Said good-bye to Rexburg?! NOW WHAT?!

Well, yesterday I had my commencement in Rexburg, Idaho with Elder Richard G. Scott as one of the speakers! It was way cool, and I must say very inspiring! It still feels really weird to me to know that I won't ever be going back to BYU-Idaho for school. I'm student teaching in Bountiful, Utah.. and that's about as far as it goes right now! I get to see three of my sibs this week! Two BEST FRIENDS next week, and am trying to do about twenty things at once! For the next 3 months I will be living out of boxes and it feels EXTREMELY weird! I didn't cry when I left, but it feels like I just left a whole life behind, and not like I did when I left LA either! Anyway, I did have a ton to say, but I can remember it now... so that'll do!

HAVE A VERY BLESSED AND MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!

One Week...

Oh yeah, that's right... This is the LAST WEEK of Rexburg, Idaho for me! On Saturday I will be leaving not to return for a while! See, I graduate on Friday... kinda... I will be student teaching next semester at Meadow Brook Elementary in Bountiful, Utah teaching fourth grade! :D I'm way excited about this! Things couldn't get better, but I am really happy that everything is looking up for me! I am a little sad about leaving this place, but I know the things that lie ahead in life will work well for me! I'm excited to take on the adventure of Student Teaching, and then what ever else is in store for me! I must be getting to bed now... tata!

Welcome back to ICEBURG!!!!!!!!!

Yes, it's that time of year again! Iceburg, Idaho has been officially welcomed back to not go away until April of next year (most likely)! The streets, or at least sidewalks, are beginning to have black ice every where! How does that happen so fast? Well, all the students that live here have to have some way to get to class, and the majority walk... so, you have over 12,000 students walking to class (along with some faculty), and you get the result of seeing ice begin to form underneath the snow that has been trodden on several times. Now, you're probably wondering how I even had time to even begin to figure this out... well, the answer is I have officially been up here going to school for 4 years now. I have had this figured out over the past 4 years, and my theories have just been proven and made perfect to know it's all a fact now. :) More reasons it's known as Iceburg, Idaho in the winter time... well, this occurs when you are walking to class, or even step outside and the following begins to freeze: your nose hairs, your eyelashes, your hair, your mouth, your phalanges, your legs, your arms, and you don't even want to think of not buddling up to face it, but no matter how much you prepare some part of you is still freezing and when you finally walk into the building and begin to take off the fifty layers in which you are wearing you also have to be conscious of the fact that now you have icicles hang from your eyes, hair, and nose... gross! So, then before anyone sees you with all these icicles all over your head you have to try and get them off before anyone can tell, and you end up embarrassing yourself! So, my new realization today is that I am ETERNALLY grateful that I WILL NOT be up here for another winter semester! I think I would die if I were. I'm hoping that I'll be able to thaw in a couple of weeks... Oh yeah... see, many say "Rexburg, Idaho... where many are cold, but few are frozen..." I think that should be different... because all are frozen, but somehow they are all still walking around like zombies to class.

Anyway, I am graduating in like two weeks, and today I will get my cap & gown and my student teaching assignment... I think I am absolutely ecstatic about both... however, hopefully I can just stay focused on finishing... senioritis wasn't even this bad in high school! GOOD LUCK, and if you're coming this way any time soon... BUNDLE UP!!!!!!

A letter, a date, and life still must go on...

Well, to start off I got a letter this week from my best friend in France! First one since last December that I've received. However, it's not really all his fault... cause he sent them, but all of them got sent back to him! UGH! Oh well, I'll get them in due time! In the letter I found out he's coming home in January... that's what I start student teaching! GASP... SO SOON! Oh well, I'll get over it!

Now, onto the date... I've got a date this Thursday with a guy named Chad Rogers... or as my family likes to call him [hanging] Chad! Tehe! We have been friends since last winter and I'm really excited to just be able to spend some time with him because he is one heck of a fun guy! I'm not sure what else to say, but I think I will leave with this link http://kmbnorris.blogspot.com/2009/10/spouses-neededor-at-least-dates.html

This is my sister's blog, but everyone should read the latest blog!

