times have changed

So last night, I finished up my last college final of (now listen to this kids....)...2 years!!!! I'll go on my mission and then I won't be taking another final till december of 2011. So weird, so weird. I went on campus this morning to sell back my last book, and I almost cried at the thought that this may be the last time I step foot on byu campus for a long, long time. haha. JK, I didn't cry, but it was totally weird to think about. It's great though, new ventures await me in the furture.

Come next winter, I could be enjoyin some weather like this....


and what if I got a coat like this.....haha

yep...that's right kids

Well, yesterday I went home and opened up my mission call! And it is now done and official. I will be serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the.......

RUSSIA MOSCOW WEST MISSION!!!!!
I will of course be speaking Russian (wow! ha), and I report to the Provo MTC on February 10, 2010. (so crazy soon!)

Despite a little nervousness here and there about the whole thing, ha, I am extremely excited!! I love this gospel and I am so excited to share the happiness that I have through the gospel with the people in Russia.

what really matters

"This is our one and only chance at mortal life—here and now. The longer we live, the greater is our realization that it is brief. Opportunities come, and then they are gone. I believe that among the greatest lessons we are to learn in this short sojourn upon the earth are lessons that help us distinguish between what is important and what is not. I plead with you not to let those most important things pass you by as you plan for that illusive and nonexistent future when you will have time to do all that you want to do. Instead, find joy in the journey—now....Brothers and sisters, my sincere prayer is that we may adapt to the changes in our lives, that we may realize what is most important, that we may express our gratitude always and thus find joy in the journey."

-Thomas S. Monson

from 8 to 80

So you know when you are writing in your journal and you have a little extra time to thumb back to entries long past, and delve into an old you from years ago?? Well, just recently I did this, and the particular entry I liked wasn't necessarily years ago, but just a few months. It was back at the beginning of fall, right before the new semester was just about to begin. I had written about how crazy fast the summer had flown by, and about how weird it was to think that the fall semester was already upon us.

It kinda made me laugh, looking upon that, knowing that now that semester that I had long been looking forward to, slash dreading is basically over. Man! Time flies so crazy fast! And the more years that seem to pass me by, the faster they seem to fly. It's kinda fascinating actually. This past semester has flown, and a new year and new semester soon approaches. It still completely fathoms me how fast the chapters of our lives open and close. I'm actual quite nervous that time moves so fast that in the next 10 years I will basically be 80....or else that may be what it would seem like, haha.

So my goal and challenge to myself....make each day and each moment count because before you know it, those days and opportunities may be gone....Spend more time strengthening those relationships that can last you a lifetime and into the eternities.

awaiting

Welp, thanksgiving has already come and gone. Kinda crazy. I spent the last couple weeks just countin down the days until I got to head home and eat some yummy goodness, and have fun with the fam. It was a blast, and my family is completely awesome!!!!

Now, I find myself awaiting some more awesomeness....I put in my mission papers last week!!!!!!!!! so hopefully in the next week or so we shall see! sweetness!!

what are you thankful for?

i am thankful for...

-a loving Heavenly Father and my Savior, Jesus Christ
-the gift of the Holy Ghost, to guide and direct
-this earth and all of its beautiful creations
-family
-loving and supportive parents
-siblings who become my best friends
-friends and roommates
-my education
-my job
-growth through experiences and challenges
-blessings and opportunities
-my home
-my bed
-warmth and warm fireplaces
-yummy food
-health and wellness
-sunshine
-snow
-smiles and laughs
-the outdoors and camping and hiking
-good smells...pumpkin, cinnamon, evergreen, cranberry....

around this time of year i especially love family gatherings, the plethora of fatty foods, desserts and pies, board games, drinking hot cocoa, listening to christmas music, all the beautiful lights, setting up fun decorations, cuddling up under blankets and having movie marathons, sleeping in, playing some good ol' football thanksgiving day, snow ball fights/sledding/making snowmen, the lights on temple square, road trips,...i could go on and on

lovely

So when I took my first interior design class my freshman year, I decided that my favorite architectural style was the late georgian style...and today I realized that it is STILL my favorite. haha.

here is one of the homes that I think is just beautiful...

and I really love the interior and furniture styles of the victorian period. Here are some pieces that I just think are soo cool...

I absolutely love this black and white checkered floor and this staircase that were quite popular in the victorian period...

but I also still really have a fancy for these modern and structural designed rooms...

fyi

christmas music is now playing on fm100.3 all day everyday....24/7...daytime or nighttime...in sunshine or in shadow...any day and everyday(well i guess except for sundays when church music abounds)...ALL THE TIME!

yahoo!
hahahahahaha