Junior Year

3 years of college done....say what??? Honestly, I'm silently freaking out inside to think that I graduate college next year. It honestly doesn't seem real...that's for another post.

Spring Semester this year was by far my hardest semester in college--mentally. I don't know how I got through 6 finals, 2 projects, and 3 papers during dead/final week, but I did. There were so many days, weeks even that seemed so repetitive and to be honest everything all seemed like a blur. However, a couple things kept me going...

1. Chugz---upside down cake you were heaven sent.
2. Late night drives in the car. Taylor Swift (older songs) does wonders for the soul.
3. The boys (jamba runs are life) and my girls (cal, per, kell, cass, heid, kayc you are the real reason why I didn't end up like Brittany Spears in 07).
4. Logan Temple   

"The Spot": when I say I am going on a "drive" it's usually to my spot. At night in the distance the temple shines beautifully and in the day it still stands as a beauty. As I took my last final, I somehow ended up at the temple. This holy place was my place of refuge, specially this semester. Goodness this gospel is soo good.

I love UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY. I have the best of friends, family that still loves me (and my craziness), and truly I am grateful for the education I have been getting. 

Enjoy some pictures!!

 

18 months is complete

 I remember it like it was yesterday, saying goodbye to my best friend was hard to say the least. I have had this human with me every step of my life. For those who have followed this blog, if there even are any haha you may recall that I made this blog right before she left and to think its been 18 months still baffles me. To recall back on when she left click here. Also, if you want to hear about all of her experiences she had, head over to her blog, you won't regret it. :)

To say I was freaking out the night before she got home is an understatement, don't mind my super cheesy sign...embrace it haha that's what I did.

I remember watching my brother and cousins come off the escalators but to see my girl. Oh it was a happy day and the reunion was sweet. The pictures speak for themselves. 

Besides our 'crying' faces, this picture is truly so tender. goodness it give me the feels.

I remember thinking about how I was going to make it without Kaycee and I remember getting the impression that this would be a growing time for me. And oh how it was a HUGE growing period for me. To say I looked forward to her emails haha like really though I would try and plan my mornings around her emails. Having my best friend on a mission was a blessing in my life <--- never thought I would say that. Even though I would try telling myself that I don't need to tell her everything, let's face it, I did. Kaycee Shae, because of your mission my testimony has increased. Hearing your experiences and the strength I received from knowing that even in Virginia you were still rooting for me, thank you, thank you, thank you. 

Kaycee's farewell talk was on gratitude. Her homecoming to be honest I don't remember the exact topic all I remember is her saying something along the lines..."I'm incredibly grateful that Heavenly Father gave me this opportunity to serve him as a missionary and the experiences he gave me." Once again I felt the love that Kayc has for this gospel and her Heavenly Father. Which also made me more thankful for the experiences that the Lord gave me while she was gone. But oh how I have missed having her home. We haven't had a whole lot of time to be together since she's been back seeing how she decided to start at BYU (yes she left me at USU it's okay no hard feelings) haha. I am so grateful though for those phone calls and texts that we can do now. I am looking forward to our adventures that awaits and what life has in store for each of us. Much love BFG, much love!

Island Park CYA

CYA--first thing first, if you have never played Covered Your Assets (its a card game). You should. So simple and easy to play. My family is addicted to say the least.

Ever since I was a little girl I can remember going to Island Park with my family. So every time February comes around I can't wait for a weekend at a cabin, going on snowmobile rides, staying up way late, walking the shops of Yellowstone, good food, and most importantly great company! Here are some pics from our latest trip along with some highlights. :)

*Night Ride: There is something about a night ride that I can't really explain, even if my sled did break the first night, I love night rides.

 *So the next day it started out as a blizzard. Then after much prayers it turned into a beautiful, warm, sunny day. My 77 year old grandpa decided he wanted to ride with us. Those who have rode with my family before know that we don't ride the trails, he kept up SO good! We rode about 55-60 miles the first day; did rea's pass, two top, big springs, and helped find a random kid that was stranded.

Big Springs: I'm pretty sure I have a picture here from the past 20 years of my life.

My dad, Aunt Michele, and my Gramps

My two sisters

To think that people rode on this 1988 sled with three people for fun baffles me. Double riding is hard, but triple riding, I can't even imagine to say the least. haha So thankful for the new sleds :)

*Valentine's day isn't just the love holiday in my family, but it's my Gramps birthday. I would like to give a shout out to uncle Ricky for making the balloons (aka what is hanging from the light haha)

 Mesa Falls in the winter is stunningly beautiful, but also scares me. To walk down to see the falls you pray that you don't slip on the ice or stumble on the snow that is covering the stairs and die. Once again I think I have a picture here for about 20 years or so and guess what it never gets old!

My girls

To say we are Daddy's girls is an understatement

Lastly, I just want to thank my sis and Heid. Not everyone will stay up till 2-3 am and talk about life. I love my family, I love snowmobiling, I love the memories that were made and will always cherish. Until next time Island Park.

choose H A P P Y

This post is simply me venting. Plain and Simple.

Have you ever had those weeks, or days for that matter where you simply ask yourself---WHY ME? Last week was a week, where that was the case a lot. I honestly didn't think anything more could happen, it was Thursday one more day and it was the weekend. I was wrong. SMASH...car accident happen. Like alright....sweet. cool. with that being said here are my thoughts about those #@$%^%$# weeks. haha

1: It's okay too cry. I am not one who usually shows my emotions to the outside. I keep things in. After I exchanged insurance etc. with my car...I got in and drove away and little did I know how much tears my eyes could produce. I can officially say, I've cried in class, in a store, driving (where the tears blur the lines, luckily I'm safe), I've cried in a bathroom at a restaurant. Needless, to say the tears were coming and not stopping--I started to get so made and frustrated that I couldn't get myself together. Which brings me to my second point.

2: It's okay to not be the strong one all the time. With multiple events that led to the breakdown, I was being told by more than one person that "Jess you're strong you can handle it" "If anything was to happen to someone, it'd be you, you'll be fine" and so on so on. Well guess what. Its okay to admit to yourself and to whoever that you aren't okay. You do not have to apologize or feel wrong for how you are healing, from what or who destroyed you in the first place. That for a day or a couple of days you don't want to be the strong one. There is a famous Grey's Anatomy that fits perfectly..."You don't cry because you are weak, you cry because you've been strong for far too long." It's okay to cry and it's okay to not be yourself for a little bit.

3: The main thing I learned this past week and am still continuing to learn besides that crying and not being is strong is okay....is that I have someone who will always be strong for me and if I only lean on him more and more then guess what I will find Happiness sooner. My Savior is the strong one, he has cried and bled from every pore so now it's my turn to do the crying. As I have knelt down by my bedside morning and night these past few days, my tears start to slowly dry up and the peace, comfort, and love that overcomes me is slowly but surly reminding me day by day that things do get better.

So choose happy. I have a dear friend, who means more to me then they will ever know, who is positive 90% of the time...and from them I have learned more than anything that happiness is a choice.  Although, killing them with kindness or happiness is the worst/best thing that you can do. Serving others, be kind, being happy....that is what you should and all you can do when those tears dry away and you're staring at yourself in the mirror thinking what's next. If it takes your months, weeks, or days to get past what is happening....IT IS O K A Y. The act of trying to be happy and pressing on slowly but surely is what eventually in the long road lead to happiness. so choose H A P P Y.

P.S. a dose of laughter always helps.