Gettysburg

On Saturday I didn't have to work, so I though I would go explore Gettysburg.  I had never been before so I was really excited to go.  The drive there was absolutely beautiful, following the river with beautiful forest covered mountains to the side of the road.  Loved it.  I decided that it was worth the $12.50 to see a movie, a cyclorama (painting around a room), and the museum and it was definitely worth it.  Before going to see anything I decided to read D&C 87 the prophecy about the Civil War.  It was amazing because Morgan Freeman (the narrator or the movie) was practically reading that prophecy word for word for the movie.  The painting was absolutely beautiful and so life like.  I was in the museum for a few hours, watching many of the movies and taking my time reading and observing the different artifacts.  I wanted to take my time and really soak in all of the information and feelings associated with this great war.  

After lunch I decided to walk out to the actual battle sites.  Again I took my time, really trying to soak up the moment.  I walked by monument after monument after monument.  It was amazing to see how this place that's kind of in the middle of nowhere and not much to look at, is such sacred life because of how many people lost their lives.  The museum had often talked about how Gettysburg was the turn of the Civil War and how the Confederates should have won the battle, they had way more men than the Union.  But because the Union held the high ground they were able to win.  The Union held the literal high ground over those three days, but also the figurative high ground through out the war.  And if we as people continue to hold the high ground in the war against Satan, we will win as well.

I then wandered over to the cemetery, where Lincoln gave his famous Gettysburg address.  I absolutely love cemeteries and this cemetery did not disappoint.  Again I slowly, quietly, and reverently wandered, observing the many headstones.  Many were not from the actual Civil War.  Many of them that were from the Civil War had Unknown written on them.  It was really cool to see the different monuments to Lincoln as well in the cemetery.  It was a peaceful place, so different from the war that made it famous.  I left that day feeling like I had just gone on a very cool spiritual journey coming to understand the men who fought for my freedom a little bit better.  I love Gettysburg.

First's, Thank You's, and Other Randomness

I've had some firsts this week.

First time going to the gym all by myself at night in the big city.

First time going running. (A result of being scared to death by the above first. Those of you who know me know that I do NOT run.  Ever.  I think my mom thought I'd gone crazy or was sick or got replaced by someone else because her daughter doesn't run.)

First time going bike riding. (In a LONG time).

First time getting on the wrong shuttle. (No worries though, I had plenty of time and eventually got where I was going.)

First homework assignment at the U.

First time class has been cancelled for a football game. (And to answer the question you must be asking, no I didn't go.)

First job interview. (In a long time.)

First time writing a resume. (In a long time.)

First time going up to my grandparent's land and camping. (In a long time.)

First time helping/watching my uncle and cousin figure out how to turn around a horse trailer.

First time waiting until after dark to help pick up my other uncle and cousin from their horseback riding expedition.

First time going up to "the land" without my allergies driving me crazy.  (Thank you knock-off Walgreens Claritin.)

First time going to a church that was so full that I got pushed into the corner of the Relief Society room for sacrament meeting, heard my uncles phone go off to the Steve Miller Band, and watched kids guess what a lady was drawing on the white board and then vigorously erase the drawing.

First time driving rush hour traffic on a Friday evening past a car accident.

First time getting locked out of my apartment.

First quizzes of the new semester.

Not everything this week was a first.  I got to hang out with Grandma H. just the two of us which we've been able to do more often lately.  I really like hanging out just the two of us.  Thanks for inviting me up for the weekend Grandma! And feeding me good food that I didn't have to cook myself.  You're awesome!

I also need to shout out a big Thank You to Aunt Judy for inviting me over to Sunday dinner a couple of weeks ago and again sending me home with lots of yummy, healthy food.  This isn't the first time you've been so kind to me and I'm sure it won't be the last.

I've gotten so many invites for dinner and to help out if I need anything that I know I'm going to be set for a long time.  I feel so loved and I can't wait to hang out with all of my family on such a personal basis.  I feel so blessed.  I know I've got so many people looking out for me.  I think that's probably the only reason my Mom hasn't gone crazy is because she know's I've got such a great support system with my wonderful family who are there in case I need anything.  It's comforting for me too.

Just in case this post wasn't long enough for you, I thought I'd add in a link to Kid History - Episode 6.  I love Kid History and this episode featured some smoothies that reminded me of one of my cousins classic "Green Smoothies" which I love but the kids reactions to them are so funny.

Song for the long weekend:
"Take a Back Road" - Rodney Atkins

Quick Trip Up To The Great White North

Sorry no pictures.... I always forget to take pictures!


Mason, Dad, and I got work off on Saturday to go to a Family Reunion.  We were up in the Great White North for less then 24 hours (which is why anyone I didn't see shouldn't be offended that I didn't see them).

We left at 8 am (car drive consisted of rocking out to some great music with the family) got up there around 1 pm, ate lunch and wandered around the mall and walmart until 4 pm,

 Family Reunion (Games, people I don't know, playing with cousins cute babies, more people I don't know thinking the babies I was playing with were mine (nope!), handing cranky babies off to my parents/their parents/their grand parents, being adopted by one of my aunts (I got to hear all the pros about it, biggest pro, free food and they're kind of rich), eating, skit watching (some of the skits...ahem...chucks family...may or may not have offended half the people there...apparently only some people find marijuana funny?), people I do know lying to people I don't know (ahem...Jane), people I don't know introducing themselves (two hours in), people I don't know booing me for going to the U (ahem...maybe more on that later...if I'm brave...and stupid...and want to be hated by half the state...I'll probably leave it at that), people I don't know telling how their single children want spouses (wrong place to look for one...awkward silence...thank you dad for not saying that about me),  People I don't know telling me about my great-great-grandparents and taking longer then the five minutes he was supposed to take (didn't even TRY to condense the FOUR PAGES he read to us), and finally People I do know (and some I don't know) taking only five minutes to talk about someone I did know (and some people I didn't know).

