iT's My liFe

Bringing on 2012 (my chinese power year)

2012-01-22T11:04:00.000-08:00

Well Happy 2012!! I'm not sure if I lose track of time or don't want it to be 2012, but I found a receipt for a check I wrote a couple weeks ago and the year said 2004. Ha! I have no idea where that one came from!

Anyways, It was fun to start the new year off getting engaged. This semester is already proving to be my least favorite since I never see Trevor. In fact, I could live in a different state and see him about as much as I do now. I hate it, but that's just how it is I guess!

An Hermana de mi mision is serving a mission in Chile, but before she left the MTC me and Trevor took her to Walmart for some things. Ha! Trev was quite the trooper shopping with us two woman, well actually just shopping with Hermana Rodriguez makes anyone a trooper. She is so funny! And Crazy!! I love her! She's originally from Columbia in South America, but now she's living in Rivers Edge, New Mexico. She brought a lot of great news from my last branch I served in and it was just so fun to be with her again. I loved my mission so so so much!!! She told me Trevor was an angel that has fallen straight from heaven and I am so lucky to have found him. Haha! I already knew that....

Well, my classes aren't that bad this semester, I'm taking less credits than I usually do, although my elementary math class is a run for my money. Haha! I thought I knew math, but adding and subtracting are actually really difficult!! It's a good thing I have a kind teacher who helps me A LOT!!

I start teaching in the school this week. I'm excited for that!! I'm going to teach at Brockbank elementary school in Spanish Fork. I'll be teaching Mrs. Peterson's second grade's gym class. haha! They are CrAzY children. I stopped in to say hello to them on Friday and went in full of energy and enthusiasm.... uh oh! It was a bad combination! My energy plus theirs' turned into total crazinesss!! They were cheering and jumping all over the place and then I just froze and stared in amazement at how out-of-control they got in 2 seconds. I looked at the teacher who said, "They are a really talkative bunch" hahaha! So this shall be a great adventrure. I just better get lots of fun activities planned for them.

I decided that planning a wedding is a 5 credit hour course. haha! I now understand why little girls start planning their weddings when they're young. There's so many decisions to make and I still am in the process of figuring out what my taste is.

As for a wedding dress, me and mom are trying to fix up her wedding dress. I'm excited about that!! I really hope the cleaners can get it to be white again (35 years in a closet has not done the dress a favor), but then I really can wear it. Woohoo! I went shopping for dresses and they were so frilly and beaded and FAKE (i felt like) that I didn't like any of them. They were pretty, yes, but not "me". I felt like I was going to the prom again... which is not my idea of how I want to feel on my wedding day. There were some that were toned down more to my liking, but lets just hope mom's dress will work out. Wouldn't that be fun?? I think so! ...even though it is a little retro, ha!

I'm excited for the family bridal shower on February 2nd. Right before Wesley's baptism which I'm equally excited for!!! I love baptisms! I love this gospel!!! We're so blessed to have it in our lives!! That truly is a great advantage that I have at BYU: my testimony can be strengthened while learning about how to be a great teacher. In fact one of my textbooks is the manual, "Teaching No Greater Call". It's an incredible book if you haven't read it. I totally recommend it!!! It truly is an inspired manual!

Well church is soon! Hasta Luego!

2012-01-03T20:11:00.001-08:00

Christmas breaking it up!

2011-12-30T17:49:00.000-08:00

Finals finally ended and the break began with a bridal shower for my MTC companion, Chelsea Longhurst. Woo!! It was very fun and I'm sooo excited for her!! I can't wait for their beautiful ceremony in the Oquirrh Mountain Temple on January 3rd. I've never been to that temple either so I'm really excited!!

Then came a trip up the Mountains with Trevor's family. It was way fun! Full of games, relaxing, movies (and when I say movies i mean lots and lots and lots of snow mobile movies.... and then some more snow mobile movies, since there wasn't enough snow to do it in real life). Ha!

There was enough snow to make you cold! And ice fish!!! Just not for snowmobiling. I never went down to the ice fishing, but they had a lot of fun doing that I think. We four wheeled and went shooting one day. It was a great start to Christmas break!

Then Christmas Eve came and Julie, Nick, Molly, and Johnny arrived from Reno. Wooo! We even had Santa make a surprise visit! He burst through the front door after we finished the nativity, performed and presented by the grandchildren, and it scared me (since no one told me he was coming) and I screamed at the top of my lungs. haha! But after sitting on his lap, we each got a giant candybar like Grandma and Grandpa Davis used to always give us. Mmmm! It felt like Christmas eve again!

The cemetary was beautiful as usual. I love the cemetary lighting!!! I think every city in the world should do this on Christmas Eve. It's so beautiful!!

After Christmas we went to the ranch while there was still snow and went sledding down the hill.

It was lots of fun! Trevor tried to get me to wear a helmet... HA! But it ended up that he stopped wearing his, our family is corrupting him. I don't think I'd ever worn a helmet four wheeling until I went to the cabin with his family.

Milo had a crash worth bragging about. It's left a mighty cool mark on his face. Hmmm that probably could have been avoided had he been wearing a helmet...

Princess Molly is pulling her princess smile here. I tried to mimic it, but clearly you can tell I don't have it quite as good as she's mastered it.

This video shows the fun Molly and John had staying at our house. I've trained all the other grandchildren to stay out of Aunt Alli's room, but John and Molly haven't quite grasped that concept.

It was so much fun having them here though. I missed them so much when they left!! Here is Molly pulling her "bad guy" face.

It's been fun catching up with friends over the break too. One morning I went to breakfast with some girlfriends from Highschool (L-R) Me, Haley Darling Wilson, Lexy Buffo Ward, Hillary Searle, and Crystal Call Melander. Tonight I'm going over to Emily's to watch the latest Harry Potter movie. Woo!! I can't wait! And earlier today Shannon Griffiths Baily and her husband Jake came over to visit. I just love friends!!! Yesterday I went to Ari's to see what her adorable baby girl Alivia got for Christmas and to drop off a loaf of bread and visit. At the beginning of the break we all (Ari, Liv and I) had a girls outing and went to Brick Oven too. I just love my friends!!!

Skyping has been a part of the break too. Christmas was fun skyping with Sherry's fam and Ben's fam! Tonight Sherry interrupted my blogging and we skyped. Here's some photos

I'm ready for them to come to Utah!!! Calvin is getting so big and he's so adorable. I think all of Sherry and Trevor's children are a perfect mix of them. I think Calvin looks like Trevor, and then I change to Sherry, and then back to Trevor and that's how all their babes have been!!! I love it!!

I love my family! I stink at talking on the phone with you all, but I do love you all!!

It's been a fun break! It's been fun playing with Trev's fam too. Trevor got a new game for Christmas, Betrayal At House on the Hill, and it's been a popular play. It's fun if you're looking for a board game. It's different every time you play and it keeps you on your toes.

Well that's life so far. I'm sure I've missed a lot, but I'll have to update some more later because it's time to go to Emily's house. Wooo!! Oh and her parents just left today for their mission. Hooray! I'm so excited for them. They'll be awesome and they're CES missionaries, so that's exciting. Emily and her sister Megan now run the house, that's why I'm going over to Par-Tay!!!

Wedding Bells!

2011-12-11T18:55:00.000-08:00

Ariel is now Mrs. Don Baker, and what a beautiful ceremony it was.

Papa did a great job marrying the two together, and the Chillon looked great!!! Ariel also look gorgeous with her hair done, by Amberlee of course, and her beautiful dress. They've re-modeled the Chillon and I liked it a lot. Ariel got to walk down a spiral staircase before meeting up with Stan to walk her down the isle, which I thought was way fun. I wanted Todd's job though, rolling out the white carpet for her to walk down, but I just sat back and enjoyed the show. It all was very nice!

I finally found my camera charger and charged up my camera to get some updated photos. Here's me and mom and before I'd let Todd take my picture with Ariel, I had him practice on me and aunt Karen.

He passed the test. Then I caught Trev and I before I dropped him off to continue the adventures of studying for finals. You'll notice my hair changed. haha! I was tired of my hair so Amberlee so kindly squoze me in between the wedding ceremony and reception and high lighted my hair. I like it so much better! I've been debating on whether or not to go darker... but I gave in when I saw mom who also just high lighted her hair. I just like being blonde I guess.

Only 5 more days and we're done with this semester. Woohooo! I can't wait! I'm very ready to have a break! haha actually I sort of have had a bit of a break over the weekend because I went home on Friday to attend the Fairbanks party at mom and dad's house and I was only going to sing in their program, then go back in my room and study.... but it was just too much fun talking to everyone, so I ended up not getting to bed until 1:30 a.m. and then Friday night repeated itself a little more than it should have. I did do some homework, but mostly I did what "I" wanted to! I'm not complaining though, I've been doing HW nonstop all week, so I deserved to do what I wanted to.

Now I'll just have to kick it up a gear and go full speed forward the remainder of this week. I'm actually excited to take on the challenge and collapse on Friday knowing I gave it my all!! Life is just fun that way isn't it? Always so many challenges for us to take on.....

Well I hope everyone who reads this is having a great day and has a great week. You're the only one who has control over whether it is or not. LOVE YOU ALL!

THANKSGIVING! DIA DE GRACIAS!

2011-12-04T22:13:00.000-08:00

I forgot to tell ya about my Thanksgiving break!

And I can tell you now, because I have once again decided I CANNOT do homework on Sundays... unless I really have to. I don't know why I got back into the habit of doing it on Sundays this last semester... well maybe because my homework load is a lot.... but I will have to make sacrifices and do better on planning out my time, because Sundays should be the Lord's day!!

And a day to write on my blog!

So before I get to Thanksgiving, I just returned from the Christmas Devotional by the first presidency and it was absolutely amazing! Like always whenever we hear from the first presidency. It was really neat because Trevor invited me with his family to go to the program and we were able to sit really close to the front. I was so touched to watch President Monson, President Eyring, and President Uchtdorf interact with each other. You truly can see their love for each other. I also was touched watching them during the songs performed by the tabernacle choir. I especially love the Christmas Hymns and the spirit that they bring about the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ, but tonight when the choir was singing The First Noel and Silent Night, the first presidency got choked up, and I couldn't help but get choked up myself because, If anyone knows our Savior better, it would be them. So seeing them get emotional about the greatness of our Savior Jesus Christ's life in coming here to this earth.... It was just an experience I'll cherish forever! I'm really grateful for the opportunity I had to witness and go tonight with the Pugh Family!!!

So Thanksgiving break came and left so fast it almost felt like a dream. haha isn't that just how life gets the older we get? And sorry I have no pictures. I really need to charge up my camera and start turning picture savvy again. I'll just be quick:

In the morning I went with Trev's fam up in the North Salt Lake area I think... and it started off with a football game. Eh Heh heh... I learned that I should probably learn the rules to football before I try playing:) Yep! I don't think I need say any more than that....

Then we ate a delicious Thanksgiving meal! Mmmm! I loved the sweet potatoes MmmMmm!! Trev's family really went all out decorating I thought. I felt like I was at a reception hall haha! It was pretty! and then there was the football game on... that made me laugh -so different from our family that never watches sports.

