The minor fall, and the major lift.

Well folks, one more semester down. I can't believe it. After one more semester I'm halfway done with my bachelor's degree and maybe my college experience. Hopefully not though, I'm still planning on graduate school. Anyway... I was crunching some numbers today.

Total money spent on tuition thus far: $4,420
Total money spent on books thus far: $828.21
Total money spend on housing this semester: $1,118
Total money spent on laundry thus far: $3.25
(Ops. I don't do my laundry even close to often enough.)
Total credit hours now earned: 82.50
Total hours spent in the library this past semester: 200+ hours
(That adds up to 9.2 days for those of you who wanted to know. Sick, right?)

These are gross numbers. All around. But...

Lessons learned: priceless and numberless.

I know that sounds cheesy, but really. What is this time in my life really for? I find myself asking this question frequently when I become frustrated with school and boys and friends and work and everything. It's for learning, about myself, about the world around me, about my purpose here on earth, and more importantly about my Savior and Heavenly Father and what I need to do to be able to prove my worthiness to them and make it back to live when them someday.

Sometimes when I look at those numbers and compare them with my gpa I think, "Gee. What a waste of my time and money. What I am doing with my life?" Then sometimes I look at those numbers and compare them with old journal entries and think, "Wow, I sure have grown up a lot and learned a lot of valuable lessons that have made and continue to make me a better person."

Basically what I'm trying to get at here is remember the bigger picture. This life is a test; are you doing all that you can to prepare for it? Procrastination is not going to work - I've learned that the hard way. So as Elder Winkel would say, keep the faith! And as Elder Hansen would say, find joy in the journey! Keep going, you can do it. And when you look back, it'll all be worth it.

It's a love story, baby just say yes.

One day I'll find the right one... for now, I'll just have to keep looking.

Book 15.

The Book of Mormon, various authors.

Okay, okay. We all know this book is way out of the league. It would be terrible if I didn't say it was my favorite book that I've read this summer... right? Right. But guess what? I'm not just saying it's my favorite book because I'm afraid I'll get struck by lightning if I don't. It really is my favorite book! Why?

1. I always feel happy and good inside when I read this book!
2. There are so many great stories and role models found in this book!
3. As Joseph Smith said... "... the Book of Mormon [is] the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man [will] get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book." Sounds great, doesn't it?
4. Most quotable book ever? I think so.
5. I can learn all about where I came from, what I'm doing here, where I'm going after this life, and everything inbetween.
6. I feel so much peace when I read this book.
7. I know the Book of Mormon is true!

I'm really glad that I was able to read the Book of Mormon this summer. I challenge all of you to read it and take Moroni's advice and ask God with real intent, a sincere heart, and having faith in Jesus Christ, and like Moroni, I promise He'll confirm to you that it is true! I've done it, I know it works.

Book 14.

The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak.

This book was soooooo good! And so unexpected too. Therefore... You should read it! I loved it. I am sad it is over. Thanks for recommending it to me Sarah!

Book 13.

The Rainbow, by D. H. Lawrence.

I didn't really like this book all that much. And it was super long. But once I got into it... I guess I just had to finish it? Why must I be a finisher... grr. Goodbye many wasted hours on 467 long boring pages.

Book 12.

The Language of God, by Francis S. Collins.

Ehem. I LOVED this book. Here are a bunch of quotes that I really liked.

"When I was... fourteen, my eyes were opened to the wonderfully exciting and powerful methods of science. Inspired by a charismatic chemistry teacher... I discovered for the first time the intense satisfaction fo the ordered nature of the universe. The fact that all matter was constructed of atoms and molecules that followed mathematical principles was an unexpected revelation, and the ability to use the tools of science to discover new things about nature struck me at once as something of which I wanted to be a part. With the enthusiasm of a new convert, I decided my goal in life would be to become a chemist." Oh yeah, that pretty much happened to me too :)

"Doubt is an unavoidable part of belief. In the words of Paul Tillich, 'doubt isn't the opposite of faith; it is an element of faith.'"

"More recently, for a scientist who occasionally is given the remarkable privilege of discovering something not previously known by man, there is a special kind of joy associated with such flashes of insight. Having percieved a glimmer of scientific truth, I find at once both a sense of satisfaction and a longing to understand some even greater Truth. In such moments science become more than a process of discovery. It transports the scientist into an experience that defies a comletely naturalistic explanation."

