Nichole and I skipped out on work one day and went shopping :) And another day we went to Annapolis, and another time we went to Ocean City and slept in Nikita-Nichole's black car :)
My family came for a visit right before I went home and that was so much fun


well it's late so I will post more later

Profession: Solicitor

Among all the geckos, snakes, gators, slammed doors, police cars, wet sweaty clothes, mosquito bites and thunder storms you would pretty much say my job is a breeze. Life as a full time solicitor has its perks ( farmers tans, old men hitting on you, and sight seeing every neighborhood in Tampa FL ). I pretty much know where i would want to live if i ever moved to FL. So lets be serious for a second, summer life is pretty much the hardest thing possible, but they say "if you can make through a summer of selling pest control, you can pretty much handle any job out there". Any buyers?

Oh Florida!

Wow I know it has been quite some time since I have blogged, but I am back...atleast for today. I don't have much time so I'll do some bullet point updates:
-Selling ANYTHING door to door is very difficult, but it is humbling because I know that the Heavenly Father guides me through this learning process.
-It's hot as Hades here, but I have a beautiful farmers tan after only a week.
-Boys are wimps. The guys here are so homesick that it isn't funny and the girls are the only ones that haven't complained.
-I have decided that after being told by 3 different married men that I need to find myself a boyfriend that they are right :)

Well here is a little overview of my every day schedule. I get up at 8 and I'm ready to go by 9. Around 11 we get to the office and have correlation. Then after that we go out and sell until 9 at night. It is so hard! Saturdays are worse. Our correlation starts at 8 and we knock until 6. Sundays are our only days off and wow it really is a "day of rest". Well I am getting ready to get off of here because my manager is being nice and letting me use the computer. Later guys!!

oh P.S. I'll add pictures as soon as I can.

Thoughts

Sometimes I think about really random things...here are some of the things.

1. I hate being single.

2. Even though I hate being single, I don't want to steady date anyone.

3. I love humidity.

4. I love sunshine.

5. If I had to live in the city I think I would survive wonderfully, but put me in the country and there are no doubts that I would be happy.

6. Dancing is one of my favorite things to do and I go every opportunity I get.

7. I used to be tough, Utah has broken me down a bit and that has made me a little insecure.

8. I have a necklace that is a golden cross with a ruby at the point where the two parts make the cross- I love it and think it is beautiful. I understand why we aren't supposed to wear the cross, but I always want to put it on because it's from my grandpa and it means a lot to me.

9. My teddy bear is my best friend hands down. I can't count the number of times that he has be cried on this year.

10. I am so willing to sacrifice years of happiness for my mother to find someone who is strong in the gospel and take her to the temple to get married. I want more than anything for her to be happy and I think that ultimately I would be happy too. I also want to be sealed to my family and there aren't any ways to do that right now.

11. I am such a procrastinator and I wish that I weren't, but I don't know how to gain the motivation to get things done early rather than late.

12. I very much dislike the Utah dating scene. Here is why: Guys only want to date you if you want a serious relationship, or they will date you if they are pre-missionaries who can't get serious. I just want to go on some fun dates and meet great people. I also hate the fact that a few of the guys I have met that have qualities of someone I would date are taken...go figure.

13. My room is a total disaster and I HATE it, but I am so busy right now that I don't have time to pick things up.

14. I am so excited to go back to NC and see my family that I have already started packing my room :)

15. Food isn't appetizing anymore. I hate any and all food, but I have to eat.

16. There are some words that make me happy.
examples include, but are not limited to:
sluff, tinkle, and anything Hawaiian.

17. Foreign languages intrigue me, but I struggle terribly in all foreign language classes.

18. I want to start planning my wedding now even though it probably won't be for quite a few years.

19. Give me a Jones soda and watch my excitement levels rise exponentially.

20. I love working out, but I hate being sore.

21. The women I work with are by far the funniest people I have ever met. We always get each other out of potentially awkward situations.

22. I only wash my dishes with antibacterial dish soap (this stemmed from the fact that I have 2 roommates who bought the cheap stuff and I think it's disgusting).

