"It's our problem free University...the UVU!"

First day of school. It used to be excitement, nervousness, pictures before getting on the bus with new outfit and new backpack. Getting assigned cubby holes and desks, tour of the class room, games, and fun. Now that's it's been...a few years it is wake up with just enough time to get ready, quick hug good bye, drive yourself to school, find a place to park, rush to find your class before it starts, and your professor expects you to have an assignment pretty much finished next class. :D Yes I am a "freshman" in college, and these are the silly little amusing things that happened my first day.

Let me preface first by saying the night before school started I became extremely anxious and nervous about school. I was over thinking and getting stressed about how I was going to do it all. My dad gave me a blessing which was wonderful, then, yes, I did cry a bit, my parents cheered me up, and then to relieve the stress and unwind we watched The Prince of Egypt (such a good movie). I felt much better and slept really well. In the morning my nerves were had crept back a bit, but I was ready and excited. Bring it on!

My first class at 7am was English 2010 (intermediate writing). My professor seems pretty cool; very chill, and a desire to help his students have success. Silly story from the class: after we went around and learned everyone's names, one of the students said "Now we ain't strangers no more." and our professor cringed a bit. :P

I had an hour before my next class so I decided I needed to find it and then the class after that. I found them ok, but there is a large area to walk between my 2nd and 3rd class and only ten min to get from one to the other (that should be exciting to figure out the quickest way). After finding my classes I read a book until my class was supposed to start.

Welcome to Social Cultural Anthropology...or at least that's what was supposed to happen right? So it was one of those classes that gets broadcast to other locations, so as we were waiting for the class to start the guy in charge of tech was testing things out and making sure that all the different "classes" were present. Then we just sat there waiting for the professor to come. Waiting...waiting...15 min after the class should have started someone from one of the other classes came on the speaker asking if the tech was available. "Yes, I'm here" he responded.
"you know the professor is still in Peru, right?"
"Uh...no. No one tells me anything."
"Well you should see if he has anything already recorded and also get the syllabus."
"Ok. I'll be back in sec."
He left the room and came back a few minutes later. "So, there was nothing left for me and I couldn't find anything, so I guess just check on canvas (the online course center thing) and have a good day." We all left, and I was feeling amused, because you hear of classes being cancelled the day of in college, but I thought it was interesting the first day of school. :D

On to my next class: Fundamentals of Acting. This class was extremely entertaining. The professor reminds me of my high school drama teacher in a way, he is very patient, funny, honest (very honest), dramatic and witty. He really wants to build up his students and help them become "comfortable being uncomfortable." I really appreciated that thought and decided that is how I need to feel in life, not just acting. Because in life when I (and I'm sure others) become "comfortable" I start to get lazy or at least I realize I'm not growing. It is when we stretch (sometimes a little, sometimes a lot) and it starts to feel uncomfortable, is when we grow and progress. So "get comfortable feeling uncomfortable" it's a fact of life. :)
Other quotes from the professor: "Acting is just standing naked, and turning in a circle slowly"
"Uncomfortable is good, painful is not good"
He would like us to say (at least in our mind) "Nailed it!" after we perform, because it wants us to be excited and confident about our pieces. :D
I'm really excited for this class!

I am really thankful to be attending Utah Valley University because I have heard that they have a very good elementary education program and that is my major. I also want to go into special needs education, but that will be coming down the road. The title of this post comes from a BYU Divine Comedy Sketch entitled "The Cougar King" you kind find it on Youtube. I just thought it would be fun to add that in. :D

So that was my first day of officially being a college student in a nutshell. A side note: on my way home I passed an elementary school and TONS of the little kids on the playground we wearing neon t-shirts or pants. Now I personally don't like this neon trend going on, but it was really cute to see all the bright colors running around and I think just the grade school kids can where neon, but I'm not fashion expert. :P 

Dear Sarali,

Happy Birthday!!! 
I sure hope that even though you don't have to eat in heaven, that you at least get a brownie or a Ding-Dong (cause those haven't been resurrected yet...probably so you can have them on your birthday first).
I wanted to thank you for helping to convince me to go on a mission; I know you played a big part in it. Thanks for all your help on the mission. Sometimes I could really feel you near, but I knew you often, if not always, were by my side. You were in one my dreams a few weeks before I left and I cherish that dream. in the dream we were all home decorating for Christmas (although it was not anywhere near Christmas time in the "real world"), when suddenly we realized you weren't around. We looked around for you but couldn't find you. Then you came home, you had gone to the mall by yourself (I guess in the dream the mall was a lot closer to home). You were so excited because you bought Christmas presents for all of us by yourself. You got me a Beauty and the Beast snow-globe; it was beautiful. I just loved your excitement, you were always so excited to give (and get) presents; that's one thing I will never forget about you.
It is surprising how much more I miss you as time passes. You hear that "it gets easier with time" but I think it gets harder with time. I've been reading these blogs of parents who have lost young children and their experiences/thoughts/feelings/ and just life after their loss and I think they feel the same. I think it gets easier to cope with the pain of loss, but the loss becomes more apparent as time passes. Like when our sweet little nephew was born; you love babies and I know you would've been so excited to be an aunt. And also to have been at Nate and Frannie's wedding, you always loved weddings. Of course it was difficult to come home and you weren't there. Yes, I think one learns how to handle the hurt when it pops up, but it seems to pop up more as the time passes and the missing piece sticks out more, as more pieces are filled into the puzzle.
I am so grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ because it brings peace and hope. Through His sacrifice we will be a family forever through the power of the priesthood which seals us together. I know that you are not truly gone, just out of site. Many of the apostles have lost someone they love (a spouse or a child) and have repeatedly told us in conference that the veil is thin; Elder Richard G. Scott said in April 2012 "We can strengthen our relationship with the departed individual we love by recognizing that the separation is temporary and that covenants made in the temple are eternal." Peace filled my heart when he said that. I so desperately want to fill closer to you all the time; now I understand how and am striving do so. I know the rest of the family misses you too. You and grandma Beth, and uncle Bryce and all our other beloved family members who have gone on before; we miss you all. But comfort comes through prayer and the knowledge of the resurrection; strength to carry on comes through the power of the enabling power of the Atonement. Families are forever.
I know this may not flow well, or make much sense, they are just thoughts directed to you this day.
I love you whole bunches!!!
Love,
Lena-Bena
PS We are eating Laffy-Taffy's and I am wearing purple just for you.