LIFE

source

“Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.

Life is beauty, admire it.

Life is a dream, realize it.

Life is a challenge, meet it.

Life is a duty, complete it.

Life is a game, play it.

Life is a promise, fulfill it.

Life is sorrow, overcome it.

Life is a song, sing it.

Life is a struggle, accept it.

Life is a tragedy, confront it.

Life is an adventure, dare it.

Life is luck, make it.

Life is too precious, do not destroy it.

Life is life, fight for it.” 

-Mother Theresa-

I have decided that there is nothing that can make your day immediately sad more than seeing an animal on the side of the road. I know that is something awful and harsh to write about, but today I experienced something awful and harsh. I was taking the train home, when all of a sudden I heard the train horn, the sound of something heavy smashing, breaking, and just a combination of every horrible and frightening cacophonous sound you could think of. We had hit a deer. And didn't even stop. 

It made me feel horrible and dirty as a human being, and I wanted to cry - even more so when I realized that there were people staring at their iPhones with their headphones plugged in who didn't know anything had even happened. I know it was "just" a deer, not a person at least, and those who know me know that I'm not even that big of an animal person, but still, it just felt wrong and disrespectful to not even give a moment to acknowledge that deer's life. It's a little silly, but I said a little prayer for that deer and its family, and was just reminded of how short and precious life can be. I had to read Tuesdays with Morrie for a class this past week, and I know everyone on the planet has already read it besides me, but there were two passages that I was specifically reminded of today: 

“Everyone knows they re going to die,' he said again, 'but nobody believes it. If we did, we would do things differently.” 

"Death ends a life, not a relationship"

I'm grateful for a true knowledge and belief in that last idea, and I hope to focus on living each day building the relationships with those I love so that my life will have true meaning. 

To Live

 25Jesus said unto her, I am the ^aresurrection, and the ^blife: he that ^cbelieveth in me, though he were ^ddead, yet shall he ^elive:

 26And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never ^adie. Believest thou this?

-John 11:25-26

It has been brought to my attention that many of my more recent posts have been quite, well, worldly to put it in the LDS lingo, so lest you think I am going astray, I wanted to share a quick scripture from my New Testament study today!

In our NT class, we've picked out many of Christ's "I Am" statements. I am the light, I am the bread of life, I am the good shepherd. To me, this passage contains the greatest assertion of all--"I am the life." How true that is! Thanks to my faith in Jesus Christ, I have been able to embrace life more fully than I could ever imagine. My service and participation and learning in the church have helped me grow in so many ways and truly have defined my happiness today.

Especially after my dad passed away last August, verse 26 has grown in importance to me. He that believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? It's a question I've had to ask myself many times, and a question to which I will answer with a resounding "Yes, I believe!" And thank heavens for it! Through Christ we can truly live, and I am forever grateful for his sacrifice and role in my life as my Savior.

things byu students wear

Sometimes there are things that BYU students wear that I really wish they wouldn't. Perhaps I am biased, but I just don't know anyone who these clothing items look good on.

Exhibit A: Jeans with thick stitching.

Perhaps it is because I have a notoriously not-so-small behind, but I certainly do not think that this is a tasteful way to show off your backside. Heaven knows how these became popular, but then again, so did shorts with words across the bum. Just because they are trendy doesn't mean they aren't tacky. What's worse? Men wearing these pants. No thank you.  

Source

Exhibit B: Short Uggs

Though I personally am not a huge fan of Uggs in general, I do see how feet could benefit from all of the extra warmth they provide. However, even if your legs are six feet long and twig-thin, no one needs to suffer from the unflattering bulkiness that short Uggs contribute. You know what drives me even more crazy about Uggs? When they get worn in and the base of the shoe is sideways because of how people shuffle around in them. I wish I could find a picture of what I'm talking about, but if you don't know what I mean, just look around campus. You'll see them.

Source

Exhibit C: Colorful Sweatsuits

This is one thing that has changed about me since marrying Owen. Owen refuses to wear any form of athletic clothing outside of the house (unless exercising of course) and says he would feel uncomfortable if people were to see him those clothes at work or school. Though I wouldn't feel embarrassed necessarily, I do think that there is something to be said about getting dressed properly for day-to-day activities. Your mind is more alert, and you are showing more respect for your coworkers and professors and everyone else. I won't say that I don't have the occasional yoga pants day every blue moon, but I don't think that dressing in sweats every day is a good idea. 

Source

Exhibit D: Sweater Headbands

Is it a sweater? Is it a headband? Is it a beanie? Is it...what is it?! I don't know. All I know is that once I stepped inside, my forehead would be totally hot and sticky if I tried wearing one of these things, and taking them off would have an effect potentially even worse than hat hair. The only person who looks cute in these is my little sister Lyvia, but she is thin and young and looks cute in everything, so I don't know how much that is saying. 

Source

Despite my clothing rant, today has actually been a pretty good day! Only two and a half more weeks of classes--hallelujah! And I register for fall classes tonight, which is always exciting besides the staying up until midnight part...At least I'm going to see Tangled in 3D w/ Devynne tonight! Yay!

P.S. Like my new blog design? I was bored at work (again) and didn't feel like cutting off all my split ends like I did last Monday, sooooo I played around with photoshop brushes and bugged Owen at work for some html tips. Love that guy.

