More Than French Fries

Snicker doodle parties: A necessity for the Sunday night before Finals-Eve-Week.
Tell your friends.


Don't we so look good? Ready to face the world? No problem.

SOMEONE (Meem) became offended by my happy, summery music. Bahaha. So it has been temporarily replaced as the starting song. I hope you like Bobby Darrin! :P

There is a common theme in my life as of late. The theme is mustaches.
I don't know what it means... But to those who have graced me with the presence of your mustaches in my life: ...Thanks. :) Haha


Oh Quinci.

Quinci and I often Skype or talk on the phone from across the street when we are procrastinating.
My room mates were dying listening to our conversations yesterday. I guess they have never before experienced a full out Quinci-Michelle philosophy session. Complete with kazoos and Indian goodbyes...
Forecast: Mud masks and General Conference. Woopie! And all we have to do is make it through till Friday when the festivities begin!


This morning I woke up to this right in my face:


YIKES! This is NOT a face that I wanted to wake up to. Thanks Meem... Thanks Nate... Remind me to accidentally drop this in permanent ink. :)


I don't feel like I can adequately express how I am feeling after PT today.

Extremely grateful? Overwhelmed? Dare I say... Hopeful?

We have made a new discovery with the foot today. I may have almost kicked Paul because it hurt [A LOT] to make this discovery, but this is progress! :D
This is a really big deal. We even high-fived and cried with excitement.
Paul:
Thank you for never giving up on this puzzle. [Even when I threaten to "not be your friend anymore" when you are doing something particularly painful.] You go beyond your job description. Super powers? Maybe.

We are not out of the water [or the boot] yet, but I am allowing myself to hope for a solution to present itself very soon!

It is on days like today when I realize that THIS is what life is really about. Life is about climbing; even crawling if necessary to get to where we need to be. It is not about just moseying along and being sure where each handhold is going to place you. There is no satisfaction in a climb like that anyways... ;) Not that they aren't enjoyable.
You cannot grow without the hard times. The good times could never possibly be this sweet without the difficult ones to set them apart.
Good people walk up to the pulpit every Fast Sunday and say that they are so thankful for their trials. I don't know if I will ever be able to say that. But I guess I am grateful for them in a way because I am grateful for where they lead me and what I learn from them.

I won't quote Miley Cyrus, I'll leave you to sing that one in your head.
But I will say that I am grateful for my ever-solid support system. Thank you for laughing at my dumb jokes and crying when I cry. Thank you for always always always giving me reasons to laugh. :)
I love you guys more than french fries... And that is really saying something.

Life is good. It really is.

Much Love!!

There's a Snake in my Boot!

(Or at least there was until I showered.)

Meem had a Birthday, Shout HOORAY!


Don't you just love auto-correct?
Meem: I love you, semester!
Bahaha

Mystery of the semester. I always come out of Children's Lit with this black stuff on this particular spot on my hand. I cannot figure it out!! It is totally weird!



Adventure of the day: Jumping the in freezing cold Snake River!

(Hence the snake in my boot. I put the boot back on after getting in the water. ...Yeah. I'm hilarious.)

Before


Ahh! SO COLD! And the water level is super low too.


Kudos to Jennie and Tyler for going completely under!! As much as I wanted to do the whole wet hair in the wind thing... Not today. Haha


We survived with only a few cuts and bruises. :)


Ash is totally going to get in the water next time. ... Right??
(I still think this is a cute picture. At least I didn't put it on FB.)


Ash and I decided that this dock under the stars would be super awesome... But we don't want to share the experience with each other... Haha

Here comes the last full week of the semester! Best of luck to everyone!

Much Love!!

Run With Patience? (Is that even possible?)

Fantastic News!!!!
I got into archery! I have been wanting to take this since I found out that they offer it here but it always fills up so fast! (Thanks, Amy for holding my spot. :) If they ever have a bring your friend to archery class day, you have totally got the spot! Haha) I fell in love with archery in 5th grade at James' Birthday party. Apparently it is in my blood! Because...
Aunt Jean was awesome and posted pictures of my great-grandparents!


Utah state Champ!


You go, Great-Grandma Charlotte!

No pressure! :P

PT was rough today. They are kind of running out of things to try... It was a tear-filled afternoon.

One of the most frustrating things about today was that I came home really stressed and upset and could not go for a run. Running is the best stress reliever. It helps to clear my mind and make me feel good. Unfortunately that isn't an option at the moment.
I am not a hard core runner. I just run for the joy of it. It's always been there before as a stress reliever. Not having it available when I want it most is a bit of a downer.

