Mis Amigos

I am lucky...I have some really, really, really, good friends in my life. I am thinking about them even more these days because I am preparing to leave them all when I go down to AZ to start my student teaching.

Someone once told me that the sign of a true friend is their loyalty to you. If someone was talking about you in a negative light, would your friends step in and tell them they were wrong? Would they stand by you no matter what?

Yep. Mine would.

On another note about friends...my friend Matt and I drove down the Milford, Texas last week to surpise my best friend/former roommate Becca. It was amazing! That's some true friendship right there...driving 24 hours straight is REAL devotion. Becca lives on a ranch so some of the highlights were riding horses, herding cows, 4 wheeling, touching electric fences, and getting the biggest bruise of my life.


I will put up some pictures as soon as I can. But let's just say that the Texas hudmidty and heat does not make it easy for a girl to look nice so don't expect too much from the pictures!

Heaven

Without fail I seem to always have that one thing that I find myself constantly worrying about. I lay in bed thinking, if this were to just go away, then I could sleep well at night because I wouldn't have any worries!

That never works.

Because before I know it I have a 4 things to replace that one thing that I fixed. And then I sit and worry about those.

I ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY, WITHOUT A DOUBT, LOATH WORRYING.

So when I find something that can keep me from worrying and put a smile on my face, I become obsessed with it. And what has been my latest find? My hammock!!!

I love sitting in it in the hot sun with a cool breeze and my favorite songs playing on my ipod. It is like heaven to me.

It is also making me a little sad because I am realizing that I have exactly 19 days left in Idaho. But I won't let that bother me because I already have a million other things to worry about and a hammock can only do so much!

Regret.

"For all sad words of tongue and pen, The saddest are these, 'It might have been.' "

-John Greenleaf Whittier

I hate knowing that I have wasted so much time not living up to the potential for happiness that I am experiencing now. And I am Terrified that I will slip back into the "old" me without even realizing it.

This is a picture of me when I was really, genuinely happy. Probably one of the top 5 happiest moments of my life. I hope for more of these.

New Goal: Try and live without regret. I don't ever want to say "if only" ever again.

Yeah I realize how impossible that really is.

In other news...only five freakin' weeks until I start the most terrifying 12 weeks of my life: student teaching. Am I allowed to start crying yet? I hope so because that's all I do when I think of what is in store for me at Mesquite High School. Stay tuned.

Can this...

Become Ms. Royal?

Back on the Wagon

I am back from a 4 month vacation from blogging. I kind of lost interest in it until now. So here comes a quick re-cap of my life from the last 4 months. This is more for me then anyone else I think so forgive me if it is a little long...

I lived through another Rexburg winter. Yay! But this one was so different from the last one because it was seriously non-stop fun. I had some amazing vacations, met wonderful friends, and made memories & friendships that will last a lifetime.

I went sledding (thats what they call snowmobiling in ID) for my first time.

Me, Mike, and Jackie at the top of the mountain

Warm Springs

Jackie & I

I became great friends with my roommates and FHE Bros. Especially Kellie, Becca, Matt, Braden & Ben.

Our FHE Family eating our Sunday dinner together

Becca and I on a pony sled ride

Some of our FHE group at a dance festival

My best friends! I love/miss them more than words can say

Music became a huge part of my life this semester...I learned to play the guitar & watched my friend Braden play at Music Outlet. I even got a song dedicated to me!

Went to the Hare Krishna Festival of Colors in Spanish Fork UT

The group after the festival. We had purple boogers for a week.

I think they said 20,000 people came to this thing. Amazing!

Ben got a little colorful...

Had an AMAZINGLY EPIC Weekend in UT with Becca, Matt & Braden

The group at Krispe Kremes.

We did a little photoshoot at IKEA...

Family History Center

SLC Temple

Church History Museum

Just doing the nightly duties together. Don't tell BYU-I...

Went to a Jazz game for FREE & got to be on TV after the game!

American Outfitters needs this pic for advertising.

We kind of have an obsession with bubble gum...

Took a perfect runaway trip to CA for the weekend with Becca, Jackie, Matt, Braden, and Kevin

Needless to say there was a lot of In N Out on this trip

Yum!

The group at Six Flags

Yeah. We rented a 2010 Mustang Convertible

No Big Deal

I got to drive this thing all around downtown LA. Pretty amazing!

While Rexburg got hit by a snow storm, we were relaxing at the beach, playing the guitar, and getting tan. Rough life.

The group getting ready for the 16 hour drive home. yuck!

I walked in Graduation and start my Student Teaching in the Fall

The Royal Sisters

President Clark & President Jensen from the Seventy came to my graduation. That's me shaking their hands!

And now I am back in Rexburg for the Spring...my last three months in ID. Its been off to a rough start but after writing this blog...I know that the Lord will put the people I need to meet in my life!

Ooops

Good thing I don't mind showing off my nee-nee to everyone on campus as I walk to and from work in my super-blowy skirt in 20 mph winds. That would be really embarrassing. I sure am glad that I don't care if the whole of BYU-Idaho faculty and student population saw my rear when the wind blew my skirt up five different times today. Because I am pretty sure I would die of shame. If I cared that is.

The G-Man turns one year older

Happy Birthday to the best father ever! And I really mean it. He is the best at everything he does. Here is a short & incomplete list of his absolute amazing-ness...

1. He can flip his eye-lids inside out.

2. We never need a mechanic, electrician, home-builder, landscaper, or computer tech with him around.

3. He makes really good shish-ka-bobs.

4. He is the best provider ever.

5. He is a great motivator.

6. There is no better listener then him!

7. His advice would give Dr. Phil a run for his money.

8. He is worthy to hold the priesthood.

9. He loves and honors my mom.

I could go on all night but I won't. Because I should actually be doing my English homework at this moment. But Happy Birthday dad...

You make me proud to be your daughter!

It's the simple life baby

Some people wonder why I have chosen to live in Idaho. My answer for them?

1. Scenery

2. People

I don't think I will ever be able to leave. Sorry mom.