A New Adventure

This winter, starting January 1st and going to March 25th, I have been working at Jacob Lake Inn in Arizona. Jacob Lake Inn is a tourist place for people who are going to visit the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Unfortunately the North Rim is closed until May 15th so I have yet to see it. Here at the lodge we get many tourists who are either passing through or wanting to see the North Rim. I have really enjoyed meeting people from all around the world! I have met people from: all over the U.S., Australia, France, Switzerland, Germany, Russia, South America, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Japan, and Thailand! I love meeting the people from all over the world and getting to hear them talk about where they are from.

On days off, which is one day a week, we (the people I have my day off with) usually go hiking and to St. George, Utah. I have gone to Zion Nation Park, Snow Canyon, and the Red Cliffs Recreation area in Utah. I have loved every one of these places and have enjoyed the beauty of nature that is everywhere around me and also for the serenity and peace that being in nature brings. I have come to a realization of the beauty of the world that I live in and for that wonderful miracle that the Lord has blessed us with; the miracle of the beauty that surrounds us... all we have to do is look around us.

There are 5 others working here at Jacob Lake Inn. 4 of those 5 also go to BYU-Idaho. I have become very good friends with them and am glad for the experience if only for the friendships that I have made here. The work that I do at the Inn is pretty much everything that you can possibly do; I am the receptionist for the office (answering phone calls, taking reservations, and filing), I am the cashier in the store, the salesperson in the gift shop, the waitress for the restaurant, the cook for the restaurant, and last but not least the housekeeper for the hotel and motel. I really enjoy working in the gift shop and learning about all of the Native American things that we sell there.

There have been some pretty good times while working here at Jacob Lake Inn, but I am glad to be going home. Lately things have not been so good and I am glad for a change, and to be going back home and back to school. I will post pictures when I have good internet that won't take five years to get them loaded.

A Change of Senery

Fall 2010 semester has officially started. I am now a sophomore in college and am loving the college experience, minus the homework. I am living in Royal Crest with my cousin Hayley Yates. I am having so much fun and am so glad that Hayley is up here with me.

I was originally taking 17 credits, but was feeling a teeny, tiny bit stressed out so I dropped one of my classes and am now down to only 14 credits. I am feeling a lot better! I am taking an Early Elementary Field Experience class, where I get to go and help out at an elementary school. I am also taking Elementary Geometry, Personal Health and Wellness, English(critical thinking/writing), Book of Mormon 2, and Motivation and Management.

My roommates are all really great people. Although it has taken a while to adjust to them and get to know them. Unlike the other apartments I have been in, this apartment has been the hardest one to adjust to and bond with my roommates, excluding Hayley! :) In fact, I was having such a hard time that I got homesick again. A sophomore! and I'm homesick!!! I couldn't believe it! But I'm better now, and have gotten to know my roommates better.

My ward seems like a great ward. Everyone is really friendly and nice. I have met several people and they are all really nice. Tomorrow we are having FHE at the Bishops house, which I have never had happen in my other wards. The Bishopric is very nice and they want to get to know every member in the ward; I like that about this Bishopric, it makes it seem more like home.

Wonderful 4th of July weekend

I was able to go home for the 4th of July weekend! We had school of on the 5th so I had a three day weekend. I had a lot of fun with my family, and it was nice to get a break from school before I start studying like crazy for finals.

I didn't get home until late Friday night. On Saturday I finished up my homework and rode Daybreak; it is always nice to be able to ride when I go home, I never thought I would say this... but I miss riding and sometimes I wish that I could ride everyday. But I can't so I just have to get used to it and take advantage of it when I am at home. Evan did a fireworks show in our driveway while my mom, my dad, Micaela, and I watched.

Sunday I got to spend the whole day at home and not have to leave back for Rexburg at 3pm, which was really nice. I was able to write to one of my friends who is on his mission and I got to spend time talking to my mom and playing kickball with the family.

I didn't leave on Monday until 6:00pm and so my family and I went to Salt Lake for the day. We went to the new Living Planet Aquarium in Sandy, Utah. It was really cool there, we got to touch/pet stingrays, starfish, and a few other creatures. We also got to see penguins, an octopus, jelly fish, and sharks! It was really cool.

At The Living Planet Aquarium.

My ride was picking me up in Salt Lake by the Conference Center, so we spent the rest of the day on Temple Square. We took a tour of the Conference Center; we went up on the roof and got the see the 'garden' that was there and also the waterfall, we also got to see the hall of the Prophets and the pictures of all of the Apostles that have ever been. We also got to go to the very front of the auditorium where conference is held; it was pretty cool.

