"I love us!"

I know I've mentioned some of the adventures of my best friend Erin and I, but I've never really gone in to a lot of detail...

We love wearing our cowboy hats.

We love Walmart adventures.

(this is the Christmas room!)

We love our Aggies!

From crazy adventures, to late night delirium, there's never a dull moment with us two! We crack ourselves up. We love us!!

The Week of Coming Home

This week is Homecoming here at Utah State. This is one of my favorite weeks of the entire year. I think it's a great reminder of why we all love it here so much. Why do I love Utah State? Well, let me tell you.
I love the school pride. As they say, "Once an Aggie, always an Aggie." It's something that never leaves you. In good times and in bad, past and present students will always stand for their Aggies.
I love the location. Cache Valley. You can't beat it. It's beautiful. All the time. I love all four seasons, the canyon and our proximity to it. I love the view of the valley from campus. I love Aggie athletics. End of story.
I love the friendliness. It's so easy to meet new people. I meet someone new nearly every day. Even if you don't know someone, they'll still say hi. It's fabulous.
I love the campus. It's beautiful! I love that people just sit around on their computers, on the phone, or just sitting in the shade on the quad. Being on campus all day is not a bad thing! I love to just sit on the patio of the TSC and watch people. I love how close everything is, and I love all the diversity.

I love the ease of getting involved. No matter what you want to do, you can do it. The 3rd floor of the TSC is my second home. The people I have there are my family. I love it.

Now, everyone knows how much I love Utah State, so this hardly does it justice, but these are just a few of the reasons why. Why do you love it? (Either Utah State, or your own school)

Highlights of the Week

So I don't have long, but here are the highlights of my week.

Monday- FHE! I hadn't been in quite awhile, always had a bunch of stuff going on, but I finally got to go. It was pretty low-key, roasted hot dogs and marshmallows, played kickball, played on the swings, all sorts of good stuff!

Tuesday- I just love Tuesdays! Tuesday nights are my big busy night. I come home for an hour or so after classes and work, and then it's back up to campus for meetings. I'm in meetings from 6 to 10, and I love it! I love being involved and all the people I get to be with for those hours. It's so great!

Wednesday- KEITH URBAN! 'Nuff said there :)

Thursday- I got ahold of season 5 of The Office :) I just got in to the show this summer, so have been trying frantically to get caught up. Season 6 starts on Thursday! I'm on the last disc of season 5, so I should be done tonight and set for Thursday!

Friday- Spaghetti Night! I owed two of my friends dinner, and our new friend 'Brad Pillow' came along. We took him on a photo adventure to the mall... Never a dull moment when Faf, Jake, and Sean are around!

Saturday- Peach Days! I love Peach Days. I've been going pretty much every year of my entire life. I love Brigham City and I love it. All of it. We did all the typical Peach Days stuff and then went and watched our friend Erik play softball. He did great! After that, we went and raided my grandpa's garden for peaches and grapes. The best ever!

Sunday- I love Sundays. Today was great! I was at the church for like 7 hours, but it was awesome! After church we ran home for 45 minutes to eat, but then we had to go back for an Activities Committee meeting, then the CES Fireside, and then ward prayer. The fireside was awesome! If you didn't get to see it, you should watch it online when it comes out. Sister Dalton's incredible. I loved that we got to listen to her because now that we're not in YW anymore, we hardly ever get to hear her! It was so great!! (oh, and the start of the NFL season was great today too! Bummer for my Cardinals, but way to go Cowboys!)

So that's my week... and there's tons to look forward to this week. We decided last night that we're going to go to the Brad Paisley concert on Saturday! Also, just FYI there's only 47 days until basketball starts :)

Butterfly Fly Away

I don't know who out there has seen 'Hannah Montana: The Movie,' but if you haven't, I think you should. I just watched it (again, Erin and I saw it the night it came out) and remembered how much I love it. I mean, the beginning is a little cheesy, but don't give up on it. Give it half an hour or so and you'll be fine.
I love the relationship that Miley has with her dad. (In the show and movie it's her real dad, aka Billy Ray Cyrus) In her crazy 'best of both worlds' life, he's always there. In the movie she writes a song about their relationship after everything else is falling apart; boys, her Hannah life, etc. It's called Butterfly Fly Away. Here are the lyrics. And then I'll tell you why I love it :)