THANKS A BANANA BUNCH!

Here it goes...

Here goes my last semester at BYU-Idaho. Granted, it's not my last semester as a student, but I will graduate in December and I won't be returning to classes at BYU-Idaho after this semester ever again. Now, I'm not sure as to if this will be the last time I ever go to rexburg, but I am glad I won't have to go back to school there! It's glorious that I'll finally have my bachelors! I do know that in order to keep certification I'll still have to take classes, but that may lead to a masters or Ph.D. somewhere else! :) I'm not so sure as to everything I will be doing this next semester, but I sure hope it will all work out for the best for me. I guess that's all for now... so, until next time...

A Utah License anyone?!

So... it looks like I will soon finally have a driver's license! YAY! rejoice! haha. not much has been going on... I've found myself going to weddings or figuring out what weddings I can go to. I haven't been traveling too terribly much since Nauvoo, but that's life as well! :) Anyways, school starts again just after Labor Day and thank goodness I'm almost done! :) Well, that's all I have to say for now! :)

Another one bites the dust!

Another semester that is... about 2 weeks ago I finished another semester at BYU-Idaho, and this time I had NO C's!!!!!! YAY!!!!! Wow, isn't it a good feeling. My sibs did a ton better in high school and college than I. I'm not as book smart as they are, but one thing I have learned is I'm good in my field... especially if I go the extra mile to get the good grade. So, now I bet you're curious to know what my grades were this semester... well, I shall tell you in Culture & Diversities I got a B+ (which didn't change much from midterm); in P.E. Methods I got an A (which is a given); in Science Methods I got an A- (which I pulled up from a B!!!!); in Social Studies Methods I got a B (that's the only grade that suffered significantly it was an A at midterm); in Band A (DUH!); and in Exceptional Students I got a B- (it was a B+ at midterm, but I tell you that class was a toughy!) There you go... there are my grades for the spring/summer semester 2009! Now only one semester left at the school and then student teaching! CRAZY! It's weird thinking that I'm almost done! It seems like just yesterday I started there! WOW! I'm really hoping I get my placement in Davis County, Utah... if I do then I can live at home! :) We'll figure out everything else... we're hoping to get me my license while on this break, but mom is going through so much that I think time may get the better of us... there's always next year I guess... I don't think they do it in the winter because it's all snowy and what not... we'll see... I really do want to drive... it'd be nice to be like the rest of the world finally. I kick myself for not having my license already and for always chickening out before... I think those ladies in LA were quite unfair. If I were staying in Rexburg longer than a few more months I'd get it there, but yeah... like I said... I'm leaving there soon too! Also, winters in the burg SUCK! They never clean those streets... they are very dangerous!

Well, on another note I went to Nauvoo last week... it was very enjoyable! I needed the relaxation and to get VERY far away from Idaho and Utah! I love these places, but the attitudes that people have around here are never fun... I always hear how life is hunky dory from all the members, and from the non-members well, you can presume how much negativity there is! While in Nauvoo there was this truck that said "whatmormonsdonttell.com" I'm curious... what don't we tell... hmm... I'm not about to look up the site though... it's probably VERY anti! I know better than to get into that sort of thing! Oh well... so is life! Well, there's my ode to my life for a little bit! :)

I am immortal I have inside me blood of Kings...

Well, the purpose of this post is mostly to talk about how things are going for me in school. For the most part my life is good. I am just dying with school work, but at the moment I feel like this song fits me. As for right now these words fit me "I am immortal, I have inside me blood of kings.
I have no rival, no man can be my equal
Take me to the future of your world."

YAY!!!! Anyways, school for the most part is going well. I'm striving to do everything the best I possibly can. I'm at the library almost every day, or as much as I need to be working hard on finishing projects, and getting ahead on school work. Other than that not much is going on in my life. Still no guys that I like around here. I keep waiting for a letter or e-mail from my good friend in France, but as of late there has been no word. I'm sure he's just very busy in the work. I have another good friend leaving on a mission next week, but I doubt that will end up going far. As far as other things go... I went to BJ's Bayou last week with my 2 best guy friends! It was for Mike (Bubba's) Birthday! It was way good and I got the last of the crawfish catch! YUMMY! Well, not much more to talk about... there is a 4 day weekend coming up and I am ecstatic and then only 3 weeks of classes left. I'm excited for the end... I may begin to see it soon! :)

Is it a lonely world?

