Thanksgiving and other random stuff

So one night my roommates and I decided that we wanted to make pumpkin pancakes. Both Whitney and I had 2 different recipes so we decided to try both and see which was better. They were both really good by the way. So we invited some people over to eat all of our many pumpkin pancakes. Afterward, we did some contour drawings. It was really fun because you don't have to be artistic at all! We drew pictures without looking and drew each other without looking. Most of our art pieces looked like Picasso drawings, but they were awesome!

Mmmm, yummy!


This is an example of the random things that happen at BYU. So I heard our doorbell ring and to my surprise (after just waking up from a Saturday afternoon nap) there was a giant toothpaste at my door! It gave me a hug and then it clicked. My hometeacher Tyler is going to be a dentist and ordered a giant toothpaste costume. He goes to the elementary schools and helps kids learn to brush their teeth better. It was a pretty awesome costume.

Me and Cougar Paste


So the family and I (and Emmie our dog) spent Thanksgiving in beautiful Southern California back in my home town of Temecula. We stayed at our family friends the Rock's house and spent Thanksgiving there. It was really fun because we got to spend it with some old friends who we don't get to see too often since we are in Utah now. I also got to spend some time with my amazing friends Alyssa and Thomas. We sat in Star Bucks for 4 hours just chatting and drinking hot chocolate. It was so great to catch up! Especially since we have all been doing some amazing things! It's just fun to hear one another's stories. Then we also visited all of my mom's side of the family and got to see people I haven't seen in a very long time. The drive back wasn't too bad excpet for the part when we ran out of gas... So my dad thought we could make it to the next exit because the one we were at was a little crowded, but we didn't quite make it and ran out of gas about a half mile short... So we called AAA and they came and saved us. Actually a really nice family saw us and stopped to help, but we had already called by then. So we finally got some more gas and made it back to Provo. And now school starts tomorrow...

The Family

The Last Days

Madrid, Spain Temple



San Diego, California Temple



So I went out to dinner with my wonderful friend Lindsay Rasmussen on Thursday and we had a really good discussion about Prop 8 in California and the horrible things that are going on across the entire nation. Since Lindsay and I both have lived in California for some time and have family still there, this event has had a large effect on our thoughts and actions. The thing that bothers me the most is that people thought if they voted yes on Prop 8, they were taking away peoples' rights which is not true at all.

Las Vegas, Nevada Temple



Salt Lake City, UT Temple



Fortunately we won and marriage will remain between a man and a woman, but since then people have been attacking the Mormon church and protesting in front of our temples in San Diego, LA, Manhattan, and Salt Lake to name the ones I know about. They are sending hate mail with white powder and making commercials that offend me and my religion. It makes my heart ache to see all of these things happen. We live in a country where we have freedom to live our religion; I cannot believe that people are taking those rights away from me. We truly are in the last days. I have heard of people leaving the church over this event. The scriptures say that the church will be divided in the last days and Lindsay mentioned that it was like the unstable and unfaithful are being weeded out. This is happening now. Maybe I'll end up having to stay in Utah the rest of my life...ah! But regardless of what happens, the Lord has chosen this country as the promised land and us as His chosen people. We need to be strong and continue fighting what seems to feel like a losing battle, but we know we will WIN in the end.

Idaho Falls, Idaho Temple

Today was a great day! I decided that I am going to begin writing more about what is going on my life and different experiences that I have along with the events and activities that go on. This month is going to be a busy one and I am really excited about it!

I love my ward! There were some great talks and lessons today and the spirit was so strong! Music really touched me today. I am listening to John Schmidt's piano music right now (listen to "All of Me" and "Waterfall"). During Sunday school today the ward next to us sang "How Firm a Foundation" and the words just really hit me. "Fear not, I am with thee, oh be not dismayed. For I am thy God and will still give thee aid. I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand. Upheld by my righteous...omnipotent hand." I really needed to hear that and I know that the Lord does love me. He is with me always although I may not always realize it. I can feel him with me now. Then I was listening to EFY music in the car up to Kaysville to visit my family and now John Schmidt. Music really has the ability to affect our emotions and help us draw closer to the spirit. I am so grateful to have the opportunity to grow closer to my Heavenly Father through the beautiful music that allows me to worship Him.

Halloween and Roomie Pics

So Halloween was way fun this year! I dressed up as a vampire and got to spend the morning at en elementary school and partied with the kids. I am currently in my second practicum which means I spent every moment of my day for the month in a classroom. I'm in a 5th/6th grade combination class at Westridge Elementary where I observe and teach from 8am to 3:30 Monday through Friday. It's exhausting, but the more I do it, the more I think I could really do it full time. It's tons of work and preparation though. Teachers need to get paid more... After that I went to work at the HBLL and then hit up our stake dance party. My ward is really active, so i saw a lot of people there I knew which made it even better. There were some awesome costumes!

Me scaring my roomies! I make a good vampire if I don't say so myself. :-)



Boo!



Sunday my roommates and I wanted to take some roommate pictures to put in our apartment and we wanted a fall backdrop before it began to snow. Luckily we did it the day before it began snowing. It was raining a little, but it was still so fun and they came out really cute! BYU campus is so beautiful and has some amazing colorful leaves!

Me and my roommates! Crystal, Shalisa, and Whitney.



Our friend Erik was with us when we were taking the pictures so we let him come in some with us. He wanted it to look like he was being attacked by girls. haha!



Laura and Katherine are like our roommates too.