Special Guest Post

Dear Kelsey,

I hacked onto your blog, es for fun.

You are the best of friend I could have asked for! I see you everyday-we work together, we work out together, we sleep together (yes), we cook together, we eat together, we study together...and you still don't get on my nerves. Dude, this is love.

It's like we're married or something! Jk....

soon enough we're both going to be getting married to boys for real and our routine won't be with eachother, sad to think about, but I hope you know that, shawty, you da best.

Thanks for putting up with me, and letting me put my used tissues on your couch (right now) and for taking care of me while I'm sick.

Love you long tiiime!!

-whitney friend

dont delete this kels, i have blackmail. muahahhaa

An apple

All it took today for me to get out of my sad no-man state was to hear a man eat an apple (and secretly I watched him) and now I am cured of wanting a man. Yuck. Boys are discusting.

It seems like life happens in cycles... cycles of good, bad, okay, really bad, awesome, etc. So far this year I've experienced more of these highs and lows then ever before in my life. I've blogged about most of them, so I won't go into detail, but in essence, it's been a growing and especially challenging time. I've delt with sickness, injury, acute loneliness, service and work opportunities I've always wanted to have, love, strengthening of friendships, and loosing loved ones. In each instance as I look back, I can see how fragile and blessed those times were. They have all added quality to my life, and made me expand outside of myself to help others.

Three days ago my Cousin passed way. It was a very unexpected occurance, and my thoughts and prayers go out to my Clayton family who in 2 months have had to deal with the passing of 2 dear loved ones. I've been reminded again and again this year about the fraglity of life.

While I was in the hospital working, I would go into rooms where the patrons would be literally on their death beds. (Alta View is known as a very geriatric hospital). My job was seemingly unimportant in the grand scale of things, but I felt like I would make bonds with these patients who stayed for weeks at a time just by providing for them stability in when they were getting their meals and a different friend to talk to. These lives were so precious. I learned a lot about what adds substance to a person's life. I would always feel so bad for the people who hardly had visitors, and feel peace about the patrons who's families would visit often, or sometimes never even leave.

I know that no one ever wants to experience pain, or face the dark and hard times. It seems that the world could not get worse, but yet, somehow it does. What defines us is how we deal with these hardships. We always beg the question, 'why me? why now?' but we will not find the answer alone. What brings me the most comfort and what I believe to be the best hope we have in this life, is that God is in Everything.

Ode to the Mates.

Okay, so I just have to take this time and say 3 paragraphs about my roommates. I want everyone I love to know them, because it's them that have made the difference to me so far this school year.

First off, HANNAH

Hannah is an absolute joy. From the first day I met her I have only felt loved. She's so easy to talk to and never says mean things about people. She has the best southern accent I've ever heard, and she loves to eat as much as me! She is a graceful and beautiful dancer in BYU's ballet company and she can make jokes out of anything. She also has the most contagious laugh. I love to talk to Hannah about my day because she acts genuinely interested in the going-ons of my life. I believe Hannah to be one of the prettiest girls I've met. I wish that I could put it into words better, but she just is the bomb. I am so so lucky to have the opportunity to live with her. What a doll.

Kelly is such a crack up! She has the most interesting life of any of us in that she has 5 sisters who all have their own unique story and every day we hear something new which is wonderful. She also can make a funny joke out of anything that is said, and seems to have all the right words to say when you need to hear them. She is so good about cooking and cleaning and she never complains about the house but just does what is needed. She has such a natural beauty and a very loving personality. I admire her so much for her spiritual strength and her inner child. I'm so glad that I have the opportunity to learn from Kel. She teaches me how to be better every day.

Whitney is my busom buddy. If you didn't believe in them before, you better start being a believer. I am the luckiest girl to be living with her as not only my roommate but as one of my best friends. I don't think that anyone could be as kind as she is to me, as good at putting up with my bad and annoying habits and as patient with my crazy living patterns. She is a saint. Whitney has a unique talent of uplifting anyone who is having a bad day. She is a fighter like non I've ever seen before. She is intelligent and hard working and never lets what people say or think stop her. She's more in-tune with peoples emotions then anyone i've ever met, and is absolutely hilarious. I know that our Father in Heaven loves her as one of his elect daughters. She has so much love in her heart for people and will make the best nurse in the world. Her great attitude is addicting. I believe her to be my saving angel. I love her to the eternities.

I wish that I could let you all experience a day in the life of apartment 10. We are nuts, but we've had some tender moments and our apartment is full of peace. I want to thank you for making the difference to me. I could not survive alone. I never thought I could love school and provo like I do now. It's like what I always imagined. Thanks for accepting me into your lives. You have blessed mine so much.

Now lets be clear, I love you all! but my roommates just deserved a little shout out tonight as I am feeling humbled to be in their presence and so blessed.

All my love to all of you who read this and who have helped me grow. I would be nothing without the love and support of all those whom I know. You are all the best!!!

'it's the tops!'

It's the most wonderful time of the year

NOPE

It's hammer time.

Just kiddin!

It's conference time! It's the best time of the year for me. I seriously love it as much as Christmas! I think that it is awesome that we have the opportunity to be educated by Gods direct servants! It's the best thing ever. I am just so so excited. What a deal.