Once upon a time... a lot has happened.

So many great things have happened recently!! I feel incredibly blessed to have been given the life I have. I know that the Lord loves each and every one of us and that He wants to bless us.

1. I moved to Provo.

Sure did! I moved into Carriage Cove apartments about three weeks ago. I'm loving it. The drive to work isn't very fun... but I like to think it's quite worth it! I was blessed with three incredible roommates; Jessica, Lauren and Brittany. Each of them are so sweet and kind. I seriously couldn't have asked for better roommates.

Dallin and Hollie came and spent the night with me last Saturday night.

2. I went to the Manti Pageant.
For the first time! Our ward went on Friday and then spent the night in some cabins that someone in our ward owns. It was a lot of fun! Surely something I'll always remember. I think it's really cool how the Church does things like this!! And how amazing it was to see all of those people come together to view the Mormon miracle together.

3. We got a dog.

We got a dog? What?! His name is Koda and he is the CUTEST little pup you'll ever see.

4. Parades have started.

Oh parades... how I... love... you...... ;). We've done two parades so far - the kids are looking fantastic and sounding great. I'm looking forward to show season already.

5. My flutes were the first passed off on their parade tune.

Yes. Yes they were :). And I'm SO PROUD!! The girls set a date for them to pass off the tune and even set a consequence if they failed to meet their goal. The drum majors promised that the first section would get cake for being passed off. So, one blistering hot Thursday, the last flute passed off her parade tune and the drum majors announced to the band that the flutes were the first to be done. WHOO!! Saturday night we had a party and the majors brought them they're well deserved cakes :). Now let's be the first section passed off on show music........

6. Work, work, work.
Work has been good... as good as work can be. We had someone from our team that works from New Mexico come in for the week. For some reason his nickname is "sugar lips", so Cindy made sugar cookies in the shape of lips. I definitely am grateful for the opportunity I have to work at such a great place with such amazing people.

7. All my friends are leaving me.

Literally. EmmaLee is going on a mission. Callie is going on a mission. Brianna is going on a mission. Marissa is going back to Idaho. Syvanna is going to Florida. And me? I am in Provo :). 

BUT! I feel incredibly blessed to have been given all of these amazing friends. They've been such tremendous examples to me and have struck with me through the thick and thin and the ups and downs. We've been through a lot together and personally - I'm so thankful for the things I've learned from these beautiful ladies.

Since Syvanna and Marissa are leaving... we decided to take pictures before the three of us are in three different states. We've done this three times now! We've changed SO much.

2012

2014

AND NOW! 

2015.......

I want a man with a motorcycle.

This is for you, Jana ;)

I'm going to miss these three lovely ladies very much. They've both been inspiring to me. They've each had their own individual struggles and trials and I've watched as we've been able to help each other through them. I've seen how much they've grown and what they've learned. It's been an incredible journey thus far and I can't wait to continue making memories. Love you both :)

A Year in Review

2014 has been a good one! I'll admit that I'm glad that it has come to an end and that 2015 is just around the corner. One thing I love about the new year is not only setting new goals for myself, but also looking back at all I've accomplished and done throughout the year.....

2014.....

*I went to college! I moved to Rexburg, Idaho and attended school at BYU-Idaho for two semesters as a music education major on flute.
*I gained three lovely new friends (aka roommates). Angie, Rachel and Isabel.
*I learned college was A LOT harder than high school.
*I learned that living on your own was HARD.
*I learned a lot about myself and the type of woman I want to become.
*I learned that winter in Rexburg is miserable.

*I learned that flute players are crazy competitive and that "everything is a competition".

*I learned that I still had a TON to know about playing the flute.

*I learned that band tours in college aren't as fun as high school band tours.

*I learned what kind of people I want in my life.
*I learned that I didn't want to be in Idaho anymore.
*I learned that you should listen to the spirit the first time around.

*I lost almost 100 pounds and realized that life is great when you're being healthier.
*I started running and was able to run two miles straight (this is a lot......)
*I realized how much I truly loved every single member of my crazy family.

*I learned that I love Utah and I shouldn't try to get away from it.
*I started my second season of staffing at Westlake High School. Our show was entitled 'The Witch and the Saint.'

*I realized that I LOVE Hawaii. Oh. And the men there.

Overall, 2014 was a pretty tough years. I struggled throughout the entire year with things I haven't struggled with, but also gained a new confidence and love for life that I've never even seen before. 2015 couldn't come sooner and I'm already waiting for what awaits me.


2015....

Hopefully making my goals public helps me to accomplish them better. I always start out doing well on my goals but end up really slacking after just a few short weeks.

Goal number one.... accomplish every goal I have set for 2015.
2. Read my scriptures for at least ten minutes a day.
3. Finish the Book of Mormon by the end of the year.
4. Exercise six days a week for at least 30 minutes.
5. Go to the temple at least twice a month.
6. Pay a completely full tithe.
7. Run a 5k.
8. Reach my goal weight.
9. Eat less sugar.
10. Be more social.
11. Save money like crazy.
12. Practice patience.
13. Continue with my health blog.
14. De-clutter and live a more organized life.

As you can see they're pretty broad goals... but they're goals and habits that I want to develop sooner rather than later. It might be difficult to accomplish, but boy will it make a great year for me. I'm also looking forward to moving out in just a few short weeks as well as starting school at UVU in the fall.

Here's to a great new start......

My How Time Flies!

My how time flies! This Thursday, when the tale lights of the car I'm in leave this town of Rexburg, I will have officially completed my first semester of college. WHOOT! My first finals week and jury performance will be over! Only seven more!..... yay.

Weekend Retreat w/the Roomies

A few weekends ago I brought two of my roommates to visit home. We spent Saturday at Temple Square, saw Divergent and Life of Walter Mitty (both very good!!), and spent time with my family. On Sunday we took pictures with my mom.

So grateful for these girls! They've made my first semester here at BYU-Idaho SO much fun! Sad to be leaving Angie and Rachel, but on to new fun adventures in room 213!!

We had our FHE brothers over the other night and Isabel challenged Preston to drinking a 1/2 cup of spaghetti sauce. Thinking he wouldn't do such a thing, she found herself staring at 1/2 a cup of spaghetti sauce and wishing she hadn't challenged him. It did take a while, but she did indeed finish the 1/2 cup. 

Travor (FHE Brother) had his birthday a few weeks prior to the baking of this cake. He didn't tell anybody and the announcement of his birthday wasn't posted to Facebook, so once we found out he had aged another year, we put our heads together and found a PERFECT cake to make for him. It didn't turn out quite like we thought...

You can kind of see the checkers!

We used the apples and sprinkles to distract from the beauty of this cake, which we named: "Mayhem". 

I was with Isabel in her room and looked up and saw a spider on the ceiling!! Rather than trying to help her, I pulled out my phone and began taking pictures. I'm so nice....

{Grace & I listening to bands}

This past week I went to Reno, Nevada with the BYU-Idaho Symphony Band and had a blast! So grateful I had the opportunity to be in this band and help share all of our many talents. 

{Maddy & I listening to bands}

{Downtown Reno}

{Maddy & I}

Our flute section!! Love each of these girls so much and so glad I got the chance to meet and get to know them better.

Waiting to go on to the stage

17 more days!!! Only 17 more days and I'm home for Spring break! And once that is over I'll have successfully completed my first semester of college and will begin Spring Semester before returning home for longer than just a weekend!! Seriously cannot wait! But I have been having so much fun here and couldn't be more grateful for the chance to be here, the education and experiences I've had and gained, and the relationships I've been able to build with roommates and others.