You tucked me in, turned out the light

Kept me safe and sound at night

Little girls depend on things like that

Brushed my teeth and combed my hair

Had to drive me everywhere

You were always there when I looked back

You had to do it all alone

Make a living, make a home

Must have been as hard as it could be

And when I couldn't sleep at night

Scared things wouldn't turn out right

You would hold my hand and sing to me

Caterpillar in the tree

How you wonder who you'll be

Can't go far but you can always dream

Wish you may and wish you might

Don't you worry, hold on tight

I promise you there will come a day

Butterfly fly away

Butterfly fly away, butterfly fly away

Flap your wings now you can't stay

Take those dreams and make them all come true

Butterfly fly away, butterfly fly away

We've been waiting for this day

All along and knowing just what to do

Butterfly, butterfly, butterfly, butterfly fly away

Butterfly fly away

Butterfly fly away

Now, this part of the movie is one of the times I may or may not get a little teary eyed and choked up. This reminds me so much of me and my dad. I mean, he didn't raise me on his own or anything, but he's just always been there. Like the first stanza, he was always there to tuck me in at night. Even when I got older, he would still come in and that was our time to catch up and just chat for a few minutes. I loved it! Even now, hardly a day goes by that we don't talk on the phone. He's always behind me in my goals and my dreams. He has full confidence in me. He's always there. Every concert, every soccer game (even the away ones), I always have his support. I am so lucky to have the relationship with him that I do. It's so hard to see my friends going through things and not having that relationship. I mean, sure, we have our days. Arguments, disagreements, etc. everyone has that, but I'm so lucky, and am reminded of how lucky I am so often!

Aggie Athletics

Fall is officially here. Football season has started. Last night we played the University of Utah in Salt Lake. We didn't win, but we're showing MAJOR improvement! Last year when we played them, they killed us 58-10. Last night the final score was 35-17. We had the first points (a field goal in the first few minutes)and then later, we had a 96 yard touchdown!!! It was BEAUTIFUL!!! I was one of the lucky ones to actually be at the game and I loved it. I had so much fun! My throat isn't used to games, so it's a bit sore this morning, but that's ok. In honor of athletics off and running, here's my top five (I didn't have time to think of 10) favorite things about Aggie athletics.

5. New friends! We're all so mashed together, everyone trying to get as close as they can so you can't help but meet new people! You automatically bond over your shared love of the Aggies.
4. The atmosphere. No matter what kind of game it is, I just love it. For football I love the lights, the faint scent of fall, the setting sun behind the stadium. I love the noise, the food, the people. Being in the Sprectrum during basketball season is an experience in itself. It's a bit of heaven on Earth.
3. Losing control. I seem to be a totally different person when I'm at a game. I go crazy. Yes, I'm one of those front row crazy kind of people. I feel right at home though so it's a good different.
2. Winning (or not). Winning is always great, and we get lucky with basketball that that happens a lot, but even if we don't, I love seeing us try! Our football team is already showing major improvement and I can't wait to see what else we've got ahead.
1. School spirit. I love the Aggies. I love how much everyone else loves the Aggies. No matter what we support them! It doesn't matter if we're winning or losing, if we do something well or not, we're there. We're loud, we're excited. We sing our fight songs, and come up with some fabulous chants. I love it. There is not another school out there with as much spirit and support as we have. I love the Aggies!

