One Final Word

Alright...so I am a sister missionary! :) Crazy, I know! :) I just wanted to leave one last little imprint of me on my blog...! Although Ashton will keep this updated for me and keep all of you posted on my adventures, it just isn't the same as hearing it straight from Shelby herself! :D I love you all so much and I appreciate your love and support more than you know! Thank you for EVERYTHING! I am so darn excited to get into the MTC and start learning! :) Bring on the best 18 months of my life ... thus far ;) haha I hope to hear from all of you while i'm out serving the Lord!

Love,
Sister Shelby Nicole Bradley (officially)

Missionary Contact Info

Melissa suggested that I post my contact info so you guys can send me treats while i'm out...SOOO...thats what i'm doing :) haha I expect treats now ;) just kidding...but letters/emails would be nice!! ps...this is all from memory now :) I never cease to amaze myself ;) haha

Sister Shelby Nicole Bradley
517 W. Walnut Street
Independence, MO
64050-3632

OR if email is more your style...

snbradley@myldsmail.net

I can't wait to get out there and even moreso I can't wait to hear from you all :) Thanks for all of your love and support thus far and yet to come! See most of you on Sunday bright and early @ 9 AM! :) haha

Ready or not...!

Well...as most of you probably realized...I am entering the MTC in 16 days! Crazy, trust me, I know!! I am so darn excited, tho! I am a little sad that I won't have a chance to say goodbye to everybody...but i will be back in a short 18 months! :) I have had the opportunity to spend some time with two of my very best friends and closest cousins...with plans to do so a little more in the next two weeks...that excites me! Also, another one of my best friends is flying in from California on THURSDAY and I will get to see HER for a few days before i go... (i'm not at ALL excited for THAT ;) haha), and yes...just enjoying my time before I go! It will be a sad experience, but it will be more joyful by far! I can't wait to get out there and teach that amazing message that will change SO many lives forever! I know that I will receive many great blessings from it...as will my friends and family. We will all grow so much over the next year and a half, and before we know it, i'll be home! :) SO...when people start crying and saying they're gonna miss me...I say "You're not allowed to be sad! NO TEARS! :) I need you to be EXCITED for me, not sad that i'm going! It will be a great experience for us all" ... now, I can say that for the time being because I am not sad...yet. I wonder if deep down it hasn't registered yet, or if I really am just THAT excited that I get to go on this grand adventure...who knows...but I can GUARANTEE that it will hit me hard when i'm standing in that dreaded room hugging my mom, torturing my brothers, kissing my lil Emma, teasing my dad, and taking pictures with Ashton...for the last time in a YEAR AND A HALF...! THEN....can I PROMISE you...that it will hit me and the tears will come. But until then....I am being strong and positive...I have so much to offer...so if I go out there with ANY sorrows or regrets about my choice...I will not be able to do the work that has been asked of me with the magnitude that I can. So...I am begging...be HAPPY for me :) No tears...I don't need any encouragement in the crying department... haha Another question I get asked on a daily basis is "are you nervous" ... for talking in church...YES...terrified...!! For my mission...not yet! haha But that time will also come, I am sure! :) BUT...when you have the blessing of being the Lord's servant...his eyes, ears, mouth, and hands...what is there to fear? .....he is on your side! :D SO...no, I am not nervous, and I am not necessarily nervous to be away from my family or talking to strangers or teaching the gospel...i am nervous of not knowing the answers, of letting Him down, and of being an example to all (Cuz that is for SURE a scary thought!) haha but...here I am...down to just over two weeks...and then I can confront these silly fears head on :) haha BRING IT ON! Independence, my future companions, and President and Sister Van Komen....ready or not...here I come! :D

Oh and PS...for those who didn't know...my farewell is on December 14 @ 9:00 in my parent's ward in Nibley (the church is on 1000 West and 2840 South...in the middle of a subdivision). I would love for EVERYBODY to come :) haha but if you can't, don't feel bad! haha AND...come to dinner afterwards at my parents (like 4 houses away from the church) haha...no excuses! Love ya all!

Paramore's Twilight Music Video

Alright, people...I have become a HUGE Twilight fan...and I just finished watching the midnight showing...I LOVED it!! Oh my goodness...and here is a wicked awesome music video for it :) CHECK IT OUT!

Check out this video: Paramore Music Video (MySpace)

A Picture Tag

This is what you do:
1. Open up your picture file
2. Go to the fourth folder
3. Open the fourth picture
4. Post the picture on your blog and write about it

OH! This is a boring one! This is from when mom and I visited Ash in Connecticut this summer and we went to New York (This is Time Square..if you couldn't figure that out) haha ...i'll find a better pic...!! haha



This is all me and my best girls from high school...senior year...this was on our Valentines Dance...we were such great friends and I miss these girls!! We were all so tight because we were all basically parentless! haha :) What a good time...sometimes I wish we could go back to the good ol days like this..carefree and just so much fun ALWAYS ;)

I tag: Ashley, Charish, and Sharee :)

MISSION FAREWELL INFO!!

Alright guys! I have info for you all :) There will be two farewells; both in the Logan, UT area.

