Gratitude

I just got back from running three miles this morning. Today's gift was a beautiful fall morning. As I stepped out the door the north wind greeted me, chilling me instantly. While running I watched leaves race across the streets. Fall is the time of year when mother nature paints with intense colors for a few short weeks, then switches palettes and paints with white. Fall is when people use food for decorations in different sizes and shapes of orange. Last fall semester I learned something that continues to haunt me. Each year 11 million people die of starvation. That is like the Holocaust happening every year! You and I are not one of them. How fortunate we are to live in a land choice above all other lands, a land of plenty. To have your health, family (such as they are) and cherished friends is the truest wealth. We take so much for granted.

Sinister steps

On the BYU campus is a sinister set of steps. Let me explain. Because I am not a professor I get to park, along with 30,000 other students, in parking lots located miles from class. The people in admissions are secretly cruel. They make sure there are more than twice as many students enrolled than there are parking spaces. So students battle it out every day in parking lots. The BYU grounds crew is very efficient and constantly clears all traces of blood and guts before the media gets wind of the devastation.
Once I found an unguarded parking space. Delighted, I finally parked my car and started walking to class. I passed the Smith field house heading east. Then I saw them... a formidable run of stairs so long I could not see to the top. Undaunted, I started up the stairs loaded down like a pack mule with over 40 pounds of books, a computer, water, etc. For those who are smart enough to have rolling backpacks, please note that they are not very effective when it comes to stairs.
I consider myself in fairly good shape. However, it wasn't long before my legs and lungs were complaining. I kept going, even when other students quit and opted for the easier underground passage that was mercifully provided just before consciousness was lost. "Give it up!" my body screamed. "No!" my brain retaliated..."You can do this!" "Just take it one step at a time"... When I finally made it to the top things were hazy and I was gasping for air. My legs felt like rubber. But I prevailed!
I meet the steps often, sometimes two or three times a day. I always take it to the top.

Fall semester recently started and I'm "back in the saddle"at BYU. Studies are intense. However, in the evenings, when things settle down...I have a secret passion that takes the edge off things and relives a lot of stress. I have discovered WOW. To be honest, I've become a WOW freak. I have my own special WOW room complete with a WOW hot line to my mentor, Aidan. We have formed our own guild, "The Untouchables," complete with an official tabard and bank. When Ashley found out I started playing WOW, she chided me, "I can't believe you're playing that...only nerds play WOW." I have crossed over to the dork side. Power to the Horde!

So...Hey! brb cause i g2g agitate the Alliance O.o btw my main is lvl 48!!! I'm omw to glory and greatness! :p cya!

I lost myself. It happened slowly and somewhere among the incessant demands of others. I'm trying to find me but can't because the old me no longer exists. Someone else has taken her place and I haven't figured out who she is. My forever boyfriend comments on this renaissance woman as he watches me tackle things I had crossed off life's list. "WOW" he says, "You would have never done that before!" He's right. The old me wouldn't... but the new me does. I no longer have fears. It makes all the difference.

Summer Fun

I went to Victoria, British Columbia the last week in July. What a beautiful city! There were Hundreds of flower baskets hanging from old fashioned street lights. Not a single flower was dead or wilted...amazing! I Fell in love with that corner of the world. Erin and I want to move there. The highlight was whale watching Orcas in Puget Sound with Erin and Ashley. We traveled 86 nautical miles in two hours in a souped up rubber raft. We were hauling! The males travel on the perimeter of the pod, the females with young on the inside. They are incredible animals. I'd like to study marine biology.

Lessons learned the past two semesters:
1. There's a lot to be said about someone who can survive the academic environment at BYU. I found that BYU's classes are much more difficult and challenging and requires more academic excellence than my previous university did.

2. Snowdrifts are not as innocent as they look. BYU's ground crew will kindly shovel you out when you're stranded in the Marriot's parking lot. :)

3. Never take empty parking spaces for granted.

4. "Deal with it." (a phrase from one of my professors) means to not fall apart (especially during finals week). I found I can "deal with it" very well.