Out With the Old, in With the New

Holy wow. I haven't been on here in over 2 years.

Well...2017 was interesting, but things were still good. Hang on a sec while I look through my photos to remember what happened. lol. K now I remember.

2017 was the year I first met my bestie, Heather. It was also the year where I went on so many summer adventures with said bestie. I met Michael in July and we dated for a few months then broke up this last December. The same summer I semi-officially started my current job at SUU working as a herpetology intern. I joined Animal Ambassadors that fall and eventually became part of the presidency as the fund-raising chair. Heather became our president. I kept my job at Dairy Queen working as a manager and Heather actually worked there with me from May until mid January this year in 2018. Hmm...I started going to the gym more seriously this last fall and I have not regretted anything since. I have learned that challenging myself physically is something I will always enjoy and aspire to keep up on. We also took family photos (Kind of a big deal).

So, let's talk about Heather for a sec. She's an important staple in my life. I met her when I joined Animal Ambassadors club on campus. I found out about the club on a post via Instagram. I emailed the club owner, Dr. Heyborne (also one of my first professors I had) and the rest was history. The first time I really had any, shall we say, interaction with her was at the homecoming parade. While we were walking down University Blvd, she kept pestering me to hurry. Apparently I was falling behind from the rest of the group, and that was probably because I was letting the crowds interact with my rat snake I had around my neck. I didn't even know her name then.

I had a couple of classes with her, but the only one I really got to know her in was our microbiology lab. She was the only person I recognized so I immediately wanted to be her lab partner. Good thing too because if I'm being honest, I was an idiot and knew nothing about that class. I can honestly say that she got me through it. We worked together on the experiments with her telling me what to do. The experiments were interesting sure, but like the class, it was ridiculous sometimes. Dr. Gold was a great guy, but he had unbelievably high expectations for us undergraduates. 


That summer Heather stayed in Cedar City. I was genuinely interested in getting to know her. So one day I posted on Facebook that I wanted to go hike Angel's Landing. I had park entrance tickets and just needed a brave soul who would go with me. To my surprise, she wanted to and from there our relationship gradually grew. I took her out to many of my favorite places around Southern Utah. Most of them were hikes either in Cedar or in St. George. We did go to a place called Little Jamaica which is in Littlefield, AZ. We went from hanging out a couple times a week to nearly every day thanks to her working with me. Those were some of my happiest days.

We stayed very close when school started and have been very close ever since. Animal Ambassadors took off with us in the presidency. We worked together, went to the gym together, went to church together...the works. I didn't have any classes with her that time around. She became so important to me as I really began to realize just how alike we are. Never would have imagined it; life is full of surprises. I really needed a best friend that year and I was blessed with the very best. I will never forget when she told me that she prayed that she would really connect with someone when she went to college and that I was that answer to that prayer. I had never felt so important to someone. I knew I loved her long before she told me that. I can't tell you what it's like to have someone return your feelings. Exhilerating? Sure. Makes you so happy you actually cry? Yeah. 

Towards the end of the year is when things took a turn for both of us. (Incoming sad times...) We both broke up with our boyfriends for one. Ask me about how much fun that was. Then I find out that she got a wonderful job opportunity in North Salt Lake and that she was moving in 2 weeks. 2 days after that, I found out my financial aide was cutting me off. This happened all within a week. 

Talk about worst week ever. 

Technically it didn't have to be that way, but I needed to know where Michael and I were standing in our relationship since we were almost to 5 months. I broke it up once things were turning sour. He didn't want the same things as me (temple marriage). She took care of me that night. I was able to return the favor on New Year's Eve. While she hadn't broken up with him yet, the stress and anxiety that had been going on for awhile all came out. I'm the kind of friend where if I'm needed, I will drop everything and go. We were going to hang out New Year's Eve anyway, but once I got that text, I rushed over. I didn't know I would be spending the night, but I regret nothing. I was grateful I was able to help her when she needed it. 

So fast forward to 2018. Everything up until this point has remained the same, until yesterday. February 4th was when I first made my decision to transfer to Weber State University. Never thought I would end up doing it but I'm excited and crazy nervous. I didn't pray about my decision, but I knew it was the right one. See, I had been thinking a lot about my future career with animals and honestly, I don't think living in Cedar City will get me very far. I found a zoology degree program at Weber up in South Ogden, nearly 4 hours away. Like I said, excited, nervous, more excited. Heather is going there this coming fall as well, so we are going to try and get a place together. I hope things all work out.

Clean Slate

I thought I should probably update since it's a new year. I had all the good intentions to write about my summer and then talk about last semester. #oopsmybad.

Summerrr

Well let's start with the last summer since that was semi major. Hmm, well I remember I worked two jobs, the main one being at DQ and the other one was the Cedar City Summer Lunch Program through RHS. I honestly did not want to work DQ at all. As in, I wanted to quit it. And here I am still workin' it. I can't complain. I actually enjoy it for the most part (aside from the occasional customer who makes it difficult). "I admit it's getting better all the time." :] Yes I did reference the Beatles. I was actually just listening to that song. I have to admit that co-workers really make a difference. In my case it's a large reason why I don't mind working at DQ-because we have fun.

The summer lunch thing was easy but man, did it get boring. I felt like all we did was play on our phones. There was that and I was a new addition who didn't work with everyone else at their other jobs...it was alright regardless because, free lunch! I worked for a couple hours either at Main St. park or Enoch park Monday through Friday, usually. Easy job, but real boring at times. My co-workers I couldn't relate much with. I got along with them fine but I just didn't have much in common with them.

