H-I-P-P-O-T-A-M-U-S

I am sad. I have come to the embarrassing realization that I CAN'T SPELL! I use to be a great speller and I have always done well with grammar and punctuation. I have been having a horrible time at trying to remember how to spell words and how to use commas and such. I blame all of my troubles on the information overload that I'm getting from college that turns my brain to mush. Honestly though, I thought schooling was suppose to help you learn to spell better?! I just don't know anymore. Well, I do want to apologize for any spelling, grammar and punctuation errors that I have made and all that I'm going to make. Let's just hope that I can get my spelling skills back BEFORE I become a teacher!

Biffs, Bike, Baby and Byes

Alright then, I've got a couple of new stories this time. First of all, I got to try riding on a long board and I loved it but one day I was on a slight hill and totally biffed it. I hyper-extended my right knee and sprained my right ankle as well. It hurt a lot and I had quite the limp but now it's getting better. It's still stiff sometimes though.

I had a wonderful, glorious, fantastic Saturday this past weekend. I got to go with my dad and the TRA group down to Green River on the brand new Goldwing trike my parents bought. We went to Ray's Tavern for a big fat burger. It was so delicious. It was nice to finally get the chance to go for a ride. I love to be on the motorcycle. The Goldwing is the most comfortable motorcycle to ever ride on. I love the feel of leaning on the bike and feeling my body rock side to side as we go winding through the canyons. The air rushing across my face making it feel tingly and the sound of the rubber of the tires contacting with the asphalt as the wheels propel us faster and faster. I love to hear silent roar of the Honda, it purrs like a kitten yet has a frightening amount of power. I love the smell of the fresh wind blowing past me. I love to feel the sun on my face as my cheeks get a slight burn and the sun warms me as it heats my black leather chaps, coat and gloves. The panoramic view through my sunglasses is ethereal as I watch the sun shine off of the ice on the mountainsides. Oh, I hope heaven has motorcycles.

Oh baby! Abbie, my precious niece is one of the funniest people I've ever met. She's barely one years old and she already knows how to get a whole room laughing. She loves to go walking and running. She's so cute when she walks on her own because she leads with her right leg making her walk in a slant. It's just adorable. And she surprised me this past weekend with all of the new words that she knows. Abbie has been learning new words to speak and to sign so rapidly it's exciting to see her development. She has the best manners. She loves to say "thanks" or "thank you". I just can't believe how big Abbie has grown since she was born and I'm excited to watch her grow up.

I know that this also another random topic but school is ending, and soon. I have only one month left with my roommates and friends here in Logan before I move home again. Jigity jig. I don't think that the people that I live with realize how much they have helped me to grow and to learn; socially, emotionally, spiritually and mentally. My sweet, sweet roommates have been a huge support to me when I've been feeling low and they have always been by my side when good times are to be had. I know that I was put here in Jones 302 for a reason. We have seen miracles together and we have endured many things together. I will always love them and cherish their friendships and I am sad that we will be leaving each other. Yet, I'm excited for all of us to move on and become the great people we want to be. I also have found many great friendships with the people in my building. I will never forget the first couple of weeks when our apartment first met the boys next door. We fell in love with them instantly. I personally have been able to create some tight relationships with the boys. I also have enjoyed hanging out with Will and Chris from upstairs. They have been some of my closest friends. I have shared so much with them. I love the people in my student ward. They all have such great testimonies and they are not afraid to share them. I have enjoyed teaching the sisters in Relief Society. I always get excited to teach them because they have such great insights that add to the lesson and to the Spirit. I'm very sad to think that I will be leaving all of these wonderful people to go home to stinky AF. AF is not all that horrible but my new friends don't live there so it stinks. I will always love and cherish every new friend that I have my first year up here in Logan. For better or worse they have affected me greatly and it's going to be heart-wrenching to finally say,"Good bye."

Stones In The River

I've been having quite a hard time for the past month. At times I have felt worthless or like I can never do anything right and at other times I have felt prideful and selfish. I feel like I've let myself get out of hand and that I have become sort of irresponsible. I haven't quite felt like myself. I've realized that I'm not serving others. I'm always too worried about how I feel and how I want others to serve me. I've also realized that I haven't worked on my relationship with my Heavenly Father at all. I've gone to church and ward prayer but I really didn't think much of it at all.

I have just been doing the bare minimum and the thought crossed my mind that Heavenly Father has blessings that he wants to give me. He wants me to be happy and he wants to help me be happy but I haven't been doing anything to prove to him that I deserve it. I have "favorite sins" that I have kept that I know I should give up. They aren't horrible sins. They are simple things such as watching certain shows, things that I say and songs I listen to. My new goal is to work on giving up these sins/habits so that I can spend my time working on my relationship with my Heavenly Father. I know that He is there for me and He does love me. I want to become close to Him so that when the hard and troubled times come He can help me get through them.

I don't know really what else to say other than to bear my testimony that I know that I have a Father in Heaven who loves me and wants me to return to Him. I know that Christ died for all of us so that we may be able to return to Heavenly Father. I'm so grateful that I have the chance to partake of the sacrament every week to help me renew my covenants. I'm grateful for the wonderful, worthy priesthood holders that I have in my life. With them around, I'm comforted to know that at any moment they are willing and ready to give a blessing whenever it is needed. I know that Joseph Smith was a true prophet and he did see the Father and the Son. He was an amazing man. I also know that our prophet today, Pres. Monson, is a true prophet and he receives revelation from our Heavenly Father for the church today. Bless him for all that he does for us. I know that what is in the Book of Mormon is true. There are so many blessings that are in store for us when we read the book. It was truly written for our day. Every word of that book is true and inspired. Whenever I read it I learn something new. I love the church and I'm so happy to be apart of if. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Here Comes Spring!

