My Week... In Pictures

1. Volleyball game. They were ranked #1 and then lost. It was a miserable game. They lost every single match. But on the plus side... Way fun to watch and cute boys.

2. Flowers! So very pretty. They were given to me by my dad. I absolutely love them. Just completely made my day.

3. I made some lovely valentine sugar cookies. This is in the process of making, and then the final product. Yummy!

4. Oh the joys of having IV's, scans, and the bruises that follow. Enough said.

5. What is this white stuff?? It is currently snowing like crazy and starting to pile up. Not really looking forward to walking to school in it...

What a week! So excited for the log weekend coming up... A break from school and I get to go HOME!

Super Bowl Sunday

It is that day. In fact, it's happening right now. This being the first year I've been away from home for the Super Bowl I wasn't quite sure what I was going to do. But true to Smith family traditions it was time for a feast.

It was A LOT of food. I'm pretty sure I will have leftovers for weeks. But I loved making it and being able to continue what I knew was going on at home. Now it's GAME TIME!

Here's a peek at some of the treats:

The Life at BYU

I am officially one month into winter semester... And it's basically my senior year at BYU. I could not be more excited and scared at the same time! I am so excited to finally be able to teach, but still feel so unprepared to be responsible for 25 little kiddies. Yay for more school to help me!

This semester has already been insanely crazy.

These stairs kill me... Literally. Could not be a better workout.

The basketball games are a blast! So so fun. I absolutely love going... Even though I'm not a huge fan of losing.

 

Even though the semester is only one month in its been a roller coaster. It's been hard and challenging, but valuable experiences. More than anything this semester is helping me grow and learn how to handle the curve balls life throws. I know without a shadow of a doubt that I am being watched over and that there is a plan just for me.

Here's to a new semester!

Here We Go...

Aaaand I'm back.... Yes, I realize it has been pretty much three months. Hopefully I can get better and more consistent with updating what I'm up to. We'll have to see about that one.

School has officially started! (almost a month ago.) This means that I am now in the middle (ish) of my junior year... SCARY! In exactly one year I will be teaching in my own classroom most likely. I could not be more excited and terrified at the same time. I feel so ready, but where did the time go?! It seems like I was just beginning high school and now I'm getting ready for a career. Crazy how fast time flies. Anyway...

This is where I spend ALL of my time... literally, pretty much all of it. Anywhere from six to ten hours a day is spent taking classes, doing homework, and hanging out with my girls on campus. It has been a difficult semester. Already. My classes are ridiculous and the expectations and amount of homework are constantly rising. Since I started it has been consistently overwhelming. Being here has definitely taught me how to manage my time and be able to prioritize. Only a month into fall semester and I can tell I am going to learn so many lessons and so much about myself.

I could not make it through the semester without two things... my group of girls and religion class. These girls are seriously life savers. We have almost every single class together and spend almost all of our time together. We help each other with homework, with assignments, and most importantly to calm down. I love being able to sympathize with these girls and to just take time out of all the craziness and LAUGH. We have discovered that it truly is the best medicine for when we are stressed and need to let it go. I love it!

My other lifesaver is my religion class. This semester I am taking the second half of the Book of Mormon. BYU religion classes have a reputation for being some of the most difficult classes on campus.... I completely disagree. I have absolutely loved the ones I have taken. I look forward to going each Tuesday and it is such a relief and break from the outside world and the stresses from other classes. Everything we talk about is somehow applied to our lives as college students. Looking through the scriptures with the perspective that there are messages for ME changes the whole experience of how I read and look at things. The gospel can make such a difference in your life! These are a couple of my favorite quotes from class so far...

"Sometimes prayers aren't answered the way we hope they are."

"The Lord has embedded in the Book of Mormon his message to you. Nephi, Mormon, and Moroni knew that, and those who put it together put in messages for you." ~Henry B. Eyring

BYU has been one of the hardest, but best experiences for me right now. Even though it is difficult there are so many positives and so many fun times that I've had. Speaking of... BYU vs. Utah on Saturday. Will I be there? You bet I will!

LET'S GO COUGARS!

1 Week!

It is coming to an end. My first term/semester at BYU is almost over! I couldn't be more excited. Don't get me wrong... I have loved being here and have met some friends that I absolutely love. But it's time for a break. I am SUPER excited that I get to go home for 2 weeks... I miss it like crazy! Never realized how much I loved Arizona and being around family until now. It is most definitely time for a 2 1/2 month break!

All that is left is one class session and then 4 finals... Please go by quickly!

Side Note... Don't you just love letters from missionaries? It truly is amazing to me. From almost 2,000 miles away it still makes me laugh and puts a smile on my face. It changes my whole day! I am so grateful for missionaries, their hard work, dedication, and perseverance to serve and spread the gospel. I love watching their testimonies grow and be strengthened as mine does too. Just gotta love them!

*Next Thursday Here I Come!*

And it continues...

School has been keeping me crazy busy! There is always something that needs to be done or turned in... but I'm not complaining. I am loving getting into the routine of school. My classes are so interesting and it just makes me excited to actually get in a classroom. Only about 4 more months!

I finally got a calling in my ward. I am now an extraction worker. I am so excited to begin! I love that I have been given the opportunity to participate and do temple work while I cannot actually go through the temple. I know that this is a blessing that has been given to me and it is at the perfect time!

Today has been the perfect day up at BYU. I had my "Aha" moment today. I am blessed and have been given many blessings. The opportunity to be at BYU and go to school is a blessing in and of itself. At times, yes, it is hard, but this is helping me to grow more than I thought possible. My prayers have truly been answered here. I have seen the Lord's hand in my life. Everything is falling into place and turning out in the way that is best for me. I have been led, guided, and directed throughout my classes, tests, and actions. Last week I took one of the hardest tests I have taken to date. I was pretty sure I was not going to get the "ideal" grade. After getting it back today, my grade on the test was an A. There is no other conclusion or answer. I was inspired and led by the Spirit during that test. In one of my other classes today we had a spiritual thought that struck home. We were looking at the conference talk Believe by Sister Dalton in the April 2004 conference session. The words said in that talk are uplifting, inspiring, and true. This was the perfect message for me.
Indeed...

I BELIEVE IN MYSELF!


*Pictures will come soon!

Life at BYU

Two days of classes down. It has been a crazy ride. Classes are so different from what I am used to. I like most of them... but some are definitely difficult!

Life in an apartment is very weird right now. It's a big adjustment. As of now I'm not sure I like it too much. I'm just ready for a 3 day weekend!

It is FREEZING here! I think my hands might fall off from the cold. It snowed my first day going to class... at the end of April. What is that?! Definitely not a fan of walking to class in the snow. I am soo not used to 40 degree weather. I need a big coat!

Only about a month and a half left of classes...