¡adios 2010!

Hey!  I really can't believe that today is the last day of 2010! I am happy to look back and see that a lot happened in the last year!  Both good and bad of course ... I got back from my mission, worked with Betty until she passed away, also endured the passing of my sweet dog, went to Guatemala for a few months to continue my spanish study and do service, was told I had AIDS by a Guatemalan doctor (which I, by the way, did NOT!), did my first spring/summer terms at BYU, started dating Brian, finished another semester of nursing - pediatrics and labor/delivery, got accepted to the Ghana study abroad for spring, spent lots of good times with friends and family, and much much more! It has been quite the full year to say the least! I am excited for what 2011 has in store for my family and me. Tonight I'll be working on some goals - I better make them good! Here are some pictures from over the break here in New Mexico... with more to come of course!

The annual Christmas cookies! These are the "special" ones

Mom's Christmas sweaters! Thanks for letting us borrow them momma!

Christ: The Real Gift of Christmas

Want to see a really sweet website to catch the spirit of the true meaning of Christmas? Check it out! Lots of great videos :)

Christ: The Real Gift of Christmas

Christmas Laughs!

airports, illegal weapons, and the TSA police

 

So you may think that this looks like a real gun.... well, so did the police (TSA) at the airport. Adam (Sego) and I were happy to find out that we had the same flight home - so at least I had someone to share the madness with. The airport adventure began like any other. Janet had warned us not to go through the "special scanner" because apparently it strips you naked and the airport personnel can see, well, EVERYTHING. I vowed to avoid that line. Only, I wasn't so lucky. We were running a tad bit late and so I jumped into the shortest line to speed the process along. Bad idea. Yep, you know what happened. There was a reason the line was so short.

So, after enduring that embarrassment, I was waiting patiently for my backpack, carry-on, and shoes to come down the line. Red lights started flashing and an old security guard confiscated my backpack. He said there was something "suspicious" inside. I realized that I hadn't removed my pepper spray and got a little worried! He was frustrated to find that I had my purse and my makeup back inside of my backpack and sighed heavily and told me it was going to "be a while." I wondered whether you could get arrested for bringing pepper spray into the airport. Well, it wasn't the pepper spray (he didn't even find that!). Instead, he found my little bottle of vanilla lotion... which passed the test because it was only 3 ounces. Phew, with that crisis averted, I looked back to get my carry-on bag. What I saw was not good. There was a group of security guards huddled around the monitor x-raying my bag... pointing... muttering... and CALLING THE POLICE. Uh oh. The old man security guard informed me that I was "in lots of trouble." Adam was just laughing... and honestly I was too. I hope it wasn't disrespectful. 

So, the police came and looked at the monitor. The old man security guard asked me whether I had anything I needed to tell him. Whether I needed to "confess." I confessed all right. I told him I had clothes and Christmas presents in there. The police walked over and took me to the side and asked me in a calm manner, "Ma'am, do you have anything in your bag that might resemble, you know... a gun?" I had to think about it for about 3 seconds and realized that I DID have a gun in my bag! Not a real one though. I bought my brother a nifty miniature potato gun for Christmas (see picture below). Unfortunately, it does look like a gun... even made out of metal! Long story short, they confiscated my arsenal and I was allowed to pass w/out handcuffs.

pictures and a bit of an update!

I can't believe it's almost Christmas! Friday I will be home with my lovely family and I am super excited about that! There are so many things I haven't blogged about - Thanksgiving trip to Logan with mom, dad, and Brian (where we almost got killed by a spinning car on the freeway in that "blizzard" - yikes!), mom and dad's birthday party, last weeks of clinicals and school, adventures at Jamba Juice, etc etc. I figured since I don't study on Sunday, I could at least post some pictures :). So, enjoy!

Mom and Dad at their birthday party! As you can see, they have quite the different taste in literature ;)

About a month ago Andrea and I went to see the Christmas lights at the Riverwoods and it was SO MUCH FUN to be with her! We saw the lights, did a bit of Christmas shopping, and of course got a milkshake!

Going to temple square to see the lights is one of my favorite things to do during the holiday season - it is soooo beautiful. I don't remember ever seeing the floating lights in the reflecting pool before. As you can see from the photo, it was really foggy, but honestly that made it look even more magical!

I like this picture for several reasons. #1. you can see that I decorated my apartment for Christmas! Oh how I love Christmas. #2 Brian and I have cool stickers. #3 yay for cheesy smiles

Also on temple square - can you see the snow and the sheep in the background? - It was part of a life-size nativity set.

school school the golden rule

We were learning about cognitive delays and special needs kids in my pediatrics and were shown this video - check it out! I am taking my last midterm tonight, took a final on Monday, and I have another final coming up this Monday, three on Tuesday, and my last one on Thursday. YIKES. One day I'll have time to blog again :)

GOING TO CACHE VALLEY!

