Brittany's Rays of Sunshine Through A Series of Unfortunate Events

Oh how the tables have turned! To tell you that I have been through a series of surprises over the last few weeks would be an understatement! Looking into my life right now is like looking into a kaleidoscope-there is WAY too much going on and none of it makes sense....until you are looking at it from the perfect angle. This blog post, I have to tell you, is about finding the perfect angle.

First of all, the last time I updated was two weeks before Tommy got home from EFY. We had planned for him to stay here in Alabama with me this fall and to take online classes-but due to issues that were out of the control of both of us, he had to go back to Provo. He spent two WONDERFUL weeks here in Alabama before school started though- and that was something that I was extremely grateful for. Any amount of time I get to spend with him is worth more gold! I won't pretend like I was okay with this, because for a really long time- I wasn't. I wasn't angry with anybody, I knew it was nobody's fault. I was frustrated with our situation. We somehow always end up across the country from one another. But one thing that I absolutely love about Tommy and this relationship is that one way or another, we always patch up whatever holes we find. (and this fall, that patching has costed us 4 plane tickets worth of money backward and forward. How's that for commitment?) And even though I would MUCH rather have Tommy here with me, I am trying to look at the situation in the right light and focus on what wouldn't be happening if he was here. (which list isn't very long, or convincing....but I'm working on it.) 

Second- my internship. Is from HECK. I appreciate the fact that the Associate Health Nurses basically pulled a position out of the air for me, and that I get paid extremely well. But no amount of money is worth sitting in the same room, in the same chair, doing the same thing, for eight hours every day. And sometimes I just sit there and breathe because there is nothing for me to do! So that hasn't panned out exactly how I planned. But I wanted for so long to get paid for doing nothing. I guess this is the good Lord's sense of humor. I didn't mean literally nothing! 

So in short, I am working two jobs, a ton of hours a week, and saving a ton of money. Life is good, it could always be better. But I think people who think that all of the time, aren't living in the first place. One of my favorite song's lines tells me to:

"Hope for the best, plan for the worst and maybe wind up somewhere in the middle"

And everyday is teaching me how little by little. I'm strengthened by lots of prayer and the support of wonderful people all around me. I have a heck of a boyfriend-who is always the best part of my day and who I love to the moon and back. I don't know what I ever did before I had him! 

Hopefully next time I have more pictures and happiness to blog about! But until then-

All my love! 

Brittany 

Sweet Home Alabama, An Internship, and a LOT of boxes

I never thought I would leave Rexburg. Ever. I had been there SO LONG, that is was almost my new adoptive home. Almost. But with two semesters behind me, and freshman year done I could not be any happier. I am officially home in Alabama, and Rexburg is awesome and all, but I really can't remember why I ever left. What I CAN remember however, is six or seven posts ago when I was first leaving Alabama, I made a list of what I would miss the most when I got to Idaho. So in honor of Rexburg and all of its cheap, Mormon glory, here's what I have found I miss the most. In no particular order.

1. 75 cent diet cokes from the gas station. Good for my all nighters, bad for my addiction. Still on the search for cheap 44 ounce diet cokes in Alabama. And when I do, I will let you know. Be watching for that status update.

2. Reeds Chocolate Milk. I don't know what geniuses have been living in Idaho my whole life, but they make chocolate milk WITH VANILLA ICE CREAM. Mental rubix cube, I know. So many questions I asked myself when I first saw this. Is this for real? Why have I not thought of this? How MUCH is this?! They could make millions. And then I drank it. And all I can say, is that all the memories of my first love, life's happiness, dreams and wishes were all replaced with Reeds.  Thats how good it was.

3. Burrito Grande's with Cassie. Forget Costa Vida. Cassie and I had this tradition of going to the Crossroads (BYUI'S Cafeteria) at least once a week to get these HUGE burritos. We ate them all semester long and fell in LOVE. People kept telling me how I should go to Costa Vida and try it....and how it was soooooooo much better than the Crossroads. I could really care less. But, on the last week I was there I cracked. Adell and I (and some others) went to Costa Vida. And can I just say, I am SO SORRY I ever doubted you, burrito grande. Take me back.

