WINTER SEMESTER

Another semester in the books. This semester was obviously- freezing. I remember the first day of classes the temperature outside said "-4 but feels like -30". HAHA For about ....1 week maybe 2? If I remember. I LIVE IN A FROZEN TUNDRA.

But, Rexburg has a special place in my heart so deep down even though I wanted to cry every day when the temperature was that cold... I would remind myself it will warm up soon enough.

Last week Katie said to me, "remember when we would walk to class and our nose hairs would freeze?" hahaha Oh good times when we literally wanted to cry walking to class- but couldnt because they would probably freeze. 

Honestly, Winter Semester 2017 was GREAT. Here are the highlights from this semester:

I TURNED 22!! 

You better believe I listened to that song all.freaking.day.long. Taylor Swift is my home girl. My cheese to my macaroni, My ying to my yang. Side note: One time in 2015 I did a facebook celebrity look alike quiz and I got that I look like Taylor Swift. So obviously I knew that was 100% correct. I will always and forever stand up for my girl. Funny story- in high school I always called her Horse Girl because she was very country and it didnt fit her. But then 1989 was born and boy oh boy did I become a hardcore taylor swift fan. Anyways not the point. 

My birthday was honestly, so great. Katie made it so perfect. All day I got texts and calls from family and friends. Katie had bought me a "birthday girl" pin and she made me wear it all day. So, you can imagine what happened on campus. At points I would forget and random strangers would come up to me and wish me a happy birthday. I was in class till 5:00 and then my roommates and I + Spencer (Kelsey's fiance) went to Texas Roadhouse for my birthday. Our waitress was actually super funny and super salty. I told her it was my birthday and the whole night she kept making jokes about it like that just cause it was my birthday doesn't mean I'm the center of attention. At points I was confused if she was actually joking or serious because homegirl had a good poker face. 

Later that night I had a bunch of friends over for cake and music. I had about 5 songs on the playlist but you know what we listened to the most? 22. Also Alyssa brought over her brothers puppy and that was also SO GREAT. I love dogs more than the average person I know. But, they bring joy and happiness into your life and are so cute. How could you not love them??

Also my good friends Tanner Chatterly and Bekah Sevy took pictures of me for my 22nd birthday and that was always so much fun. I love them both so much.

real life this is my face when I saw a puppy

Another highlight?

I WENT THROUGH THE TEMPLE!!

Now, I wont say much about this other than that it was the best decision I have made in a long time. I made a step closer in my relationship with my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and I am so incredibly glad I did. It was what I needed to do in my life. It was the next step I needed to take. Theres a peace and comfort I cannot put into words and a love I felt so incredibly deeply. I love this gospel with my whole heart and I love temples. I am so grateful that I was able to come home for the weekend and go through with my parents. Temples are a wonderful place to feel closer to our Heavenly Father, to take yourself out of the world for just a few hours and to see a clearer picture. I am so happy I did and Im so grateful I am able to have one so close to me at school! 

Other than my birthday and going through the temple, Winter Semester was filled with lots of laughs and studying. So much studying. Recently I actually decided I want to apply to medical school! My back up will still be, becoming a registered dietitian but I want to pursue my dream. I mean, WHY NOT?! I am so happy for the decision I made and I know it will be hard and it will take a lot of studying and lots of exams, but I know it will be worth it.

Winter Semester was also filled with lots of soda runs, watching LOST like crazy, Temple dates with myself (my favorites), living with my best friend, popcorn/movie nights, deciding to train for a half marathon, trying miracle fruities (they make everything sour- taste sweet! SO WEIRD.), getting my first 100% on an exam EVER(!!!!!) and so many more memories. I am now home for Spring Break and I am so happy but I am so excited for Spring Semester!!!!

2016: Thank You

You are probably thinking the last thing I should be saying to this year is, thank you. But... I really should be.

2016 was the best year for me. It was my year! Maybe it was your year too! However you feel about 2016, I feel that it was the year I truly became myself and decided not to change for anyone but me. I felt that I should reflect on this year and all that I've learned from it and maybe- just maybe- it may cause you to reflect as well, or even learn something from what I have to share.

At the beginning of the year I was stoked on life, I had everything figured out (or so I thought). I thought, "cool, this is gonna be the best year ever! I have so many things planned out and its MY plan."

