The GOOD always outweighs the BAD

Talk about a roller coaster week. Since my last post, only a few days ago, I became almost deathly ill (okay okay, just a really really AWFUL cold), became swamped with homework along with tests, and my car broke. Sucks yeah? Yes I would have to agree, not only was I sick but I couldn't even drive myself to the store to get meds or whatever else I needed.

Has anyone ever told you that being sick is much much worse when you don't have someone taking care of you? Well if no has ever told you that I'm telling you now. Its no fun to have to get up and find your own meds, or WALK to jamba juice to sooth your throat (because the car is broken).. Although sitting on the swings with your jamba is quite refreshing. Its hard to get yourself out of bed for class, quarantine yourself enough so that your roommates don't get sick, and try to not be a B student.

Its amazing how one day (or in this case a few) could be so horrible and then the next be so great. Sunday-Tuesday=suck-fest. Then all of a sudden Wednesday was fantastic, AMAZING! My roommate laughed at me when I came home from work and said I was glowing and really bubbly. Truth is I still felt sick, but had a great day at work.

I love my job! Let's be honest, it doesn't really feel like a job. Its exactly right for me. Buzz (the little boy I work with) and I made BIG progress on Wednesday. Truthfully I was a bit nervous since friday was a really hard day. He didn't want me to touch any toys and had no desire to look at, talk to, or play with me. Then because I was so sick I couldn't go on Monday, so needless to say I wasn't quite sure how yesterday was going to work out. Usually it takes him about 45min-a hour to let me play with him, I have to play with toys away from him and once in a while he'll ask for my help. However, on Wednesday it only took about 20 min for him to warm up to me. It was goal to get him engaged into 4 different games or activities, he completely EXCEEDED IT! We played 6 games together. Anything from Race cars- having a Dinosaur town. He "helped" me read books, and "read" some to me. Then to top off an already great day, I pulled out some coloring items (He hasn't colored a picture on his own for about 6 months now, so its my goal to get him back into coloring), last week he colored for me but only about an inch of the paper. Yesterday he colored more than half of the picture! Go BUZZ! I left the room so happy and thankful for the wonderful opportunity I have been given to help this boy realize his full potential. Although I think I might be learning more from him than he is from me.

I guess I'll end my blog post with a quote that my boss read to me a few weeks ago which came to my mind when I was feeling so crappy this week.. "Trials and tribulations are a necessity to life, misery is optional, and happiness is a choice." -Barbara Lunt

*And she continues to live, Happily Ever After*

Vitamins: Friend or Foe?

On to week three of classes here in Rexburg. The weather is great, classes are hard; I'd have to say life's pretty darn good.

I have successfully finished a pillow in my Practical Homemaking class, its not one of those lame pillows its actually quite legit, cut out the pieces, changed the pattern to make it even cooler.. You could call me a seamstress if you wanted.. :) I'll be making a pillow case and an apron this next week, bring it on!

Work is going quite well. Buzz has only tried to kick me out of his play room once, and after punching me in the mouth we became quite good friends. (haha) I got him to color with me (His mom said he hasn't actually picked up a crayon and colored for 6 months) so I'd say that was a pretty big accomplishment. Its the perfect job to have. Not too stressful and the hours are great. I get to leave the stressful world of piled homework to go play with this boy and help him build connections with the "outside" world. I already see how rewarding this job can be and I'm grateful for it.

Yesterday was a very fun and eventful Saturday. I woke up at 8:30 was fed breakfast by the Elders Quorum in our ward. While we were eating breakfast some friends from our ward last semester stopped by and invited us to go out with them that night, however kept the activity a secret. At 2 I went and played football with a bunch of girls from our ward, my team was legit although we lost by one touchdown. So we go to the grocery store parking lot to meet up with our friends and there's this huge group of people, when Tucker and Tyrel are in charge you always have to wonder what kind of crazy yet fun stunt you will be taking part of. We split up and get into cars and drive an hour north to Mesa Falls. The guys made a 700ft zip line! So awesome! This is the second or third time they had done it eventually they'll cut the line to make a carol fence. It was SO fun. [Don't worry mom, it was totally safe and the worst injury was me getting hit by a few branches while we went through the forest :) ] You would hike up this HUGE hill and then put on a climbing harness, strap in and go! SOOOOO FUN!!!