Hanging out this last summer was alright...when I actually did hang out. Ha. Melody spent the summer working on a ranch with some friends in Jackson, Wyoming. So I didn't see her. Harm I did spend a few days with here in Cedar at my parent's house. It amazes me just how well we get along and can relate to each other (all three of us). While it is true I've known these two for most of my life, I think we knew each other before we were here on earth. Do you ever feel like you've known someone for a long time even though you just met? Yeah.

Anyways, the two times I hung out with Harm...we spent a few days here in Cedar (as I said). We hiked Kannarraville Falls and later went swimming. The next time we hung out (in August) we went up Cedar Mountain to a place called Mirror Lake and had a photo session. It's really what our relationship is built upon, photos. It's how I learned what I know now. :]

Fall Semester 2015. 

To sum up this last semester, I learned some very important things. It was the first time I failed two of my classes. I had never felt so down about school before then. I did have some very hard classes. Physiology and Chemistry. I have to say that who teaches your class really does make a difference. I had a first time professor teach my chemistry class (not by my choice I might add). I had a hard time learning from her. There's a difference with those who have experience teaching and those who do not. I also worked tons last semester, having two jobs. A very bad combination. 

In spite of everything I had a wonderful institute class that I still thank myself for taking. I also had it with Jaycee, so that made it more enjoyable. "Jesus Christ and the Everlasting Gospel" was the course. We each got a booklet filled with great talks by general authorities. Something I really appreciated was that we really dove into Christ's Atonement. I cried almost every class period. What we learned about was enhanced with bible videos which really helped me visualize what things may have been like to some degree. 

This was also the time that I received certain revelation to go on a mission. I'll admit I was taken back and scared. I was just getting ready for church listening to a Mormon message in my bathroom when I was overcome with an urgent feeling. Mission was all I could think about. I spoke with my bishop the same day about my revelation, in tears I might add. I was still trying to wrap my head around the idea. We talked and he gave me a blessing and resource manuals. I prayed about whether to go or not, and the answer felt right. It still feels right every time I start thinking of it. So I've made appointments that I'm itching to go to (I guess haha). I'm a little nervous but I'm eager and excited.

Spring Semester 2016

This semester I'm trying to change some things up. Like using a planner. How did I ever not use one of these??? Dunno. I have one now and it's making things a lot easier to see. Today I worked furiously to fill the entire semester out. That was tiring. I'm going to fill out my planner monthly so I can focus more on the present. I feel like an idiot retaking my classes but oh well I guess. No judging here. I have different professors, so that should help me. 

Classes I have are physiology, chem and stats. My day starts daily at 8 am. I'm not even mad. I think that will help me adjust to the missionary life, kinda. I'm typically more of an evening person (thanks to my DQ night job). I admit it did feel good to be ready quarter to 8 this morning. Another advantage to that is all the parking that's available. (YES). I'm also going to be taking a mission prep class and the Eternal Family course from the institute. Bring it on. I'm ever eager. 

This is, the part when, I break free.

Skippin' out on regular updates. I'm gettin' good at it.

The rest of April was filled with studying and lots of good times. It felt great to ACE my nutrition final, but I may as well of not taken because...when we all showed up to class that day, she told us that some of us could improve our grade, and for some of us it wouldn't make any difference if we didn't take it. So essentially, I could have just skipped out on taking that exam and leaving with the grade I had, but I didn't. I spent all that time studying for it, so of course I was gonna put my knowledge to the test. Worth it anyway. I felt like I wanted to prove to myself that I learned things.

Spent a few more days with Mel over April and this month. Oh, the things we do. :p Honestly our lame Insta videos are my favorite thing. It's definitely a good way to make memories. We do a lot of singing along in the car and more recently, lip-syncing and dubbing. Combine everything with two crazies, and yeah it's gonna be a good time.

This last time we shopped around for uniforms because she's goin' to work over in Wyoming from now 'til September. So, see ya later I guess. I was sad to hear it, but it'll be lots of fun and good times for her.

It was funny, she just wanted some regular food this time around. Props to her for losing as much as she has in such a short time. So we got some DQ and just whatever else. That day was spent shopping and other errands. I bought hardly anything but it's all good. We also stayed up fairly late watching "Big Eyes" and "The Intruders." I definitely liked Big Eyes better than The Intruders because I was still confused about some plot points. There wasn't a Wikipedia page for me to cheat off of either! Big Eyes is based on real events, so that's always cool.

The next day was spent swimming, in the pouring rain I might add. The weather is pretty unstable around this time of year, I guess. It was sunny around 10 when we went that morning and then there was pouring rain like an hour or so later. Haha I should mention the chlorine content was pretty ridiculous. It bleached her swimsuit white 0.o Mine was ok. And this even after rinsing off immediately after getting out. Crazy. We got real lucky because the backdoor was open so we could use the shower on the first floor to rinse off. Yay, no hoses! We were kinda forced to use the parents' shower since that's the only functional shower in the house. Get me outta here...but it was fun having three shower heads going all at once. Haha. I also bid her farewell yesterday. Not something I like doing but I was alright.

See ya, later alligator. Love you always <3

Then today I was able to go to the GYMMM. Oh I missed that. I realize it's only been like 3 weeks, but I sincerely missed it. It was closed and I didn't have a whole bunch of time to shred. I also got caught up with Harmony.  :) I plan on spending time with her in the summer since she's not too terribly far away. I also begin training for my third job this upcoming week. Really hoping I'll enjoy what I do.