came home on medical release
June: I visited Liz in California
Kevin and Kimmie got married in Portland

July: 4th of July Utah Trip
August: Coldplay Concert
September-Started Fall semester in Idaho, lost my tan
October: Kimaree left on her mission to San Diego, I went to Boise for Halloween with McBrides November- Thanksgiving in Seattle

December-Home for Christmas then off to Heidi's wedding in Draper Utah

Theres the recap! Its crazy how much can change in a year at my age! Its been a good 2009! On to the next! 2010!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
I start another semester tomorrow in Rexburg! (I'm taking pre-reqs that will allow me to apply to more nursing schools) I want to do a little 2009 recap soon so look out!

Recent post-it notes to myself:

Our future is as bright as our faith.

Keep thou my feet
I do not ask to see
The distant scene
One step enough for me

My new LOVE: Great Harvest Bread Co.

Everybody else had something to show but I consumed that goodness rather speedily!

I love peanut butter and jelly sandwiches! In fact its surprising to me that I am not sick of them yet. I have to keep myself in check to make sure I am eating other things besides the divinely smooth yet crunchy peanut spread mixed with the simplest cheap and sweet raspberry jam! I could spend a bunch of nonexistent time to cook a bland meal, or I could whip out the classic, ever so convenient, peanut butter and jelly for any meal, all under 60 seconds!

Breakfast: Peanut Butter toast with some jam

Lunch: The Classic Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich

Dinner: Grilled Peanut Butter and Jelly in a tortilla!

I hope the genius creator of such a beautifully delicious sandwich is filthy rich.

Rexburg

Rexburg Updates:

• I've decided to play competitive soccer! Its been a really good thing for me to meet more people and have the regular exercise and a physical outlet.
• My apartment works... but lets just say I'm never living here again!
• Rooming with Heidi is always good for me. She's wonderful. Although things are definitely different now that she's engaged because we're just in different places in life. It was bound to happen and we're still good friends but its hard when we've been through the last 3 years side by side and now she's got somebody on her other side! Planning a wedding with her has been exciting though! December 29th! :)
• I think of Hawaii everyday! I'm glad to be here but the cold really is tough on me.
• I'm taking a course called Fundamentals of Scripture Study. I'm required to study 30 minutes everyday from the scriptures and its amazing what blessings can come from simple consistent study. I'm taking that class with Dustin which is fun!
• I miss my little girls that I took care of all summer. (Kate and Isabella Schei)
  
• I really miss having my cousin Travis in Rexburg! I always felt like Travis was taking care of me and provided that family love.
• LIFE IS GOOD. :) I'm one blessed little lady!
  

Summer's End...

This summer, I seemed to find every reason to get away. Its kind of ridiculous how much I love to just GO. Here's a recap in pictures of this summer:




I visited my friend who lives in Temecula and we went to Disneyland. It really is the happiest place on earth! (other than the San Diego temple, which really is as beautiful as everyone says!)

Kevin and Kimmie's Wedding! Road trip with Heidi to Portland to be there for it all! Here I am at the reception with Dustin and Sam , two of my all time favorite fellas.







Road trip with the family to Boise: Abi's baptism and baby Luke's blessing









Amanda and I took the kids we nanny to the Cougar Mountain Zoo.... kind of a wimpy zoo but it was fun. Santa's sleigh was set up by the live reindeer. I am holding the reigns to the sleigh while the girls are the reindeer and the 2 kids in the back are the presents.


We also took out kidlets to Fort Casey on Whidbey Island for the day. There are huge empty army bunkers at the state park that are fun to explore. The puget sound is also right there!











Visiting Grandma Savage in her new home

Monica and I reliving out childhood at Lagoon! This particular picture was taken on the music ride- oh so many memories!






Oquirrh Mountain Temple Open House

I met up with friends from Hawaii in Ogden

Cousins on the 4th of July!

Coldplay Concert @ the Gorge: SooOoOoo GOOD! It was David's first concert! He still managed to fulfill his duties as annoying little brother, but the show was amazing. Chris Martin is such an entertainer.

So there is Summer of 2009! It was a tough summer but these pictures remind me of it's blessings.