Post-Mission Call

It has been almost a month since I opened my mission papers.

Oh, how time flies. 100 more days until I leave, and I know that it will be here before I know it. I can't wait. I try to stay busy, and trust me.. it's not that hard to do while in college.. but it's always there. Whether it's in the back of my mind, or the front.. it's constantly reminding me of the amazing opportunity I have to serve a mission. There are moments where I feel like it's all a dream that I'm going to wake up from, but it's not.. and that's the best part. :)

Life lately:

 Volleyball Games

 Archery

 Movie Nights

 Chocolate Fondue, and Pretzels

& Basketball Games

I want to give a shout-out to my parents. 

I'll be the first to tell you that I often take them for granted. The phone calls, the random texts, and skype sessions. Whether we are talking about the weather, life, or a Thunder game from the night before, I look forward to every conversation. They tell me they love me. They support me. They listen to my occasional rants, and can always bring a smile to my face. More importantly, I love that they love each other. Whether it's a corny joke from my dad, or encouragement from my mom.. I don't know where I'd be without either of them.

The Semester is OVER!

Can really already be Christmas Break?

I can't believe this semester has gone by so fast! I feel like my college years are going to be over before I know it. Speaking of... I love BYU. It is honestly the only place I could ever imagine myself going to school.

Longer post to come.... my brother is getting married in a couple days :)

College Probs

I think my professors are trying to fail me. 

That's the only thing I can come up with. Why would you have a "mid-term" and then 2 weeks later decide to have ANOTHER "mid-term?" Not in just one, but two of my hardest classes..both the same week. 

I feel like they should also stop calling them mid-terms. That is a very deceiving term, and I'm almost 100% positive it's against the honor code for BYU professors to deceive their students. Mid. Term. In the middle of the semester, meaning a total of two exams: one mid-term and one final. Not four "mid-terms" and a final-- all for the same class.

If you can't tell, I'm a little stressed. Four "midterms" in 6 days can make one go crazy. Oh, and I'm sick with some virus called Mono? Don't worry... I didn't get it from a boy. (When it comes to drinking after people.. I'm the worst.) Not only is it contagious, so my roommates avoid me like the plague, but it makes you really, really tired. The Dr. told me to try to keep my stress level down because it only makes it worse, but I think I'm failing in that category.

Oh and it snowed here in Provo! More than it did all last year. Now I feel justified playing Christmas music all the time. :)

But don't worry. I just have to make it until Saturday, then I'll be on a plane to a place far from Provo where no one will speak of "mid-terms," sodium bicarbonate, alpha/beta particles, or action potentials. :)

Well, that's my rant for the week. Time to take another nap.. I mean study. (For my 3rd "mid-term.")

Joy in the Journey

Sometimes I get caught up in the stressfulness of college life. The constant studying, never-ending midterms, ramen noodles, study groups and the constant search for quarters on laundry day. 

Then... I pause, and realize how great life is. 

Just look around you. It's one of the most beautiful times of the year. I love all the beautiful fall colors and I can't help but smile when I walk under a tree and leaves fall around me. 

I was talking to a friend last night who is at a completely different stage in life than I am, and it made me realize we all have our own trials and stresses. I find myself thinking that things will be easier when I get into my program, or when I graduate, or once I'm married, etc... I'm always looking to the next best thing in life, expecting it to be easier.. but that's not how it works. No matter where you are in life, you're going to have trials and it's not going to be easy.

The key is to find joy in the journey. 

Stop and take one minute to look at the beauty all around you. Tell your family you love them. Say a prayer of gratitude for the life you have and..smile. :) You'll never be at this point in your life again, so enjoy it while you can.

The Last Month...

Life has been really busy lately. College can do that to you. There is always some assignment, midterm,  or paper breathing down your neck. You get caught up, just to get behind again. I swear it's a never-ending process.

But, that's one of the good things about Provo, Utah. You have plenty of "homework relievers" all around you. :)

Camping..

 

ICEE Run's!

Football Games!!

Disco Skating

Broom Hockey..

HIKING!

TRAIN CONCERT!

DIRTY DASH!!

Flag Football-- Cool Runnings!!

Plus.. lots of movie nights, 'How I Met Your Mother' marathons, and cake batter cookies.

I know some of you, like my parents, are wondering how much "schoolwork" I'm actually doing.. but don't worry. This week.. I got my first A on a Chemistry midterm since being at BYU. It was quite a monumental moment. It may have taken me a year, but I think I finally have this whole college thing figured out.

My new home :)

Meet... the Apartment.

 Front door

Living Room

 Living Room

 Kitchen

Bathroom

My Room

(My t-shirt blanket! Mom made it for me. She's awesome.)

That's it! Isn't our home cute? I absolutely love it. 

Meet.. the Roommates.

 Jessica, Brighton, McKinlee, Sydney, & Madison

Oklahoma, Arizona, Michigan, Colorado, & Texas

This picture is from last year.. We'll be taking family pictures pretty soon. But.. they are the best, and I can't wait to spend this next year with them! 

Goodbye Oklahoma

The last couple days were full of 'goodbyes' and 'see you laters'. I really hate goodbyes; they're never fun, but they always remind me of the many people I'm grateful to have in my life.

Here's a few of the pics I've taken this week..

Tuck! 

Alisha and Cara! Went and ate at BJ's for C's 21st yesterday! 

The Bailey's! I've babysat them for the last 7 years.. Love these kiddos.

Gillespie's dressed up in their BYU gear for me :)

But it's official. I am no longer in Oklahoma. The trek to Utah begins Pops is coming with Betty and I. Betty's never been this far away from home, so let's hope she makes it! It is a long, unexciting 19 hours; however, it will be worth it. :) 

Okie friends and family... I love y'all. See you in December!

