decisions, decisions!!!

So I've been thinking about asking out this guy that I like. I've talked to my friends and they think I should. So today I planned this big game night/movie night at my house for next Saturday. Which should be fun! I really hope he comes!

I talked to Jake from MBP and got a little advice there! So I'm pretty excited! And by the way guys...I'm feeling deprived because you have posted a blog in a while!!

Today I stayed home with my granny and papaw. And tomorrow I'm going to write a children's story about a geriatric condition!! That ought to be lots of fun!! hahaha!!

We have 2 weeks left until Christmas break...I'm really excited about that! And I told you guys in an earlier blog that I was trying to get Rachel's Challenge to come to my school. Well it's been like 3 days and they still haven't contacted me back! I'm kinda depressed about that!

And it just hit me...I had to handle the most horrific situation in the whole world. So I live on a farm and so there are 3 big dogs that live here and they stay outside most of the time! And then we have cats living in our barn. We have more cats than the state of Rhoad Island probably! And one of our cats who is tame, her name is Oreo, has kittens every time she is able. Which means she just adds to the cat population and I'm sure they have their own city and I'm sure there aren't any mice within a five mile radius because the cats would eat them. Well this morning I slept in till about 11:30. My mom came over from Granny's house and she left just about as quick as she came but about 3o seconds after she walked out the door I heard my mom freaking out. Now if I were freaking most people would just forget it, like it wasn't even happening but when my mom freaks out the world stops because she doesn't freak out very often. So since she is freaking out, I'm worried so I hurry up and run out the door, shoeless in the snow and I ask what's wrong. The next thing I know my mom is at the steps to our house and she has a baby kitten in her hand. It looked dead. So I hurried and got her a towel and we wrapped it up and we were trying to nurse him back to life. As my mom goes to get something from the front of the house I was standing front of a vent trying to allow the heat to help it. But after a couple of minutes I realized that the kitten was dead. He wasn't coming back and since I don't handle dead anything well I brought him to my mom and asked her to check him. She laid him on the washer and kind of rolled him over. Since he was dead he didn't really move. That's when it was confirmed more than ever. His entire underside was up and we saw where he had a gaping whole in the back part of his underside. The dogs had ripped every bit of his masculinity out. That poor kitten died such a horrible death. I'm really mad at those dogs. But anyways on with the story. Since I'm such a baby I couldn't just throw the dead kitten out. I had to bury it! So I found a very old pillow case and my mom wrapped him in it and then we found a box and put him in it! Then I went out and brushed some snow out of the way and I dug a whole deep enough to bury him. That wasn't fun. Then I put him in the ground and covered him up! The whole time I was singing the song "God Be With You Till We Meet Again". I figured he needed a proper burial!!!

Hopefully, the rest of the cats are going to be ok!

Wish me luck with asking out my guy friend!! :D All will be well!!!

Night!

Rachel's Challenge

I've always loved the story of Rachel Joy Scott. I always wished I could hear the school presentation because I was so moved by her story. Well this year I'm the Beta Club vice president so I asked my sponsor about it. She loved the idea and said it would be great for the spring. She said "I love it! We can do it in the spring and you are in charge. You can make it happen" It's all on me now!! I can't wait!! I can do my own little part to change the world; or my small town! I'm really excited but kinda worried and stressed. I'm afraid I'm going to mess up but I won't let my fears stop me, I'm going to do this! I can't wait!

Snip....snip....snip!!!!

So this past Saturday I took an idea and put it into action!! I decided to chop all my hair off!! Now I know it sounds bad but it's really cute!! It looks like Kimberly Caldwell's hair!! It's a choppy bob...it's so easy to fix. I love it!! And so far it's a big hit!! I would upload picture of me now that my hair is cut but my camera won't work so for now you will just have to imagine it! I hope you imagine it in a good way!! Anyways, I love my hair and since I hadn't posted anything in a while I thought I would update you guys!!!

What people don't know...

Today, I was looking at my step-mom's facebook. And she has recently added some pictures to her profile thing. And one of her friends commented on the album, "aaah you guys look like the cutes family!!" I'm assuming "cutes" refers to cutest but Idk! It just made me think, it must seem nice and cute but you don't see the hurt and pain that is behind all that! When I was in 8th grade I wrote a poem about that! Their life is so easy, it's simple! They are complete, my little sister has and always will have a mom and a dad at home. She will never know what it's like not to, and I'm really glad, it's not any fun! But my step-mom just pushes my brother and I aside. We aren't hers and she doesn't really want us! I get that but her resentment impedes my relationship with my father!

