Goodbye Virgin Hair!

After 21 years I decided to put some color in my hair! I went back and forth in my head about the decision. I didn't want anything very drastic done. I love the ombre look and after thinking about it I decided to do a blonde ombre look! 

I love how it turned out!

Before picture. I was in desperate need of a cut!

Snow Day

Today I took a fun afternoon in the snow. I think the snow is so beautiful. I'm so grateful to live here. I love sledding, snow angels, the way the snow falls so peacefully. And coming in from playing in it to drink hot chocolate. I've never had so much fun in snow. I have to learn to love it though if I'm going to live in it the next 4-5 months. I don't love driving in it, but I'm doing good learning. I love bundling up and headed out for an adventure in it.

 

Thanksgiving break recap

This Thanksgiving break was pure bliss. I made it home to TEXAS for 4 wonderful days. This was the first time Eric and I got to spend time together since he got home from his mission. It is still so crazy that he is home. I LOVED every minute! We spent one entire day out on the ranch. It was great! It was so nice to just be together after all this time :)

Home consisted of:

+catching fire

+2 Thanksgiving meals

+FAMILY

+lots of pie

+my amazing bed

+black Friday shopping

+putting the Christmas tree up and decorations

+horse back riding

+4-wheeling

+pickle ball

+bowling

+MEXICAN food 

 I loved the time of doing NO nursing. I enjoyed it way too much. I didn't want to come back. Within being back 24 hours it snowed 6 inches. Joy. Countdown is on until home for Christmas!

 17 more days!

 

 

 

 

Blessed not Stressed

 Blessed:
+ Going home in 3 days
+ Thanksgiving in 5 days
+ Airplanes to fly on
+ Native album by OneRepublic
+ Professors that care
+ Surgeons and Medicine
+ Power of Prayer
+ Free tutors at my University
+ Temples
 + and Technology

This past week has been a stressful one. That's for sure. But there is always something to be grateful for each day. I'll expound on some of these things I am grateful for more later, because really I have been so grateful for them this whole semester. I keep telling myself I'm leaving Rexburg in 3 days! I get a wonderful, blissful break. I'm happy I get to fly! No 24 hour car ride, no Sir. I finished all my test that needed to be taken before I leave. OneRepublic got me through it, like always. But I am more blessed by the power of prayer for getting this far. And the one morning taken out of my week to attend the temple. After Thanksgiving break it's hittin the books hard for 3 more weeks until this semester is over! Resting up during Thanksgiving break should be enough to get me to Christmas break, right? I'm happy we have phones and people are a phone call, text message away. It's making Thanksgiving break really exciting :)

Direct your attention

I would like to direct your attention to this post.

It's one of my first post from my blog, over two years ago.

Now those two years have flown by.

I have been in college for two years,

almost half way done with nursing school.

And he is coming home!
Exactly in one week I will see him.

 

Crazy how time flies?

And everything that can change in two years?

One things for sure, I am so proud of him!

And looking forward to seeing him!

Maybe I'll do a post about my experience the past two years.

We'll see! 

Almost home!
:)

You can do hard things

Have you ever had a task ahead of you or set a goal and then you felt that it was all unrealistic? 

I had that exact experience. 

After running a 5k back in July with some friends, we decided that we could take on anything. Basically, we had a runner's high. We signed up to be in a relay race of 38 miles. Yes, you read that right. Running 38 miles split up between us. It is the Temple to Temple relay race at BYU-Idaho. One member begins running at the Rexburg, Idaho temple and then your team ends up at the Idaho Falls, Idaho temple. We were crazy. Of course, our runners high was gone by September when it was time for the race. We thought "what in the world were we thinking signing up?" We all looked at the route of our leg of the race and got our t-shirts... there was no turning back.

I learned a couple of really neat things from this experience. 

1. You can do hard things.

2. We must keep moving forward in life. 

3. We are not meant to move through life alone.

It amazes me what are bodies are able to do. We each finished our leg of the race, many of us not stopping once. When you put your mind to something, you can do it! You can do hard things! I ran the first leg of the race. As I was running I was thinking about how we are all progressing through life. Since I started the relay I felt kind of unproductive. I felt like my part was small compared to the other team members who ran closer to the end of the race and were getting to finish point. Sometimes in life we feel like we aren't moving very far. I was running against the bitter wind and it was hard to see the difference I was making. Sometimes life feels like that. We get hit with something, like the wind, that pushes us a little further back than we would like. But we have to keep moving forward. In our case, moving forward towards the temple. We did it and we did it as a team. I believe we were each able to make our leg of the race so great because our team was there cheering each other on. I couldn't of done it by myself. A support system is awesome. We all felt so accomplish when we ran through the finish line at the Idaho Falls temple. 

