young adult lit blog

I don't know if any of you are interested in reading young adult books, but I have some great books that I read for the young adult literature class I took last semester. One of my projects was to create a blog of the books I read. I am continuing to add other books. If you haven't read many young adult books, I suggest you read some. They are wonderful because they're quick and entertaining, while they still have some very mature themes and concepts that apply to adults. So if you want some recommendations, click on the link on the side panel and it will take you to the blog.

monday, monday

Another beautiful day in Rexburg, but today I actually wore long sleeves because it was a little chilly outside. This semester has so far been very busy, and I can't believe how quickly it's passing. Actually, I kind of wish it would hurry up so I can be done with classes. How stressful. Five classes this semester in addition to my job at the McKay Library Reading Center. I am taking two creative writing classes, A LOT of work, an American literature class, also a lot of work, a church history class, again a lot of work, and art. I'm not talking the easy "draw-a-circle-and-you-get-an-A" art. My perfectionism is almost too much for me to handle sometimes. I'm working really hard to not let it become an issue. However, it's hard to change a personality trait I was born with. Classes are going reasonably well. I just need to work on getting caught up and staying caught up.

That's all for now. Hope everyone is doing well!

the most magical place on earth and other fun places

The last month or so has been so busy. Sarah, Jessica, and their kids came to visit us for a few weeks. We had so much fun playing with the kids. Lily is getting so big, and is such a sweetheart. LaMar and Rochelle are growing up so fast. LaMar slept on the floor in my room, and my favorite part of the day was bedtime when I got to put him in bed and read stories. He is a sweet boy. Rochelle played dress-up and house, and all kinds of things. Sophie is no longer a baby! She is still as friendly as can be, and she, too, is sweet and fun. She is full of mischief. Sierra is a beautiful girl, ready to go into young women's on Sunday. Her twelfth birthday is on Saturday. She started junior high yesterday. I can't believe how grown-up she is.

For Stephanie's and Sierra's birthdays, the three of us spent three days in Disneyland. It was so fun going with Sierra, who had never been before. We went on almost every ride, met several characters, and went to some shows. My favorite was Soarin', a ride/show about California. You sit in front of a huge screen, they move the seats up high so you feel like you're in a hang-glider, and you see, hear, and smell beautiful California landscapes. Next to that, my favorite ride was the good old Space Mountain. I love not knowing where the track is going to take you. It makes the ride so much more exciting. Sierra's favorite ride was the Hollywood Tower of Terror. They take you up into what is supposed to be an old hotel where the elevator stops working at the top of the building. Then you plummet, free falling down, shooting back up, then dropping again. It is by far the scariest thing I have ever done. Thank goodness for anxiety meds.

After coming home from Disneyland we drove to Washington for Brianne's wedding. She was a beautiful bride. I still have a hard time believing that she's married. While in Washington we were able to spend more time with family. Rochelle and LaMar were part of the wedding party, so they were all dressed up. It was so cute. At the reception we danced with the kids. Justin and Jessica danced, and Rochelle and LaMar were trying to copy everything their parents did. It was funny to watch Rochelle, who is quite a bit taller than LaMar, try to spin into LaMar's arms and dip like Justin does with Jessica. What funny kids.

I'm going back to Rexburg on Tuesday. I'm grateful for this break, but I'm kind of ready to get back into school. I'm starting to get what I can only guess is the beginnings of senior-itis. I changed my major to English education, and I am ready to finish school so that I can start working, making money, and moving on with my life. I think I'm done being the student. I want to be the teacher for a little while. Stephanie's going back to school has made me want to become a teacher even more. I know it will be difficult, but I think I'm up for the challenge. I guess we'll see how ready I am in a year or two!

remember how merciful the lord hath been

The title of this post comes from the title of a talk by Elder Neal A. Maxwell given in the April 2004 General Conference. This was one of his last Conference addresses if not the last. It comes from Moroni 10:3.