When you look on the side where she has listed her children, she has her first born my little sister and then Myself and my brother! The thing that saddens me the most is that my little brother who pasted away when he was 6 months old isn't even mentioned.

I miss him alot! I never knew him though! The first time I saw him was in his casket! That sweet little boy! He looked just like a perfect little doll! For years after, I wasn't able to sing the song "I lived in Heaven" at all without tearing up! He was so perfect, he didn't even have to stay here! The best part about having a little brother who pasted away is that I know he is always looking out for me!!

Sometimes I wish my dad and step-mom would go through just a portion of the pain I went through! To know the hurt and complications that I have experienced due to the break of my old family and the formation of their new family! It must be nice to have "the perfect family"!

But despite all of the things I've gone through with my parents divorce and a mean step-mom, I will have a successful family. I will love my children the way mom loved me and I will take the things that my father took from me and I will realize their importance and teach them to my children! I can't wait! And maybe one day my dad will really realize how great his daughter is! I can only dream right!!

Get In The Spirit...

We won our first round playoff game this past Friday! It was FREEZING!!! Last week we had spirit week and I didn't get on the bandwagon. It looked really fun but I was way to self-conscious to dress up. But this week I'm going all out!! Tomorrow is Pajama party, Tuesday is decade day. But on Tuesday I'm going all out 80s style! I'm going to get an over-sized sweatshirt and cut the collar out and wear a ribbed tank top underneath and I haven't decided what I'm going to wear pants wise but then I plan to wear big hair and crazy make-up with wild earrings! Wednesday is old people day and Thursday is character day and Friday is the usual Black and Gold day! I don't really want to dress up on old people day and I don't know what character I want to be! If you have any ideas let me know! I want it to be fun, simple and cheap! It's going to be a blast! And I can't wait for the game this Friday!

But it's late and I want to start the week right! And I go to bed later and later each night so I want to start going to bed early!

Night everyone!

1001 things every teen should know before they leave home...(or else they'll come back)

I have this book called 1001Things Every Teen Should Know Before They Leave Home...(or else they'll come back). I was looking through it today and I saw some pretty funny things!!

• They should know to invest in an ironing board. It will keep them from starting a fire on the breakfast table and moving home!
• They should know that bleach is good at making things white. Even things that aren't white.
• They should know the prices in supermarkets are two to three times less than the convience stores. Of course, it may require shopping at an hour other than 3:00 a.m.

That's just a couple! If you would like more give me a topic and I'm sure I can find something on it! Somethings I think are common sense but some are really interesting that I hadn't thought of!!

...The Flu [Update]

If you remember in my last post I said something about if we weren't careful I would get pneumonia. Well guess what? I got pneumonia! Mom decided that since my cough was only getting worse that I needed to go back to the doctor. Well I went, they listened to my lungs again, and came to the conclusion that I needed to have a chest X-ray to decide if it was pneumonia or not. So after we left the doctor we went to the local hospital and I got the X-ray. But before leaving the doctor's office, the doctor told us that we needed to come back on Thursday afternoon so we could go over the results of the X-ray. So we went home after the X-ray. I woke up Thursday feeling great! Well, kinda! I was feeling a little bit better than the day before which wouldn't take much! So I decided that I wanted to go back to school on Friday. I talked to my mom and convinced her that it would be academically the best thing to do. She said that if Dr. Khattab said that I could go back then I could. Well we go to the doctor's office and wait about 1.5 hours and then go back to the waiting room and sit and wait about 10 more minutes. The doctor comes in and is reminded that I'm there to review and X-ray and he goes to check the results. He then comes back and listens to my lungs, asks how the cough is and then says, "The reason you are having such a terrible time coughing is because you have pneumonia!" I wanted to cry after this statement because I knew what that meant! Hospitalization. He proceeds to tell me that since I had the flu, it had weakened my body which allowed for bacteria to get in my lungs and set up an infection. He then asked me if I would go to the hospital for 2 days. I said yes, and he told me that if I didn't go to the hospital I would be sick for at least 12 days. He also told me that I was the first reported person to have the flu and get pneumonia in the county! Go me! That's what I do best! I'm always the odd ball out, in statistics I think they call those things outliers! Well, after my doctor set up my stay at prison, I mean, the hospital! My mom and I left, went home and packed my bags!