My singles ward farewell will be on November 23, 2008 @ 1:15 pm. It will be hosted at the Aztec building...for those of you who don't know where that is...it is 800 E. and approximately 1200 N. (between Oakridge and Riverside Apartments) -- the parking lot has three churches in it, and mine is the furthest EAST building. Once you are inside the building...find the south chapel...it is obviously the only chapel on the South end of the building...and there I will be...Nervous as heck! :D haha

My family ward farewell is on December 14, 2008 @ 9:00 am. It will be held at my parents' church house in Nibley. The address is 1000 W. and 2840 S. It is in the middle of a subdivision, so remember that there is no road that goes straight to it from the highway...and don't get lost! The easiest route to get there would be to take the highway heading south of Logan (if you're coming from Logan, when you come to the fork in the road, take the right side) and then turn left onto 3200 South (right after Ted's) and follow that road until you hit 1000 W, and turn left. You will just follow that road through the subdivision until you see the church on the left side of the road.

Now both farewells will have a dinner hosted afterwards...the singles ward one will be at MY house (595 E. 500 N.--house on the NW corner of the four-way) and the family ward dinner will be at my PARENTS house (911 W. 2840 S.---Nibley Garden Estates Subdivision) I can't wait to see all of your smiling faces!! Let me know tentatively which one you plan on coming to so we can make sure we have enough food for everybody :) Also, hit me up if you need more specific directions :) I know not everybody is good with the grid system...! Thanks for all your love and support! See you soon...ps...only 40 more days til I'm OFFICIALLY Sister Shelby Nicole Bradley :) haha

THE TEMPLE EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME!

YAY!! I am SO excited for the next big step I will take in this lifetime; one step closer to the Celestial Kingdom!! HOW LUCKY AM I?! I have my temple date set! I will being going to the Logan Temple on Wednesday, November 5, 2008! My session is a 5:30 session, and I invite any available and worthy temple goer to attend with me! Just be there by 5:00! I am so excited to undergo this unfathomable experience and would love to be accompanied by all those I love...SO IF YOU CAN, PLEASE COME!! :) See you there!

OFFICIAL BLOGGING ANNOUNCEMENT FOR THE CALL OF SISTER SHELBY NICOLE BRADLEY

INDEPENDENCE, MISSOURI VISITORS CENTER
December 17, 2008

As you all know, I have decided to dedicate the next 18 months of my life to the Lord. I submitted my request to serve on Thursday, October 9; had my papers processed on Thursday, October 16; received my call on Thursday, October 23; and opened the anxiously awaited letter on Saturday, October 25 with most of my friends and family present.

As I was preparing for my mission, I was faced with so many life changing questions. Will you be willing to serve where the Lord sees fit for you? Are you going to be disappointed if you don't go foreign? Are you sure you can handle all the stress and emotions that come along with this decision? Could you really survive leaving before Christmas? It is easy to say yes to all of the above questions if you aren't bombarded with the reality of it all as you are answering them. Flashing back to my conversation with President Lundburg, finally taking in the reality of it all while reading the call I had received from the first presidency, I momentarily second guessed myself...CAN I really deal with this reality? It only took microseconds to realize that this is what I want. I KNOW that I am on the right track and doing what is right for me.

INDEPENDENCE, MISSOURI?? Definitely NOT what I was anticipating! I had contemplated church history sites while tossing possible destinations around in my head, and exuberantly anticipated such an opportunity, but never considered Independence! Palmyra, Nauvoo, Kirtland...all locations that had run through my mind (even temple square)! But why had the anticipated destination for the New Jerusalem not come to mind? At this point it finally hit me how absolutely BLESSED I am to have been called to serve and teach on such sacred grounds! I was ASKED to take the opportunity to build up Zion on location! Peace, gratitude, and tears overtook me at once.

No, it is not France or England, I don't get to learn Portuguese or Italian, I won't come home with a wicked Irish or Australian accent, but I will have a direct hand in so many more gratifying experiences. I don't need to go foreign in order to come home with amazing stories that will no doubt be passed down my long line of posterity, nor do I need to get a passport to feel like I have made a difference in the lives of my lost brothers and sisters. I can do that right here in America just as well as on any other continent.

I KNOW that I am physically and emotionally capable of taking on the Savior's name and making him proud. My actions and my thoughts will reflect him in every minute I am blessed to wear his name alongside mine on that precious little black badge. I can assure you that it will be difficult and stressful in the mission field at times, but I am ready for the challenge. The sorrow will be far outweighed by the blessings; the chance to change lives forever. I do not regret that I am not guaranteed to see numerous conversions, teach the discussions to an eager eight-year-old anticipating the waters of baptism, witness the softening of a potential convert's heart, knock that last door of the day to find a soul who has been praying to be found, or discover cold, hard rejection in the form of a slamming door millimeters from my nose. I refuse to dwell on these common missionary experiences that I may potentially fail to persevere because I know there is an experience awaiting me that will mean immensely more; the conversion of a current member's heart, teaching the rich church history and all that our brothers before us endured on OUR behalf, strengthening seeds of testimony that have long been planted, and sharing our amazing gospel with people who are searching for it! I eagerly anticipate the opportunity to meet people from all over the world who have made the decision to learn more about and witness firsthand the things we have been taught since primary. I GET TO SPEND MY DAYS TALKING, not only visiting with my long lost brothers and sisters all day long, but I get to share with them experiences and events that most of us cannot even fathom enduring. Plus I will have backup from the spirit that will be felt just from standing in such monumentous sites of our past. There is no better call for me!