Then we headed up to see (a few)  people on the other side of the family, watch volley ball games and sleep.

Then we went to church at nine am, got food from a loving Grandmothers house, and visited some cousins for a few minutes before heading home at 11 am (that car trip consisted of Mason sleeping and me sleeping and having a headache) and we were home by 4 pm.


 Now we're back home, safe and tired and a little cranky, but ultimately glad we came up.

Awesome weekend

This past weekend was amazing!

First my roomies came down to the sunny south to visit! They came early in the morning so we could play before I had to work that afternoon. We ha breakfast at Dennys and while we waited forever for our food we talked and laughed and caught up on old times. After breakfast we went to walmart to make a care packet for one of our awesome roomies who wasn't able to make the trip. While there we browsed through walkways super collection of $5 movies, played with the toys (so many tangled toys!) we stopped and smelled the candles, looked at the fake flowers, and took pictures with lamp shades on our heads! Yeah we're super silly! I had so much fun and it brought me back to last year! I love and miss those girls so much! I want to go back to my home away from home with my family away from family!

After work my family and I played an epic game of monopoly. I won for the first time ever! Yeah I kicked their butts! I was so happy!

Then on Sunday I got a ride to church with my super handsome neighbor and his friends sat by me during sacrament meeting. This is the first time since moving down that somebody has sat with me during sacrament and it meant more to me then they'll probably ever know. Then I taught my first Sunday school lesson. So intimidating! There were so many people in my class! I don't think I made much sense during my lesson I was kind of all over the place (it was kind of like random thoughts with Kelsi guided by the lesson manual and the spirit). And I was shaking like crazy during the whole lesson!  I learned a lot while preparing for the lesson, I just don't know that I was able to transfer everything I learned to my huge intimidating class. But it's over (for a week at least). I guess this is a chance for me to develop a new talent for teaching?

The Great White North . . . Continued . . .

I had a great time in the Great White North.  I learned a lot.  Like the U of U is HUGE! (Seriously, I got lost driving on campus, walking on campus, and walking in buildings.  Have you ever been in their library?  It's huge, there's a freaking restaurant in there.  Walking through the library reminded me of walking through an airplane terminal.  WOW!)

Parking is pretty much impossible to find in the Great White North, especially if you're looking for free parking.  Just saying.  Gas is less expensive there though (which made me happy!) 

While I was there I didn't get nearly enough/as much looking for housing and jobs done as I was hoping (but then again I do tend to set unrealistic expectations up for myself a lot ok most of the time).  But I did find some good stuff that I was looking for. I applied at a lot of jobs but haven't heard anything back yet, so I guess we'll see. 

I ended up spending most of my time there practicing my big city driving skills and figuring out where things are in relation to each other (have I ever mentioned that I'm directionally challenged?  Because I am.  I even got lost WITH the GPS!) I was able to kind of figure out where things are located in the Great White North and where to get on and off the highway(s) and stuff like that.  

I also spent a lot of time with my family.  My Grandma had her 77th Birthday HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMA! So I got to hang out with her and do cool things like watch Tangled until 11:30 pm and go shopping at Kolhs and Walmart and eat at yummy places like the Olive Garden.  She was so kind as to invite me up to her house for the night and we played Mexican Train with the Garfield family.  At the Olive Garden I got to hang out with most of the family, which I hadn't done in a long time.  I learned a lot about my extended family and was able to develop a relationship with them separate from my nuclear family, which was kind of cool I'm not gonna lie.  I also got to hang out a lot with Judy and Wes and I really enjoyed hanging out with them.

Basically the weekend was amazing and I learned a lot of things I wasn't expecting to learn even though I didn't accomplish everything I expected to accomplish.  But that's the way life goes a lot of the time.  Overall, I deem this past weekend a SUCCESS!   

To the great white north I go!

Tomorrow I drive by myself for the first time up to the great white north for a long weekend. I'm nervous and excited for this adventure. I hope to find a job up there, find good housing with good roommates that is also affordable, get through orientation as quickly as possible, sign up for classes, practice my city driving skills, and just become more familiar with the great white north. I also hope not to get lost. Because I get lost really easy sometimes. A GPS should help with that right?

Simple pleasures

College helps me to remember the simple pleasures in life like having your own room, having the more than one choice of cereal for breakfast, not just homemade food but moms cooking.

Pre-Date Jitters

That's right I have a date tonight...the first in a long time. Of course as soon as I woke up this morning I jumped up and went to my closet to pick out the perfect outfit...nice but casual. I helped my roommate pick out a perfect outfit as well, jewelry and everything. Then we cleaned the house.  And cleaned.  And cleaned. And cleaned.  Then we got ready.  Katie was kind enough to do my hair for me, cute curls.  As I waited I felt super nervous.  I don't know this guy.  My roommates don't know this guy.  He is my roommates friends roommate.  Luckily, KC ended up being very nice. We had yummy fondue (which the guys ended up experimenting with, of course) and played What If? and told stories.  It was a fun, casual date.  I hope to do more of those more often. 

Silly Sundays

It's Sunday and I'm wondering... Who said it could Snow in April?

So I Should Be Studying BUT . . .

taking pictures sounded like a lot more fun!  :)

Plans for this weekend?

• Gymnastics Meet
• Dinner with the Roomies
• Saturday Night Game Night

Oh and I'm pretty sure that I set a record today by how fast I took my Popular Music Test today.  18 minutes, and I was able to triple check my answers.  Best part?  That was the hardest test of the semester in that class.  :)