"Consider this: if the most important decision we are to make on this earh is a decision about belief, and if the most important relationship we are to develop on this earth is a relationship with God, and if our existence as spiritual creatures is not limited to what we can know and ovserve during our earthly lifetime, then human suffereings take on a wholly new context. We may never fully understand the reasons for these painful experiences, but we can begin to accept the idea that there may be such reasons."

"One of the most cherished hopes of a scientist is to make an observation that shakes up a field of research. Scientists have a streak of closeted anarchism, hoping that someday they will turn up some unexpected fact that will force a disruption of the framework of the day." Yes, sometimes I daydream about doing this as well haha.

Psalm 8: When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him?

Galileo said, "I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use."

"Prayer is not, as some seem to suggest, an opportunity to manipulate God into doing what you want Him to. Prayer is instead our way of seeking felloship with God, learning about Him, and attempting to perceive His perspective on the many issues around us that cause us puzzlement, wonder, or distress."

"Christians all too often come across as arrogant, judgmental, and self-righteous, but Christ never did."

"Will we turn our backs on science because it is perceived as a treat to God, abandoning all of the promise of advancing our understanding of nature and applying that to the alleviation of suffering and the betterment of humankind? Alternatively, will we turn our backs on faith, concluding that science has rendered the spritual life no longer necessary, and that traditional religious symbols can now be replaced by engravings of the double helix on our altars?
Both of these choices are profoundly dangerous. Both deny truth. Both will diminish the nobility of humankind. Both will be devastating to our future. And both are unneccessary. The God of the Bible is also the God of the genome. H can be worshiped in the cathedral or in the laboratory. His creation is majestic, awesome, intricate, and beautiful - and it cannot be at war with itself. Only we imperfect humans can start such battles. And only we can end them."

Basically, this book was the sweetest. Francis S. Collins was the leader of the Human Genome Project. In this book he speaks of his journey to believing in God, from being an atheist at first, then an agnostic, then to believing in a God who cares individually for each of his children. He presented some very interesting and cool viewpoints. I think it was neat to hear someone who knows soooo much about science talk about how God's hand is in it all. He was able to help one see how the Big Bang and God coexist, how evolution is probably part of God's plan. It was suuuuuuper neat. I would most definitely suggest this book!

Well it would've been, could've been, worse than you would ever know.

On approximately tuesday, 2 days ago, I got my wisdom teeth out. Luckily, I was asleep for the whole ordeal. And you know what? After sooooo many horror stories about people getting their wisdom teeth out and such, I was shaking in my boots when I walked into that room. I was trying really hard not to cry, and I didn't! Go me. The IV going in just felt like a little pinch, and after "How's your summer going?" "Oh you know, boring, all I do is work..." I was gone. Next thing I knew, I was in a different room, and it was complete! Upon waking up from anesthesia, this was my conversation.

"What time is it mom?"
"12:10, Kaitlin."
"Are they done?"
"Yes, dear!"
"All of them are gone?"
"Mmhmm."
"All four?"
"You bet!"
"Mom, what time is it?"
"12:11, Kaitlin."
"Maybe we should send the teeth to Kyle."

What posessed me to think that would be a good idea? I don't know. I'll have to tell him i said that, and I wonder if he'll think I'm mentally unstable. Probably. Oh well. I also kept asking to take home the blanket that was on top of me. I remember it being way nice and fuzzy... Too bad they wouldn't let me take it home.

But that night, two of my friends were over and we were playing games. I have felt no pain, and have had almost no swelling, even though I've only iced once... haha. I'm so glad that it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be! Because, quick fact about me, I have zero, zip, zilch pain tolerance. So I was quite afraid. Prayers are answered, my friends.

I'll tell the violins, it's time to sink or swim.

Funny quotes I've heard recently.

