Sunday, December 18, 2011

Joy

Oh JOY!!!! Exams are finished and the countdown to home is now bearable. As of now... I will be home in 4 days!! I cannot wait to see my family, Travis, eat delicious Christmas treats, be HOME, see my mom's beautiful house and decorations, to relax, watch some Christmas classics.... the list could go on and on. I absolutely love this time of year. I've been listening to Christmas music the whole month and trying to get into as much of the Spirit as I can. Sometimes it's hard without all the yummy treats and beautiful decorations that my mom has always had! I've been spoiled.
   That being said... I am grateful that I have been able to recognize what the real reason for the season is. I'm grateful for my Savior and for the sacrifices He has made for me to be able to enjoy all of the things I have listed above. I'm realizing how important it is for me to seek for the things that will make me rich in the life hereafter and not in the world. I am so blessed- - and the things that make me so blessed are all of the simple things!!!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!! 
Also... a shout out to my team!!!! We are now 10-2 and are playing really well. We won last night at Utah State and have one more game before the break. Keep supporting the Lady Cougs' so we can keep this winning streak goin'! 

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

BLONDIE

I got my hairrr did!
My good friend, Karin Cottle, was able to do my hair today. It was a wonderful break from all the exam studying and it was definitely a deed that needed to be done. She did a wonderful job and I am loving it. I think the last time I was this blonde was when I was a little girl! I'm loving it!!!

Monday, December 12, 2011

Exams = Brutal

3 more exams...
6 more practices...
2 more games...
9 more days...



and then....



I'M HOME!!!!!!!!

do you think I'm excited??

Sunday, December 4, 2011

To Paradise and Back..

   It literally feels like yesterday that I left for Hawaii. I actually left a week ago and I am already back. I can't really figure out to to feel quite yet because it went by so fast. Obviously, I'm sad to have left a beautiful island with beautiful weather to come back to cold and snowy Utah. But, it is nice to be back in my own bed and be able to really focus on the things I need to without being distracted by the ocean and nice weather.
  It was a really fun trip! We won the tournament and played some awesome basketball. We really played well as a team and that is always a lot of fun. We beat some very talented teams, which is really good for us. It wasn't just all basketball (which I'm so grateful for). We were able to go to the beach several times, surf, shop, eat shave ice, go to a luau (amazing food), went to the Polynesian Cultural Center... it was fun! My parents were able to come, as well as my Grandparents! It was really fun to have them there since I never get to see them. I was grateful that I actually had time to see them! We are constantly on the go, but luckily I was able to spend time with my parents.
  We came home on the redeye flight last night. I will say this... those flights are absolutely brutal. Especially if you have a hard time sleeping on planes. I'm tall, so it is difficult to get comfortable and I'm a really light sleeper and the lady's overhead light that was on during the whole flight didn't make it any easier to get some shut eye. It was a long trip and a busy trip and I am exhausted!!
My grandpa and I at the Luau! 
Handing out necklaces at the Luau! So much fun! This was before I ate my entire weight in decadent food. The Hawaiians say... "Don't eat until you're full, eat until you're tired".... I took it literally. I could have fallen asleep at the table.
Mango smoothie by the beach? Yes please.
I would take the ocean for my backyard.
We beat the University of Arizona over in Hawaii and were lucky to have a lot of fans come out! Our football team was playing in Honolulu on Saturday, so a lot of BYU fans were on the island and came to support us. It was like a home-court advantage! Such a sweet win! 

   As much fun as I had in Hawaii.. I am glad to be back and to get back into the swing of things. That being said... SCHOOL is not one of those things. Just thinking of how much I need to do to stay caught up and have hopes of doing well, makes me quiver. Almost done. 2 more weeks, 2 more weeks, 2 more weeks....
  Also... I LOVE Christmas! I am really getting into the spirit of it now that I'm back and it feels like winter. I am loving pandora.com, listening to all the Christmas classics. I'm looking forward to all the movies, food and traditions! I don't get to be home this year for very long, so I'm trying to make the entire Christmas experience as joyous as I can, no matter where I am! It's a wonderful time of year. I can't wait to see all of my family and Travis!