Right now I am overwhelmed by the mercy and love of my Savior and Redeemer. This last semester has been horrendous. I didn't think I'd be able to pass any of my classes. I just saw my grades. One D-; three C+'s; three B+'s; one A-; and one A. I couldn't be happier. I know know that I have witnessed true and tender mercies of the Lord, and I am so grateful. I worked so hard and was certain it wouldn't be enough. Through His great goodness the difference was made up so that I could finish the semester and actually pass all nine courses.

oh how i love them

the evergreen state and other green things

Last night I returned to Rexburg after a wonderful trip to the great Pacific Northwest. Each trip reminds me how much I love the green and how much I miss it while I am away. This last trip went too quickly. Brianne and I drove to Twin Falls on Thursday after class, where Mom and Dad picked us up. We drove all the way to Washington and arrived on Friday morning. We drove the entire way back to Rexburg (via Twin Falls) on Monday.

Friday was Sarah's birthday, so we went to dinner and then spent time at Justin and Jessica's house. We were fortunate enough to have our entire family together. All seventeen of us! It was wonderful. I am truly blessed to have such a great family, one that thrives on getting together every chance we get, one that actually gets along when we meet together. I am blessed to have great in-laws who have quickly become my siblings. My nieces and nephews are beautiful. I know you all know that, but I had to share anyway.

Being back in Rexburg is good for me, though it is not easy. I miss my family already, and I came back to an enormous pile of homework and a somewhat less-than-enthusiastic greeting from a pile of close and other things on my bed and floor. I was not so happy to have to clean all of that up before I could sleep. The good news: I changed my sheets and showered. There is nothing better than getting into fresh, cool sheets after taking a hot shower.

The weather is gorgeous in Rexburg. Of course we have the never-changing Rexburgian wind, but the sun is shining, the tank is clean...Okay, that was a Finding Nemo moment. I am grateful to be in Rexburg for the beautiful sun. The grass and trees are green. Flowers are blooming. The sun is out enough to give me some pretty intense sunburns. Oh, how I love the warm breeze and the green grass and trees. I didn't know what I was missing before! I'll exchange winter for spring any day!

ever changing, ever busy

I'm sure I don't have many readers, especially readers who don't already know what's going on in my life. But just in case I do have a reader or two whom I don't talk to every other day, this is a little taste of my life...

My golf class is difficult, but I am enjoying all the vitamin D from the abundant Rexburg sun. I didn't know Rexburg weather could be so beautiful and warm! The wind hasn't slowed down, though. This last week we had 40-mph winds. I thought I would literally blow away. My young adult literature class is tons of fun. I am glad I was able to take it again. Third time's a charm! I am determined to get through this semester and actually pass that class. Not that I don't love taking it over and over. I've found some amazing books. But I would like to graduate in this century. My religion class is wonderful. We are focusing on The Family Proclamation. I didn't realize how specific, inspired, and prophetic that document really is. My job at the Reading Center in the McKay Library on campus has slightly changed. Originally I was going to be a tutor, but the prospect of tutoring was a bit too much for me to handle this semester. Instead, the dear Sister Engstrom has made me her "slave," as she says. I look at it as getting paid to do things I enjoy. I have been editing many of the lesson plans, etc. for the Reading Center. It is similar to the work I did as a Scroll copy editor, but it is not nearly as stressful, and I don't have to deal with flack from everyone around me (Scroll is infamous in Rexburg--more than famous, but not in a good way). I didn't enjoy Scroll. Working for Sister Engstrom is great. She is so fun to be around, and has created such a low-stress environment for me. I actually enjoy going to work. I couldn't imagine ever feeling that way.

The seventh grandchild, fifth girl, was born in my family this week. Liliana Kay (Lily) joined Justin and Jessica on 13 May. I have only seen a few pictures of her, but next weekend I am flying to Washington for a few days, and I can't wait to see all but two of my babies--Lily, Sophie, LaMar, Rochelle, and Sierra. Yes, they are all my babies. If I can't have ones of my own, I will just have to live vicariously through my siblings.

In the next few days I am going to start up a young adult literature blog for my class, and I will be posting a link to it. It will basically be like mini reviews of the books that I'm reading for class, but I will probably continue using it even after the class.

Bye for now.