We arrived at the hospital at 5:40 and I got in my room at 8:30! That was a long wait in the ER waiting room. I was placed in droplet precautions, which means that any person that would be within 3 feet of me would have to wear a mask.[actually this is the color of the sign that was on my door. But I didn't find that out till I left because I wasn't allowed to leave my room!] I just learned about that in my nursing class. I was there for about 40 hours give or take a few. I went through 4 bags of IV fluids and 4 or 5 bags of antibiotics. I was able to come home, however, I am still taking antibiotics by mouth and an inhaler. I'm really glad to be home even though I'm really tired. Although one thing I have learned after 2 stays in the hospital, you don't get much rest; between the beds and the health care team coming in rest is impossible! Although after night one my doctor asked me how I slept and I said not very good. He asked why and I said because people kept coming in. He told me that he would put a note in my chart saying not to wake me up if I'm sleeping! Oh that was great! I was actually able to sleep last night! No midnight breathing treatments. No midnight vital sign check. It was lovely. Although I did have one interruption around 5 this morning, my IV machine started beeping and that was really annoying. I had to call the nurse and ask her to come make it stop. I was really happy to sleep all night! It wasn't my bed and it was really small but staying asleep all night is something I'm really grateful for! I'm also really happy to get that IV out of my hand! Today just before I left one of my respiratory therapist stepped on my IV tube and it pulled on my hand, OUCH!!! Hospital food here isn't that great! My friends called me and talked to me! I was really happy about that because I didn't have alot of visitors. Actually only 2 and they were there to give me a blessing. Nobody really wanted to come to my room because I was in droplet precautions and all of my friends were either sick with the flu or just getting over the flu!

I think my most favorite thing about being out is that I was able to see the outside and go to it! It does really exist. It's not just a figment of my imagination, it's not just a folk tale they talk about, or a moving picture on my wall! I'm really happy to be home! I can't wait to sleep all night in my own bed!!

Goodnight and salud to everyone!

[Salud means good health!!]

The Flu...

Well, I was diagnosed yesterday with the flu. I've never had the flu before so it's pretty bad. Although I have to say that they gave me this medicine called Tamiflu and it works miracles. Before I took it I felt horrible, now I feel ok. I'm not saying I feel great but I feel better! I will probably be able to go back to school on Thursday! I will have TONS of homework. I know that I will have 2 tests, 2 essays, and lots of math homework. That is very nerve racking but I need to get well before I go back so I don't get something worse! And we have to watch my flu because I have asthma and when you have asthma and you get the flu it can cause respitory infections. I currently have bronchitis on top of the flu but if we aren't careful I could get pnemonia. I can't wait to get rid of this cough! And there is speculation that it isn't seasonal flu but that it could be swine flu! Isn't that great!! Oh well...! It's kinda wierd because I have the flu and 2 of my really good friends have the flu too! We can't go back until the same day! We have joked about being sick together and how much better that would be! I think it would be tons better!! Oh well...I will work on some homework tomorrow, then get ready to go back unless my tempeture spikes again!

Sicker than a dog and getting worse!

I am so sick! I feel horrible! I have homework I need to do but I feel terrible! I went to our ball game on Friday night, it was like 38 degrees outside and it was slushy outside! I didn't think that I would get sick! But then I woke up on Saturday feeling not so great! I went on with my day! Got ready for homecoming and then went there. As the night went on I felt worse! I woke up this morning and I thought I was dying! I might have the flu but I really hope not because that means missing a week of school and I can't do that!! I really need to only have bronchitis or strep! But I don't think I have strep but bronchitis maybe! I've been coughing like a fool! I even took some medicine for it and it isn't helping. I continue to cough up organs!!! I wish I could snap my fingers and get well! Almost all of my friends are sick!! It stinks major!

Unrequitted no more! Only in my dreams!

Ok guys this post is going to be a bit intense but I feel like I need to know some of these things! I'm just warning you...it's not bad just sensitive!

