A DAY IN THE CITY...
I know my mom said that I wouldn't be able to blog but I have found that I can compress the pictures and put a few on. Today we had a free day and spend about 8 hours walking around the city. There is so much to see and I don't know if I have ever walked so much in one day! Around 5pm I was standing on top of a building looking out over the city and spotted my home way off in the distance. I suddenly realized that the little building that I was looking at was where I was headed next. Lets just say it took about an hour to get back to the Center.

This is Where I live. The bottom 5 levels have apartments for the faculty and students. Level 6 is the student level where we have our cafeteria, classrooms, lounge, and gym. Level 7 has the office and then level 8 is the library and a few other rooms they use for tours.
This is what I see when I step out on my patio. This is me and my friend Lisa on some roof tops inside the old city. We went exploring and ate lunch up here. As a side note I might add that they want us to blend in and yet require us to carry a water bottle around with us in a bright blue carrier. Can I just tell you that everyone knows who we are. As we pass by the shops they will say. "Oh the Mormons, we love the Mormons!" Lets just say that we really don't blend in :)
These were a couple of cute boys that were talking to some of the guys in my group. And yes, that is The Dome of the Rock that you see in the background.

Today is fast Sabbath here in the Holy Land. It will take a little time to get used to having Sabbath on Saturday. There is a branch here which is mainly made up of the students but we also have a few people from the area as well as a few travelers who come. A lady in the relief society presidency is from Bethlehem. It is kind of funny to hear someone stand up and introduce themselves and say they are from Bethlehem! She said that she grew up down the street from where Christ was born but had to go to Provo, Utah to really find out who Christ was. We hold our sacrament meeting in an assembly hall that is basically a large lecture hall with a stage in front and large arched windows that look out over the city. As we had the sacrament and as testimonies were born, it was amazing to look out at the city and think that this is where Christ taught in the temple, walked the streets, had the last supper, atoned for our sins, was laid in the tomb, and was resurrected that we too might live. It is a powerful experience and I know that Christ really did come to the earth.

I made it to the Holy Land

After a long plane ride and a few time changes I have made it to the Holy Land. As we pulled up to the center I was amazed at the beauty of this place. We are living in what you might call a 5 star hotel. Every window looks out on the city and it is still hard to grasp the reality of actually being in Jerusalem. Walking through the city definately a new experience. I feel like it is one giant maze and I now know why we have to go in groups of three!

There is great security here. It is nice to know that our security guards always know when we are out and start looking for us if we are not back when we should be. It is also a new experience to have someone standing at the gate waiting for our return from the city. We finally got our cell phones and id cards today so we were able to go out to the city on our own this afternoon after classes. I went with a few poeple to the Orson Hyde Park. The story behind this park is very interesting. There is an article about it at lds.org. Check it out: (David B. Galbraith, “Orson Hyde’s 1841 Mission to the Holy Land,” Ensign, Oct 1991, 16)

Jerusalem here I come!

This is where I am going to be in 11 days! Finals are almost over and in a few days I will be packing up and heading home for a few days before leaving for BYU-Jerusalem. I have a feeling I will have more than just flowers to blog about :)

New Adventure for the 2009-2010 School Year

I don't know if I have mentioned this, but my friend Ann that I have been mentoring for the past year and a half just got moved to a new foster home in West Jordan. We are going to stay in contact but my official mentoring days are over for a while. So without mentoring to take the spare time that I don't usually have, I decided to get involved in a new way.

I have the great opportunity to be the president of the Marriott Undergraduate Women in Business Club next year. This club was started this past year and I am excited to get involved. You can look at some of the things that they have done at http://byu-uwib.blogspot.com/. If you have any great ideas for activities let me know!

Spring Flowers
So I have come to realize that about the only things I have taken pictures of this semester are the flower arrangements that I have made. So, as not to break my streak here is my last one. This was my Spring design. It has been such a fun class!General Conference

I went to Salt Lake with a few friends Sunday morning and we met my family there. It was a beautiful day but we decided to have our picnic in the underground parking lot! It was a great day. Brian, Paul, Meagan, and Me

Dad, Grandma Kay, and Aunt Lauri

Me, Joelle, and Mom

Fernanda, Me, and Aline (These are my Brazilian roommates)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LINDSAY!

Lindsay is 20! Thanks for being a great sister-in-law :)

Charity Ball and Auction

Last Friday night we went to the Charity Ball and Auction that was held in the Provo City Library Ballroom. It was beautiful and we had a great time. I don't know how many of you I told about this event but it is something that I got involved in this past semester through a friend in one of my classes. A few years ago some students here at BYU started a group called Students Giving Back. They work with the United Way and put on this event to raise money for children in the area. I did some work on the blog (thanks for your help Gwen!) and I am currently working on a Micro-franchise report for it. We are going to present it to United Way and our hope is that other students across the nation can put on the same kind of event.