4. The DI. I am tearing up a little just thinking about the DI. I found so many treasures there. The love I have for the DI and its 1980's romper, leopard print, spandex, blue jean jacket on blue jeans beauty is ridiculous. Tommy doesn't agree, but we have had our arguments and I think we have agreed  to disagree. Low maintenance, high performance, thrifty women shop at the DI. And that's something every man wants. I THINK he will forgive me for purchasing things from there one day. Maybe his hatred for buying things from there is stronger than I think. I might have my work cut out for me.

5. MY AUNT JAN. Oh my gosh. I love my Aunt Jan. I had never met her before last spring, my family has lived in Alabama my whole life-and she and her husband Dale have been in Idaho that whole time. But when I came out to school, she was like my second mom! She took such good care of me, and always made sure she helped me any way that she could. She was SUCH a blessing. Its only been one week and can't wait to see her again!!

6. Andy. Ohh Andy. I love this guy. Andy is Aunt Jan's sister's son. We had never met either before we came out to school, but we ended up have both of our biology classes both semesters together! I miss studying so hard with him that afterwards I didn't even know my own name, our Friday afternoon runs to the farmers market for 3 gallons of raw milk each (that still never seemed to last for more than three days), and our dinners at Aunt Jan's. I spent an insane about of time trying to name things that he would eat. He is a super health nut. Bread? no. Potatoes? no. Corn? no. He enjoys things like coconut oil, and fish oil, and oatmeal.... Gross. He is shown here with his "oatmeal pie", aka vomit on a plate. still LOVE HIM!

So Rexburg, you are missed. At least a little. But I'd still like my time in the Bamaland. Being back home with NOTHING to do, I decided I had better get working as soon as possible! Today I went to the hospital to be interviewed for an internship that I applied for. I was SO nervous! And I am usually not nervous about those types of things at all. But it all went over fine, and I got the job! But my happiness couldn't last. She told me I got the job and walked out of the room. (Just enough time for me to stand up and do my happy dance, despite the fact that I was wearing heels, a pencil skirt, and an ascot. Which I know you don't believe, but makes it a LOT harder.) She walked back in carrying a stack of papers that looks all too familiar. It was the same papers that I had seen not to long ago at the....dare I say it...Plasma Center. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! Was she serious?! Again?!? I did NOT know she was going to send me straight down to do a drug screening.  But she did. Of course she did. This is Brittany Allen's luck we are dealing with, anyhow. So I gather up all these papers that she gave me and walked downstairs. After playing how-many-floors-can-I-get-off-the-elevator-on-and-look-like-a-fool I finally found the Occupational Health Center. I sat down and started filling them out. When I was done I had pretty much killed a pen. That's how many papers we are talking about. I stood up and walked up to the receptionist to give her my clipboard, and from a distance I thought I saw a BEAR sitting behind the desk. I am about to feed these papers to a really angry at life woman, who wants to kill me and ten million puppies. For some idiot reason that I still don't know why, I didn't even wait for the white receptionist to come back to the desk. She at LEAST speaks my language. I sloooooooowly pushed my clipboard to her from across the desk, and she was staring at me the whole time. Okay, I'm giving you my paperwork. We aren't having a staring contest chick. (glozell howl). She takes it and looks over it. "You CAN sit down." She said with attitude. And in my head, I'm all...woman. Don't give me tude. A couple of minutes later she mumbles something that starts with Miss Allen.
"....Yes?" I said.
"adgajehroeiagba birdseed?" she said.
"um...what?" I knew I heard her wrong. Im not your gangster child. speak ENGLISH!
"apple knees?" she said again.
at this point I am all kinds of confused. I get up and walk across the room so that I am literally just over the desk from her.
"One more time, I'm sorry..." I say. And I know she is about to scream in my face.
"CAN I COPY YOUR ID?!" she says so loud that people in China probably looked up.
I just hand it to her. In my head I am fuming. All I am thinking is, wow. You are a pretty hostile lady. Where did they find you? The DMV?
After Tude (which is what I will call her, short for attitude) FINALLY let "Laquica" take me back to the examination room, I get that same Hunger Games tribute feeling. And then I see them. The needles for taking blood. Ohhhh you.....we meet again. Laquica asks me what I want to do first, and I tell her to take my blood first. Lets just get it over with. She starts checking my veins, and is just making small talk. I'm not really listening, I'm hyperventilating telling myself you better not pass out. But four little words caught my attention. "Its my first day.." And I just look at her. The woman who is about to take blood from me-of course its her first day. Is it your first time taking blood too?!?!
She  put the needle in, which was fine. I don't have a needle or pain problem. She had to take FIVE vials of blood. FIVE. Since when do they take more than three? Today of course. Brittany's luck.
So she take the first two and its all good. Then she decides she wants to re-position the needle. Idiot. It comes completely out, and SHE FORGETS TO HOLD MY ARM. Idiot! Blood all over the place. I try to hold my own vein, but as soon as I see MY own blood going everywhere I am OUT. Anyone else's blood I am fine. I can IV and draw blood all day. Its just a mental thing I guess! But eventually I wake up, I think it was only for a few seconds. There was very little difference between this Drug Screening and the plasma center. Both were going horribly wrong. But the difference is this-I stayed and stuck through one of them. And lived to tell about it. I consider myself a victor, and will be waiting for my house right next to Peeta's and Katniss' and Haymitch's in Victors Village. Thank you very much.