 At the beginning, the Rexburg temple!

 Finished at the Idaho Falls temple! 

Our team name was "buns on the run." This picture needed to be taken. 

This last week: Through iPhone pictures

Cheesecake Factory #myfirsttime

Surprise going away party

Labor Day Weekend

Packing boxes to ship to Idaho.

Pedicure. Just because. 

Lunch with a best friend before I go. #nowthatsagoodfortunecookie

Bye Texas!!

Quick trip to SLC, Utah

Finally made it back to school!

It's been a busy week, that is for sure. My sister and I made it back to school at BYU-Idaho. Here's to another busy week of apartment shopping, unpacking, decorating, training, and welcoming new freshmen! 

A thing or two to remember at college

I can't believe that it's been a little over two years since I graduated high school and started college.
What I can't believe even more is my little sister is starting her first semester of college this fall. I also know a lot of others who are moving out, some traveling far, and starting their college experience for the first time.

I wanted to leave you with some things that I have learned:  

• Don't give up. And stay positive. College can be as good or bad as you make it. This is one of the best times. Become the person that you want to be. You are the only person who can be you! Don't change for anyone else and stay true. 
• Do what you like. Do the things that you are interested in. One biggest regret I have is just waiting to long to get involved. There are so many things to be a part of on campus. Go to one of those fair thingys and sign up to join organizations! You meet a TON of people and make some great friends!
• Get the most out of college. In college you will have a lot of opportunities.They may seem like a lot of work at first, but you can have the greatest experiences. If you want to study abroad, then GO! Take that internship. Audition for something. These experiences will shape you and you can discover a lot about yourself. 
• Have an open mind. About everything: your classmates, professors, roommates, and  your future...Don't be afraid to change your major! I was so set on what I wanted to do since at least halfway through high school. Yes, I am pursuing that major now, but I actually went back and forth on what I wanted to do a ton of times! I met with advisers and read up on other majors. I took classes that interested me and discovered a lot. I had teachers who tried to persuade me to go to PA school or stick with Child Development. I looked at my options. I'm really glad I did, because now I feel even more confident about my major.
• Balancing time. It's a huge deal. Everyone thinks they're going to be a pro at it their first semester. I sure wasn't because it's easy to get caught up with everything going on. You're schedule is a really big change. Make time to study. Find your ideal place to study and just get things done. I change my spot I study every semester. Don't be afraid to use a tutor. They are a blessing. Then make time to go out and be social. Have FUN!

I have heard a lot of "This just isn't working out. This is going to completely ruin college." Whether it's because you didn't get the class you wanted/needed or living where you wanted to, etc. I promise that things will work out. You may not be able to see it in the moment, but it's happening that way for a reason. Realize and accept the fact that there are going to be hard times. Times when you are going to be really stressed. I had a couple of meltdown moments when I wasn't accepted to nursing school the first time I applied. Push through. It's all a part of a plan and it will work out in the end! Remember you are not alone, you are child of God. As long as you have the drive, it will all work out and get done. God wants you to succeed!

“You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. 

So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. 

You have to trust in something – your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. 

This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.” 

–Steve Jobs

Smile. Be happy. It's an exciting time!

Congratulations to the Class of 2013 and good luck in college! 

just ask me if you have any other questions!

Highlights of fourth college semester!

ummmm, best semester ever.
here's some pictures to prove it.
(in order of happenings)

This all should really have it's own post. I started out the semester being apart of "Get Connected." I spent two days with an amazing group of people getting ready for it. Then the new freshmen arrived to campus. I was able to serve them with my partner and help new students move into their apartments, find their books and help lead all the new student orientation and activities. I have enjoyed getting involved on campus so much, I stayed apart of it as an Involvement Rep for the rest of the semester. Now, I'm super excited for Get Connected this next semester. 
3 more weeks! 