Austin, Eliza, Kristen, and Heather

Ward March Madness
There are a few benefits to being ward activities co-chair. We put on a 3 on 3 basketball tournament for this months activity. We had a good turn out and it just so happens that my team won! After it was over I did decide that it is hard to be in charge and play at the same time. Luckily I had a few great friends that helped run the tournament. If you can't tell my team even had matching shirts. These were some shirts that a few girls made for these boys and their intramural team last semester. The shirts have their names on the back and it just so happens that one of the guys on the team has a great last name...Andersen. He even spells it correctly so it work out really well. I played with Bryce Johnson and Kari Olsen.

Have I said anything about how much I love arranging flowers?

One of the assignments for my floral design calls was to do a silk floral arrangement. So I decided to fulfill my assignment by making a summer arrangement for my mom's dining room table. I spent about an hour trying to pick out flowers and then a few hours Friday night putting it together. The final product was not what I had envisioned in my head but I think that it turned out pretty well. I also decided to help Ann pick out flowers and make one herself. It is so much fun!

Finally a post...
I am afraid that it has been a very long time since I have posted on my blog. I am not sure that anyone even looks at it anymore. But for those who still may take a look now and again here are a few pictures from my life.

First of all...I love my floral design class! Today we learned how to do bridal bouquets. They are so fun. For my class I also have to be able to identify a long list of flowers. So as you can imagine I look at flowers a whole new way and it is wonderful.

A while back Eliza and I went to the BYU Gymnastics meet. We even went down on the floor before it started and participated in the handstand contest. I know you might be surprised but we didn't win.
For Valentine's Day I went to my first Monster Truck Rally. What an experience, especially on valentines day.

My Creations...
So I have always loved using my hands to fix things, put things together, or just create. As I looked back over the past year I just wanted to share a few of my creations.

#1. Last Christmas break I made a quilt out of a selection of my old t-shirts. #2. This past summer my good friend Julie got me started on stitchery.

#3. This Christmas Katie taught us all how to crouchet hats. After I got the hang of it I made 4 before coming back to school.

#4. My new task is learning floral design. I am taking a class this semester and can't wait to make my own designs.

If anyone has any new ideas of what I can learn to do or make after floral design, I would love the suggestions!

I am 21...
A lot of birthday and a lot of cake!
So although I am a couple of weeks late on updating about my birthday I must say that it might be because I wasn't sure the partying was ever going to end! It started on New Years Eve when we celebrated at home while the family was there. My mom made her amazing homemade ice cream and we had my traditional, strawberry cake! I can't remember a year when I haven't had a strawberry cake. (I think it is kind of like my Christmas Stocking, after 21 years I just can seem to give it up!) It was a fun night and I was grateful for the help I received to blow out the candles. I think they were out before I even made my wish! Thanks kids
Birthday #2...
Jenni and I started a tradition the year I moved to Burley to celebrate our birthdays together the night before my birthday. Her birthday is January 15th so we decided they are close enough to combine. This year her mom made some waffles instead of brownies and we had a fun night together before, once again, went our separate ways back to school. Birthday #3...
My third birthday took place on my actual birthday. January 4th! I came back to Provo on the 3rd but Mom had me covered and sent a cake and some ice cream back with Brandon and Lindsay. Eliza and I had Carl and Derick over for dinner and then Brandon and Lindsay joined us for the cake and ice cream. Thanks mom for taking care of my birthday even when I am not at home!

Birthday #4...

So I thought that I had already reach my max on birthday candles but on the Tuesday after my birthday my roommate took me out to dinner. It was so much fun and I was not expecting the surprise party that I found when I got home. My roommates had planned a great little party and it was fun to have friends over once again. And of course we played a few games of catch phrase. My favorite!

Thank you everyone for making my 21st birthday so wonderful! I think I have had enough cake to last me until next year.

Night on Temple Square
A couple of weekends ago, my mom and dad came down for dinner and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert, to celebrate Grandma Kay's birthday with her. So Eliza and I met them in Salt Lake to hang out with Joelle and we had a party of our own. We walked around and saw the nativities and listened to a high school choir in one of the visitor's centers. Then we went to dinner at the Lion House and finished the night off watching the concert from the Tabernacle. It was a great night!

THANKSGIVING

I had such a great thanksgiving and it was so fun to have Eliza come home and spend the week in Idaho! We did so many fun things it is hard to pick the best part. Here are just some of the highlights:

On Tuesday night we went to Les Mis is Sugar City and Wednesday we put Christmas lights up and went bowling. Thurday was the great day of Thanksgiving! Eliza and I went and ran the Mini-Cassia Turkey Trot 5K in Paul and then there was lunch, ping pong, football and lots of pie! Friday, Eliza and I went to Twilight while Joelle and Mom went to Bolt and then that night we went out and played games at Ben and Robbie's.