"Boyfriends are like dishes, you don't want your roommates to do them!"
"BYU is like a field of roses, where you can just pick any and all of them up. Here is like a field of grass. In the winter. (in reference to Alaska.)"
"I'm cold, I'm hungry, and I'm thinking about an ex-girlfriend. This is like a really bad dream."
"I don't wake up in the morning feeling like P-Diddy, I wake up feeling tired."
"I blame Nicholas Sparks for my high expectations of guys."
"I hate it when I can't find the cheese grater so I have to use my abs."
"Whoever loads the dishwasher like this is an idiot."
"Finish all your sentences with the words 'in accordance with prophecy.'"
"Their definition of a perfect student is like... Jesus."
"She's a quintuple huss - that is one away from a slut."
"Yeah, my hickeys were so bad it looked like my boyfriend beat me."
"LICK HER FACE!!!"
"Today I saw a hobo who's sign said, 'I'll bet a dollar that you read this sign.' Best. Hobo. Ever."
"Today on my chemistry test my teacher added a little joke, like he usually does for fun. This one said "Old chemists never die, they just reach equilibrium." I wrote back, 'True, but you still have to barium.'"
"I'm so depressed I've worn the same outfit twice this week."
"I just realized Prince Charming is in two movies: Cinderella and Snow White. What a playa."
"Today I realized Avatar is just Pocahontas with blue people. I guess they thought fifteen years later we wouldn't notice. And we didn't."
"Last year my history professor took off a week from school because he hurt his shoulder. How? By pirouetting to answer the telephone. Such good role models."
"Today my boyfriend spontaneously told me he loved me more than Dora loves maps. I am now worried about what he does in his spare time."
"Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy marshmallows, which is really the same thing."

Hope they made you laugh like they make me laugh :)

Book 11.

Meet Your Match, by Stephanie Fowers.

Basically this book was hilarious. It just made fun of BYU the whole time. I loved it. It was about a girl who lives in BYU approved housing and the stories of being a poor college student living away from home. It was soooo funny. And the relief society president in this book was pretty much EXACTLY like my first relief society president at BYU. Needless to say, I laughed a lot. Not my favorite book, but if you just want an easy read and a good laugh, go for it.

What about Breakfast at Tiffany's?

Well... here's my summer so far.

To start off with.... I've been doing a lot of this.



And this.



And luckily this.



Sometimes I get to do fun stuff like this. AKA make a giant kidney out of playdough with flowers growing out of it, symbolizing good health of course, for a get well present for a friend with an ill kidney.



Or this. AKA lose at giant chess to Parker.



Shot my first gun. Beauty ain't she?



Missing her. And this.



Going on fun dates with sweet boys that give me flowers :) Sorry I don't have a picture of the date... I wish I was better at taking pictures this summer!



I've been lucky to be able to see him. He's too tall for the camera.



And her. Despite what the picture looks like :)



I have to get one once every summer.



Getting together with the girls. We're not very girly girls, but I guess if it takes a make up party to get us all together we'll go through with it.



Trying to figure out how to unlock the secrets of life.



Having lots of adventures watching these kids for 2 weeks...



They're cute though, so its okay!



And of course, goofing off.



Soooo... It's been fun. I'm excited for more adventures. And I'll try to take more exciting pictures. Love.

Book 10.

A Hatred for Tulips, by Richard Lourie.

“People who don’t have secrets imagine them as dark and hidden. It’s just the opposite. Secrets are bright. They light you up. Like the bare lightbulb left on in a cell day and night, they give you no rest.”

This book was really really cool. It was a fictional story about the boy who turned in Anne Frank and her family to the Nazi's. The main character, Joop, had some very interesting point of views and ideas. The title of the book comes because food was so scarce during the war in Holland that Joop and his family were forced to eat tulip bulbs to stay alive. It was very interesting to see a book from the point of view of someone who was neither a Jew nor a Nazi during World War II, but simply a family who didn't take sides in the war but was sucked into it. I really liked this book and would highly suggest it.

Book 9.

Dreams for Stones, by Ann Warner.

"'So how did you know Dennis was the one?'
Jade put her pizza down, looking thoughtful. 'Before I met Dennis, I was engaged to someone else. I took him home and asked mom what she thought. She said what mattered was what I thought, and if I had to consult her to figure that out, he wasn't the one for me. Then I met Dennis, and I didn't need to ask mom or anyone else their opinion."

This book was really neat. It was really sad as well though. I haven't really read a love story yet, so I figured I should read one haha. It was about a girl who just broke off an engagement because her fiance was cheating on her and a man who is grieving because he takes responsibility for his wife's death. Of course through strange means they meet and go through drama and eventually fall in love. There were a lot of sad things in the book, but the overall moral was reaching beyond yourself to help others will help you realize your problems aren't as bad as you think they are, but helping others will in turn help you heal. Twas cute :)

Book 8.