After eating we drove quickly down to Payson for the Muppet Movie with our fam. I liked the movie! It kept me entertained! And afterwards we went to the Doty's house and played DANCE on the Wii. Oh my! There were some pretty funny groups that danced (like Earl, Austin, and Pat haha). My favorite was Mom, Sandra, and Karen.... Mom totally took the gold!! She rocked the house! Dad unfortunately couldn't participate because the night before we went to Austin's school gym and played and he hurt his back.

Playing at the gym was WAY fun too though. We had jump ropes, hula hoops, balls, parachutes, all sports balls, wheely things, and much much more. We had it all to ourselves: Mark's fam, Austin's fam, and me, mom and dad. I learned how to double dutch rope. It was so much fun. Emmalee is way good at it!! She'd just jump right in and go at it. I won the single jump roping though. No one could out jump me. Yep!! I'm pretty proud!

I also got A LOT of homework done so that was super nice. Makes life a little bit easier right now. I need to get to bed though so I can wake up early and do Homework before work. The week starts of CraZinEss!!!! If I don't return calls, emails, or texts..... know I'm not trying to ignore you, I'm just a bit of a stress case starting at 6:15a.m. when my alarm goes off. Wooo!

Sprinting to the Finish line!

2011-12-03T14:38:00.000-08:00

It's here! The last week of school is next week and then it's finals week! Wooo!!! I have 6 finals to prepare for and who knows how many projects to do haha! I'm just trying to survive and finish everything. Sheesh BYU is one crazy crazy place! I just finished a 6 page paper for Monday (Hallelujah!!!!) and am about to start the rest of my homework. It would be impossible to write down all the assignments that I have, I can't think of it all at once either or it's overwhelming. Just one day at a time.

And what a good day today has been. I woke up, went to the temple, wrote my 6 page paper in Trevor's lab while he played scientist, and now I'm here writing this blog while eating some lunch on campus, and preparing to do more homework.

Did I mention how amazing the temple is? My, oh my!! I can't imagine what life would be like without it! I seriously feel at so much more peace about EVERYTHING since leaving there! I was feeling a bit overwhelmed and stressed last night, but I feel a new and added measure of help and assurance. Seriously, that's how I got that 6 page paper written.

Anyways, so that's life right now: preparing for finals. I have a test on Tuesday in my science class that I'm a bit nervous for, but all I can do is my best and call that good:) Life is way good!!! I love life!!

Oh you know what me and my roommate discovered? I am a super emotional reader. When I read I take the story on in my life. I feel for the characters and seriously get super emotionally attached. I think about the story all day long too (that's sort of easy since I'm usually always reading if I'm not in class or at work), but the last book I just finished was of this boy who everything he did he turned into a poem. It's called "Skate Fate". It's interesting-- But I'm also studying poems in two of my classes right now, so poems are really being pounded into my head. I noticed that in place of my usual tunes that go through my head, everything I do right now I have some type of poem pop into my head..... It's almost like a musical world going on in poem form. MmmHmm! It's nuts! So if ya need a good poem, just give me a shout out. Ha! I should start writing more down, I just keep them stuck in my head--until they get forgotten up there floating around somewhere.

Okay my sandwich is gone. Time to get boogieing with school. Wooo! Oh and p.s. I broke my phone and got a new one, so I have about 5 numbers right now saved into my phone. So feel free to text me and tell me who you are so I can save you. Eventually I'll get to the verizon store and transfer over my numbers from my old phone, but until that actually happens, I can't contact too many people through my phone.....

Preach the Gospel! And if necessary Use Words!

2011-11-13T21:30:00.000-08:00

The gospel truly is "good news" and not only that but it also is the happiest message anyone could ever hear:
    "You can be forgiven of all your sins"
"You can live with your Heavenly Father and your family with a perfect body for eternity"
"You will get to see your deceased family and friends again"
"I love you"
"You are a choice child of God"
"I know exactly what you're going through and I want to help"
.... Who wouldn't want to have these blessings?

We have a great responsibility as members with this knowledge of God's truths. Lets not keep our mouths shut.

Speaking of keeping mouths shut and also during this time of year I have another thought to share.
  You'll never regret saying Thank You to someone, but you may regret not saying Thank You.

Let us have "Attitudes of Gratitude" this Thanksgiving season. I admit that a holiday where all you do is eat always seemed pretty dumb to me, but that's not the purpose of Thanksgiving. It's much more! Let us all look for a greater purpose and meaning to this food-filled holiday haha!!!

This is me happy. Happy! Happy! Happy!...

2011-11-06T20:19:00.000-08:00

Who can guess what movie that title comes from? If you can't get it from that how about this one, "Amanda scared of a frog? She's changes alright!" Ha!

So It's already November and since I'm so bad at staying in touch you're all behind in my life. Hmph! Well let me think.... I'm still just going to school every day (yep even Saturdays and church is on campus too), then I have homework, work, and try to play with Trevor.... yep that's pretty much all I do. Haha my roommates keep me entertained when I actually do go home too. I love them all!!

Life truly is grrrreat! I love it! The breaking of the temple grounds for the future Payson temple happened and Mark and Amberlee so kindly gave their tickets to me and my roommate Melissa

Yes It was raining and super cold, but the spirit was so powerful and I learned that Elder Oaks was raised in Payson (he was the speaker). It was amazing!!! Also one of the speakers, a former RS President I think, was raised in Spanish Fork and talked about her bishop Cope, yes it was our grandpa she was talking about, who signed her first recommend to enter the temple and do baptism for the dead. It was a great ground breaking to say the least!!! I can't wait for the Payson Temple!!!

Halloween was way fun. I went with Trevor's family the Saturday before to a Halloween party which was way fun with lots o tasty food and games... I skipped out on the dancing (I'm still a little self conscious with my dancing skills ever since the mission... hmmm maybe I need to get back into Zumba), but it was fun! We were doctors and the costume brought me to the conclusion that I need to invest in some scrubs. They're great and so comfy! I wore Trev's sister's, but Trevor's already bought two pair for himself... they're cozy stuff!

On the day of Halloween I just put on my 80s jacket, brushed out my hair and put it in a side ponytail, wore some big earings, and then put on my purple skinny jeans with my gray boots. Oh I also wore my wrist warmers... sheesh I love the 80s. Why wasn't I born then?? I wonder sometimes! That night me and Melissa my roommate made a halloween dinner. I think I got some footage of it... let me look and I'll add it on.

haha! That's my roommate Melissa! She keeps me entertained! That is our plates ready to be devoured too. Mmmm it was so tasty! Also Melissa is my room roomate. I also have footage of us in our room. Our room is the size of a shoebox so we're really close roommates ha! The room looks a mess.... but that's Melissa's side. My side is as clean as ever mom!

Oh my isn't she so funny! All my friends keep me so entertained! I don't know how I get so lucky with finding such amazing friends, but I sure do!

This is my roommate Hawa. She is from Africa and today is a Muslim holiday so she is all dressed up for it. I loved her outfit and so I had to get a picture. Ha! Then my other roommates jumped in too. On the right is Cali and Kamy, on the left is Ashley. They all are so great!!!!

Well my phone doesn't stop ringing and so I'll be back to finish this post....

la La LA la La

2011-09-24T12:23:00.000-07:00

So School has once again began for the Fall semester

BREATH! BREATH!
...that's how it's felt for the past couple of weeks:Needing to find air to breath!
But Alas!!

Here I sit in my room caught up with my work, FINALLY, and I took my first test yesterday scoring 90% without the essays graded (that I am crossing my fingers take my score even higher woo!).

I'm also taking Children's Literature where I am asked to read A BILLION books and last night after I took my Physical Science test I decided to go check out some of the books I need to have read within the next two weeks. It ended up filling 2 BYU bags, 33 books, each bag weighing 14 pounds, and I had to walk home in the dark. Ahhh! I was so scared that I took a longer route that was more lit and it ended up being around a mile that I walked with these bags of books and my back pack on my back weighing over 20 pounds due to my lap top. HA! Lets just say by the time I got home my arms, hands, back, and neck were all aching! *Oh the adventures!*

Hmmm lets see what else is new. Well I failed to mention the great trip down to Ben and Jodi's for Reid's baptism. It was such a great trip and the baptism was a beautiful service. I was asked to give the talk on the Holy Ghost and I felt very privileged to do so. Right when the service began a flood of emotions came flowing in me. Wow! I hadn't realized until then that I hadn't been to a baptismal service since my mission and so many memories just flooded my mind. The spirit was so strong I couldn't even read the opening song because the tears just flowed out. What a blessing we have to be Latter Day Saints in the Church of Jesus Christ with the priesthood of God restored!!! I'm so happy for Reid to be able to fully enjoy all the blessings of the gospel, especially from the atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ. What a blessing!!!! I love the gospel so much!

Work is going great a long with school. I start my mornings on campus around 7:40am and end at 5:00pm. Well that's my classes and work. Then I start doing homework, so really my time on campus usually doesn't end until later. I feel like I do and accomplish so much by the time I hit my pillow at night, though. My mind is full of new knowledge and I am exhausted. It sometimes feels like I'm on my mission again -but only sometimes.
Haha the students I work with at work make me laugh so much, work feels like a break sometimes from the craziness of school.

Here are some of those crazy kids! We've been able to go to the ranch twice to play. It was fun! We like to play. We're putting together a soccer team to play too. Woohoo!

Oh next week is my mission reunion and I can't hardly wait!

The other week was a reception of a sister who served in my mission so I got to see my mission president, his wife, and other sisters. It was so much fun! I love them so much!

And I've failed to mention that my Emily is home!! Wooohooo!

HaHa! how I have missed her so so so much!!! I love Em and I honestly don't know how I'd live w/out her either!! Sheesh I am so blessed with such incredible friends!!!

We went and visited Renee Atwood and Sherri Sagers too

Haha and the fun and games began!!! I love them too! We had a great FHE and caught up since we hadn't been together, all 4 of us, since before my mission. WOW! Over 2 years ago!!! Time sure flies doesn't it?!?! Especially when you're just having so much fun a long the way!!!

I'm still trying to keep up what I learned on my mission.

Yes that is Caldo de Rez that I made and spanish rice. MmmMmm It was so delicious and totally legit!!! That was my very favorite dish from the mission! I LOVE IT!!!

Well I have a lot of reading to do so I don't fall behind and stay on top of the work. woohoo!! But to end this I just wanted to put on some photos that bring simple joy!

Everything denotes that there is a God!

Wait! I have one more thing that I want to say...

I LOVE MY FAMILY so so much! Last week when we had the funeral services for my Aunt AnnEtta (my dad's sister) I was so overwhelmed with the feelings of love and gratitude for the amazing family that I have been blessed into. My extended family and my immediate family! It was so incredible to see how everyone bound together and the sacrifices that were made to give the little bit of support that you could or to show that you cared. I just love family and am so grateful we're eternal!!! Life does not end here!

Friends Forever and Ever!!