23. Adulthood is fun, except for all of the bills that I have gained that I didn't have at age 15 :(

24. Palm Trees make me happy. Every time I go somewhere with palm trees I take a picture hugging them.

25. Every girl has a list of things they want in a guy, I realized that I do too. I didn't plan on it, but I do.

26. And with that last thought, come the next.
I want:
-someone who is strong in the gospel.
-someone who is serious when they need to be, but not serious about the little things
-someone who likes the outdoors and will take me hiking and to the ocean and anything that involves the outdoors.
-someone athletic
-good communication
-someone who makes me laugh...I mean really really laugh.
-honesty. I don't get upset when people are honest; I am pretty accepting. I do get upset when people are dishonest and I find out.
-A temple worthy RM. I am planning at this time to serve a mission. If I end up going this will be a must unless they are converts and did not have the opportunity to serve.
-someone who is good with kids. I love guys that love kids. I want children and I want someone who wants them as much as I do.


I might add to that list later, but there are a few things that are important to me.

Those are my random thoughts for the evening, I like being able to put these on here because I think about random things ALL the time.

Almost Done

Wow it has been forever since I last posted. There are so many things that have happened since then. The most recent and fun experience that I had was Spring Break. I went to see a friend of mine in Reno, NV and then continued our drive to Santa Rosa, CA. The drive to Reno was terrible. 7 hours on I-80...I can't even begin to explain to you the agony that that drive brought. The only things to see from Tooele, UT to Reno, NV are Wendover (two tiny casinos connected by a walking bridge, a gas station, and a subway), shrubs, weeds, Salt flats, and cool black rocks that people use to spell things with. Ah- it was wretched! Not to mention the whole drive I was constantly fearing for my life because I was afraid of two things, my car running out of gas and I would die in the desert OR my car would break down and some crazy loon would kill me because he had escaped from one of the BILLION prisons that are somewhere near I-80 in Nevada. (There are literally like 5 signs that I passed that say "Do not pick up hitch hikers, state prisons close" or something along those lines). Well once I got to Ian's house we waited for his sister to get home from school. Then we loaded the car and headed into California. By the way, if I were rich, I would definitely live in California...I love it there. We drove through Napa and Sonoma which were absolutely beautiful this time of the year. We just hung out with friends that night and the next morning we headed to San Francisco.

The Golden Gate Bridge

Driving across the Golden Gate Bridge. These pictures are a little nasty because Ian's car window was disgusting!


Last time I visited San Francisco I did not make it to Lombard St. Ian talked about it and decided to drive me there and show me the beauty of the little winding brick street.

Downtown San Fran on Lombard St.

Here is the short winding brick road that is very cute, but very expensive to live on :)

After visiting Lombard St. Ian and I went to Fisherman's Wharf and walked to the pier with the quarter arcade. We had so much fun there. Here is the picture that is also at the top of my blog of me riding the little horse! I was laughing so hard. I felt like I was 5 again and I think I embarrassed Ian.


We continued walking around the piers and I did a little shopping. I bought by little brother the sweetest hat ever and I bought myself  2 pairs of sunglasses which came in handy because the sun actually shone in San Francisco that day. We visited the Sea Lions which turned out to be hilarious because Ian hated them and he took a cute little trip and almost fell flat on his face. He didn't mind my laughing at him which I am thankful for because he helped me down off of the bench I stood on so that I didn't get hurt jumping off.


Ian apparently really enjoys the street performers in San Fran so we watched a guy who he thought was pretty funny. I realized the reason he really wanted to watch this guy is because if we sat on the front row I was sure to be on stage. This man said that he needed the help of his lovely assistant and he grabbed me up and took me on stage with him. I was a little freaked out because I had to put him in a straight jacket and one of the straps went through the legs and the buckle was right on his butt. EW!





Our day in San Fran ended with shopping on Union Square (another one of Ian's least favorite parts of the day). Sunday followed with church in the morning and a lovely lunch at the McComber's home. After lunch everyone took naps and I decided to take mine on their deck because it was in the low 70's and absolutely beautiful.