As for leaving right before Christmas, yes, it will be difficult, but think of the incredible adventures in store for me as I undergo Christmas in the MTC! I feel as if there is no better place to spend my first Christmas away from home. Where else would you feel the true meaning of Christmas more exactly while feeling love, acceptance, and a strong sense of being a part of something more, something bigger than yourself? What an amazing high to leave the MTC and enter the mission field on! Besides, whoever said we couldn't celebrate Christmas 9 days early? haha ;)

I am excited for my call, the opportunity to serve and teach, the mid-calf length skirts, the temple experience, the stress, the investigators to come, the blessings, the ugly, but comfy shoes, the spiritual overload, the MTC, the happiness, listening to strictly church music, the constant companions, the badge, the complete lifestyle change, the LETTERS/PACKAGES, the new-found friends, the opportunity, no, the REQUIREMENT to carry my scriptures with me wherever I may go, wearing only "conservative" jewelry and clothing, the conversion of my own heart while delving into our gospel head first with nothing wavering, just my faith to guide me as I put my whole trust in the Lord, just...EVERYTHING! :D

Anyways, I just thought it would be appropriate to express my giddiness as I announce the mission call for Sister Shelby Nicole Bradley. I want to once again express my gratitude to each and every one of you, whether you be family, friend, or both...I would not be the person I am today, and I wouldn't be making this choice without the positive influence each of you have impacted upon me. I honestly believe that you have all had a hand in molding me into the remarkable young lady I have become. Thank you for that!

WHERE WILL SHELBY SERVE?!?

SO....I guess the word is out....I TURNED IN MY MISSION PAPERS!! That is right!! :D On Thursday October 9, 2008 I submitted my request to serve the Lord, and no sooner than Wednesday October 22, 2008 do I expect to get my response!! I am SUPER excited for the call, the opportunity to serve and teach, the temple experience, the stress, the investigators to come, the blessings, the ugly but comfy shoes, the spiritual overload, the MTC, the happiness, the constant companions, the badge, the complete lifestyle change, the LETTERS, the new-found friends, just...EVERYTHING! :D Anyways, I just thought it would be appropriate to post my giddiness on my blog! :D If you want to cast your bet on where I will be called to, feel free to place it as a comment to this post. :D

Dinner

Here is my random blog for the day...!!! :D

If I could eat dinner with any five living people....I would choose:

1. Thomas S. Monson
2. Chad Michael Murray
3. Taylor Swift
4. Joseph B. Wirthlin
5. Sister Celeste Glenn

I've been tagged!

Rules

1.Link the person(s) who tagged you

2.Mention the rules on your blog

3.Tell about 6 unspectacular quirks of yours

4. Tag 6 fellow bloggers by linking them

Jane taged me

My 6 unspectacular quirks!

1. Um...I'm boarderline OCD...everything has a place, things must be done a certain way (like loading the dishwasher or the way cupboards/fridge/freezer are orgainzed), and there is no explaination for untidiness...this applies everywhere except my bedroom...isn't that weird?? haha

2. I'm the pickiest eater you've EVER met...honestly...RIDICULOUSLY picky...and I HATE it

3. As i've mentioned before (and this goes back to the OCD thing)....I count powerlines, mile-markers, roadlines, tires on cars, etc...in groups of three or four...i've done this ever since I can remember...and once again...its a fettish I HATE that I have.

4. I work more than any person should ever be allowed to...I seriously work a MINIMUM of 75 hours a week (granted at one of my jobs I get paid to sleep--its an overnight with a patient)......and I am busier than any person i've ever met....but thats the way I like it!

5. I am ALWAYS late...like HONESTLY...you can count on me being 10-15 min late (minimum) to almost ANYTHING...EXCEPT FOR NOW...I have actually...in the last two weeks...been on time for MOST things....(due to events out of my control...i really had no choice but to alter my life into this!) haha

6. I talk ... a LOT! Sometimes more than I would like to ... because I think if I were my friend ... I would get sick of listening to me go ON and ON AND ON about things! haha :)

I tag: Ashton, Amanda, Deverie, Jan (You can do this and post it on the family blog), Jennie, and my MAMACITA! :)

Just a quick hello!

Alright...so from what I hear...everybody is wondering if I am even still alive cuz I went from being an avid blogger to forgettin I even HAD a blog! :D haha well....just for the record...i am still breathing! Life has been QUITE interesting lately...and its just been one curve ball after another. SOOO....I am just trying to keep up with my own life....let alone everybody elses! :S And on top of such a chaotic, fast-paced life, I am without internet. I moved just before school started in August and the internet at my new house hasn't worked thus far...so...it is quite hard to keep in touch and stay on top of these things when I dont have access to the internet very often! SO...here I am..taking the opportunities as they come. Anyways I am really tired and want to hit the sack, but i just wanted to let everybody know that I do love them and I miss everybody TERRIBLY, and I just hope that my life slows down a bit here in the next few months...! haha That would be great cuz then I could have my friends and social life back :D haha Anyways, goodnight, all!