 

IMAGINE DRAGONS CONCERT

ahhhh yes this really happened! I skipped a day of my busy nursing life and left. Just left. The day before competency testing too. I went to my classes still, thank goodness they all stared 7:45am and were done by 11. Then I drove 5 hours to Boise and saw Imagine Dragons in concert. It was all kinds of amazing. They were SO good! The venue was outside in a beautiful open field with the stage set up. We got as close as we could to it! 

Taken right after I finished my first clinical at the hospital as a student nurse and SURVIVED! 

one semester down, three more to go

 

I ran my first 5k! WOO! The Color Run came right to Rexburg, Idaho. It was SO much fun! We were all so excited. I'm glad so many of my friends got to do it too, that definitely made it the best. It was a motivation to keep running so you could get color thrown at you haha. After the race there was a huge party with color being thrown EVERYWHERE!

4th of July was such a blast this year! We went floating down the Snake river in Ashton, Idaho. And yes, that is 3 store bought tubes on top of my little Kia. Ghetto, I know. haha. But you betcha it worked and I invested and now own my own inner tube! (the things I keep accumulating in college, jeez) The river was awesome and the view was gorgeous! We enjoyed sweet fireworks too!

This semester would not of been so great without my neighbors, ward, and FHE group. 
Twister paint, pudding fights, hallway parties, picnics, ice caves.
Can't forget drinking LOTS of Mountain Dew ;) 

My awesome roommates deserve their own collage of pictures, too! 

I truly believe I was able to get through this semester with the help of the people the Lord has placed in my life. I believe that we meet people for a certain reason. Everyone was a huge support to me, whether they realize it or not. Something else that I grew to love this past semester is the people in the nursing program. We joke that by the end of the program we'll all either be sick of each other or be the best of friends. When you spend so much time together and share the same frustrations with classes you become friends and get to know each other real quick! (we gave bed baths to each other about the second week, real close quick I tell ya. not to mention trusting each other to give shots to one another) They're a great bunch and I'm happy to be in the program with this group! We all encourage each other and work hard together. 

Countdown: Rexburg 18 days

what do words say about me?

The principle of having good, kind language has been on my mind a lot lately, ever since it became a high goal during my past semester. I made a plan to have positive, uplifting language each day. This included not complaining, gossiping, or inappropriate sarcasm. It started as an assignment for a class and it grew into so much more. I've also been thinking a lot about the effect our language has on others.  

So, I ask myself the question, "What do words say about me?" I believe there is a direct correlation between the way we speak and our character. How we speak and the language we use is molding our character. When we speak kindly and positively about others we can fulfill the Lord’s commandment to love one another. 

I brainstormed and came up with 10 ways to accomplish this goal

1. How do we know if our comments and jokes are really offending someone and upsetting them? I thought a lot about this question. A way that we can tell if our jokes and comments are offending is how many times do you have to follow up with the phrase "just kidding!" I think people have this idea that they can say whatever and then everything will be okay if they say “just kidding” afterwards. Try noticing how many times you say "just kidding" in a joking conversation. You really begin to think about how your words affect others. 

2. Recognize that everyone is different and that differences can be good.

3. Try giving a compliment to 3 different strangers a day.

4. Don't ignore someone.      

5. Get to know people instead of just listening to what others say about them.

6. Apologize when you have made a mistake.

7. Forgive others for things they have done.

8. Serve the people around you! What better way to learn to love someone than to serve them!

9. Remember that everyone is a child of God.

10. Strive to become more like our Savior!

I also read the talk by Elder Holland called “The Tongue of Angels” and I recommend it for everyone. Of course, it's a huge slap in the face from Holland. One section that really stood out to me says...

“A woman’s words can be more piercing than any dagger ever forged, and they can drive the people they love to retreat beyond a barrier more distant than anyone in the beginning of that exchange could ever have imagined. Sisters, there is no place in that magnificent spirit of yours for acerbic or abrasive expression of any kind, including gossip or backbiting or catty remarks."

All I could write after reading that was "Wow." Like Elder Holland says in his talk, when we are negatively speak about someone we start to negatively think and our actions, along with our words, become negative also. Even if the words that you are saying about someone else never reach their ears, I believe that is still dampening your personal countenance and I believe dimming the light that you have. 

Of course, my thoughts went right to Dieter F. Uchtdorf's simple, yet powerful, counsel... "Stop it."

I could see a change in my life as I strived to work at this goal. Something that I kept in mind is how would I react if someone was saying unkind words about me? I want the way I communicate and speak to reflect the Daughter of God that I am. Everyone is a child of God.

