BYU Reminiscing

It's graduation time!! I honestly can't believe my time at BYU is ending. Where did those 4 years go?? (Okay, technically 5) It still went so fast. In many ways I still feel like I was a freshman yesterday, but I have changed and grown so much.

One thing I can say is that I have 0 regrets. I put my whole heart into BYU during my time here. I studied, worked hard, became a competent teacher, worked at the library, held callings, attended devotionals, grew spiritually, went to parties, stayed up late laughing with roomates, made life-long friendships and so much more.

First of all, I AM GOING TO BE A REAL TEACHER. Ahh! I am so grateful for the BYU education program. Although I didn't love all my teachers, I met some of the most inspirational and wonderful teachers that have become good mentors and friends to me. Each of my mentors pushed me in a way I needed to help me become the teacher I am today. I am so grateful to them! And to each of the cute students I got to work with in my practicums and student teaching experiences.

I believe that we have the people in our lives that we do for a reason. I made some of my best friends during my time at BYU.



First, this girl. I met Nicole my freshmen year at BYU and we bonded instantly over our mutual love for ice cream, Jane Austen movies, and cookies and cream milk. Nicole is one of the most loyal, thoughtful, and fun people I know and I am so lucky to have met her!! (Even though I make fun of her country side ;))

My sophomore year I roomed with these awesome girls:



I got to live with my amazing friends Mere, Missy, and Lauren from high school who also introduced me to Andrea and Emily who became fast friends. Andrea and Emily are pretty much the same person: so fun, friendly, and kind! We had some crazy fun times!



This year was characterized by dinner group, frequent scare attacks on Katy, dance parties, and tons of laughter.

The next year I got to live with these two goofballs:



Although at first Missy and I were skeptical of having a freshmen roomate (love you Erica!!), we quickly bonded over our mutual love of just dance!  We lived in the same complex with all the old roomates so there were still plenty of good times and sleepovers...just with even more friends added!





I am SO glad life gave me a second chance at becoming friends with this goof:



Although Missy and I were friends in high school, she truly became one of my very best friends during our days at Casa Dea. We went on so many adventures in her little yellow bug! We ate way to much frozen yogurt, watched too many episodes of Merlin, and belly laughed constantly.



So happy she is now home from her mission and lives not too far away!! Later Missy and I got to room with these 2 adorable girls:



Kassie and Brynn became such good friends during that year! Later I got to be an EFY counselor with Kassie which was a blast! She has always been someone I could talk to and rely on, and now she is married and has an adorable baby!



I know that Heavenly Father gives us second chances to become friends with people. The next year, Missy left to go on her mission and I moved in with this wonderful girl:



Caitlin had been in my ward at the Elms, and although I knew of her we weren't that close. Thanks goodness we got another chance! Sometimes I feel like Caitlin and I are the same person. We are both education majors. We both LOVE Downton Abbey. We both love reading the same books. Cait is a true friend. She is a good listener and gives the best advice. In fact if it weren't for her expert advice, I might not be married
right now. We had so much fun and I met so many amazing people that semester!









I love that as the years went on, I made new friends, but kept the old ones too. It just felt like my circle of friends kept expanding to fit all of these amazing girls. During my last days at Casa Dea I met Sarah and Hilary, two of my very best friends.





These two girls were such good examples to me! They are so talented, hardworking, and such good friends. Also, Hilary and David give excellent dating advice. And are good at killing mosquitos ;)

I also met many amazing friends while working at the Harold B. Lee library for 4 years!







There are so many others I'm missing, let's just say I met SO many wonderful people who have blessed my life during my time at BYU. Thank you to you all, because of you I have truly been changed for good.







Friends make life sweet :) I know that wherever life takes us, we will always be friends.

Recognizing the Lord's hand

Now that student teaching is over I have much more time to do things that I enjoy. Yesterday I finished reading this book:



It was amazing! I couldn't put it down and ended up reading it in two days. (although if you know me I guess you would know that's not altogether unheard of :)) It's the story of a Muslim man who ends up converting to Christianity, and eventually to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Warning: it is a little graphic at parts, put his story and ultimate change is very inspiring.

The thing I liked about this book the most is the focus on finding the Lord's hand in our lives. This man had absolutely horrible things done to him. Like Joseph in the Old Testament, he was imprisoned for a crime he did not commit. He spent fifteen years in an Egyptian prison in the very worst of conditions. Through it all he never forsook his testimony of Christ. Even though he was not delivered from his terrible circumstances right away, he took notice of the ways that God was supporting and sustaining him.

Sometimes, God allows us to pass through trials for our own good. Like Elder Bednar said in conference a couple weeks ago, our trials and loads give us the "spiritual traction" that we need to make it back to Him. This man's trials led him to Christianity, and to his ultimate conversion to the church. This book inspired me to look for the little ways that I can see the Lord's hand in my life daily. I would highly recommend it!