That evening Ian and his mother took me hiking a trail called "Sugar Loaf". At the top of the trail we overlooked Napa, Sanoma, Santa Rosa, and we could see as far as San Francisco.







The sunset at Sugar Loaf was beautiful and even though my feet were blistered, I had such a wonderful time with Ian and his family and would do it all over again if I could.

Sugar Loaf wiped me out so we decided to call it a night. I talked to my friends that night and realized that I couldn't wait to get home and see them. I fell asleep fast and woke up early on Monday morning because Ian and I went to the Beach for a few hours. The beach was beautiful and I saw seals right in front of me! After the beach we went to see the Red Wood trees and although we didn't see the large ones that you can drive through, they still were enormous in size.


Shell Beach

And again...

The seal I took a picture of!!!!

The first big one I came across.

I tried to look like I was hugging the tree, but I guess it didn't turn out too well

This tree could probably fit 50 people inside of it easy....

This pretty much concludes my trip to California and Reno. Utah held a few dates for me upon my arrival which made me excited. Nothing serious, but that's alright for now. I thought my happiness was done for a while when I arrived back to school, but I realized that I can find happiness anywhere and it is all what I make of the situations I am given. There are only 4 weeks left of school until finals and 3 weeks left for one of my classes. Physical therapy is coming to an end which is exciting because I have been there for almost a month now for treatments and strengthening for my knee. For the next couple of weeks I need to be focused which seems problematic at times, but I'm almost done.

I talked with my school adviser and I found out that I love that man. I love him because he told me that I could graduate in 3 semesters with no sweat. WOW! Not only is this school year coming to an end, but so is my college experience. I think I am ready for it though. Once I am done I will be able to serve a mission (if I'm not married by then), I will be able to travel, and most of all I will have finished something important to me and I will be able to start a new chapter in my book. Like all chapters in books, things come to an end and I am almost done with this school year and all of the trials that I have experience here. All I can think about is that I am Almost Done.

Adventurous

There are times in my life when I get...well... injured. My momma calls me accident prone, but I just like to think that I am adventurous. My whole life my momma and grandma and other family members have called me Grace, Gracie, and Gracie Pooh. I picked up on the sarcasm a little later in life. Over my four years of high school I was on crutches three times for torn cartilage in my right knee. If I were to tear it again it would mean automatic surgery. No good. At the start of last semester I was learning to do gymnastics. I learned how to do a standing back handspring and decided to do it into the pit by myself. I strained my rotator cuff in my shoulder and was supposed to be off of it for four weeks. (This may start to sound scattered since I keep jumping stories, but I promise it will all make since in the end.) This weekend a friend of mine called me and asked if I wanted to go to the Beaver with her. (The Beaver or Beaver Mountain is the ski resort up the road from campus) I was so excited because my momma bought me a snowboard for Christmas. I went to Beaver with her and didn't do too bad except for the thousand falls that I had on the first run. Toward the end of my first run not only did I land really bad on my arm and re-injure my shoulder, but I injured my camera. I broke the 2" LCD screen on the back. On Monday I decided to start looking for a new camera and I found one, but it practically wiped out my bank account :( The good thing is I have a wonderful new camera with a touch screen and everything! Well I took my new camera to my dance class with me the next day because I wanted to have some pictures of me in my outfit because after this semester that will probably never happen again. (Don't worry nothing happened to my new camera) After dance I had gymnastics next door. I changed fast and went into my favorite class EVER! I was feeling a little brave, but apprehensive because I have a beautiful round off back handspring with a spot, but I wanted to do it on my own even though I was sooooo scared. After warm ups my instructor said that he wasn't going to help me anymore so I had to do it on my own. After a few round offs and all of the kids in the class making fun of me, I decided to go for it. I took off and did a round off and halfway backwards, mid-air I realized I really was going for it...too late! I had to cup my arms so I didn't break my neck and then all of my body weight and force that I had thrown my body with landed on my right knee. I crawled off of the floor completely embarrassed and hurting so bad that words can't describe. My instructor carried me outside so that everyone wasn't being nosey. It took me 30 minutes to walk back to my room which usually only takes about 10 minutes and I was in so much pain that I cried the whole way. I am back in a brace, but luckily I'm not on crutches and didn't re-tear anything, so no surgery! Well I do see why I was picked on by my family because I do get injured pretty easily, but that's because I am adventurous and I'm not too afraid to try new things!

