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 :)