I delight in the spontaneous.

Did a weekend just happen because I think I missed it. This week was work x5 days then a packed day of play! Craig and I headed south after LEND on Friday and landed in happy valley. Seeing my sweet grandpa is my favorite! Friday night I ate delicious food (thank goodness someone cancelled their reservation at the black sheep cafe) with my favorite aussie and mission companion. It was delightful to catch up on life and hear about the love of her life. We topped off the night at the creamery. I get so nostalgic on that campus. It seems like my BYU experience was a whole other life ago.

Saturday morning I woke up on my favorite couch in the world. The special of the morning was waffles which I only ever have at Grandpa's because he is the only one who has a belgian waffle maker. They were delicious as always. Then the three of us set out on an adventure. First to the barber, then around BYU, the cemetery, springville, salem and finally payson. The temple is looking SO much more like a temple now! It was fantastic! On the way back, we drove past the "provo city temple" (I think that's what they're calling it). So crazy as the entire structure is jacked up while they dig two stories below. I know right? 

The afternoon brought a drive to Eagle Mountain visiting my best friend from my undergrad days and lifesaver time and time again. She has the sweetest children (which is to be anticipated considering she is so sweet and constantly Christ-like herself) and we had a delightful time decorating sugar cookies. My only regrets are that I couldn't stay longer and that I didn't take any pictures. The most precious memory I walked away with is the one of her sweetest little one falling asleep with his head snuggled on my chest. Precious and so so delightful!

Then the whirlwind began...Draper and visiting a dear old roommate and friend and meeting her adorable baby! My friends have the cutest children! Anyway, it was so wonderful to catch up and go to another roommates bridal shower. It is so fantastic to get to hang out with people who you just love and who you just have a history with that makes you go...wow...being friends with you has been awesome! I love love love it. The night ended with a drive back to Provo, seeing my cousins, grandpa, picking up Craig and heading north with a diet coke in hand. 

I'm sad the weekend is over and I've only really recounted Saturday, mostly because I never want to forget it and because I really delighted in all of it. On the drive home, I enjoyed listening to general conference addresses from October 2010 from President Monson, President Eyring and President Uctodorf. The line that stuck me the most was this, "...diligently doing the things that matter most will lead us to the Savior of the World..." (President Uctodorf). One of the things that matters the most to me is my testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It shapes my life and I pray it continues to define and refine my life. 

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joseph smith: the prophet of the restoration

of things that matter most, president uctdorf, october 2010 general conference

trust in god, then go and do, president eyring, october 2010 general conference

the divine gift of gratitude, president monson, october 2010 general conference

acts 2:17

I delight in inspired answers.

Sometimes I get in a fight with blogs. If I'm not careful...I start focusing on the things I don't have as opposed to all the many blessings I have been blessed with. Hence, me and google reader have regular clean out sessions. A while back, I started a hunt for uplifting websites. I love personal blogs and enjoy reading about what is going on in the lives of my friends and family. I love blogs with beautiful pictures by my fantastically talented friends. I love blogs that teach me how to do things. I love blogs that show me a new way of looking at life.

The other day, I ran across the blog entitled: The Redheaded Hostess. I linked her site to the title. Anyway, she has some of the most fantastic advice about how to organize gospel studies--by both topic and chapter. I'm always looking for a new way of doing that as my current system has recently experienced multi-system failure. Anyway, if you're interested in re-charging and synthesizing your studies--check out here, here and here.

The reason I loved the way the Redheaded Hostess organized scripture study is because of this talk. I was a student at BYU at the time and Elder Bednar's talk entitled "A Reservoir of Living Water" hit me like something strong. I realized that I wasn't getting all that I could out of my scripture study. I realized, if I was merely reading or drawing wimpy parallels to my life, that I was short-sighting myself of something so much better. Since then, things have changed. I have learned to love more and more the patterns, themes and connections that are embedded in the standard works of scripture (Old Testament, New Testament, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price).

I am grateful that learning is a process. I'm grateful of the Lord's mindfulness of us, what we need, when we need it, to take us to higher planes of learning and integration.

I delight in "instead of classroom."

source

Today was the day I felt like I'd been waiting for all my life. I've loved my major since the moment I saw the purple paper 5 years ago. I loved it before then, I just didn't realize what my major was going to be yet. You see, 5 years ago about this time of year I decided I hated my "then" major of business. I still love business and love when people discover I am business savvy enough to discuss the basics. However, at the time I felt like that field was going to be too self-serving for me. I needed to focus in a different direction.

I then embarked on the journey that most freshmen students embark on--the search for a major. I remember going to various buildings on BYU campus and checking out their advisement centers. I took some "career tests" all of which told me I should look into service type careers which wasn't specific enough as I already knew that much. Ever since I was little I can always remember wanting a job where I "helped people." I met with various academic counselors but the day I wandered into the McKay Education building is the one I remember the most. I was looking at the "major/minor" flow charts to see what majors required in regards to classes. That's when I pulled out the purple paper labeled, "Speech Pathology and Audiology." I'd never before considered it as a major/job/future profession, even though I'd been exposed to it since I was little thanks to Craig and LB. In that instant, I knew that was my future. I signed up to talk with a counselor and told her that day I wanted to change my major--I think she thought I was a little rash and told me to think about it before officially declaring it but I insisted.