Life in the Bamaland is mighty fine. Im with my family, I have an internship, I am not in School, and I'm alive. No thanks to Tude and Laquica. Now Tommy just needs to get home. For real! TWO MORE WEEKS! :)

Cassie's & 'Muricaaaa's Birthdays, And the Plasma Games

Over the past two weeks, our apartment has been able to participate in two very special birthdays. On June 30th, we celebrated Cassie's, and we all went out to dinner as roommates. Let me repeat that. We ALL WENT OUT to dinner as roommates. That never happens because of everyone's conflicting schedules. But for Cassie, sacrifices are made. We got to go to Chiz's, which is this little asian hole in the wall in Idaho Falls that her parents used to go to while they were dating. I love hole in the walls. But I can't stand asian food. But like I said, for Cassie I can handle some sentimental asians. In our apartment we have this tradition of anytime we are all dressed up and pretty and going out together-we have our picture taken in front of our door. Its just the touch that makes it an official roommate outing. I love these girls so much! And I am so blessed  to have had them as roommates this semester!! After our dinner, we went to our apartments lounge where we had the lovely Michelle Fowler set up a surprise party for Cass. Fiestttaaaaahhh!


My Birthday Girl! I love you Cassie!

Brittany, Shaela, Cassie, Adell, & Marissa. 401 babaay!

Shaela, Marissa, and I at Chiz's.

The sweetest face!

We just love her!

I'm not sure who got her the handcuffs......

The next birthday we celebrated was America's! I absolutely love the forth of July. I love all of the family traditions my family has, the hot dogs and hamburgers, the smell of sunscreen, the cheap sunglasses, the truck driver American flag shirts, but what I think I love the most of all about the fourth of July is the fact that it brings out the redneck in everyone. It's always fun to see everyone else try to pull off something that is just in my blood. I felt like I was home. Almost ;). We all went to Idaho Falls, because they have the biggest firework show west of the Mississippi. We stayed there allllllll day long. One of the guys that came with us, Jake Slivka, had a friend who lived there who let us use his grill AND his pool. So around five we staked out our spot by the river for the show and then went to swim and eat. There was an insane number of people there- and I was seeing some crazy stuff. I swear we saw Slash from Guns and Roses, real life gypsies, and countless beer bellies. ahhh, the true spirit of the fourth. :)

My loves.

The Gang. Love them so much!

Leanda, Liv, and Cass. Leanda rocking the english flag....cause she had to.

They were shooting for four guys-but this is about as far as they got.

Shaela gets touchy sometimes..

Still trying...

Fletch.

Lovely ladies :)

Me, Norma and Liv. The two shortest people-and the tallest. We love you Liv!

The sunset over the River when we got back to IF.