Alright, my rant over this topic is over :) 

Home Sweet Home

Woop! I have come back to Texas, my home sweet home. No matter how much I love my life in Idaho or visiting Utah, I was really looking forward to coming home. After my first semester of nursing school I needed a break. Okay, I need more like a cruise and vacation on a beautiful island. But I'll take what I can get before I dive into basically 3 straight semesters (with a total of 3 weeks of a break through it all) Once I got home though, I got super sick.. I've been completely wiped out for 5 days and I felt like I needed to do something. 

Like get on here! I haven't been on here in forever... opps.

For the next 5 weeks I don't want to do ANYTHING, except the essentials...

To do list for the next 5 weeks:

get on my pinteresting. it has seriously been neglected.

watch a ton of netflix. mainly New Girl and Psych

sleep

get a sick tan

finish all 6 seasons of Gossip Girl so I can get over my obsession with them

exercise a ton when my head isn't about to explode

get updated on blogging (the 14 drafts I have on here)

go to the temple

swim
SHOPPING
paint my fingernails a lot (since it's not allowed in the nursing program)

handwrite a letter to a missionary

journal, because this doesn't count

...maybe make some money

eat some good mexican food

I honestly can't think of anything else I remotely want to do.
And I am perfectly okay with this:)

Flashback: Some good news!

Now that I sit down and think about it, this long road started many years ago. When I decided that I wanted to be a Nurse. I got the ball rolling when I took my first prerequisite class, Anatomy and Physiology. I worked hard to get an A and had great encouragement. During my very first semester of college I applied to the Nursing Program. That was fall 2011. I thought I had it ALL planned out. There was no way they wouldn't accept me. I was going to college to get an education and be a Nurse!

Notification letters came out in the mail and I was not accepted. I didn't let it get me down. After all, I was still 19 and just finished a super fun first semester of college. It was just a huge reminder how hard that I had to work.

Second semester of college and second application. I was working on a 4.0gpa. Once I applied, I heard back middle of summer 2012. It was another rejection. The thought "What the heck am I going to do with my life?" was now on my mind. I headed straight to the academic counselor. Poor guy that helped me. He really tried. But everything we discussed I kept bringing up nursing. Finally, he suggested continuing looking at the options he set up for me and then setting up an appointment with the head of the Nursing department. I remember waiting outside her office about a week later for my appointment. The girl sitting next to me seemed on the verge of tears and then a girl walked out of her office very visibly crying. I was a little confused why they were crying... until I walked into her office and began talking to her. I hadn't really felt the frustration and disappointment of not getting in until then and I cried. And I prayed about it. And I knew that I was supposed to to be at BYU-Idaho. 

Now, after being on this road for so long, I feel as though it has only really just started. I WAS ACCEPTED TO THE BYU-IDAHO NURSING PROGRAM! 

"Why worry? If you've done the very best you can, worrying won't make it any better."

-Walt Disney

Yes, all this needed to be documented:) 

And now I'm about 4 months late on this post and I completed my first semester of the Program :) More to come on that soon!

From Texas to Idaho

I'm proud to say I did it! I drove from Dallas, Tx to Idaho
All by myself!

It was my own little adventure.
My car was packed.
I didn't get a ticket.
I got some taco bell.
It snowed in Amarillo.
Just me and and a bunch of 18 wheelers driving through nothing-ness.
I was scared of the creepy guy at the gas station with a mustache.. so I didn't get out to use the restroom.
I went old-school with CDs.
Because I didn't have an i-pod adaptor.
Phillip Phillips and I got acquainted very well.
Don't know why I haven't listened to his whole album yet.
Ingrid Michaelson was on constant replay too.
And I even broke out some old mixed CDs I had from middle school & high school.
That was a trip down memory lane.
I started watching Duke Dynasty?
I drove through Eric's mission.
I made it all the way to Salt Lake City and got lost.

Once I got to Salt Lake City..

Went to a Tahiti Mission Reunion.
No, I am not a return sister missionary.
I just served raw fish. and checked out RM's
They love that stuff.
I was introduced to the app 'Tinder'.
You really have to get on it to believe it. Only if you're single though...
Spent Saturday on wonderful Temple Square at General Conference.
I had a blind date.
Jumped on trampolines and into foam pits.
It went pretty great!
So good, there was a second date the next day.
We went on a hike in between the sessions of conference.
It KILLED me.
Elevation in Utah is not a friend of mine.
I more like rock climbed up that mountain.
I failed on that date.
My date telling me his MOST embarrassing story= a pretty funny story for me to tell now!
You'll have to ask me about it. You will laugh so hard you cry.