Have a Little Faith, by Mitch Albom.

"'Mitch,' he said, 'faith is about doing. You are how you act, not just how you believe."

"He had a way of looking you in the eye and making you feel the world had stopped and you were all that was in it. Maybe this was his gift to the job. Or maybe it was the job's gift to him."

"When you come to the end, that's where God begins."

"Happiness in a tablet. This is our world. Prozac. Paxil. Xanax. Billions are spent to advertise such drugs. And billions more are spent purchasing them. You don't even need a specific trauma; just 'general depression' or 'anxiety,' as if sadness were as treatable as the common cold. I knew depression was real, and in many cases required medical attention. I also knew we overused the word. Much of what we called 'depression' was really dissaatisfaction... If pills could help, pills were taken. But pills were not going to change the fundamental problem in the construction. Wanting what you can't have. Looking for self-worth in the mirror. Layering work on top of work and still wondering why you weren't satisfied - before working some more."

There are tons of other good quotes in this book too, these are just a few I like a lot. This guy is the same guy who wrote Tuesday With Morrie. This book is about a man who has left his religion behind, but one day is asked by his pastor if he will give his eulogy at his funeral. Mitch decides he needs to get to know his pastor better as a person before he gives his eulogy. Over the next eight years after he is asked to do this, he grows to love and appreciate this man. This was a great book and really made me reflect on life. It was really really neat, posing great questions about God and life and such. I would definitely recommend this book, it was very touching.

Book 7.

Downtown Owl, by Chuck Klosterman.

This book... Let's see. I really really like how the author writes. There were sooo many different literary techniques and different writing styles in this book, and it was really neat and fun to see those different kinds of writing. But overall, this book swore SOOO much. I wouldn't recommend it just because of how much it swears. But yes, it was really cool how the author used so many different types of writing. My two favorite chapters were 1. A chapter where it was a conversation between two people and it went like this: what she said.... what she really meant... what he said... what he really meant... it was so funny, and so true! 2. A chapter where the teacher asks each of the students to think about the book they are reading and then it says: what was really on each student's mind... and proceeds to list off what each of the 27 students were thinking about, none of which was the book. It was so funny. Interesting book, but I wouldn't recommend it.

I'll be out of my mind, and you'll be out of ideas pretty soon.

My two summer goals:

1. Earn enough money to go back to school and to study abroad in France.
2. Catch up in my journal.

Why only two goals might you ask?

Theses two tasks are HUGE feats in themselves. First off, I have about $700 in my bank account right now. What does this mean? Yes. $4480 in tuition needed. Not to mention I need a place to live and food to eat. Add $1785 in rent, $225 in utilities, and $675 for food. Fun budget = $0.00. Total amount needed, $7165. And that is just for school. France is another $5000 itself.

So, how will this happen might you ask? It is clearly impossible to earn $14000 in one summer. Luckily I have awesome parents and grandparents who are willing to pay one semester of tuition for me and $200 a month towards my life. So that takes out a good amount, leaving only $3525 to be earned. Plus, Rebbie is amazing and is going to help me get this grant winter sememster which will give me $4000 to pay for tuition first and second semesters. So cross your fingers I can stand living in the library and survive 3 chem classes and get my GPA up stinkin .1... Yeah, a measly .1 away from getting the grant right now. Boooooo.

So... with that help, I simple will need to early $4525. Which entails 625 hours of work at Smoothie King, my current employment at $7.25 an hour, which means working 48 hours a week for the next 12 weeks of summer. Clearly this isn't going to happen, so pray hard that I will be able to get registered as a pharmacy tech please!!

But yes. My mind is set. I'm going to do it. I'm going to live, study, breathe, speak, do everything french for a month and a half. In FRANCE. Once I put my mind to this one, nothing is going to stop me. I've already dreamt about it a handful a times. And after all, a dream is a wish your heart makes, and I've been wishing on stars that this wish will come true.

