All The Good

If anyone knows anything about me at all, it's that I love kids, and I also LOVE the exploration of new cultures, so when I found these pictures on Pinterest today, it was literally everything I loved about this world.

I was looking at these pictures and I remembered how small my little world is! It made America (and the UK for that matter) seem a lot smaller. There's so much out there to explore and love, and there is happiness and joy in everyday life. 

Everywhere.

I wish I knew who photographed these incredible shots, so that I could give them credit! But just one of the vices of Pinterest I guess.

Here's why this world is better than we think it is

look at this face. Seriously. Tell me you're not smiling right now.

Back In the Swing of Things

So it's day 3 of my penultimate semester at Brigham Young-University-Idaho, meaning that I'm merely months away from completing my undergraduate degree!

Nuts.

I still feel like a baby, but with my 21st birthday being 8 days away (EIGHT DAYS) I guess baby is the wrong term.

Well, I don't know what it is about Rexburg in the spring, even when it's not actually that warm- we all just get ...happy.

Everything just seems brighter and more optimistic. I have a FANTASTIC set of roommates and so far we've had a blast! Even uni has been fun! I've had a crazy amount of studying and reading to do, but I'm loving it (could be something to do with the lack of chemistry in my life). 

Spring really has sprung. 

Even if the weather doesn't think it has.

Cheesy "first day of school" snaps. Must have.

I'm pretty excited. It's going to be a good one.

P.S. What better way to start the semester than with a "stolen" 8ft sub. 

We ate well. And now have lunch for a while. Best. Ward Social. Ever.

Mid-Winter Break

Let's be honest, it's not spring in Rexburg yet.

However, for my third and final "spring" break of my undergraduate career, I actually left Rexburg! It was unusually refreshing knowing that I'd have an entire week in which to do nothing. 

Nothing.

Felt Sooooooo Goooooood

Here's how I think it should be done.

First, find a place like this. 

Actually make sure it is this place because no-one else does a Double-Double Protein Style like they do. (bread is overrated).

Then go to a place with Red Rocks. Like this.

Eat things that look like this

I'm serious.

Now make sure the sky looks like this

And repeat.

Soon?

GC Weekend

"GC" is what I call General Conference when I'm feeling particularly lazy. Which is now. At the start of finals week. Classic me.

General Conference is a series of meetings held by my church wherein we get to here from the leaders of our church. It's a wonderful time filled with spirituality and a reassurance of principles that we have been taught throughout our lives. I love General Conference, because it always gives me the chance to reassess my life and my priorities. It allows me to remember what matters most, and usually keeps me rejuvenated until the next session in October!

This year, I headed down to Salt Lake with Krysta, Paul, David and Bryce and we spent the weekends with the Klumpps. We had a great time, watching Janae's performance in the musical "Curtains", being reunited with old friends and eating some great food. We were so busy, that we didn't catch all of the conference sessions and talks, however thanks to the amazing technological powers that be, we can watch them online!

I came away from conference feeling happy, but also feeling very stressed. As I mentioned earlier, and as it's all I ever talk about- it's finals week. That awful week that has come around every three months for the past two years. 

I'm sick (as per my usual finals week tradition) and I would like to apologize to anyone who has been within 10 metres of me all day, because I have been sneezing and sniffling to my bunged up nose's content. I sat in the library today for about 7 hours, and slowly noticed that the cubicles around me began to become vacant. 

I don't blame you. 

However, after watching some talks from General Conference that I had missed, this seemed especially applicable for my week:

"I would say to all who wish for more faith, remember this man (Mark 9:14-24). In moments of fear or doubt or troubling times, hold the ground you have already won, even if that ground is limited" 

If there is anything I have learned in my life, it's that I have never been left alone in times of need. Never. In that sense, that is the ground that I have already won. That is what I already know. And I can use that to be assured that I will never be alone again. 

I can totally do this. 

Right? 

Right.

Janae and I spent some time between the sessions walking around Temple Square, and I always love the atmosphere!

^^ We met some of the beautiful ladies from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir  #starstruck

Stay strong friends. 

I'll try to as well!!

yes, my hair is def totes cray. it's just easier to deal with that way.

yes, I just said def totes cray

Backpack, Backpack! Yeah!

What do Dora the Explorer and I have in common?

 

A BACKPACK

Now, before you judge me and think that this post clearly belongs in the N.E.R.D section- which it clearly does- allow me to explain a little bit.

Ever since the Channing days of old, I've been REALLY embarrassed to carry a backpack (rucksack for the Brits). It just wasn't cool. Year 7 brought the Kookai and Jane Norman shoulder bags that everyone had, and there was the MANGO bags and then just nice leather shoulder bags... but never really any good, sturdy, practical rucksacks. This lasted all 7 years at Channing School for Girls, and then I managed TWO years at university with stupidly heavy books, in a quaint leather shoulder bag. 

Well that was all until a fateful March evening when a waiter dropped a pot of fry sauce into Old Faithful. (Not the geographical landmark located in Wyoming; my old, scabby, 8- year old shoulder bag from a tacky shop under a bridge in Finsbury Park).

It was then that I decided to join the ranks and invest in something that wouldn't leave me with scoliosis. Good plan right?

Well it's here, and this morning as I embarked on my journey to uni at 7 o'clock this morning, I felt like I had a sloth on my back. And loved it. 

SO here's what I learned from my new leap of faith

1) Parents: Don't let your children waste tonnes of YOUR money on needless fads, to make help them fit in with their friends. (Von Dutch hats, velour Juicy tracksuits.... case and point.)

2) Don't be afraid to wear a backpack in fears that you'll look too studious. You're going to SCHOOL, AND in 7 years the fads that other people are trying to make you wear will be ugly. They will be.

3) Don't underestimate the wonderful feeling that comes from carrying stuff on your back. It's a lot better than the shoulder or forearm. I actually put a textbook in my bag today, in addition to my laptop. Who'da thunk you could put more than one thing in that little sucker.

 

Literally. I love it. I also love ASOS! I got this baby for quite a steal, especially using a coupon website that gives you great discounts (Retail Me Not. Literally magical) 

Ok. It's a blog post about backpacks. It does belong in the NERD basket. I'll just take my backpack and go.

Easter

Happy Easter to all!

Sorry that it's slightly belated, but I hope that everyone had a fantastic day, whatever you were doing. I spent my third Easter here in the U.S. with great friends and greater food. (It was seriously lush).

We had a wonderful time at church, where we had special meetings focused on the real reason behind Easter. After church we came home and went over to Ronald's house for a good Easter meal and some traditional American Easter-ness.

  

 

I had honestly never colored eggs before I moved to little Rexburg, and though it's an odd tradition, I do really enjoy it.

Aside from all of the festivities, I'm again drawn to the real reason behind Easter. Because of the love that our Heavenly Father and Brother Jesus Christ have for us, Christ died and atoned for our sins, and I cannot express how thankful I am for that blessing. I really love having this knowledge for myself and being able to use it in my life.

If you would like to know more about my beliefs.... you can click on the tab that says "i believe"

 

Or you can have a look at my little profile

Hope you've had an incredible time no matter what- and for all my friends at home, I hope the bank holiday was great. I miss those. A lot.