Floating Blessings

Monday night: SO AWESOME! I got a little suh-um, suh-um from the fam. :) 7 letters, a missionary letter from Elder Britt, a book mark, Pride and Prejudice, a whole lot of love, AND... SOUL SURFER!!! Best package ever!


Thank you so much! I laughed and cried reading the letters. You guys are without-a-doubt the best family I could ask for.

Dad always draws this little guy with his signature. I distinctly remember asking him to sign things on purpose in elementary school just so he would draw this little man on my paper. :) Thanks, Dad.


Remember that time that I quoted Hugh B. Brown last blog? Mom and I must have been on the same frequency. Hugh B. Brown and I will be best friends some day, I think.


In one of my English classes we are working on analyzing poetry. So I have to sit in my room and read poetry out loud. Psalms 23 was an assignment for Monday. I started reading it when I remembered my favorite Liken the Scriptures! Don't worry. I've included a link. I need to get this soundtrack.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ss-gJX6rvWE

Because I had listened to it on Monday, this has kind of been the theme of my week. This is such a powerful psalm. And I have just been so blessed. I don't even know what to do with all of the blessings floating around in here. They're coming out my ears!



[One of many] favorite parts of attending college in a small town in Idaho:
When your teachers give you their number, their address, and invite you and your class to dinner at their house...

Lunch date was very full yesterday. We had 8 people at one table!! It was crazy. Probably the best part of my day happened at lunch date because it was so dang funny. It was a conversation between Cameron and I:

C: (Something about wanting to get married.)
M: Why do you always look at me when you talk about marriage?!?
C: Why do you always look at me when you say you want a baby!?!

Hahahahaha! I almost died laughing. This may not be true, but it made me laugh so hard! It was just such a great comeback! Way to be, Cameron.

Today was the day of the big presentation. Dun dun dun! So naturally my foot decided to freak out. [Not going to sugarcoat it: It has hurt more today than it has since before surgery. I am having a hard time walking even in the boot because it is hurting so badly.] BUT with some prayer I was able to make it through. (See what I mean?? Blessings, yo.) The presentation went wonderfully! My powerpoint was actually really well-done and so it helped my presentation along. I feel good about it!

Oh, physical therapy. I love my physical therapist, Paul. He is so kind. I warned him that I was going to cry today because I was discouraged, frustrated, and in pain. I told him to just ignore it to which he said he wasn't going to do that, but he would try to sympathize. [Which is unusual because he is normally really sarcastic and funny.] He was concerned that I had a fracture because the pain came out of no where today. But after checking it out, he decided that maybe it was just one of those wonderful "bad days" for my foot. So we are trying some other methods to get it feeling better... Haha I am definitely the science experiment of the clinic.
The best part though was talking music with him and a couple of interns. He gave me a bunch of 80's bands to check out tonight. ...Still not a metal head. Sorry! Haha

Despite the joys of having a foot that just isn't ready to give up the attention it has been getting, life is so good!! There is so much joy around here! "My cup runneth over." I hope your 'cups' are overflowing as well! I love you guys so much! Thanks for the love and the laughs. :)

Happy Leap Day!!

P.S. I am pretty sure that Blogger can't handle leap day... The time stamp is a day early. Haha

Much Love!!

Hide and Seek

You're supposed to tilt your head to the side when viewing art in an art gallery, right?


Favorite part of last night:
After 3 weeks of craving... Finally got Jamba! Yessss! Someday Quinci's picture will make it on the wall...


Big kid juice box complete with twisty straw? Check! Kudos to Taylor for deciding I needed a picture of this.


Ready to hear something weird? I actually left my apartment and went out in public tonight... on a Saturday night. Quinci, thanks for 'convincing' me to come out of my cave of homework and sweat pants.

We wanted to leave a little love note on the floor of the Crossroads for someone to pick up tonight...


The things you do when you're slap happy and running on chocolate and too much homework...



No one picked it up... It's ok. It wasn't a very nice note. It said, "Be your own Valentine."

Acoustic cafe was AMAZING tonight! Such talent! :) I love being up here surrounded by amazing people.

Speaking of talent [or the lack thereof] this is what I do while I listen to people be talented. My artistic talents are... well... lacking. Doodles are all I can do! Where is Tanner when you need him?


Shout out to my FHE brother Ben who rocked it tonight on stage with vocals and a rice box! You are fantastic, Bro.



