yet another nighttime adventure

My first nighttime adventure up AF canyon consisted of a 10 hour hike in the dark with my best friends. This time was slightly different yet just as cool! As a ward, we went showshoeing under the moonlight! It was absolutely beautiful. Even though no camera could capture the beauty, just imagine this: snow laced on the ground, trees and bushes all around, silence, a clear sky, seeing all the stars, then being pleasantly surprised and excited when the moon comes up and lights everything up. Man, something everyone must do in their lifetime.

I'm glad I got to go, even though it was VERY last minute, because I met some new friends! I'd been having a hard time getting to know people in the ward, but I just clicked with a few girlies. They're really great. And live in the same building as me! Hopefully we become good friends.

Here are some pictures of the evening!

The group at the top of the ridge. It was a gorgeous view!

Bishop literally plopped right on top of us! It was funny.

L-R: Aubrey, Kelsi, Amber, and me

Then Soo decided to pop in!

empty no longer

Remember this post? And how empty my apartment looked? Well, fret no longer! Because we have decorated!

We're so excited for this. It actually looks like people live here! And just in case you were wondering, I found all the posters. We each bought our own, however, and I got the taxi cab one. But I also bought the Paris one for fun because it's my favorite. The Audrey Hepburn one is mine too. Also, I bought a Marilyn Monroe one but we haven't put that one up yet. Can't decide where to put it.

weekly gratitude.

It's been awhile! But here it goes:

{1} My bishop. The Atonement. The Gospel. It's true, folks!

{2} My musical talent. I accompanied for 2 ward choir practices, played the organ in my singles ward, and the piano in relief society! BAM baby!

{3} My best friend. And letters. And his example. He's the best.

{4} My mom's delicious food! Mmmm Sunday dinners.

{5} Mr. Weyand's AP Language class. And the 11 page research paper I wrote for it. Ha.

{6} Good friends that know how to listen.

{7} Money! For gas and BYU bookstore attire. Gotta love BYU sweats :)

{8} The MTC. For taking good care of my man.

{9} My neighbor who I just found out today (as I was helping her in nursery... haha that's what I get for going back to visit my home ward!) that she waited for her husband on his mission! Even though she's married and has 5 kids, I can go over whenever to talk to her!

{10} My family. I love living at home.

only at BYU.

I swear something like this only happens in Provo (or close to it, for that matter).

Riding down on the bus two weeks ago, I was sitting by myself in the back. There were two young men sitting a few seats away from me and one of them was talking loudly. He turned to me and said that he was sorry if he was being obnoxious (I couldn't even hear his conversation...) and said I could tell him to shut up if I wanted.

Why would I do that?

Anyways. A few moments later, he leaves the other guy alone. And then a few moments after that, the other guy comes and sits next to me. His name was Jared. I found out that he is the second oldest, returned from his mission to England in July, and is going to BYU.

Coincidence? Nah. Not at BYU.

Conveniently, he wanted to get off at the same stop I did. So we talked all the way down and got off together. We met up with my mom and he showed me how to get to campus.

After getting there, he asks me for my number.

Yep. My number.

Of course I gave it to him! And I didn't really expect anything to happen because of it.

Ha. Two weeks later, a text arrives.

Only at BYU, I tell you.

overwhelmed.

College is kind of a big deal.

I came home today and crashed, with no real intentions of doing much homework.

Hey, no one gets good grades in college anyways, right?

So why try?

Not such a great mindset if you ask me. But I'll deal.

This week has been extremely emotional for me.

I cry every single day.

And usually cry on the walk to the bus stop, during the 1 hour bus ride, and the 20 minute walk to my first class. Luckily the ride at home is a lot more dry. But I cry all the time it seems.

I cry because I don't feel ready to be at college.

I don't feel ready to be left alone with out a best friend and needing to face those dreadful 2 years without him by my side (granted he doesn't leave for 2 months. but still).

I don't know anyone in my classes at BYU. There's just too many people and not enough chances to see those I do know.

I feel completely wasted by the time I get home from school that my emotions are awry anyways.

I feel like I'm rambling. I guess that's what 3 hours of reading will do to you.

But chocolate ice cream was a good reward for finishing.

Cheers.

*I hate this time of the month*

pardon the pictures.

Viewer discretion may need to be advised.

And please don't judge.

But I'll have you know, these pictures are the first ones of my freshman year at BYU!

And they were all taken on my ipod. So the quality is bad.

But nonetheless, they show that I am having a great time.

And honestly, I am.

BYU is going to rock my life.

4-0. yeah you heard me.

Today, BYU Women's soccer CRUSHED the University of Utah.

We scored 4 points.

And one of their players got a red card.

All in all?

A pretty awesome game if you ask me!

To top it off, the gang (consisting of Ben, Jenny, Trevor and Jason) headed over to the creamery for some laughs:

Ben's pick-up face. Which is obviously the next best thing to pick up lines.

"HE'S GONNA DRIVE AWAY! NOOOOO!!" Then realizing the door was unlocked.

Checking out the new Heritage Halls apartments and watching Robot Chicken and then finding out that the boys read my blog. (wth?)

And much more.

I've also decided on something.

No matter HOW hard it is going to be to watch my best friend leave me behind to serve his mission, I've got something incredible to do and keep my mind off his absence.

I've got Brigham Young University. And everything it has to offer.

While it may be the absolute hardest thing I've ever done in my life (and it won't help that he'll be less than a 10 minute walk away from campus for the first two months...dang you MTC), I know I have something to look forward to that will keep me entertained, busy, and uplifted.

Today was absolutely crazy. Not to mention barely making it in time to get my student ID before the place closed at 6 so I could then get my all-sport and guest passes so we could make the game at 7.

The end result?

I'M OFFICIALLY A COUGAR!

And it doesn't get any better than that.