~Holiness Unto the Lord~

Today was my first time doing baptisms for the dead at the Rexburg Temple! I was so excited. I went with my family to the open house, but had never gotten the chance to do any work for the deceased. We went at 6:00 a.m. and it was so beautiful. My roomates Kinzi, Katie, and I went together. I was so ready, cheerful, and excited this morning! :) Which is very unusual for me since I am not a morning person. I definately felt the spirit while I was there and needed this spiritual uplifting. I am so grateful to be able to see the temple everyday as I am walking to class, going to church, driving around with my friends, or a having a rough day. It really brings the spirit into our campus and into my personal life on a daily basis. I LOVE temples!!!

*Tennis: Sand Dunes: Bonfire*

Yesterday Tianna, Kenzie, and Kyle and I went to go play tennis. Dallon Henkel, a kid who used to go to school with me and Tianna back at home, came up to visit and met up with us. We went to the tennis courts at Porter Park, by my apartment. We had a ton of fun together.

Later that night, a bunch of my roomates and our friends went to the sand dunes and had a huge bonefire. We first had to make a stop at dairy queen to get some ice cream. When we got to the dunes we joined another group and had a huge bonefire. It was fun to meet new people and have a good time together. Some kids brought some glow sticks and we played a game of glowstick tag. The sand made it very difficult to run in and definately gave you a good workout. But I loved it. It was so soft and felt better than the beach did. And lets just say, I had some as a sovenir to take home. I dumped cupfulls out of my shoes and pants. BYU-IDaho=Sand Dunes=new friends=tons of fun!

-Breakout at BYU-Idaho-

Friday started a bad day of the hives. I got ready for school and was really itchy on my legs. I had these spots all over the back of my leg, that looked like mosquito bites. I thought that was weird, but hurried to class to get there on time. I didn't really think anything about it, until really late that night when I was getting ready for bed. I had watched a movie with some friends and my ear and foot had been itching the whole time. When I got dressed into my pajamas, I had a billion spots all over my leg, moving up back. They were getting very huge. My foot also itched and had spots all over it. I was starting to get really worried because this has never happened to me, and I am not allergic to anything. I took some benedryl, and said a prayer. I talked to my friend on facebook and was freakin out a little to him. His roomate is an EMT and was giving me advice, but nothing my mother hadn't already taught me. By this time I was getting them on my arms and my stomach. It was about 2 in the morning and I was in tears and just wanted to call my mom and talk to her. I did what she would have told me to do, but I just wanted to hear her voice and pretend I was crying on her shoulder. I asked my friend what I should do and I just decided I couldn't sleep without talking to my parents. So I called them and explained what was going on. My mom told me to go to the ER just to be safe. Just in case my throat got swollen or it was something else going on. So I asked my friend Kyle, if he could take me to the hospital. He was here in about 10 minutes. I'm lucky to have such a good friend who would take care of me at that time in the morning. We got to the Madison Hospital and as we were driving up to the parking lot, I really missed my hospital at home. I was worried because I wouldn't know anyone there. We walked in and the guy admitting me was extremely nice. He told me my dad had called and told them what was going on and gave them all of my information. I was so grateful for dad and doing that. It made it so much easier for me, and I was at ease. I have the Best Parents in the World, and family! They deserve the Family of the Year Award! The nurse came and got me and took me back to my room. She was extremely nice. I showed her my hives, and by this point my foot was swollen and my hives were extremely red. My nurse took my blood pressure, oxygen level, and temperature. She really made me feel better and at ease. We talked for a bit and then Dr. Mayberry came in and checked me out and listened to my chest. He said I must be having an allergic reaction. I hadn't eaten anything unusual, and he said it might be the environment and I think possibly stress. He gave me some steroids, adn then a prescription for prednisone. The staff at the hospital took extremely good care of me. Kyle came back into my room while I was waiting for my medicine. We talked to the nurse for a bit, signed my discharge papers and then headed home. We got home a little after 3:30 a.m. I called my parents and told them what the doctors had said, wrote in my journal, and iced my legs, and then headed off to bed. The next day I went and told my landlords what had happend in the night. We have cameras and a curfew and I didn't want them to think I was just leaving with a boy in the middle of the night, and get kicked out. I am so grateful for families and the power of prayer, and don't know what I would do without them! Haha, I guess I just love BYU-Idaho so much, that they gave me a case of the Hives!