This week I have felt especially grateful for God's plan for me. Sometimes it is easy to feel like we're just swimming through a sea of never-ending tasks: Trying to stay ahead on homework, fulfill our callings, keep our foot from falling off, love and serve those around us, and improve ourselves everyday... all while making these big, life decisions. [And being lectured about needing to find your spouse all the time... Trust me. I'm looking! He is simply playing Hide and Seek... Marriage is supposed to be fun, right? We're just getting a head start on the games! ...]
It is so encouraging to stop and ponder how far we have come and where the heck we want to be going.

As I look back at myself from a year ago, I think, YIKES! And if I was a gambling soul, I'd bet you a whole pack of precious Don Julio tortillas that this time next year, I will say the exact same thing about myself now.

Isn't it so great that we can change? Thank goodness! I am grateful for the knowledge that I have a purpose here. I am so glad that I don't have to try to stumble through life all on my own because I know that I would never make it to where I want to go.

No one wants to live like Alice.


[One day Alice came to a fork in the road and saw a Cheshire cat in a tree. ‘Which road do I take?’ she asked. ‘Where do you want to go?’ was his response. ‘I don’t know,' Alice answered. ‘Then,' said the cat, ‘it doesn’t matter.’] -Lewis Carroll.

What a life of luxury I live. It may not be raining men [thank goodness] but it is certainly pouring blessings! I am so grateful to have such fantastic people in my life. You guys make the world go 'round and I love you dearly.
I know that there is a great plan for me and that there is a wonderful plan for you too. What a blessing it is to be guided by the hand of a merciful Gardener who knows what He wants us to be. (The Currant Bush - Hugh B. Brown. 1973 New Era --Read it!) "Isn't it great!?!"

Much Love!!

Spring?

Today was absolutely beautiful! :)


A sunny Rexburg day in February??? Whaaat!!??

I took this walking to class around 9:30 this morning. Fabulous.

Birds were chirping. I didn't even know how to handle the pure bliss exploding inside of my heart.

Can I just say: I am SUPER excited for Spring semester.

I am so grateful for this sneak peek! :)

Much Love!!

Probably Eggs?

Some days are really hard. It is a fact of life. Yesterday was one of those days.

BUT... I did learn a lot from it.

Luckily most days are really great. :) Today was one of those days.

My good friend in Hawaii sent me a nice, long message about sharks and cliff jumping. This totally made my day. Thanks, Tyler. I can't wait to party with you in April!

And my class actually liked the pictures I took for Humanities! [Thanks for being a great model and an even greater sport, Quinci. :) I owe ya!]

I don't know if anyone has noticed... But I have curly hair. Shocker, I know. Curly hair is fun because sometimes it just does what it wants and sticks out. Then your friends point at it. :) See?



Thanks for taking me on an adventure to the podiatrist today, Quinci! I love it when you get to "be my spouse" and pick me up in the spouse pick-up/ drop-off line!



Obviously only a Sheriff could take such great and sneaky pictures. We will find your badge, I promise. Just remember: The badge doesn't make you Sheriff. Your skills do.


The foot caressing caught on camera.


Kevin and Suzanne were fighting today so no McDonald's. But we did get to go to Broulim's!

Shopping lists are supposed to be interesting right?


Probably eggs?

[Dang it. I forgot Ringie Dingies, Jell-O Thingies, and Small Explosives! How foolish of me.]

P.S. the blurred part is for an awesome surprise I am planning! So no peeking!


And I came home to a sweet note! :) Thank you, Erika. You are a doll.


P.S. I tried really hard to like greek yogurt today... It didn't work. I don't really like normal yogurt... So I don't know what I was thinking. If you enjoy it, kudos. You are a better person than I am! :)



Life is so fun. It's just like a roller coaster: Up, down, and all around! But the good thing is that there are no rules against throwing our hands up and enjoying the ride.

Much Love!!

Worth the Walk.

Rexburg is cold. (Understatement, yes.) But Alexa and I decided to bundle up and walk to the temple tonight anyways. :)


You can even see a couple of stars! I love this temple. So beautiful. It is such a blessing to have a temple so close!

The temple is always worth our sacrifices to get there.


Afterwards we took our victory pictures. [We survived the cold and only slipped like 20 times!]


The lens fogged up because we were so hott. ... ;)

[Oh. Are you wondering why Alexa looks awesome and I look... confused? Because she is awesome and... well you already know about me. ;P ]

See my lumpy gloves? I shoved hand warmers in them. Works like a charm.


But here is the real secret to my success.



Foot warmers on the top and bottom. Pachow!

Today was such a wonderful day. Life never ceases to be amazing. And I am just surrounded by blessings galore! How'd I get so lucky!?