The "blizzard" has passed and now it's time to go celebrate TURKEY DAY (or at least that's what they call it in Spanish - dia del pavo)! My parents should be here any second... 5....4.....3....2....nope, they still aren't here. But they will be soon. So, I guess this will be my last blog until after the weekend!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Thanksgiving Daily

Happy Thanksgiving week! Though this video might be a little cheesy, I like it :). I am so excited because this week I get to see my PARENTS! They are driving up on Tuesday and then we're heading out to peaceful Cache Valley until Sunday. Sigh... I'm so excited!

Ps. It snowed today!

a good lesson that I'm still learning

"He [the Lord] will always hear your prayers and will invariably answer them. However, His answers will seldom come while you are on your knees praying, even when you may plead for an immediate response. Rather, He will prompt you in quiet moments when the Spirit can most effectively touch your mind and heart. Hence, you should find periods of quiet time to recognize when you are being instructed and strengthened." Richard G. Scott

It's hard to be patient, huh?

hahaha... in honor of "Movember"

Babies

Today I worked with premature babies in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) at Primary Children's Hospital. Just picture the tiniest babies you have every seen and bucket loads of cuteness... so, my day was filled with snuggling, bottle feeding, and L-O-V-E!  I am going to really miss working in Pediatrics.

extraño la mision

La niña más linda en todo el mundo!

Hoy he estado pensando mucho en la mision. La extraño! A veces me despierto y parace que todavía estoy en San Diego, haciendo la obra misional. Pero despues, me da cuenta de que no soy misionera ya... tengo que vivir en el mundo "real" donde tengo que ir a la universidad todos los dias, pensar en mi misma, hablar en inglés :/, y no efocarme tanto en los demas. Quiero ser misionera otra vez. Por lo menos quiero visitar a mi gente en California. Tal vez pronto! Pero, ni un dia haya pasado sin pensar en las cosas que aprendí mientras fue misionera. Aprendí tanto acerca de mi misma, el evangelio de Jesucristo, la genta maravillosa de Mexico y otros paises latinos, el perdon, la misericordia, la fe, y mi Padre Celestial. Estoy tan agradecida que Dios me aceptó como misionera. Ya, voy a ser la mejor misionera que puedo... aunque no tengo mi placa.

Continue in Patience

Halloween pictures!

So, for Halloween Brian and I decided to be super geeky nerds. Considering we already both study too much and actually are nerds, it wasn't that hard to do. It was lots of fun though! I love Halloween!!!

Mormon.org

So, Mormon.org has really changed and, in my opinion, is now a seriously sweet website! It is busting with good information and testimonies of Mormons everywhere! I was seriously missing my mission the other week (it happens often) and I was trying to think of other ways that I could be a missionary. Well, I wandered onto mormon.org and found a way to share my testimony with lots of people! I have a link on this blog that says "I believe." By clicking on it it will take you to the profile I made about some of my experiences in church. I encourage everyone to make a profile and spread your testimony in yet another way :). If you don't want to click on the link, you can click here to get to it. 

I may not be a full time missionary anymore like in this photo, but I can still be a missionary!!

hey guess what... yesterday it

SNOWED! Can you believe it?! It is officially winter....How do I know? Well, I wake up and it is dark, it is nearly dark by the time I come home from school, I am starting to give in to my hot chocolate cravings, and the big fluffy socks are out of storage.... oh yeah, and the ground is white. I have decided to have an attitude adjustment and really try and embrace this cold weather and frozen white fun - after all, I am going to have to live with it for at least 4 months, so it'd be best to enjoy it at least a little.

I haven't done an update in a while... so here you go!
*I finished the first part of labor and delivery and am now going back to pediatrics tomorrow. Oh how I love both of them - I don't want this semester to end! It is so great to help women on their journey to become moms and then help babies have the best introduction to the world and first few days ever! Oh the babies are so cute :)
*The rest of school is going well too - I am learning a TON in Isaiah and had to regurgitate that knowledge on a test Monday night - 30 short answer and a 3 page essay... ewwww. But, it was a good learning experience at least
*We had a nursing conference on Monday and we got free food and free stuff all for just sitting around in a skirt and listening to people talk about their nursing research! My personal favorite souvenir is a t-shirt that says "I <3 Old People." Classic.
*Halloween is this weekend and I STILL don't know what I am going to be - any suggestions? eh? eh?
*I got to carve pumpkins with my favorite girl ever on Friday night! Andrea Gardner, you are the best.
*Did I mention it snowed?
*my parents are coming up to Utah for Thanksgiving - woot woot! Brian and I are going to go up with them to Cache Valley to spend some time with grandma and gramps :)
*I GOT ACCEPTED TO GO TO GHANA IN THE SPRING FOR NURSING! Yeaaaaah! Should be a great adventure :)

Well, I should be studying - so my update will have to stop here... maybe you'll get more later!

spirituality at the gym? why yes.

