happy news

This article gave me goosebumps, and the photographer did a great job of capturing the moment.

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700007042/Utah-familys-dreams-come-true-Their-kids-are-home-from-Haiti.html?linkTrack=rss-30

Bucket List

• Road trip to Texas - check
• Run a marathon or half marathon - check
• Travel to the east coast, specifically DC - check
• Go to Jerusalem - PENDING

Yay :)


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And just because I know you're curious, here are a few others on my list:

• Ride a horse side saddle in a dress
• Watch the sun rise over the ocean
• Hike the Grand Canyon

Happiness

So I read this op-ed this morning and I really liked it.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/17/opinion/17kristof.html?em

Maybe I like it because his second example sounds like an LDS woman. I like what this article says--that the truest and most lasting happiness comes from looking outside of yourself. It's interesting that so many people have trouble finding true happiness that we need to conduct studies on it and write books about it. Happiness does not need to be so mysterious and unattainable.

The things in my life that bring me the MOST joy are:

• The Gospel
• Helping others
• Positive relationships
  

Favorite Things This Week

Carrie Underwood's Cowboy Casanova.

The light of the setting sun on the mountains (I missed this while in DC, but the light of the setting sun on the Lincoln Memorial over the Potomac River puts up a good fight).

Skinny jeans and boots. I like this functional trend.

The Kite Runner.

Listening to NPR as I get ready in the morning.

Leather gloves (thanks, Mom).

Free copies of The New York Times.

Senioritis

For the second time in my life. The last time I had it started the end of my junior year of high school.

Why do I have senioritis? Because

(a) I have been at BYU for 3 1/2 years...and I still have another year to go.
(b) Many of my friends have graduated, including my good friends from the PR program. Fortunately, many of them are still around the town so we can keep in touch anyway (right??).
(c) After making the transition from school to an internship, I finally decided I LIKED having a full-time job. Right about the time I started liking it, it was time to return to school again.
(d) As many of you know, I like to move and try new things. I get antsy being in one place or doing the same thing for too long.

On a more positive note, being a senior is a wonderful thing because

(a) I see people I know everywhere I go.
(b) I feel that I have valuable knowledge I can share with the young ones that will hopefully improve their college experience.
(c) For the most part, I know the system. I know what I can and can't do, and there are few surprises.
(d) I know more about my major, and I can do more with it.
(f) Teachers don't intimidate me so much anymore. And I'm friends with many of them.
(g) I can reminisce the whole walk across campus as memories of my younger self play in my mind. It seems like every smell, song, and sight is a catalyst for one good memory or another.

Stay tuned as I attempt to figure out life's next big question:

What should I do this summer?

I may, perhaps, have a better idea after the next week or two :)

Day 1. Again.

Ok, so I know I have been horrible about updating my blog. I probably won't be any better in the future, but I decided to write some thoughts about my first day back at school:

• I felt awkward. It wasn't as easy for me to jump back into things as I thought it would be. I have to relearn to divide my attention between about 10 things, instead of just 3 or 4. I think I've gotten a little slower in my time away from school.
• I love my classes.
• I made a lunch last night. Then I forgot to take it with me to school today.
  
• I ran into lots of DC friends on campus!
• I have class with one of my new BFFs Rachel, and we had lunch together, too.
• The PR office was welcoming and wonderful.
• We had a Washington Seminar reunion tonight because it was Kit's birthday. Kelli made him a rocketship cake. I LOVE those guys so much.
• The library printers were all broken today when I needed them. On the plus side, I befriended the computer guys who had to help me print. Then I somehow spent $20 on printing. Maybe those guys weren't as friendly as I thought they were. I will see what I can do to take care of that problem tomorrow.
  
• I was late to two of my classes.
• I wore a cute outfit.
• I found out that lots of my friends from live within only a couple of blocks!
• I have wonderful roommates, a great place to live, and a big room ALL to myself (for now, at least).
• School is good. But it's hard to be back. It's good to know I am exactly where I am supposed to be. And I'll move onto something else soon enough, so I might as well enjoy it while I can.

The Spirit of Christmas

I love this video:

The Christmas Spirit

Jerusalem

Tomorrow morning I mail in my application for the BYU Jerusalem Center. Wish me luck!

A New Blog

If you didn't see, I started a new blog. Click here to see it. I'll keep this one to write about things I do, and the new one will be more about what I'm thinking. It helps me to compartmentalize my thoughts a little bit :).

My Biggest Adventures

Over Columbus Day weekend in October a few friends and I hopped on a bus and rode up to New York for just $17.50! It was a short but wonderful trip. My cousin Adam and his wife Hillary were nice enough to let us stay with them at their apartment in upper Manhattan for the first couple of nights, and we rode the train down to New Jersey for our last night there. Jamie's parents live in New Jersey. They welcomed us into their house, fed us, and gave us candy (here Dad works for Mars, Inc.).

I also saw my first two Broadway shows: Mary Poppins and the Phantom of the Opera (after returning to DC, I also got to see Jersey Boys at the National Theatre...musicals are a little bit addicting). After New York, it was great to come back to DC, where the Metro is easy and clean, the people are friendly, and the buildings are relatively short.

On the Staten Island Ferry.

In front of the New York Times office.

On the train ride with all our luggage/purchases.
We went for a bikeride through Central Park. It was beautiful! I think this was my favorite scene because you can see the contrast between nature and the skyscrapers.

Some other pictures from my adventures:

Watching the first BYU game of the season at ESPN Zone.

Our second excursion to Eastern Market.
After Eastern Market we went to the National Zoo--mostly to see the Pandas. On our way we ran into these little entrepreneurs. We wanted to support them so we bought their overpriced lemonade and brownies.
We took a field trip to Harpers Ferry in West Virginia. This is where the Shenandoah and the Potomac Rivers meet. It rained, but it was beautiful.

We went to a concert on the west lawn of the capitol. It rained there too. We had to huddle under a blanket to try to stay dry but we eventually gave up.

I went to the National Naval Hospital in Bethesda to support a co-worker who was helping with the breast care art show. This group was made up of 10 extremely talented people from the Air Force. They were called the Strolling Strings. In this picture they were performing "My Heart Will Go On."
I got to see Danielle!
The Army 82nd Airborne Division performed at the National Military Family Association's (where I work) big 40th anniversary celebration. All their songs were a capella. Some of the songs they sang: The Star-Spangled Banner, An American Soldier, My Girl, Under the Boardwalk. They quite possibly could have been my favorite part of the event, besides meeting the families (see below).
With two friends I made at NMFA's big event. Marissa (on the left) was from the Marines Corps Family of the Year, who actually ended up winning the Military Family of the Year award. Check them out--they are an awesome family! Morgan is my little friend on the right, from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Family of the Year. I also got to take a tour of the CIA museum with the families. Unfortunately, we weren't allowed to take any pictures there...
Garrett and me after church.
This is what Georgetown looks like on Halloween. CRAZY!
Riding the Metro to a barn dance for Halloween.

Ok there, I'm caught up! In the meantime, I started another blog...

Isabella Claire

Check out my new niece. I can't wait to meet her!

I Feel Happy Inside When I See Your Face (and Letters!!)

I think about my best friend and roommate, TyRee, all the time. TyRee is serving a mission in Pocatello, Idaho and now she is known as "Sister Fausett." I just got a letter from her yesterday! Her letters always make me happy.

At the end of winter semester, we filmed a bunch of little clips on her Mac and then she put them together in this sweet music video and presented it to me just before she left. I apologize for this version being a little small and pixelly, but I had to upload the condensed version...besides, it's less awkward that way :).



Love you, best friend!