Sorry, I lied.

So it turns out that my family won't be moving in a few weeks, after all. Which is a huge blessing for my family, because of four little words: We don't have to. My parents wanted us to keep the details as to why we had suddenly decided to move on the down low, but as everything has gotten worked out, it's now safe to share.

Right after the new semester was getting into full swing, we got a letter in the mail, informing us that our home was going into foreclosure. It turns out that our landlord had not been making the house payments for months, and our home was scheduled to be auctioned off sometime in April. However, the good news is that our landlord is able to keep the house!!! I don't know all the details about what he did to make the Big People change their mind, but we don't have to get out of our home!!!

While moving into a new house can definitely be fun and exciting, reading that letter, spending hours browsing rental houses on the Internet, and scouting out the big white signs while driving through countless neighborhoods has made me realize how much I love our home. It certainly is no mansion, but what it lacks in splendor, it makes up for in family, love, and friendship.

There really is no place like home.

Time for an update...

Oh boy, I really need to do a better job at posting on this thing, don't I? I guess there hasn't really been anything too exciting to write about...sorry! I've been keeping busy with school and church stuff, and spring break is only a week away, yay!!!

I do have some pretty big news. My family is planning on moving in a month or so. Luckily, we'll still be staying in the valley, so it won't be too big of a change and I'll still be close to all of my wonderful new friends! We haven't found a place yet, but we're looking at either staying in Scottsdale or finding a place in Mesa (Mormonville, yeah!!). The only thing I'm worried about is that I might have to go to a different ward. :( But I'm sure that whatever happens, it'll all work out. :)

I'm going to my favorite place to do baptisms tonight with some girlfriends, yay! When I told my mom what I was planning on doing, I got to share with her a little bit about the Plan of Salvation...hooray, missionary moments! I don't know how well I explained it to her, but I tried, haha. I wish I was more articulate when expressing my beliefs. Hopefully practice and lots of prayer will help with that.

Faith defined.

Hope is the anticipation that the outcome will be good...

Worry is the anticipation that the outcome will be bad...

Faith is the anticipation that whatever the outcome, it will be for our good.

First week!

I am super happy right now. Seriously. :)

I love all of my classes, I love my friends, I love institute.

I have a feeling this is going to be an amazingly wonderful semester.

Is it over yet?

Two more days...two more days, and then I'll be happily clicking the "Submit" button and sending off the final paper for my winter class.

And then it's back to work again on Tuesday. Yay? Here are the classes I'll be taking this semester:

• BIS 401--Applied Interdisciplinary Studies (aka "the internship")
• BIS 402--Senior Seminar
• ENG 356--The Bible as Literature
• REL 305--Ritual, Symbol, and Myth
• REL 394--Current Issues in Mormonism

To be honest, though, I'm really looking forward to the new semester. I'm interested in all of my classes, and I'm especially excited for ENG 356! I've been waiting to take it since my first semester at ASU, and it fits perfectly with both of my concentration areas. And then, there's institute!! :) I'll be taking Latter-day Hymns, Book of Mormon, and World Religions. I've been called to serve on the Student Council, yay, so I'll also be taking Principles of Leadership. So excited!!

Anywho, I have to get back to work...two more days, two more days (that's my mantra right now, haha). Love y'all!!

"Ring, happy bells..."

I probably say this every year, but gosh, I can't believe the year is almost over!! Only a few hours left!!

I've never really been one for New Year's resolutions, but I decided to give it a shot this year. Some are for my eyes only, ha, but here are a few of the not-so-personal things I'd like to accomplish within the next 12 months:

1. Serve others.
2. Remember my PJS. At the end of each day, I will make sure to spend some time in Prayer, Journaling, and reading my Scriptures. (Thanks to my fabulous visiting teacher, Brianna, for this one!)
3. Learn how to cook.
4. Learn how to crochet and knit.
5. Have the courage to share my testimony in church.
6. Read at least one book that isn't on a syllabus a month.

2008 was great, and I'm sure 2009 will be pretty fine, too!! Happy New Year to you all!!!

It's the most wonderful time of the year!!

Yuppers...Christmas is right around the corner. I love everything about this holiday--the lights and decorations, the music, spending time with those we love...

The lights and decorations...

Last weekend, my mom and I went with her coworker and friend, Ponda, to see the lights at the Mesa Temple, and we also walked through the Visitor's Center. We had the best time!! The twinkling lights turned the grounds into a fabulous display of colors. After listening to a flute quartet perform a short concert, Ponda asked if we wanted to see the front of the Temple. As we walked around it, my mom kept saying how "beautiful" it was, over and over again. What a perfect night!

The music...

I lovelovelove Christmas music!! If I could listen to it 24/7, I would. One of my very favorite Christmas songs is called "The Gift" sung by Aselin Debison. It is soo sweet, and it always makes me cry!

A poor orphan girl named Maria
Was walking to market one day.
She stopped for to rest by the road side
Where a bird with a broken wing lay.
A few moments passed till she saw it,
For its feathers were covered with sand,
And soon clean and wrapped it was traveling
In the warmth of Maria's small hand.
She happily gave her last peso
On a cage made of rushes and twine.
She fed it loose corn from the market
And watched it grow stronger with time.
Now the gift giving service was coming
And the church shone with tinsel and light,
An' all of the town folk brought presents
To lay by the manger that night.
There were diamonds, and incense, and perfumes,
And packages fit for a king,
But for one ragged bird in a small cage,
Maria had nothing to bring.
She waited till just before midnight
So no one would see her go in,
And crying she knelt by the manger
For her gift was unworthy of Him.
Then a Voice spoke to her through the darkness,
"Maria, what brings you to me?
If the bird in the cage is your offering,
Open the door, let me see."
So she trembled, she did as He asked her,
And out of the cage the bird flew.
Soaring up into the rafters
On a wing that had healed good as new.
And just then the midnight bells rang out,
And the little bird started to sing
A song that no words could recapture
For its beauty was fit for a King.
Now Maria felt blessed just to listen
To that cascade o' notes sweet and long
As her offering was lifted to heaven
By the very first nightingale's song.

Spending time with those we love...

I love my family and friends!!!!

I love this special time that we have to reflect on the birth of our Savior. I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas, and may 2009 be filled with much happiness and many blessings!!