A Day in the Life of... Me

Since we last talked... I have successfully taken 2 tests and I'm working on getting ready for my third at the end of this week. Pretty sure by this time last year I was maybe starting to think about starting to study for my first test. Oh well... I guess that's what I get for taking 17 credits this semester. :)

Life overall is pretty basic. Every day I get up, 

go to class,

 come home, 

  

and study.

 

  
Other than that... I hang out and talk with my awesome roommates. Shelby and I have had some interesting conversations while we lay in bed at night, I wouldn't trade her for anything! <3 We encourage each other and help each other as we face our tests and assignments that seem most daunting... I don't know what I would do without her.

Where is God's Perfection?

Heard this story today in my Intro to Special Education class... I love it so much. If you have a few minutes, please read it.

In Brooklyn, New York, Chush is a school that caters to learning disabled children. Some children remain in Chush for their entire school career, while others can be mainstreamed into conventional schools.

At a Chush fund-raising dinner, the father of a Chush child delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended.

After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he cried out, "Where is the perfection in my son Shaya? Everything God does is done with perfection. But my child cannot understand things as other children do. My child cannot remember facts and figures as other children do. Where is God's perfection?"

The audience was shocked by the question, pained by the father's anguish, stilled by the piercing query.

" I believe," the father answered, "that when God brings a child like this into the world, the perfection that he seeks is in the way people react to this child."

He then told the following story about his son Shaya:

One afternoon Shaya and his father walked past a park where some boys Shaya knew were playing baseball.

Shaya asked, "Do you think they will let me play?"

Shaya's father knew that his son was not at all athletic and that most boys would not want him on their team. But Shaya's father understood that if his son was chosen to play it would give him a comfortable sense of belonging.

Shaya's father approached one of the boys in the field and asked if Shaya could play. The boy looked around for guidance from his teammates. Getting none, he took matters into his own hands and said "We are losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him up to bat in the ninth inning."

Shaya's father was ecstatic as Shaya smiled broadly. Shaya was told to put on a glove and go out to play short center field.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shaya's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three. In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shaya's team scored again and now with two outs and the bases loaded with the potential winning run on base, Shaya was scheduled to be up. Would the team actually let Shaya bat at this juncture and give away their chance to win the game? Surpassingly, Shaya was given the bat.

Everyone knew that it was all but impossible because Shaya didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, let alone hit with it. However as Shaya stepped up to the plate, the pitcher moved a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shaya should at least be able to make contact.

The first pitch came in and Shaya swung clumsily and missed. One of Shaya's teammates came up to Shaya and together the held the bat and faced the pitcher waiting for the next pitch. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly toward Shaya. As the pitch came in, Shaya and his teammate swung and together they hit a slow ground ball to the pitcher.

The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could easily have thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shaya would have been out and that would have ended the game. Instead, the pitcher took the ball and threw it on a high arc to right field, far beyond reach of the first baseman.

Everyone started yelling,"Shaya, run to first. Run to first." Never in his life had Shaya run to first. He scampered down the baseline wide-eyed and startled. By the time he reached first base, the right fielder had the ball. He could have thrown the ball to the second baseman who would tag out Shaya, who was still running. But the right fielder understood what the pitcher's intentions were, so he threw the ball high and far over the third baseman's head. Everyone yelled, "Run to second, run to second." Shaya ran towards second base as the runners ahead of him deliriously circled the bases towards home. As Shaya reached second base, the opposing short stop ran to him, turned him in the direction of third base and shouted, "Run to third." As Shaya rounded third, the boys from both teams ran behind him screaming, "Shaya run home."

Shaya ran home, stepped on home plate and all 18 boys lifted him on their shoulders and made him the hero, as he had just hit a "grand slam" and won the game for his team.

"That day," said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, "those 18 boys reached their level of God's perfection."

The Up's and Down's of College Life

Monday: 

Up ~ NO SCHOOL!!!!

Down ~ Stayed in bed all day feeling like my head was about to explode because of a cold. 

Although this is not me.... this is what I felt like.