I haven't written on this in about a month, and well, things are going okay I guess. School is going GREAT, but the rest of life... well, it's not. I guess if one wants to succeed in school they have to give up the rest of their life. At least that's the way things have seemed for me. I'm succeeding in school and striving to get everything done, and work my tail off, but as for my social life well, it's suffered as of late. There are no guys that I particularly like right now... well, none that I have a crush on at least, and I guess for the first time ever it just seems plain weird to me. I want so bad to just get away and spend time with family that truly some things just stink... I guess. I'm doing the one thing I know how to do, and that is to close myself off and not let people see my real emotions. Well, everyone outside of my family. I would just love to be with them right now, and school prevents me from that. My sister graduated a week ago with her Master's and thanks to technology I was able to watch it via the internet, but other than that it kinda sucks because I wanted to be there with everyone else. I'm so ecstatic that this coming week I will be skipping class for 2 days to go to my cousin's wedding and I can at least see part of my family, and then for the 4th I get to see my brothers... I dunno... things overall for me are just weird. I'm always wanting what I can't have, and then when I do get what I want I'm not satisfied. UGH! Plus, on top of all this crud I'm sick... I hate being sick, and most of the time I hate having the center of the world on me, but I just wish things were made easier. Yeah, I'm ranting and I'm being selfish too. I hate it when I act like this too. I just can't wait to finally be with family. I miss them more than anything else in this world.

Birthday Surprises and much more

THE UPDATE:

Well, to being my life as of late has been rather busy. I am constantly working on school and trying to either stay ahead or on top of all the different assignments that I am required to do. I am about to be finishing my 4th week of my second to last semester before I do my student teaching and finish college, and hopefully then have a career in teaching. As a brief update over the break between semesters I was able to look up my Praxis I scores... I got a 154 and the requirement for certification in Idaho is 143; in Utah 150; in Colorado 147; and in Louisiana 150. I was quite pleased that I was able to pass the requirement for all 4 of those states. However, when I came back to school I relaized that it would be a while before receiving my Literacy State Test Scores... 2 weeks went by and the 3rd week of school these scores came in. I went to go get mine hoping I had passed both of them, and to my disappointment I had not... I passed the Standard III test, but not the Standard II test. I am retaking it at the end of this semester. I had wanted to possibly take the Praxis II this semester so I wouldn't have to pay an extra registration fee, but I realized that for me it would probably be best if I only had to do one major test each semester. So, I registered for the Literacy test, and opted to wait on the Praxis II test. Well, things just keep getting interesting... last week I received an e-mail about applying for graduation... after last semester and applying for Student Teaching I knew I would soon be approaching the time when I would be able to apply for graduation as well. Well, it's finally here! I am excited to be finished in December and then to go out and do my student teaching after. Speaking of Student Teaching: today I go to get my picture taken that will be put on my letter of introduction that will then be sent to each area I applied to student teach. Amazing how things work... after today I will be submitting my letter of introduction and hopefully it won't be sent back to me *crosses fingers*, and after that is taken care of some time next week I will most likely go to the advising office in the Hinckley to get my VCC Verification of Course Completion! I am more than excited about this as well... this shows that I will have all of my courses done and out of the way before I student teach! It makes me very excited! I still can't believe I have gotten this far, and with little help... I have had my wonderful family supporting me the entire time, but the grades are all my own! I am achieving the different things I always dreamed of.

MY GORGEOUS INJURY:

I thought it best to also include a picture of what happened to my knee on the same day I got my Lit scores... over all it wasn't a fun day!

IN A PUBLIC PLACE:

Also, my picture was in a public place... TACO BELL... go figure!

