Pat Tillman Run 2011

Remember my terribly pathetic running post? Well, those days are slowly coming to an end!

I began to go walking and then slowly turning it into a jog. My "workouts" would be jogging til I was tired and walking til I was rested. Not the best, but I liked it.

I made a goal to participate and finish the Pat Tillman Run. My goal time was 1 hour. Really, this was a HUGE accomplishment for me. (To be honest, before I started the run, I felt an hour was a mistake and I should have aimed for 90 minutes)

At the finish!

I finished the run in 1:02:06! Yay!

I can officially run that quarter mile without panting like before. Still not a running fan, but I do enjoy the listening-to-my-iPod-while-running-or-walking stuff.

Next up: 31st Annual Beecroft Run in May!

Home from Vegas (again)

Ever take a trip that was "just what the doctor ordered??" If I hadn't before, I have now!

I went to Las Vegas for the second time with some friends (I will call them Staci, Rex & Ted). We had a lot of amazing adventures. Here are some photos documenting a few.

(Disclaimer: there are a lot)

We took a lot of these "Bottoms Up" photos showing all the cool places we'd been to.

Me & Paris!

We went to the Las Vegas temple. What a wonderful experience!

We laughed a lot!

We visited Trump Tower!

Another "Bottoms Up" photo in the Trump elevator. See the cool reflection?

Another cool photo in between some red doors.

Awesome whirlpools in the mall!

We stopped by the Hoover Dam bridge on the way home.

Well, anyway, that was a bit of my trip. Sorry if you hear me talking about it a lot. I just liked it a lot :) Now, it is back to reality...Whoohoo!!

Why Didn't I Realize This Sooner??

I am taking a break! I am going to Vegas! Again :)

As a result, I have gotten WAY ahead on all of my homework and gotten everything in order for me to be gone for 5 days. It took me until my last semester of school to realize, not just how to get ahead, but what getting ahead feels like! I should've been taking week-long vacations every semester in order to stay this far ahead on my school work. I've found more time for callings, socializing, and even exercising! (PS, I am going to be in the Pat Tilman Run on Saturday!)

I am treating this as a much needed mental break as well as an early graduation gift to myself.

Wow, this is going to be a good week, I can tell.

General Conference

I...love...General Conference! I am so glad to have enjoyed one day of it so far. I am HAPPY to look forward to another day tomorrow. I was so touched today by the words of our prophet, apostles, and other leaders of the Church.

For those of you who may not know what I am talking about, General Conference is a time for our Church leaders, and especially the Prophet of God, to speak to us. It is the most uplifting and inspiring of times for me when I get to watch General Conference. If you are interested you can watch this short video about General Conference.

All in all, I love hearing these men speak and I love them. I am grateful to the Lord for providing such organized, compassionate, honest, humble, and spiritually powerful leaders to give guidance in this confusing world.

Spring Break Review

Well, my last real Spring Break will be over in only a few hours. Sigh...it was nice. Here is a bit of review for my week! (Since I know you are SO interested in my simple, little life :)

I started by painting tires with Ciara at AJ's Eagle Project.

While there I discovered my hidden talent of climbing through spider webs!

I cleaned my room!! If you missed that, click here.

I then proceeded to spend the next two days watching this marvelous show:

We finally made it to season 6 this week (we started in January). Glad to have my handy Lost Encyclopedia by my side for any questions.

I spent a day with Kylie and Layla. Sorry, I don't have pictures, but Layla is growing so much! I hadn't seen them in a long time. It was a good visit.

I finished another apron. This time, it was for me :)

Today, I tried this new adventure (provided by my friend Emily)

Ok, mine don't look very pretty, but it was successful in my book. I'm definitely going to work out my kinks and do it really good next time! Thanks Emily for the idea!

And, with a bit of simple homework, a couple movies, & a tour of the Mesa Grande ruins, I can say that I had a good Spring Break! I did everything I wanted to (except a hike...sorry Rachael!).

Now, come Monday, it is back to the old grind:

Joy.

First Day of Spring Break

I really am a clean person...so these pics are a little embarrassing...

However, this is what homework overload does to you:

Before:

-3 loads of laundry (for one person!)

-4 rags of dust

-lots of shredded papers

-2 bags of trash

-4 hours of hard work

And this is what the first day of Spring Break is really for:

After:

Just picture me face first on the bed in exhaustion.

Now, onto the rest of my break :)

Spring Break Goals

Spring Break is only one week away. And this, my friends, may be my last Spring Break ever! This is my one last week of zero school and zero work. I am free to do whatever my little heart desires!

And just what does my little heart desire?? A trip to Disneyland of course! But, sadly, that is probably the one thing I just cannot do this time :(

So, this Spring Break, I will take advantage of my free time to accomplish the following:

1. Go on a hike

2. Sew an apron

3. Watch LOST (hopefully season 6!)

4. Hang out with friends!

Whew...quite a list right? Just kidding, it isn't that impressive, but I only have a week! Yes, a week. One...WHOLE...week. How often does that come? In my lifetime: one a year. In my future: not so often. I am totally looking forward to it!

First I have to get there (that means finish my homework).

Blast.

To My Not-So-Lovely Homework

More specifically: my research paper. We are not getting along. I understand that we haven't know each other long, but do you understand what is at stake here? In just over 2 months I expect to graduate from 4 1/2 years of college life. I cannot do this if you do not cooperate with me.

I am begging you...please, please, please either leave me alone or don't make me fall asleep at my computer. I'm either going to have to take another nap and work late at night when I'm actually awake or I'll have to resort to blogging/Facebook to get me through. Frankly, I'm a little sick of Facebook every 30 minutes and my poor blog can't handle too many "Homework" subjected posts.

Soon, I will have to turn to incentives. Perhaps rewards like Yodipity/Yogurtland every x number of pages. Or, no American Idol/Amazing Race until you are finished. Please don't do that to me.

What do you say? Can we get along?

Lucy

I was going through my photos on my computer and found this:

This is Lucy. I met her on a train in China and kept contact enough for her to invite me (and a few friends) over for dinner. We were able to do this about 3 times before I left. We were able to keep contact through email after I came home. She's been a great pen pal. My goal has been to see her if ever I get back to China. Or, better yet, have her (somehow!) come visit me.

Last October (2010) her email changed and I never got her new one. I haven't heard from her since. It makes me sad to think that I've lost her. My hope lingers on the thought that she still has my email. I know the Lord knows where she is and what she is doing. I know that someday He will cast a thought in her mind to email me and then we can reconnect our friendship.

What a glorious knowledge it is to understand that we are all Heavenly Father's children and His hand is over all.

Graduation, Here I Come!

It is official! I have applied for graduation! Now, all I have to do is wait for my application to be accepted and finish the semester! Whoohoo!!

In ALL honestly, I never thought I'd see the light at the end of this looong, dark, and damp tunnel. But, let me tell you...it is there!