School is Back in Session

I will take a few minutes from my homework I should be tackling right now. Spring 2013 has officially started. Two days done, so far so good. Well sorta. It would have been good if it hadn't snowed yesterday morning. That was a little disgusting. Thankfully I left the apartment after that disaster.  Let's just say this semester I will be busy and focused. My schedule seems extremely tight on Mondays and Wednesday. I have class at 9:45 until 11:15 (Art Theory, which will be super interesting). Work right after that until my 2 o'clock class.  Thats marriage prep. The only reason I'm taking that class is because I felt like I should. It should be really fun, I have a lot of friends in the class and the teacher is super hilarious. Glad I picked him. It was a 50/50 chance. Then right after that I have History of Graphic Design. So Busy. Luckily I just have one actual class on Thursday. Then I'll have piano classes sometime during the week. While working a good solid 18 hours a week. I've already decided I'm going to be the boring roommate that just does her homework all the time and never goes any where unless its to go see her family or something like that. I guess it helps that I've finally appreciating the being alone thing. I'm super stoked for all of my Art Classes. I feel like its going to open up my creativity a lot. Graphic Design is going to be intense but I'm going to learn a lot. Art theory is going to really make me think deep. And History of Graphic Design is going to look to the past to help solve my  design problems right now. Its going to be busy but I already love the classes so far. Ah school I just gotta keep at you until I'm finished. So close but so far away. So maybe I'll do posts, maybe I won't. We'll see. But I'll do my best to keep you posted on my progress in Design at least! 

Tuned In: Chloe Edition

Check out my new number one Jam! My sister recently posted this on my facebook wall and I'm in love! I'm not biased at all. Okay. You caught me, I am. But strangely this song is fairly true minus the part about the 3 adorable singing it to me in real life. I love my sisters but they have had more boy action than I do. One alone has had more boyfriends before I actually had one(which wasn't a really one because he wasn't here). It really did make me laugh the first time I listened because the sister part seemed to be true in my life. My awkwardness is probably in direct relationship for my lack of a dating life and a lack for having anyone interested.  Definitely makes my life interesting and full of adventure! So show the Chloes in your life some love. Cause they need it! I think i want to have a national holiday dedicated to Chloes but that probably won't fly. So I'll just feel special wearing my Chloe perfume (its real, click here) while listening to this wonderful song. Maybe someday a guy will fill this way about me. :)

Today.

 

 

 

In 2009 I fell in love with a beautiful city, Boston. It has since been my dream to return. I loved being in Boston. Its one of my favorite cities. Boston was tragically targeted for some unknown reason but that does not stop what I am feeling today. 

Today I am grateful for the good people I see helping on the news. They prove that there is still good in the world. They prove that we can still care for each other and help each other. For the human decency to help one another when tragedy happens. For thinking of others. 

Today I am grateful to be safe where I am. 

Today I am grateful that I can call my mom. Tell her how much I love her. 

Today I'm grateful for a nation that is willing to come together when something like this happens. 

Today I'm grateful for a president. I may not agree with every thing with him but I still respect him. I'm grateful we have some one to bring a nation together. That's what really matter.

Today I am grateful for a God who knows best. Who knew that 2 minutes in a marathon race time would make such a difference in a family.

Today I am grateful that I have faith. I have faith everything is going to be okay. Faith that I'll be protected by my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. For faith that their are good people in this world.

Today I am grateful for hope. Hope that people will be better. Hope that people will come together.

So today I run. I run for those affected by tragedy. I run because I have faith. I run because I believe that people will come together a midst tragedy. I know there will always be some sort of good in this world.  I run because I choose faith over fear.

New Testament: That Ye May Have Fellowship with Us and God| 1 John 1-3

What is John's desire for those he wrote to?
He wants those he is writing to find and have fellowship with the saints, John, Heavenly Father, and Jesus Christ. Also that their joy would be filled by the gospel and Jesus Christ.