Happy President's Day! Love it, Laugh it, Live it. :) I love you guys.

Much Love!!

Snow Far, Snow Good!

Rexburg really snowed today. Hannah and I went to the Hart to work out. (I am allowed to do cycling because it doesn't hurt my foot at all but helps strengthen my leg muscles back up.) It wasn't snowing when we left, but it was really coming down by the time we were headed home.

We paused in the sky bridge because it really was gorgeous and peaceful as long as we didn't have to be in it. I wish these pictures did it justice.



The coolest part was being able to look up into the pretty snowflakes without it getting on our faces! "It's better to look up!"


It was just so peaceful and beautiful. We must have stood there and watched it for at least 5 minutes. I don't usually like snow... at all. But today the sky bridge taught me that even miserable snow can be a blessing if you pause to see the beauty. [Preferably behind 3 inches of glass... It's like visiting a lion at the zoo. As long as you are behind something protective, it's all good!] :)

However the best [and worst] part of this whole week has been physical therapy. My muscles are coming back so quickly! It hurts, but it is SOO worth it! My leg isn't a complete noodle anymore! I am really hoping that this will be the answer and the end of the foot pain saga, but even if it isn't, I am so grateful that my calf is coming back to me! Haha I see hope!

This week I have appointments on 4 out of 5 of the week days! Thank you to everyone who takes me to these appointments. I literally could not do it without you guys! And thank you Mom and Dad for taking care of my medical expenses. I am just surrounded by people who care so much. I am so lucky!

Blessings galore. :) Life is snow good!

Much Love!!

Thank Goodness for Chicken in a Biscuit!

Something amazing happened today. Taylor grabbed my phone and took a picture of me doing something(s) weird without me even asking her to. [She knows that I blog about dumb stuff like laying on the floor all afternoon.]


[Oh yeah. Why did they ever make even ONE Paranormal Activity, let alone 3 of them! The commercials are even scary!] Thank goodness for "Chicken in a Biscuit!"


Thank you, sweet Taylor. :) I had fun laying around in the living room and laughing and falling asleep to the sweet sound of pioneer love.

AAANNDD to top it all off, I got to talk to Momma for a little bit today!

How blessed am I? Too blessed to express. "Isn't it great!?!"

Much Love!!

A Patient of Patience

Physical Therapy was painful today. But so good! It really is making a HUGE difference already. I got a picture of the electrode... something today. They call it "Russian." I took this picture over my shoulder while laying on my stomach having my muscles contracted by electricity.
Impressed?


P.S. If you look carefully, you can see Ashlyn sitting and waiting for me. Thank you so much for taking me, dearest Ash. I will [maybe] give that handsome red-headed man your number. ;)

Mom and I discussed the fun journey of learning patience today. (A month isn't that long to wait for your records to be transferred to your new doctor... And then still not have them transferred so you have to re-fax the papers with slightly different information for the 3rd time.... Is it?.... Oh. You're right. It kind of is.) "But I just want to have patience right now so I don't have to wait anymore!" ... Haha That's just how it goes some days. But luckily there's always those raisins to boost us up. (And room mates to listen as you cry in frustration and make you laugh and remember the good things.)
I may not have perfect patience, but being a patient has certainly learned me a thing er two. And that is something I am grateful for. :)


...Sometimes you freak out and jump on your room mate's lap. Then you sit on your other room mate's back... and yet another room mate gets it on camera... :) Yes. We do have fun in our apartment.


I may have been freaking out because I don't often go on dates... And this may not be the only picture that was taken of the whole experience... ;)

P.S. Notice that I am not wearing the boot. :) Thank you physical therapy! (I get 2 hours a day out of the boot.) I was able to survive the whole night without it and without much pain. :D Yahoo! It's a miracle!

Cameron: Someday I will know when you are being serious and when you're not... Maybe. :) Thanks for being persistent. I had a great time!


Much Love!!

Love Rocks?

So many blessings.

Phirst Physical therapy appointment today. :) (Thank you, Erika for taking me!!!) Phabulous. I got hooked up to an electric thing that moved my muscles for me... It was creepy, but cool. I promise I will get pictures of my Wednesday appointment. Apparently they will also be putting me in the pool. I really can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Dr... Well I just know him as Paul, hopes to have me walking completely boot-free in about 2 weeks!

FHE: Catchphrase. Bahaha. Good times.

"It's a chef."
"Emrel!"
"No! The other one!"
"Chef Boyardee!!"
"..."

