International Relations

No this isn't my newest major choice, but it is how I spent my evening! We had the honor of having General David H. Petreaus come to speak at our campus tonight.

(I chose this picture because he smiled a lot)

I can't tell you all that he talked about because to tell the truth I don't understand ALL OF THE COMPLEX issues of Central Command (which is the Middle East basically I was informed tonight), but I can tell you my impressions of David Petreaus, because honestly I'm sure that's what you all care about. :)

My defining quote from David Petreaus would have to be what he said at the beginning: "I try not to take myself seriously, but I do take my work seriously" (this is what I wrote down, but just know that I wasn't recording it or anything .. so it could be less than exact). To explain this quote he was very down to Earth about himself and his beginning remarks were complimentary to everyone on the stand (which included the Governor as well). He was also very funny about LDS culture. He then took questions from the audience and he answered them pretty well (side-stepping only a few), and in a way that was easily understandable.

I was very impressed with him over all, and I like his ideas about the war and how its going. It was a really cool experience, knowing that I was in the same room (after an hour and a half wait by the way) with a man vital to this country, and someone that actually talks to President Obama -- regularly! This is one reason I'm glad to be at BYU -- there are really a lot of opportunities here!

To end with -- Here are my favorites from his list of

Top 10 Reasons Mormons Make Good Soldiers

- They have no problems switching to army rations, they've been raised on shredded carrots and green Jell-o

- They are the most reliable designated drivers

- They never go AWOL -- they prefer the term less active

(my favorite) - They have no problem building a base, you simply need to get a cane and say with a loud voice: THIS IS THE PLACE

(there were more, but I can't remember them all...)

I'm a HERO!

It is unprecedented I know -- TWO POSTS IN TWO DAYS -- but I just had to share.

I DONATED BLOOD!

If anyone remembers, last year I tried to donate blood. I was so so so so excited all day! I practiced my squeezing motion, I drank enough, and I slept enough. I was totally prepared.

But I didn't have enough iron.

I was so disappointed, I nearly started crying no joke.

BUT MY DAYS OF BEING IRON DEFICIENT ARE APPARENTLY OVER.

I am now a spinach eater, which apparently is packed with iron! WOOHOO! So today spur of the moment I checked to see if they had a time, then they said yes. Then I filled out my questionnaire, passed all their tests, and went crazy!

Please notice the sign that says: I make a difference!

Not only did I donate blood, but I did it FAST! My time was 4:18 flat. I was told and I quote:

"4:18 is fast, especially for a girl." When I was comparing times with my guy friends afterwards --- I had them beat.. just saying...

Life Lately

I haven't updated in a while, because I've been so busy that I didn't realize I actually had fun things to blog about for a change! So here's a super fast update, on the fun things that I've been doing!

It was my sister's birthday (and since she's been such an amazing sister who's been taking care of me so much in my first year away from home -- and being my friend -- and having such a cute daughter -- and an open house -- and making me home-cooked meals that I like --- basically because she's just a generally awesome person) so I made her this charming cake. I'm becoming quite a pro at cake making in a dorm kitchenette -- if you need any tips.

I went to a dance with some lovely ladies, including Miss Stacey McKnight who is pictured above! (We didn't even match on purpose!) It was a luau in fact -- a seasonal depression luau actually. It was such a great time, because the dreary weather and homesickness are really depressing in the months of February and March.

At the dance there was a fire-dancer! It was super cool, including when he dropped his rod of fire on people TWICE -- ON ACCIDENT! (They were fine though so it was still cool!)



And finally today, on stake conference day we encouraged everyone in our ward to wear blue. I don't know how it came about but it super fun! We took hall pictures with as many people as we could find so that was fun as well!

Also one last thing I've been up to lately:


I've never lived in a big enough town to have an all waffle place in it. So I took advantage of my time in Provo, and went to Denny's at 3:00 a.m. It turned out to be closer to like ... 3:15 though because getting up was sort of a challenge (thanks stacey for waking me up! <3)>

Apartment!

It has been a long and stressful journey, but thankfully I have endured and made it through!

We started out trying to get into Regency Apartments, which we loved! But alas, Regency did not want us. We went that morning bright and early after putting all our hopes and dreams into getting in.

Stacey and Cammie excited at the Regency Lottery Drawing:

We went, and left without an apartment and without much chance of getting one.

We moved onto Plan B(etter) and we went to or called about a million places. Space was limited, so we finally finally narrowed it down with a

chart and some check marks. It was very exciting, and all that, but a very very very long process. So we went on our last apartment hunting trip today, and it was successful!

We went to a place we've

been eyeing and after a weird experience with the management and overall not excited vibe.

We went and signed at the other place we've been looking at!

AND NOW....

I am the proud new renter of #21!

These are the lovely ladies I will be living with in front of our new apartment:

And here we are with our contracts and deposit receipts.

(From left to right: Chelsea, Me, Cammie, and Stacey)

Visiting Teaching

I was called at the beginning of the year to be the Visiting Teaching Coordinator. My RS president actually gave me a lot more to do then I expected, and I've got to be a very active participant in making assignments, and since I don't have any supervisors its my job to track everyone down monthly and get the report!

Really though the biggest part of my calling is the VISITING TEACHING CONFERENCE. This past January I planned, and held the best (and only of course) Visiting Teaching Conference of my life! The main things we focused on (besides instruction-- there is a lot to learn if this is your first time visiting teaching...) was the idea of ministering. Visiting Teaching is way more than sharing a message -- its about friendship and caring!

So this month I decided to step up my efforts to ensure a PERFECT MONTH of visiting teaching for the Relief Society! I made these signs and put them up around the hall to keep Visiting Teaching in the hearts and minds of all my friends!

Dorm Life...

I love the dorms! They are small, but I love all the people I know and I love how close I've gotten with all of them. I know this is a unique year and I will (hopefully) never live in the same type of setting again... With that said I still have a few major problems -- like the lack of space...

For example: Last night I did three loads of laundry, and I have a number of shirts that I do not dry. So I filled up my laundry rack, and still had more shirts so I opened the drawers to my closet and draped some clothes on those. I still had more shirts (they were 3 very large loads)... So I placed the last couple on my bed... this is all fine and good for the most part.

But when 8:00 rolls around and you've been studying all night and you want a 20 minute nap before you keep going... Where do you go then?

I grabbed my pillow and a small blanket off my bed ... and napped on the carpet-on-concrete floor... Talk about depressing...

So while I do love the many amazing parts of my dorm life-- I'm starting to get a little antsy for small comforts of a HOME-- like a COUCH to take naps on and a cupboard with snacks in it and a kitchen and places to be alone in every once in awhile..

Cake Creation!

My cousin had a birthday on January 14! It was his first birthday away from home (we're both just freshman here at BYU!) So my sister and I got together to make the most amazing cake in the world! I didn't know what to put on it, so I put a fish, cause he likes fishing ..... and then I was just so proud of it -- I wanted to share!