We then went to the South Visitors Center and looked at the new exhibit of the Salt Lake Temple, I really liked that. Then we went and took a tour of the Beehive House, which was the house that Brigham Young built and lived in. I love that house! It is so cool and just amazing. We took some pictures of the family, all except for Kelly because he went to Montana for the weekend.The Family on the Lawn in the backyard of the Beehive House.

I am now back at school with only 2 weeks left. I am very excited for the semester to be over with and to have a little break from all the homework and studying. But life is great and I am really enjoying most of my classes; especially my education classes! They are so much fun (I even like my education math class! Surprising I know!). I can't wait until I get to go to an elementary school next semester!

A Tribute to my Mother

Mother taught me to be patient, how to pick myself up when I fall. She taught me to care for others and to love who I am. She taught me that the greatest friendship that I could have is one with my Father in Heaven and my mother. She taught me that it doesn't matter what others think of us, it only matters what God thinks of us, and that He loves me no matter what.

She taught me how to walk, talk, read, sew, cook, and ride. I am eternally grateful for what she has taught me. My mother is my hero, she has been an example to me in every way. She helps me through the hard times. She is always there when I need a should to cry on, and she is a great listener when I need someone to talk to.

My mother is my best friend, she is always willing to help me when I need help, she is my beacon when I need someone to look to.

Thank you mother for raising me in the Gospel and for teaching me everything that I needed to be taught. You have been my Angel on earth. I love you so much!

Beginning of the Spring Semester

On Saturday, April 17th, I moved back up to BYU-Idaho! I am living in a completely new apartment with completely new roommates. The plus side of all of this is that I know four out of my five roommates! My roommates are all wonderful! They are fun and have a way of making me feel comfortable when I would otherwise be really nervous and shy.

Today we went to the first fireside of the semester. Elder Chambers, of the seventy, spoke to us. He talked about prayer and how we should follow the patterns of prayer that the scriptures give us; specifically 'The Lord's Prayer' that Christ gives us in the teachings of the Sermon on the Mount. He also taught that we should have faith when we pray; that we pray with faith and real intent of heart. He also said that we need to avoid repetition and pray with a desire that inspires the effort for us to do our part. Lastly he spoke about the prayer of gratitude; that we should express thanks for all the Heavenly Father has done for us, and also for those things that don't go the way we want them to. It was really an amazing talk.

I am way excited to be back up here in Rexburg, especially since the weather is so nice. I am making new friends and coming out of my shy shell more. This next semester should be a fun one; I am taking more classes that go with my major (which is Elementary Education), Kelly is up here going to school also (so I am not totally alone without family), and I have some amazing roommates!

Together once again

On Saturday night we had a farewell party for my friend who is leaving for the MTC on Wednesday. I had so much fun! I saw so many of my friends that I haven't seen in forever. We got each other caught up on everything that was going on in our lives and we played games and watched movies.

Ashley, Me, and Stephanie.

Emily, Kevin, and Me.
We all went to Head-start together and needed to get
another picture of just the three of us; like Head-start.

Emily, Kevin, Me, and Tyler.

Me and Ashley.

Three of my really good friends are leaving on missions this year. Kevin leaves in March, Tyler leaves in April, and Jamie leaves in May. At least they aren't all leaving at the same time; but still I am going to miss them.

Kevin, Tyler, and Jamie. The three missionaries!


All of us friends together once again!
Emily, Tyler, Me, Ashley, Jessica, Kevin, Stephanie, and Jamie.

What a week...

Wow, what a week. I got a job at McDonald's and had orientation on Friday the 8th. I start my first day of work tomorrow; and for once, I am actually quite glad to be going to work. For one, I need the money, and for another, I really need something to do.

School started back up for everyone this last week. There is snow on the ground outside, so there wasn't much for me to do. I pretty much just stayed inside the house with my mom all week long. I don't know how people can just stay at home day after day and not go crazy from boredom! I mean, yes I had a book to read, but after reading for 3 hours straight your neck kind of starts to hurt and then your whole body hurts because it has been in the same position for that whole time!

I would go in and talk to my mom, and then try and figure what else I could do. I would have liked to have been able to ride my horse, but with the ground frozen with snow and ice; I don't really like the idea of riding on frozen ground; but maybe that's just me. My mom and I did go into Tooele a couple of times this week. I had to go to the orthodontist and I got my haircut, we also did grocery shopping. But that doesn't take all day long, when we got home we would figure out what to have for lunch and then once again I would have nothing to do.

But, my week was pretty good. Two of my friends from high school that live in town got their mission calls this week. One is going to Chile and the other to Tennessee. I am very excited for them, they will do a good job.

I'm hoping to be working a lot from now on, so that I can earn enough money to pay for two semesters of college, and also so that I won't be terribly bored out of my mind! ;)