So me being the goody-two-shoes Mormon that I am, I didn't date until I was 16 then my first date wasn't until July before my 17 birthday(which by the way, my birthday is Aug. 11). I was almost 17. I really struggle with guys. My dad left my mom and I when I was 3 and married another lady with a daughter just a couple years older than me. Once I was finally old enough to understand this, I always felt like a model that wasn't good enough so he traded me in. Well several years have passed and now I understand that it was his loss and he is the one that missed out not me, however, the thought still comes to me all the time, "If my dad didn't love me when I was my cutest then why would any other male love me, for that matter even like me!" I have come to learn over the years that I really am a nice person and fun to be around but that took years to learn. Now that I'm OK in that department, I really would like to actually date somebody! I don't think that a random double date planned in 5 minutes doesn't really count!(especially considering I grew up with the guy and he had a GF) Any how, There is this guy at school and I really like him. I really would like to get to know him better but because I'm so nervous around guys and I'm afraid that guys are utterly repulsed by me then I won't talk to him!! I talked to him for the first time today and he is the one who started the conversation. I got his number last night but I'm really afraid to text him! My Friends say just wait, be patient. But in that time that I wait I just kinda get down, feel like I am utterly repulsive and shouldn't try anymore! It seems now days that everybody has somebody, except me! I really, honestly, in all truthfulness, don't know how to act around guys. If we are talking about cars, sports, or hunting, yeah, I can do that but to even think about talking to a guy that I like scares the heebie-geebies out of me! It absolutely terrifies me! Actually to be honest the idea of talking to this guy makes me feel so bad, I feel like I might just ralf! It is miserable. When I think about a guy liking me, I don't even think that's possible! It's never happened before and it seems like it's one of those things that only happens to other people!

I think my biggest fear is that when I go to college there might be a guy that would like me but since I don't know how to act around guys I would just avoid him and then when confronted I would do what I always do when I talk about this subject and I would cry, making me feel like an even bigger loser! I just don't want the first time that I really date somebody to be when I'm in college and I don't have a clue as to what I'm doing!!

It will all be OK in time, I know but until then, : '(

Parents=Good yet frustrating!!!

So my BYU-I application comes out in less than 4 hours. I'm so excited! And as you read in a previous post, I've been reading the blog of the MBP, well tonight I was reading their latest post and my mom came in and she was like, "I don't like that title!" I know it wasn't the best but I would think she would trust me to make good decisions and know what's good and what's bad! I am intelligent! Well I've decided where I'm going to live when I go to college and I'm really excited! I learned how to get ancestor's names temple ready. I'm going to do that soon! I have a wonderful trip on Friday! We are going to Morehead to for a haunted house and then a bonfire with other youth from the Morehead ward! I'm super excited, even though I'm terribly afraid of haunted houses and anything scary but I will go!! I'm excited to and hang out with more LDS youth! We don't get that often!! Then Saturday, is homecoming! I don't have a date but that's ok!! I'm ready to go and have tons of fun!! I really can't wait till then!! It will be lots of fun!! I'm so ready for college!! It won't be the easiest ride but it will be so fun!!!

I'm going to bed!!
NIGHT!!!

Free manis, pedis, hair cuts, and tanning...

After reading a friend of mine's post about moving off campus in the spring, i felt the urge to check out off campus housing! I found these apartments that are owned by this company and if you live in any of their apartments you get so many ammenities! You get a free hair salon, free manicures and pedicures, free tanning, free party kitchens, your own private room. Clubhouses, and nice lounges! I mean if I'm paying lots of money for housing I would rather have lots of extras and not have to pay for things to do! I mean it doesn't get much better than that!! I so can't wait! Free manis, pedis, hair cuts, tanning!! yeah!! that's a deal baby!!

Two roads diverge!

Today I attempted to stick to my schedule that I made for myself but it's 8:43 and I haven't even started writing in my journal or anything! But I'm going to make sure I get in bed on time because I want to be happy and not grouchy bc I'm tired! Anyways I have spent some time doing something productive...

I got an e-mail today from a college that as been sending me stuff since my freshman year. It is a really great college and it is known for it's medical education. Tulane Univeristy in New Orleans,LA. So I decided that I didn't have anything to loose, they are offering me a free application. I'm going to take it! I have no back up plan in case I don't get into BYU-I! I know I will but I will be prepared just in case! Now all I have to do is take the application to my counselor tomorrow and then everything will be ok! My application comes out for BYU-I on Thursday! I can't wait to fill out that application!