~Family Home Evening~

Today was our first Offical day of Family Home Evening with our FHE Brothers! We have six guys from 'Rockland,' the mens apartment building behind us, and two local guys from Rigby. We had an amazing dinner together and a wonderful lesson, taught by Jordan. He is from Rigby and is our FHE dad, and Kinzi is our FHE mom. Our group consists of Jordan (and his twin Rylee, not pictured), Alex, Nate, Nathan, David, and Jason. Sunday night we also had some guys over for dinner. We had spaghetti, garlic bread, green beans, and appetizers. Vanessa's friend Mark made us some homemade Carrot Cake. They did a really nice job with the whole meal. The night ended with a couple of rounds of SPOONS!!!

*Home* Sweet* Home*

This weekend I was able to go home to BURLEY!!!! I had a lovely poster waiting for me on my bedroom door, thanks to my amazing family. I Love them so much. They are the Best! Camille, Mariah, Mason, and I went to the Minico/Burley Football game, and as usual we lost. Haha, but it was fun anyways. I also went to my friend Josh's house and hung out with some old friends. And, of course, Mason, Mariah, and I had our favorite sleepover! We have good memories together. The next day, Mason and Mariah had their soccer games. It was so much fun to be able to watch them. I was so proud of them, and they both did excellent. And Mason even made a Goal! YAHH!!!! We were able to go Maxie's Pizza in Kimberely as a family for dinner. Cause Families are Forever. Becca and I then enjoyed the night driving around and catching up on the good ole' days! Sunday was a very windy, beautiful day. I went to the Singles Branch, which has decreasd in its numbers and much smaller than my college ward. After Church, I went over and visited with Grandma and Grandpa Blaine. Grandma fixed me an amazing dinner; sirloin steak, cheesy potatoes, homemade rolls, fresh tomatoes and cooked carrots from the garden, cantolope, and her amazing HOT APPLE PIE!!!! :) It was so nice to be able to visit with them and catch them up on my new and exciting life.

We had a fun photo shoot together and got to go over to Aunt Shirley's and Uncle Dick's house to visit with them.

I LOVE THEM!!!!!

And of course, college wouldn't be complete without good friends, even if we are two hours away. It was so fun to get together with Becca, just like the good times! I Love coming to a home where everyone is so welcoming. Nothing is like "Home Sweet Home."

~College: 1st Cooking Experience and 1st Sunday~

Today was our first day attending College Singles Ward! We are in the 56th ward, 9th stake, and go at 12:00 in the afternoon, which is nice for us night owls! We meet in the Ricks building and have a rather large ward. Much larger than my branch back at home. Its funny to meet in a room that looks identical to my psychology class. Sometimes I wonder if I am going to class or to church? We found out who our FHE brothers are, and we are lucky to have a pretty even ratio. Some of the other FHE groups had two girls rooms to one boys room. That is equivellent to 12 girls per 6 guys. We are also divided into 4 different Relief Societys. We have a really neat Relief Society President, and a fun group of girls. I am really going to enjoy it. After church, my roomies and I cooked together for the first time. We made no bake cookies for a potluck we attended at our I-Team leaders house. We had so much fun and were really pleased with how they turned out. Everyone devored them at the potluck. And of course, we made a double batch so that we can have some left over for us!

All of Us! Mandie, Vanessa, me, Katie, Kenzi, Kenzie. Oh, and our adoptive roomate Nena!

First Day of School!

So yesterday was officially my FIRST day of School! I am currently taking 17 credits, my first semester as a freshman. I ended up only having three classes, and not having to go to my 7:45 a.m. lab for Anatomy and Physiology. :) This definately made my day. My first class was Psychology. I am super excited because my roomate Mandie is in my class. Came home and made lunch and hung out with some friends. Then at 3:15 I had my child development class. I also got my friend Mitchell to join social dance with me! The class was full when I registered, but if you could find a partner then you could join. This is going to be a really fun class! We will be learning the foxtrot, swing, cha cha, and rumba! nAll of my teachers are really great! We start every class with a prayer, and in child development we sang, "Let Us All Press On." This is going to take some getting used to. Sometimes I forget I'm at school and not church. Everyone on campus is very nice and extremely helpful. This morning I had my Anatomy & Physiology Class. It was a very packed class. I was also able to go to my University Orchestra class. We have a large orchestra, and I am excited to be able to work with such a great and talented group of musicians. I am also in the first violin section! I think I am going to enjoy all of my classes, but I definately have some studying, memorizing, praying, and crying ahead of me.