ON INTERNATIONAL TELEVISION

I am not sure as to who all watched the CES broadcast on May 3rd, but it was here at BYU-Idaho and I had the opportunity to be part of that tv audience. I wasn't sure if I would actually be on television or not, but it turns out that I was. During the closing hymn and second verse it does a pan shot of where I am sitting and sure enough... it's me! What was best after this was that my brother called me, and then we called Jeane, David, Dad, Mom, and Kaite until we were all on the phone talking in all of our different locations. Family Reunion on the phone!

to view go to: www.byutv.org

and look under the archives for the May 3, 2009 CES Fireside with Elder Bednar!

A MOTHER'S DAY & BIRTHDAY!!!!

I was born on Mother's Day of 1987-- 22 years ago, and this year I had the privilege of having my birthday on that exact day. I was excited for this because it meant I had the opportunity to go see my parents and spend the day with the woman who I appreciate most in my life, my mother. So, on May 8th I took the 4:30 shuttle down to Salt Lake City, Utah where my parents picked me up and took me home. The next day was very exciting, we woke up and went to IHOP for breakfast as upon my request for my birthday! Then, we went back home after buying a kite and walked across the street to the elementary school where my parents ward was having a kite flying/ picinic activity. However, the wind did not cooperate with us much so the kite flying wasn't as enjoyable as it could have been, but I still had fun running around and watching my parents do it as well. Afterwards we worked outside for a bit where Dad & I put back together our old picnic table. I had tons of fun using just regular hand tools, and the power drill. After we finished up with that and mom finished working on the garden we went to get my hair cut, and go shopping. While we were shopping I got 2 new pairs of shoes, and 2 new outifts for sunday! I was rather happy about this... then, I told mom that we had to get home so I could go out with Dad... Dad and I went to the mall in Layton so we could go to the Deseret book there to get mom's presents for the next day. Well, then we went home and all had a relaxing time with each other. The next day I woke up at 6:00 am... I was born at 6:10 so, I thought it appropriate... I knocked on my parents door with the cards from dad & I and the books we got mom in hand. Mom said, "you're early" to which dad replied, "she was 22 years ago as well." I then decided to tell mom, "I may have been early 22 years ago, but I'm tired now & going back to bed." And I did exactly that. Well, around 8ish my lovely sister's decided to give me a ring... they sang the following : "HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY FRANCES DEAR, HAPPY DAYS WILL COME TO YOU ALL YEAR, IF I HAD ONE WISH THEN IT WOULD BE, A HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU FROM ME." My crazy sisters... I love them! Well, then Katie had a crazy idea of singing "Mother Dear I Love You So..." to our mother. So, we called John & David and I put them all on speaker and we sang it... well, about halfway through I started laughing too hard to even think about finishing, and mom said that she was going to reach through the phone and slap all of them. It was rather amusing! Well, we then called Grandma Mayhoffer because she was trying to get a hold of the boys to thank them for the flowers they sent to her (they sent mom & I flowers too) :) She was very delighted to hear from all of us at the same time even though we were all in different locations. Well, then it was time to go to church, and that we did. In mom's Sunday School class she decided it best to tell of her experience 22 years ago! :) I love it! :) Hmm... overall it was a wonderful experience. On Monday I went to get a Utah state ID... probably going to get my license in August! Then it was back to Idaho... where I had surprises from my roommates waiting for me! I still can't believe this week is going by so fast... pretty soon I'll be done with everything! AHH! Well, I'm going to leave with pictures of the birthday... I hope everyone enjoys... (The pictures aren't in any certain order...)

A break from school

Well, last Thursday I ended a very successful semester. I say successful because with all the stress that this last semester carried I managed to get through it and pass all of my classes with a C+ or higher! And I also passed the Praxis I Content Knowledge exam! This week I have quite an adventurous break! Saturday we went to Park City to watch the sunset come up and well, in didn't work out quite as planned, but that's okay cause we still got cool pics of olympic things. Then Sunday we went to Music & The Spoken Word. I absolutely love Easter. I also helped mom make Schaume Torte! Yesterday we went shopping and I got new clothes!!!! Tomorrow I'm going to the Optometrist and then Saturday it's back to the burg to start a new semester! Let's hope all this hard work continues to pay off! Enjoy the pics.