Then the year started coming along and plans changed. All those plans went in the trash and I was a mess. I was not myself. I thought my world was ending. I thought, "this year sucks", "2016 is the worst", "I cant believe I said this was going to be my year." (I mean, sure, I still say that from time to time, who doesn't?)

But, I was not myself. I was a different person and I didn't realize that right away! I was grumpy, unhappy, self shaming, and changing for others so they would like me more.

2016 continued to pull the rug out from underneath me. There were a lot of tears shed looking back, but there were smiles too.

In all honesty, I hit rock bottom at one point. I had such a skewed view of myself and of how people viewed me. I didn't realize my full potential. I thought I didn't have any potential. I went through more personal stuff that I thought I'd ever go through. I had my trials this year... boy did I have them. Now, they were probably small compared to others, but they were my trials. They were a test of my faith. I got pushed down a lot, but I got back up every time. But, even though I got back up, I had to realize that I still wasn't okay. I still kept feeling like I was failing. I couldn't feel anything. No happiness, sadness or anger. Nothing.

So, I decided enough was enough. I needed to change- I wasn't myself. I was not happy and I wanted to be happy. So I did. I got help. Help from a professional and help from my Heavenly Father and this gospel. I started to do things for myself- not because I wanted to make others happy but because I wanted to be happy.

I believe with my whole heart and soul that we have a loving, caring and trusting Heavenly Father, who created the Heavens and the Earth but also created you and me. I believe he created a plan for you and me, each individually fitted for us, for what we will go through in life. A plan that is so beautiful, wonderful and happy, that sometimes we take it for granted and forget.

Something we also tend to forget when something tough is happening, is, that we are loved. That we have someone who loves us beyond our comprehension, and someone who died for us, so that we may not be alone when we go through tough things, even when we feel like we are.

Sometimes when life pulls the rug out from underneath us, when Heavenly Father needs to remind us that he has a better plan for us, you think that the world is out to get you.

BUT ITS NOT. 

Life happens. Things change. People change. I am so glad that things happened to me the way they did. That I had the rug pulled out from underneath me so many times, even though at one point I just wanted to lay there and not get up. I'm so grateful for all that 2016 has thrown at me personally because, if I stuck with my plan or with everything I thought was okay (the way people treated me, the way I treated myself, ect.), I don't think I would be the person I am today.

Heavenly Father knows whats best for us. Timing is everything. Sometimes thats the worst part about it. Time. It's a real test of faith. But I have faith in my Heavenly Father's plan for me. I know that if I'm doing what's right, it will happen. It's all in his timing. 

You may be thinking, "okay but there were worst things that happened in 2016 then what you went through." You're right! But for me, those things were hard. This year is the year I really changed. If you met me at the beginning of 2016 and then compared it to who I am now. I'm not the same person I was and I am so grateful for that. I am more myself than I thought I could ever be.

But when all is said and done, I've learned a lot from this year. I know who I am. I know that God has a plan for me. That timing is everything. That you will have good times and bad times through out any year.  People come and go in your life. Sometimes people hurt you. Sometimes people hurt you so much that you have a hard time trusting others. Sometimes you may have to forgive others, even when you don't want to. But, don't forget to forgive yourself. Sometimes when people hurt us so bad, we build walls up. We become defensive and sensitive to things that may trigger old habits or feelings. Whatever it may be that you are struggling with, be patient with yourself. Be patient with others, who may be in your life now, that may not fully understand your past. They are trying to understand you better. It's okay to be vulnerable and its okay to be honest. It's okay to have people leave. You deserve the best that this life has to offer! Don't sell yourself short. Your heart will break, It will hurt, but like I said above, I believe, Heavenly Father has a plan. That sometimes, this is part of his plan, and you may need to learn things, to be tested and become stronger. Sometimes you will have to get help and realize that you're not okay. People aren't out to get you. Sometimes life can just be plain annoying.

But life can also be so beautiful. 

I've discovered what I truly want to do with my education/career path. I've discovered my love and passion for science and the human body. I've realized that I am beautiful, that I am more than just a number on a scale, that it doesn't matter if I didn't go exercise today, its okay to eat that cookie... or two... or three cookies. That it doesn't matter if people don't like you, but it matters that you're kind, loving and respectful. I've realized that your happiness depends on yourself. It doesn't matter what others think of you. It only matters what you think of yourself and what your Heavenly Father thinks of you.