Pretty successful fourth if you ask me. I mean it was no cornfield out in the country-but I did get to see a freaking huge firework show over the river behind the Idaho Falls Temple. I guess I can't ask for much more than that :)
Today, I didn't have any classes. So, I decided I would FINALLY go give plasma. I've been wanting to all semester. Not because I need the money- but because money is nice, and I'm a nursing major so any medical procedure has always been interesting to me. So I call them and make an appointment, and I'm off. I walk in this morning, and was greeted by the doctors office smell. The smell of the waiting chairs, and latex gloves, sanitizing chemicals. Yum. The receptionist gave me a bunch of papers to fill out, so I sat down and started doing that. In MY fluorescent purple pen, because there's was so dead. Filling out papers that I know are important in fluorescent colors just makes me feel like Elle Woods. You are probably thinking to yourself, why does she even have a fluorescent pen if she hates them? And my answer is, I do not know. My purse is Mary Poppins' bag. I don't know where half of the stuff inside of it came from. Anyway, I'm filling out papers and a girl came up from the back of the building-with the most sickly look on her face I had ever seen in my entire life. She started to pass out, and I could only watch-I was too far away to do anything about it. (Pet peeve of mine. seeing something really, really bad about to happen and you can't do anything about it.) I wasn't bothered by the fact that she was passing out, after all they are removing like 600ml of blood from you and putting it back in without any of the proteins and nutrients. I know that passing out is normal after something like that. What did bother me was the sound that her face made as she hit the tile floor. Nobody caught her, nobody was paying much attention. Which wasn't anyones fault. But it did make me cringe. The techs sat her down in a chair, and after a couple of minutes the sides of her face were already starting to bruise. I was thinking to myself that there was no way she didn't just break her nose. I heard a tech call my name, and by this point you can imagine I'm not to crazy about doing this. All I was thinking in my head was that I was at a reaping-and they drew my name. I went back to where she was standing, and she led me into a room where all of the machines were. Beside them were these huge C-shaped chairs. It was weird because nobody was in them. I looked over against the wall and there they all were. All these people that looked seriously ticked off about something, sitting quietly and very still in folding chairs. Only one word came to my mind. Tributes.
Some guy named Bobby came over and tied a tourniquet around my upper arm. I knew that he was checking my veins. He told my tech that I was good on either arm and smiled at me and walked away. I said in my head, don't you smile at me. I know what you're doing. You are making sure I have the perfect veins, the perfect pulse and the perfect blood to do this before you people kill me. Unbelieveable. I walked back to my chair, and as soon as I got there another tech called me and another guy( my peeta) back  down the hallway. Grace, was the name I read on her nametag. She started reading us the rules of the plasma center, what we should and shouldnt do before and after the donation has started. My Haymitch. At the end of her explaining, she asked us if we would still like to donate. Against my better judgement, I nodded my head. She told us that we could go back and wait in the chairs again. I followed my Peeta down the long hallway again, and we both sat down. I saw another guy who had just finished giving plasma come out of the doors. I stood this time, determined to save him from the same fate as the broken noised girl. Except he didnt pass out. He made it all the way to the receptionists desk, so I sat again. He was talking to her and his speech started to slur. He crumpled down to the ground slowly, like he knew what was about to happen. He started having a seizure, which is always scary to watch. For him they called an ambulance, which seemed to take forever to get there. Here is the single difference between the Plasma Center and the Hunger Games: I can leave. This was the craziest most unprofessionally run medical center I had ever seen. And there are lots more awesome ways to die than at the Plasma Center. I took my file up to the receptionists and told her to have a wonderful day, and that I wouldnt be a donor today, or any other day. She looked at me like I was nuts, and I looked at her like "you really expect me to donate here after what I've seen today?" and walked out. To everyone else in the waiting room that didnt or couldnt say no, all I have to say is this........

Happy Plasma Games. 

Saturday Adventures- Rigby Lake

I have decided that I love saturdays in Rexburg. No matter what plans fall through or actually work out-we always have a good time, we don't even have to try. Today we went to Rigby Lake and tanned, cooked out, and had an AMAZING football game. (In water. Try doing high knees in water up to your waist-and then talk to me about a workout.) I wasn't going to play-but thanks to Claire and Blitch I was VIOLENTLY thrust into a freezing lake of death. I've never been so cold in my life, but when the hypothermia started to set in- I was fine. I have never been so burned either. Kaydee and I didn't put on any sunscreen-and we are definitely paying for it now. But really I just wanted to post these pictures. I have the best friends in the world.They are such good people, and such wonderful examples. We love to be together-and I'm going to miss them so much over the break! I LOVE YOU ALL!

The Football Players

Dunking Blitch. I am sure you all enjoyed that as much as I did.

Did that just happen?

Action Shot

Team Huddles...

Everybody. I am so blessed!