2011-08-28T19:38:00.000-07:00

Today was the birthday of my best friend's baby girl. Ari has been my best friend since 4th grade and now she has the most beautiful baby girl Alivia. I can't believe she's already one years old. WOW! I was so sad to miss Ari's whole pregnancy with her while I was on my mission, But fortunately she got pregnant again real fast so I can be here with her this time. haha! Thanks Ar!! You truly are such a good friend!!

In all honesty she IS!!! We will be best friends FOREVER!! I know I can depend on her with anything or to be there for me at any given time. Everyone needs a best friend like that!!!

SuNfLoWeRs

2011-08-28T19:00:00.000-07:00

Anyone who knows me knows I absolutely LOVE sunflowers!! My roommate Ashley loves them as well and one day as we were driving home we kept passing so many of the beautiful things so.... we made Melissa stop the car so we could gather as many as we possibly could. Aren't they beautiful?? Aw I love them! I just love life!

The second picture is of the sunflower that looks like he's dancing. Look real close! I loved him!

Venture in the Adventure

2011-08-15T10:16:00.000-07:00

Growing up seems to speed up daily.
Will it continue to go faster?

I love the childhood I was given and often reflect on how I wish I could go back to the carefree summer days of playing in the fields catching grasshoppers and snakes; building club houses; venturing into the unknown over the forbidden Sumption's gravel pit fences; overtaking the high gravel pit hills over at our grandpa's gravel pit; jumping on the trampoline until all my PowerRanger moves have been exhausted; creating chalk roads to rollerblade around on; swinging up into space and back; riding my bicycle all over (up hill both ways); and having my mom's freshly cut garden vegetables to eat all day long!!!

Change can be hard and even with the hope that things will stay the same
They quite frankly just don't!!
That's life!

So why do we fight against it so hard sometimes?

Every time I pull into our new driveway of our new home I can't help but have the hope that I'll walk in the door to the smell of homemade bread cooking, hear the steam of bottles on the stove getting bottled along with the tumbling of towels in the dryer drying, and see grandma in the kitchen sweeping the floor while humming a song that's only familiar and heard from her. I know it won't happen, but the sting happens every time.

Is this really "my" home? Why is there a for sale sign in front of the home I've lived in my whole life and that raised me? Why is it now empty?

Going on a mission I dealt with change every single day. Some changes happened and were more easily accepted than others, but I learned really quick that it couldn't be stopped and it was left to me to decide if I'd make it a positive or a negative change in my life. Let me tell ya -every single change can be positive!!! You just have to look for it!

All of the changes that have come about since returning home from my mission have been positive! Hard you ask? Some? YES!! Extremely! But what an amazing adventure it's been and it's brought me to where I am today which is where I feel like I couldn't be any happier! I wouldn't have one thing change from how it's changed!

While on the topic of change now I can't help but reflect on this past week of Salem Days too. Wow Oh Wow has the changes that were made this year to the usual traditions of the city's celebrations resulted with a whole lot of angry people. It's sad to see people fight so hard against a tried change. I will admit that when I first heard about the changes my heart instantly said "Noooo!" and I didn't want to hear the Why. But then I realized I needed to look for the positive of the changes and hear the reasoning to make a true opinion. Now after attending the different events of the week, hearing out the reasons, and seeing the finale of Saturday night, I can honestly say that the changes were positive and a great thing! It's not how it's always been, obviously, but then again every tradition that I expect to be the exact same each year somehow never is... and that's okay!!!

How would we ever discover new things without the experimentation? Most of the conveniences we have today are from someone trying something different. It's not always a positive result the first time and might take many different tries before it becomes the desired result... But we'd never know without the initial try!!!

Everyday truly always is and will be an exciting new adventure
Enjoy it!
And open up your mind without putting someone else down for doing it differently than you

Livin the Good Life

2011-07-17T17:27:00.000-07:00

Where has the time gone? I just keep asking myself that! I finished my spring semester here at BYU and though I thought I was going to die during it, I managed to pass my classes and still be alive :).

I am now just working, helping mom out with the moving when I can, and staying super busy over here in Provo. I got a new roommate, Ashley Mackay, who was my companion when I first got transferred to Canutillo, Texas. Haha we three (Melissa, me and Ashley) have been having so much fun together. I just love them so so much!!! I also am dating, as many of you already know, Trevor Pugh who went to High School with me, we were in the choirs together, but our friendship didn't go much farther than within the choir setting. He too is attending BYU, well right now he's just working there too (He's a TA for Organic Chemistry and is working with the cancer research team -yep he's saving the world). We too have lots of fun and so life is just great!!!

I need to take more pictures, my camera charger got misplaced so I haven't had a camera, but I did find it in time to take pictures at the homecoming of the first sister that I trained out on the mission, Hermana Natalie Newbold (also in the picture is another sister who served in the ABQ mission with us). How crazy the first girl i trained is already home! Wow!! It was great to see her and hear her great testimony. That same day was also the homecoming of my incredible mission president from the Tucson AZ mission and his wife, President and Sister Walker. There were so many people there fighting to talk with them that I didn't have a chance to steal a picture with them though. Oh how I love them and was so excited to see them though!!!

In the middle of June I also had the adventure of going to California to be a bridesmaid for my trainer, Hermana Danja Andersen. Woohoo! I love all the people from my mission so much!!! It was way fun and I actually had a road trip with an elder from my mission, well he's no longer an elder, but his name is Nick Guyaux. His sister happened to be in Cali at the same time as us with their family so for two days we spent playing in Disneyland with them. They have 3 little boys who are so adorable. I just fell in love with them. I love children so much! It was way fun and the excitement they had for the rides, fireworks, and characters just made Disneyland that much more magical!! *I love Disneyland*!! The temple sealing ceremony was beautiful too and it puts life in perspective, well at least this ceremony did for me. I learned so much! I love the temple! There's never a moment that you're not being taught something!! It's so incredible and my testimony and knowledge that this is the only true gospel is only that much more stronger!!!! I love the gospel!!

I just bought President Monson's biography and started reading it and I love it!! What an incredible man we have as our prophet and what an example he is to us. I haven't gotten that far, but the few pages I have read have inspired me already to try harder to be a happier, more serviceable, better person! I recommend the book to everyone!

I felt like I should get a book because the past few days I've been watching a lot of Harry Potter movies to catch up and it hasn't made me feel like the most productive person haha. I am almost caught up though and then it's off to the theaters to see the new one. I've heard so many good things about it and I can't wait to see it. I could have gone Friday with Trevor, but instead I went to a dinner on campus with a 17yr old girl from my mission who came to BYU for a multicultural program. It was so fun to see her and reminisce on the mission memories :) I love her family, the Rios from La Union (when I served in TX).

Sheesh Life is just so great! I am so blessed with so many amazing people in my life. It truly is a witness that Heavenly Father loves me and is aware of my needs. Everyone I know has been an answer to at least one of my prayers asking for help from my Heavenly Father. How amazing it is to be in this great plan and work together. I just hope I can be that answer for all of you and be there when you all need someone the most.

I'm hoping to keep my blog up to date more (i have lots more to update), but for now this will have to do cuz i'm falling asleep :) and I want to go read some talks that we were told in church to go read. If I find them inspiring I will let you all in on what they are!! *Have a happy Sabbath*

What's new with me and BYU

2011-05-22T16:38:00.000-07:00

Well Well can you believe I'm already halfway through this term?!?! I sure can't! It's going so fast. . . haha and trust me my homework tells me just how fast they smoosh all this information in for a term. Yikes!! I just hope my brain can keep up with it for these last 3 weeks.

I haven't written for quite a while but since the last entry I have turned one year older. Woohoo! I am now 23 years old. Wow! I can't believe it myself. Time is just flying! It didn't seem much like my birthday. I had classes and work until 5 like normal and it was my first two midterms that week so I had lots of studying and preparing to do. Two of my best friends, Ari and Lexy, did get me to escape for a little while and go out to dinner with them. It was a great reunion and I'm really grateful I got to see them. Our triple A team did turn into a quad though :) Ari now has her beautiful addition to the team -Alivia. Probably one of the prettiest, happiest babies you'll ever meet!!! But thanks again Ari and Lex!! I love you girls!!!

Right now I'm taking Spanish for returned missionaries, SPAN321, A humanities class that's very interesting but a lot, a lot, a lot of reading, and then an elementary school gym class. I learned how to juggle the other day in my gym class haha! Just ask me how and I can teach you too!!! It's way fun!!!

I'm working on campus in the Life Sciences Center. I'm a student secretary and it's a lot of fun. We're kept really busy and given projects to do too with the advisors or in the department. Sometimes I wish we were able to do homework while there, but really it's like another class I'm taking because I have to know so much about the department to guide and be a little mini mentor for the students before they even see their councilors. I really like everyone I work with though, so that's nice! We have a uniform too. In this picture I'm wearing the sweater, I have a nametag too that's not on my shirt -oops- but we also have button ups. haha very stylin!!!

Since coming to BYU I have been converted over to a Mac computer. To be honest I have no preference between Mac or HP... a computer is a computer. I do like all the fun features my Mac has that my HP didn't. Like the photo booth and being able to talk to people while looking at them on the screen. As you can tell by this picture I'm still learning how to use the features. haha i sometimes get it to take pictures when I don't realize it's going to or I'm trying to do something else. It's a love hate relationship me and technology.

Maybe some of you have heard this story but when I was buying my MAC I bought it here on campus and as I was walking home with the computer in my hand I passed a guy who made eye contact with me and so I said, "Hi! How are you?" and he replied with, "New toy?" Well that was not the response I was expecting. I was expecting, "Good!" or "Okay" Really anything that answered my question, so when he responded with, "New toy?" I thought to myself, "Well, I am here at BYU where there are a lot of returned missionaries from many different countries. That response must be a different language and he's on his way to his language class so that response just came out." so I smiled and gave a "Well that's nice!" response pretending like I knew what he was saying. haha Then as I continued to walk, because he gave me a weird look too when I responded, I was thinking about his answer in my mind and trying to decide what language it was -which I first decided was German- until I realized.... It was ENGLISH and he was talking about my computer!!!! pah hahaha! I just started to laugh! I thought it made a good story to share :)

Right now my aparment is only me and Melissa Anderson, who also served in the Tucson Arizona Mission. We never had the privilege to be companions, but we served with the same people and were friends at the Gila Valley Temple. It's great! I love her!! We're having lots o fun here and in 3 weeks Ashley Mackay, another sister from the ATM, is going to be joining us. I can't hardly wait!!!! Something must be in this apartment too because Melissa and I seem to be going on more dates than seems normal for us haha... won't complain it's been a great adventure :).

So life is good! How can it not be!?!? Truly it's us who chooses whether or not it's a good day and I'd rather choose the latter -even though school can get stressful and have things flowing out of my ears with busy-ness...

DId, DoInG, wiLL dO

2011-04-03T21:24:00.000-07:00

This post is to fill you in on what I've been up to since I've gotten home.

Well First of all I got right back into piano lessons and guitar. I LOVE MUSIC!!! I'm working on a piece "Praise to the Man" with the piano, along with the Hymns, and I just bought a version of "The Entertainer" to learn but with the guitar. . . I'm always changing. HaHa I just can't
help but want to try and play lots o' different songs. I don't think my teacher is too fond of this, and I'm not mastering or perfecting any songs, but I'm sure having fun picking out different familiar songs :). If you have any suggestions, I'm willing to take them. My teacher introduced me to Priscilla Ahn "Dream" and that may be one I try to perfect...