The Big Stretch to the End...

Right now I'm just trying to work hard on school and finish. I thought I would give a little bit of time to my blog as I try to take a break from homework. 

This week my mom came up on Tuesday and Dad on Wednesday for my concert that night. I absolutely loved spending time with them. Mom went to both my Physical Science and my Literacy II class with me. I got to share with my mom some of the things I have been learning in my classes. That night Dad showed up, and I saw them both after my concert. (They hadn't been to a concert of mine since high school... Mom 4 years and Dad about 4 1/2). After the concert we went to G's Dairy for ice cream and such... it was extremely delicious, and I had fun spending time with my parents. The next morning I had my Literacy Practicum, but previously planned that after I got out I would have lunch with my parents. So, we went to Applebee's for lunch, and I got to tell them everything that was going on in my life and also catch up on my siblings lives. Well, after lunch we parted our seperate ways :(. However, I am going down for conference next weekend and I'm rather excited to see them again. 

So, I've also come to the realization recently that school kills people. I wish it wouldn't though. I have loads to do and only two weeks to finish it all in. I'm hoping I can get through it all and then relax. We'll see... I may not be the happiest person for a while... Let's hope things get better. 
On another side note I've also been channeling my "bubba" for a bit. He's been down and I seem to be getting that way too... Meh, oh well, I'll get over it. Also, I'm hoping to be hanging out with my friend, Rob, some time soon. Maybe that will cheer me up some too. We shall see. Anyways, here are some pics of my recent journeys. Enjoy.

with my dad in Logan

on the way back to Rexburg from Logan...

this was taken at the beginning of the semester, but it's me with my "bubba" Mike Brown.

HAPPY ST. PATTY'S DAY!

Today is the day of green! I love green! Not as much as I love blue or brown, but I am grateful there is a day we can all wear green. As many of you know I go to Adam's Elementary twice a week to assess students on literacy skills. I have been assessing Kindergarteners on Letter Names, but today we started assessing them on letter sounds. I am amazed as to how much those kids know... I love it. There is one little boy who every day I see him he reminds me of my nephew! This little boy reads at a 4th grade reading level... my nephew, is in 2nd grade and reads at a 6th grade reading level. I've only been in the school for a few weeks now and I love these kids. I'm excited to become a teacher and enjoy a whole classroom full of them. On another note, but still along the same lines... today when I walked into the classroom every student was wearing green. All the kids were coloring clovers and I was reminded of when I was about their age and the things my teachers did on St. Patrick's Day. My favorite St. Patrick's Day ever was in 1st grade with Ms. Blackwell. I remember we went out for recess and when we got back it looked like a Leperchaun attacked our room. There were little footprints everywhere! It was way cool! I'm going to love having the opportunity to do that with my students. I love this holiday! Don't forget Brown Day on the 19th!!!!! St. Joseph's Day!

A little less than nothing

Lately, I have had tons going on in my life and the weirdest part of all is that finally there is no drama!!!!!! WOOHOO!!! However, other people have complicated drama in their lives so, indirectly I'm still dealing with drama. EWW! 
On a totally different note: let's go to why I feel this way... As many know on the 13th of February I went on a date with a good friend of mine (yes, he's a premi). It's been really good getting to know him and watching him prepare to leave to go to Brazil in July. He's one really nice guy and I'm learning tons hanging around him so far. Now, many are probably wondering about everything with my best friend in France! He will always be my best friend... there is never a doubt in my mind about that and lately I have been wondering as well what the heck I'm going to do because all I want to do right now is date, and when he gets home that's all I want him to do too. I really think he should DATE AROUND!!!!! I'm seeing way too much lately people rushing into marriage and honestly it scares me just a bit. Marriage is the biggest decision in a person's life. Especially in the church. Anyway, yesterday I received an e-mail from Jonathan that said this:

désolé que c'est si tard...