Spring, spring, spring! Not only is it a verb but it is the fast approaching season! I can feel it in the air! This past week I felt it so much that I just had to celebrate by chopping off my hair. :D

I am also so excited for Spring Break next week. Mom has been begging for me to home she just misses me so much! I'm sure my dad misses me too. We are going to the Draper temple open house Saturday morning and we're going to do a Girls Day and possibly a daddy-mommy-daughter day too! I'm excited to see my neice too! I haven't seen her for a WHOLE month!!!! I can only guess how big she's gotten! She's my best buddy when I go home. I love her so much! So Spring Break is going to pretty much be the best week ever! But when I come back after the break I'll only have 7 more weeks of school! I can't believe my first year at college is almost over!!! I'm getting too old! :D

Lately I've gotten into the hobby of taking photos and then photoshopping them to look cool. I also learned some new tricks to make my pictures more impressive so I've been practicing. :D I've been craving to take a walk up the canyon or taking a drive to somewhere I haven't been before to take pictures. I hope that I can take some new pictures during the break so that I can bring them back and be able to mess with them in my spare time. Here are some sample of what I have so far:

Home Sweet Home

For the past week I have been looking and investigating different apartments for next year. I have been searching on the web and making calls to all of the managers and making tables and evaluating all that I can. I have found a cute a quaint little apartment that my friend and I want to move in and it seems to be the cheapest around. It will at least be a few hundred dollars cheaper than where I'm living now, which is a plus. :) I am going with my friend to go check out and sign a contract today! :/ I'm kinda nervous but I feel that it's right. So here we go! There is no place like having a home! :D

Ode to Jones Soda

Oh oh, Jones Soda you make my mouth go fizzy.
You have so much sugar cane my head is now dizzy.

Fufu Berry, Lemon Lime and you are even sugar-free.
Blue, pink, orange, red, green; pure colors hypnotize me.

I'll drink you in the morning, I'll drink you at night.
Jones soda always tastes just right.

Oh oh, Jones Soda you make my mouth go fizzy.
You have so much sugar cane you make my head go dizzy.

Musings of a Mental Nutcase

OK... So pretty much Valentine's Day is upon us. For the first time in a few years I don't have a valentine to share this special day with. It is sort of weird not having someone to say "I Love You" to. Yet, I do have some amazing roommates who are not going to let this perfect chance for a ladies night get away. Aubrey, Brittany and I are going to do dinner together and have some other single girls come over for a chick flick marathon and plenty of treats and popcorn! :D It will be a ton of fun!

Next subject is: FOG. Logan weather is so strange and unique! Back home we would rarely get fog or if we did it was gone within 15 minutes. I live on a hill in the north eastern part of Logan and last night I looked out across the valley and I was staring at the top of a cloud that had settled itself on the floor of the valley. It was like an ocean of cotton balls; so beautiful. This morning I woke up and the fog was so thick I could barely see the cemetery across the street. It's starting to go away now but the snow, frost and slight fog makes it seem so ethereal. It's just like a fantasy land. So pretty.

My mom gave a wonderful book for my birthday called The Traveler's Gift by Andy Andrews. I read it and highlighted the parts that I loved. I finished it this week and I just had to call my mom and discuss it with her. This book has so many good lessons in it. It's not just a "make you feel good" book; it actually has good advice that can be taken to heart and used in everyday life. I recommend this book to everyone and I would be more than willing to talk to anyone about it. :D I just love a good book!

Well, there is homework to be done, then lunch to be made before I head to class. So "Ladies and Gentlemen take my advice, Pull down your pants and slide on the ice."

Birthday Wishes

On the 5th was my sweet roommate's 19th birthday. I had so much fun decorating the apartment with crate paper, balloons and signs. I bought her flowers and a cute card. All of us roommates and one of Brittany's friends went to Angie's to "Clean the Sink". (For those who don't know Angie's is a local restaurant here in Logan where they serve you soft serve ice cream with your choice of 3 toppings. It comes in a small sink that is over flowing with ice cream heaven. the goal is to eat all the ice cream to get a bumper sticker that says, "I cleaned the sink at Angie's." This tradition of a Utah State students and locals is quite respected :D) anyway, we finished our sugary goodness and went home to have an Office Party and watch last weeks new Office episode. We had quite a fun time.

Then came my birthday. And my dear sweet roommates have been so sweet to give me many happy birthday wishes and a plethora of hugs. Aubrey and Lacey gave me Coca-cola chap sticks! Alaura gave me a beautiful earring and necklace set. And Brittany surprised me with a bouquet of roses and 2 cases of Coke. :D All of them are such sweet girls and I love them very much.

I traveled home Friday and went to dinner with my parents, Shell, Caleb, Abbie and Grandma. We went to Chili's and had some of the best dessert ever! The CCVC (Chocolate Chocolate Vanilla and Chocolate) also know to the rest of the world as the Chocolate Molten Cake. It is FANTASTIC!!! We had a fun time laughing and talking and Miss Abigail thought she was the star of the party. (She pretty much was.)

I had such a great time being home relaxing and just being quiet for once. I couldn't have had a better birthday. It's just weird to think that I'm really not a kid anymore and that I have to learn to grow old yet stay young at heart. I'm excited for the year to come and I hope that I can reach my goals and become a great human being.

Time to Blog

Ok ok.... so pretty much everybody has a blog now days! I was feeling a little left out and jealous that everybody else had such super cute and awesome blogs so I decided to get with it and start a blog. I'm not entirely sure what's going to happen on here but be assured that it is 100% just Necia: my thoughts, feelings, geekiness and fun. So far I'm off to a great start... :D