Second was our amazingly fun and relaxing trip to Florida with Sherry's and Mark's families.

It was so nice to be able see and stay with family while having fun at the pools, Disney World parks, and just chill at the condo. The condo was WAY nice and there were so many things to do just at the resort: mini golfing, crafts, they had a gym, eating places, lazy rivers, splash pads, karaoke, ping pong tables, playgrounds, BBQ pits, etc. . .

I enjoyed going for runs around the pond that was in the middle of all the different buildings and one day as I was about to begin my run I took my first steps onto the first bridge, there were a few bridges that crossed over the water, and my cell phone, that I'd only had for about 4 days, flew out of my pocket and into the alligator infested waters. So I fed my cell phone to the Floridan Alligators. . . heh heh Mom and Dad weren't too impressed, well heck I wasn't impressed, but such is my luck and life, so I just laughed about it and have a good tale to tell.

The week was great and I was so so excited to go swimming again, especially the day we went to the beach, even though it was overcast and super foggy. Mark ordered sushi at the Seafood Grill on the beach, which is on my goal list to try, and it was Delish!! I also fairly enjoyed the Circus Show "Cirque de. . . " something. . . at Downtown Disney. Oh and Kaitlyn introduced me to the Dancing game on the Wii to break me from my awkward inability to dance from 18 months of no dancing :). Wow did I get my butt kicked by an 8 year old haha (but not any more!).

Since returning from Florida I've had a few more practices with this Wii dancing game and now I am ready to challenge whoever stands ready to compete. Ha!! Actually I still am not very good, but I get lucky sometimes. I have been introduced to Zumba and paid for the whole month of March to participate in a local exercise place. It was so much fun, when I went, and a really good work out while having lots o' fun at the same time. I recommend it to everyone! It also helps with learning how to dance, I've never been one to say I wanted to go to dances (even though all my friends always seem to be big dancers), but after these classes I always had this desire to go dancing. Oh it's so much fun!! I've got to find a good place in Provo that does it and then, who knows, maybe one day I'll get certified and teach it myself. Fun as Gum!!!

Another weekend I spent staying with the Doty children while Sandra and Pat were down in St. George for a home show. HaHa it was so much fun!! It was pretty much a party all weekend and getting paid for it :). I just love my family!!!

We watched movies, ate (and cooked it even) good food, and Kailey and Taylor took me shopping to the mall to introduce me to the new styles of today (wow has it changed quite a bit).

I ended up only getting jeans, I think, that day, but it showed me what's out there and since then I've added a few "in-style" outfits to my wardrobe. Actually I just buy what I like to wear and what I want to wear. Which Kailey Doty you still have my 80's jacket which YES is my favorite outfit to wear Still!!!

Hmmm lets see what else have I been up to. Well being a return missionary my ward and stake have kept me busy. I've already spoken in two wards with High Councilmen, I spoke with the stake president at a ward conference to the YW, I was a guest speaker to the YW in my ward, I've taught Primary, Sang for ward conference, Participated in the choir for the Well's farewell, got a visiting teaching route, and have just been the RS President's daughter so I do whatever mom tells me.

Oh I did get asked by the bishop to go to the temple at least once a week, so that's been a joy and blessing since being home. It truly is amazing how much you learn after each time you go. It's not always the spoken words that teach though. This last week I was walking up the stairs to go to a session room with my group and I was being taught. Not a word was being spoken by a single person, yet I was being so spiritually fed with knowledge. That's the beauty of the Holy Ghost and how abstractly he teaches. I love it!!! I love the gospel! If anyone would like to go to the temple I'm willing!!

I've been volunteering a little bit at the MTC too. It's been so much fun. I go as an investigator and the training missionaries teach me. I always go as a Spanish investigator, which helps my Spanish since I don't have too many opportunities to speak Spanish in my ordinary go-about day. Sometimes I won't know the words, but since they're just barely learning right now too it's just a great opportunity to go and bask in the spirit and be spiritually fed. They really are changing the curriculum at the MTC and how they're learning Spanish is so much more effective than when I was there! Truly the missionaries are doubling in Amazingness now!! I love the MTC it truly is one amazing place.

Well as some of you may know I did end up buying Daddy-o's car from him. For the longest time I could never remember what kind it was and when asked I'd just say, "It's a really nice red one." haha, but now I've learned it's a 2007 Honda Accord. It's nicer than I'm used to driving and it's causing me to be a much more cautious driver. You may feel safe riding with me now. . .

Last weekend I went with mom and dad down to St. George because Dad had Mayor meetings and I hadn't been down to visit Ben yet. I got to visit Dr. Ben Cope who said I have the most beautiful teeth he's ever seen and even after 18 months I didn't even need to have the visit -Ha! Then surprisingly my trainer from my mission happened to be in Enterprise at the exact same time. It was crazy and what a coincidence! Her aunt lives there and so I got to see her after about 8 months. It was a way fun reunion filled weekend. Ben and Jodi's boys kept me entertained with trains and Reid played his violin for me and, of course, Ben and Jodi filled me up with lots of good food. You'll have to ask Ben about his invention of egg toast. It's pretty good! -just make sure you're hungry!

I got a new journal since I've been home to keep up-to-date with. I always have it with me. I carry it in my purse and whenever I get a chance or have a moment I just write. I've always been quite fond of writing and keeping a journal, but the hardest part is finding that time to write. I highly recommend going to Barnes and Noble and getting one of these leather little journals, actually you can get whatever journal you want, but if you get it small enough to fit in your purse ladies, men I don't know for you, you find yourself catching that time in moments you're riding in the car, waiting at a doctor's office, waiting outside in the car for someone you're picking up, etc... It's such a blessing to have and I'm constantly re-reading my journal entries. It's also a great de-stresser I think too! Helps clear your mind, get out your thoughts, and I find myself receiving my own personal revelation while writing a lot. It's no wonder we're counseled to keep a journal!

Well I have a lot more to up-date you with, but I'm flying out to Reno, NV tomorrow to visit my sister Julie and I just don't have enough time to finish right now. So this will be continued later. . . . I LOVE YOU ALL!!!

the Rumor is true about BYU

2011-03-13T14:19:00.000-07:00

As some may or may not know I have decided to return to BYU for school and I'm changing my major to Elementary Education. I know that this may be a very large shock for many of you, as it still kindove is for me too haha, but it's what a little voice inside my head won't stop telling me to do.

Utah State has been my favorite university, hands down! When I first entered the Cache Valley for the first time it was the most overwhelming feeling of peace and assurance that "This is the place" I was to stay! The years spent there were irreplaceable. My first semesters living at old farm and getting involved with the Institute's Show Choir made me never want to come home -I was just having so much fun! The following year proved to do the same. I found my major in music therapy, met even more amazing friends, and I saw my future staying there and graduating. . . . . but then came the feeling that I was to serve a mission.

My biggest fear to serve a mission was leaving my major. It was already way hard for me and I thought there was No way in the world I could just take 18 months off. It truly was the only thing that kept me from the desire to serve, but then one day I had an experience that said "GO!" and "Go for it now!" When I thought of school I had a peace, I knew everything would work out. I wondered then if I would be returning to music therapy. . . .

In the last few months of my mission when my mother told me I needed to think about school, I had the most distinct feeling I'd be staying in the Provo area. I even wrote her and told her to reapply to BYU, which she didn't, but the thought was placed in my mind then. When I returned home I tried to ignore that feeling and immediately called my Teachers in the Music Therapy department up at Utah State and was working out everything to return to USU for the following fall semester. Then the feeling of Elementary Education came to my mind. "What is going on!?!?!" I was thinking with frustrations and "Where are these thoughts coming from!?!?!" -I knew very well where they were coming from but I have NEVER considered El Education or ever wanted to for that matter! My mother has always told me I would be a good teacher, and I was kindly complimented on my teaching skills as a missionary, but if I were to become a teacher I always had my heart set on going into Secondary Ed and in math (which was my major before Music Therapy).

Well I decided to go to USU and talk to the councilors about El Ed just to see what they say about it. I entered the valley and didn't have that familiar "You're home" feeling I had always felt before. I stepped on campus and felt so out of place it was almost heart breaking for me. I talked to past teachers who I love and adore and they kept asking, "You're coming back right??" and I wanted to say an honest yes and have it be true, but inside I felt so assured that I was not coming back. This sounds crazy, but it's really how I felt! When I went and met with the education councilor he was amazing. If anyone from Utah State reads this and goes into Education, have Chad Downs as your councilor. He's awesome!!! He did his research before I'd gotten there and set up my schedule and said, "You're on track to graduate in two years." "What!?!?" I was taken back! That's how much time music therapy would take. It felt so awesome talking to him and I knew then that I was changing my major. When he gave me a change of major form though it was really sad -I couldn't get myself to go change my major right then because I love music therapy so so so much too!

Anywyas, so I came home and applied to UVU and BYU. Now BYU had their deadline for applications February 2nd -yes I know completely ridiculous! I called them and said, "The deadline for fall is February 2nd?" "yes" was my reply, "Well I just returned from my mission and I was wondering if you work with return missionaries that miss the deadline." but my reply this time was, "We have returning missionaries all the time. We might look at your application and we might not." I just thanked her and decided I'd go on my faith of what I was feeling and not hearing. Haha! So I filled out the application I needed to, got my interviews with my Bishop and Stake President and then waited! UVU I learned is open enrollment so after I submitted my application I got my "Welcome to UVU email" haha I thought that was funny it came right after I submitted it. I visited both campuses and talked to councilors to determine my graduation plan, what credits transfered, and what everything would require. I had mixed feelings about UVU and at BYU I just felt a fear of them possibly not accepting me -I felt more inclined to going there, but didn't want to get my hopes up -so there was just fear.

It's funny, since BYU is my least favorite school I've ever attended, that I had so much fear and anticipation for the acceptance or rejection letter. I loved BYU Idaho and I loved Utah State, but I just didn't have a super great experience when I went to BYU before and so why I was feeling inclined to return really was as confusing to me as it may be to a lot of you. But the day came that an email was in my inbox that said something like, "A decision has been made on your application. Click this link to see what has been decided." Ahhhh! I was so scared. All I had to read was the first line to discover that I'd once again been accepted to BYU. Woohooo!!!

I visited the campus the next day to meet with councilors and get working on my graduation plan. I felt the familiar feeling again, "This is the place" and I knew I was where I was supposed to be. Now I know my brother Ben is quite upset with this decision (and that really is an understatement). A lot of things I haven't agreed with before too about BYU -like their religion classes being so hard and counting against my gpa, but recently I've got to thinking and read a talk (click that word to see the whole thing), I actually haven't read the whole talk, but enough to remember and realize that the most important thing to me in my life is my Savior Jesus Christ and the gospel. By putting the religion classes as important as my other classes it helps me to study and put a lot of focus and emphasis on my scriptures and the gospel as it does my other classes. Life gets so busy and school can become so stressful and when that happens I really do fall guilty to putting my scripture studying and gospel learning on a lesser level than my school classes that I have upcoming tests for. BYU helps in a way that other universities can't (well all the BYUs).

