TC loves our couches. For being in a college apartment, they are pretty dang comfortable...but he LOVES them. He claims that's why he comes over, but we know that he loves us second best. He is always stealing the (extremely hideous) pillows, too. Somehow, no matter what, he ends up with four and the rest of us have none. Someone explain that to me. Every time I complain he declares, "But I love pillows!" As if that makes it OK.


Besides, he loves pillows.

Mi Madre is an avid college basketball fan. It's almost insane. For instance, she wouldn't go to the hospital when she was in labor with Josh because of a basketball game. No lie. This quirk is magnified x10 during March Madness. She loses it.





Hey, at least I let her start it after the first round of games!

Since posting last night I have been thinking about how sometimes songs say everything you wish you could say, and more. How they speak to you at times.

For instance:

Since I've been up at school I introduce myself all the time. Needless to say, the first question after the name exchange is: Where are you from? Whenever I answer Preston, ID it is followed with one of two things: 1) Do you know [fill in the blank]? 2) Hey! isn't that where Napolean Dynamite was filmed?! Inevitably, once people get to know me it becomes the running joke that I'm from Preston. I don't know why...I find Preston a perfectly civilized place.

I love Preston; with all of my heart I love Preston. Here's my song for good ol' Ptown. This goes out to anyone who has picked on me for being from a small, hick town.

"It's where I learned about living, it's where I learned about love. It's where I learned about working hard and having a little was just enough. It's where I learned about Jesus, and knowing where I stand. You can take it or leave it, this is me--this is who I am. I feel no shame, I'm proud of where I came from, I was born and raised in the boondocks. One thing I know, no matter where I go--I keep my heart and soul in the boondocks." --Little Big Town "Boondocks"

OR

One time I went to a work party. Everyone at my work is married, or has kids, or both. I went alone. This is fine; I love everyone at my work. They include me, I never feel left out...but, let's be honest. Sometimes it sucks being the "alone one."
This song has nothing to do with my life, but when I got in the car that night my radio literally played these words:
"You're never gonna be alone from this moment on. If you ever feel like letting go, I won't let you fall. When all hope is gone, I know that you can carry on. We're gonna see the world out, I'll hold you 'til the hurt is gone." --Nickelback "Never Gonna Be Alone"

Ok, I'm really not like this. Really. But, it's been on my mind lately...ok, it's been on my mind so much lately that I can't think of anything else to blog about. So, I'm just going to do this, and be done with it. I hope this clears my system. Don't judge me, please.

Sometimes a girl just needs to be a girl. In order to be a girl, a girl needs girl songs. Girl songs like: Taylor Swift. She may be made out to be a little better than she is, but let's be honest--Every girls has felt like one of those songs was written for her. At least once.

So, today Ms. Swift says it better than I could every begin to: I'm in the room, it's a typical [Monday] night. I'm listening to the kind of music she doesn't like. And, let's be honest...she'll never know you're story like I do. I may wear t-shirts (everyday) and sit on the bleachers (I'd rather NOT make a fool of myself, thank you) but, if only you could see: I'm the one that understands you. Walkin' through the streets with you in your worn out [shorts], I can't help thinking this is how it ought to be. I even know your favorite songs. You tell me about your dreams. I'm the one that makes you laugh when you know you're about to cry. I'm pretty dang sure I know where you belong.

You belong with me.

Thank you, Taylor Swift. That song was for me.
(And probably half the female population at one point.)

Earlier I mentioned that I was switching schools...and life plans. Let me clarify. I came to college with no idea whatsoever what majoring even meant, really. My major at BYU-ID changed quite a few times in that first year until it finally settled on my passion: Creative Writing. Now, I never said I was talented, I just said it was a passion.
I thought maybe I would go to P.A. school-since I like medicine/health care. My minor became French. The language of love. Ha, I enjoy learning. Really. But, I soon learned I really like learning medicine/health care on the job. I liked the classes well enough...but not enough to compete with the other determined students fighting to get into the programs around here.
Then, I thought, "I really hate school." So, I decided to attend a technical college and complete a Surgical Technician course. This school offers and associates degree with this program. "Fantastic," I thought. So, I completed (or am in the process of completing my general requirements) for the program now. I went to apply and found out the admittance is based only on a "first come, first serve" policy. Since I didn't have my generals done a semester earlier I was too late and must wait another year to apply to the program. No way, Hosea. (Now, I'm not totally writing this off. I'm just...working on something else while I decide if this is what I really want to do.)

SO...I'm headed back to BYU of ID to work on my BA in English: Emphasis in Creative Writing. Possibly with a Health Science Minor.

Don't ask.

If anybody has any suggestions for me. Advice. Words of Wisdom. A few slaps so I'll get my tail in gear. Please contact me. I can be found blogging when I should be studying.

Last semester one of my close friends (who was actually not such a close friend yet) called me, and I quote, "emotionally on edge." I wish I could counter this; I cannot come up with any evidence that this is in anyway false.
Change happens. When this happens it really throws me. The edge of my sanity goes crumbling and I can't even balance enough to be "on the edge." When change occurs I topple over the edge so fast I can't even scramble for a ledge to hold onto.
So much has been changing lately.
1) I changed positions at my job. Back to my old position actually. This time it is obviously with more knowledge and a lot more responsibility, but it's still pretty rough. I was moved to help pick up slack another employee was leaving behind. It's good for the whole office, I guess it's good for me. It takes off a lot of responsibility while I'm going to school full time. That's nice, but it's change; it's kind of a step backwards in my eyes. So, I'm a mess.
2) I swear the rest of the kids my age that didn't get married within the year out of high school all got engaged within 3 weeks of each other. A lot of them to each other. Yuck.
3) My family moved. My family moved while I am up at school. My family moved just a few houses down from our house. Some may think this was a good thing; maybe it would help ease the pain. I use this as an excuse to make the situation even more bitter. I hate driving past the old house when I pull up. I hate leaving my Grammy's and not walking to my back door immediately. Oh well, I guess the new house is nicer...for them.