Today I was lost in reading posts from this blog called Confessions from a Mormon Bachelor Pad! I believe that it's real because I don't think guys could be that creative! (Not meaning to doubt you guys, you are great!) And since I've never dated anybody and I will be leaving for a place full of mormon boys I decided htat it would be a good idea to have an idea of how they think! And if I know what makes them tick then I won't try to analyze everything that a guy does! Reading this blog makes me realize how real they are. It really has changed how I see them, not in a bad way, just in a realistic way!! I love reading it even though sometimes they aren't the nicest!! But I really feel like it is a good way to prepare myself! If I hadn't read some of these things I think that I would've hated guys forever, I think!! I'm really excited for life and what's to come!!! And I recommend checking out there blog, just remember, they are being honest and it is anaymous! I appreciate their honesty, it helps girls know how their brains work! And that is a mystery yet unsolved my too many!!! hehe!!! Good night guys!!!

Not that great in reality!

I finally just finished my homework that I've had a week to do! I know, shame on me for waiting till Sunday to do it but I was just wondering...why does everyone think Shakespeare was so great! Really, I hated this play we had to read. Not because it was boring but because there was way to much of Segmuind Freud. I know...I spelled his name wrong but you get the point! Any how, I'm done. Oh dear I just said any how! What are we going to do these country folks are rubbing off on me!!! Hehehehehe!!!

Well today at church was fun! It was fast and testimony meeting and I got up to go bear my testimony and Josie came too! It was kinda wierd because seeing that I'm not a mom yet I've never had to take a child up to the pulpit! But it went well! Then after sunday school myself and the other 2 laurels were called to be the nursery leaders! It will be tons of fun! I'm really excited! I love little children and to have a calling...yeah!!!

That's about it for my Sunday! I think I'm going to take a shower, eat dinner, then go to bed! I'm so tired!!

Sorting back to the past...

Since we've had this last week off my mom had a major crusade about getting unpacked so that we can get the things put where they go, and while I agree that we should do so, she was very rushed about it! Since she wanted it all done she put all of my stuff in my room, including my scrapbooking stuff. And as I was organizing my scrapbooking stuff putting paper in one drawer and stickers in another, I started to go through the stuff that needs to be scrapbooked. As I looked at it, I just felt like I went back, back to a time where things were easy and simple. If I needed something most likely my best friend already knew what was going on because we saw each other practically every day of the week. She knew how to help because she knew what was going on in all fronts. She was wonderful, she would stay up late to write me notes so that I could quietly read her suggestions that were might I add quite wonderful and I could keep those suggestions. Now even some 4 or 5 years later those simple suggestions mean so much to me! I wrote a poem while in 8th grade, I had intended to send it in to the BYU writing contest but I didn't. I let my english teacher read it and she thought that it was lovely. She had also been my english teacher in 7th grade, and in 7th grade I wrote a few poems which were submitted for a contest and I think 2 won or maybe it was just 1. Anyways, she wrote a note on the back of the poem from 8th grade and to read what she wrote is so uplifting. It gives me hope when I don't think there is any! Then my best friend made me a scrapbook for if the time came when I would move and well to our dismay it did, so I'm glad she made the scrapbook. But in that scrapbook besides pictures from lots of fun times was a map of our life. It was so creative and with that map came a story. And after reading that story, I really kind wish things could go back to shopping pond, or early highschool hills, even hurricane range or pretend pass. Life seemed easy then but I know that in all things there is opposition and that opposition will make us stronger if we let it! I know that in a few years I'll look back and say that I was a wimp. I was being silly about the things that went on and the so called struggles I claim to have but knowing that kinda makes easier because I know that I will look back with that same nastalgia!