I know that there are many reasons to why I am going to BYU. Right now I truly can only think of a few, haha, but I know it's usually after the trial of our faith that we are given the witness of the why. But to Ben I say "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and Lean not unto thine own understanding" (Proverbs 3:5)

My Grandma Lorna

2011-03-05T17:34:00.000-08:00

Well I guess it's time to start updating my blog again and keeping you all up-to-date with what's new and what I'm doing or my random thoughts. I've now been home for a transfer's worth of time (6weeks) and I can't believe how fast the time has flown. Life is Wonderful, as usual, and so much has happened already, but post by post I'll get ya up to where I am now.

Before jumping into my time here at home I'm going to take you back in time to the end of my second to last transfer on my mission. To a night when a life changing phone call was made by my mission president to me. My companion and I were sitting on my bed after a hard, exhausting work day, talking and laughing before we woud turn out our lights and sink into the deepest sleep that only a missionary could understand :). It was only a few minutes before our curfew when our telephone began to ring. We'd usually think it was a distressed investigator or drunk man we'd met on the street earlier that day that we'd given our number to (hey everyone needs the gospel) since no one else ever called so close to our curfew, but this ring was the ring tone we had set for our mission president's number or his wife's. So we both looked at each other in shock, again at our clock, and then back at the phone. "Why was our mission president calling us? What happened?" we both silently thought to ourselves. We answered it together on speaker phone and soon found out it was our mission president and his wife who were only looking to talk to me. My stomach dropped knowing I was awaiting news that I probably didn't want to hear.

I was informed that my grandmother Davis's health had taken a sudden sharp turn and she was only expected to live for another 3 weeks. Wow!!! Talk about a sudden and shocking phone call to receive and especially to hear that she only was given 3 weeks when I only had like 8 weeks left of my mission anyways. oh my! But for those of you who didn't know, I had actually contemplated coming home a transfer earlier to be able to start school, but then ended up choosing to come home in January, obviously, but I could have been returning home in 2 weeks istead of 8 and be holding on to a hope that I would be able to see her. During that time of praying and asking my Heavenly Father which transfer I should return home on, I had a distinct feeling that if I did stay out until January I wouldn't see my grandmother before her passing to the next life. I felt very strongly about this but when the decision was made to stay until January the thought had been lost and forgotten. From the little blurps my mother would write in her faithful weekly letters to me she'd usually state, "Grandma's health isn't too good, but she's doing a little better". They seemed positive and I took that to believe she'd be home when I returned, until I received that phone call. My companion wrapped her arms around me with such love when I hung up the phone and though it broke my heart to know that I wouldn't be able to see one of my greatest and closest friends when I returned home, I felt so much peace and even more love encircled around me than just my companion's.

Through my mission I felt the decreasing health of my grandmother. In the beginning of my mission I would receive enthusiastic letters from her, expressing her love and pride of how proud she was of me serving a mission, about twice a month. Then it went to about once a month. And then suddenly the legibility of her handwritting was getting harder to read with each letter, until finally the letters just stopped all together. She expressed in her last letter how hard it was for her to see and write to me. I never ceased praying for you grams!!

In my setting apart blessing as a missionary I was told not to worry about my family and that my Heavenly Father would always be with them and that they would be taken care of. As much as I want to say I worried about my family at this hard time, I really didn't because I had so much confidence in that blessing that I was given and the knowledge that those words came straight from my Heavenly Father. I was always praying for them though!! I received permission from my mission president's wife to call my grandma and say goodbye too. I won't say it was the easiest call, but it was nice to tell her "Thanks" and "I love you".

The day of her passing fell on a P-day. I woke up that morning feeling in my heart that it was going to be the day. When I went emailing my dad and sister Julie were online with me telling me that Gram's had had the worst night yet and that my mom was right by her side. Leaving the library that day it was confirmed to me that she had passed on. I knew she stepped out of this life and had joined her family in the next. I didn't need to read the email that my sister Julie had sent me 30 seconds after I had logged off the computer, and didn't receive until the next email session, that she'd received a call that our grandmother had left her mortal body, I was given my own witness. I testify and bear testimony that I know this life is not the end and I know that we can live and be with our families forever and into the eternities!!

I woke up the next day feeling an extra hop in my step. I was running faster than usual during our morning run, as if there were someone literally pushing me faster from behind. My companion felt a little confused since I had received the phone call from my mission president the night before. "You can cry Hermana Cope, it's okay." she said to me. But I replied with, "I just gained another guardian angel and helper in this work Hermana Holland. We have another companion helping us to prepare the hearts of our brother's and sisters here and an extra person pushing us to work harder and faster to find those who are ready." and it truly did make me want to work even harder and do just a little bit more. The gospel truly is the greatest message we can share and what hope it brings. Everyone should know it's possible to live as a family forever and that this life is not the end!!

I was sad to miss the funeral and not be here to give each family member a hug. I would have loved to have sung at Grandma's funeral with Julie, but I knew and felt that I was exactly where I should have been. It was amazing how many investigators we found in the next couple of weeks too that had experienced a death in their family. Coincidence?? Not at all!! I don't believe in coincidences, at least Not in the Lord's work anyways!!! It really brought strength and power to my testimony -I could truly testify and it was always reassured and confirmed to me as well that eternal families are part of our Heavenly Father's plan (and that death is part of the eternal plan too).

Coming home scared me because I knew it was then that I would enter Grandma's house and really realize she wasn't there anymore. But I think the biggest shock of all that happened was when mom informed me we're selling our house and buying grandma's to live in. What??? It was a lot to chew on, and sometimes still is, but if there's one thing I learned on my mission that is that change happens all the time, especially when you least expect it, but if you choose and have the Lord with you, it can become one of the greatest blessings you receive! So I'm trying to keep a very positive outlook on it. Grandma's house doesn't feel like grandma's house anymore since she is gone. It' just an empty. . . . well any ordinary house feeling -not the candy filled, fresh baking bread, food cooking, game playing, non stop laughing house that Grandma's was!

It's been easier missing her since I've been home, but I know she's close by! I know she is one of my guardian angels cheering me on and helping me in those times of need! She left a great name and legacy that I hope to continue. Grandma endured more than I hope to endure, but if called to it, I know I too can get through it as strong as my Grandma did! She's an example to look to and how grateful I am to be a part of her posterity!!!

Saying Goodbye. . or See You Later!!

2009-07-13T21:35:00.000-07:00

I guess I've been procrastinating as much as possible all and any goodbyes. . . I don't like them!! I have been trying too hard to convince myself it's not a hard thing and i'm just fine and I've been in this denial quite a while (plus it's been a little hard to believe I really am leaving when I've been going on so many vacations). But the days are growing shorter and time is ending of living at home and having a phone to call and just chat. I soon will be serving a mission for my Savior Jesus Christ, and although I am so eager and exciting and feeling like this is the best decision I could make (with the peace and comfort it is the right decision) the emotions have caught up to me and the denial can no longer be present, I'm leaving for 18 months!!!

Tonight I have been going through pictures to put in a small book to take with me and writing my favorite memories down that make me laugh -I know I will want this often when I get feeling down. HaHa I have had the best life!!! O my heavens I've just cried and cried because I truly have been so blessed and had the best life! I love my life!! I love everything about it -my family, my friends, my school, my opportunities, my talents, ME!!! etc etc etc

I know a mission won't be easy. . really I can't even prepare for what's ahead because I don't know all that is ahead. . and that's scary!! Really I feel like I'm almost stepping into the dark, but I know the Savior is always with me and looking back on my life I have NEVER been left alone! Never!! I have so much support from everyone and so many people cheering me on and praying for me I think it's merely impossible for me to fail :) truly!! And I will do my best!! I'm going to put forth my all and work my hardest!!

Life hasn't always been lolipops and gum drops for me though, even just this summer things have happened that make me question 'why?', but it's for experience and it's life! Life is so up and down. . . and really I LOVE IT! I don't love times when my feelings get hurt or feel sad, but it makes me stronger and I can help others more easily that are going through similar hard times!! That's what I'm grateful for and LOVE!

I would love to receive letters and updates from everyone, so I'm going to add my address on here. It will be hard not to have a phone I can call anytime with, but I'm just a hop skip letter away!!

I'll be in the MTC Until around September 15th-ish
Sister Allison Cope
Arizona Tucson Mission
Provo Missionary Training Center
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84604

Then here is the Mission Office's address
Sister Allison Cope
Arizona Tucson Mission
1840 E River Rd Ste 102
Tucson, AZ 85718

Thanks for all your love and support everyone! I love you all very much and will miss you very much! But I'm ready now and excited for this new adventure!! The tears I now cry are grateful tears and happy ones!! I feel overwhelmed with blessings!!

*See You All Later*

On a White Sandy Beach in Hawaii!

2009-07-13T14:26:00.001-07:00

Hawaii was GREAT this year! We went Geo Cashing (spelling?), had walks on the beach, caught crabs on the beach, and Mark just would pull up a chair and watch the waves (the pic of him is my favorite! -he just looked so small all alone there on the beach haha). Jodi smuggled coconuts for us to husk and eat, we went deep sea fishing and caught 1 fish after 11 hours (me and dad were the only ones who threw up. . . ) but we did see sharks Ahhh that were HUGE, me and jodi and kelli performed a 4th of July program that brought the house down :) We went to church with Mark Eubank, ate lots o yummy food, caught waves, and just had a great time being together!
Thanks mom and dad for the great trip!!!

Family is great when added with Bear Lake!

2009-06-28T11:44:00.000-07:00

So I'm totally late updating, but here is a quick update of our trip to Bear Lake! It was once again an amazing family trip there. I LOVE Bear Lake!! and I LOVE my family!! So life was just great :) The pictures are in no particular order but just a glimpse of what we did. At our condo we had Ben and Jodi with their family for the weekened, Monday Julie, John, and Amberlee with her three children arrived. Austin and Kelly with their family stayed the whole weekend and left Tuesday. The remainder of the week was just me, mom, julie, john, and Amberlee, Kaitlyn, Emmalee, and Milo.

Almost the whole entire Davis Family was there this year. It was way fun playing baseball, ultimate frisbee, mini golf, eating ice cream, boating, riding the wave runners, swimming, etc etc with everyone!

I drove down to Logan a couple of times. The first time was for my friend Ben's wedding reception and the second time was to go through the temple. I planned to go through with a few of my friends but it ended up all of them last minute said they couldn't go except for my friend Steve. I was SO HAPPY he still could go through and I loved it!!!

I really miss Logan and cried the whole way back to Bear Lake. I made some of the most amazing friends in Logan and it's really hard leaving them all!

Lots of funny things happened and were said, but unfortunately I can't remember them all. One I can't forget is baby John calling candy Canky and my mom saying to Julie "That would be a cute name for your girl" HAHAHA

In no particular order here is just a few pictures of our fun! The second picture is of Mom's bed stand and I just had to get a picture because "As A Man Thinketh" is the number one sentence said from my mother I believe. So i found it funny!

