London! plus CT and St. Patrick's Day

1. Guess who's going to London this summer for 5 weeks? ME! Yep. On a study abroad. To London. Studying English. in England. ENGLAND! I leave on May 14th and come back June 19th.

2. Did I mention I'm going to England?

3. I'm excited to go on a smaller trip this Spring Break to visit my brother Jonathan and his wife Brittany for a few days. They live in New Haven, CT.

4. Also, as you can probably see by the change in my blog (if you haven't given up on me and still check my blog occassionally), I'm excited for one of my favorite holidays - St. Patrick's Day!

Unofficial Poll

If Kathryn were to go on a study abroad within the next year, where should she go?

1. CAMBRIDGE FOR 8 WEEKS DURING THE SUMMER!

On a more affordable note:

2. Mexico during Spring Semester (great for a Spanish minor).

Consider:
1. The clock is ticking, and there's a chance she wouldn't go on a summer abroad program if she decides to serve a mission, or gets married, or finds an internship, etc..
2. She's currently not a Spanish minor.
3. She doesn't have a job.
4. She's currently dating someone.

So. Should she go with something realistic and affordable? Should she set her sights on something she's wanted to do since she drooled over her brother's pictures and try really hard to get it to happen? Any suggestions on programs she could look at that aren't too expensive? Is a study abroad really the right thing for her to do?

All suggestions are welcome and appreciated. :)

Timing

Most of the time I try to wait patiently for things to happen on the Lord's time and not mine. Things such as getting a job, finding out what to study in school, deciding who I want to spend the rest of my life and eternity with and all other processes of decision-making teach me that there is a time and place for everything in the Lord's perfect plan. I may think that a certain time is right, but I am usually proved wrong.

But every once in a while, our merciful God seems to comply with our pleading. In our much-less-than perfect brains, we conceive a certain time and certain way for an event to occur, and it happens. And as we continue to think about it, the timing becomes more and more perfect. The miracles of God are present and endless, my friends. Tender mercies truly happen. Maybe I'm jumping to conclusions, but I now believe that the Lord knows when something will hurt so deeply no matter when, how, or where it happens, but the depth may be eased slightly by the event happening according to our wishes. How grateful I am that the Lord answers prayers.

Where I Am:

Can you say "beautiful"?

Lessons Learned at the Ranch - Part 1

1. Socks are an important and essential part of one's wardrobe. When packing to go clean a dusty, dirty ranch, I will not forget to pack this clothing item again.

2. When I talk, I must speak clearly. According to the cook, I have a Norwegian accent.

3. People from the Basin really are different. Ask for details if interested.

4. When I become a parent, I will keep track of my kids and not just sit around with the adults at family reunions.

5. When I am called to serve in Young Women and go to girls camp, I will NOT sit around and play cards with the other adults, but will spend time with the girls and keep track of them.

6. The next time I go to a hotel, I will pack my stuff nicely and not right next to my bed so that the house keepers do not have to bend into unnatural positions to clean my room and make my bed.

7. A spoken "thank you" is nice, but a monetary, solid, substantial "thank you" means a lot more.

8. You know you're exhausted when you're off work and the first thing you want to do is sleep.

9. I will never ever EVER have bunk beds in my house.

10. Among the people in the world that take advantage of the kind services you make available for them, there are a few really genuinely nice people that can change your outlook on the world.

Temple Weddings - Behind the Scenes

This last Saturday my family went through an endowment session at the Salt Lake Temple while I did baptisms, took pictures and waited for a long time in the waiting area (needless to say, a great place to wait). I happened to be sitting near where brides and grooms come and check their dresses and tuxes, and learned a lot about what happens behind the scenes. Observations:

• Brides. They all have such different moods. Some are flustered, but so happy to be there. Others are nervous, but try to act calm and collected. Some flit about from person to person asking questions and calling people to check if she left her slip in their apartment. Another was content to simply hold the groom's hand.


• Grooms. These were by far the funniest to watch. They have NO idea what to do with themselves. They usually come in carrying the bride's dress for her, set it on the table, and then just kinda stand there, sometimes wandering over to the drinking fountain, talking to mom and dad, or just looking on as the bride and her mother talk to the temple workers. There are a lot of people telling him what to do, and that may be part of the problem. There's the bride, the bride's mother, his own mother, and the temple workers. The moods of the grooms aren't quite as diverse. Most were just in a daze, but one was in a particularly foul mood because something had gone wrong. He refused to joke with the temple workers, and the bride was trying really hard to calm him down. That's a great start, kids. Nevertheless, everything works out in the end, and they are sent on their way to be sealed.

Life - Spring 2009

What a general and potentially ambiguous title: "Life". To justify such a horrific English major felony, I really just have a few thoughts about what's going on in my life right now and what I'm learning, but not enough about each to make separate posts about each while keeping the attention span of those reading. I think bullet points will suffice.

• As much as I like English more than Chemistry, all these final papers and projects are starting to get to me.
  
• It's too bad that the most valuable and helpful things are often learned at the very end of the semester rather than during the bulk of it.


• A few weeks of final activities really aren't that bad. Putting the best effort possible into studying for finals, writing final papers, creating final projects, and participating in final performances or gatherings really is worth putting some things on hold that don't require immediate attention.


• I really am obsessive about keeping a clean room.


• The ability to sing with the heart and having in-tune heart strings are very valuable skills.


• I want to learn to realize the value of things in my life as they are present, and not just after they're gone.


• The habit of writing in a journal may not come naturally, easily, or without the use of patience, but it is an incredibly beneficial and worthwhile activity and with practice can become natural.


• Service is simple, but may at times require a significant and inconvenient effort.


• The world is full of incredible people - not the least of which may read this blog.


• I wish there were words in the English language that carried a more deep and powerful connotation than the simple words "thank you" to express gratitude.


• I have a lot to learn about life, but I do know this: life is good.