All I Know...I Learned from Everyone

We have been in school for a month! This winter semester has been going great!!! I brought my apartment together. :) We are really unified and are really like a family. I love having that support system here at school, and I will miss it when it's gone.

I have my best friend Emily, who just returned from her mission in Nashville, TN Spanish speaking. So there is a lot of Spanglish that goes on in my apartment. I try. :) We are so happy to have this one semester together before we won't have the opportunity to later on. She's really adjusting well and when it's hard we talk about the mission. I love that.

Kristin was my support last semester. We depended on each other for everything, with that foundation we go to each other for everything. I'm happy she took the risk to room with a sister from the mission that she didn't know that well. I knew in the mission that we'd be good friends if we ever got the chance to spend some time together, when we were both training and shared a room for one night. It was a meant to be friendship.

Valerie or Lala or ValerTheresa, or Greenbean! She is just so cute!!! I lived with her for a year before my mission and I'm sooo happy she chose to live with me again. She is really good at putting things into perspective for me so that I don't over analyze or freak out. :) I am really my wacky and weird self with her...but she accepts whatever I do!

Arin! MY HERMANA! I have to say not all sisters could live together...but it has definitely worked out for us! I could live with her again in a heart beat. (Don't forget our plans to get our own apartment together someday Arin!!) She said the other day "do you think of us as sisters or friends first?" I think our other sister Ashleigh, put it best, "you are closer friends BECAUSE you are sisters." Yes, we are friends...but you can definitely tell we're sisters...especially when I'm acting like a baby and she just accepts me and tries to help me. We also have been sharing food and cooking for each other...it's been a lot of fun and I'm actually eating better this semester! :) Te amo Arin!

One of our sayings this semester is "Poor Challis" because our poor roommate that we didn't know previously got mixed into our crazy circle of people. She is a returned missionary who served in the Utah Salt Lake City Mission (kind of like our rival...but we can't say that since technically it's all the Lord's work). She loves to read and oldies movies. She's a cute girl!

This semester has been a lot more social!!! (You know I like that!) I have four classes this semester...two of which are 4 credits. So no it's not an easy semester but it's waaaay better on the stress level compared to last. I'm so happy I am able to breathe a little more. I do have some added responsibility this semester though, I was called to be the Relief Society President. I have to say that calling just made me love the people around me more. My counselors are amazing (whom I didn't know very well when I chose them). They really want the same unity I do and are willing to step up to the calling. :)

On another note...that I'll have to probably touch on later...I'm thinking about graduate school. I'm either going to do Speech Pathology or get my masters in Early Childhood Education. I'm just praying about it...we'll see how it all goes. I'm tired of school, but I want to do what the Lord has in store for me. I just need ideas of where to go or what to go into!

As always....

You Can Be Happy if You Let Yourself Be,

Arica

November 1st=Christmas Music

We finally got Halloween out of the way! YAY! I really do not like that holiday...if you could even call it that (it really is a gimmick for us to spend unnecessary money...in my opinion, plus it's just all about being spooked and stuff...) what can I say I'm my mother's daughter. I do enjoy dressing up, I'm not a party pooper, but I don't like decorating or taking long hours to get my costume ready. So what was I? CHEERLEADER from TEEN GIRL SQUAD click on that and go to toons....then you can watch some episodes to appreciate the amazingness of our costumes. We did get a lot of compliments and had so much fun dancing around and talking like them.

The whole squad w/Strong Bad. ARROWED....from dancing so much.

It was so much fun, we just danced a ton and just didn't care about anything, I felt kind of invincible in my costume, it felt good! I'm happy my roomies were game to do this...it was my older sister, Ashleigh's idea...and they all knew who Teen Girl Squad was, except Kristin, it's awesome though because Kristin still wanted to do it even though she'd never heard of it. I love her....she's willing to try anything. So Halloween was fun but I'm happy it's over.