Things will be changing even more in the next couple weeks.
1) My close friends are leaving Rexburg. Most of them with plans to not come back. Megan is serving a mission, Taylor has decided he is too cool for this place. Point made, I can't name more. I'll hyperventilate.
2) Old friends are coming back. Am I supposed to pick up where we left off?
3) I'm switching schools. Again. And majors. Again. When will I grow up? Yeah, if you find out before I do let me know. I'm wondering the same thing.
As always Disney teaches me all I need to know. In this case Peter Pan's advice strikes home:
1) Never say goodbye because goodbye means going away. Going away means forgetting.
2) All you need is faith and trust...and a little bit of pixie dust.

Josh just turned eight at the beginning of March. Since he was eight years old he got to make the choice to be baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He chose to be baptized. I am so proud of his decision.
Josh called me on my way home the night before the baptism and asked if I would speak. I'm pretty sure the baton just got passed through the family until it finally landed on me. But, I was glad to do it.

I couldn't help but notice all of the love and support Josh and my family received that day. Family and friends (who are like family) came from all over to support Josh in his decision. This just emphasized to me again the importance of baptism through the right authority.

Since the baptism I have had the same thought replay time and time again in my head: that's the last of them. That's the tail end of the family to be baptized. We're that much closer to being able to enjoy the blessings of the Celestial Kingdom forever. As a family. Because this is the first step towards exaltation: where families, sealed by the right authority, can be together forever.

This has everything to do with our wonderful parents. They have taught us through example and word the importance of living the gospel in our everyday lives. I shudder to think where we would be without the two of them, together, working as a team, carrying this family.
I never made it easy for them to carry me. In fact, sometimes I was figuratively thrashing, trying to get down. But, probably feeling waist deep in mud, they still carried me. I shudder to think one of those times was when I found out Mom was expecting with Josh. I was livid. But, now I think where my life would be without him. And probably worse, where would our family be without him? Incomplete.

I am so grateful for Josh's decision to be baptized. I'm also just grateful for Josh. I guarantee my amazing parents weren't the only parents smiling down on him that day.

I know I couldn't have gotten any prouder.

"If you enter this world knowing you are loved and you leave this world knowing the same, then everything that happens in between can be dealt with."

--Michael Jackson

I'm always the friend; this is fantastic. Seriously, it is. I'm really good at being the friend; I love hearing about other people's families, I really like to enjoy and applaud other people for their talents, I get a kick out of other's embarrassing stories, and I especially love that other people love me to be their friend. I love that I love being the friend, I just happen to be good at it.

Sometimes this great thing proposes a problem: sometimes I'm too much the friend. Without going into too much detail and humiliating myself, I'll illustrate with this story:

The other day I was chatting with the other nurse at work and I brought up the fact that once you're the "friend" (turned almost sibling) you can't ever go back. She made this assumption, "When you first meet somebody you think about getting to know everything about them, laughing with them and knowing all of their secrets. Initially, you think about being their friend." I couldn't find anything untrue about this statement nor could I find anything wrong with it. Then she gave me the advice, "You have got to stop letting the first thing that crosses your mind be 'I want to be your best friend.' The first thing that should cross your mind should be 'I wonder how good you kiss.' "

Wow, huh? This really made me think. I looked around and noticed girls dating and getting engaged. I wondered, if I was to change my attitude and adopt the one this girl suggested... I am almost positive I could at least increase the number of dates I get (which is not hard to do).

Then, I tried to imagine myself playing any other role. I can't. Literally, I cannot. I'm going to say this anyway, even at the risk of sounding cliche: I plan on marrying my best friend. For Heaven's sakes, if I am going to be with someone for all eternity I might as well spend it with the person that fits every aspect of the term: best friend. I'm not saying I don't think physical attraction is important. Hello, I'm the girl that rewinds the end of "One Fine Day" a minimum of 33 times every time I watch it just to witness that beautiful kiss time and time again. But, because I am who I am, and the things that are most important to me, I will marry my best friend. I don't know how easy it would be to find my best friend when the first thing that crosses my mind is how well they kiss. This is not to say it won't.

Sunday, October 7, 2010 Academy Awards: Rexburg had it's very own Kodak Theatre. We started planning over a month ago. A couple planning meetings, dollar store/Wal*Mart shopping trips, and countless texts from Brynn later--it was finally the day we had been waiting for. I'm sure we were as excited, if not more excited, as Sandra Bullock.
Sadly, I don't have many pictures to document, but the whole apartment was draped in black material-making it resemble an after party tent. These decorations came complete with Chrismas lights for effect. Tables were set up and fondue was served. It was fantastic.


Our group turned out smaller than planned, but so much fun! The paparazzi followed us as we walked down the red carpet and we even allowed them in the party for a quick peek.

I'm headed home this weekend for the first time in 2 months. Considering how relatively close I live--this has been quite the length of time away from home. Needless to say I am ecstatic.

That's Morgan. That's all I can say. That should be all I need to say. (What you can't see is that she is also sporting pink moon boots in the picture.)

There is no place like home.