Rexburg..
Friends, friends, friends everywhere!
It's good to be back:)

When do I start packing..?

I NEVER know when to start packing. I don't want to start packing too early. But then again, I don't want a repeat of pulling an all nighter. I wish I could just throw it all into a trash bag. But then I know I will be kicking myself when it comes time to unpack it all. Usually, I enjoy packing, because I know I'm going somewhere and I'm excited! This time, I have been putting it off completely. Probably because I just want to get there, see all my friends and then start decorating our cute apartment. I don't know how me, a 20 year old, can have so many thing. And another chunk of it is in a storage unit 1500 miles away. Here I come!

My last week home in Texas consisted of..

• Dallas Star Hockey game
• Dallas Wind Symphony
• Good Mexican food for the last time, since Idaho doesn't understand the concept of good Mexican food (except I do like a good salad from Costa Vida)
• Conclusion of work+playing lead teacher for a day
• Easter Egg hunt
• Camping trip+Texas Thunderstorm+a great soccer game 
• And friends!

It's been a fantastic week. Now, the time has come to head back to school. And start this Nursing program. Woop!

A few things I'm looking forward to..

• 1500 mile car drive. NOT
• Seeing some amazing friends
• GENERAL CONFERENCE and loving the tickets I have to it
• Moving into a new apartment 
• Being a Get Connected counselor
• And starting another semester! there's a ton of thing to look forward to with that

Well, I'm going to stop blogging now and go do something on my mile long list of things to get done.

Rachel:)

This Easter Season

Happy Easter! 

This Easter has been more special to me than ever before. I am so grateful for this time to reflect on the wonderful message of Easter. 

We celebrate Easter because Jesus Christ was resurrected from the dead and he lives for us! He is truly the Son of God and rose from the tomb that first Easter morning. We can receive peace from the simple pronouncement in Matthew 28:6, “He is not here, but is risen.” It was the first confirmation of the Resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Through His Atoning sacrifice and Resurrection, we will all live again.

John 11:25-26

"I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die."

I have been able to find great assurance and encouragement in the knowledge we have of the Resurrection. The assurance of the Resurrection gives us the strength and perspective to endure the mortal challenges faced by each of us. It can also be a powerful influence to keep the commandments of God during our mortal lives. The assurance that the resurrection will include an opportunity to be with our family members. My testimony has been strengthened by knowing this truth. The truth of the Resurrection can take the hurt and loss of a loved one and be replaced by the anticipation of joyful reunions with loved ones.The knowledge of the Resurrection gives me the strength to carry on. Our mortal separations are only temporary. If we do our very best to obey and do better in this life, we will see our loved ones again.

>>>>>Check out some more <<<<<

He is Risen!

Resurrection

A Night at the Symphony

Things I learned at the Symphony:

1. 160+ trombones is EXTREMELY loud.

2. It is possible to have a very LARGE hammer in a piece of music. (Of course in a John Mackey piece)

3. It's fun to watch a conductor.

4. John Mackey is in the top 5 coolest people I've met. He's awesome.

5. I really miss playing the French Horn and performing.

6. Everyone should experience the DWS, at least once.

7. The organ is a pretty awesome instrument.

8. Backstage of the Meyerson is pretty sweeeeet!

I had the awesome opportunity to go see the Dallas Wind Symphony this week. I played the French Horn for 7 years and my private lesson teachers play in the Symphony. They pulled these awesome tickets for me and my two friends I played French Horn with in high school! It was so fun to get all dressed up and head to the Symphony! The performance was amazing! A piece was played composed by John Mackey. When I was a Junior in high school, we premiered his piece "Xerxes" and he visited us during that time. It was so fun to remind him of that and to get another picture with him! Our night was filled with lots of trombones and a piece of music highlighting the organ. The word awesome sums it all up! I know not everyone enjoys some classical pieces of music. But I have grown to really appreciate it! And I have the countless number of rehearsals, lessons, and performances to thank for that!

Ahhhhh!

John Mackey!

