Are you smarter than an 11th grader?

For me, the answer in this case is no. I volunteered at the Provo School District Science Fair and had a great time talking to 5th and 6th graders about science and the projects they did. and then my friend Alicia and I decided to go take a peek at the high school projects... and we found this...

This kid is in 11th grade. I am pretty sure that he knows way more about science than me. and he obviously has some sweet connections. but seriously? 4 binders full of scientific analysis? and did I mention that the poster seen above costs more than $100 to print? It's not a cheap thing. So for his sake, I hope he wins grand prize for all the time and money he spent! 

but seriously, this high school genius is pretty awesome. He will go on to do great things. 

recommitting. and having faith.

Relief society was so wonderful today! Every week in church I feel like I am always taught something that I need to hear to help me become better or to strengthen my testimony.

this week it was on revelation. I have really been struggling with the topic of revelation because I feel like I never receive revelation in my life. I never really felt guided toward a particular major, or a particular place to live, or even for guidance in serving others. and it is frustrating to me.

Today in Relief Society, we talked about how revelation is most often gradual and it can be difficult to notice in the moment. Often times, it is easy to think that it is just us and that we are not really guided by the Lord. I think this is one of Satan's techniques... to make us think that we are not being guided by the Lord, leaving us feeling alone and confused. However, I learned to day that I need to have faith and trust in the Lord and recognize that if I continue praying and try my best to do what is right, I will be following revelation of the Lord and I will be guided. I also realized that it's okay if I feel I am lacking spiritual guidance. The Lord loves all of us enough and trusts us to make righteous decisions, and I need to learn to trust in my own decision making skills as well. It is definitely hard for me to develop more faith in my ability to receive revelation and to wait for answers and more revelation than I want, but I know that the Lord wants us to develop patience and I need to have faith in Him and myself that I am doing the best I can and that the revelation I seek will come in time.

I also decided today that from now on, I am COMMITTED to eating healthy. I have eaten so much junk in the past couple days and I feel gross. I want to lose about 15 more pounds and I want to feel healthy. Thus, I am cutting out sweets completely (one small treat a week is okay, if it is in my calorie range) and I am exercising 5 days a week. When I go to restaurants, I will watch the calories I eat. most importantly, I am not going to pig out on the weekends!

weekends...

I have this problem where I get invited to do way too many fun things on the weekends! I mean it is so great to feel like I have lots of friends and fun things to do, but it's so hard turning everyone down! 

Tonight, I have been invited to:

go to my roommate's fondue party for her birthday (that's happening)

go to a Black and White themed party planned by some people in my ward

go to a game night

go see Wreck it Ralph at the dollar theatre

...and so on and so forth! I just hate saying no to people! 

...and there's also that Humanities test I have to take tomorrow morning that I haven't studied for. but it's my senior year so I gotta live it up! 

but, good news... I'M GOING TO LONDON! holy cow it's so exciting and crazy! I applied for a passport today and can't believe I will be studying abroad there in June! 

Colorado.

Colorado is a beautiful place! I have so many wonderful memories of visiting there and hanging out with my aunts and uncles. I haven't been back for a couple of years and my mom is there right now for my cousin's baptism. I am a little bit jealous! I am hoping to go back this summer and possibly run the Bolder Boulder!

the best parts of Colorado:

they have cliff diver shows. 

and a haunted house that scared me a lot as a kid.

St. Vrain river. It's so pretty and gorgeous there!

and my awesome extended family.

the challenges of this winter semester

1. the surreal feeling of starting my last semester of classes.

one last cheesy, blurry back to classes picture

2. the even more surreal feeling that I am going to be a student teacher in the fall.

3. waiting to hear back to see if I will get to go to Europe in the summer

4. having to go to class in -1 degree weather.

5. trying to find a new place to live but not knowing who to live with or where to look.

gratitude day 4

1. I am grateful that my Hamlet book I am reading for Humanities pretty much translates everything they say into English I can understand.

2. I am grateful that I have a religion class where I get to read so many wonderful talks from the Quorum of the 12 and the prophet.

3. I am grateful that my family taught me how to eat healthy and to love healthy food (and junk food too?)

gratitude day 3

1. I am grateful that I have a wonderful family that has taught me to love and helped me to grow in many aspects of my life.

2. I am grateful that I have friends. Not only that, I am grateful that I have many friends that share my different interests and that I can turn to when I am in need of a particular thing. I have friends that are a lot of fun to be around, friends that help me grow spiritually, friends that I can study chemistry with, and friends that I can trust and talk to about anything.

3. I have a loving Heavenly Father. Despite feeling inadequate spiritually this week, I was reminded that my Heavenly Father loves me so much no matter what and with Him, I will be able to do it.