I'm so excited that it's November! This means the start of Christmas music! Yes...November 1st is when I like to start it, I figure I only have a small opportunity to enjoy it all year long so I'm going to take advantage. I guess I actually started it ON Halloween because we celebrated it on Saturday, so I was so in the mood....I looove it. I'm excited for Thanksgiving..I desperately need a break and I'm so happy to say that I'll have gotten a huge assignment out to of the way just before it. I'll be teaching preschool the week before the break and with THAT off my shoulders I'm going to feel sooo good. At this moment I'm trying to register for classes but the site is being rather ridiculous and taking forever. Grr. Patience is really something I'll have to work on my whole life. ;)

On a good note, it has not REALLY snowed yet. Just some flurries a week or so ago but it didn't stick and I really enjoyed it...it started snowing while I was walking home and it was so magical. I really don't mind the snow when it's actually snowing it's the sticking around for weeks part that really gets me. Yesterday I was a in a long sleeved cotton shirt and really that's all I needed. But it will probably get colder as it gets closer to thanksgiving. Which I'm going to the Hegerhorst's! They were kind enough to still invite me even though Emily is still on her mission until December! Arin's coming with me and we're going to have fun on the farm....I'm way stoked about it.

So that's what's going on with me. I think registering for classes will have to wait because it still isn't loaded up. LAME. At least I got an entry in here.

You Can Be Happy if You Let Yourself Be,

Arica

Learning Takes WORK!

I did not realize when I came back to school that I would be so overwhelmed! I usually stress about school but I somehow I don't remember how I got through it. Just to give you an idea of what I'm doing:

Preschool Practicum: (practicum just means practice just in case you didn't get that) I get to teach preschool for two weeks (not consecutively) and I already finished one of the weeks. Let me tell you that was one of the most stressful weeks of my life, I shed a few tears due to the stress. I just felt like I didn't know what I was doing. I learned so much in that week...but I also learned that I loved to teach and really could see myself actually doing this! It's great to be reassured that this is what I want to do.

Acting I: SO FUN! This is my escape from everything! I wanted to take this class to learn more about myself and really express myself in different ways...and it really has taught me just that! I am now putting my acting skills to practice by working with a directing student on a scene of her choice. It's from a play called Blithe Spirit and I play the dead wife of a guy name Charles, who has since remarried and I have come back and only he can see me. So he's trying to convince his current wife that I am there and talking to him. CRAZY!

Scripture Study Skills: My favorite class. I have learned SO many things....the most basic thing that has helped me is being able to determine what is doctrine. I know is sounds ridiculous because I went on a mission and everything but I really didn't know what doctrine truly was. It just never dawned on me to research what people meant when they said doctrine. I didn't know it was different from a principle! It makes so much sense. It was amazing to figure out just those two things (which is the first thing we learned in the class). But we've gone into other things too and some things I already know how to do but it's just laziness, but when you actually do the things you've been taught scripture study becomes alive and you won't want to stop! Man...I love the gospel.

Science Methods: It's basically teaching me how to teach science to my students. It's a lot harder to teach science to kindergarten than anyone else because you have to make it so basic. Lesson plans are due in this class too. They are different than the ones I have for preschool, not SO hard core but still when it's not consistent it makes me happy when I can make my own lesson plans the way I'd like to...if that even happens.

I'm starting another class on Tuesday...it's just half a semester and I heard it's pretty easy. So things are good...just busy. I am FHE mom, Relief Society Humanitarian Specialist, have a social life, try to go to the temple once a week (that goal has been every 2 weeks but I'm striving to be better), and work.

Oh work! I'm a TA for a teacher at the college. She teaches Toddler Lab (which I'll be taking in the Spring) and she is amazing. We work well together and I'm getting her routines down...we've already talked about rehiring me for next semester. :) I really have seen how much my Heavenly Father loves me in so many ways; the people He's put into my life, the job, the school, my family, and more....I just don't know how I could show my gratitude for what Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have done for me.

You Can Be Happy if You Let Yourself Be,

Arica

Long Overdue...

Okay...so obviously I didn't keep up on the "happiness" blog. I don't think it's going to last. I probably have had this theme going since my blog has been named this since the beginning. I just enjoy updating people on my life. I once heard my sister say "I just don't think people are that interested in what is going on in my life" but really I believe it's good for me either way. So here I go...

SO...I'm now in Rexburg! I bet you figured as much. :) The drive out here is a story in it's self...but it went well and I am so thankful for Maryanne Harris for giving us a GPS....man it saved us a couple times. I do feel more experienced and confident in driving now. It was fun to have Arin with me and taking turns driving and being co-driver. We'd read The Secret Journal of Brett Colton and change CD's over and over. Mostly listened a lot of Mika...we still can't get enough of him. Unfortunately we were really bad at taking pictures of our trip out and documenting everything. I think Arin has more pictures than I do.

