20...19...

20: I am grateful for forgetfulness. Okay, not all the time but sometimes. Definitely not in the testing center or in relation to my schoolwork or calling in any form. I recently decided to re-read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows for the second time. Yup, only the second time. I read the book right when it came out in July 2007 and haven't read it since. I started reading and soon found that I could not remember ANYTHING that had happened. I mean, I knew a lot of folks didn't exactly get their happy ending and a bunch of cool magic takes place and good always wins but that was about it. This re-read turned into a "reading-a-book-for-the-first-time" experience and it was awesome! There were moments when I had to cover the page with my hand so I wouldn't skip ahead and miss anything important. I have read the first few Harry Potter books a gazillion times so I was shocked to not remember the 7th (and most intense) installment in the series. Altogether, this past read was a delightful experience and I encourage everyone who is interested enough in me to be reading this, to go back and re-read a book that you, at one point loved, and may have forgotten about. Enjoy it. Savor it. Love it. And let me know what book you have decided to read!

19: We are no longer in the 20's folks! This is a very important day. First, I would like to say that I have the most amazing roommates ever. Seriously.

(From top to bottom: Britt Curtis, Chelsea Griffiths, me, and Steph Anderson)

After eight months at BYU I am finally starting to feel like I belong and I attribute that to the wonderful and uplifting influence I see in my dear roommates and friends. My calling is amazing, I LOVE my classes (especially Grammar) and I love my roomies. Britt, Chelsea, and I ate dinner together last night and ended up having a very enlightening conversation about Christ and the Atonement. That's the first time I've had a conversation with my peers in just a casual setting about something spiritual. It was so amazing. It's great having roommates that I am friends with. We plan things to do together and spend a lot of time just chillin' in our apartment doing homework or talking and it's such a bonding experience.

Something we discussed at our dinner-time talk was receiving answers to prayers. I was thinking about my whole transition to BYU and how awful it has been for eight months. And now suddenly, things are wonderful. The Lord works on His own timetable. I may have set plans for myself but as long as I keep myself spiritually in tune to the Spirit I will be guided to the correct path the Lord wants for me. I have learned that my life isn't directed by drastic change but led by small adjustments to my path.

Also, I got a card-board cut yesterday in my attempt to clean up the living room and my thumb is still sore. I was then contemplating the joy of having opposable thumbs and remembering that Olive the Other Reindeer asked for such a gift. So, let us remember that life can't be all that bad. Try buttoning a button without using your thumb and then let's discuss trials in life.