My best friend is truly the greatest in the world. We always dreamed of going to high school together and having the same classes and enjoying every minute together! Unfortunately we only got 2 years of high school together and then none of our classes were together. We shared a locker but we rarely saw each other because of the times of our class and their location. Now we are seniors in high school making the best of it sadly on our own. And I think the hardest part is that another one of our dreams was to go to college together! We often said even if I moved we would still go to college together and that would help make the 2 years past faster. But now the two of us are looking at going to different colleges which are roughly 4-6 hours apart, I think! I know I can make it on my own but it's so much more fun and a whole lot easier with her. I know that I wouldn't be as shy and I wouldn't be afraid to go to activities! But I want what's best for her and she is so lucky to have an amazing ACT score that I can only dream of and she should go to the college that we've both dreamed of. I don't want her to settle for less because of me! She's taught me so much. And really in all reality she has essentially made me who I am. She is truly the greatest, wisest, smartest, most humble person I know! I'm just greatful that we could become such good friends even the best of friends over the 7 years! I know things will work out the way the Lord wants them too, and I take comfort in that.

11...10...9...

Here lately my attention has been brought to college and of course application is a big part! My application comes out in 6 days! I'm really excited! For those of you that don't know, I'm planning to attend Brigham Young University-Idaho. It is in Rexburg,ID! It is a 30 hour drive from my house and a 6 hour plus plane ride! Of course, with application and admission comes the necessities of life on your own. It's so exciting that I am buying my own dishes, my own towels, my own bed liens! I love that I'm almost on my own. My mom has raised me and helped me and taught me right from wrong and how to make smart decisions! I can't wait to be able to use those skills she's taught me! And as my senior year is about to hit mid-way, I'm realizing habits that I need to break and some others that I need to make. I definitely need to learn to go to bed on time. When I don't have to go to school or be up for seminary I go to bed around 1 or 2 A.M. And I put homework off till the last minute! And I have to change that before I go to college because if I don't get my homework done I fear that it will hinder me in my attempt at a social life! I've been reading a friend of mine's blog and I get so excited every time I read it! I can't wait!

I've often been told that I need to enjoy the moments that I have now. Don't wish my time away! But I am enjoying my time! My senior year is a blast! But I can't wait to go to college!! I can't wait for all that fun!! And I can't wait to see how well I can make it on my own!!

I have roughly 10 months until I leave for college!! I'm counting down the months until I leave and the days until my application comes out!!

P.S.
I am a smart young adult and I've found books that will help me! I can't wait to get them and read them!! I'm saving like crazy and lovin' life!! What more can you ask for!!

Don't follow me I'm lost too!

Yesterday, I was fortunate enough to be able to attend a Justin Moore concert for free. It was lots of fun...it was my first concert ever and when I got home, I felt different. I don't know how to explain it and I don't know why but it was weird. I wanted to get to know Justin Moore and I guess be his really good friend, I seem to like to be people's friends. And yet I felt a little empty. It was really weird. I also thought wow, I just saw a famous person in person...he was approximately 50 feet from me. And yet in a way that still didn't bother me! Then today I got a call from McDonald's and they asked me to come in for an interview tomorrow at 5. And yes I did apply, they didn't just call me out of the blue. And if I get this job, I will be able to get a car and have plenty of spending money and I will be able to start putting money in savings for college, but at the same time I'm scared, lost and confused. I don't know what to do. I don't really want to work fast food but I've applied at 5 different places and McDonald's is the only one who has called back. I really want a car and to be able to have money to spend and save but I don't know what I should do...I guess the only answer is to pray. Russel M. Nelson told us today that pray is the best communication with the Lord. It doesn't even require hardware, software, or monthly service fees. So I guess I will pray. But I guess another question of mine is why do we feel like this sometimes? Maybe it's to encourage us to pray and to talk to Heavenly Father. Maybe it's that "spiritual heart biopsy" Brent H. Neilson talked about.

Well I think after writing it out I've decided what I need to do. I will pray. I am so glad that I was able to listen to conference today. It was a blast!! And I'm grateful for the opportunities that Heavenly Father gives me to kneel and talk with Him!!

Flight of life...it's as easy as landing on the Hudson!!

Today, Capt. Chesley Sullenburger returned to the air. Every time I think about what he did, I'm amazed. I even sometimes get teary eyed. I find it so moving that he did such a heroic act but always said he was just doing his job. I consider him a hero but more importantly an example. He just did what he was taught. I'm sure in class he didn't doodle on his papers and when given the opportunity to practice his flying skills he didn't just sit back and say "Oh, I'll know what to do when the time comes." I just think how easy it is for us to land on our personal "Hudson". I know that in my CNA class I could take advantage of the time my teacher gives me to practice and just like "Sully" had a plane full of people and their families counting on him, he knew what he was doing because he wasn't cutting corners. In my future profession I will have lots of sick people and their families counting on me. I can learn a lesson from Sully and remember not to cut corners and take my time. Because time now might give people more time later!! I hope I can perform as well as Sully if the time ever comes!!! And I hope we can all land on our own personal "Hudson"!!!

