Staying positive!

I know that there are a lot of people who go through much tougher trials than I do, but this past week has been a struggle for me. I know how easy it is to just give up and stop moving forward, but I think that the best thing to do is think of all the blessings in your life. I was struggling with studying for a test, getting a speech ready and perfect, and frustrations that come along with college and roommates. I felt so alone as all the frustrations were building in me, which I didn't know how to handle. I turned to the scriptures and read a passage that reminded me to stay happy and remember that I am not alone.

"Wherefore, lift up your hearts and rejoice, and gird up your loins, and  take upon you my whole armor, that ye may be able to withstand the evil day, having done all, that ye may be able to stand." D&C 27:15
Also...
"Lift up your hearts and rejoice..." D&C 42:69

I love these scriptures and felt so much comfort from them. I know that I need to be grateful for everything I have and I realized about what I am grateful for. I need to stay positive and not get down on myself because I really have everything I need. I have an amazing family of whom I love, and who has been there for me through thick and thin and the best friends back home who have gotten me through a lot. I need to look at all the positive things I had the opportunity to do. I got to go to the gym this week, I went to dinner with Madi Bringhurst, I got to talk to my friend who I hadn't talked to in a while, I got a cute call from my mom, I got to spend some quality time with my roommates in Vegas this weekend, and I got all of my homework done that I need to do. I was also so grateful that it was conference weekend, because I felt like I needed everything every speaker had to say. The words from every speaker especially the prophet is just so comforting and really reassured me that I am not alone, and I need to turn to the Lord and the people I love the most when I am having challenging times. I realize now that if I keep staying positive and think of all my blessings I can get through anything!

As I watched General Conference, this is the passage that really stuck in the back of my mind...

"Never give up on anyone, and that includes never giving up on yourself." -- Dieter F. Uchtdorf

I love my roommates!

I went through my fair share of hard times in my first semester at Dixie. I think a lot of people can agree that sometimes you just end up with roommates that are hard to live with, and that was me in the fall. I am so glad that my college experience has shifted. I moved in with new roommates for second semester in January and I was very apprehensive about whether I would be welcomed and fit in or not considering my experiences first semester. As soon as I moved in, they were so cute and welcomed me in as their friend. I just love all of them and I am so grateful to them for making sure I felt included in everything and making my experiences at Dixie change from horrible (first semester) to so amazing this semester! I decided to come back to Dixie in the Fall which wouldn't have happened if I didn't end up having amazing roommates that literally changed my life!

(Holly, Carlie, Aubree, Calee)

Aubree-- I share a room with Aubree, and I love it! I met her first out of all my roommates and my first impression of her was that she just is a way cute and fun girl! She is always so bubbly and fun to be around! She also has the most amazing singing voice I have ever heard, I think she should seriously be the voice of the new Disney princess. What I love about being her roommate is that she can always tell when I am having a bad day and she always talks to me to make sure everything is okay. She is a very thoughtful and loving person. She is that roommate that I can talk to and she is the one that always makes sure I feel included. I love that about her because she never leaves anyone out. She always invites me to go everywhere with her. I am so lucky to have a roommate like her!

(Kevin, Carlie, Calee, Holly, Aubree)

Maddy-- I barely see Maddy because she always has something to do. She is a busy worker with all of her studies, but when I do see her, we always have long chats. Last weekend I came home from Spring Break and she was the only one home already. She taught me how to play Tetris Battle on Facebook and we bonded. We were just laughing and having a great time that night. The next morning she woke me up with a bowl of breakfast she had made for me, just potatoes, eggs, cheese and salsa... it was so good! I really appreciated that she would think of me and bring me food! Maddy is such a thoughtful and sweet person. (Still need a picture with her though!)

Carlie-- I love Carlie so much. She is the funniest person you will ever meet! She is so fun to talk to because she is always so upbeat and positive. I need to learn a few things from her because I just admire how positive of a person she always is! She is such a great example to me of patience. She has gone through trials this semester and still tries to make the best of it! She is the sporty one, and plays soccer.. which I know absolutely nothing about but I love hearing her talk about it! She is so much fun to be around, and the easiest person to get along with, she is so easy going and is the person to calm arguments down between the roommates. 

(Calee, Holly)

Calee-- Oh Calee... I think I spend most of my time with her. I can really tell her anything! I think out of all the roommates, I relate to her the most. She is so hilarious! She makes every situation upbeat and exciting. We both share the same love for food, particularly Jimmy Johns haha. I got to spend all weekend with her and we could just sit and talk for hours and laughing until we were sick to our stomachs. We will just go for drives and have so much fun dancing and singing to blasting music. She really is a great example to me of doing what is right. If I am having a bad day she will always try and cheer me up. She is so nice to everyone, and makes everyone happier with her fun-loving personality. I just love her.

