Remember

President Kimball said remember is likely the most important word in the dictionary. I agree.

Friday I interviewed at BYU for the Counseling Psychology PhD program. Saturday they let me know that I am an alternate and I get to wait and see how the people they offered spots to respond. Bummer. I really wanted to get into the program and maybe if a miracle happens I still will, but I'm not counting on it.

BYU has the biggest counseling center of any university in the US and the Counseling Psychology program provides a lot of opportunities to get experience there. I really want to work at a university counseling center, but maybe it is not meant to be. Apparently lowly counselors with just a Master's degree are not good enough for university counseling centers. At least there aren't as many options for me now as there would be if I got a PhD in Psych. Maybe that will change someday. Until then I guess I'll figure something else out even if it involves medicaid (Yuck).

I've been told "no" quite a few times now. It gets old. My career plans certainly haven't turned out the way I have envisioned them. I'm still not really sure how we ended up moving to Pocatello and going to ISU. I never would have predicted that but I wouldn't change it either. I've learned a lot.

I've learned that everybody gets their fair share of trials, but some people get way more than their fair share. LIFE IS NOT FAIR. Some people get it relatively easy and then there are people like Job. Personally I think I'll keep the trials I have. I could certainly have it worse and I know an awful lot of people that do.

I just wish I learned from my trials so I didn't have to keep having more. Many of my trials are self inflicted and some of them are just straight up imagined. Things are rarely as bad as we think. No one is picking on me even if it feels like it sometimes. That's where the remembering comes in.

I try really hard to be quick to observe (If you are not familiar with Elder Bednar's talk about it you should make yourself familiar) but unfortunately I'm no Mormon (the person not the nickname for my religion). I'm a slow learner and I forget things quickly. The good news is that I know it and I'm working on it. Two years ago after I finished my Bachelors I worked swing shifts, graveyards, and weekends for $9 an hour. I had a horrible job and few options. I'm in a lot better place now so I should be grateful right? Even if the options I have left after getting told no aren't exactly what I want.

So my invitation for you is to remember. Remember what really matters. Remember Him. I'll be working on it.

The Worst Decision I Ever Made

The worst decision I ever made, happened in college my sophomore year, and goes as follows...

First, here is an excerpt from the blog I was keeping at that point in my life:

Later that night {that night being a Sunday, in February 2009}, Nat, Em, Brad, JJ, Jordan and I went down to Spanish Fork for a game night at one of Gillian's friend's houses. We played Murder in the Dark, and other fun games. At about 1:oo am we decided to call it a night. But then some of the people who we had just met that night (Gavin, Brittany, Allie and Cole) decided they wanted to go to the hot pots. Mike, Trent and Rachel decided to go too. I didn't want to be completely irresponsible, so I said I would only go if Brad went. Brad (and Jordan) decided to go too, so I felt pretty safe going. We came back to the Riv, got our swimsuits on, and drove back down to Spanish Fork to meet up with the other 7 who were going. We drove down to Fillmore and got there at about 4:00 am. Oh, funny note, on the way down, Cole (who was in the other car) called and we put him on speaker phone while we said a prayer. We built a bonfire, and swam, and told stories, and just had a good time. We got out at 6-ish. Dried off, and were on the road by 6:30 am. I got home at about 8:00 am. What a crazy night!! It was so fun though. 

The one picture that I have from the night. Rachel and I freezing. Let's remember, this was in February!

Some additional thoughts:

So, I decided to only go if Brad went. Brad being someone who I had known for like 6 months, as opposed to the couple of weeks (or 1 day) that I had known the other people going. Brad was also my best friend's brother, so that had to be safe, right? (I am being totally flippant, I did, and still would, trust Brad with my life - but still... I was being dumb, but trying to be kind of responsible, also.)

Also, I am glad that we said a prayer together over speaker phone in the two cars. But really? I am grateful that I didn't die somewhere on the freeway between Spanish Fork and Fillmore at 3 am. 

I drove down in Trent's truck (we were slightly crushing on each other at the time) and I spilled Dr. Pepper in his truck. His truck is his baby. I was amazed he still talked to me after that. {this was also the day after our first date that happened to be on Valentine's Day.}

I also don't remember building a bonfire, but I suppose we must have since I blogged about it.

I was almost completely irresponsible and it is still a night I hold as one of my best memories from the single life. But I would still be horrified if one of my future kiddos does that in college. 

..... 

