adjustments are hard

School started last week, which basically means things have gotten really busy again. 

My work hours were cut in half, which adds a bit more financial pressure.

After spending over a year in an office with 1 other person, or mostly by myself,

I was moved into a big office that I share with at least 5 other people at a time, sometimes more.

Homework. It is always hard to start doing that again.

My department on campus was combined with another one. My work load has essentially tripled.

Basically everyone that we knew kinda well in our ward has either moved or switched to the family ward in our area. Its like a new ward. We hardly know a soul. 

Adjustments can be hard. Its been a little insane over the last week or so. 

Not only has it been unusually stressful at both my jobs, but I've had to try and add school back into the equation.

Work used to be an escape for me. It had its stressful times, but it was quiet. 

Now, basically I hate being at work. 

Its so loud and there is so much to do all the time.

I'm OK with having work to do! I'm not complaining about the work load...

More just the fact that I don't feel like I have anywhere to go that's quiet.

I just have to keep reminding myself that I only have 4 months left. 4 MONTHS! 

Then, I graduate, lose my campus job and hopefully get to take a step forward.

Working at Color Me Mine is still great. I don't have tons of shifts, but I sure do LOVE it!

As well as teaching! Its been interesting to start trying to teach violin. 

I think I'm pretty good at it, and I'm pretty sure I'm learning more than my adorable students are!

Speaking of students, I have time available for 2 more students on Monday afternoons at 4:15 and 4:45. 

I'm already out in Lindon, UT and am willing to drive to your home if its easier!

Luckily, I have a super awesome husband who takes me to get creamery ice cream when I'm blue!
(Or any ice cream really!)
We took an afternoon ice cream break yesterday!
Everyone needs to go to the BYU creamery and get the Coconut Joy flavor!
Trevor got it and its AMAZING!

Happy Wednesday!

First Day of School

Its my LAST first day EVER! I did a little dance.. mostly it just turned out awkward!

Yesterday and this morning have been the busiest EVER! I can't believe its only Tuesday... and its only NOON on Tuesday! 

Hopefully things will start to mellow out sometime in the next few days so that I can start having a normal schedule again.

But, now after 100 pages of reading for a class I haven't actually been to yet, I get to haul myself up to campus in the blazing heat.

Sometimes just walking to school is the hardest part! 

At least we got a new swamp cooler so our house is cool when we get home...

Inspiration

I came across this quote the other day, and it hit home with me.

"First of all, I do not want you to give in to the pressure of the moment. Whenever you're hurting bad, just hang in there. Finish the day... Second, take it one day at a time. One phase at a time. Don't let your thoughts run away with you, don't start planning to bail out because you're worried about the future and how much you can take. Don't look ahead to the pain. Just get through the day, and there's a wonderful career ahead of you." -Elder Christofferson

This is something that I have seriously been struggling with over the last few months.

I worry a lot. I worry about the most absurd things.

Seriously.

I'm out of control.

This quote reminded me to really just take things a day at a time.

As much as I have been struggling with motivation and self-determination, I know that taking it one day at a time is the only way to have real success.

My "theme" for this year is to "re-commit."

I'm trying to dive face first into my life and take hold of myself again.

I want to "re-commit" myself to school, work, my family, taking better care of my home, the Gospel, music and violin, along with many other things. I made myself little signs that are on my mirror and fridge to remind myself of my goals. (This actually WORKS! Not kidding)

I want to rearrange my priorities and actually feel like I am capable of success.

I'm not doing as well with this whole "re-commit" thing, but I'm just trying to take it one day at a time.

I'm not perfect. In fact, I'm so far from it!

But, I do feel like I am closer to achieving my goals and to becoming the person who I really want to be.

This semester seems to be killing everyone I know. I'm literally dying for classes to be over and hoping that I can make it out alive and mostly unscathed.

I just can't wait for it to be over.

8 months until I graduate! I will have a degree in History with (most likely) a minor in Music!!!

I often need to remind myself that despite how much I HATE school and all that it encompasses, the end goal will be worth it!

I will graduate and be able to successfully provide for my family as needed!

I will have FINISHED something.

Something that has been super hard for me to accomplish!