Into the valley of death, rode the 600

A week in the life of Brittany. Another roller coaster of a week! In lab on Monday, we got to use EKG Machines. (which reads the electric activity of your heart.) I would be lying if I told you that I didn't have a nurse Brittany moment. I felt sooooo official. As seriously as I was trying to take this, it was also HILARIOUS. To use an EKG machine, you have these stickers called pads. You have to put them on the inner side of both of your patients arms and on the upper inner part of their calves. (I would sound like a lot less of an idiot if I used anatomical terms to tell you where the pads go, but I seriously doubt some of you would follow. So feel loved, non anatomical people.) So. Inner upper arms. And inner upper calves. Remember that we live in Rexburg. Its 80 something degrees one day, and 40 something degrees the next day. And a lot of the girls hadn't shaved their legs...and so they were not happy about not having been told they would have to flash some calves. Hilarious to watch. Downside, ladies had prickly legs. Upside, when you peel off those pads...you might as well be waxing. From what I saw, it looked like it worked better than any wax I ever saw!

I spend A LOT of time with my roommate Cassie. We go and study a lot together at crazy hours of the night, take each other on late night taco bell trips, and sometimes even have scream sessions in the car when we are upset at life. We have found out that when we are together people apparently cant resist giving us free stuff. We went shopping on Monday, and a guy that worked at Broulim's walked up and asked us if we wanted a free snack. He had a shopping cart full of oreos, teddy grahams, and loaves of bread. He told us to take one of everything, and then he gave us a free liter of Pepsi! What?! But it doesn't stop there. We went to study at porter park, and JIMMY JOHNS people came up and gave us free sandwiches. Oh my gosh. Are you serious? Does anyone else want to come up and give us free stuff for absolutely no reason? 

And now, the highlight of my life every single day from 9AM to 10AM, and from 9AM to 12:45 pm on Fridays, Sister Lemon. This is my Chemistry teacher. And this woman is nuts. How can you not love someone who laughs like this? Look at that face! And of course I love watching her blow stuff up. Who doesn't like to blow stuff up? She is so funny to watch. "I should probably close the door, we aren't supposed to have giant fireballs in our classrooms..."

And lastly, the depressing part of this week. Kind of. If you are wondering where I got the title for this blog post, its a poem. Its called The Charge Of The Light Brigade by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. The poem was written to memorialize a suicidal charge by light cavalry over open terrain by British forces in the Battle of Balaclava in the Crimean War. The Brigade knew going in that it was going to be really really hard, and that the odds weren't exactly in their favor. Probably totally and completely blown out of proportion-this is how I feel right now. In a couple of hours Tommy leaves for EFY for a REALLY long time. I am so excited for him, and I know he is going to have a blast with Jonathan and with all of his boys. But in a ridiculously selfish way, I am so jealous and I don't want him to go! I'm going to miss talking to him SO MUCH. But, in a way, I guess its sort of a blessing in disguise. I will to able to pretty much completely focus on school for the last couple of weeks and make sure that my grades are where I want them. Still. The ratio of time that I will probably spend thinking of Tommy at EFY over the time I will probably spend at school working-is super uneven. And you and I both know which way that tree is going to fall. Here's to the longest six weeks of my life! Much Love! ♥

And they did all eat, and were filled.

Everyone knows the story of Jesus feeding the five thousand with five loaves and two fishes. That story for me gained a new meaning this weekend. Saturday our ward relief society and elders quorum planned and activity together-and that activity was making breakfast. Heck. We could've chosen a mission trip to Africa, or rebuilding the World Trade Center, or resurfacing the Titanic. We did this once last semester-and there wasn't enough food to even feed all of the girls, and all of the guys just sat around watching the girls eat. So I didnt really have much faith in this activity. I don't really think anyone thought it through, or realized what we were all getting ourselves into. But thanks to our amazing Relief Society president, Cassie, and our amazing Elders Quorum president, Jaron, we were all able to get it done. I was worried, because with the food we had, there was no way that we were going to feed all of the Elders I was staring at. And that mental math problem didn't even include the ladies. Everyone grabbed something and started cooking, and before I new it I felt like I was watching food multiply by itself ten fold everytime I looked up from my pancake griddle!

Will The Baconator.

Chase the Hash brown professional and Taylor the Baconator replacement.

smoking.

Cassie and Stesha!

The reason this all happened! Thanks Jaron!

Round 1 of 4.



Marissa, Brittany, Shae'la, and oh so happy Jaron.

Moral of the story, Jesus can feed five thousand with five loaves and two fishes. And we can feed 30+ peole with one 15 pound bag of pancake mix. Miracles happen. 