Shelby.Nicole.Bradley

i am: Shelby Nicole Bradley
i think: I have WAY too much going on in my life
i know: that life is gonna suck once school starts
i want: to have more time in my days
i have: so many amazing opportunities at hand
i wish: i could tell the future
i hate: the stupid stuff girls do to eachother!
i miss: having all my close friends....CLOSE
i fear: that I will make the WRONG decision and be stuck with regret
i feel: absolutely emotionless
i hear: Colbie Caillat and Jason Mraz...LUCKY :) Music...at all hours of the day
i smell: plain ol Logan air
i crave: Nothing...thankfully :)
i search: ANSWERS
i wonder: What guys think and talk about
i regret: nothing....what a great thing to be able to say!
i love: my family
i care: about everybody (ok...ALMOST everybody) haha
i always: Laugh...:)...say 'lol'...smile...say 'haha'
i am not: loving to song I have playing
i believe: what happens, happens...and the Lord knows what is best...and THAT is how it is SUPPOSED to be...
i dance: only when I'm either alone or COMPLETELY comfortable with the people i'm with
i sing: loud and proud...ONLY when i'm alone...and I get stagefright even while singing hymns at church...
i don’t always: spend my time wisely
i argue: only when i'm REALLY irritated by something/someone
i write: WAY too much...haha...like texting and instant messanger....I could waste a WHOLE day on that thing
i win: EVERYTHING...even if I lose...
i lose: NEVER...I am VERY competitive
i never: feel completely confident about the way I look
i listen: to anybody who needs an open mind/ear :)
i can usually be found: doing something on my laptop...haha...or working
i am scared: of the DARK...and bugs
i need: MONEY...school, rent, mission...it all costs LOTS
i am happy about: The continuously progressing relationship with my family members

ok... now its your turn... tell me about you!

Ok...so I just noticed that I havent done any FUN blogging lately (...pictures...) so yeah...here are a few shots of me...so you can remember what I look like ;) haha ENJOY!!

Haha...Ivy and me at High School Musical on ice...uh...last fall??

My mom, me, and Ash in Connecticut

Me and my cute grandma :)

Me and my best friend, Whitney posing for a moment

Just a picture

Me and one of my favorite pictures! I love her!! :)

I'm all smiles...!!!

I LOVE KARMA!!! :D

Memory Game

Here is a fun little game... leave a comment on my blog of a memory that you and I have had together. It doesn't matter if you've known me for a short time or a long time, anything that you remember! Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It is pretty funny to read the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you are playing and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. On your mark... get set... blog those memories!

:)

I am just SOO dang happy! It was an AMAZING weekend...! What an adventure! Just throwing that out there. :) :D :)

Tagged..twice...

Ok....so i've been tagged on this post twice...once by my aunt a while ago and just more recently by my cousin...so I guess I better just do it already! (maybe they checked into it and found some pretty funny things pertaining to "Shelby Needs") So anyways....here I go...there better be some funny phrases on the internet about me! haha

Ok...so heres the deal. Google your name and the word needs (for example...Shelby Needs...) See what random and funny stuff comes up!

-Shelby needs Caulk to stop his leaking (ok...blonde moment..the first three times I read this phrase I was thinking Caulk was a person...so I guess I need Caulk to stop his leaking (leaking...?? like...he is...NEVER MIND....no explanation needed...)
-"sweet" shelby needs a home (AWE..somebody thinks I'm SWEET!!) haha
-Shelby needs help- isnt' THAT the truth! haha
-Shelby needs to do what Shelby needs to do (haha...good way of putting it..i guess! haha)
-Shelby needs to go home with another dog who can help her learn the ropes and build up her confidence (ok...first of all...WHY A DOG? haha and second of all...if by DOG they meant...MAN...no thanks...cuz I don't think I wanna "learn the ropes" and get my confidence boosted by a guy classified as a dog...am I right? haha)
-Shelby needs a winning manicure (OH NO...somebody has seen my nail beds...YIKES...but I would like clarification on the "winning" part...cuz it sounds like it would do AMAZING things for my nails...if so...i'm game!)
Shelby needs a family with a yard and lots of patience...haha yes, because my family's yard isn't cutting it and I CANNOT live without a descent yard?? And DITTO on the patience thing! ;) haha I need a family who TRUELY understands me and can put up with it...OH WAIT...I HAVE ONE ALREADY!! :)
-Shelby needs some lessons (the caption mentioned drivers ed...I think i took that once...didn't I?? haha....you'd prolly never know it if you've seen my driving..maybe they are right)
-Shelby needs a new playmate (uhhh....in college....PLAYMATE is prolly not the most CHASTE thing to have..so I think i MIGHT pass on that one. (Did I use that word right...is that even a WORD?? *chaste*)
-Shelby needs some water (in the subscript it specified TOILET water...ew...NO THANKS!!)
-And last but not least...Shelby needs someone to shake up her life...UH...no thanks! I already found me one of those...and they've disrupted all the plans that I had for myself...and now I am so confused on what the cards will hold for me....SO PLEASE, NO MORE SHAKERS!!