BUT the good news is that Netflix is great for getting your mind off of things.

Did you know that some people really do believe in Fairies? Apparently they are real. I found a documentary on it today. I made it through 3 minutes and 55 seconds before I decided to find something else to watch... And of course it was something Discovery Channel. I am surprised that you even had to ask....

[Side note: DO NOT watch Nature's Deadliest right before bed. Ever!]

ANYWAYS.

Tonight I decided to look up running scriptures. I found really great ones! My favorite is just too good not to share. Hebrews 12:1 "...Let us run with patience the race that is set before us" (Verses 1-13 are absolute amazing. Check 'em out!) Being patient in a race is kind of ironic... But it really makes sense once you think about it.
I feel like this scripture is another way of saying, "Come what may and love it," "Find joy in the journey," "Endure to the end," etc. We are chastened because we are loved, as tough as that is to remember sometimes.

When we run with patience, we do not give up.
When we run with patience we live for each step, not just for the end of our race.
When we run with patience we enjoy the run.

If we run with our lives centered on Christ, we are given awesome strength in our muscles and run faster and farther. We will complete our race. Sometimes we may feel so discouraged and beaten to exhaustion. All we have to do is be patient through the mud holes and the shin splints and keep moving forward with all of the strength that we can muster. He will come through. It is simply a battle of faith, patience, and endurance; just like running. :)

Much Love!!

Semi-Antisocial Cave-Dweller

I've changed my blog title... I'm not sure if I'll keep it yet... But it fits, I suppose. Feel free to give input!

Remember those Amelia books? I got to read one in Children's Lit this week! Look! Raisins!


P.S. in Children's Lit we have to plan mini lessons. This week I read Brian's Winter. [Which is an excellent book by the way.] I brought a nerf gun to go along with my lesson. But all of the girls in my group were too cool to play with it... It was kind of sad. But I got to shoot Paul with it at PT so it was worth it!

GREAT NEWS: I've got a date to Bear World for Spring! And he is even a good date! Psh. What more could you want out of life?

So here is the proof. I have straight A's!
[For those of you who are not aware... This is a big deal. Once upon a time my GPA in high school was... Well let's just say less than a 3.0. I didn't exactly love high school so I didn't care... Haha]
But I have become "responsible" this semester. AKA I am a semi-antisocial cave-dweller. ;) [This title brought to you in part by the fact that: Baby, it's cold outside.]


The lowest A has been the hardest. Sister Holt has a PHD and she is intimidating and feminist. I cannot believe that I have finally scraped an A-! We will see if it lasts... Either way, this is a big accomplishment for me!

I registered for classes this week! It's looking good so far! I will have Fridays off just like last Spring. I am very excited! Tomorrow I think I will make the switch into Archery! Ahh! :)
English major book lists.... LONG!


But it'll be great. I get to read 30 novels for my Young Adult Lit class! :D I cannot believe someone is willing to pay me [in grades] to do what I love to do! Ha!

I was diligent in working out this week. I am really getting over that whole having uneven calves thing... So cycling is awesome because it doesn't hurt too badly and I can read and listen to music as I do it! See? And I usually throw in pushups and abs to seal the deal. [It's not running, but it is so much better than not doing anything! Grateful that I can do this much.]


Unfortunately my foot didn't love it as much as I did so I have been on "limited foot use" this weekend. The working out starts again tomorrow! Woo hoo! Wish me luck!

Oh yeah. I got an Elder Rife letter yesterday. He is doing great and being his goofy self!

Alexa, Hannah, and I have made a chain. Of course we are not counting down to the end of the semester or anything..... BUT if we were... There might be 20 days left. This means that the chain is short enough to sit under... Kind of. We were all very excited by this! ... Not that we are counting down or anything...


Strawberries were on sale this week and I have been savoring them. I shared a bowl of strawberries with a stranger that was sleeping on the floor in my apartment today. Fact: When you bond over a bowl of strawberries, you are automatic friends. Who knew?

Today has been a fantastic day. Church was phenomenal. It was so good that tears were shed. The semester is coming to a close and we all feel it. This ward is a really great one.
I got to talk to Kyley for a while today! :) And Quinci and I sat and bonded in the car at haunted places and rail road tracks so that Bethany could take some pictures. Being in the middle of nowhere is so peaceful. I hope to be able to hike up to great beautiful heights and feel some more of this peace this summer. :) (It is certainly not a coincidence that prophets of old would go to the mountains to pray.) I also got to talk to my loving family. Where would I be without you guys?