If all your friends went to jump off a bridge, would you?

Apparently I would. What possessed me to be a part of this, I will never know. Monkey Rock 2012!

Apples to Oranges & Peaches to...Me?

The blogging streak continues! But its only been what, a few days? In my defense, they have been an emotional roller coaster! I have found myself going from Alabama, my family, my boyfriend, and complete relaxation to Rexburg. Overcast, stressful, lonely Rexburg. (Not that it can't be wonderful at times, because it can. Its just that Alabama is the only place I want to be, and the only place that it feels like I won't ever get home to!) But luckily- I have the little things in life to keep me going. And I was richly, richly blessed with those over the last few days.
One of these little things, was my mother! I do not know how someone so average as me came from someone so amazing, wonderful, and perfect as her. She has always been so aware of all of her kids; their wants, their needs, and their worries. Even when one of them is halfway across the country. This week was so stressful with school and with all of my classes- I didn't even want to think about all of the shopping I had to do. For food, shampoo, make up...you know. All the expensive bathroom products that I always seem to run out of ALL OF at the same exact time. I am on a budget, like every college student here. So I didn't want to think about overspending on make up and shampoo and whatever else after buying my food! But I also know that toothpaste and face wash are things that I just cant live without. (I might could do without the make-up. MIGHT.) I was checking my emails, and I saw a forwarded message from my mom. When I opened it I was expecting some old picture of all of us that she had edited, or a reminder that the rest of my rent for my apartment was due at the end of this month. To my surprise, it wasn't either of these things. It was receipt of a shipment! I kept scrolling down the email, reading the names of all kinds of expensive, quality, name brand make up, shampoos, face wash, make up removers (which I haven't had the luxury of since I left home! I have been stuck with baby oil!), and conditioners. The order was easily over $100, and the only reasons she gave were she thought I would like to have these things, she thought the name of one of the mascaras was cool, and that she loved me. Tender mercy on my stressful, hair ripping week? I think yes. Thank you Mama!
The second little thing this week was a story that I heard. Or rather, remembered. With Tommy going to EFY all summer, I have grown a little more hatred for that camp than I had before. And if I am honest, I have been thinking a lot on my experiences there. Most of which, not very good. But there was one story that I haven't, and probably wont ever forget that I can thank EFY for. Our session director shared it with us on the last day. I keep under my bed a box of letters. Letters from my parents mostly. With all my little siblings always underfoot-my parents and I never found much time to sit down and talk about anything for longer than five minutes. But my mom and I started writing letters to each other, and leaving them on each other's beds. I love those letters. And among them I have a few other important things, my patriarchal blessing, a letter that my dad wrote me when I graduated and left home, notes from girls at girls camp, and lots of conference notes from over the years. In this seemingly endless pile of letters I went to go though this week, I found the story of the peaches. Which was so unbelievably fitting for my life! The story goes like this- and yes, it starts with once upon a time. All of the good stories do.

         Once upon a time there was a kingdom by the sea, known for its flowers and trees. The king of this kingdom was loved by his people, and he ruled with a fair and just hand. The king and his queen had not been blessed with any sons or any daughters, and so they had no heir to the throne. The king loved the people, and wanted to leave them with an honest and fair ruler in his place. When the king knew he was dying, he had all of the boys of a certain age come into the palace. Each of the boys were given a flower pot and a seed. The king weakly rose from his bed and spoke softly, "You all have been given a pot and a seed, and the boy who returns to the palace in a months time with the most beautiful peach tree -will inherit my kingdom, and all that I have." The days passed quickly, and with each passing day until the month was through- the king grew weaker. The boys of the kingdom devoted much time and effort into their seeds, and soon they began to sprout. Some started to grow tiny trunks and leaves, tiny branches, and some even began to bloom with tiny peach blossoms.. The boys began to take pride in their hard work, and to show off all that they had cultivated. There was an Orphan in the kingdom who had also received a seed. Despite all that he did for the seed, it would not grow. Day after day he would look at the pot wishing to see a sprout-even the smallest sign that he had devoted even a little time to the tiny seed. And day after day, nothing changed. When the month mark finally came due, the boys of the kingdom all returned to the palace dressed in the best clothes that their parents could adorn them with. Each boy held it pot proudly in hand, showing the healthy sprouts. The king rose weakly from his bed, and began to walk down the line, hoping somewhere therein would be his heir. He walked slowly, looking at each of the plants, and looking into the eyes of each boy. He finally reached the end of the line, and met the eyes of the Orphan. The shaking hands of the boy held a pot full only of soil, when all the others held rich young trees. The young boy's emotions overcame him. "I'm sorry.." he offered. "I did all that I could for the seed, I gave it water and sunlight, and cared for it everyday. I don't know what I did wrong." With tears filling his eyes, the king knelt down and put a hand on the boys exposed shoulder. "My child, you have done all that was asked of you. I have boiled all of the peach seeds. None of your seeds were ever supposed to grow. Now I am sure, that you are the heir to this kingdom. All that I have, I give to you."