I also found out that Shelby is a ripoff deadbeat dad....oh no...I SURE HOPE THEY DON'T CONFUSE HIM WITH ME...that'd be HORRIBLE! I definately don't need rumors being spread in that manner...! haha

Ok...so this was actually a LOT of fun!! So therefore, I tag...Lisa, Ash, and Geri!! :)

PS...this is the SECOND time I did this activity because the first time I went to post and it errored on me....so some of the comments I left were less funny on this one cuz I couldn't remember exactly what i'd said...but some of them are funnier cuz I had a little more time to think of something witty! :) haha

ABC's of ME

ABC's of ME
A-Attached or Single? SINGLE :)
B-Best Friend? Dev, Char, Ash, Ivy, Mel
C-Cake or Pie? Cake...hands down.
D-Day of Choice? Prolly Sunday
E-Essential Item? Cell phone, Hair Spray, LIP GLOSS (soap free, that is... haha) oh...and a toothbrush...
F-Favorite Color? pink :)
G-Gummy bears or worms? worms
H-Hometown? Pingree
I-Favorite Indulgence? cupcakes
J-January or July? July
K-Kids? Someday
L-Life isn't complete without? BOYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
M-Marriage date? Uh....Aug 13, 2011
N-Number of brothers and sister? 4 brothers, 2 sisters
O-Oranges or apples? both
P-Phobias? bugs...dark...feet
Q-Quote? "it takes courage to grow and become who you really are"
R-Reason to smile? pretty teeth haha
S-Season of choice? Summer
T-Tag 3 people: Lar, Amber, Mom
U-Unknown facts about me? haha...i count objects while in the car...telephone poles, road lines, trees, anything that pops out dominately over other things in the scenery...and i group them in 3 or 4...1,2,3....1,2,3...1,2,3....it gets quite boring...but I have done it since I was a kid...I HATE IT!! Oh and I tap my toes/foot while counting...and I trace the road lines by putting pressure on certain toes (mimiking the patter of the lines...) I have tried many times to break myself of this cuz I hate that I do it...its impossible, tho!
V-Vegetable? BROCCOLI!!
W-Worst habit? OCD
X-X-ray or ultrasound? ultrasound
Y-Your favorite food? steamed broccoli
Z-Zodiac sign? Virgo

Micro follow up

For the record...i got an A- on my micro class...!! YAY! :) It was so worth going to ISU and getting it done and over with (the A is a definate bonus). :)

UGH...AIRPLANES

So...worst flight EVER...! Let's just say I'm glad i concquered the whole flying alone thing in March because if this would have been my very first flight alone...i would have had a panic attack. So here goes my day...

-Wake up at 5:30
-take my microbiology final
-drive to SLC and DROP MYSELF OFF AT THE AIRPORT
-have my flight delayed 40 min
-board the plane
-have my flight delayed an hour
-worst flight ever...turbulance, delayed landing resulting in meaningless circling in the sky and
MOTION SICKNESS...yay me..
-realize that I have missed my connecting flight to CT by 2 hours
-go to baggage and realize MY BAG DIDNT COME IN
-get shuttled to a hotel because I AM STUCK IN MINNESOTA TIL 7:40 tomorrow morning

...as you can see...I am not sitting at a hotel ALONE in a random city I have no connections to. An extra $70 I didn't plan on spending for this trip to Connecticut, a day behind on all the plans, and without any form of luggage until tomorrow at NOON when I fly into Connecticut. HIP HIP HORRAY for the beginning of a FANTASTIC vacation. Best part of it....if I would have flown out 3.5 hours earlier with my mom, I would be in Connecticut AS WE SPEAK...yes, unfortunate. UGH...like I said...worst flight ever. I will forever remember to pack my personal hygiene items and extra clothes in my carry on because I don't want to have to go through this EVER again!! UGH....well i hope the rest of the trip goes MUCH better than this!!! I'm going to bed tho cuz I have a flight to catch in the morning :)

Hi guys...it's me! Just chillin in the middle of the night. Since I have been in Pocatello, I haven't been able to watch my two shows (ok...one week so far...haha...but it still seems like forever!) so I just watched them online. On Monday I rushed home from Aberdeen so I could catch One Tree Hill, and my grandma was upstairs watching Dance with the Stars and my grandpa was occupying the downstairs TV...so I was out of luck...which is all the better cuz I was terribly ill...so I just went and slept it off (11.5 HOURS of sleeping it off...a SOLID 11.5 hours). Anyways...my one track mind got off at the wrong station...so back en route...I just watched Desperate Housewives and One Tree Hill online (because I had to wait til I was home to do it cuz my grandparents only have dial up...I KNOW....gag me with a VERY large spoon...i'm DYING over there!) So yeah....back on track...but this week is SEASON FINALES...so this time next week i'll be up doing this same thing...only two hours later cuz the shows will be longer! haha But yeah...now i'm gonna hurry and attempt to FINALLY finish moving into my room COMPLETELY and pack for the upcoming week...cuz as soon as I get off work in the morning I have to BOOK it to Pingree for BROCK'S HOMECOMING TALK! :) yay...he is FINALLY home...!! I AM SO NERVOUS, THO!!! I am not quite sure what comes next...this'll be a first time for me! haha...so yeah....any advice? (quickly....cuz it is official...I will see in him 12 HOURS....!) I'm so antsy and scared and fidgity and nervous and excited and FREAKING OUT....basically! AHHHH...they should make a rule book on what happens right after the missionary gets home...! haha yeah...cuz i dunno if he'll jump right back into the swing of things or take a couple months to normalize...I DONT KNOW....! And I just wish i knew what he was thinking....not just his parents...! :S UGH...life...and boys....!! They stress me out! lol have a good night I have a lot to do before I can catch a few zzz...s...! LOVE YA!