Frances,
  Sorry I'm getting to you so late...I wanted to wait until after this weekend to get a letter off to you, because we had a baptism planned for this Saturday, the 28.  Well, it was a dry baptism, if you catch my meaning.  Our investigator has completely disappeared and we have no clue what happened or how to get in touch with her...She doesn't answer her phone and apparently she moved out of her appartment.  So, that's my excuse for not having gotten your letter off yet.
  I've found a new penpal!  One of the Elders in my district, Elder Becquereau, from Canada, gave me his sister's address and so I'm writing to her regularly to work on my written French and grammar.  She's pretty cool.
  So, how was your date with the premi?  I was actually glad to hear that you went out with someone.  It's been a while, no?  Get out, enjoy life!  You're still young!  I think I might go to the Singles Ward in Baton Rouge until I either go to BYU-I or whatever I end up doing.  I know I told you that you were locked in my heart and it's true.  You've been my best friend for a long time and I love you forever for all you've done for me.  When I do get home, I promised you a date.  I'm also going to date other girls, because I've only dated one member in my life.  I'm going to date others and hang out with others.  I'm telling you all this just so you don't get the idea that our future is etched in stone.  I'm on my mission, and the very last thing I need to be worrying about is marriage and all that.  I've got time.  The Lord needs all my heart, might, mind, and strength here where I am.  So, like I said, I'll wait for you and we'll 'faire une sortie.'  But I can't promise anything beyond that.  I gotta go, we've got an appointment in a few minutes, but have a great day and stay safe!!!  Love ya!!

                                                      Ton numéro deux,
                                                                  Elder Lundberg
<>
- 3 Néphi 5:13

I wrote him an e-mail back to which I said the following:

Jonny boy!!!!!!!
 Hey, that sucks with the whole investigator... Tiff saw that and she
feels for you cause she knows how it goes. I'll have to get her to
write you a letter! ;) She's the best!
 I wrote you a letter on the whole date with the premi. It was
awesome. Also, I wanted to let you know that I might go on a date with
this guy from my trumpet section. We'll see... I haven't really
decided about that. I might talk to him today in class... hmm...
 Anyway's I'm really glad you said what you did about dating other
girls when you get home. I actually really really want you to! Our
past is crazy and yeah, we will have to date because we'll both be new
people, but you need to date other member girls! You need to start off
your first semester at BYU-Idaho dating tons of girls, but I did
promise that I would go on a date with you (or more than one). Anyway,
like you said... you need to have your whole heart, might, mind, and
strength on the LORD! I know you can do it! Endure it all well, and I
will do the same with school!

your number one!
Frances Mae

D&C 18:10 "Remember the Worth of Souls is great in the sight of God."

 so, as I read his e-mail I was very happy to see that he wasn't thinking about me waiting for him. that is not something I can nor do I want to do. Yeah, he's my best friend, but heck that's all! Anyways, I told my mom about it this morning because of course through facebook my siblings spy on me and then tell mom... However, I read her both e-mails and had no problem with it. Soon my mom will get a facebook then she can find out stuff for herself! Well, that's all for now! Gotta love life!

8!!! OH MY!

So, not only is today Valentine's Day, but my nephew, Michael, got baptized today! I couldn't be there for it because school is very very important and I had to be here instead! It's all good though. I guess the weirdest part is knowing that my whole family is together and not being there with them. I love them so much! They are very important to me & I am so glad I get to spend eternity with them! That's a really long time! :D I can't believe that 8 years ago is when my sister's life changed forever! haha! Well, that's all I have to say for now! I love that my lappy is working! Gotta jet! :D

I will try to fix you...