How can we come to know God better and have greater joy and fellowship with God?

1John 1:8-10 - Confess of our sins and not lie about them
          2:3-6 - Keep the commandments - walk as the Savior did
          2:9-11; 3:11-19 - Love our neighbors and walk in the light
          2:15-17 - Love not the things of the world be not of the world, the world does not last long as
                         does the things of Heaven. Christ
          2:20-21, 27 - We know the truth from Christ, We are anointed by Him
          3:4-6 -  Atonement, we know Christ through the Atonement

For me, the one I want to work on the most to have greater joy in the fellowship of God is Love our neighbors and walk in the night. I tend to struggle with loving my neighbor a lot. Especially when it comes to roommates. You are living with each other and stress is high during school especially. You all have been raised different ways and you expect different things. Its easy to just ignore the situation and not having anything to do with it. Creating a some form of ommission by not trying. You just do everything else but don't do that one thing. Trying to love the people you live with. Its easy to love those you don't actually live with them. My neighbors are my roommates and with a new semester coming up I am going to make an effort to serve my roommates to help increase my love for them. I'm going to involve all of them. Also by loving my roommates and being more like Christ and loving my fellow brothers and sisters in our journey on Earth.

:) - tehe

I think I about died laughing because I'm that awkward girl! I love it!

Sister Getaway

So I'm finally doing a blog post about going ons in my life.  I got tickets to go to the Sunday Morning Session of General Conference. If you don't know what that is check out this link right here. You can even watch the videos, just click here. When my bishop gave me two tickets to the session I immediately wanted to take my little sister, Aubrie, with me. She's graduating soon and I just wanted a weekend for us to bond and spend sometime together.  It was able to work out that she would could and wanted to come with me.  

I met up with my parents in Pocatello to pick her up. And the road trip started. That girl is hilarious! Her laugh is contagious! Its a little known fact that I would sorta laugh when I was baby. But it wasn't until Aubrie was born that I really started to laugh. She completed me and she makes me laugh all the time. The girl needs her own show! I love the things that come out of her mouth. 

We bunked at my sweet cousin's apartment. We got to sleep on her new couches and got to enjoy having an Apple TV in the house.  Chelsie was a doll for letting us come and stay at her place. And a big congratulations to her and her fiancé. They are perfect for each other. :) Love ya Chels! 

First session of conference and she was out. It was presh!

Out on the town in Sandy, Utah. Went to the mall and got some things. Have I said how much I love having a car!! Its the best thing ever. And my smart phone because then I don't get lost and I can find awesome places!!

After shopping it was time to eat and what better combination is cupcakes and jamba juice. The best kind for two sisters who love jamba and love something sweet. We tried The Sweet Toot Fairy for the first time! So. Good! Better than the local place we have here in Rexburg. The cupcakes were so moist and delicious. I definitely recommend the nutella crepe and the strawberry shortcake. The coconut was good but to much almond extract in the frosting. Thats just a family thing, the Woodhouse family as never been big on too much almond extract. 

Getting to the Conference Center was kind of intense and stressful. We had originally planned to ride the trax to get there but they had cut their hours on Sunday. Then trying to find parking was just grand. We did find a parking place, walked quickly through City Creek, and made it in time to get a seat and to watch Music and The Spoken Word. Which was beautiful. This picture of us is before we got into the conference center. My sister is super gorgeous!

Aubrie wouldn't take a picture with me so this was the best I could do to get both of us. She is a nerd sometimes about pictures. Then as Aubrie and I were headed out of the Conference building to go back to the car I ran into good ol' Jimmy Haas! I hung out with this kid a lot Fall 2011! He's such a good guy and I was glad to see he was doing great! I've missed Jimmy.

