Highlights of 2012

This year was a year never to be forgotten.  Mostly because I was extremely blessed to live in

LONDON

And blessed to visit...

Spain

France

Wales

Scotland

 AND

Puerto Rico

(and California)

Other highlights include:

• declaring a major (Elementary Education)
• getting a job in the PPAC office
• hanging out with Henry
• living in the Loft this summer with Rach
• And spending time with family and friends

Nothing can ever compare to the year 2012, but I'm excited to see what the year 2013 has to offer.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Christmas break in a nutshell

End of Semester

Once again too much time has passed without me updating the blog.  So once again I'm going to catch up using photos

Henry turned 1

Grandpa Franklin pulled out all his old photos.  Gramps was a babe

Multiple people have asked Tess if she is Asian.  She is not; however, doesn't she kinda look like it?

We always laugh at this photo!

I became legal!

Henry's got some sweet wheels, which he showed me after the Provo River Cruise with the office

He contemplated touching Scott's mustache....he wimped out

CRAT had a sleepover in the front room

We made the boys of apt. 98 and half of 9 "ugly" Christmas sweatshirts.

Half way done with college

This morning at 9 AM I left the JKB, clicked my heels, and rejoiced after my last final.

I'm half way done with college.  Only 5 more semesters to go!

Boys will be boys

Finals bring out the craziness in people.  For example today:

1.  I saw some boy dressed in a zombie get-up.  Make-up, ripped clothes, and everything.  I will admit I was a little concerned when I first saw him.  My heart started settling down only after I saw his backpack and realized he was harmless.  Hopefully.

2.  A different boy was yodeling in the library.  He was actually quite good, I only wished he would do it somewhere other than the quiet zone.

3.  A boy's (are you sensing a pattern here?) cell phone started to ring loudly in my last humanities class.  He stood up and started saying something (what the? who does this kid think he is?).  I don't remember exactly what he said, but it was something about saving the world.  So he started taking off his clothing only to uncover a superman outfit.  He made a scene and ran out the classroom door.  The professor thought he was gone so he continued with class, but superman came back and asked, "is anyone else going to help me?"  At this point a girl stood up and uncovered a batman (batwoman) suite.  As she climbed over two rows of chairs she exclaimed, "I'll help you save the world one day at a time."  Then both set off.  Where? We don't know.  They never came back until after class to pick up their backpacks and clothes.

And this all happened before 12:30 P.M.  Who knows what the rest of today has in store.

Darn Alaskans

When you live with two Alaskans they tend to bring the cold weather down to the lower 48 states with them.  And sometimes you have to layer on the clothing while studying

Just kidding, I can't blame the eskimos (yes, people ask Cara if she is an eskimo).  The real reason is my blasted bedroom.  Since it's on the end of the building it is about 10 degrees colder in there.  Poor Rae Fish, she's from California and has the bed closest to the frigid end wall.

Absent from Blogging World

Thankfully my finals week doesn't look too stressful.  This week however....

Instead of finals in many of my classes I just have final projects that have been taking up most of my time lately, hence no blog updates.

I do have a ton I need to catch up on in the blogosphere, but that will have to wait a couple of days.

For the next 48 hours I will be doing nothing but school work.  After Wednesday afternoon 95% of my stress will be blown away.  So for the rest of you with finals coming up....

Good luck!

Mormon Helping Hands

Words cannot describe how grateful I am to belong to such a Christlike service-oriented church.  This is another testament to what we as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe.

As one young man in the video stated, "it's the gospel in action.  It's what Christ taught and we're showing what we believe by helping other people."

Click here to learn more about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and what we believe.

Goodbye fall

Our home was crisp looking last Tuesday

This morning we were in a winter wonderland.

For my Visual Arts class we made this taped "person".  Each student was supposed to take turns carrying it on campus and taking a photo with it.  Can you see me carrying this around campus?  Neither can I, so after church the roommates and I got it out of the car and had a photo shoot in the women's locker room.

If I didn't have to take it back to class on Tuesday we would've left it there.  The swimsuit owner would've gotten quite the surprise tomorrow.

I may have cried...

...last night when we found out that Mitt Romney lost the election.  Yes, it was a little silly of me but I couldn't help shedding a tear or two.  Rae Fish then offered comfort saying this could be a blessing in disguise; we just don't recognize it yet.  I take comfort in that and in the words of these two prophetically wise men:

"In my ninety plus years, I have learned a secret. I have learned that when good men and good women face challenges with optimism, things will always work out. Truly, things always work out! Despite how difficult circumstances may look at the moment, those who have faith and move forward with a happy spirit will find that things always work out."

-President Gordon B. Hinckley

"Men may fail in this country, earthquakes may come, seas may heave beyond their bounds, there may be great drought, disaster, and hardship, but this nation, founded on principles laid down by men whom God raised up, will never fail. This is the cradle of humanity, where life on this earth began in the Garden of Eden. This is the place of the new Jerusalem. This is the place that the Lord said is favored above all other nations in all the world. This is the place where the Savior will come to His temple. This is the favored land in all the world. Yes, I repeat, men may fail, but this nation won't fail. I have faith in America; you and I must have faith in America, if we understand the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are living in a day when we must pay heed to these challenges.

I plead with you not to preach pessimism. Preach that this is the greatest country in all the world. This is the favored land. This is the land of our forefathers. It is the nation that will stand despite whatever trials or crises it may yet have to pass through."

-President Harold B. Lee

I'm proud to be an American, and although I wish the election last night had ended in Romney and 
Ryans' favor, I pray for our national leaders in this turbulent time of uncertainty.

I Believe in America!

HAPPY ELECTION DAY!

The 4 Seasons

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

We celebrated last night at the ward trunk-or-treat.  We won the overall best costume prize.  It was probably the most inexpensive costume I've ever worn, and I would definitely wear it again.

I couldn't pick my favorite photo so you get to see multiple