Today I woke up sick, not happy about that, and thought to myself what the heck? I take 20+ vitamins a day (per leslies order) and still managed to get sick! I wasn't sick before I took vitamins then all of a sudden BAM I'm sick even with taking a barrel load of vitamin C a day. Goodness, it better pass quickly. Of course then I had to remember that church doesn't start until 1. Death, church at 1 with a backward schedule=death. Oh well. I suppose it allows me to be in my PJ's longer?

Here's to another hopefully great week! I'm off to Sandy on Friday! It'll be a fun weekend! :)

*And She Continues to Live, Happily Ever After*

Blessings from Idaho

I have officially been back in Rexburg for a week now, who knew a week could go so fast yet so slow!! I am in the same apartment of girls this semester which is such a blessing, they are all so great. I was "blessed" to spend $400 on books this semester and have a heart attack once I saw the bill, its a good thing this while education thing will pay off in the long run.

Campus is more beautiful than ever, especially with the new Auditorium almost completed. You want to know what's not beautiful? The altitude! I don't think I'll ever be able to walk from my apartment (south side of campus) up to the Ricks building (on a hill, north side of campus) without losing my breath. I won't lie its pretty embarrassing when you get to the top of the hill *GASP* GASP* and try to smile so you don't look completely out of shape. I want to wear a sign that says, "No I'm not a freshman, yes I work out, I have asthma, and the altitude is crazy, please stop staring." :) Okay okay, its not THAT embarrassing, I just wish it didn't happen but I can honestly say I'm not the only one.

Although my workload is going to be intense this semester I was definitely blessed with fabulous professors. They all love what they do and it shows in their lectures. Its truly an honor to be studying under them and I hope that I can grasp a glimpse of their knowledge and passion. I just wish they didn't assign so much reading..

Again I have a fantastic ward, everyone is so friendly and outgoing its wonderful. I have once again been enlisted to the ward soccer team and this semester we are taking it all! Time for the Championships!

I had a fun interview with my Bishop on Sunday.. As we are talking he pauses and goes "Julie you have a musical talent." Immediately my heart starts racing and my mind shouts "OH CRAP! He knows I can play the piano, bad bad bad news!" I looked at him, completely calm of course and said, "Oh? I do?" He chuckles and replys "Well if you don't now, you sure will!" He proceeds to ask me to be the Relief Society Music Chairman aka lead music in RS. I told him, "Oh bishop you don't understand I don't have any rhythm, are you sure?" Well apparently that wasn't good enough, although it did make him laugh. So here I go with a Music Calling. Maybe I'll get over my fear of leading music and playing the piano in front of people, although I think I'd rather crawl under a rock.

Lastly I have been blessed with a job. I will be working as an aide to an autistic child. He's such a sweet boy, 8 years old and goes by the name Buzz Lightyear of Star Command! I can't wait to help him and I'm sure he will be helping me as well. This experience is going to be one of growth, love, and patience.

I'm glad to be back in the Burg, as long as it doesn't turn into the Iceburg. I came across a quote by Aristotle earlier tonight it reads, "The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet." Well isn't that the truth! As annoying as it is to be reading all the time and studying non stop, I'm excited for a time in the near future where I can use my education to bless the lives of others.

*And she continues to live, Happily Ever After."

