This school year started off very well. We (Danielle, Jess, Katie, Amie, Kaylie, and I) were in a great huge apartment, it wasn't campus housing, so we felt so big. And we were determined to make it a good year. Danielle and her mom were adamant about trying to make this apartment more like a home and much more comfortable for us with decorations and all. We put our pictures up on the wall and our living room was all coordinated-like, we had a quote book where we were to "live the dream," by the end of this semester we had even written up a contract about how we were going to be more social and go outside our comfort zone and be outgoing. This semester Danielle and I hiked the "Y" for the first, and second time, and started a trend of making sure we made it up a few times each semester. It was good exercise, it was good to get out and about, smell the fresh air, and forget about school. Greg (FHE brother from freshman year) went with us here in this picture.
Robbie went with us too. However, with Robbie it was a little more traumatic considering that it was raining and I got this honkin' bruise on my leg from falling - didn't rip any pants though. Robbie was good company for me, Joey had left and I needed a friend who understood. We went running together from time to time this semester and made sure to check up on each other to ensure that the other was still alive and doing well. Robbie actually set me up with my first date after Joey which was to go to BYU's Homecoming. The boy that asked me was in Robbie's ward, he was really nice, and I never saw him again. (and sorry to say, I can't even remember his name to write it in here, but he is pictured here) Jill and I also talked from time to time this year. It was really nice to have her there to understand and learn and grow with.
My family, like always, was awesome and we spent many days and evenings and good times together. I love them all so much and am so grateful for what I have learned from them. I don't know, with Teri, Brynn, Chad, Maya, John, Jesse and Duke now living far away, and probably for a long time I realize how much I appreciated them here close. How they approached life, the advice they had to offer, the time we had to play together and be little girls together. College was a good time for me to learn from all of them.
Joey was still on his mission, and every week I waited for his letters. My roommates teased me because I was always going out to the mailbox on Wednesdays (if I remember correctly) to see if they mailman had come yet and if there wasn't a letter there Thursdays and Fridays I was pretty much glued to the mail that came waiting for my letters to arrive. I swooned over the letters. Reading them once quickly, reading them twice laughing, third time crying and usually one or twice more either just because or as a reference while writing my letter to him for the week. I wrote lots of letters that first semester. I felt guilty only writing Joey (even though that is the only one I really really wanted letters from in return) because he was on a mission and I couldn't be his girlfriend anymore. So I wrote all the boys, Mason, Matt, Brendan, Brandon (eventually Robbie), a few times random other people, Nate, Ryan, David. My college life was filled with this event as well (writing sister missionaries as well), but it was the most prevalent this year. And was certainly an event that influenced my outlook, and my actions, and emotions through this time in my life. I still knew that I loved Joey, but I felt this guilt that I shouldn't because he was on a mission. I felt like I should be dating other people, that I should not be taking so much time to write, that I should be focused on other things in my life. It was a debate 'til the end to be honest. I did enjoy getting pictures and letters though from this one. I loved seeing his smile.
Jen had a job that she had to be to at FOUR in the morning and then school and then homework and then bed fairly early so she could get back to work so EARLY in the morning. Anyways, she is amazing, and has done so many wonderful things. (I don't remember when what happened, all I know are the events that happened and that she is amazing and that we spent time together this semester, so I am sharing it all with you now.) She went on a study abroad, she worked at Oakcrest (a girls camp), she went on a mission, and is amazing. Always has the best attitude, always is working hard, and I am excited that she gets home pretty quick here from her mission so we can catch up.
I had some pretty amazing FHE brothers this semester. There were four of them, John, Tyler, Brady, and Josh. They were so much fun. All had just gotten home from their missions, and had such different personalities. They were so strong in the gospel and as an apartment that was appreciated. We had fun together. Watched out for each other and helped each other grow. Our FHE sisters were pretty amazing too, Mena and Chara. I had so much that I needed to learn from them. I am so grateful that the Lord put us all in the same place at the same time to help one another.
This is one of the fun activities that we did as a FHE group, carving pumpkins! Tyler and I tried to make our work of art. I'll be honest, I don't remember how it turned out, but I guess that means that it wasn't spectacular or awful, so can't complain there.
Us girls went to the ward Halloween party and had a blast. Came home and continued party-ing. I guess it just goes to show that we had lots of fun together that semester. I think we all grew up, grew closer, and realized how much we needed each other. People that were in our same situation, and roommates are different than friends like in high school, because now not only are they your friends, but they are the people that you live with and work around and care about basically like family. It was fun.
That Thanksgiving our ENTIRE family got together, it was AWESOME! We had to document it, although none of us quite look our best, who knew how long it was going to be until it happened again (Dec 2009 - over 2 years) Aren't we so cute though! I love my family and am grateful for the gospel that allows for us to be together for eternity.
Aren't they so cute! Tate, Court, Maya, Lorali, Kepler, Sianna, Brynn, and Ethan. We have all grown since then, but I remember them like this still today at times. My parents' grandchild count has almost doubled (wait until March and it will) since then.
More fun at our apartment. Scott, a home teacher of a few of the girls, was awesome. He always offered to take out our trash or to listen or tell us funny stories, or - as pictured here - to sword fight with us. (this picture is actually out of order, it should be after our sleepover, where we sword fought there, and then had so much fun that we decided to bring the swords back to our apartment for the last few weeks of school to help us get through finals. BUT, I wanted to talk about the awesome Home Teachers that we had at Regency, and continued to have the whole two years we were there. I would have to say that at least one set of the home teachers that visited our apartment each month were pretty good the entire time that we were there.)
We continued our tradition of decorating, from baseball season to Christmas. It was fun to have a home. It was nice to have something worth doing for each other to please one another. We celebrated birthdays, and laughed and cried with each other. Here we are in one of our prouder moments - our present door, it was awesome!
Don't we just look so freakin' snazzy and awesome and amazing. It's cause we are! We all went over to my parents for a sleep over (not that we didn't have one every night, but we went out to eat at a nice restaurant and then had a night out/off and played together up in Draper). Pictured here we were all pulling a 'Jess.' I still think she is the only one that can pull it off.
One of the worst parts of the whole semester was the fact that Danielle decided that she was going to leave us for England on a study abroad, she was gone for a year because she had to go home to earn the money to be able to go and then the semester abroad. It was so sad to have her go after we had become so close. Luckily we were able to stay close friends through the distance and I'm glad that she was able to "live her dream." That was our goal for the year, and she did it. She did what she wanted to and knew that she would only have this one opportunity in her life to do - livin' the dream. That last week before she headed home, finals and all we took the time to go to lunch together just the two of us, and say good-bye. The semester ended, that first semester of Organic Chemistry ended with it and Winter semester was going to bring with it a few changes: no more Danielle as a roommate, but instead Melissa, a great friend of mine from classes we had had together; less pity, and more moving on. Anyways, more on that with the next segment.
Overall, it was a very good Fall Semester, a wonderful start to Sophomore year.
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