So Many Thoughts

I'm so tired... I really shouldn't be blogging right now. It honestly feels like it's at least 3 am, but no, it's only midnight.
The last two days (well really, if you count retreat, it's been four) have been spent as a facilitator at my school's Aggie BLUE (Building Leaders for University Excellence)conference. Last year I attended as a participant, but this go around had such a different impact on me! I feel like I need to get these feelings and such out now while they're still fresh in my mind :)
Aggie BLUE is such an incredible experience. I thought I loved it last year but this year I got so much more out of it. Being the one to direct conversation and point out the leadership qualities in the activities we did made it so much more real to me.
One of my favorite parts of the conference this year was when Larry Gelwix, the coach of the Highland Rugby team (made famous by the fabulous moive Forever Strong), spoke to us. He spoke for an hour but then the Q&A time turned in to another half hour. He gave us his 6 Keys to Success. For him it's how they are such a successful rugby team. (Since they started 34 years ago, they have gone 392-9!) However, we don't play rugby. We are leaders at our university and so he related the steps to us.
1. Lead horizontally
2. Don't play with snakes
3. See the finished product
4. Focus on the final score
5. Get out of the boat and drive the wagon
6. NO REGRETS
Now, to those of you who weren't there, some of those may seem odd. I'm don't have the energy to really explain those in depth, but if you want to know more let me know. A few other very impactful things that he said:
"It doesn't matter WHO scores, what matters is that WE score."
"Practice doesn't make perfect, practice makes permanent."
"Don't eat the pizza first, and sweep the floor."
"Go do something differently!"
This man is incredible. If you ever have the chance to hear him speak, make sure you take that opportunity.
Another part of the conference that I really love is one of the last things we do. We all stand in a circle around the ampitheatre in the canyon. It's a beautiful location and we're surrounded by those we've become close to over the last two days. We go around the circle and everyone takes a turn saying "This year, I will..." and fills in the blank with something they plan to do this year. Whether it's to better themselves, better others, or make them a better leader, each person's response varies. This year I committed to take chances. And that my friends, is exactly what I'm going to do. I'm going to put myself out there even more. I'm going to continue to discover myself. I'm going to run for office. I'm not going to have any regrets.
It's amazing to me how much I've grown in the last year. I look back to this time last year when I was a participant at Aggie BLUE. That was where I met many of the people I work with and spend a lot of time with; some of my best friends. It was where the fire inside me was lit. It was the point where my life as I know it now began. I love the person I am today. I love where I am at in my life and I know I can only progress from here. I love the faith and confidence that those I work with have in me. The greatest feeling is knowing that you're doing well at something and I feel like that's where I'm at right now. I was worried going into this week that I was going to have a hard time initiating conversation and asking questions about the activities we were doing. I didn't know if I'd do very well in sharing experiences and thoughts that I have. However, things went so differently than that! I'd be sitting there as a discussion was going on thinking frantically on what I'd say next when all of sudden, before I knew it, I was talking. Things were coming out of my mouth that I hadn't even thought of. I was making a point and the students in my group were hearing it and taking it to heart.
I am so incredibly excited. The fire inside me is burning stronger than ever before. I can't wait to see what this year has to hold. I can't wait to see where I'll be at this point next year. Taking chances, no regrets. That's what this next year is all about.

A Lifestyle Choice

We all hear the classic one-liners on optimisim...
"Look at the glass half-full"
"Look on the bright side"
"When life gives you lemons, make lemonade"
Things like that.
However, how many of us really take them to heart?
This last week, so many people how commented on the optimism that my best friend Erin and I have on life. Why are we so happy? Why do we laugh so much? How can we always be having fun? Those are the questions we've been asked, and really, it's a lifestyle choice. Marjorie Pay Hinckley said
"The only way to get through life is to laugh your way through it. You either have to laugh or cry. I prefer to laugh. Crying gives me a headache."
There's a comedian/magician named Tim Gabrielson. He performed at our school last year (and he's coming again next week!) and he said some things that I let truly imapct my life.
"When something happens, you can either react or respond."
Abraham Lincoln said
"In the end, it isn't the number of years in your life that matter, it's about the amount of life in your years."
I didn't necessarily love the movie Rumor Has It, but it had a great quote:
"Life SHOULD be nuts! Otherwise it's just a bunch of Thursdays strung together."
I love 30 Rock. Kenneth is my favorite. He said:
"I believe life is for the living, I believe in taking risks, and also biting off more than you can chew."
James Dean:
"Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today."
And finally, President Gordon B. Hinckley:
"In all of living, have much fun and laughter. Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured."
It's all so true! Why waste our time being miserable? Have fun, laugh a little, live it up.
*p.s I'll post all about my Baltimore/D.C trip next time... oh, and college football and how excited I am...