I will have had success!!

(Even though the grades and test scores won't necessarily show it)

I will finish this and I will finish it strong and I will be a better person because of it.

Obsessed!

I'm in a beast of a class this semester! Its a film and history course that has TONS of reading and writing. Its actually been pretty interesting despite all the crazy amounts of work.

The last 2 class times we've been watching the HBO mini series Elizabeth I, and I am officially obsessed! You've got to see it!!!!!!!!!



Helen Mirren is FANTASTIC and the story is incredibly moving! I recommend reading a book about the incredible Queen before you watch the movie.

I really do recommend it! But, I will warn ya'll that its pretty bloody and gruesome....

But you should still watch it!

Dear Professor

i think that my mental stability and sanity is a whole lot more important than reading the constitution and writing a horrible paper....

Sorry..... Just being honest.

Tuesdays

It is insanely cold outside. Almost unbearably so.

Days like this make me hope, dream, wish, beg, and pray for places like this:


Outer Banks, North Carolina.... and 80 degree weather.
I'd take you ANY DAY over the 12 degrees we're forced to live through here in Provo.

I also miss the days when the ONLY time that I was out in the bitter cold air was
when I was walking to and from my car for a total of about 5 minutes.
The 20-25 minutes that it takes us to get to campus seems much longer in this cold.

Happy Tuesday!

WInter 2011 Books

I bought all of my books today. Well most of them. I still have 2 I'm waiting on.


14 out of the 16 books I'll be reading this semester.

Did I mention that I dropped a class? Well, I did. So, now I'm only in 3 history classes instead of 4. My book-list was basically cut-in-half when I dropped that class from my schedule. It had 15 books all on its own!!!!!

Sometimes I wonder if being a history major was the best idea. By sometimes I mean pretty much every day.... I LOVE history, but really?? All of these books are starting to get overwhelming and exhausting to say the least!

I'm actually pretty excited about this semester! I'm taking some really interesting classes and a class with my all-time favorite professor at BYU. So yeah, it might be a good one after all.

Happy Friday and Weekend!

Also, don't forget to enter my Giveaway! I'll be taking entries until Sunday at 12:00 am, and will announce the winner Monday!

Walking to school is sometimes the scariest part of my day

I almost fell about 6 times on my way to school today! Some parts of the sidewalks are covered with inch deep ice. It should be a law to make sure your sidewalks are clear.

BUT, I've figured out how to make it better!

Trevor bought me this cute little red thermos for Christmas:


I was actually with him when he bought it for me, and decided that I wanted to start using it right away and not wait until Christmas day!

How it works is about 10 or so minutes before we're about to head out the door, I heat up some water and mix it with my favorite flavor of Hot Chocolate. Poor it in. Throw on some gloves and run out the door. Normally we're walking pretty fast (we're typically running about 8 minutes behind for just about anything!) so I can't drink much while were walking/half running up the hill to campus, but once I get to class or work, its HEAVEN. I get to enjoy a nice, still very warm cup of hot chocolate! Its seriously the absolute best!

Happy Friday everyone! I hope you have a great weekend! Don't forget to enter my Giveaway! I'll announce the winner Monday!

ssscccaaarrryyy

That's how the world feels when you are taking 4 history classes in one semester (the tell you to take no more than 2 at once) and when your book list is over 32 books long.....

Yeah.... talk about overwhelming!

I tried to change my schedule, but this is basically the ONLY way that it will work with my plan for Spring/Summer and graduation in August.

Recipe for today's success

dr. pepper - wild cherry slurpies and chocolate dunford donuts.

they make the world a better place.

especially when your day looks like this:

• work 4 hours.
• relief society dinner at 6:30
  
• 3-4 page paper on a book you haven't quite finished reading
• study for a quiz on a book you really haven't finished reading
• study for a floral design ID quiz (these are really scary)
  
• help your husband get his homework/tests/projects done
• not to mention: class
• try to get to the gym. (probably not going to happen)
• starting a 20 pg paper that is due in a little over a week that you really haven't started.... AH

Life is pretty hectic right these days. I just keep reminding myself that after this horribly hard semester I only have 4 classes left!!!!!

Back to work!!!