A trip home is never complete without going out to the dairy so Saturday morning we put on the coveralls and paid a little visit to the cows. Satuday night we went over to the ISU vs. BYU men's basketball and I found out it is more fun to watch when you can see the players and you aren't sitting on the top row of the Marriott Center! Sunday we went out to Arobon Valley listen to Austin Hayden speak. He just returned from his mission and will be coming down to BYU in January. As you can see it was an exciting trip! Only a few weeks left in the semester! We couldn't help but stop to take a picture of Arbon.

On Wednesday we picked Joelle up from school and went to the Schoolhouse Grill for ice cream and a few games of connect four.

Mission Call and Halloween!

My roommate Amy Alletto recieved her mission call a couple of weeks ago and she can't stop smiling. She is going to Kyiv, Ukraine! She leaves the middle of January. I am going to miss her so much but I know she is going to be an amazing missionary. The day before Halloween Ann and I made dinner and carved a pumpkin. I forgot how fun it is to scrape out the insides of a pumpkin!

On Halloween night Eliza and I drove up to South Salt Lake with a few friends in the ward to a Halloween Party John Hoyt and a couple of his friends had at their little house. They had a fire and lots of treats.

I finally ran my 5K!
On Saturday I did a fun run in Orem for Make a Wish Foundation. After running all summer and was wishing I would have ran a 5K but I finally did it. I ran the whole thing and it was a lot of fun. I ran with my roommates Eliza and Kristen and Jeremy and Josh who are in our ward.

Jeremy, Heather, Eliza, Kristen, and Josh

We made it to the Elite 8!
Our flag football team is in the elite 8 in the second division. We had a bye the first round of the tournament and then won our game on Thursday. The tournament is now double elimination so there isn't quite as much pressure but we are hoping to make it all the way to the championship!
We will play this Wednesday and Thursday.

Steve Merrill (our coach), Stacie, Eliza, Kayla, Emily, Amy, Kristen, Heather, and Annika This is our team and fans from from the ward who came out in the cold to cheer us on.

My wonderful roommates!

School is going well and I am loving my ward and my apartment. At first I was a little apprehensive about living in the same place for a second year but it has turned out to be wonderful and I am grateful to be here. This week was Homecoming! The game was cold but a lot of fun. I just have to say that I love BYU! And these are my wonderful roommates...

Melanie, Kristen, Amy, Emily, Eliza, and Me

Amy, Kristen, Eliza, Emily, and Me sporting our quest shirts after the game

Kara (Kristen's friend), Kristen, Me, and Eliza at the football game

A challenge to all the women...

So a couple of weeks ago my roommate Kristen and I decided to spend a little time memorizing The Relief Society Declaration. This has brought new meaning to Relief Society for me. It is a great reminder of what we are striving for and what we can work on. So my challenge to all of you is to memorize the declaration before Thanksgiving. Good Luck!

We are beloved spirit daughters of God, and our lives have meaning, purpose, and direction. As a worldwide sisterhood, we are united in our devotion to Jesus Christ, our Savior and Exemplar. We are women of faith, virtue, vision, and charity who:

Increase our testimonies of Jesus Christ through prayer and scripture study.

Seek spiritual strength by following the promptings of the Holy Ghost.

Dedicate ourselves to strengthening marriages, families, and homes.

Find nobility in motherhood and joy in womanhood.

Delight in service and good works.

Love life and learning.

Stand for truth and righteousness.

Sustain the priesthood as the authority of God on earth.

Rejoice in the blessings of the temple, understand our divine destiny, and strive for exaltation.

From TEMPLE SQUARE...
Caroline, Abbey, Eliza, Amy and I took the trax into Salt Lake on Saturday morning to attend General Conference. We stood in the standby line for about 45 minutes before we sent Amy and Abbey to try to get tickets. It only took about 10 minutes before they had four tickets and we were on our way in. I love going to Salt Lake for Conference and was glad that Caroline and Abbey came down.
After the morning session we got back on the trax and met Brandon, Lindsay, Gracie, Hillary, and Carter for lunch in Sandy. It was a great morning!

Intramurals have begun!

Last night we had our first flag football game as well as our first co-ed basketball game and we came out with two wins! It is fun to be back playing intramurals and I am excited for the season. I will try and keep you updated how we are doing.

I'm back at BYU!

Well I got back to Provo in time for the 1st football game and the excitement has begun. After the game on Saturday we (Kristen, Eliza, Whitney, Jordan, and a couple of Jordan's roommates) went to Erin (Mower) Harris's and had pizza and ice cream. Then this evening Jordan rode to salt lake with me to switch the Navigator for my car and we went to Whitney's apartment and played a game. I've been here less than two days and had a social overload!

I am moved into my apartment and excited for the new semester. First Sunday back and I already had a meeting with the Bishop. I am the new 2nd councelor in the Relief Society Presidency. They get things going pretty quick around here. Me and Whitney

Kristen, Melanie, and Me