There is a promise of good things to come. There is help. There is happiness ahead no matter what. Its almost a new year! Christ is the "light at the end of the tunnel." Hold on. Keep trying. He will help you find peace, find happiness through those struggling times. He loves you and wants you to be happy. He doesn't see you as the mistakes you've made. He see's you as who you really are and he never loses sight of our eternal potential even when we do.

For every end, there is a new beginning. Some would say, life is like a book, and a new chapter is beginning in our lives as this year is ending. Some chapters and pages may have more tears than others, they may have rips and crinkles. But, that's the beauty of the end of a year, we reflect, and then we set goals. My goals are to make my pages filled with more joy than sadness, to have less ripped out pages and more pages that stay in. My goal is to be more patient, kind and loving not only to myself but to others. Build each other up, instead of tearing each other down. Say thank you more, smile and as my favorite prophet, Gordon B. Hinckley says, "Go forward in life with a twinkle in your eye and smile on your face but with great purpose in heart, accentuate the positive. Life is to be enjoyed not just endured."

So, 2016, thank you for everything. I'm ready for the new year.

FALL SEMESTER

Seeing how I'm home for Christmas break and I haven't posted much about school I thought I should probably write about this past semester.

First and foremost- holy cow- how did Fall Semester fly by so quickly?!?! It was so much fun but I feel like it all happened in a blink of an eye.

It was filled with:

-Road trips to Utah (lots of them)
-Puppy Barn
-Way too much Diet Coke
-Long days at the library
-Binge watching of Netflix series (Parks and Rec... Stranger Things...)
-Costco Trip
-David Archuleta Christmas Concert
-Thanksgiving break
-Football and Basketball games

and lots and lots of laughing.

I think my favorite thing about this past semester was one of my many road trips with Katie down to Utah where we hung out in Provo for friday night + Saturday and then drove up to see Jordan and Andrew and I took their anniversary pictures. I love Katie and our road trips together but I think that was my favorite because we spent it at puppy barn, saw my brotha from another motha Kohlmann, shopped, ate good food, laughed a lot and made memories with good friends. I actually just love love love Utah.

Since spring semester/summer/beginning of this semester, I've been really debating on what I wanna do with my major/future career and I finally figured it out! Well, Katie actually inspired me last semester, and I did some more research this semester on how to get it done...but... I want to become a registered dietitian (yay!!!!) but I can't do that with my bachelors degree from byu-i so I've been doing some research and am going to apply to University of Utah's Masters Program in Nutrition and I'm so so so excited! (but don't worry I still don't like the Utes) So, after I'm done at BYU-I I'll be living there in Utah for a year to obtain residency, complete my internship for BYUI and then apply to graduate school.

I also changed my major this semester to Public Health-- its easier to complete my pre-reqs with that major and everything easily transferred over! I'm super excited.

This past semester was all around really good. I made a lot of new friends, carved lots of pumpkins, made gingerbread houses, had many sleepovers with Katie, convinced Katie to move in with me next semester, probably ate our weight in peanut butter m&m's (one time we bought the party size bag and ate it the whole weekend once when we went to Utah), drank lots of diet coke (or dr.pepper for katie) with lime, or cherry limeades from sonic with Meredith, and lots of studying.

I learned a lot from this past semester and I cannot wait for winter semester! I love this time of year even though I HATE how cold Rexburg gets!! One thing I gained was a greater testimony for one of God's greatest creations- our bodies! I retook an anatomy class because I wanted to boost my GPA and not have a C for that class because its one of the pre-reqs for Grad School and my teacher, incorporated the Gospel into each lecture and it was amazing! My testimony and gratitude for his creation increased. I love this gospel and am so grateful for the opportunity I have to learn more about the human body.

I'm so excited for winter semester! Katie and I will be rooming together, its my birthday month, its the start of a new year, i'm taking exciting classes and i'm excited for all the memories that I will make!

I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Utah Mountains oh my!!!

First ever BYU football game!!! so fun AND THEY WON! Go Cougs!