(Calee, Scott, Carlie, Holly, Aubree)

We have all done so much together; from bonfires, hot tubbing, movie marathons, dance parties, basketball games, glow in the dark golfing, and just hanging out having a blast! I am so excited for next Fall semester! Calee, Carlie, and I are going to room together again and it is going to be SUCH a fun semester! I am so excited! I am so grateful to all of these girls and the great examples they are in my life, I have been through my hard times with last semester, I just wanted to give up and go home for Spring semester, and right when I wanted to leave and go to SLCC for the Spring, I met Aubree, and everything fell into place. I know things happen for a reason, which is why I am so glad I met Aubree at a random SHE club sleepover. These girls have made my experiences at Dixie turn a full 180 degrees. I am now having the time of my life, just enjoying this last month in St. George until the summer starts! Having good roommates changes everything! I love you all! <3

Eliza! :)

It's only fair to make a post about Eliza... one of my best friends in the entire world!! It has been such a fun adventure being friends with her! We really have been through a lot together! I always felt like she was the friend I could sit with and talk to without there being any judgement towards me. I can go to her with anything! She is now at BYU Idaho, and I didn't realize how much I would really miss her until we separated for college! We have been really close since the start of High School and even in 8th grade. I just love the great example she has always been to me! She has always been that person that has put me back on the path. I just love her and the Christ-like example she has always been!

I honestly don't know what I would do if I didn't have her in my life! I always have so much fun when she is around, and she has that personality that just makes people want to be around her. She is so sweet to everyone, which is a quality I admire. I also think that her family is possibly the cutest family I have ever met! Her family has always been so warm and welcoming! I call them my second family because I think I was over at their house every weekend in High School! One of many things I just love about Eliza is how generous she is to me! Some of my most favorite birthday/Christmas gifts are from her.

Every time we have ever hung out, we have some funny story or fun memory behind that night. We have been through a lot together, we have seen each other at our worst, and I think that is why we are the best of friends. She is the friend I know will always be there for me. We are alike in so many ways (and actually have liked some of the same guys)! Haha what I love about being friends with her is how cute and happy she is all the time, she always makes my day brighter! As some people already know, I am kind of a dork sometimes... and a lot of people get embarrassed being around me... but Eliza is so upbeat and puts up with me when I embarrass her, she makes the best of every situation and goes about everything in such a positive attitude! 

I definitely feel like I wouldn't be the same without her and she will always be my lifelong friend! It really has been so hard to not see her and talk to her everyday! She is such a big part of my life, and I am so grateful to her and the example she has been in my life! Eliza is a true friend and I know she will always be there when I need her! She is the most kindhearted person you will ever meet, and I admire her in how much compassion she has for everyone else!

I love you so much Eliza! Thank you for putting up with me throughout our friendship but I am so grateful to you and how much you have impacted my life! You are the best friend I could ever have asked for! Stay safe in Idaho and don't forget me ;) You really have been a blessing in my life! I really miss you! xoxo

Best friends for life! TWINS

I miss my sister more than I can even explain! She is my other half, and when we decided to go to different colleges, I didn't think about how much I would really miss her and how hard it would actually be until I came down to St. George. I love her so much! I can't even imagine a world where we weren't twins. I love every second of being a twin! I love always having a best friend. Ever since we were born we have been "attached at the hip."

My favorite memories of Heidi are basically whenever we are together. To a lot of people Heidi may seem really shy, but when she gets really hyper and in her zone she is the FUNNIEST person! I cannot stop laughing when we see each other. I just love her. We are identical in not only our looks but our sense of humor and style. We always like the same things (except for the same boys luckily). She really is my best friend and always will be! I LOVE YOU BEST FRIEND <3 

We do absolutely everything together, and when I hang out with people without her it feels like a piece of me is missing. I have more fun with her then I do anyone else.  She is the most optimistic, loving person I have ever known. She is so friendly to everyone she meets and I admire her for that. She looks for the good in everyone. I wish I could be more like her in that aspect, I look up to her and love her so much! Being a twin really is the best/hardest/most fun thing in my life. Heidi has impacted my life more than anything else! 

"Having a twin is like having a best friend you can't get rid of.  You know whatever you do, they'll still be there."  ~Amy Li

Fleurry!