Halloween reminds me a lot of Zipper - this is just one of her 5+ Halloween costumes. What a CUTIE! I miss that girl.

I made time to work out this morning for the first time in weeks and it FELT SO GOOD! I need to get back into good habits... especially with winter (and holidays) coming soon. I actually read the Ensign while I was doing the elliptical machine today and really found that it made the time go by faster. I was reading about temples and was happy that I was taking a little bit of time to work on my earthly temple. I also read some for my History of Creativity class about the early Christian church, the Nicean Creed (what was with that, anyway?!), and how crazy confused all of Christ's doctrines got back it the day. I am so grateful for the Restoration and for the clear doctrine we have received and continue to receive. I can hardly wait for the conference edition of the Ensign to come out - I think it will be my new gym buddy :).

FALL

I LOVE FALL! It is currently my favorite season... I got into my car today after shopping at a farmer's market and saw that there were crunchy leaves all over the rug of my car. Was I upset? Noooo! I happily crunched them further into my rug. That may sound messy and weird, but trust me - crunching leave is SO satisfying! I am loving the crisp morning air, riding my bike and feeling my nose get tingly and cold, putting on my scarves and mittens, and cuddling up with blankets while I study. Now, if it could just stay this cool and not become FREEZING like it always does here in Utah, I would be one happy girl. But for now, I am one happy girl and I am LOVING Fall!

quote

"Our understanding of and faith in the Atonement of Jesus Christ will provide strength and capacity needed for a successful life."

Richard G. Scott

conference

General Conference is the coolest! I love listening to the prophet and other leaders of our church speak about things that are pertinent to me and the world that I am living in. Sometimes I think I forget what a unique thing it really is to have a real living prophet here on the earth that we can receive guidance and direction from in a world that is so crazy and ever changing! I know that if we follow the counsel we received today and what we will tomorrow, our lives will be blessed and we will be given more strength to face whatever is coming our way in the future - Yay for conference!

rockin my socks

I

I had such a great weekend... filled with homework, international cinema, dinner at Brick Oven, seeing a play (Tuesdays with Morey), more homework, and canoeing! It was a good little break from all of the craziness of the week - this semester is some hard stuff! But, I am LOVING pediatrics and OB. It's so fun to learn about how to care for little kids, moms, and babies. I didn't think I would enjoy it so much, but i definitely do :). This week I spent some time in Primary Children's Hospital in the RTU (rapid treatment unit) and in the PICU (pediatric intensive care unit). While it is heartbreaking to see kids fighting for their lives, it is very rewarding to be there helping them and cheering them on! I am so happy that I decided to be a nurse. Yes, it is draining. Yes, it is exhausting. Yes, it is difficult and demanding. But yes, it's worth it - I get to help people heal! Christ did that. Maybe it's another step in my journey to be a better disciple for Him. Yep, things are great! Brian and I hit 4 months this weekend... and for those of you who know me, that is a LONG TIME for me. So, congratulations to us!

school is nuts, but I like it

School is crazy and that is my excuse for not having updated this thing in a bit... it's been great getting back into nursing though and I am happy to report that I did not forget absolutely everything from before my mission like I thought I did... just most of it. But, it's coming back pretty quick, so that is a relief! I am studying pediatrics, mother/baby, and labor/delivery... 3 things I am SUPER interested in, so I am loving it! Unfortunately there is a lot of work... reading... essays.... reading... clinicals....more reading... studying... projects.... more reading... good thing I like the subject matter. I am also still enjoying my job at Jamba Juice and work the (very busy) lunch shift on Monday and Wednesday. I'm still finding time to have fun though! Brian and I went to Cache Valley 2 weekends ago to pick up the rest of my stuff and visit with grandma - she is soooo great! I love Cache Valley, it is absolutely beautiful and oh-so-peaceful. I'm going to go to bed so I can study lots again tomorrow, but I'll include some pics!

beautiful Newton!

an awesome old firetruck on the side of the road in Newton :)

aren't we cute?

nuevo mexico

Just a preview of my week... more to come!

nielsen children

 Just some fun old pictures I found with us and Zipper... man we were so nerdy! Well, and still are.