So, I know it sounds really lame, but the past few days I've had dreams about my best friend. In one of them it was like I lost him forever and it wasn't to death... it was to something much much worse. I wasn't sure how to take it all day long and then I realized that truly I hadn't lost him at all, and that he would continue to serve his mission faithfully and whole heartedly. Well, this morning I had another dream with him and it was like a picture perfect experience and I have just been inspired so much that I feel this bond with him. The hardest thing for me lately has been to accept this because well I keep thinking about things my family says. However, I haven't exactly told them everything because I guess I'm afraid. Last week I was talking to my oldest sister when she was telling me that she didn't want to see me get hurt by him again, and I realized that once before when I was talking my oldest brother about everything. It's the weirdest thing for me because for some reason through every hard trial with him we've stayed friends. I keep talking to my roommates-- well, mostly Tiffany... about it and I just feel like there is something amazing about this guy I dated a few years ago. For one I'm truly realizing how missions are amazing for people and those who go on one come back stronger. I'm not saying I want to go on a mission because right now the one thing I know is this "Focus on studies for now and everything else in life will work out." Crazy how the Lord gives you revelation before you actually really need it. My dad gave me a Father's blessing just before I came back up this semester and that was said in it. A couple of weeks ago I was searching for some personal revelation and I got 2 thoughts immediately after praying. They were to read my patriarchal blessing and read my father's blessing. So, I did both and felt so much better. I keep finding out how amazing personal revelation is & how important it is for me to keep receiving it. My life is changing so much & there are times where I'm not sure if I can keep up, but I know that if I just hold on & endure to the end I will have blessings poured out upon me. I love my life even with all the tirals and tibulations that I face. :D

So this is the new year?

So this is the new year.
And i don't feel any different.
The clanking of crystal
Explosions off in the distance (in the distance).

So this is the new year
And I have no resolutions
For self assigned penance
For problems with easy solutions
The New Year  by Death Cab for Cutie
So everybody put your best suit or dress on
Let's make believe that we are wealthy for just this once
Lighting firecrackers off on the front lawn
As thirty dialogs bleed into one

I wish the world was flat like the old days
Then i could travel just by folding a map
No more airplanes, or speed trains, or freeways
There'd be no distance that could hold us back.

There'd be no distance that could hold us back [x2]

So this is the new year [x4]

Basically that song describes every new year. Except last year was way different from what I expected, but that's good when it happens right...? I think I will go over some of the events of last year for details please read blog or ask...:

2008 overall

January: 

my mom was in Colorado for New Year's because my nephew, William, had been born on the 29th of December. 

I had decided to go back to live in Rexburg, Idaho... burr... cold decision. Before I left I said goodbye to one of my closest friends because a month later he'd be leaving for his mission in Toulouse, France.

I left to go to Colorado saw my new nephew for the first time & then left for Idaho! :D

President Gordon B. Hinckley 15th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints passed away. Jan 27, 2008

February:

President Hinckley's funeral

Rexburg Temple dedicated

I had the best Mardi Gras party ever!!!!!

My best friend went into the MTC on Ash Wednesday and started his mission!

March: 

My grandfather passes away on the 6th at the age of 82.

I go to Colorado for a few days and then to Louisiana for a week and a half....

I was going down to Co at first because my sister, Jeane, was getting out her endownments and my nephew's baby blessing, but since Grandpa passed away we had all 3 in one weekend.

My father gets a call asking him to transfer to SLC... 

I go home to Louisiana for the second to last time...

April:

 I started school & buried myself in it.

May:

My dad moves to Utah & he & John come to visit me for my birthday

MOM COMES TOO!!!!! This was my first birthday since I graduated that I was with my family!

June:

School continues & I apply for fast grad

July:

I'm accepted to fast grad 

and go home to LA for the last time

August:

I help mom pack away things so we can head back to Utah

Louisiana prepares for another hurricane...

September:

Hurricane Gustav makes landfall and does more damge to Baton Rouge

I start another semester and decide when I will definitely graduate

I apply to make my state literacy test

October: 

me & a close friend of mine get into a fight that lasted way too long

I had my last marching band performance ever!

November:

Thanksgiving in Utah with the fam & the excitement that school was almost over

Bubba gets home from Guatemala!

December: 

LA gets a lot of snow for the first time in 20 years & I'm not there to see it...

school gets out for the semester &...

I go to Utah for my first white Christmas ever!

Man, it was an eventful year... crazy!