Fleurry is my best friend in the entire world. I just love her, and she is such a great example in my life! She is the most hilarious person you will ever meet! Whenever I am having a bad day and need someone to talk to I will call her and she just makes my day so much happier. We have been friends for years and we can talk for hours and hours at a time! This may sound cheesy, but she was brought into my life for a reason. She is so optimistic and I admire her in ways no one could imagine!

I spent the whole day with her yesterday, our day started out by meeting each other near Steiner, and our adventures included: riding on the TRAX to go eat some Cafe Rio, taking some pretty artistic pictures while waiting for the TRAX, missing the TRAX, getting free jackets (which we wore everywhere yesterday), going to the U of U and playing a game called "Red Beard" (which we both won in the end just FYI), then going to the mall and jumping on a trampoline and being injured in return... bad idea... but it was fun anyways. What I thought was funny was we were sitting by some people at the TRAX and Fleurry and I decided to pretend we had just met each other but we didn't fool anybody, they could tell we were already best friends! haha Even though it sounds like we didn't do much, I have not had so much fun in my entire life!

We then went to a special needs mutual that night. I loved every second of it! Fleurry goes there every week and is a Junior Leader. I was excited because I have never been to something like that. As we sat for opening exercises and sang some primary songs, I was amazed at how the testimonies of all these people just flooded the room, and I could feel the Spirit so strongly. It helped me build a stronger testimony just by being there for one night. I admire Fleurry so much as I watched how all those kids LOVED her and she was SO cute with them, just laughing and having such a great time! She is the friendliest person you will ever meet! All those kids were so fun to be around and I loved interacting with them while we drew on paper four leaf clovers!

After special needs mutual, we went back to her house. Her family really is just the cutest ever! Her mom was so sweet and made some toll house cookies (DELICIOUS!!) and then we were all just laughing and having a great time! THEN okay... so I know I am a little bit of a nerd but I LOVE Justin Beiber... and Fleurry's sister Lilly loves him too and so we were freaking out together and ran upstairs to watch his music video "Never Say Never" okay... BEST music video of his... he is SO attractive.. okay done ranting about him.

After this crazy and adventurous day was over, Fleurry took me home and she must have been tired but she sat with me and talked about life, and I realized she is one of the strongest people I know. She pushes through all her trials with being kind and grateful for everything in her life! She makes me want to be a better person. I am so lucky to have such great friends in my life, I know they are always there for me and I appreciate them more than ever!

I could fill pages and pages of this blog about Fleurry and how AMAZING of a person she really is! I love you Fleurry, THANK YOU for being with me all day yesterday and being such a great friend! xoxo

What happens in Vegas... :)

As I began a fresh start in the beginning of January by getting new roommates and a new apartment, I was apprehensive of what the outcome would end up being. I was nervous, but to my surprise, my roommates welcomed me with open arms and invited me to go with them and some neighboring roommates to Vegas for a girls trip. The whole start of this trip was intended for a girl who lived below us named Alex Armstrong. She was getting baptized at the end of January. I started out being painfully shy because I didn't really know most of them, but they were so welcoming and fun and I ended making friendships with AMAZING girls!

We had so much fun walking the strip and just being together. These girls are all the most fun people you will ever meet. What I loved about them was that they all treated me as part of the group, even though I was "the new girl." As our adventures included: shopping (LOTS of shopping on my part... oops), walking the strip, watching the fountains at the Bellagio, driving and dancing to music, watching Titanic, eating at DICK'S (where the waiter there hated me because they are paid to be rude to you and I gave him a hard time.. haha), going to the M&M Factory, and visiting the Coke Factory as well, which was quite an experience I must say, I still had the best time ever with these girls! It was a BLAST, and I made bonds with every one them. Love them all! :) This really was one of the best weekends ever, and I am so glad they included me!

Waiting for the Bellagio fountains to start! (Aubree, Holly, Colbie, Alex)

OHH the Coke Factory... we thought we would be cool and try the "coke from around the world" thing... bad idea... bad idea... they were all nasty.

Yeah... pretty sure none of these were coke...

Even though we all felt pretty sick after drinking all of these, we still had so much fun! "Friends are the most important part of your life. Treasure the tears, treasure the laughter, but most importantly, treasure the memories." --Dave Brenner

jimmy johns

Of course I have to make a post about food...
As many people already know, I love food!

And since I moved in with new roommates, my roommate Calee 

has gotten me OBSESSED with Jimmy Johns sandwiches! I love the #12 (The Beach Club), I know I am a nerd, but I just thought everyone should know how literally AMAZING this place really is! :)

I <3 Jimmy Johns