Our trip wasn't complete until Aubrie and I got some In and Out Burger. Its been a favorite of ours when we go down to the Salt Lake Valley Area. It was super delicious and the shakes were awesome. Aubrie and I were satisfied and made the trek back to Idaho. She zonked and I listened to conference as I drove. I'm so glad Aubrie came with me and I got to spend time with her. Lots of fun for sure! 

I'll talk more about the spiritual side of conference in the next post.

Spring Design Special!

New Testament: Works of Righteousness | Hebrews 13

How should we treat strangers and "those bonds?"

 "Let brotherly love continue. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body." (verses 1-3)

How is marriage looked upon?
"Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge."
(verse 4)

What warnings are given about covetousness?
"Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." (verse 5)

What is "the same, yesterday and today and forever?"
"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever." (verse 8)

How are we sanctified?
"Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered, without the gate."
(verse 12)

How do we respond to those who rule over us?
"Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you."
(verse 17)

Who did Paul ask the people to pray for?
"Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly."
(verse 18)

Alone

This semester has truly been my first semester where I have felt the most lonely. Sure I have friends and close friends but significant others are always going to have more priority over me. And I completely understand and respect that. I have had other friends this semester but I really don't feel like I fit in with them. We hung out a lot at the beginning of the semester but then that slowly died out as the semester progressed. Yet I felt out of place, really didn't feel like I could be myself.

Whats worse, being in a room full of people feeling completely alone or being by yourself all alone? The first is the worse. I can't think of a worse kind of lonely than being with a group of people who are your so called "friends" and you can't be yourself. Shouldn't you be surrounded by people who  love you for who you are and what you have to say. Shouldn't they be able to see your greatness with out you even trying to impress them.

Being alone this semester has been somewhat of a breakthrough for me. I have always had friends to hang out with, I always have had somewhere to go on a Friday night since 6th grade. I was always with friends and my friends in High School were awesome! Trust me you are jealous of them with out evening knowing. I guess I've never really done things a lone until this semester.

A big moment for me in particular was when I decided to go to the Idaho Falls temple by myself. After word going to mall to do some shopping all by myself and the proceeded to go to Five guys to eat. Usually when I'm by myself I get something to go or get it in the drive through so I don't have to be seen eating alone but this time I sat there and ate my burger and fries. I was saying "Hey look I'm fine eating here by myself not relying on someone else." I don't need another person to eat this in public. I was actually comfortable with my situation. I was happy I was single (which isn't the case some days), I was happy I was alone, and I was happy I was me. Kind of a ah-ha moment type of thing. I was comfortable with the idea of just being by myself on a Friday night, heck I was comfortable with the idea of going to the movie theater by myself to go see a movie.

Granted I have this fear of being alone the rest of my life, I've had this fear ever since I was little and I think that is why I was so confident in making new friends. I had nothing to lose and everything to gain. If that happens to where I never get married in this life, I'll survive and I'll make my best of the situation and be happy. Life will still be good, I'll have friends and family.  But I'm not completely at one with this whole alone thing but I'm starting to accept it. I'm starting to appreciate it and love it. There are days where I struggle with it. I'm questioning why can' people just accept me as I am and just want to hang out with me. Well I can't expect everyone to go my way or expect the to appreciate me like my other friends. Just like they can't expect the same from me about them. 

I want to be a better person for myself. As weird as it sounds I want to be able to be my own best friend. I don't want to be the reason I'm having a bad day. I want to be the girl who is confident in herself and her abilities. Be able to look into the mirror and go "Hey gorgeous girl! You can take on this crazy world. You are smart, you are capable, you do matter, you are beautiful, you are kind, and you are important. You can do it alone. Believe in yourself today!!"

Being alone doesn't mean you have to be lonely. It doesn't mean you are a loser. It means you are learning to appreciate yourself and be happy your living with yourself. You have to do it the rest of your life regardless of spouses or children. Alone isn't nearly as bad as our society has plagued it to be. How else is another person supposed to appreciate you if you don't appreciate yourself? Just some food for thought.