Class, work, study...

Wow let me be completely honest in saying that I am burned out on school. After six semesters of college at 18 years of age, I am about to go crazy. This doesn't include the circumstances of cold weather (snow all the time to be exact), no sun, grey skies...etc. California revived me, but apparently only for a short period of time. All of my friends from last semester will see me at church and say "I never see you any more!" The reason is in the title. I wake up every morning as close to 6 as possible and I get ready for the day. Monday and Wednesday I go to work at 8 and stay until 5. Tuesdays and Thursdays I have class from 9-4:15 straight. Two of them are dance and gymnastics which wear me out first thing in the morning so I am hardly alive for the rest of the day. Fridays I go to class at 10:30 and go to work afterwards. I only have a small church calling this semester which I am so thankful for! I am an FHE (Family Home Evening) mom, so Monday nights are fun packed. Tuesday nights I have IWA (Institute Women's Association) and usually what ever meetings I need to have throughout the week. Wednesday nights I have gymnastics which saves my life (and my body). I don't know what I would do without that class because I would be soooo chubby otherwise! Thursday nights is usually study night where I catch up on all the things I couldn't do throughout the week, and by Friday night I just want to sleep :( This semester is already taking it's toll on me. I cannot wait until this summer for my job. It will be hard and long, but bring on the warmth and the sunshine. Sorry I needed a pity post, so here it is! YAY only 12 more weeks of school. I can handle it. This means only 30 more papers, 20 more tests, and only a hand full of huge snow storms (at least I am hoping).

I love you kids

Ally, I read your blog and knew exactly what conference you were talking about. They replayed it at EFY during the musical program with one of the EFY songs playing behind his talking. I found that video and wanted to put it on here for you and for me and for everyone who gains strength from the words of a prophet and who may need to be reminded of how much they are loved.


http://usu.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=516481965774&ref=share

ok so i tried this link, but you have to log in to see the video. Ally, I want you to see this so call me and I will log you in under my account.

The Night a Prophet Passed

To every end is a beginning and to every beginning an end. Tonight was an experience that will stay painted in my mind for years to come. I will remember the things I smelled, the way I felt, the things I heard, the places I went, the feelings I experienced; I will remember the night the Prophet passed.

Today started out different than most Sundays because Kylie and I stayed in Highland and went to church with her family. We left church early because I wanted to try and meet with my Bishop today before he left our ward in Logan. The drive was nice and the weather was beautiful. We came home and unloaded our laundry. I came in my room and was overcome with sleepiness so I took a small nap before ward prayer. Everything was going great and everyone was getting along. We went to ward prayer and I was in rare form after having a nap. I was fully energized and enjoying the company of my ward family. After ward prayer I went to grab something that was near my Bishop's office and I ran into a girl from Kappa Delta, one of the sororities I rushed for. We had a wonderful talk about how my decision not to join one of the Sororities was a good one and she shared some of her experiences. I walked back to find my roommate Kylie and friend Chris talking about our summer job. We all talked about our motivations for the summer when a girl walked up to us.

This girl looked at us like she hated us. She proceeded to nonchalantly and very rudely state that the Prophet of the Lord has passed away. I didn't believe her. She said it like it didn't matter or like she didn't care that she was giving us this very startling news. I walked down the quiet hallway and saw a Bishops wife getting ready to shut the door on their ward prayer. I caught her eye and asked her if she had heard anything about Gordon B. Hinckley passing on. She thought it was a rumor because she knew nothing of it, but that didn't stop my heart from expanding in my chest to the point that every pulse seemed to be forced. I didn't know why that feeling rushed over me, but about five minutes later, that ward prayer let out and all of the members of that ward family had tears on their cheeks, phones in their hands, and the bishop's wife just nodded her head. I knew why she was nodding and so did my roommate.