Ophelia Syndrome

I apologize again for the lack of formatting in this post and lack of pretty images-we still don't have internet at home (I promise I am calling today!) so I'm writing this on the ipad again. But I just wanted to write a quick little bit about something I read for my evolution class. Evolution is often a sensitive subject for latter-day saints, and in our first class, we discussed thinking for ourselves. Our teacher had us read this article that really struck me. I tried uploading it to google Docs, so hopefully you can just copy this link into a new page on your browser to read it:

https://docs.google.com/document/pub?id=17O7xQ4CRqIkk4sIyZXf6U3wC3iOZsa8Mv5zD8JtiZ1A

I realized that during most of my life and sadly during the majority of my college career, I have fallen into the easy path of Ophelia. For some reason, I thought that once I got into college, I would care a little less about grades and more about learning, but then I decided that I wanted to go to pharmacy school and that I would need at least at 3.5 and that BYU is super competitive and hard. So I went back to the jumping through hoops and picking the easiest teacher route. And so far I've done a pretty good job at learning things how my teachers see them. But I haven't really spent much time trying to think for myself about why things are the way they are, and if I really believe what I am learning. I usually just believe what my professors are saying and don't try to validate facts on my own.

I hope that by this point in my education, I have enough background knowledge to make some conclusions. So that is my goal for this winter semester: to try to take some time to learn for myself, and to not be quite so much an Ophelia.

day 12- how you found out about blogger and why you have one

Well, I found out about blogger by searching "free blog sites." Not very exciting. However, I knew that I would love it because it is through Google, and we all know how I feel about Google everything. I actually created my first Blogger blog in high school and it had this really dumb polka-dot background and I think I posted on it once. It might have been for a class assignment? I'm pretty sure you could find it and make fun of it pretty easily online if you want. Unfortunately, I can't remember my password that I created for it (along with my myspace page which hasn't been updated since like 2006), so I guess it will remain on the internet forever.

I have a blog because I am terrible at keeping up with people. My freshman year, I was totally good about sending out monthly emails to friends and family, letting them know what I was up to. Then facebook got way easier, and then it got way distracting, so I didn't really have a way of informing people about my super-duper interesting life and how I feel about everything. So now I just refer them to my blog! I like it because not only do I get to practice my writing skills (something that rarely happens as a Physiology and Developmental Biology major), but I also get to be a little creative sometimes with blog layout and design--I even learned a little bit of html which Owen was proud of until he made fun of my amateur web design skills...I really should let him handle that part but it's fun to practice!

Basically I blog because I think my life is so interesting and I want everyone to know all about me. Plus I love reading people's comments :) So feel free to share one (hint hint) if you would like!

Update: 2 finals down, 2 to go! Really should be studying for biochemistry right now....I'm sick of the urea cycle!!

Privacy?

So I was just about to write a super ranting post about a person who is driving me specifically crazy right now, and then I thought to myself--Wait a second. What if they read my blog? I could be writing all of these terrible things about them and then they would feel awful (though there are a few things they really could change!!) and I would have no idea! And then I realized something that I've kind of been pondering lately--blogs are not your journal. People can read them. I mean, for example, here is a post from a person who I've read some of their stuff, and I couldn't believe how abrupt it was!


http://seriouslysoblessed.blogspot.com/2008/09/right-person-right-place-right-time.html


I mean, sure it is a little funny, but what if Ruth was to read her blog!? And then we Facebook/blog-stalked some of the candidates for the new accountant position here in the Math Department, and this one girl was blogging about how she feels so overwhelmed and all of these other way too personal feelings for the internet. We didn't ask her for an interview. I think sometimes people forget that blogs are not your personal journal. Everyone can read them. So, let's have a little more common sense people. 

On another happier note, I had my first rendezvous with fondant tonight. Here are the erm....interesting cupcakes I made haha. Hey--it was my first try! :) Maybe I'll leave the cake making to my sister...

No More Studying Please

Yes I do have a genetics test tomorrow and biochemistry midterm on Wednesday and I need to finish up the trim in our apartment and I really ought to bake more things and clean up and put away the laundry and I really ought to tackle that six page biochem homework packet but what do I want to do instead? Blog. So here I am.


People are confusing. It is strange how some people change so much, and how some people stay exactly the same. Even people who were close to me, family members, can make such a 360 degree turnaround before you even realize what's happening. I like to think that over the years, I've stayed pretty true to my nature. Though I like to think that I've become a little nicer and more considerate of others, I still like to win everything, am an anal organizer, and always think I'm right, even though it's not always true.


I like playing Scrabble on Facebook instead of doing homework as well.


Too bad Facebook is banned at my work now :(


I really wish that more people I knew blogged or at least read and commented on blogs, since I can't go on Facebook at work anymore. I feel much more disconnected from people, which is so lame because I shouldn't have to rely on technology to stay in touch with people but sadly that is how the world is now and I fall into the trap of ever-encircling busyness and to-do lists.  Is busyness a word? Hmm it looks weird.


I really loved Elder Uchtdorf's talk on focusing on the fundamentals. Definitely something I need to work on. Next week...


I should read more. I thought about joining our ward's book group, but I would be too embarrassed if I didn't finish the book in time.


Also, I need to travel. Go somewhere and see something new. I love BYU and being here in Provo, but there's got to be more and I want to see it.


Okay enough of me talking. Sorry for this inconclusive and sporadic ramble of thoughts. Here is something fun to make up for it: