Day 2

9 things I do everyday:

1. Sleep through my alarm.

2. Wake up.

3. Get dressed and ready for my day.

4. Eat.

5. Check Enrique and text/call people back.

6. Attempt homework.

7. See friends.

8. Music is on from the moment I wake to when I sleep.

9. Read my scriptures and then fall asleep.

Day 1

Day 1: Ten random facts about yourself.
Day 2: Nine things you do everyday.
Day 3: Eight things that annoy you.
Day 4: Seven fears/phobias.
Day 5: Six songs that you’re addicted to.
Day 6: Five things you can’t live without.
Day 7: Four memories you won’t forget.
Day 8: Three words you can’t go a day without using.
Day 9: Two things you wish you could do.
Day 10: One person you can trust

Well.

1. I love to laugh. I love it. I usually am the one making people laugh, but I highly appreciate people that make me laugh harder than I want to.

2. I like new music. All the time. I love when I find an artist or band that is new to me, whether they're new to the rest of the world or not. Again, I appreciate the people that give me new music to fall in love with.

3. I'm much more confident than I used to be. I know this because I have days that I go with no makeup. (Well...ok...I wear mascara. But I have blonde lashes. You can't see my eyes unless there's a little smidgen of mascara on them.)

4. I like that I've always been a t-shirt and jeans kind of girl. Because then when I wear an actual blouse or whatever, everyone notices and stuff. And when I'm running late or just having a lazy day, no one can tell because I always wear a t-shirt and jeans. Haha basically I feel I can always dress up from that point. It's better to start at the bottom and go up than start at the top and reach the bottom. Even if it is only how I look on a day to day basis. Whatever;)

5. I like to start my day off with this song. It helps me feel truly epic.

6. It's only taken me 18 years, but I have finally gotten to the point where I can control my hairs. Granted, I really only know how to have it straight, curly, or up...but it's baby steps. Maybe in 18 more years I'll have figured out another hairstyle.

7. I think I'd like to get married eventually and have some childrens. I don't really want daughters. If I have them, I'll love them of course...but I really want 5 boys. I want sons. Boys are just so much more fun.

8. Whenever I'm around southern boys, I don't know how to act. They're (usually) such gentlemen and I am just not used to it haha. So then I just feel awkward.

9. I want to move. Always. I am an avid fan of change. I get bored easily after about 4 months in one place. I'm a bit of a gypsy. Eventually I will live everywhere I want. Tennessee first, if not Russia for a few months. Still revising that plan. Please hold.

10. I feel that people are most honest after midnight. I am. I'm ready for sleep, my inhibitions are gone, and my guard is down. That's why the best talks I have with people are at sleepovers and such. That's when my embarrassment filter is gone and my self-conciousness is at its lowest. And I'm more apt to listen then too.

Day 1 is complete. Time for sleeps!

Ducky

Well Plan J sounds like it might work...

Time for a shout out.

There's a LOT of things in my life that I'm grateful for, and I don't express that gratitude often enough at all.

So here goes the list:

I'm grateful for the Gospel and how it affects every aspect of my life.

I'm grateful for a God who loves me and knows me so much better than I do.

I'm grateful for the parents I have, and the incredible love and support I feel from them.

I'm grateful for the friends I have.

I'm grateful for my fake brothers, that help me so so much when I need them.

I'm grateful for the priesthood and its real and intense healing power.

I'm grateful for guy friends that are worthy to hold that priesthood.

I'm grateful for my roommate, I'm thankful for her friendship, love, advice, and endless patience.

I'm grateful for Paolo Nutini and his beautiful voice, serenading me constantly.

I'm grateful for experiences that take me out of my own little world.

I'm grateful for the things I have, even though I often take them for granted.

I'm grateful for the opportunity to go to school, and gain an excellent education.

I'm grateful for new people that laugh with me.

I'm grateful for wake-up calls, literal and figurative.

Today was a good day.

Yesterday was not.

I was very seriously considering dropping all my classes, getting my money back, and leaving school. I haven't been happy the past few months and it has been wearing on me. I am a very happy person usually, but I'm really good at faking it when I'm not so happy.

So for most of last semester and the beginning of this semester, I have definitely not been up to par with my level of happiness. But, through a lot of pray, and lot of scripture reading, and some wonderful help from some others, I haven't quit. I have been reminded of what's really important, and that I need to stop being so involved in myself.

Something I heard that really affected me, was that happiness is a choice, and happiness is also a consequence of living like I should. Listening to the Lord, showing charity to my fellow men, and doing MY best and MY part to become the person I need to be.

Well, it's only the second week of school, so I'm not going to fail if I get on track and do what I need to get the best grades possible. After I do as much as I can, and work my heart out, God will step in and help me the rest of the way.

But I need to do MY share.

So, I'm going to.

I choose to be happy.

I choose to work as hard as I possibly can.

I choose success.

Determined, tired, and very happy,

Ducky

This could end badly.

BUT...I have decided to run for student body president.

It may turn out to be a bad/crazy idea...but why not!

I had this thought my first semester as well, but now I'm more prepared (and actually able) to run.

The though occurred to me again today, and let me tell you...I can't get rid of it.

I talked to the current president and he told me about some of the responsibilities and requirements and gave me a general picture of the life of a student body president.

Well, I'm all for it!

I LOVE my school.

I love the people there, even the ones I don't know.

I love the teachers and other faculty and staff.

I love the classes and values taught.

I even love the building itself.

Once I get an idea like this, even I can't convince myself otherwise.

I just feel really good about this.

This wasn't my plan at all.

Last semester wasn't so good, so I for this one I planned to pretty much kill my social life and study till I died.

But I can't shake this thought.

So...I'm not going to.

I'm going to go for it.

What have I got to lose?

All my life, I've stopped myself because of my own fear.

But why?

No more.

I am going to pull a Nike and "Just Do It."

I've got a great team of friends to help me, so with all of us (and some heavenly help), I just might be able to pull this off.

I'm excited, but also quite terrified.

I am not a public speaker.

I am painfully shy.

I also doubt myself a little bit.

Who am I to be in charge of the student council???

I'm not sure.

But, as shy as I am, I love people.

I try to be genuine at all times.

I want to do good in this world.

I want to help others love this school as much as I do.

I want to give back to this school as much as I can because it's changed my life SO much.

So.

Starting now, I am going to be the friendliest, most outgoing, sweetest person this school has ever seen.

Even if it kills me.

Whatever doesn't kill you, makes you stronger.

Right??

So here we go!

P.S.

Happy 18th to me. :D

People never fail to surprise me.

Oh man. What a year!
2010 was hands down the craziest, busiest, most stressful, most awful, most perfect and fun year of my life so far.
I have met so many incredible people, had so many good, bad, and ugly experiences, and learned so much.
Looking back at me exactly a year ago, not much has changed. I was a scared kid leaving home for the first time, anxious about school, and nervous about everything that I could imagine.
Well, one year later, I'm still a kid, still scared, and still nervous.
I've finished my freshman year and I start my sophomore year on my 18th birthday.
To put it lightly, I've grown up a bit this year.
My first semester I was intimidated by everything and I was so not used to being in such a different situation from what I had known.
I was shy, I was naive, and I was a little worry wart haha.
But I blossomed.
I learned so much, and I became more and more comfortable with other people, with school, and most importantly myself.
I got straight A's taking 18 credits, I proved to myself and everyone else that I was competent and I learned what I needed to learn at that time.
Spring/summer came and I had to return home. I was upset because I had wanted to stay and continue my education.
Looking back now, I'm so glad I did come home because I was able to reconnect with and make new wonderful friends with the people in my hometown.
Fall came and I had to leave those wonderful people to return to school.
It was bittersweet because I finally had people to hang out with and I had to leave them.
Fall semester was a toughie. I struggled with my classes and my social life and lots of other things.
I actually failed one of my classes, which is a really hard thing for me because I can look back on my academic life and I can not remember one time ever failing anything. I have just always had an easy time with grades.
But it was a humbling experience that I needed.
Now its winter again and I'm headed back to Utah and school in a few days.
Truth be told I almost don't want to go. I'm nervous. After last semester I'm a lil shaken with my confidence about school and smarts.
I'm going to do so much better this semester. No slacking, and no assuming I'll get a good grade just because I'm showing up to class. I have to do my part and the Lord will take care of the rest.
I'll be back for the summer and I can't wait.
I miss home.
I forget how much I miss it until I come back.
I am loved.
The friends I have don't let me forget that ever.
I'm so grateful for all the people in my life. All I'll ever need to keep going is a hug and a good laugh. The people I call my friends have always and will always provide that for me and I hope to do the same for them.
I'm glad I can depend on people, and that I've learned to trust again.
When I think about how I always imagined my life, there's no way I could ever predict any of the experiences I've had.
As I heard someone describe it in testimony meeting today, life is like a roller coaster with its twists and turns, ups and downs, and scary and fun parts.
I have to agree with him, because I have been on that roller coaster for a few years now ;)
God is good and He always takes care of us. There's nothing that we can do that He hasn't done, there's nothing we can feel that He hasn't felt, and there's no one that can understand us better than Him.
I love my life, I love the unexpected dips and corners it has taken, and especially the people that have gotten on the ride with me.
So here's to a new year and to enjoying it everyday.
Don't forget to smell the roses, and don't forget to let others know how much you love them.
I love all of my people and I thank my God for them.
Let's make 2011 as good as it can be.
In the words of Auntie Mame "Live is a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death."
So my last thoughts today would be to live life as much as you can.
FORGIVE.
Love as long as you live and laugh as much as you breath.
Appreciate the souls around you.
Be yourself, and be the best you you can be.
And never forget where it all comes from♥