Tuesday:
Up ~ I got to see my cousin Emily and my aunt Dana. They were driving through Provo on their way to take Emily to school up at BYU-Idaho. I got to show them around my apartment and also go to dinner with them. After that Emily came over and hung out for a while. 

Another up is that I got to say good bye to Kaleb Lawless, a long time friend from home, the night before he entered the MTC. This means he was already set apart as a missionary... you know what that means? Epically awkward hand hug goodbye. For those of you who don't know what that is... see picture --> I know he's going to be a great missionary in Tampa, Florida. :)

Down ~ I scratched my car!!!! Let me explain. So at my apartment building there is underground parking. When you go to sign up for a permit they give you a permanent parking spot. Firstly... the spots are TINY!!! Secondly... I park right next to a wall. So yes trying to park my car, I scratched it on the wall. Also, the spots are so small that I cannot get in or out of my car by simply using my driver-side door (because that is where the car is) Oh no, I get to crawl in and out through the passenger side door every time. Let's just say, it's an adventure. :P

Wednesday:
Up ~ I signed up to volunteer in a Special Education classroom at an elementary school just a few blocks from where I live. 

This was also the first time I received flowers from a boy.<3 My boyfriend/ mostest-postest (AKA BEST) friend Zack was in cahoots with my roommate Shelby. I received a beautiful bouquet of roses to celebrate almost 2 years together. I am so blessed to have Zack in my life. He is ALWAYS there for me no matter what I may be going through. And he has truly made me into a better person.

Down ~ Had to go to a review session for my first test of the year... let the stress begin. :P

Thursday:
Up ~ Guitar lessons! I love my teacher and I learn so much in our short lessons. I'll be jamming away in no time! :)

Down ~ I had to make an embarrassing video of myself signing for my ASL class. Luckily, it wasn't any worse than anyone else's.

Friday:
Up ~ I got to spend the day with Natalie and Aubryann as we drove down to Price, Utah so they could run a MARATHON Saturday morning. I love these girls so much! <3

Down ~ I was supposed to take a test that day... but decided I needed the weekend to study.


 
Saturday:
Up ~ Again spending time with Aubryann and Natalie. They did an awesome job on running (yes they ran the WHOLE 26.2 MILES) I look up to them so much for being able to do that. <3

Down ~ LOTS of studying. :P




Sunday:
Up ~ Going to church of course! I love getting to go to church and learn more about the gospel each week. There are so many wonderful people in my ward for me to learn from this year. 

Down ~ Stress settling in as I planned out my week, but I know I can conquer it! :)

Long Time No Blog

Hey guys! So as you can tell I failed at being a blogger last year. But I have a new goal! I am going to post once a week so you can all see what fun I'm having as a college student at BYU.

So here's my life in a nutshell. :)

I'm taking 17 credits this semester. (I know... I might die) My "academic" classes include ASL (American Sign Language) 102, Honors Music Civ, Intro to Special Education, Human Development, and New Testament. My "fun" classes include choir and guitar lessons. I definitely enjoy New Testament, choir, and guitar the most so far... but that just might be because I either don't have homework, or I enjoy the homework.

I am living in an apartment with 5 other girls this year. (Left to right = Colleen, Whitney, Me, Megan, Shelby, and Janel.) Most of us were on the same floor of the dorms last year. Colleen was not, but she is wonderful! She fits in with us very well and is a lot of fun. :) Our apartment has 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a kitchen, and a nice sized living room area.

I share my bedroom with Shelby. She and I get along SO well! It's almost like we are the same person. She was my closest friend from last year in the dorms and this year we get to room together! She is in the nursing program this year. It is one of the most competitive programs to get in at BYU. She is awesome and super smart!

 

Another thing that is different this year is that all (or at least most of) our guy friends from last year are gone on their missions this year. That means that we have to make new friends... which is a slow process. It also means that any guy friends we might make are a couple years older than we are because they just got back from their missions. So far we have tried the tactic of making cookies to make friends, and it has been working a little bit.

One last great improvement to this year is that my brother, Matt, lives just a couple blocks down the road! He returned home from his mission in upstate New York at the beginning of the summer and he returned to BYU this August. It is so fun having him close by! I am looking forward to getting to be really good friends with him this year. <3