Workin' Hard

There are many reasons why I like working at the bindery.  The people are fun, my boss is great, and when we have no work, this is what we do:

Make our own cards out of cardstock and play "Coils" rather than "Spoons" with them.  Playing with cards that big was no easy task and let me tell you, it was an intense game.

We also make snowmen out of coil.  

(It was a really, really slow day when this happened.)

Also, I came into work yesterday and had this conversation with my boss:

Him: You're eating a bagel for breakfast?

Me: What? Don't you like bagels?

Him: I like candy better.

Yep.  Work is great.

Roomies

Here are the reasons why they are so great:

Back massage trains

Sing-alongs
"Sistahhhhs!"

Making dinner for each other every night

Late night talks

Frequent ice cream runs
"I'm goin' to BoJangles!"

Squeeling (intentional or not)

California Girls

That one craft night
"Ethel, you shameless....!"

Writing human development papers

Getting a ride to work every morning

Lights on Temple Square

Planning a wedding

MASH

Teenage Dream

General Conference (we're late!)

Papa Murphy's

"Here's a little something to wear...."

Nursing Home Performances

Girl Talk

The Chocolate

And lots of laughing.

The Month of Terror

..... is OVER!!!!!

It wasn't an actual month of the year, just four consecutive weeks, but boy am I glad they are in the past.  Here's why:

7 Tests

8 Papers

and

8 Stats Assignments.

Ick.

But it's over, and with minimal damage to my skin.

I did it. 

I Lah-ahve to Sing

Women's Chorus is such a blessing.  

It's the fastest hour of my day and a break from the rigors of school and life in general.

It's an emotional high, and definitely a growing experience.

Here's one experience that makes me love this class even more:

A few days ago, we were preparing for a performance.  The song we were working on is called Psalm 100.  The lyrics begin like this, "Make a joyful noise to the Lord.  Serve the Lord with gladness.  Come into his presence with singing, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia."  This is a song of joy, and of praise.  It sounds wonderful when we sing it as we bare our testimonies, but we had practiced it so frequently, and spent so much time on the technicalities, that we were forgetting to feel the spirit of the song.

So Sister Applonie, our conductor, set up 15 chairs in the front, facing away from the choir.  She then said, "I need 15 brave girls who are having a hard time, or are experiencing heartache, or who just feel like they can't do it all any longer, to come up and sit in these chairs."

It surprised me that 15 volunteers stood up so quickly, and it surprised me even more that they were girls who were outgoing and seemingly happy.  I never could have guessed that they were the 15 who needed to be uplifted the most.

Then Sister Applonie had all of the girls on the third row (my row) come to the front and face the girls in the chairs.  It was our duty to help them feel joy. 

As soon as we started singing, the Spirit overwhelmed the atmosphere of that room.  Those 15 struggling girls started to cry and we who were trying to lift them put more of our hearts into the music, resulting in most of us crying too.  Then the whole choir joined us and I have never felt such sincere joy and gratitude when I've sung before.  It was glorious.

Tidbits

I love being back in school.  And I love that I'm in four classes for my major plus two more that are for fun.

It is wonderful!

Here are some tidbits of what I'm learning:

From Human Development:

The most recent topic of interest was nature versus nurture.  Almost anyone would agree that both influence our behavior.  Yet, some people believe that we are inclined to sin strictly based on the nurture element.  Hmmm.  We had a very invigorating discussion on weaknesses, the natur-al man, and how much of a role both nurture and nature play.  Very interesting discussion.  In the words of my professor, "I think this is the most eyes I've seen open all semester."  :]

From Strengthening Marriage and Family

I love the reading for this class.  I'll just share one of the more profound quotes I read recently: 

Your love, like a flower, must be nourished.  There will come a great love and interdependence between you, for your love is a divine one.  It is deep, all-inclusive, most comprehensive.  It is not like that association of the world which is misnamed love, but which is mostly physical attraction…The love of which the Lord speaks is…faith, confidence, understanding, and partnership.  It is a devotion and companionship, parenthood, common ideals and standards.  It is cleanliness of life and sacrifice and unselfishness.  This kind of love never tires nor wanes.  It lives on through sickness and sorrow, through prosperity and privation, through accomplishment and disappointment; through time and eternity…You must live and treat each other in a manner that your love will grow.  Today it is a demonstrative love, but in the tomorrows of ten, thirty, fifty years it will be a far greater and more intensified love, grown quieter and more dignified with the years of sacrifice, suffering, joys, and consecration to each other, to your family, and to the kingdom of God.

From Mission Prep:

If I ever am unable to verbalize any thoughts while giving a talk, or speaking to someone about the gospel, I should share my testimony of the restoration and Joseph Smith.  Then the words will come.

From Statistics:

I've learned how to stay awake when it's hard.

From Cognitive Development:

I've learned how to be a preschooler.  These quotes you are about to read are from my professor and they are real.

Before class started: "Let's put on our listening ears..."

To a girl who answered a very obvious question without raising her hand: "We need to raise our hand."  We? Does that mean he has to raise his hand too?  

While learning about sensory input into the brain: "What can you feel?  I can feel my pants against my legs.  I can feel my toes if I wiggle them in my shoes.  I can feel lots of things!"

This guy is unbelievable and too funny to handle sometimes.

From Women's Chorus:

If I am ever going to teach choir, I will have to have  A LOT of energy.  Anything the director does is contagious.   Crying, laughing, speaking in an accent, dancing, anything.  It's contagious and amazing.

So, this is what I have been experiencing these first few weeks of school.  It's wonderful

Statistics

Well, I'm back.  Back in school and back to blogging.

Before I write any more about school, let me record that I have made a goal to blog once a week.  The initial reason I started a blog was to keep the family updated and I need to do better with that.  Also, blogging may be a very legitimate excuse to procrastinate homework.

So to continue where I left off,

I'm in three classes for my major (human development), plus a mission prep class, and finally, statistics.

Normally I love to take notes and pay attention and be a good student,

but...

statistics.

Just statistics.

I struggle with it.

Evidence:

The Smell of J-Dawgs is in the Air

Here is one awesome thing about Provo: J-Dawgs.

At the risk of sounding like a teenager, (oh wait, I still am a teenager) I'm still going to say this.

J-Dawgs are seriously, the best hot dogs EVER!! They changed my life.


I'm not usually a fan of hot dogs; I'm more of a hamburger girl, but with a little ketchup and maybe some special sauce, J-Dawgs are delicious.

I went with Tegan today, and when we were there, we saw a guy who was taking a lunch break from biking. He was dressed up in the biker/spandex outfit, with a helmet on.  I don't know how she knew, but she said, "He's an actor.  I know he's an actor."  Later, we went over to ask him.  Lo and behold, he was Zach from Singles' Ward.  He looked much the same, but more Mormon.  That's the second Mormon actor we've run into up here.  Provo is obviously the place to be.

School Spirit

In my 1 o'clock Doctrine and Covenants class, we always start with a prayer.  Today the person praying said, "...And we thank thee that BYU won the basketball game today and pray that they will have the strength to win their next game..."  

Did I say Amen? 

You better believe it.  :]