We walked out of the building supporting each other and when we reached my car we just cried. I was happy- happy that Gordon B. Hickley was with his wife Marjorie again, happy that he was going to be a missionary and teach thousands of people. I called Nichole, my manager for the summer, and asked her if she had heard. She didn't know about it, but she was happy. Kylie and I finally walked in and our roommates were watching the news on T.V. We all gathered in our living room and each of my roommates talked on their phones with their families. My phone wouldn't dial out to my family so I tried my friends. I couldn't get in touch with my family and I broke down crying. I was panicked that I couldn't be with my family to support them at this time. I finally got through to my inactive brother who really doesn't care about the church and asked him to call my mom. She finally called me, but it wasn't the call I wanted. She didn't seem to care about the news either and all she said was... "I'm sorry, well goodnight". My roommates went to Waffle Night, but I stayed home to reflect on the day. When my roommates arrived home, I asked two of them if they wanted to go on a walk.

The night was beautiful, warm (well for Utah) and breezy. We walked in silence down towards Old Main and walked right through the quad. We noticed that the snow on one section of the quad was mostly untouched so we decided to walk the letters "R.I.P G.B.H" through that section of the quad. After we did that we continued walking toward the amphitheater behind Old Main. There was more untouched snow and I decided to run through it. It was about a foot high and before I reached the amphitheater I just fell down in the snow and made snow angels with my roommates. I felt carefree and as innocent as a child again. I felt refreshed and relaxed.

After a few minutes we all decided to get up and finally walk into the amphitheater. We sat at the top of it, looking out onto Logan and the temple. It was beautiful and I returned to a state of reflection. I realized how happy and blessed I am to know that just because Gordon B. Hinckley passed on does not mean we will be without guidance. Kylie quietly started singing "We Thank Thee O God For a Prophet" and Rhiannon and I joined in. I felt the spirit so strong at that point that that I could barely squeeze the words out. We finally walked home in silence and in remembrance of the beloved Prophet and leader of our church, Gordon B. Hinckley.

I will never forget the night that a prophet, my prophet, passed through the veil to the other side.

With love,
LC

Here's to Allyson Bowcutt!

The girls getting ready to do the skycoaster!

Robin and the Green Lantern

Nichole and I with John grinning in the background.

The group on Tatsu!

And again...

Kylie and I looking pretty dang cute!

Nichole and I before dinner.

After we took our wet suits off...and Kylie?

Before we went surfing

The girls in our wet suits.


Well I talked to Ally today and she asked me to blog for her. So here it goes! Well I went home for Christmas and shared some wonderful and hard times with my family. I wouldn't trade it for ANYTHING. Once I returned to Utah I drove in a snowstorm through Sardine Canyon caused me to break down crying. I think the snow is absolutely beautiful, but I can't handle it. There is too much snow! I moved into a new room this semester with one of my neighbors from last semester. We are pretty much inseparable. We are working together over the summer and I am so glad that I have her as a close confidant and I am grateful for the wonderful example that she sets. I am still single and still loving it (well sometimes). This weekend my roommate and I went to Huntington Beach, CA; Santa Clarita,CA; and Valencia, CA for a business trip. Our manger met us there which was awesome because we miss her a lot. While in California I learned to surf, I mean legitimately get up on the board and ride the waves all the way in! After surfing in Huntington Beach we went to Valencia to stay the night. We spent the next day in Six Flags and that night hot tubbing. It was probably the most relieving trip that I have had in quite some time. It allowed me to reflect on some of the problems that I have been holding on to for way too long. It helped me to realize what is really important and how to put the little meaningless things aside. Nichole set a wonderful example for me on how to do the important things first and that just because things are good to do, it doesn't mean they are the best things.
I am so grateful for this gospel and for those who are strong enough and have enough faith to teach others. I have been taught so much over the years and I just want to thank all those who have helped me to develop into who I am today.
1. The missionaries
2. My momma
3. My brothers
4. My Bishops, teachers, and youth leaders
5. My EFY counselors
6. The General Authorities
7.My supportive friends who never challenged my standards, but lifted me up and taught me to be better.