Well we got here with my roomie and friend from the mission Kristin Havron. She followed us out from Tennessee. She's been a great roomie and we're planning on rooming together next semester too. We are alike in a lot of ways and it works to our advantage. It's so fun because we can talk about the mission a lot and not get sick of each other talking about it too much. My other roommates were people we just met this semester. I tell you have I lucked out a lot but I know Heavenly Father places you in people's lives for a reason...and my roommates have become great friends and people I'd love to keep in touch with. We've gone Latin Dancing, had a nerf gun war, and danced to a bollywood movie called Dhoom 2. I just love them.

I had a great summer...soaking in my family and kind of being lazy. I think school was what I needed to get me into gear. It's been a stressful but fun semester. I don't even know why I'm up instead of sleeping or getting some sort of homework done. I guess I just needed a release. :) I am on the down hill of my college experience and it's kind of a weird feeling. I have two semesters after this (I'm staying winter and spring on fast grad hopefully) and then I'll student teach in the fall! I made a life decision the other day...I had to sign up for student teaching and there were several places to choose from to student teach in and I could pick three...my choices went like this:

1.Salt Lake City, UT

2.Las Vegas, NV

3.Boise, ID

I was wondering when we'd find out if we got the one we wanted...so I asked someone and she asked "where did you ask to go?" I said "Salt Lake" and she said "oh you'll definitely going to Salt Lake then..." so it's pretty much a guarantee. I'm excited for new adventures and I can't wait to student teach. I went to Salt Lake last weekend and I could really see myself there...it just feels right. I really just want to be able to focus on teaching and no other classes. I'm doing a preschool practicum this semester and I wish I could devote all of my time to it but I have 4 other classes to worry about. I have decided that also when the time comes I really want to homeschool my kids until the age of 8! It sounds fun and I've been educated to do it so why not? I mean then they can get a little more home time and then go off on their own...

By the way one of the classes I'm taking is an acting class...and I LOVE it. I was nervous but I really like my teacher, classmates, and how I get to express myself in different ways. I don't know if I'm "good" but I love that it's beginning and they don't expect much yet. :)

So life is good. I have been having a great semester. I went to a mission reunion last weekend and General Conference...but that's for another entry. I need to get to bed.

You Can Be Happy if You Let Yourself Be,

Arica

Happiness Inspiration

Got the radio on, my old blue jeans

And I'm wearing my heart on my sleeve

Feeling lucky today, got the sunshine

Could you tell me what more do I need

If I could only take the credit for those words...I'm working on it though! I've decided to let my creative writing side take over more often and I have some good poems/lyrics up my sleeve for later. But I love finding those lyrics that just work for me as well as whoever wrote them! It has been a while since writing on here and I think I know why. With having a journal, study journal, letters I write to my missionary friends, and all that is in between....it just seems redundant to repeat myself on here yet again. Kind of like when I was on my mission we'd write to our parents about goings on, in a teaching record, and to our ward and stake leaders...by the time you got to your journal it was hard to keep it sounding fresh. but alas!! I have been inspired.

My sister Ashleigh just started a blog that has a theme...and I thought maybe I should put a theme to this thing...until I realized I ALREADY HAVE ONE! HAPPINESS!

So from now on...I will write about things that happen during the week that just made me happy...maybe the whole entry will be about one subject and maybe many...but this is it!

Words make me happy and I think everyone who really knows me knows that. But they always say that pIctUrEs are worth a 1000 words.

Pictures=Happiness

I have been digital scrapbooking my mission for just the past two days and it's been so much fun. I've been using shutterfly.com which has been a great starter place, who knows there might be more out there. Of course learning how the system of it all works took some time but now that I have that down it's been so much fun to look through my pictures and put them in order and tell the story behind it. I started at how I opened my mission call as the first page and went into going to the temple, setting apart, the airport, the MTC AND transfer 1....all in about 24 hours. It's been surprising how many pictures I have and how good record I kept of my mission. I always thought I could have done better but I can give myself a healthy pat on the back. I love technology. I am more a digital person than an artsy one that can put her own spin on things, so it has really worked out for me to have some here-say in how it looks but not make it too complicated. Just my cup of coco! :)

I am leaving for school on Thursday and it's still hard to believe that the mission is really over...I went and came back. The pictures reflect so many memories and allow me to realize it really happened and that there will be more pictures to come of my next adventures.

Bask in your happy moments,

~Arica