Utah... I miss you.

I've been home for over 2 months... and I'm ready to get back to Provo.

I miss the mountains, the cool weather, and all my friends.

I'm excited to see my roommates again. 

I'm ready to put all the different Pinterest crafts we've made in our apartment.

I'm just...  ready for this next school year... Please come faster!?

Don't get me wrong...I love Oklahoma. But at this point in my life... it's not where I'm supposed to be. 

4 weeks until Brandon gets home & our Alaska Cruise

5 weeks until my last day of work

6 weeks until I head to Utah

7 weeks until I move-in to my apartment

8 weeks until sophomore year begins..

It's going to all go by fast...

P.S. My current crafts: I finished 2 aprons, in the process of working on 2 more, and then still need to find fabric for the last 2. Also working two other crafts. I'll post pictures soon.

Home.

The last week of college was crazy. I had 5 finals to take, so lots of studying but at the same time you want to spend time with everyone before you leave. Freshman year is unique in the fact that we will probably never see any of the guys again, since they are all going on missions. With that said... I, of course, spent all my time with my roommates, because those are the people I will actually miss haha.

Brighton and McKinlee left early in the week, Madison was with Chase and his family, and Jessica had plans. So Sydney and I partied it up the last day of college.  

 We took stuff to the "Roommates Storage Unit"...can you see Sydney? haha...

Had a dance party in the car...

Bought yellow night gowns at the DI for $3 (quite the steal) :)...

Slept in the back of Sydney's truck...

and watched a chick flick.

That, my friends, sounds like the perfect last night of college to me.

But now I'm home. I love being home, but it is definitely different... Nonetheless, awesome. I spent my first weekend running errands for my mom, watching Austin's baseball games, and spending time with Austin and Sydney outside in the beautiful Oklahoma weather. 

1st stop.. SNOW CONES.

Oh and I have a new sister! Her name is Kaydee.

(Like KD as in Kevin Durant.. what can I say, my fam loves the Thunder!)

I promised Meg we would "Cover the Night" for KONY 2012. We had fun :)

 Syd and I before church! She is such a pretty girl.

Life is good. 

On the Home Stretch...

I am officially done with my first year of college.

Shocking. I know. I can't believe how fast it went by. I loved every second of it. The best thing that happened all year was finding my 5 awesome roommates.

It would have been a completely different year without them and I can't wait until we have an apartment next year! Made lots of memories this year but now...

...SUMMER is here.

My Summer will be full of working, working, and.. more working. I have a couple different interviews set up for different CNA positions, and I'm really excited. I think part of the excitement is because it will be my first "real" job. Not that working at the farm wasn't a real job, trust me... it was most definitely a real job, but it will be good to have something on my resume besides a business with my last name on it.

Besides working, the majority of my time will be spent with the fam. I love being out of state for school, but I hate missing out on my brother and sisters growing up. I mean Megan is already 16, and Austin is turning 14 this summer!! It's insane! And let us not forget little Miss. Sydney. Besides the 3 kids at home, my big brother is coming home in July. I can't even begin to tell you how proud I am of him. This will probably be the last time all of us will be living under the same roof and it will only be for a few weeks. We're all getting so OLD! :)

Life goes by fast. Don't waste it stressing over things that, in the long run, really don't matter. I think that's one of the biggest things I've learned this year. When things don't go how I think they should, I remind myself to put things in perspective.

"Life is to be enjoyed, not endured."

See ya soon Oklahoma.

College Fun

Can I just say... I love college.

I love my classes; the professors are all amazing, and really care about their students. I love my hall, my ward, my roommate, my best friends, and really... everything. Everything that is, EXCEPT for Finals Week, and the days leading up to it.

Needless to say, a pretty stressful week, but that doesn't stop us from having fun. Last night, about 7 of us decided to tie girls' doors together. We would knock and then watch and laugh as they couldn't get out of their room. I know. It sounds pretty dumb, but it was one of the most entertaining things I've done here. (Besides taking the dividers in the bathroom stalls down. That one takes the cake.) We got a few really good reactions, and were possibly chased by an RA who doesn't know how to have fun.

BUT... was it worth missing an entire night of studying for?

Yes. Forget studying, I'm making memories.

College Brings Change

I am now starting my last week of classes as a freshman in college.

Where did this year go? I remember moving into my dorm with my two lovely parents at my side, filled with excitement as I decorated my room and looked at the view of the mountains from my window. I look back to that girl, and can't believe how much I've changed in just a short 8 months.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm still Shelby. I still avidly watch OKC Thunder games, play b-ball every chance I get, and eat more junk food than one girl really should... But, I feel like I've grown up quite a bit. No matter how small or big trials may seem, I feel like they will either break you or refine you. It's all up to you, and how you respond to them.

When I first moved to Utah, I lost one of my closest friends and now, 6 months later, we are just beginning to pick up the pieces. Soon after, my sweet grandmother lost a hard fought battle with cancer. This still brings tears to my eyes as I think about it. I can still picture her sitting at her desk by Grandpa and making jokes with him. They were a match made in heaven. I hope and pray that I have a love as strong as theirs some day.

That semester was really tough, and it didn't seem to get too much easier. The next semester I took on a bit more than I should have by taking CNA classes each weekend. And let's just say... BYU's classes are really hard. (It's a good day when I get a C on a Chemistry test..) And then my sweet Manny passed away in February.

Looking back now... each experience has changed me in some way. I have a much greater testimony of eternal families and better relationship with my Heavenly Father. I also think that I've finally learned how to study properly!!

(Well.. let's be honest, I'm still working on that one.)

Most importantly though, I know BYU was the right choice for me.