There is a First for Everything

       Recently there have been a lot of changes in my life, both big and small. To start Garett and I just finished up winter semester. He took things like Immunology and Medical Microbiology which consist of a lot of large and weirdly pronounced words. Worse I had to try to help him study with flash cards and his hand writing is well....he writes like a doctor.... Between that and trying to pronounce many strange words I am not sure I was too much help. Either way I am very proud of him. I on the other hand took Doctrine and Covenants Part 2 and Marriage 300. I loved my marriage class and learned a great deal which I am slowly trying to incorporate into our marriage. As for my religion class I learned I am never taking an online religion class ever again. It just doesn't have the same feel and is more mundane and not as fun or spiritual.

       School ended and out dearest friends Katy and Sam moved to Utah for the semester. They are missed more than anything! We helped them pack and clean so at least we got to see them for two days before they left but already we are wishing it was fall. Also part of our spring break was heading down to Utah and spending part of Easter weekend with my fabulous parents, my brother Aaron and our good friend Haley. We saw the move "Transcendence" with Johnny Depp and it was thought provoking. It is not a movie I would buy and for the rest of you, wait until it comes out at Redbox but overall it is an interesting movie. More than anything it makes you think and I'd like to think that was the point of the movie; it was to raise questions in the minds of the viewers.

       While home I got some fantastic quality time with my little brother Aaron and let me tell you, he is turning into one incredible young man! I am proud of him beyond reason and I am excited to see where the future takes him. I don't get to catch up with him often but when I do I always enjoy it profusely. Watch out world because he's coming and he is going to do great things! 

       Our break ended far too soon as most do and now spring semester begins. I have survived my first week of classes and Garett has a few more tomorrow. In terms of new things or at least renewing things I am taking advanced black and white photography. I am very excited because I am going to get to do things I haven't done since high school like playing with medium and large format cameras and film and also to edit in the darkroom. Let me tell you, darkrooms were the original Photoshop and take much more skill and creativity than clicking some buttons. 

     More on a new note I am taking ceramics and I am excited and also quite terrified to begin. Once again I am learning a brand new medium and I'm hoping it's at least less scary than lithography and print making. Either way I think it will be fun! Between that and advanced black and white I will be in studios during all my free time. I am also taking 20th century art history and Teachings of the Living Prophets. My religion teacher reminds me a great deal of my U.S. History teacher for high school, Mrs. Ellison (Hannah you'll understand what I mean). He has already proven to be loud and boisterous and more passionate about his subject than any other teacher I have ever seen. I am looking forward to all he has to teach me.

      Finally I am doing my travel this semester. We are going to Antelope Island (which apparently everyone in my family has been except me), Goblin Valley and Moab. It's specifically for photography students and my favorite photography teacher is in charge of it! Already I have met a girl in my group because she is in my ceramics class, so at least when I go to my meeting tomorrow for the travel (Friday) I will know someone. 

       Again in terms of new things Garett is graduating this semester. He is taking Evolutionary Science, Virology, Epidemiology and the Capstone class as well as he is doing an internship with one of his teachers. The big thing is his virology class which will help him decide between that or immunology for what he wants to study in the long run. (Don't ask me the difference, I have no clue!) He's also enjoying his internship and is looking forward to getting some hands-on work. He thought he had more prerequisites to do and would be done next year in March but found out otherwise so he'll be graduating in July. I will be done with my schooling in December and then we'll have to come up with a new adventure. Garett is starting to look into grad schools which is exciting and nerve wracking all at once. 

      Along with Garett finishing his schooling, August will mark our 2 year anniversary. It doesn't feel like it's been that long, I swear it feels like only a few months have passed, and yet life before Garett is a blur. 

     Before I forget, another new thing is that some ladies in my ward have started a book club! I am really excited to take part in this as I am always on the hunt for new books to read (despite that my list of books to read will last me until I die). I just finished "Elfstones of Shannara" which was quite the page turner. For the book club we are starting with the book "The Help" while I am also planning on starting the "Goose Girl" series (thanks Catherine). 

    I think this semester is going to be a fun one filled with many new experiences. I look forward to all the learning I'll be doing and hope to have some fun along the way. I hope you are all doing well. Congratulations if you read this whole thing and I hope you have a great weekend! Also I now have Saturdays free for friends and family that want to catch up with me. I would love to hear from y'all!

Love y'all,

Meg

Findings: New Life

I have been here in Rexburg for a tad over two weeks now and I'm finally starting to enjoy it.

The first week I spent filling out application after application, turning them in only to hear they are not hiring (due to Rexburg being small and the amount of places to work being even smaller). You could probably sum up my first week here as: boring, tedious and frustrating. But no worries, things are looking up.

Last Tuesday (the 12th), I moved into my new apartment. One of my new roommates was already residing here; her name is Nikki and she is my actual roommate. It's always hard to explain the difference between your actual roommate and your fellow apartment-ates or people that share the same apartment as you. Either way she is my roommate. Given, she was not my roommate at first. When I first arrived, her old roommate was staying with her to keep her company so I originally moved to the back room. After getting along rather well though, I decided to move into her room.

I must say, we get along quite well. We are both short and tiny, as well as heavy sleepers, night owls, and from the East coast! =D (She is from Georgia!) She is a year older than me but on the same semester as myself after taking a year off after she graduated. She will be 20 in a few weeks and has NEVER had a party before (guess who is going to change that ;D)

All the same, her and I get along. Lately we have been doing most everything together. (I figure it is good to get to know the person you are going to share your living space with for the next four months, right?) Today we are going to go pick up her books and then attempt to go find our classrooms around on campus. (Sadly it is also currently raining).

(Okay I'll try to keep the rest of this post short)

Yesterday we had church for the first time as the BYU-I 1st Stake, 6th Ward. From what I saw, it seems we do not have any guys from Biddoulph (the guy dorms) in our ward but we are currently with Delta Phi (men's housing between my apartment and Colonial. See below).


Which makes me happy because that means less Pre-mi's. Which reminds me, since not everyone has moved in yet, we managed to fit our whole ward in one room for Sunday school. It was quite a feat and I was impressed, though hopefully it will be bigger next week.

In other news, two more roommates have moved in. Kaylin moved in four days ago, I believe. She is lots of fun, and though not from the South, she considers herself a redneck. She rides dirt bikes, four-wheelers and can play the didgeridoo!!!!! Yes, I know. Now that your jaws are dropped to the floor, pick um back up. Yeah so she is pretty much awesome! =D She's also our new Relief Society president. I think she is pretty great.

My other roommate here, is Jaide. I have yet to really meet her since Albert and I went to David Stephens' for dinner yesterday when she was moving in.

Do y'all remember Elder Stephens from 4 years ago? Well he is married now with a one month old baby boy named Benjamin. I got to hold the baby, hehehe, he was SO cute and very quiet surprisingly.

I guess the point of the this is basically to say I REALLY like my roommates thus far and I am getting extremely excited for this semester! (not so much class wise though).

Random side note, I have found that people who stay in Mountain Pines tend to always stay on the same floor so everyone seems to know at least a few other people except me. I am not complaining one bit though because this ward comes off as pretty awesome. (Our bishop looks like George Costanza from Seinfeld!) Yup, so I am actually very glad I switched floors and I am certain I will have a great time with my crazy awesome roommies.

Love y'all!
Mom did you actually read all of this?
Megs