HIP HIP HOORAY...!

So...finals are OVER and I did pretty good in my classes when you take into account the lack of studying I did (even for finals) I am not upset in the least about my outcome! (could have been better, but that would have required work on my part...BOOORINNNG!!) this week I am just workin away and then next week I head off to Poky for the next 4 weeks of my life...thats right....I decided to just deal with the lack of work and money to get this class out of the way...i figured it was smarter in the long run...right? So...I will be living with my mom's parents Sun night-thurs afternoon and then return home for the weekend to work my little hiney off to make up for the lack of hours during the week. So yes, I am actually kinda excited because I will be close to blackfoot so I can see people, but not right IN blackfoot :) haha PERFECT ARRANGEMENT! Anyways thats the update on my current situation :)

So uh...new hair...AGAIN! :)

So Amber is once again successful!! :) Less than 2 months later...I have NEW HAIR! I freakin LOVE IT! Its way darker and SHORTER! For SURE I am cute, right?

Ok...so I USUALLY make my bed...EVERY morning...but today..the unmade bed = FINALS...ugh! Sorry you have to witness that in my picture! :S

This is me against a white wall because you can see the color/cut better.

...A side view...

This was me ATTEMPTING to study...but with a cute new hair do and a camera in arms reach I just couldn't resist

Just a cute lil close up :)

FINALS!!

YAY...finals today! I can't even WAIT! ;) haha just kiddin, but i AM anxious to get them over with! I have my chemistry final in a little over an hour and my physiology final tonight...and then I get a whole week to "study" for my history final! YEAH RIGHT...! haha SO...today should be a pretty relaxed week since I get most of my finals over with at the very beginning of finals week! I dunno what i'm gonna do with my time from this point on..oh wait...jump RIGHT back into school! BOO...!

Reflections of Christ

http://mabrystudios.typepad.com/reflections_of_christ/2008/03/reflections-sli.html

So this is a video done on the life of Jesus Christ. It is AMAZING! I can't even put into words what is felt while viewing this. After watching the video, if you are interested, you can go to the Reflections of Christ website <http://www.reflectionsofchrist.org/> My favorite link was the blog (upper right hand corner of the Reflections of Christ website). On the blog, cast members discuss their experiences while making this video. The one that touched me the most was where the man who played John the Baptist talked about his experience with that particular scene. I have to admit, that portrayal of baptism was probably my favorite scene in the whole movie. I was deeply touched by the friendship they showed between Jesus and John, and the happiness that moment brought to them. I never really sat and thought about how they probably rejoiced at the River Jordan. Wow...I am overwhelmed with emotion and love for the gospel we have in our lives! What an amazing blessing it is.

MY VERY FIRST VENTING BLOG POST

Ok...so I just found out some information about my summer school schedule...and i'm a lil irritated...so i need to vent...sorry. I only have ONE more class requirement before I can apply to the nursing program, and I planned on staying in Logan over the summer & doing summer classes so I could get it all out of the way...well...today I found out that they had a meeting and decided NOT to do microbiology this summer...and I am LIVID! Because...NOW...I have to wait until a DESCENT teacher commits to teaching it at USU. Not only that, but if I cant even take that class until the fall, then I won't be able to start the nursing program for OVER a year because you have to have ALL classes completed before you can even apply, and if I can't apply until Jan of 09 then I won't get into the nursing program until at LEAST Fall of 09...which is SO far away! So then..I thought maybe I could take it at a nearby school...but Bridgerland is not offering it, and neither is the Brigham City extension. So...then my mom suggested ISU...WELL....I checked it out and I don't think I can bring myself to drive to Poky FOUR days a week and be on campus BY 7:45...and stay there until 1:30 PM...that is like ALL DAY ... but it is only for 3 weeks ... IS IT WORTH IT!?! I dunno what to do! I am a little stressed...WHY did they have to choose to cancel THAT class...of them all!? SO IRRITATING! UGH...yeah...basically its RIDICULOUS! :( And i wanna scream...

Domestic lil me!

Just so you know...I made my VERY own tortilla chips yesterday...! Honestly...who EVER correlated the name of tortilla chips with the fact that they were just fried tortillas? I SURELY DID NOT...! But yes, I made PEFECT little tortilla strips...sliced and fried on my very own..just like cafe rio...! :) YAY ME!

AND FOR THE RECORD...my blog is not ONLY about my trip!! haha I don't remember who said that at the party, but IT ISN'T, I SWEAR!! :) haha Just had to throw that out there....and Bryan, did you pay a little better attention to the surfer picture when you got on recently? haha two guys...not five...and yes, they were just random people...didn't even ask their names, just wanted their hot bodies in my picture! :) haha I SWEAR! ;)

HOT DATE FOLLOW-UP!

Ok...totally AMAZING!!