I-Night Extravaganza!

Tonight was the end of Get Connected, which was a great way for me to meet new people and become involved with the campus. We had the I-night extravaganza where there were a ton of games you could play; mechanical bulls, bowling, a dance, a dating game, free pictures, cotton candy, rock wall, laser tag, etc. They also had Kirby Heyborne come and do a comedy/acoustic show for us. He is an actor on the church movies, such as, Singles Ward, Singles Ward 2, Best two Years, the RM. His is the classic mormon star. It was a really great show, and he is hilarious. He had the audience roaring with laughter. After the show he came outside and talked with us and took pictures. I however, forgot my camera. I was rather upset. BUT....I did get to TOUCH him and talk to him! He did one more show after ours, so my friends and I went back to my apartment to get my camera, so that we could come back and get a picture with him! But, he didn't come out and I didn't get a picture with him. We walked back to my friends apartment and we passed the BYU-I sign, and I of course didn't want my camera carrying go to waste. So I took advantage of the moment and got some pictures with my Burleyites in front of the sign. And of course the BEAUTIFUL REXBURG TEMPLE! It is gorgeous at night. I am really blessed to be able to live so close to the temple and be able to look at it everyday!

Roomies!

Well I have met the roomates and decorated my room! My family was a GREAT help! Couldn't have done it without them. They are the best! My colors are turquoise and brown. My friend made me this cute E for graduation that goes great with my room. My other friend also gave me a blue corkboard that matches perfectly and my grandma and aunts made me a cork/magnetic/white board as well. I have five roomates! Kenzie from Illinois, her cousin Mckinzi from Washington, Vanessa from Washington, Mandi (who is a twin) from Boise, and Katie from South Carolina (who is the only sophmore and has a cool accent). We are all getting along so well and have a fun time together!

Moving Day, Moving Day!

Well the day has finally come for me to move out on my own. Ahhhh... this is definately going to be a big change for me to adjust to. But I can do it. This moving was quite an adventure full of great memories, with a little case of homesickness. We left around 4:30, after my family got out for church. My Grandma Gwen came over to say goodbye, and be our college photographer. And you know the phrase, don't let the door hit you in the but on the way out. Grandma made sure that we captured that special moment. We got to my apartment in Rexburg at Tuscany Place, picked out my room, and unloaded my stuff. And boy did I have a ton of stuff. But thanks to my mom, who is an excellent packer, fit it all in one car so that we could travel together as a family. We went to go find a hotel to stay in for the night and everything in Rexburg was BOOKED. Actually, everything in Rigby and pretty much Idaho Falls was booked. We tried a ton of hotels. Finally, one hotel had only ONE room left that had a king sized bed in it. We took it, anything is better than a night in our car. We walked to the Olive Garden to get us some dinner. I had been sick all day, but somehow I managed to eat a ton. You would have thought it was my last meal! Then we went to Walmart to get some cots and blankets to sleep on. Mariah and Mason slept with mom and dad in the king bed, and Camille and I set up some cots and blankets to sleep on. It was quite the ADVENTURE! But definately worth the MEMORY! What a great way to start college with my family, with a memory!

A Birthday Shoutout!

Can you believe this hunk of love is 15 years old ALREADY! Wow, time is going by so fast. I am really starting to feel like an older sister. Oh no, only one more year and she will be dating. Well, I guess it is time for me to get out my pepper spray (instead of a gun since I don't have one) and give these guys a talking to. They wouldn't even dare mess with my sister because they will end up getting a piece of my mind, and they would have wished they wouldn't have messed with me. Well, HAPPY BIRTHDAY CAMILLE! I sure LOVE you!

A New Beginning!

Well the time has come for me to start my new and exciting life; COLLEGE Life! It is a little scary but I am very excited and ready to embrace this new adventure. I will be moving in one week up to Rexburg, Idaho (the burg they call it because it is so cold), to begin my college career. I will be majoring in nursing, following the path of my amazing mother who I look up to very much. I hope to be able to get my degree and work in the Labor and Delivery Department. I LOVE newborn babies! I will be a full time student, new roomate, friend, and living out on my own. A lot of new things will be happening, but it is all apart of this adventure they call LIFE!