Adventures of an almost homecoming queen

This year I decided to sign up to run for homecoming queen. So most would think this would be easy as lemon pie, however, it was anything but easy. The friday before our homecoming game we found out who was going to need an escort for the game. I was smart, I went ahead and asked a guy and he agreed. Then we are going through the next week, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday are all good. Actually, on Wednesday I went to Cincinatti,OH for a meeting with CES leaders and got more info about BYU-I. We didn't get back until 12 that night so I didn't go to school on Thursday. And since our school allows 2 college days for all seniors and I'm not going out to Idaho I was ok using mine on that fireside. Anyways, my mom subbed at the high school on Thursday and since I was not there she was asked to fill out the information sheet that would be read aloud to the stadium and we she comes to pick me up she tells me the guy who was suppose to escort me was no longer going to but he was going to find somebody. Might I add that the game was in less than 24 hours. I get to school the next day, figure out who this other guy is and I'm ok with it. All is well, I'm happy. I knew it would be an experience of a lifetime. So it wasn't that big of a deal...until in 5th period I found out that I didn't have an escort. At our school we have a 10 minute break in between 5th and 6th periods, during this break I went and talked to the teacher in charge of homecoming festivities and she told me that they found somebody to fill in. It turns out that it was my friends boyfriend. I was grateful she lent her boyfriend to me for the 15 minutes during half time. He saved the day because I was ready to just tell the teacher to forget it, I was dropping out. It was a lot of fun, my feet were killing me and I loved every minute of it. And as you read in the title of this post, I didn't win. But I loved it. My neighbrs, Ricky and Karen sent me flowers and their love. I loved that night. It was so much fun! I would do it again in heartbeat, even if I knew I wasn't going to win. I won more than a sash, flowers, or a crown. I won some confidence in myself.

The top picture is of me and my escort Zach.

The picture next to it is of my friends: Savannah, Kandyce(won senior princess), Amy

The next 2 pictures are of me...note the shoes...that's why my feet hurt. But I loved it!!!

Hospital Adventures of the Teenage Soul

This week has been quite crazy! It's the last full week before school starts and it was the last week of classes for my mom. Yesterday Lexie, J'son, and I had appointments at the eye doctor and we all got our glasses ordered and they will be in Tuesday or Wednesday! And this week I needed to get a TB skin test done for my nursing class at school and that was quite the adventure! This is again a lesson in assuming; you know; never assume, you're always wrong. Well I assumed my doctor gave TB skin tests, however to my dismay, when I called on Wednesday to schedule an appointment for my test and for Lexie's allergies the receptionist informed me that they did not give TB skin tests! I was quite worried because it was Wednesday afternoon and I had two days to have it done! I need the results back for Wednesday of next week, which is the first day of school! So I go into panic mode. I try to find some place to have my test done and I can't find anywhere! So finally I call the hospital we will be volunteering at and asked if they would give me a TB skin test. They told me sure, they took my name and said just come on in tomorrow and we will get you all set. So this morning I wake up at 8:15, which was quite difficult because I had stayed up until 5 this morning reading my book! It is wonderful, but needless to say it was quite the challenge waking up with only 3 hours and 15 minutes of sleep. So I get up and get ready and my neice, who is 15, came with me. We left, off to the hospital. We arrive there and the lady on the phone never told me where her office was, so Breana and I decided the intelligent thing to do would be to look at the map of the hospital. As we are looking at this map a guy walks up and says, "You need some help?" I replied "I need a TB skin test, I called yesterday and the lady who is head of the volunteer department said I could come in today and have it done." he asks "You need a TB skin test?" I relpy "Yes, sir." So he picks up the phone and dials a number and starts talking, then a moment later he moves the phone away from his mouth, asks my name and then returns to his conversation. After he finished his brief conversation, he hung up the phone and looked at me and said "Mellisa is out until next Wednesday, you can come back then." I then said, "When I spoke to the head of the voluteer department she said I could just come in and Mellisa or Kathy would take me up." He asked me again as though he hadn't asked before,"You just need a TB skin test?" I repeated myself again, "Yes, sir." He said "Well I can show how to get there." So off we go. After going up the elevator and to the right into an office that is hidden away quite well I might add, I explain what I need and the nice receptionist said, "Mrs. Blackburn will be with you when she gets off the phone." I replied "Thank you." So Mrs. Blackburn gets off the phone and asks me what I need the test for. I tell her this long explination and she says "Well let me call so-and-so, before I give you the test." I said "ok" just because what else was I suppose to say?! After getting off the phone she says "Well I'm going to go ahead and give you the test now." So she pulls out all the nessary equipment. Then she proceeds to stick my arm and complete the test! After she finished she said "Now if you will just go wait out in the chairs just outside, when Kathy calls back I will come and talk to you. If after 5 minutes I don't show come back, because I will forget about you." So we go sit and wait just to walk back into her office for her to say "Thank you, Kaitlyn I will see you on Monday." For anyone who hasn't had a TB skin test done, you must wait 3 days! The whole time we were there at the hospital, everyone seemed very skeptical. But my thing is why would a teenager make up a story to get themselves poked with a needle. It just seemed a little silly! But oh well, all is fine now. I will return on Monday to recieve the results for my teacher. I am way excited about my opportunity! It's going to be lots of fun, I just know it!!