I remember when she told me I'd need a masters degree. That didn't excite me, it horrified me but I knew it was what I wanted to do enough that I thought...well I'll deal with that later.

Fast forward 5 years and I'm at the end of the road (well almost) in terms of schooling (at least for now ;). I've spent years in classrooms but today I was on the job. It was one of the most edifying, exhilarating days of my life. I was more excited than nervous--heck, I even ate breakfast this morning (that is saying something for a person whose nerves regularly get the best of them). Needless to say, it was a fantastic day. I met fantastic people. Have a absolutely fantastic supervisor. And honestly, I just feel so blessed. Blessed to be able to be here. Blessed to know what I know and to have had the path literally open up for me to be here. It is not a coincidence. I have seen the Lord's hand in it all every single step of the way.

Today felt like a checkpoint. One of those times when I really felt like, well Heavenly Father, I'm here. And it is like he says, that's right where you're supposed to be. I seek these moments of confirmation. Seek and ye shall find.

I delight in done.

The semester is over. I've made it through two semesters of grad school. If I just survived that last one though...I can do anything! Anyway, in celebration, I share with you my favorite new comedy clip straight from my alma mater. Enjoy it!

I delight in my cougs.

LB sporting her Jimmer shirt in front of the St. George Temple. How cute is she?

It was a sad sad day. BYU didn't make it into the elite 8. But nevertheless I'm proud of my cougs. And I'm extra happy about the enlivened spirit of BYU sports! For that (and your glorious 3 pointers) I will always be grateful Jimmer!

I delight in my cougs.

BYU basketball is really drumming up some news this year. And for good reason. Have you heard of Jimmer? Of course you have...how could you not? Jimmer-Mania is everywhere. And this ESPN clip just reiterates how proud I am of my cougs this year--for their academics, their basketball, and their honor code.

I delight in the good old days.

Those good old days, I used to know. Where have they gone? Where did they go?

Remember them? Well, in my good old days:

I was wearing blue.

I could walk to my class in 8 minutes.

People I didn't know said hi on campus. I did the same and didn't get any weird looks.

There were no PETA protesters.

My ward was my complex and another complex on the next block.

I had sacrament meeting in the same room as biology.

I wore earplugs when trying to do homework in my apartment and when trying to go to sleep. The bell tower played hymns...my favorite? Come Come Ye Saints.

HONOR CODE.

The library's name was Harold.

Classrooms never smelled like coffee or smoke.

All the men were clean shaven.

The closest thing I ever heard to swear words were funny utah words like "oh my heck" and "oh gosh."

Modesty existed.

Campus shut down for devotional every Tuesday 11-12 and general conference.

The library of course was not open on Sunday.

There were campus campaigns like "cougars don't cut corners" and "leggings don't count as pants." Oh the good old days.

The Y on the mountain was huge and took a hike to get to.

I walked up 119 stairs every morning and down them every night.

I frequented places like J-dawgs.

There were no caffeinated beverages on campus but there were delicious wraps.

Campus was full of immaculate flower gardens and on a warm day, people were all over the grass.

Periodicals were not in an 'arc' they were the place you went to meet people...or just your whole ward.

Currently...I'm wondering if I'll ever adjust to my new environment, where everything is red.

Where the library hours are 8-2 am everyday except for Friday and Saturday when they close at 8...apparently those are party nights...Sunday is the study night here. (insert sad face here)

I now commute to campus via public transportation or my car.

The time it takes to get to campus varies on the time of class and when I leave...TRAFFIC!!!

Grad students do not get parking passes, luckily I live at the clinic in the research park and thus do not need a parking pass.

There is a campus shuttle system...the colors of the buses represent Utah's Universities...red, blue, and even purple.

There are coffee shops everywhere.

Bikes and skateboards get their own routes and lanes on the sidewalk.

People smoke.

I've been asked what 'institute' and 'missions' are.

Campus is HUGE.

The U on the mountain is right next to houses.

Pretty sure I've heard most of my professors swear.

People insult my alma mater all the time.

I don't even know my ward boundaries.

There is no such thing as an 'honor code' or required university housing guidelines.

Commuter school.

Men have facial hair.

Anything seems to go, anytime, anywhere.

Marriott (the library) lets me eat in him! There's even a deli and tables that look like they belong in a restaurant.

I found myself in a sea of red today. I didn't know what to do and I'm glad I wasn't alone (thank you Mary). I miss being a cougar and living in Provo sometimes. How do I feel about being a Ute now? Honestly, I'm still undecided. I like the U and I'm grateful to have the opportunity to be here. My blue just runs deeper than I ever thought it could. It will be interesting to see if I ever find a balance and if red ever looks more appealing.