Gay marriage

The subject of gay marriage has infected my mind due to the recent events regarding gay marriage in Utah. Yes, I am LDS, and yes, it does effect my opinion on the matter. NO. The church did not decide the way I feel about it, I did. My testimony of the church did have an effect on the way I see it, but my opinion is my opinion.

So many people have such strong opinions about gay marriage that for a very long time I wasn't sure how I felt about certain things. I knew that I didn't support gay marriage, but at the same time I knew that gay people deserved the same respect as anyone else. I wasn't sure how to express my beliefs without "getting my hands in other people's business". I also wasn't really certain how gay marriage would effect me personally seeing how I'm not gay, and will never marry a girl (the thought truly disturbs me).

There were a few things I did know. I knew my testimony of the church, and my testimony of obedience. I have also been commanded to love everyone, and to hate the sin but love the sinner. I know by mere common sense that marriage was intended by God to be between a man and woman (since, you know, only a man and a woman can naturally make a baby). God's plan was intended to bring us happiness, and that's why it's called "The Plan of Happiness". I believe that gay marriage does not bring the eternal happiness I am searching for. I know, with my whole heart and mind that God has a plan for each of us, and gay marriage was not intended to be a part of that eternal plan.

So to put it simply: I do not support gay marriage. However, I can't make decisions for other people. If someone wants to marry another of the same sex, I can't control that. But I know that that decision will not bring them eternal happiness. I can disapprove of the act itself without disapproving the person. Love the sinner, hate the sin.

Christmas gifting

Every year, we draw names from the members of our family (with the exception of mom and dad) and we each buy a gift for the individual whose name we drew out of the bowl. This year I drew Amanda's name, and it took me FOREVER to decide what to give her (seriously, it took me way too long). Well on Saturday I made the insane decision to put my homemaker skills to the test and sew her an apron. Yeah.

For the record, I will probably be the worst mom ever because really the only thing I can cook is mac and cheese from a box. Hahaha. I'm really super terrible at all the motherly things that girls are supposed to be good at, so this was kinda fun for me..NOT.

I'm pretty sure that the first half of this apron process was a complete JOKE. I couldn't even figure out how to work the freakin sewing machine. But FEAR NOT. With some help from my amazing wonderful mother I was able to get my act together and actually sew an apron.

I finally finished it! (Just don't look super close at it, I'll be embarrassed). Either way, I decided that it's really the thought that counts, right? Either way, I'm anxious to see how long this apron lasts....I'm pretty proud of the fact that I actually completed something worthwhile with my own two hands, even if it does look terrible. I truly am excited to give it to Amanda. :) it is the spirit of giving this Christmas season that keeps the world bright and cheery, after all!

Siblings

I'm hoooooooome!! And I survived my first semester at college! I never thought it would end! It was so fun, but it ended at just the right time. I am more than happy to finally be home with my family. Last night I got to spend some time with my goofy little sister Samantha and my bff Katelyn and her cousin Alec. It was the best night I have had in a long time, and thanks to samanthas witty jokes and silly personality I had a lot of good laughs. :) today I've been messing around with Vanessa and AustinRyan. Basically we are a big group of weirdos and we like to call each other family. It's fine. I guess that's why we get along so well. (No, we don't always get along. It's like family 101; all siblings fight).

Anyways. I LOVE them a whooooole bunch:)

Also one more thing. I've never worn a beanie before because my hair has always been too short. But it's Soooo long right now! I can wear hats!!!!

Ramen

Quick blog post.

Sometimes a girl just needs a dandy bowl of Ramen to keep her sane.

That....and a hug maybe. Possibly some chocolate, and some depressing, relatable music.

Sometimes when she's feeling stressed or worried, or when she's anticipating something that she doesn't want to happen, that's all she needs to keep her calm.

The Last Supper

Today was amazing. It almost feels like it was a miracle. All 10 of our roommates were home, and after church we all went crazy cleaning for our cleaning check while sweet angel Miranda made us dinner. We had a roommate dinner together and it was so fun! While we cleaned we got along and listened to Christmas music. Dinner was a blast and it was the first time we were really all together and we really all got along.

Unfortunately the sweet moments with my lovely roommates didn't last long. Half of us went to the stake center to watch the first presidency Christmas broadcast and half of us watched it on our little t.v. 

After that I headed over to apartment B5 at Snow Gardens. My favorite people live there, and if I could move in with them I would! At the same time, though, I have loved my experience here at snow lodge with 9 of my other favorite people ever.

