and now you have it:

My future mascot is....scary! Can you guess the school? Also, my $100 seat confirmation fee is in the mail. I guess it is really official business now.

Time is flying by so fast! Part of me wishes it would move faster, and the other part of me wants to hold on to my life here in Utah just a little bit longer. In just about 4 months, I will be making my big move back east. I am extremely excited and also scared out of my mind. Am I crazy for moving home after being on my own for 6 years? Maybe. It will definitely be different, but I am excited to be close to family, and I know I won't be living at home long term, it is just going to take some getting used to. I am really lucky that I have that option, it will save me tons of money as I begin my bottom-less pit of tuition payments. Some days I am tempted to change my mind and just stay here and I try to talk myself out of moving, but that is not happening. Grad school and a whole world of adventures await me and truthfully I am excited most of the time, I just also get super nervous. I will be going to school part-time and working-full-time to make life more affordable. My first few classes will be online, thus me living at home for a time.

And while I am thinking of it, have you ever had frozen gogurt? I think every good person has. Oh I love that stuff.

Sorry I didn't update sooner! But for those of you still wondering....I also got into the Indiana University and the University of South Carolina! Now I have some serious decision making to do!

P.S. I am going to be studying social work at one of these fine universities. I am so excited (scared to death actually). But it will be great!

So this weekend we had stake conference, and it was wonderful! It seemed like everything I had been thinking about, praying about, or struggling with was answered in one way or another. For some reason I have been really negative about myself lately (you aren't smart enough, good enough, cute enough, blah blah blah). I know this may seem silly to some but let's face it, we all do it. Anyway, conference was everything I needed to hear. Life has been going really great, and sometimes I feel like I am hardest on myself at those times, because I feel like I do not deserve all of the blessings I receive. It is hard for me to not get down on myself when I mess up or am not perfect.

One of the speakers in conference said " feeling the Lord's love in our lives includes having mercy for ourselves; our best is enough." She also encouraged his to "use the conference as a way to feel the Lord's love, not as a beating post." I really liked these comments because a lot of people see religion as a way to remind us of how awful we are. While we should be humble and strive to be better each day, we need to acknowledge the good we do. Most of us are doing a lot of good, but we will not be perfect in this life, and that is OK. I really enjoyed the messages and am grateful for it. The Lord really does love and know us individually.

NEWS!

I got into the University of Georgia!! I was shocked, excited, scared, etc... I thought it was a rejection letter because it was in a normal envelope, and I assumed they would send me a bigger one. But anyway, I got in there, but am not making any decisions until I hear back from my other schools...so stay tuned!

Duh!

So I was sitting here pondering what I should blog about. duh! I have something very exciting to share:

no I am not engaged

no I did not hear back from grad school yet

BUT

I have a new nephew!! His name is Cameron Alexander...we will call him Xander. He was born last Saturday and was two weeks early weighing a mighty 6lbs, 3 oz. He was also born breech which was a shock to everyone, especially his mother. This is her second breech baby, the first one had to be C-section but Xander was born the good old fashioned way. Mom and baby and everyone else are doing great thanks to some help from Grandma and Grandpa throughout the week. I am so excited to meet him in April!

Also, I have been thinking about making my blog private....what are your thoughts on this? Please give me your email too just in case I make the switch....

Yuuuuuuumy!

Try these if you haven't.....they will change your life!

oh yesh

So....what's new with me you might ask. Or maybe you didn't ask or don't really care....but since you are currently blog stalking me, I shall do you a favor and tell you some things. Ready, set, go.

All of my grad school applications are in and I should hear back by them around the end of Feb/middle of March. I have changed my mind on my first choice school, so I am really really hoping and praying I get into my new number one pick now.

My friend made me some cds with some great new music and I have been listening to that almost non-stop. I love discovering new artists, especially ones that are lesser known...ok I didn't discover them, but they are new to me.

I was really burnt out from work and everything a few weeks ago, but things are looking up now...work was just insane for a few weeks but it seems a little less chaotic these days.

I am almost finished coaching basketball, only one practice and two games left...where has the time gone? I will miss my girls a lot, but will enjoy getting my Friday nights/Saturdays back.

I miss my family, love skype, and am so ready for summer, moving, and starting school among other things. Bring it on!