I got to go to a musical fireside with Erin and Nate [The new-found strawberry friend] tonight. It was really peaceful. I didn't know it, but I needed it. I was sitting there listening and I had worries start building up in my mind. [Apparently worries are a common thing among grown-ups...]
Almost instantly, I just had a feeling of peace come over me and the thought: Everything is going to be ok. It will all work out.
We can only do the best that we can do. The rest we have to leave to faith. I am truly amazed at the blessings that have been coming to me. I have the best support system in the world and I love you guys so much! My foot probably won't magically be fixed tomorrow or even the next day (although that would be pretty nifty) but through this trial I am learning so much. And I know that no matter what, it [meaning everything] is going to be ok. It really is.
And honestly, life is SO good! I have learned that it IS possible to find joy in the journey even when the going gets rough. And the cool thing is that the trials we go through are actually good for us. They are an act of love. Helaman 12. Check it out. Enjoy the raisins, folks. I love you all.

Much Love!!

The Best Worst Week!

This week has been very busy and crazy. [And to be honest, downright frustrating at times.] But there has been a LOT of laughter squeezed into it too! :)

I finally got my medical history sent to me... It's been so long that I forgot that I was waiting for it! Haha That whole section in the back is devoted to the saga of the foot... Haha



Sometimes, at lunch date Quinci sees handsome men walk by. And sometimes they look over and see her [jokingly?] looking at them like this. Bahaha


Yesterday was a fantastic lunch date. I was walking out of the bathroom when this nice girl and I had a funny conversation:
NG: I LOVE your shoes! ... Er..
M: You mean my shoe? haha
NG: I am so sorry.
M: No, no it's funny! Don't worry. I wear a Van, not Vans! It's all good!

The poor girl felt really badly when she didn't need to because I thought it was hilarious! I was dying with laughter.

Then the Polynesian Cultural Association decided to come do the Haka and other awesome dancing! It was so great! And they were funny.

"Usually we would not be wearing a shirt and pants... But this is BYU-Idaho... So we can't do that."
Also. Have you ever heard the Haka translated into English? It's kind of silly, but still sa-weet. :)


Phys therapy was rough yesterday. My foot is very upset with life as of late.
BUT the cool thing was that I got my foot lazered!! Paul promised that I wouldn't turn into an alien. [So far this is true.] I also had micro stim done. I should have taken a picture of that too, but I was busy being a 'big girl' because it really hurt. Haha


I am so grateful for Paul (Phys therapist). He is so helpful and gets really creative in trying to fix this fun foot of mine. I am in the market for a new doctor (not a new phys therapist) for a second opinion and he gave me lots of good names to look at! Thanks, Paul!


Ash decided that we needed to try the Shamrock shake at McDonald's. Try it... It's good, but strange. We had to Google the flavor because we couldn't figure it out... This is seriously the cutest picture of Ashlyn. You are gorgeous, Lady! :)


Oh Alexa, you are a doll. Thank you so much for your sweet note. :)


Oh. And don't worry. It's not like I got 100% on my Star Wars quiz or anything.... :) Nerd Alert!


Last night Meem called me and informed me that it is a crime to be home alone reading Frankenstein on a Friday night. But don't worry. I did go out... Kind of.

It is difficult to choose a highlight of the week because there have been so many, But [aside from Monday night] I think it would have to be...

Laundromat date with Quinci!

The spoils. What does one bring to a Friday night laundromat date? Drinks, sorbets, and obviously Pop Rocks with dippable, rocket-ship suckers!


The night entailed:
accidentally washing our whites for an extra 20 minutes...
Listening to crooners and other classics. "Gidget" by James Darren, "Beyond the Sea," and lots of Frank.
AND we finished off the night with Parachute? Apparently they are a classic now.





The dryers are massive...


Quinci is a diva.


This week has been a long one, and I am so grateful to everyone who made me smile! There were tons of them!! I really cannot even name them all because there are too many. Thank you guys so much! :)
I know that the Lord provides amazing little miracles. I have definitely been on the receiving end this week. Too many blessings to count! When super hard times come, I think that the blessings get upped to compensate. The joys outweigh the tough stuff ALWAYS!
And gosh, I am grateful for this gospel. I would not be the happy soul that I am without it! "My cup [STILL] runneth over."