16 factS abOut ME

2009-06-19T09:09:00.000-07:00

(I actually did this on my facebook page, but I thought it'd be fun to add it here)

Rules: Once you’ve been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 16 random things, facts, habits or goals about you. If I tagged you, its because I want to know more about you.

1. Okay dokay my first fact will be that my name is not really Alli. It is Allison. wow mom! Hey but my mom actually wishes she would have named me Lorna or Florence, personally i don't think i look like a Lorna or Florence, but don't you be making fun of those names because they're my grandmother's names!!!

2. I absolutely LOVE Betty Crocker Parlor Perfect Sprinkles! They are wonderful and crunchy, not waxy like lame-o other sprinkles! AND they make the greatest, most tasty PB&J Sandwiches known to me Mmmmm!

3. I like heated blankets because without them I would not have survived in Logan. I would have just been blue and I'd probably be dead, oh what a sad day that would be! *I think I'll fit right in at Arizona!!*

4. I love music yeah! I love learning about music too, even though it's usually over my head and really hard, it really is so fascinating and I LOVE learning the guitar and piano! I also like holding mini music therapy sessions, especially at my apartment with my neighbors and creating our own music!!

5. Oh i love to sing! Yeah I don't think I could go through a whole day without singing at least one sentence or just randomly singing some random blurb of a song that pops into my head!

6. I absolutely LOVE vegetables! Mmmm! Possibly more than fruit! Seriously I would do just fine as a rabbit!

7. I like going to DI and finding rockin awesome, cheap clothes! One of my favorite buys is my 80s jacket. I do also like my deer hoodie that was complimented as "cute" at school. HaHa! I got a good laugh out of that one!

8. I love getting cozy with friends and snuggling up for a good movie! *Having microwave kettle corn is a bonus*

9. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE having long chats with friends! Mostly I love listening to them, but I just love to talk! About anything and everything!!

10. I love laughing! Oh man It's the best being with friends and laughing so hard I can't breath, my stomach is aching, and I'm bawling my eyes out! Which also includes I LOVE jokes And creating hilarious mad libbs!!

11. I love doing spontaneous adventures where you have no idea what you'll be doing in the next 5 minutes or where you'll be and come up with, but you're with people you love and whatever your minds lead you to do you're having a good time. (which actually usually are the bestest of times and the funniest things are thought up and done -and still getting talked about today)

12. I love the color yellow! Isn't it the greatest color! I just love yellow AND that's why Sunflowers are the greatest flower!! Oh I wish Sunflowers grew all year long, but that's what makes them so special and unique i guess! You can't have them all year round and so they're more exciting when you do get to see them again!

13. I love to bake and cook! But i don't exactly love following instructions :) haha, but that's why my food always tastes different and the surprise is the best part! I love making up my own recipes. Mmmm I have created some of the most amazing concoctions. I'm still working on creating the best bread recipe... it's coming!

14. I really do enjoy cleaning. I love playing the "before" and "after" game and I just feel so proud when it's clean. It's one of the best feelings and I feel so accomplished for leaving something better than when I first came upon it!

15. I love WATER! I love to drink it, swim in it (especially fresh spring water that's freezing cold), boat in in, splash in it, teach swimming lessons in it, snorkel, boogie board, pee, river run, skinny dip, skip rocks, kayak, fish, tube, etc.. Water is just the bomb diggity!

16. Wow I've already made it to number sixteen! The numbers ran out fast! Hmm well for my last random thing I will say I stinkin love my FAMILY!!! I love them all so much they're pretty much the coolest! I wish we all lived closer, but hey, distance makes the heart grow fonder and it's true!! I have the best parents on earth and I have yet to find a family as rockin as mine! and p.s. I love being the youngest of them all (not including all my nieces and nephews).

Okay that was fun now anyone who ever reads this you have just been tagged and you have to do it!!

I have grown a foot or two!

2009-06-16T20:30:00.000-07:00

Ready or Not here I come Arizona! . . . or is it Bear Lake. . . or Hawaii??

Sunday June 14th was my farewell. I had a great amount of support from family and friends who came to hear me speak. Namely my brother Ben and his whole family and one of my bestest pals Ari who I believe tied for traveling the farthest!! I just want to thank everyone who came and say that it really meant a lot! Seriously, I felt so much love and it gave me courage thinking that I have so many people cheering me on!

It was a scary road making it to Sunday, though! Oh my I'm a bit out of practice of giving talks :) BUT how else could I possibly have my faith tested right? Or I should say strengthened! And boy o boy was it!!

I started preparing Wednesday night for my talk, I wanted to be finished completely by Saturday since that's when Ari was driving in and sleeping over at my house. Friday night comes. . . I feel no closer to being done than on Wednesday. I'm feeling discouraged and having all sorts of thoughts like "You can't do this", "You are so inadequate" etc. I seriously felt so low, but then a thought popped into my head, "Fear and Faith CANNOT co-exist!" BINGO!!! I found my problem! I was relying too much on my own abilities (which are minuscule when it comes to talk writing -and giving) and not putting faith in the Lord that he will help me! All I was focusing on were my inabilities and weaknesses. I needed to change my thoughts into positive "I can" thoughts and trust the Lord with all my heart!!

So I went to bed, it was way past the time to be awake and working on a talk, and I decided I'd work more on it in the morning since Ari wasn't coming until the late afternoon hours. I woke up and immediately began praying that I could just have the spirit help me teach and teach the audience. I needed the spirit and guidance to what needed to be said. I was studying as much information as I could and having as many resources as I could, but then I was asking the Lord to help me know what to share. And I no longer let myself have doubt, I changed to faith!!!

And that's how my talk went! I can tell you it was not me who taught, it was the spirit. And those in the audience who brought the spirit with them hopefully were taught and touched! I definitely felt the spirit there and had my testimony of the spirit and faith strengthened!! I also had my faith strengthened with the weather for the luncheon after the meeting block. *We had just enough good weather to hold it*

The church is true!! I know it is!! I love it so much!! But I learned from this last Sunday that it will be the spirit that converts those I meet in Arizona. Not me! I will just be the tool the spirit uses to bring them into the truth!! And I really pray I can always be close to the spirit and be used for good by him!!

Visitin the CoPe FaMilY in Enterprise UT

2009-06-07T20:33:00.000-07:00

This last week me, mom and dad, drove down to Enterprise, UT (30 minutes from St George for those of you who don't know) and we visited Ben and Jodi and their boys. Their house looked AWESOME (also for those who didn't know their house burned down right before Christmas this last December). Darnet! I just realized I forgot to take a picture of their house. . . Well Ben and Jodi get on that on your blog!

We had lots o fun and lots o good food (all wheat free thank you very much pops -and Jodi for cookin it all)!

We went crawdad fishin just up the street from Ben's and there were a million!! We also caught a water snake -eh heh heh nope not a rattle snake! Here is Oli with his catch!

And here's me and Reid showing off my catch! My first crawdad I ever caught -he may be a little guy but he's still AWESOME!!!

After some fishin in the stream mom and dad decided to be creative and create some new fun. HaHa! They created whistles!!

Here is mom's whistle! She dances (i think that's how she thinks it will change the pitch) and I could not stop laughing. She was so proud of her whistle!!

Then here's dad's whistle! Reid is demonstrating how it works.

Dad used his pocket knife to carve the whistle all perfect and it looked seriously like a whistle you could have bought from the store. HA I think these whistles represent the difference in my mom's and dad's personalities perfectly :)

Julie flew in from Reno, Nevada! Woo PAUL K!!!
It's always a treat to get to see my sistahs!

Dr Benny also fixed all our teeth BUT with Julie I got to be the assistant! YUCK!! Who seriously wants that job (watching peoples teeth get drilled down and having blood and tooth flying everywhere -okay maybe that's a little exaggerated, but seriously not my style!)

We made a great team!!!

All-in-All it was a great little trip down South and I've been nothin but freezing since we've been home (which has only been 3 hours) BUT I guess that's why i'm going to Tuscon Wooooo!

Oh and I can't forget to put a picture of Roger in his new glasses! HaHa isn't he just the cutest darnest little boy you've ever seen!?!?

Rub your Arm!!

2009-05-27T12:28:00.000-07:00

Today is my mom's birthday! Wooo! Happy Birthday Mom! Her and my papa go to the temple every Wednesday morning and now I get to join them :) It was great and afterwards we all went out for breakfast. Mmmm! That was delicious thanks Pops!

On our way home my mom wanted to get caught up with the mission preparations (since I'm a little putter butt heh heh heh) so we stopped to get my shots! Eeek! Grose-O!!

We get there and sit down at a very nice looking lady's desk. Looks are not everything!!! Never judge a book by it's cover right?? That's what we discovered today or had reinforced!

In my mission packet it tells me that there are shots "mandatory" and then "recommended". . . let me repeat "RECOMMENDED"! So I told the Lady "No thank you to those shots they are just recommended and I don't want them" WOW she was not taking that for an answer.

"Let me explain something to you!!" she says narrowing in on me with her beady black eyes and runny nose! "Car insurance is recommended to get but you don't have to" and mom says all panicked "We have to get car insurance for missionaries?!?" ignoring mom and keeping her evil eyes inches from mine she continues with "And you may have never been in a wreck before" I now cut in trying to cut the air to breath and say "I haven't ever been in a wreck!" and then she sits back, rolling her eyes, realizing me and mom are not understanding her. . mom is still in the corner puzzling the thought of having to get me car insurance "I didn't have to get car insurance for any of my other children who served missions" she thinks out loud and I'm thinking "I'm the best driver and don't need insurance" and trying to think if I read anywhere in my packet that I needed insurance, but the lady breaks my thinking and says, "I'm just trying to use an analogy that makes sense because you obviously aren't getting how important the shots are!!"

OOOH! Me and mom now understand. So she continues "You get this shot because if you don't you could go home one day feeling like you have the flu because it's like flu symptoms but when you go to sleep you never wake up! (as she's talking she is scooting her squeaky wheely office chair closer to the desk and leaning in closer and closer to me) And if you do happen to survive you may be blind or lose a limb" Mom now is freaking out and holding on to her own dear limbs for dear life and says super panicked "Well can I get the shot!?!? I don't want this to happen to me!" the lady, now knocked out of her hypnotic stare at me, looks over at mom and grabs a pamphlet and says "This just targets her age! You don't need it!"

"Oh!! You had me worried!!" Says mom wiping the sweat off her brow that had formed! Then the lady sits straight back up in her desk chair, blows her diseased nose, and starts typing away. "Now rub your arm because you will be sore" immediately me and mom both start rubbing our arms because she obviously doesn't take 'no' for an answer and she looks from the computer and says again "You might think 'It won't get sore' but you will!! So rub your arm" so we continue to rub our arms (mom is rubbing her arm so fast and in a panic she's about to hit bone) and I'm thinking to myself that I really can't imagine how rubbing my arm is going to make the shot feel any less painful or make it less sore, but then the woman pipes up again "So after you have the shot you rub!" OOOH! haha me and mom once again understand, it's AFTER the shot we are supposed to rub. But she keeps going "Tonight you won't think it's feeling sore so you won't rub it, but it will be sore if you don't rub! You must rub your arm! Rub it for a couple days or it will be sore!"