"Immigrants do this."
"Immigrate!!"
"..."

Better luck next time, Ben. Hahaha Thanks for the laughs.


I had a photography project for Humanities and Quinci was so kind and agreed to be my model. Here are the highlights:

First. This is about the only 'beauty' that the Rexburg scenery could offer on a muddy, winter evening. But at least the sun was in a good spot!


Candid face. So dramatic. This is the "depth of field" shot.


"Action shot." Gotta love slinkies. :)


Portrait. What a lucky fish. Travis (Quinci's fish) is going to be jealous when he sees this one.


Typical Quinci. This is her idea of rock on. Love rocks?


Thank you, Quinci! You're a babe.

Dear room mates, I love you each so much. Thank you for making this semester such a great one. :) You bless my life everyday.

I hope that everyone has a PHANTASTIC Valentine's Day. :) Watch chick flicks, eat candy, whisper sweet nothings, wear red, and most of all remember that love comes in many different shades of red. (Room mates make great Valentines! Erika just said she would "Be Mine.") My plans? Not sure yet... Most likely homework. :) Life is good. Love you, Raisins!

Much Love!!

The Manner of Happiness

Today was quite the day.

I am a girl. I get really sick... occasionally. Today Mama Quinci came over and took care of me without me even asking her to. I don't know how I would have survived without her because it got pretty bad for a few hours. Thank you, Quinci. How many times can I owe you for life before you start cashing those in?

(I've never been one to with hold pictures just because I look sick in them.) "Don't get dead." [This is my ice pack. Frozen veggies labeled: Don't get dead.]


Also. Quinci took a couple of videos of me being delusional... Haven't decided if I want to share those ones yet... Haha

The good news: (Other than the gospel, obviously) is that pain and fevers can cause people to say great things. Example:

Q: Michelle, how did you get that bruise?
M: I don't know... I have an abusive imaginary friend.

M: DO YOU EVEN KNOW WHAT A DORSAL FIN LOOKS LIKE!?!?!

Yep... Those are the only ones I can remember.

Also: Quinci got proposed to today! Ha! Ha ha ha! That's what you get for wearing your 'cute butt jeans,' I guess. [Remember that time that I posted a status that said that it is not every day that you get proposed to? Well it actually is... Every day we see Cameron, that is...]

Then we went on a date. "This is how I go on dates!" Joke....



Whitney Houston died today. :( We listened to her music in the car to honor her legacy. "I wanna dance with somebodyyy. I wanna feel the heat with somebodyyy!" Such a pure voice. :)



Q: She's dead!
M: Whitney's legacy lives on, so she's not really dead.

RIP Whitney.

Then I got Wendy's and ate it at Costa Vida... I should really stop taking Wendy's to other establishments.




Best purchase of the night from the 5$ box:


One down, 7 to go.

I came across a cool scripture today. I want to say it is in 2Nephi 4? It says that the people 'lived after the manner of happiness.' I think that living after the manner of happiness is totally a choice. We certainly have a lot to be grateful for. What's not to be happy about? :) Life is so good.

Much Love!!

Engaged... In a good cause.

Do you know what this picture means?


Yes. It means that today was a fantastic day. :) [And it also means that when a random stranger comes into your apartment and shakes your hand that they look at you like you're a weirdo for having a juice thing on your finger...]

This is a picture of one of the best moments of the day. Broulim's does not usually sell my juice at all. But today I looked and there was ONE LEFT! It basically had my name written on it. Thankfully Quinci reminded me to take a picture of it. (Dear Quinci, thank you so so much for taking me to the store. You are seriously the best. What are Ex-Room mates for again?...)


In case you didn't know, I am pretty sure that my blood is 78% Orange Peach Mango juice. I have been living without it for about 2 weeks. I am thrilled to be reunited at last! :) I know it sounds really silly, but this seriously was a tender mercy to me.


Also. I am NOT engaged! Haha
I just needed to throw that one out there as clarification.

Once upon a time, a boy found out that I happen to like bullet bikes and the like and we got into a discussion about it. And then he said (with drool dripping from his open mouth) Marry me. But no worries, it was just the bikes talking. Sometimes people just get caught up in the BYU-I DO spirit and they spit it out! Baha Oh Rexburg.

Hannah and I successfully sang the entire Happy Talk song from South Pacific last night on the phone. Jo, you are so awesome. :) I look up to you. You keep showing those boys who's boss. :)

I am seriously surrounded by the best people in the world. BYU-Idaho really focuses on being a "Disciple Training Center" and I feel so amazingly fortunate to be here to learn.