-he can cook
-blonde hair
-he's from orem...so down there close to most of you Bradley's..!!
-he can sing
-he is 6'6"
-a PERFECT gentleman (got all the doors- MOST guys these days don't even get ONE door...and gettin the doors has always been a big deal to me)
-funny
-His name is Evan....not so crazy about that name, but its ok...we can call him by the last name! ;) haha
-crazy adventurous...he had lots of funny stories
-just got home from his mish in Dec (went to SC)
-GORGEOUS!!!
-VERY athletic (was gonna play college bball but decided to go on a mish instead...for 1- bball is my FAV sport, and 2- he made the right decision with the mission....otherwise I never would have met him cuz I met him through a friend that he taught on his mission ;) haha)
-DEFINATELY would go out with him again...sure hope it works out for me!

I had lots of fun! He made me dinner and then we played games and went and got ice cream. Definately a good kid! We made lots of hints towards going out again, but nothing blatant like HEY...lets do this again sometime...so we'll see. It was nice to go out with somebody who was actually interested in COURTING rather than just casual dating and hanging out...ya know? We need more guys like that in Logan, UT!

I AM GOING ON A REAL DATE!!

Ok...for the first time in FOREVER, I am going on what I consider a "real" date...not one that is with a casual guy friend or whatever...this is the real deal, baby! I am SO SO excited because he is way cute...! (that that looks are the ONLY thing that matter) but yes, I am jumping for joy. This grandeur event is to take place Thursday night...so wait for details...hopefully positive and excessively giddy ones :) haha cuz I AM EXCITED!!

Hinckley Challenge

I dunno how many of you accepted the Hinckley Challenge to read the BOM in 97 days, but I did...and I have been doing TERRIBLE! :( I feel so bad because it is supposed to be a final tribute to our prophet, and I can't even follow through. Well, last night I FINALLY buckled down and decided that I needed to get with the program, for more than one reason. I really need to be better at growing spiritually because you know they say, if you aren't moving towards Christ, you are moving away from Him....you can't just be stationary. SO...I choose to move closer to Him! :) Anyways, I totally enjoy reading that magnificent book, and I love that I get the strongest impressions from the simplest verses...! My favorite thing is that Dev and I do a sort of scripture chase thing. She'll randomly text me scriptures and I will look them up and then we briefly discuss them...i love it because she points out some of the strongest pieces of advice that currently apply to either her or I, or both! She is amazing...! And I am SO SO glad to see how far she has come. It just makes me so overjoyed. Anyways, wish me luck in my studies! :) And let me know if you have any favorite verses I might enjoy looking into for inspiration...not that ALL the verses aren't good...but you know how it goes...different things hit you differently depending on your current situation and trial..! :) Love you all!

PS- my current favorite scripture is 1 Nephi 3:6...it is one of those simple ones that hit me EXTREMELY hard....i have never thought twice about that particular verse until this most recent attempt at the Book of Mormon, and I guess that it was my chastisement (guilt trip, mostly) from the Lord. It hit me really hard, and I had to step back and take a good long look at my true feelings and attitude towards my big decision in that particular point of my life...and it totally gave me an attitude adjustment and opened my eyes to how selfish I was being. I just noticed last week how ironic it is that that life changing verse ties to my ALL time favorite scrpiture...1 Nephi 3:7...what an AMAZING combination of scriptures...!

Slideshows...

Ok people...i have been playing with this thing for like two hours making these slide shows and trying to get them to post in the appropriate blog, but IT DOESNT WANNA WORK FOR ME! :( So...I just posted them in their own blog and titled them exactly the same as the day's description that they represent. Hope you enjoy them! It is all the good/favorite pictures of my trip to California! :) I'm sad its over...but I had a BLAST! I wouldn't take it back for a SECOND, even tho it has been pure torture to get back into the BORING routine!

Sad Day! :(

THE BEACH :)

SAN FRAN!

Making your page CUTESIE!! :)

http://sjhblogdesign.blogspot.com/

Back to reality...

I'm home...just so you all know :) I KNOW YOU WERE WORRIED ABOUT ME...! haha My trip was fun and i absolutely dreaded coming home....it was a sad, sad departure for me, but here I am back in the Beehive State and back to responsibility :( BOO!

Sad day! :(

Today I go home... :( I am not very happy about it...for one, cuz I LOVE this city life...and two, its COLD in Logan!! :( BOO!! Oh well...such is life, but I AM GOING TO MOVE HERE IN 4 YEARS!! After my big commitment that will end in march of 2010, I will finish nursing school in Utah (cuz it's cheaper there) and then move to Cali...yup...it's offical...all planned out..! :) Life is supposed to be an adventure, right? Well i'm gonna make mine a good one!

Yesterday Jennie and I went shopping in San Fran (YAY!), visited China Town (I LOVED it...) We ate real chinese food...none of this Panda Express crap anymore. Also, I became a real networker in the bargaining business...i have the drift of the china town system! :) I bought a cute new suitcase...pink plaid with a cute pink bow..

We rode BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) into town..it cost us $10.50 each...but we didin't have to worry about traffic or parking...yay! It was quite the new experience for me, but I thoroughly enjoyed myself :) YAY!!