I love that story. Even though it isn't anywhere close to being professionally written, the message is so powerful. Diligence is such an important gospel principle. When we do things the right way, in the right time, and we keep Heavenly Father involved in our decision making, we leave little room for things to go wrong. Even though during the moment our diligence may not appear to be paying off or making a difference, we never know what the Father has in store for us.....or the circumstances of the bigger picture. But I know that through diligence we can find happiness and the peace that the Father can give us! President Monson once said that "Work will win, when wishy washy wishing won't." Where there is no struggle, there is no strength. I used to be frustrated with struggle, because it always accompanies the things that I love, and the things that I want. But now I am grateful. The things that I love and the things that I want can be made strong. I know people say that you cant compare apples to oranges, but I have decided that I can compare the story of the peaches to me.

Enough of the little things! So in Rexburg, there are these things called cake pops. And people go door to door here selling them like they are the sunday paper. Forgive me, if I don't want to pay a dollar for a cake ball...on a stick. (what is it about sticks that make everything more novel?) We literally have a knock on our door once a week from some random person selling cake pops. After 5 months of saying no and shutting doors. I bought one. I just had to know if the dang cake pops were as good as everyone says they are or even worth selling from door to door. Swiftly following my terrible, money blowing example was Shaeby. Unfortunately, they werent that great. But dont tell anyone I said that. I might get struck down by the Rexburg cake pop God. Yes, that is how much people obsess over them. Its to the point of worship!  Until next time.. hopefully I'll have better things to say about desserts on sticks. ♥

Around the world and back again, that's the sailor's way.

4 months and an entire semester later, she lives! I fell off of the face of the blogging world (as sweetly pointed out by the lovely Cindy Davis) last semester, but you can thank lots of work, social activities, and stress for that! Winter semester went so quickly, and was full of so many blessings! I met so many wonderful people and had so many awesome experiences. If I am honest though, I have to tell you that I DO NOT miss walking to class in 0 degree weather, and that this blooming 66 degree Rexburg is tolerable. Very tolerable!
 I got to spend 10 days  at home inbetween the end of Winter semester and the start of Spring semester. It was unbelieveably refreshing! I didn't realize how much I had missed my sweet family until I got the opoportunity to see them, only to have to up and leave them again! I am excited about being able to spend more than 10 days, or just a weekend with them come July!

After 10 crazzzzzzzzzzzzy days with the kids, and grandparents, and unfortunately the interstate, I came back up to Rexburg to meet the new 401 Family. Jen, Quinci, and Mandy (all roommates from last semester) went home, so Cassie, Adell, and I got three new roommates! We found out before we met them that they all knew each other, and that they had been roommates since the dawn of time. (we were pretty excited not to have any first semester girls! although if we had, we would've taken good care of them.) First new roommate is Marissa! She is from Nebraska, and she is obsessed with superman. Superman everything. Think of an object. And she's got it..with superman on it. Shae'la is from Texas! I don't really count Texas as "the south", but when I found out I was going to have someone NOT from up north in my apartment, I was so excited! (Not that I don't love my yankee girls, because I DO!) Amanda is from Nebraska too, but she was only here for a couple of days. She had to go back home to take care of some health problems. We miss her!

I am so blessed to have these lovely ladies! (From left to right, Adell, Marissa, Cassie, Shae'la, and yours truly.) Speaking of new people, we have another super awesome home evening group this semester. Cassie, Adell, and I got to stay in the same ward as last semester-which we were really happy about. So we have the same bishopric! Who we LOVE! We have good feelings about our ward, and our home evening group for spring :)

Feeding the ducks!

Edwin!

The boys, Brother Byington, and Bishop Brown!