We went to the 80th annual performance of The Messiah to watch Lydia sing, and afterwards we just talked and enjoyed ourselves. THEN I found my best fwend Angi and she told me that people were going to my apartment to watch seventeen Miracles and eat treats. So all together it has been a seriously wonderful day. I hung out with people I've been wanting to hang out with for a LONG time, and I got lots of yummy food and happy company.

I've still had some issues tonight with certain people, but I think right now it's just one sided, and I don't feel like I should complain about it on my happy blog. Anyways, it's been a great Sunday and Last Supper with my roommates!

Also, today is actually Monday and I forgot to post this yesterday Soooo.......

Stress up the WAHOO

Today is the most stressful yet rewarding days ever. I've taken and passed two finals, memorized my song for my jury, and almost finished my take home final. What?! I never thought I would be so close to the end of the semester.. the only thing I'm really super stressed about is my math project. It's due tomorrow, it's a group project, and we are nowhere near finishing. But, I keep saying little prayers throughout the day that it'll get done, and everything will work out. It's actually pretty cool to see the Lord's hand in my everyday life. I would be a mess right now if it weren't for him!!

Anyways. Earlier today I spent like half an hour (half an hour that I didn't have) writing up a blogpost, and it got deleted somehow. SUPER frustrating. Well it just goes to show how technology savvy I am...NOT. hahaha.

But I have been feeling much frustration towards certain people lately, and I've been super two-faced about it. I'll act like everything is fine and dandy when it isn't. I wish I could just stay indifferent forever, never choosing sides and never having anything against anyone...but unfortunately I'm human so that doesn't happen.

But I've decided I'm going to try. I'm going to attempt being the middle man and just being me. I won't be on carlys side and I won't be on sierras side, I'll just be on mine. Otherwise I seem to loose track of whose side I'm on, and it only creates drama.

It's seriously so much harder than I thought though. Someone will do something and it just pushes me the wrong way, and I just feel the need to spill it out to someone. I think it has something to do with the fact that I'm a girl? Haha I don't know. But keeping quiet and finding peace in any situation I find myself in is much harder than I thought

So I've come to the conclusion that sometimes life sucks. The past month has been really quite terrible. But at the same time it's been awesome. So many little tender mercies have been evident, that I really can't complain. It would be so selfish and ungrateful of me. 

Spencer tells me I'm beautiful, Carly tells me she loves me every night, the take home test for personal selling is WAY easier than I was afraid it would be, I'm surviving on almost no sleep but I still am able to wake up on time for class and stay awake through it all, I get a peaceful feeling every time my anxiety rises up. The simplest things are what make life bearable.

The sad part is, I've been TERRIBLE at reading my scriptures lately, going to institute and such. Yet the Lord still rewards me with things I totally don't deserve.
I guess that's the way he works. :)
Either way, life is goooood!

Today

Today is GOOD! We got our math project together just in time! I'm beyond happy to have that out of the way.
-I get to eat my little piece of chocolate from my advent calendar
-I get to eat all the ice I want. In case you didn't know, I'm OBSESSED with chewing ice. It's a terrible addiction and pretty sure my teeth will be gone soon....but I LOVE it.:)
- the condies sent me a Christmas card. I honestly love them so much and miss them like crazy!  They are without a doubt the cutest kids in the world. And your argument is automatically invalid if you don't think so too.
-It's FRIDAYYYYY! I will spend the weekend studying, but it's still great to know I don't have to wake up for class anymore! Next week is all finals then I'm DONE!

I have loved my experience in my first semester here at snow college and I can't wait to see how next semester goes, but honestly I am so sick of being here. I want to go home and have a clean kitchen and live with people other than the 9 girls that I live with (and truthfully love to the moon and back)

Happy, happy, joyous, wonderful holidays people!

The Library is a fun place

My roommate Angi and I were doing homework in the Photo lab in the basement of our Library, and this is what we ended up doing...haha TOO MUCH FUN.  But really, screw homework anyways.

Homey home

I've lived in the same house my whole life, and in August I moved out. I now live here in good old Ephraim, Utah.

Today especially I'm most grateful for my personal bedroom. It's busy. But it's home. I live with ten girls, so you can imagine how nothing here is really mine unless it's in my bedroom.

Right now, and for the past ALL DAY and ALL YESTERDAY my roommates have been having a Pretty Little liars marathon (not my most favorite show. Too much dramaaaaa) so our apartment is really super disgusting.
That's why I love my room so much:) I have spent most of today tucked away in my little abode, avoiding the nasty world haha.

It's MINE. :)

Even though I share it with Carly Lewis. But that's okay, she only ever makes the situation better. (I couldn't ask for a better roommate!)