I love October

I want to start off by saying I absolutely love this time of year! October is so beautiful! When I get married, I hope I can get married in October! Really I don’t care that much; whether I get married in October or not there will always be Octobers.

The past few months have been quite interesting. Last month (well, actually the end of August) I started back at BYU. I’m only taking 14 credits, but it’s still really hard. Biology is probably the hardest at this point. It is a relief to be going to school where I actually live, but it seems like I used to have so much more time! I think we always remember the past better and easier than it was.

This summer I was going to move into the master bedroom of my apartment on the condition that I would give up fast food. About a month later I realized this wasn’t right. I started to be afraid I couldn’t afford the room and so looked for the cheapest contract possible in the area and moved in. Upon moving in I met my new roommate, Keilyn. Keilyn and I had never met before, but she served her mission in Wisconsin! She never served in Milwaukee, but we still know a lot of the same people. I thought it was weird that we had so many connections and I felt Heavenly Father really led me to moving into this house. It’s obviously cheaper than where I lived before. I have to share a room and don’t have much space, but I feel like I am saving for the future in a not so indirect way.

My newest development (and by new, I mean about three days ago) is giving up soda.

I’m in the laundry mat and now this little girl (maybe 5 or so) wants me to watch a movie with her.

……

Okay, who is this kid? She’s 6 years old and is sitting here telling me about hemoglobin.

......

Okay so I finished my laundry and worked in the temple and now I’m home. I feel like going crazy lately. I can’t seem to live up to my expectations of my own self. I’ve always had this vision of who I want to be, but I’ve never been her. Maybe for a minute or two, but that’s it. Sometimes I see that person in other people and that’s what makes me want to be around them. I’ve come to realize that if I ever want to be happy I need to lower my personal expectations or give more input. (I prefer the latter, but it’s so hard!) I’m so shy, but lately I’m starting to feel like being shy at my age is selfish. I always wait until that last minute to do things, but I know I should and kick myself every time I do. It feels really good to do things ahead of time. SO I have some goals I really want to stick to through the rest of this semester. Here they are! (prepare yourself for something spectacular)

1. Do all assigned reading before class.

2. Spend time on homework. (And understand it! Use it as a study tool instead of a check mark)

3. Listen and understand everything in lecture.

4. Never miss lectures

5. Have study groups and teach in them.

6. Think about concepts I need to know in spare time. (example of spare time= waiting to pass breakfast trays at work)

7. Strive to find these concepts interesting and apply them to real life.

8. Exercise everyday (sharpening the saw)

9. Keep my budget. (Less time worrying about money=more time to do useful things)

10. Make a to do list every night for the next day. (this was an idea from my visiting teachee)

11. Pack a good lunch every day. (no vending machine)

I realize some of these things are things I should already be doing. I guess there are 11. Maybe I can call them something like “The spectacular and awesome list of eleven things to do this semester that will catalyze awesomeness in my life for all eternity”? Anyway, I need to continue making cookies. Good night Neverland!

Oblivious me

So, happy pi day! Funny story... I haven't been going to Family Home Evening (FHE) as often as I should be this year. For those who might not know what FHE is: it is a night once a week set aside for family time. It usually involves a gospel centered lesson, a prayer, a hymn, a treat, and a game or something fun. It is traditionally held on Monday nights, but some families will hold it other nights if Mondays don't work. Anyway, as a bunch of single people here at school, we don't always have families around to go to for FHE, so we have it together. This last Monday I was absolutely determined to make it, but there were complications. The activity was taking place at our bishop's house, and I had never been there. I quickly googled his address and scribbled the directions on a piece of paper (because I was late of course). I soon arrived at a beautiful white house. I parked my car and walked up to the door; which had a large note on it saying "COME ON IN FOR FHE!" I walked in and rounded the corner to the living room. A man welcomed me and asked me my name and how long I'd been in the ward. I was a tad bewildered because this man was not my Bishop (nor was he any other the other thousands people I happen to know). I started to think there was a change in the Bishopric and he was a new councilor or something. Then as people started to file in I realized I didn't know a single person! My suspicions were confirmed when a girl asked me which Relief Society I was in (the Relief Society is the women's organization. our ward only has one, sometimes in a large ward (congregation) they split it). So I had randomly walked into some stranger's house! I was really embarrassed, but I didn't want to get up and leave, thus drawing attention to myself, so I stayed. They had a good lesson about goals, and I met some new people (who I'll never see again), so the evening wasn't a total loss. After it was over I sneaked out, avoiding questions.

...I think I hear a cat outside my window...

I had a really odd dream the other night. There is an old lady at work who I just love to pieces. She has advanced Alzheimer's so I'm not even sure if she recognizes my face, but I love her anyway. She has about ten different kinds of shoes in her closet, but only one of each. Whenever the slippers she usually wears go missing (go to the laundry), searching for another pair takes way too much of the one hour and thirty minutes we have to get everyone one up. So in my dream, a coworker and I were in this lady's room and we were looking at her shoes. She turned to me and said, "You know these are edible, right?" and I thought, "Well no wonder she only has one of each!" Then suddenly we were at a restaurant and I found myself eating the shoe! I know it sounds gross but they were a delicacy in the dream...

My Anatomy and Physiology class is trying to kill me. The human body is by far the most complex thing I have ever encountered. I'm not sure my brain has the capacity to comprehend all the details. I don't know how some people can not believe in God while studying the body. Every little cell works together and (in a healthy person) does what it is supposed to. It's absolutely incredible.

Well, I better get on with this evening. I have school early in the morning. Hooray for school!

The grammar in this post may make my fourth grade teacher roll over in her, well, bed. (I'm not that old! I'm assuming all my teachers are still alive)

Jensenne is cool

~Andrea

The First Post

So, I finally decided to start a blog... several people have been on my case to do so. (The same people who have no idea how non-eventful my life really is). I am, however, currently on a Facebook strike; maybe this will help.

Firstly, I want to explain the idea of "Andreita". This is not my real name, so please don't get confused. Andreita is pronounced Andre-ee-tah, and it means "Little Andrea". I don't necessarily want to be called this in person, I just think it's fun in writing. So with that out of the way...

I am taking 18 credits (which I think I will do from now on; I don't like wasting time and money). One class is psychology, and our instructor, today, was talking about dreams. Psychology is not my favorite class, but I really like what he shared with us today. He said when he was going through a very difficult time in his life and was unsure of its purpose he had a very interesting dream. In the dream he saw a bright orange. He stared at it for a while and then began to peel it. The second he began to peel the orange an amazing fragrance filled the room. Then he began the eat the orange. He said it was the sweetest orange he ever tasted. Meanwhile the thought came to him: this was the meaning of life -not to eat oranges- but to be involved. One can never fully appreciate an orange just by looking at it.