Master of the Sea

My Dad loved to fish. I have some awesome memories of fishing with him and some of him begging us to go out fishing with him when we were older. This is one of our favorite pictures of my Dad, Sister and me. I really remember this camping trip because my Dad caught a Lilly-pad for me! He always sat on his tackle box too while fishing. A couple of years later we got him a pretty sweet fishing hat. I know he's still fishing!

I've finished life's chores assigned to me

So put me on a boat headed out to sea

Please send along my fishing pole

For I've been invited to the fishin' hole 

Where every day is a day to fish

To fill your heart with every wish

Don't  worry or feel sad for me 

I'm fishin' with the Master of the Sea

We will miss each other for awhile

But you will come and bring your smile

That won't be long you will see

Till we're together you and me 

To all of those that think of me

Be happy as I go out to sea

If others wonder why I'm missin'

Just tell em' I've gone fishin'

Love you Dad.

(Thank you to my cousin Christi and her family for the poem.) 

Tender Mercies

God is truly in the detail of our lives. I’m so grateful for his tender mercies.  I was blessed with guidance to come home for a break from college. 

Toward the end of the Fall 2012 semester I was faced with the decision to continue living in Rexburg, Idaho where I had been for the past 9 months, or to come home to good ol' Texas. I looked at the pros and cons of both my choices. I had a great job in Rexburg (medical receptionist) and I felt like a good chunk of my life was there. I considered taking a few online classes if I stayed... but I literally had no more classes to take because I'd finished up my associates degree. So the idea of just working and having fun with friends the entire semester sounded amazinggggg. 

As for moving home, I could live and eat for free and save some money! (huge +) 

It seemed like it was supposed to be an easy choice and I was supposed to do what I wanted. I wanted to stay. WHAT would I even do in Texas? The possibilities of things in Rexburg were endless. But this seemed like a bigger and more important decision than the way I was treating it. It was something that required prayer. I knew that I had to pray about it. Soon after that I found out that I had a secure job waiting for me in Texas when I was home. I would be making a good amount of money working at a day-care and running a book club with first and second graders. I received my answer very clear that my right decision was to take that job and go home. 

I still fought it though. Even though I was going home, I was super sad to leave. I could change my mind at the last minute, get an apartment contract and take my stuff out of storage just like that! I struggled to understand the reason I was supposed to come home. I knew it was where I was meant to be. But why?

I realized it’s not always what we want, but what the Lord wants us to do because it’s what is best at the time and he knows this. I've learned that sometimes we must learn to put our desires on hold and be submitting to the timing of the Lord. We have to accept changes in our plans. AND be patient with this. It is all a part of His great plan. 

I am so very grateful that I listened to that prompting and decided to come home. I had no way of knowing that I NEEDED to be home. That I would have to be here with my family or only have 5 more weeks to enjoy with my Dad. 

2012 in a quick review

January: Moved back home after completing my first semester of college, enrolled in a CNA class, and brought in the new year with friends! 

February: Took a trip to Arkansas to visit family, I got rejected from the nursing program, started my weekly night classes in the CNA program!

March: I started two jobs; working at a day-care and working at Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream. 

April: I took the Texas state exam and became a certified nurses aide, I packed up my luggage, moved back to Idaho to a new apartment and got 3 new roommates!

May: Half way through the year! 

June: I started job hunting and enjoying a fun semester!

July: I finished my second semester of college with a 4.0 gpa, I got a job as a medical receptionist!

August: Moved into a new apartment, started working 40 hours a week, took a way fun trip to Moab and enjoyed a Rexburg summer with lots of sunburns!

September: Started my third semester of college, moved into another new apartment with 5 new girls and I turned 20!

October: Missionary age change, stepped outside of my comfort zone, got close with old friends and made some new, amazing friends!

November: Almost changed my major, Re-applied to the nursing program, visited my family in Colorado for Thanksgiving and had a very valuable lesson! and Eric hit his year mark

December: Finished my third semester of college with a bang, got another 4.0 gpa for the semester and moved back home after being gone 8 months!

Call me a New Years "scrooge" or "grinch" but I'm not really into making a new years resolution. I think that any day, any one of the 365 days of the year you can start something new or make a change. I'm grateful for 2012. I look forward to continuing the goals I have set for myself and setting new goals. The past 12 months held a lot of fun memories, good times and hard lessons for me. 2012 is where those belong and I'm thankful for it all. I'm so blessed. I look forward to the next 365 days and what they hold! Here's to 2013! :]