Do you think we got that I was supposed to rub my arm Sheesh!!! And then the lady says "Okay go sit down and they'll call you!" without a word we stood and waited until our name was called. . .

Right now my arm is not sore. . But don't you worry every minute mom is reminding me "Rub your arm" while she is still doing the same!

A goAL uNwriTTen iS jUst A wiSh!

2009-05-25T10:13:00.000-07:00

I have a lot of goals (a whole list I've been making throgh the years actually), but here are just some in no particular order!

I want to try sushi! I may hate it, but you never know!!

When I get married, it's my dream to take dance lessons with my husband. Then we'll dance around the house together until we die. CUTE!!

I want to sew my own dress!

I want to go to Alaska and see the Northern Lights!!

While in Alaska I can accomplish another goal, ICE FISH!!!

I want to ride in a hot air balloon so badly!

I really want to see a wild whale in the ocean! They're so amazing!

I want to be able to run a mile in 6 minutes and 30 seconds, or less! I also would love to run in a marathon!

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I want to read the whole Book of Mormon within a week!

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I want to have an old fationed looking bike with a basket on front to ride around town and go on cute bike rides!

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I'm going to laugh out loud everyday until the day I die!

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I want my own field of sunflowers! Yeah!!!

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Who doesn't have the spider man kiss on their goal list :) haha

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I want to have 12 children! We will be the rockinest awesome family!

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I want to go to Mt. Ranier. I just love the name. If I were a mountain I would totally be Mt Ranier just so I could say "Well I'm ranier than you!"

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I have always wanted to visit Mt. Rushmore! But it's also mandatory that it's a camping trip in a tent!!

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I've always wanted a stacked ice cream cone with at least 8 different flavors!

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I want to go golfing! I've only been miniture golfing and I just don't think they're the same thing haha

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I want to go on a service mission to another country!

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I'm going to do a cartwheel until the day I die. "A cartwheel a day keeps the doctor away"

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I want to be friends with everyone I meet! No matter how different they are from me.

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I absolutely LOVE carrott cake and I want to create the most amazing recipe! Mmm so far the Trolly in Springville makes the best carrott cake i've ever had!

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Someday I want to make my own cd with my own songs on it!

And my last goal on this list is that someday my hair WILL be this long!!

Home with Mom!

2009-05-20T11:39:00.000-07:00

So today while following mom around the house (I don't have a job because I didn't know I would be home this summer and my job was given away) we walked outside to hang the clothes up on the clothesline and what happened next? "Ahhhhh!" mom starts to scream and says "Alli that's a rattlesnake!" "Are you sure?" I asked "Yes I know what a rattlesnake looks like" she said quite dignified like!! So while I kept watch on him she ran in the house to call 911. I personally like snakes so I kept offering to cut his head off, but NO WAY she was calling the police. The police officer, officer Kirby, was not excited and scared to come up "I don't deal with snakes" he kept telling my mom, "Can't you just kill him?" haha but we all know MOM "Ahhh! No I'm home alone I can't kill him" (not being dramatic at all) heh heh.

While waiting for the police mom made me take pictures

So here is our little rattlesnake friend! She also called up to Boden's house to see if Brian was home, but Jacob said he would come down to the rescue. When he arrived three police cars came up our road too. HAHA Officer Kirby wasn't kidding when he was scared to come!! Jacob walked over, took one look at the snake and said "That's a blow snake". Mom still sure of herself replied with, "Oh no that is not!" And Jacob, to prove himself correct, picked up the snake by the tail, now mother is screaming like there's no tomorrow, and I'm laughing!! hahaha and what do you know IT'S A BLOW SNAKE! ah hahaha Mom was so embarrassed as the police men are walking over now. It was officer Kirby and Cheif James. Pah Ha! They all had a good laugh. . . especially good 'ol cheif James who can't wait to write up how scared Kirby was to need assistance and how our dear mother can't tell the difference between snakes :)

I also got some footage, so enjoy!

While hanging out with mom at home we also have had the great opportunity to babysit the grandkiddies! I like to spice up this great opportunity and the last time we babysat Milo he left looking like this TeeHee!
Milo is such a good sport!

And don't be fooled! This was MOM's idea!!

Life is great! Even better than chocolate cake!

2009-05-18T14:02:00.000-07:00

Wow it's been a while since I last posted! Life is just in the fast lane. As you all know I got my mission call. WOOHOO! And where have I been called to
Tuscon Arizona Spanish Speaking!! I am to report July 15th to the MTC here in Provo UT. I feel very privileged and blessed to serve a mission for my Lord and Savior and I can't wait! I'm a bit nervous, mostly about the language, but I have talked to many who say the mexicans are so friendly and just love that you're trying to speak their language :) So I have confidence I can do it and won't be too made fun of heh heh even though sometimes I think that's my calling in life!

When I had my interview with the Stake President in Logan for my temple recommend he told me that my mission will not be over after I return. He told me that if I learned a little bit of porteguese along with my knowledge of english and spanish I would be able to talk to 89% of the church! WOW! "You will be a great asset and you will continue to be used within the church". That gave me goosebumps and really made me feel good!! I hope I can always be used by the Lord!
I really hope I can become and do what the Lord wants me to be on my mission. I pray that he can trust me and I can accomplish the work he has set up for me to do. I love this gospel with all my heart and I pray I can be an instrument to bring others into this truth and they can enjoy the happiness and blessings that I have daily!

Finals are finally over and I got all A's and B's. Hip Hooray!! I wish I could say I received all A's, but the difficulty of some of these classes. . . I'm surprised I came out with B's!! Truly it is after the trial of your faith that you see the blessings. The Lord has definately been with me through all of these classes this whole school year. I love Music Therapy so much and have enjoyed this year more than any other school year.

I'm really going to miss the girls in my major (I think my major only consists of two boys pah haha). We all grew so close and I am so sad that when I return they will be a year ahead of me, but I know I will make new friends that I'm sure I'll love just as much!!

I also will miss my roommates!

We went to the "Blue Bird" the last week we were together. Haha oh gosh we had some great times this last year! Love you girls!!

The Sunday after school ended my choir went on tour. I'm apart of the Logan Institute's show choir and this year we had a show "In Defence of Families". It was a great show and we took it to Moab, cities in Wyoming, and Colorado. Here are some pictures of our great adventure.

Haha this is Kelli, Me, and Jen. Me and Kelli had huge sandwiches while everyone else had tinies! HA!

The back of the bus! This year I think I slept about 65% of the time we were on the bus! Last year for my birthday I wanted to body surf down the isle of the bus. . . So i decided to make it tradition and body surf again for my birthday!! It's the funnest thing in the world!!! So if you're on a bus and it's your birthday. . .

The famous Brother Salmond dance. haha this is my director Brother Salmond. This is the extent of his dancing: hands shaped like this and hips moving back and forth HAHA!

I just love Brother Salmond. He has been so influential in my life and strengthened my testimony more than any teacher I've ever had. I can't even thank him enough for all he's done for me and what I've learned from him!!

We had many bathroom breaks and there was usually always a park close by so we took advantage!!! Haha I just love my choir!!

We went to Arches National Park. I hadn't been there since I was 5 years old so it was really cool being back and actually appreciating it. I'd like to go back since we didn't get to hike to delicate arch, but truly all things denote that there is a God. It was absolutely gorgeous!!

On tour we were put into families. This was my amazing family. I was the mother, Justin, on my right, is my husband and then those are our beautiful children :)

We stayed with host families each night and this is one of many amazing families that I stayed with. It's so fun staying with strangers and then leaving as friends! I truly left each home feeling uplifted and edified from their examples and conversations we had.

This is Frank our bus driver. HaHa Jeminee, Me and Kelli made up a song for our Frankie :) He just loved us!! "Frank is our Sunshine our only Sunshine".

We found many ways to entertain ourselves while on the bus. This is one of many given scenarios we tried to portray. This scenario, if you couldn't guess, is we just witnessed our pet toad getting run over by a steam roller. heh heh

This is Milo. Yes I take my "Betty Crocker Parlor Perfect Sprinkles" everywhere with me and darn Milo enjoys stealing them. Although this year it actually was Benjamin Hillyard that kept stealing them. . . Punk boys!!!

This picture is for Mark. In the front is Jeremy George who went to school with Mark and he's always asking me how he is. Well he's just happy as a clam and good as gold!! :)

All in all it was an amazing tour and I miss all of my friends terribly!! But I'm so glad I've had the opportunity to be in the choir for the past two years.

I've made some pretty darn amazing friends!!

After our return from tour me along with fellow Star Trek fans went to the new Star Trek movie. HAHA we are such nerds!

And now I'm back home. I have no job because I was planning on staying in Logan for the summer (a mission wasn't exactly in the plans) and so my job was given away at the pool and they have no open spots. My friends are returning home from missions and it's been fun seeing everyone. I've mostly been playing with my friend Riley Hiatt who's been home for about a month and a half and we've had a lot of fun!!! I just love my life so much and feel so blessed!!

Last Monday we celebrated my birthday (YEAH i'm 21 making me Legal. . . that is legal to go on a mission) and Austin and Mark got out the four wheelers and the Honda 90 motorcycle that Riley insisted I try to ride. After convincing me it is really easy I finally got on and right when I thought I was finally getting the hang of it I somehow managed to fly, at high speed, into our THICK pine tree on the side of our house! Ahhhhh! The motorcycle flew into the trunk of the tree throwing me off into the branches and we both crashed to the ground, motorcyle on top of me, and without the help of anyone watching (they were all laughing too hard) I managed to get out from under the motorcycle. Austin was my hero and the only one who did come running to my rescue!!! He's obviously the only one who cares about me . . heh heh jk! But even bleeding, scratched and bruised, everyone kept laughing when I returned. Good thing I really wasn't hurt. . stupid machines!!! I guess that's why God made me a girl, I'd much rather cook or clean in the house -haha just ask mom how much I love to clean :)

Well hopefully I can stay up better with my blog and keep ya'll updated from here on out!!

A Life? Is there such a thing?

2009-04-15T20:18:00.000-07:00

So don't try to get a hold of me or be my friend these next couple of days. . . I respond to nothing! I thought this week of school would be slower and easier since last week was my hardest week I can ever remember in my whole college career. . . I was wrong!! It is even busier this week and I think I will be awake for the next 48 hours straight! My teachers have enjoyed making the weeks before finals INSANE! This week I have a 90+ page report due Friday (yep that's in two days). "How long have you known about this project Allison?" you're probably asking, well yes I have known that this project was going to come up at the end of the semester, but when did I get all the instructions of how to do it?? Why TODAY!!! Yes psycho!! But no worries, I did two whole pages earlier today and they only took me 2 1/2 hours, so only about 88 more pages to go :-) HAHA I think I'm brain dead and a zombie. . . Plus I have other huge assignments from other classes that I'm working on right now. Oh my!! And I'm also trying to memorize songs, lines, and dances for my choir concert in a week.