Much Love!!

English Majors 101

You know you're an English Major if...

Once upon a time in a not-so-wonderful place called English 252, it is group research paper season. Luckily I am writing with 2 awesome girls. Amy and Shandi: You unquestionably rock.
We don't exactly feel like we fit the English major norms... We have learned that once you know what you're looking for, you can spot an English Major from across the library!

But today we found a few traits that we do fit!! English majors:

Do not do their hair. (We all fit this one today, so we were super excited! So excited, in fact, that we took a picture.)



Often have to define words used in daily conversation.

After reading [often creepy and unsavory stories] for 3 hours for homework or writing a paper, their reward for themselves is to... well read some more! or possibly blog... (Not that I know from experience or anything... ;)

Use allusions on a regular basis...
Funny story. Today during class [we were supposed to be working on our introduction] we started joking around with allusions and we got a little carried away... Kudos if you can name them all!

What’s in a book, if by any other form would it be so. . . ? To read or not read, that is the question. Of three things I was absolutely certain: I like books, books like me, and I am irrevocably in love with a good story. Classic novel, the story that lived. Twilight, the-book-that-must-not-be-named. The book is mine, my own, my precious. Books. Books aw what bwing us togevah, today.


Do you feel like this would work as a solid thesis? I don't see a problem with it... :)



Good morning, World. My cutie made an attempt to culture me and bring me greetings from a deformed version of Africa this morning. It was really exciting and exotic so early in the morning.


Dad, thank you for letting me in on "The Family Joke" today... I think. I so enjoyed talking with you for lunch. :) It was well worth the 3-day phone tag.

Truth:
Some days are just downer days. But I guess that is what opposition is all about, right? I do not think that it is a coincidence that my scripture reading was Alma 26 tonight. If you are feeling like you've had a bad day, what a powerful and uplifting chapter to read!

Here's to the raisins and the wild cards! (and to the days in the near future when doctors might actually call back.) In the words of Ammon, "Have we not great reason to rejoice?" I believe that we do. :)
(And I also believe that there is an Ammon out there for me somewhere... :) *Crossing my fingers*

Much Love!!

Wild Cards

We've started to have room mate prayer every night. It has made a really big difference in the unity and overall 'love volume' in our apartment. :) Here are the lovely ladies themselves.


Sometimes walking to bed hurts... So I decided to crawl, which my room mates found very funny. Haha. Alexa decided to carry me to bed the next night. :) She spoils me.


[Side note: I am pretty positive that room mates are given to us to fill the holes that a boyfriend usually would. Whether it is carrying you to bed, giving you candy, listening to you cry, or cuddling with you in church to keep warm... I am pretty sure this is the case.]


Last night we all went to an on-campus dance together. (Yes, I went in my boot...) It was a blast! It was so full that it didn't even matter if you were good at dancing or not because no one could see you! It was fantastic room mate bonding and we even saw Justin Bieber... Kind of.

Today I accomplished a wonderful feat. I took my whole fan apart and fixed it! Good thing my RS president had a screwdriver to lend me! And good thing Dad had me familiarizing myself with tools at a young age.


Then Hannah and I had a "golden dinner." Chicken with cream of chicken soup, corn, and... ritz.... We were really low on ingredients today. Haha College is all about makeshift dinners right?
P.S. Room mates: Thanks for always letting me take pictures of you for my blog... Even if you're eating. I appreciate you humoring me in my quirkiness. :)


Today in RS I felt like I needed to share my testimony on service. So naturally I got up there and bawled my eyes out. (It's genetic, ok? Haha) I really am not a big fan of doing that because I always cry and I am hard to understand and it is really embarrassing. So I felt really stupid afterwards. But then I was walking home and these 2 sweet girls told me that what I said was exactly what they needed to hear today and thanked me for it. (I am thinking that maybe Heavenly Father set that one up to help me feel a little better. Appreciated. :) So I suppose it was worth it. :)

I got to talk to my dear grandparents tonight! I absolutely love talking to them. They crack me up and they think that my awesome levels are off the charts. (Which in case you are wondering, they are not.)

I am seriously being handed wild cards under the table.

I've re-learned this week that "It is always better to look up!" When we look to Christ, He can help us accomplish things that we cannot do on our own. I am more grateful than I can tell to be up here surrounded by so many people that I am able to learn from. I am so so blessed.

P.S. Let's send some vibes to the physical therapist so that we can get this healing thing started! I cannot wait to run again. :) Thanks for all you do.

Much Love!!