I have so many other stories from college (mainly sophomore year) that would entertain and embarrass you. I should probably start a blog series called "The Dumb and Crazy Things I Did My Sophomore Year of College". Seriously. I think I will. Then you will see.
{such posts to look forward to would be Spirit Animal Parties, Halloween, ABDC parties, RS Retreats, Photo Scavenger Hunts, Black and White Party, Crazy Hair Party, Roadtrip to Cali, MG get-togethers, something that involves pudding, and many more....}

Valentine's Day

Valentine's was lowkey this year, but perfect.

I ended up having to work until 8 pm :( But I came home to dinner ready, a table set with goodies, and a clean house! 

We had pulled pork and mashed potatoes, and Kyle had even made creme brulee.

He gave me the movie "He's Just Not That Into You", Dove chocolate, Kit-Kats, a cute card he made, a gift certificate to Kiwi Loco and tickets to Nalepese night at ISU.

I got him some Reese's Cups, a card, and a nice blue sweater. 

We ate and just spent time with each other.

Friday we watched the last episode of Downton Abbey so we'd be caught up for the finale on Sunday. And then we watched the movie Kyle got me.

Saturday night we went out to Napelese night. It consisted of a delicious Napelese dinner (rice, chicken curry, curried vegatables, and some carrot pudding, yum!) and some cultural music and dancing performances. It was really cool to go to. Then we went a got a chocolate shake, and watched the BYU game :)

Also on Saturday I had my wonderful dance class, and we took a 2.5 hour nap together. 

Heavenly.

Then yesterday we watched the season finale of Downton Abbey.

AND OMG I CAN'T EVEN TELL YOU ALL MY FEELINGS.

I also taught a lesson about how our choices affect us in YW.

So, there is our Valentine's Day weekend in a nutshell.

I love my Kyle :)

Valentine

I think Valentin's Day is sort of a silly holiday. I mean, shouldn't we be celebrating the people we love always? That said... It does do a little to brighten up the cold and dreadful month of February. And it gives me a reason to be all cheesy for a day :) 

With that out of the way, I want to write a little love note about my very own Valentine.

Kyle is, simply put, the best.
He is the best because he can always make me laugh. We have a really similar sense of humor, that is kind of ridiculous but we love it. On top of that, when I am in a really crazy mood, he will laugh at me - since I think I am being hilarious. I love laughing with him.
He is the best because he is so kind and caring, and is always looking out for me. And he doesn't even get too mad even when I spend too much on fast food. Or clothes. Or shoes.
He is the best because he is patient. He was patient when I was deciding to date him, he was patient when I was deciding to marry him, he is patient now when I am a cranky pants and moody.
He is the best because he will listen to me incessantly ramble about my friends, TV shows, books, work, and any thing else that strikes my fancy, even though he really doesn't care. Also he watches TV shows with me -  such as Pretty Little Liars and Downton Abbey.
He is also dang cute.

Thanks for being my forever, Kyle.
I love you more than you know!

I just found this little gem of a picture. I had forgotten about it. Aren't we cute?

Coeur D'Alene

So, last weekend we went to Coeur D'Alene. The ICA (Idaho Counseling Association) was having their yearly conference up there, and Kyle was presenting with some of his fellow students and professors. We though, why not make a weekend out of it? So, we did!

The journey to Coeur D'Alene is a lovely 8 hour or so drive. 

We drove alllll day on Thursday. It was a really pretty drive through Montana. We listened to the audio version of Ender's Shadow. (To be honest, it took us driving there, and back, and then some to finish the book, but it was so good!)

We booked into our hotel, and went out to eat at Porky G's BBQ. YUM! I love  me some good (authentic, real) barbeque, and this was pretty dang good. Also, our hotel had a king size bed, which we loved.

Friday Kyle had to be at his conference all day.
I dropped him off, got breakfast, slept, showered and got ready, got lunch, went to Target (we don't have on in Poky, and I found a couple great deals), read, hung out some more.
Kyle, of course, gave a couple of presentations while at his conference.
When I went to pick him up, we went to dinner at Bonsai Bistro - which I've already blogged about below.

Saturday we slept in a little bit, Kyle went to the last little bit of his conference and then I joined him for the lunch/awards ceremony. The food was delicious!
Then we took a a little walk down at the pier.

Then we drove over to Spokane, and went and did a session at the Spokane Temple.
We went to dinner at Hogan's Hamburgers.
Drove around downtown Spokane for a little bit, and then headed back to our hotel.

Sunday we drove alllll the way home.
The end.

It was so nice to have a long weekend together. It was so relaxing, and just what we needed!