Monday, January 9, 2012

KORRA




THANK YOU SO MUCH.
IF NOT FOR THIS I MIGHT BE DEAD RIGHT NOW.
2012!!!!! MY HEART. CAN'T. HANDLE.
Now for an actual date...

Thursday, January 5, 2012

I May Very Well Never See the Light of Day Again

I have been to all my second-semester classes at least once. 

And...It will be a miracle if I get any sleep at all this semester.

It's not that I am dreading my classes, per se.  Just that they will be extremely time-consuming.  I have been informed that I can look forward to spending 9-12 hours a week outside of class studying for Organic Chemistry, and 6-9 hours a week studying for Physics.  Not to mention Linear Algebra, for which there is a lot of homework, or Comparative Literature, for which I have to read ten a lot of books and write eight also a lot of essays. 

I've already been inundated with readings and quizzes and homework problems and a lot more readings.

I spent twenty minutes making up my study schedule for the semester and...I will rarely see any of my roommates or my bed. 

I also made a study playlist on Grooveshark which at this point consists solely of the beautiful and inspiring music of Jeremy Zuckerman and Benjamin Wynn.  Unlike most music, which distracts me, this helps me relax and focus.  As grateful as I am for their musical brilliance, I will probably be listening to this nonstop...because I will be studying nonstop.

Sigh.  Deeper sigh.  It will be worth it to get good grades and put the effort into learning the material thoroughly.  I know that.  Just...sigh.

Actually, the only way I know for sure that I'll survive is the fact that the first thing on my study schedule for every day is to read a talk from General Conference and the last thing on my day is to read my scriptures--both the Book of Mormon and the New Testament.  Starting and ending my day by studying the gospel and getting in tune with the Spirit will make me more focused, more centered, and more at peace.  If not for the gospel, I would be incomprehensibly lost. 

I am eternally grateful for my Heavenly Father's love for me and all the ways He has supported me thus far in my life.

To anyone feeling overwhelmed or lost or discouraged, I strongly recommend your reading this.  It really helped me to put everything in perspective and remind me that with His help, I can overcome anything that seems incomparably daunting.

So now I take a deep breath and say a prayer and work to keep my life aligned with my Heavenly Father's will.

Because without His help...I'm really not sure I can do this.

Monday, January 2, 2012

Blogging in an Airport

Because my flight doesn't leave for another hour and a half and I am BORED.

I had many a marvelous marathon of DW and Merlin and A:TLA with my lovely friends in Tennessee.  Season finales and season premieres and Christmas specials galore!

I endured/fostered lots of sibling craziness and abuse. 

I went on a wonderful trip downtown during which my best friend guilted me into buying two beautiful things that I am now very glad I own. 

I got to see my cousins and grandparents and show off my intense skills in Space Pop on the Kinnect. 

I learned that my brother (who is still not taller than me, by the way) can do an absolutely terrifying vampire face and can make a sound exactly like a stream.  Where has he been hiding these talents, I ask you? 

I learned that Nina and I should NEVER, under ANY circumstances, open a bakery. 

I successfully introduced the term "House of Anubis" into my family's vernacular.

I got a beautiful T-shirt quilt that I have drug everywhere with my since Christmas.  I feel like a little kid with her blanket.  I just love it so much...

And it may have been my last trip back to Franklin.  Because semester ends in April, which is four months away, and who knows where my family could be by then? 

I love you, Franklin friends, and I'm sure I will see you again, even if we do move to Alaska or someplace very distant.

Happy 2012, everyone!

Or, should I say, HAPPY KORRA YEAR!

Friday, December 16, 2011

TENNESSEE

Since I'm super awesome and fail horribly at updating my blog--
(Sorry for that, by the way)

I have survived my first semester of college.  More than survived, actually.  In spite of the fact that I rarely sleep, and sometimes spend hours wondering if anyone knows I'm alive, I love my life.

My roommates are fantastic. 



My FHE group is delightful.



Football games are insanely fun.



My roommate Sara and I are best best friends.



I have learned a lot about how to not sleep and continue to act like I have slept, how to make myself do all my schoolwork before anything else, how to be a fangirl in all aspects of my life, how to make sure I know what's important and set my priorities properly, how to keep the gospel always at the top of my priorities list, how to study for 5 hours straight, how to laugh at myself, how to make other people laugh at me, and how to be truly beautiful, regardless of anyone else's opinions or tastes, and how Heavenly Father never ever leaves me alone. 

And now, hasta la vista, Provo.  Tomorrow I embark on a grand return adventure to the land of Franklin, Tennessee.

To all my dear friends in Tennessee, I am VERY excited to see you again.  As marvelous as my collegiate life is, I miss you guys.  I make it a goal to see as many of you as I can for as long as I can upon my return. 

So assuming I don't die on the plane or in the airport, I will see you all soon.  It will be marvelous to step back in to my old life for a few weeks. 



Tennessee, I will see you in approximately 24 hours.



Friday, October 7, 2011

Bad Wolf Bay

really, what can I say?



why?
i hope bananas stop making me cry soon.

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Homesick for Provo

This weekend my roommate Emily and I took a trip up to Salt Lake City.  She's a convert, and today was the one-year anniversary of her baptism.  She had never seen the Salt Lake temple before, so we decided to go on her special day.  We got to walk all around Temple Square and see the Joseph Smith movie in the Legacy Theater.  It was an awesome spiritual experience being able to discuss the gospel with her and feel the beautiful peace that abounds on temple grounds. 
Here are some beautiful pictures of our fun adventure:

 The Christus statue in the Visitor's Center.


 Posing on the wedding picture pedestal in front of the temple!

 The reflection pool--my personal favorite!

This picture was taken by the cutest couple who had just gotten married in the Salt Lake temple a month before.  They were so nice and fun to talk to!



What I learned:  The gospel is AWESOME.  It really is.  I love having friends who feel the same way I do about the temple and the scriptures and the prophets and apostles.  And...Provo is the best.  When I saw the Y on the mountain and the SWKT, I just felt like I was back home.  ...I LOVE college.


P.S.  Although we did take 2 buses and a monorail there and back, we did not get lost!  We both consider this a monumental personal acheivement.