Secondly, my journal. Ever since the 10th grade, Mrs. Westover inspired me to keep a journal. Therefore I have my whole high school rollercoaster in 4 journals. It is great. Unfortunately, August 14th, 2009 was my last journal entry. I fell apart. College got to me and I didn't write ONCE my freshmen year. I'm ashamed to say the least. But I did write down what I did almost every day, so it is my goal to use my brilliant, cough cough, memory to recapture my freshmen year for posterity, but mostly for myself years down the road.

So, with theses two enormous tasks to accomplish, this summer is going to be full of hard work, that's for certain.

And I knew that you meant it.

Me: "I have to floss my teeth tonight! Then I'll have done it three days in a row!!"
Mom: "Great! Only 18 more days til it becomes a habit!"

So it takes 21 days to form a habit.

The following are habits I want to form this summer:

1. Morning prayers daily
2. Flossing every day
3. Washing my face every night
4. Do something thoughtful for someone every day
5. Say I love you to family more frequently
6. Running daily!

The following are habits I want to 100% solidify this summer:

1. Say meaningful nighttime prayers DAILY
2. STUDY scriptures every day
3. Keep in touch with friends
4. Not judge people EVER
5. Share my testimony when I have the opportunity

21 days here I come.

Sing me to sleep tonight, sweet Juliet.

My addiction and guilty pleasure these days is Family Search Indexing. I find it so calming and methodical, so fun to decipher the names, and heck, it's even worthwhile! I've now indexed 1047 names since the beginning of the summer, so in a month. Hooray! It is so much fun, you should try it sometime!

"Family history, I am doing it, my family history..."

I always get sooooo bored on the topic of family history and genealogy during church and such, but I never get bored doing indexing! It is a fun and simple way for me to get involved in family history, which I know is very important for me to do!

Book 6.

The Map Thief, by Heather Terrell.

I definitely liked this book the most of all the one's I've read so far this summer. It was a book seeking to find an answer to a real life mystery through fiction. It was really interesting, and very likely actually. This author helped me really feel the emotions of the main characters, the book felt very real. It was really neat! I would recommend this book.

Book 5.

Say You're One of Them, by Uwem Akpan

This book was really really depressing. It was five short stories put together, each told in the point of view of a child. Each child lived in different, but each dismal, circumstances in different countries in Africa. Each of the stories ended in the death of the child, or someone very close to the child. It was very very sad. The saddest part is I know these things really do happen in Africa.

Baby come back.

I was feeling moody and down the other day. I was feeling like I didn't have any friends or people that cared about me. I then realized I was being a bum. Because there are so many people that I am friends with and that mean a lot to me! Therefore, this post is mostly for myself to remind me of all the great people I've met and grown to love even more this past school year :)



Alex Wright - aka the best fhe dad ever!!



Bishop and Sister Armstrong - suuuper classy people.



Bencois. What a great kid :)



Blake "Stoneface" Lord. I like it when he wears dark jeans.



Bro. Davis is soooooooo great!



Brennan Leavitt is a cutie with a cute smile!



Carly is the bestest younger sister eva.



Chalay! I just like her a lottt.



Chris "bestie" Perfili! He was a hoot.



Oh Christine. The fun times we had!



Dear Clarka. It was a pleasure to be his sidekick.



Collin! From beginning to end, great friends.



Daniel's a cutie :)



David challenges me to do hard, but good things. Like dominate mancakes.



Don!! A great chatting buddy.



Emily Eckley is darling in every aspect.




Grantie Panties!! Good times.



Ian Ian Ian. Great kid.



Jam-es! You're so cool :)



Jared! I miss his crazy ways. And seeing his bedroom light on driving home.



Jay! Tell me story? haha.



Jerlier! Future roommates! Woooo!



Oh Katie. You are so silly. Hope Cali is warmer than Utah ;)



KLEE!! Come back from Idahoooooo :(



Kolby is so much fun!



Oh Kristen. Living with only children makes me laugh.



Kylo!! I miss him sooo bad! BFF!



Kylie!! I love her so much. Best roommate ever!!



Oh good ol' elementary school best friends :)



Parker! I love Parker hugs.



Rebbie! She's a great girl and a great friend!



Ryan! This picture just describes our relationship.



Sammie! Such a great boy.



Oh Shawn. I know you think I'm psycho.



Spencer! This right here is one classy boy.



Sterling! He gets me through hard days.



I can always count on Trevor for a laugh or two.