Get it offa me.

I could tell you that our awesome FHE group, or my amazing roommates, or the fact that this spring  is just plain easier than winter is the best thing about this semester. But the best thing about this semester, is my man! After talking for a long looooooooong time, meeting all of each others family, and crazy road trips from Provo to Rexburg, Rexburg to Provo, and from all the way across the COUNTRY to Rexburg, I officially have the most amazing boyfriend. Tommy is the best thing about this semester!

This past weekend was memorial day weekend, and I found myself flying across the country to see my family, my boyfriend, and his family too. My parents got a cabin in Fort Payne, right next to Little River Canyon. We left on thursday night, and stayed until saturday morning. I took Tommy with me, because I couldn't have it any other way. So he spent the weekend with raw Allens...and I think he is still sane. If not, then he is very very good at not showing it.

When Tommy and I got back from Fort Payne Saturday, he helped me unload the car and all of the coolers (which was strange, I don't think we ate any of the food that we took..), and then went home for the first time in three days! He came back later that night though, so that we could go on a date. He took me to Zaxbys, which he knew I'd been dying for, and then took me to see Battleship! I think I might have liked that movie more than I liked the Avengers! (which I also saw with Tommy!) Not that the Avengers was bad, because it was awesome. But Battleship was just...really awesome.

Sunday I went to church in my home ward, and had a major reunion. Haley, Claire, and I were all there-the unseperable trio was reunited. And Jessie, who moved away four years ago was back visiting for the first time! It was so good to be reunited with all the girls and to talk about all of our "remember whens." On Sunday night I went over to Tommy's to meet his brother Jamie, his wife Paris, and their two boys- Banx and Thad! Cutest little family ever. They were all so sweet, and I love being with the Greens. When I am with them I find myself silently marveling at how similar they are to my family, and my extended family! Its almost like I'm sitting at home in Mobile again with the whole family!

         I made it home after a long day of flying yesterday-and today was the first day back in the Burg. Back to the old grind-time to hit the books. Until next time. And yes, there will be a next time, a next time that is NOT four months away.  

     





Creepy-Dehydrated-Naughty-Nerds

Hiii from rainy Rexy! I have decided that my new goal is to write a new post every week, which motivates me to photo document things. So hopefully I will be able to balance classes, homework, my craftiness, all while not committing suicide socially. Soo. Here's AQCJMB's week in a nutshell. And in order.
First of all. Picture this. Its eleven thirty at night. Mandy, Jennifer, and I had all three just gotten out of the shower-when we here a knock on our door. Luckily, always beautiful Adell and Cassie answered the door. I could hear guy voices asking for me- but I couldnt recognize them. Mandy, Jennifer, and I all stayed down the hallway in our rooms, because we looked sooooo dang hawwwwt. So the guys apparently don't even know me, and I don't know them. They stayed in my lobby writing me this poem (that admittedly, is really funny) for an hour and a half! Creepy.

Nat, Shane, and all of us are best friends now. But still, creepy.

Memorable event number 2! We literally go to the DI (Deseret Industries), once a week. We spend at least an hour looking for vintage sweaters, vintage quilts, vintage decorations, basically vintage anything. We usually go to the DI thats right here in Rexburgia, but Cassie went to the DI in IF. (Idaho Falls...for some weird reason people out here call things by their initials. Don't judge me. Just following the crowd.). And while she was there she found a DEHYDRATOR! Oh, yes. A dehydrator. One of those terrible things that takes perfectly good juicy food, and turns it into crunchy, gross, joyless food. With only two exceptions. Beef Jerky. And Raisins. But she loves it so much already, that I guess that will count as out DI "treasure"...for the week. And she looks dang cute with it.

DEHYRATED.

Numbaa Threeee. So. Here's what happens when I try to be social. We go to this party at the Flight Museum. Yep. Thats right. I said. MUSEUM. Sounds safe, right? WRONG. We walk into this GIANT old airplane hanger, full of little teeny 6 MILLION DOLLAR PLANES. And there are people everywhere, all over each other, with crazy nerd clothes on. I felt like I just walked into a room full of apes. So we got our pictures in the photo booth, talked to some normally, modestly, dressed nerds we knew, and then we left. Because there were some naughy. naughty. naughty nerds.

So, pretty successful week. HA. We hope for better DI treasures, and better parties next go round.
Dueces.