I'm not meaning to make this entry a complaining one, I absolutely love my life and would prefer to be no other place! I just don't want anyone to get offended when I don't call you back or you try and talk to me and I seem to be somewhere else (because honestly my mind is). Well I better get back to my work WoooHooo! With a smile on my face :D

Forever A Family

2009-03-29T18:46:00.000-07:00

This post is written in honor of my family. I love my family! I especially love my mom and dad! Because of my parent's examples of living and striving to do what is right, I too have that desire. One of the most important lessons that I've learned from my father is the importance of obedience. No I'm not perfect is this area, but I understand that when we are counseled or asked to do something by a higher authority we just should do it. It's not a matter to debate or question, we just do it. From my mother the most important lesson I've learned is to be nice. She is always quoting the movie Harvey and telling me that "it is important to be smart, but that it's more important to be nice." In high school, before I was introduced to the movie Harvey, I remember the only advice she would say to me as I was running out the door to play with my friends was, "Be nice!" I always thought that to be such funny advice since all my other friends were getting advice like, "Be safe!", "Be smart!", or "Be home by curfew!" But I understand now how important it really is to be nice!! And I can probably say mom that I'm more nice than smart :)

I know how to laugh even when life seems so crazy and hectic thanks to my family! Life is not easy and I don't believe it ever will be. But like Elder Wirthlin said, "Come what may, and love it!" . . . and I do love life! It takes a lot of faith and trust in the Lord to believe sometimes that I can get through hard times, especially with my school work right now, but I know if I'm trying my best and not letting fear creep in, just keeping faith, that the Lord is aware of me and will help me when I ask, according to His will, and how it is best for ME.

I know I'm one of my parents most stubborn children, and sometimes they want to just beat me. . heh heh! and I apologize mom and dad, but then I also know that you still love me and support me in every thing I do. No matter how mad I make you at times, you still are there with your arms open and your love is so strong!

You both are always there cheering me on and telling me I can. Actually saying "I can't" is as if saying a swear word around my mom. She always says. "You can so don't say you can't! As a man thinketh Alli!" I know that if I ever graduate from college it's because of the support and confidence I get from my parents!

Mom and Dad, You have created a strong family full of love for one another! And like grandpa Cope always bragged about, you too can brag that every child who's married has had a temple marriage.

That is such a blessing and I may not be married in the temple, but I soon will get the opportunity to go through the temple and I can say I am worthy to go through. I am so grateful to be an eternal family and look forward to spending eternity with each of you! I also am looking forward to having the opportunity to go through the house of our Lord.

It's been said that you can look at your grandchildren and see how good of a parent you were. . . well I believe it is very evident that you and dad were, and still are, amazing parents! None of us are perfect, but we all are trying and I know correct principles are being taught to your grandchildren in their homes, just as you taught, and it's very evident!!

Dad and Mom you have both cared for and carried us children when we were too weak and I want you to know that I, along with everyone else, will do the same for you. Dad I know it was time for your Dad to leave this earth, but even though we know that and have the knowledge of the beautiful plan of salvation, it was hard to say goodbye. And I was so touched to hear and see you and your brothers and sisters being there every day to be with grandpa during his last days here and helping him in every way you could. I love this picture and how it truly shows the love you and your brothers have for your father. Grandpa was an amazing man and I feel so blessed to call him my grandpa! All my grandparents have been amazing blessings to me and examples in so many different ways!

Just as I know I have support from my parents, I also know I have support from my brothers and sisters! No matter what happens in our family, we are there for each other to do whatever we can. I just can't say "I love you" enough to truly express how I really feel about each of you!! I want you all to know that I do love you and want to be there for you always!

Whether big or small I pray we can always be there for each other to cheer each other on and help each other accomplish our dreams and goals! I look up to all of my brothers and sisters and the accomplishments and steps you have already made in your lives. It gives me the hope and strength I need to keep going and trying!

I'm so grateful for this gospel! I know it is true!! I know that Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon and restored the true gospel of Jesus Christ on this earth for us today. I am so grateful to him and all he went through and suffered to keep the truth here and going. I pray I can be as faithful to the Lord and serve him everyday standing as a witness at all times, in all things, and in all places. I am excited to serve a mission and just hope I can become and be the missionary that my Savior wants me to be! Thank you family for the great supporters and examples you are to me! Once again I say, and this will never become cliche, I LOVE YOU!

My Apartment

2009-03-01T19:59:00.000-08:00

We made up a song of our apartment about each other (we wrote the verses about each other without the help of that person) but unfortunately when we made this video Kristin and Bekah weren't around..... so here is Me, Shannon, Anamarie, and Joslynn singing about Garden Court #1!

At garden court number one there’s 6 crazy girls
Who all live together in their own little worlds
Even though we are so different we get along just swell
And if you don’t like us you will burn in ------

Anamarie Anamarie is the drama queen
Hugging trees, triathalons, and mint oreos
She’s the oldest but not the wisest But we love her just the same
She’s the most fun to play with and completely insane

Next is Bekah she is right brained and she plays the violin
She’s applying for her masters and no sweat she’ll get in
She likes pickle juice in her tuna and she’s home at crazy hours
She’s happy and so positive we’re glad she’s ours

Allison Allison is never done Staying up late singing songs
She’s the typical blonde, forgetful moments, crazy sayings
And she’s stubborn as heck, but life without alli would be dull as ------

Our apartment flirt is Kristin and she’ll make a real good nurse
She’s a cellist and a runner and………………

Joslynn Joslynn also plays the violin
She is sleek she is stylish and has the cutest room
She’s a little bit quiet but don’t let that fool you
she’s really fun and witty and talented too

Our last roommate is Shannon (PSH) she does sound effects (kah, whatever, mimimi)
She breaks it down and dances every chance she gets
Shanny fanny is our mommy and she bosses us around
You’ll find her eating popcorn and she’ll never let you down

Playin Around

2009-03-01T00:55:00.000-08:00

Learning how to play the guitar!

I love my guitar!

Best Christmas present ever! Thanks mom and dad!

Blast from the past

2009-02-18T10:10:00.000-08:00

Here is Halloween. Me and my roommate Shannon dressed up as 80s Jane Fonda Aerobic Girls. Yep I LOVED it and I want to bring back the bangs, but when I wore them to school, well not everyone else was as enthused as me :) Sad day! Then that's one of my best pals Jackie as a cave-woman!

Also in October me and my best pal Emily went to the Weezer concert. It was the greatest concert EVER!!

In September one of my best pals Lexy got married and me and Ari were her bridesmaids. It was a beautiful wedding!

These are all of my roommates, besides Shannon. It was her birthday so we're decorating her room.
L-R Kristin, Anamarie, Me, Bekah, and Joslynn. I love them!

My family!! We finally got family pictures over Thansgiving break and it was the first time we had ALL been together since 2006 at our uncle Duane's funeral. It's always so fun when we're all together! I have the greatest family ever!!!

Life is great at Utah State!

2009-02-15T20:10:00.000-08:00

Good News! I'm married!!! heh heh in the Institute Show Choir I'm in, the Latter Day Voices, we are put into families and I happen to be a proud mother of five now. For Valentines Day my husband, his name is Justin, got me a toblerone chocolate rose (yep he's a keeper) and wrote a very sweet letter. I'll have to post a family photo soon!

Now School. . . Oh school! It's hard and I feel like I'm in classes with Psycho Aliens from a different planet because the majority of them have perfect pitch and the teacher will just play a note and they all can call out what it is. WHAT!?!? yeah crazy!! I am learning. . . haha okay so I pretty much stink at picking out the notes and writing out the melodies that my teachers play on the piano, but it is coming along and maybe someday I'll be seen as a psycho too :) I am learning how to play the guitar and piano for one of my classes and I have to write songs, which is WAY fun! I love it!! Haha I test out my songs with my neighbors and they all say I sound like a country singer *sigh* not what i'm going for!! O man my neighbors are so fun though. We have music therapy sessions all the time. I have a drum, guitar, shakers, sticks, a cow bell, a glockenspiel, my keyboard, and our vocals, so we rock the house! Maybe I can get one of our sessions on video and I'll upload it on here. Probably my favorite class this semester is my drum talk class. It is so fun and you all should go out and buy a drum right now because playing drums creates T-Cells in your body and they are what fight away bad cells in your body and keep you healthy. So just by simply hitting a drum you are making yourself healthier. COOL!!

Okay now I will tell you about one of my "dumb alli" stories. I think bad luck follows me around, but it sure makes life more exciting and fun, never dull that's for sure! So anyways, one weekened me and my friends decided to go to Lava Hot Springs to play/relax. It's about an hour and a half away and everyone was going. I pretty much ended up loving the hot springs and it's just too bad the ranch isn't hot springs! But anyways, we stayed there until we were kicked out around midnight and on the ride home my car wanted to stop at Flying J and get some treats. I wasn't hungry, just thirsty, so I got a big water and when I was getting in line behind my roommate Anamarie I noticed she had two homemade cookies and there was a sign that read something like "Free 20oz hot drink with the purchase of 2 homemade cookies" WOOHOO I love hot chocolate, so I asked Anamarie if I could have her free 20 oz drink and being the loving roommate that she is she said yes. YES!!! I went over to the hot drink station and there were lots of great flavors, like milk chocolate, mint and french vanilla, so I mixed them all! I love mixing flavors! I tasted it and it tasted burnt making me a little distraught, but I couldn't dump it all out and it was free so I just decided to ignore the burnt taste. On the drive home, after drinking about 10 oz I turned and was talking to my roommate right next to me and she said "Alli your breath smells like coffee" and BLING it hit me what the burnt taste must be and I replied "I think it is coffee. . . ." Ahhhhh! Everyone started laughing at me and all the boys grabbed my cup and had to taste it and sure enough IT WAS COFFEE!! oh man I was so embarrassed and I will never live it down here! Let this be a warning to all of you so you don't make the mistake of thinking your "french vanilla" hot chocolate is burnt. FRENCH VANILLA IS COFFEE!!!

Here is a picture of me and my friends before an Aggie basketball game. Our basketball games are the greatest! We have an amazing team!! I am looking angry in this picture because everyone kept talking and were taking FOREVER to take the picture. So I got tired and stopped smiling.

L-R my roommates Anamarie and Shannon. My neighbors Ross, Jake, and Kate. and then me on the front row by Matty.

Blog!! Smog!!

2009-02-10T20:00:00.000-08:00

Yay! I finally figured out how to blog... many un-nice things were said about blogging before I finally figured it out though. But here we are! and life is good! I LOVE it! I'm actually in a walking cast/boot/shoe (whatever) right now becuase I cracked my Big Toe bone on my left foot (fractured is the correct term) PahHa! I did it the first week of school, but didn't go to a doctor until a week ago when the pain finally was taking over me. . . it's lame because the boot is open toed and so I FREEZE in the Logan snow and I may be wearing it for 4-6 weeks, which means no running or being crazy. Ahhh I am already going through withdrawals! It's so hard. But my dear, sweet roommate Shannon (Who i call Shadene becuase she acts like my mom) takes care of me and bosses me around keeping me off my foot. It's good she's around because I would be much worse without her :) Anyways, I'll update ya more another day!