This morning we are going to go test drive expensive cars at jennie's dad's dealership...yay! I GET TO RIDE IN MY ONE-DAY-WILL-BE Silver Ferrari...yay! :) I'll post some pics of me in the cars AFTER I take them :) Then...it's off to the airport I go... :( Oh well...I knew the time would come...back to Logan and school and work AND RESPONSIBLITY :(

THURSDAY IN CALI

Well...today wasn't quite as eventful as the other days of the week, but it was still fun! :) We went to Walnut Creek and I ATE CREPES FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER!! (Crepes a go go). Then we went shopping...there were stores that would take my WHOLE spending allotment for A SINGLE TANK TOP!! ugh..it was RIDICULOUS!! But, I spent a big chunk of my change at a store...and got some cute clothes!! YAY!! :) Anyways, I got car sick...boo!! :( IMAGINE THAT, tho...nothing new for me!! :( Oh well...it was a pretty drive...I think I am gonna move to Dublin (not Ireland...!) lol After coming home and relaxing for a bit Jennie's boyfriend came over and we went and got coldstone (*VANILLA BEAN ICE CREAM WITH GUMMY BEARS AND CAKE PIECES IN A WAFFLE BOWL*) and came back to her house and played Monopoly (it's a ritual her and i have). So yeah...it was a good time! Oh...and ps...I TOTALLY LOST MONOPOLY...but I have a new strategy....BUY THE FREAKIN RAILROADS!!! They pay off VERY quickly!! :)

THE BEACH :)

OK...so we went to Carmel today and drove down 17 mile drive and saw a BUNCH of amazing houses, and then we went to the white sandy beach :) YAY!! It was perfect...! Sun, slight breeze, gorgeous soft sand, and our own personal photographer :) YAY!! I got another random picture...this time with two surfers...i totally chased them down for the pic, but they weren't nearly as much fun as the Golden Gate Bridge couple...oh well! Not everybody can be as funny and spontaneous as myself! ;) haha Anyways I will post a few pictures on here now, and once i figure out the whole slide show thing I'll get all my vaca pics up! I am about to eat dinner tho, so have a good night everbody!!

"OUR" Boyfriend...haha...!?

Jumping for Joy (Check my height!) HOLY!

BFFs 4 LIFE!
We belong on a post card! haha
Just waiting for the waves to roll in
FOUND 'EM! I went SO far out and got wet up to my bottom

Overall today was AMAZING!! I had a blast...I would DEFINATELY do that again!

SAN FRAN!

Ok...so I am having SOO much fun here in Cali over Spring Break! I got here Sunday night and we ate some dinner and went to bed...nothing too exciting except for the fact that I flew ALONE for the first time ever, and I was REALLY REALLY nervous (like butterflies in my stomach nervous) but once i got past security and on my way to the proper gate, I was fine.

Monday I SLEPT IN, toured Pleasanton (where I am actually staying, not San Fran itsself), went shopping a bit, looked at all the nice houses up on the hill, and ate at the CHEESECAKE FACTORY. Monday night we went out to Mountain House and hung out with Jennie's HOT boyfriend, and his roommate's fiance made us dinner, we played guitar hero (WHERE I BASICALLY ROCKED THE HOUSE), and then played apples to apples.

AFTER TOTALLY SLEEPIN IN later than I ever have before IN MY LIFE, we finally got up and got ready to go into the city (YAY!) Let's see...in San Francisco, we went to Coit Tour (THE MURALS ARE AMAZING!) Then we went to the wharf (there are SOO SOO many boats there!), saw Robin William's SF,CA house, drove down Lombard Street (most crooked street in the world), saw one of the buildings from the Princess Diaries filming, drove through the Castro district (i didn't see any abnormal activity tho), I stood in front of the "Painted Ladies" (Full House houses), watched a man totally expose and relieve himself...NOT what I expected OR WANTED to see, but I guess that kind of thing happens A LOT in big cities with lots of straggly people. I also WALKED THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE...where i asked this random couple if they would take a picture with me...it was SO funny I basically peed my pants...! UGH! haha...but yeah I experienced my first Safeway (grocery store), went to the San Francisco Bay beach, WATCHED ONE TREE HILL, and walked the downtown streets of Pleasanton at night..! :) I am overall having a great time, but my most favorite part of today was the random picture with the couple..! I'll have to post it when I get my camera cable near by :) G'nite!

MY NEW LOOK!

As you can see, I have a brand new look! Yes, yes...I broke out of my shell and finally tried something new...two new things, actually! I went brunette in January, and then I chopped my hair off last week, but as of today it is even shorter...not by much, but I added a lot of layers so it is way more textured...way cute, ask amber! ;) haha But yeah...this is the new me...I feel like a totally new person! ;) haha its amazing to me how SO MANY people don't even notice even tho its a DRASTIC change...haha! I guess people aren't as attentive as I would hope they were lol Anyways I leave for SPRING BREAK CALIFORNIA in 20 hours...! YAY! So I will update with my adventures as often as my agenda will allow :) BE EXCITED FOR IT!

An official BLOGGER!

Not only am I an author on my family's blog page, I now...at 11:15 at night...have created my very own blog! WELCOME TO MY BLOG, everybody! I promised my aunt...who slaved away for the past hour and a half helping me learn the ins and outs of this thing...that I will faithfully update...so wish me luck! :)