P.S. Yes. I have a new starting song for my playlist. I became obsessed with it after ExtravaDance. :) It's just so happy!

Much Love!!

Peace and Blessins, Peace and Blessins.

Yesterday was an interesting one. Cameron and Mike decided it would be funny to wake Quinci and I up at 9 in the morning... Thanks guys. Double day date. Cameron and me. Quinci and Mike. It was sure interesting. Never a dull moment with those 2! Thanks for not killing each other in your wrestling match. Next time let's try for no blood either... Haha Good movie. Good food. Thanks guys!

Quotes of the date:
"WWAAAAOOOOWWWW." (Read in Southern accent) [repeated 345 times in the few hours, I'm pretty sure.]

C: This is a dang good samich.
M: Samich... How do you spell that?
C: S-A-M-ich!


Last night Ash and I decided that ice cream was a good idea. Believe me. It was. Then we figured we might as well go to the dance for a bit. What else were we going to do with our night? We met a fun group of people!

Ryan and Chris (random people met at the dance) making a shorty sandwhich.


Chris sweeping Ash off her feet in a fit of red-headed bonding.


As we were walking away, Chris rushed up and told Ashlyn, "I was reading in the book of Numbers the other day when I realized that I don't have yours..." Way to go, Red.

Ash and I got some quality life-talking done last night too. I'm so glad you're up here, Ash. You bless my life. :)

Today has been such a wonderful and peaceful Sabbath. :) And I have high hopes for the rest of it. Nothing beats the fantastic Spirit found and kept up here. Also, Elder Quintin L. Cook is here today and I have the opportunity to go hear him speak in person this evening! :) Such blessings.

Life is fun. :) Thanks, Raisins.

Much Love!!

Crop Circles, Perishing, and the Like.

Oh what a journey! [I'll get the gross foot pictures over with first. So skip over them if you so choose.]

My foot has been having a bad week. It's upset. We've almost broken up a few times, but I really think we are meant to be so we are hanging in there with our relationship. With a little faith and a lot of prayer, I think we will make it. :)

What? You mean your foot doesn't look like this? Oh.... :P


How about this? [This was after 24 hours of a double-sided medication patch.] Mom: "My fingers are ripping!!!" :)


Kind of looks like crop circles, huh?? I thought it was cool. Sorry if it grosses you out!


For those of you who are worried about the crop circles, I promise they are gone. The aliens have left the building.

Mother: Thank you for having a "party at my house" today. :) I loved talking with you. You are the best mom ever. I love you very, very much! What would I do without you? You are just wracking up those heavenly brownie points! Who needs extreme coupon-ing anyways?? Over rated!

Meem: Thanks for talking poetry with me and sending me pictures of your dog. :P "If I had a million dollars, If I had a million dollars, I'd buy you a bedazzled purse from Meem N' Marc's for your puppy to liiiiveeee."


So I really need some serious cooking motivation... Because this is considered cooking right now to me. Welcome to college! ... I'd like to take this opportunity to apologize to my future spouse. I can only make mini apple pies and quesadillas... I'm sorry.


My room mate Hannah and I went to ExtravaDance tonight on campus! It was the coolest thing ever! They performed a variety of dances. Some were just SO BYU-I DO. It was hilarious! They even combined ballet and hip hop and Latin all in one dance number! People are so talented! I am so glad that I went! Thanks for going with me Hannah!

Alexa made me these cute origami stars! What a babe. She is a crafty wonder.


You know you are living in a Rexburg winter when you call and talk to your Ex-Roomate that lives across the street for a half and hour instead of walking over there because the cold bites into you and you don't want to perish!

Thanks for the kazoo video Bethany and Quinci. You guys are basically awesome. Keep rehearsing and I will practice my Peter Pan flute. I think it is probably a good idea to go play at the laundromat while we do our laundry... Whitney serenade? Here we come! ;)


Scripture of the day: Romans 5:3. (And check out the footnotes for a fun scripture chain! It just goes on and on in awesome succession! ...I'm on a scripture chain kick lately.) I know that someday this foot problem will be so small and insignificant, but the things that I learn from this trial will stick with me as long as I take the time to remember them. Oh Refiner's fire...

Life is for fun and for joy and for laughter. These things abound in my life for which I am grateful! :) I love jew guys. Thanks for laughing with [and occasionally at] me! :)

Much Love!!