Lessons Learned Around the States

I am so grateful for the study trip I was able to attend. I can't really put into words the full extent of my experience. I felt as though I was a sponge soaking up all the information possible, and actually retaining most of it. For the first time I have a pure and sincere appreciation for all of the arts. Who knew I could be so excited about an art museum? I even loved all of the Church Sites, there was a peace that rested at those places that I can't explain. Who knew I could memorize dates of Church History or even know what scriptures went for that time period? I didn't! But I sure did!

I honestly can't express how much I loved seeing all the history sites. To literally stand where truly great men and women who changed the world stood. To see natures beauty in so many different locations. To teach and grow.

I definitely have been bit with the travel bug.. Where to next?

*And she continues to live, Happily Ever After* ESPECIALLY AFTER THIS TRIP! :)

Quick Recap!

I realize I didn't do the best job at blogging about my trip so I'm going to hurry and finish it up because I already have so much to share about this semester!

After Philadelphia we headed into the Big Apple, that's what they call New York right? I must confess New York City was not all that in my book. But that's okay because I did enjoy my time there. We got to see WICKED ON BROADWAY! I do love Wicked, but I hate to say I think I enjoyed the one in SF better.. Don't tell on me. It was still fantastic I just didn't care for some of the cast.. Anyways, I LOVED the MET! Greatest museum I've ever seen! My friend Rachelle made fun of me because I was acting like a kid in a candy store when we were in the musical instrument section. I didn't know instruments could be so beautiful, goodness I loved that place. After the Met we had all day to walk around NYC. The group I was with went to the USS Intrepid, considering I love studying WW2 it was another thing I loved! It was really neat since they transformed the ship into a museum, and we got to go in the Submarine. Pretty sweet! :) Of course I experienced a Under Water Dog, um.. What's so special? Wien-O-Rama's hotdogs were just as good, if not better. But hey it was the New York Experience. We went to Ellis island and got to well not drive but float I guess past the Statue of Liberty. That's pretty much it for New York, its a cool city but I suppose you could say I left my heart in San Francisco.. :)

*And she continues to live, Happily Ever After*

Independence Hall

August 19th 2010
I'd be lying if I didn't say Philadelphia was one of my favorite stops, I definitely acted as a kid in a candy store. I mean to stand in the rooms where the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were signed! AH So cool! I was literally in the room where America said "peace-out" to England! (ha-ha). Seriously I can't even explain how awesome it was to be there.

I gave a presentation at this location on the key differences between those two documents and of course I showed my group the School House Rock "Preamble". My friend from Canada thought it was awesome! :) Apparently they don't watch those in Canada, we spent the next night watching all the classics. Ha-ha.

Back to Philadelphia, I loved it. Saw the liberty bell, first congress hall, the constitution center (with the BEST show/performance if you ever find yourself out there it is SO worth it!), and basically anything else, historically related of course, that you could want to see in Philly.

Had a Philly-Cheese-Steak.. Wasn't too impressed.. Lameo.
Anyways, loved it in Philadelphia! Such a cool place.

*And she continues to live, Happily Ever After*

Great Battle of Gettysburg

August 18th 2010
Going to Gettsyburg was a neat experience. We had the opportunity of taking our day trip in order of the three battles which occurred there. It is so interesting to learn about military tactics of the 19th century. Definitely different then ours today.

In the afternoon we went to visit the Gettysburg Cemetery. I was able to read Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address on the site which was definitely different than merely reading it from a textbook. As we walked the Cemetery it began to sprinkle, ending in a down right pour. I welcomed the rain for two reasons.. 1. It is very hot on the east coast it was refreshing to have a warm rain. AND 2. It added a level of reverence to the site.

How heartbreaking it was to walk the grounds and see numbers instead of names on tombs. Men who were never identified for the losses on both sides were too great. I was so grateful for their courage of Freedom, for both sides of this war were truly fighting for freedom. The words of Lincoln, "We all declare for liberty; but in using the same word we do not all mean the same thing." No matter what "liberty" they were fighting for many thousands of men gave their lives so we may live in this free nation we cherish today.

*And she continues to live, Happily Ever After*