Tomorrow, we will be able to get our houses put together! I know this sounds wierd, and it's because it is along with strange and unusal! But we bought two single wides and we are putting them together. I want to send it to Jeff Foxworthy, "You know you're a redneck if... your house is two single wides that got put together!" But none the less, we will have a 4 bedroom 3 bath house. It isn't quite bad. But right now it is very embarrasing! I don't like it at all but hey it's a house and not my sister's basement!! So within the next two weeks I will have my own room again, and I will be able to say, "Hooray!!!!" Now all we need is for my mom to get the job she interviewed for! Please pray! We need all the prayers we can get!!!

Home on the range!! (or the farm)

I recently returned home from visiting Louisiana! It was absolutely a blast and I loved every minute of it! After living in Kentucky for a year, I didn't really notice what I had learned. Who knew it would take a 2,400 mile trip(that's both ways) to actually know what I learned. I knew that I would learn alot from living in Kentucky but I never really knew that it was as deep as it was! I always realized the stuff I learned from kids at school but by going to Louisiana, I learned/found in the last year: myself or who I really am and what I stand for, I really can stand on my own, I am so pumped for college now and to move along with my life, I embrace change a little better, and I have become more accepting of people and their ways. Even though almost every minute of my life in Kentucky faces opposition, I wouldn't trade it for the world. Of course, there is oppositon in all things and that's one of the purposes of this life, learning to overcome that opposition.

While in Louisiana, I went to Girl's Camp, which was absolutely amazing. It is so AMAZING to be able to be with a group of girls who accept you for who you are. They believe the same as you and even help you keep your standards. It is such a strength for me, it's that little recharge that we hope for and I so desperately need! I also went to EFY, which is Especially For Youth. I guess you could say it's a church camp, but for my deffintion, it is where a whole bunch(this year 800) of LDS youth come together at a university and spend a week. We have classes and dances and devotionals and game night and a testimony meeting and pizza night. But I would say that the most important part isn't scheduled, it isn't a class or anything I said above, but it's the bond you make with the people you are with. There are groups that are called "companies" and there is usually one girl group and one guy group in each company, however, you can two girl groups and one guy group or vise versa. And having 800 youth at EFY, you spend a ton of time with your company. My company was amazing! The girls were awesome and they totally accepted me for me, and I loved that! And the guys in our company are just amazing! They helped me in so many ways that I'm sure most of them will never know! But EFY for me is probably the greatest week of my year. Honestly, I hate leaving and I wish there were more! And now that I have looked more into college because it's my senior year and I'm in a time crunch, I have realized that when I go to college it's going to be one big continuous EFY! I mean, yeah, I will have school work and a job but I can't wait for that spirit. I love it so much and that spirit helps me so much! I hope to have pictures up soon from EFY! I will deffinately get back to you on that!