British Columbia- "Splendour without diminishment"

So I got my call to Vancouver, Canada- Spanish speaking. A little freaky. I checked out the place, the Olympics will be there in February and March of 2010, so I'll definitely be there! Brett Steele said his family goes near there all the time and it's absolutely beautiful. Also, Stake President Tilleman has a cabin up in the northern part of my mission and he said we need to keep him informed of where I am so he can possibly see me on the mission. The entire place looks incredible.
there is a sport there called Ice Sailing....self explanitory?
who knows. As for challenges, Canada is peaceful, so they welcome everything. After doing research, I found a great deal of Gay-Pride support in Canada. With the rising tension in America, as well as the Church's stance on Gays, this could get interesting. Also:
apparently is grown a lot in Canada. BC Bud it's called. Catchy right? But it's all the same stuff. Anyways, Brett told me Vancouver Island (where the capital, Victoria, is-pictured at the top) is themed like a Swiss City and is said to be incredible.

I slept through Chemistry this morning to get sleep so I could stay awake in Biology and Humanities. (Don't worry I've compensated one hour of Chem lecture with 2 or 3 hours of T.A. tutored help). My goal was to wake up at 9:30 and go to bio at 10. 9:45 rolled around and there was a knock at my door. I answered it in my underwear since its the dorms...who cares? It was the fedex guy...and my stomach dropped. Who knows what slurred words I said to the shocked guy, but I signed the computer thing and got my package...opened it...stared at the envelop...then high tailed it off to Bio after putting some clothes on. The entire day I couldn't stop thinking about where I would go. It killed me to wait.

I found out soon after I opened it, my friend from summer, Michael Hoopes, is going on the EXACT same mission as me. leaving the SAME day, speaking the SAME language with the SAME president. he's from mesa! And I love the kid.


All in all I'm super excited for this change in life. (PS. we filmed me opening it, so once it's uploaded I'll find a way to show you all). Thanks to everyone who was on the phone listening and for all the support. I love you guys.

10 weeks and counting...

Tough Time

So, to sum up my last few weeks I'll say College is tough. I can't say I didn't expect it but I guess I just couldn't comprehend it. I took a Chemistry test (my class of about 300 students, 5 days a week at 8 am) that lasted two hours and gave my a 78%. I took a Humanities test that lasted 12 minutes and gave my a 67%. Honestly, my classes slapped me into shape. Slowly, but surely, my test scores are getting higher and higher and my eyes are getting more and more bloodshot.

Having an 8 o'clock class and being semi-narcoleptic (or just a really good sleeper) can make your mornings an interesting event. I walk to class with tired, bloodshot eyes with my brain completely turned off. Now if someone talks to me they will get some crumpled response that makes absolutely no sense. Constantly, other kids can stay awake because they are laughing at me doze off and bounce my head back and forth. REGARDLESS of what time I go to bed. I
promise.

ANYWAYS, today I fell asleep at breakfast while a friend was explaining to me how DNA can replicate itself. My head actually hit the table. Needless to say, I woke up.
Last week was a tough week, Mom and Dad, I promise I'm not slacking off.


So it being conference weekend and all, my friend, Logan, has a cabin about two hours away from campus, so we got a big group and all went up there to stay the night and watch conference the next morning. And we actually went to Priesthood at the stake center up in Ogden. We wore what would could bring. I wore brown corduroys and white shoes haha. My friend chase wore flip flops, and taylor wore bright blue sperrys. We got some looks from members who showed up in overalls. That's when you know you out of line.

Anyways, this is a view from the back porch from logan's. It had rained the whole drive and now there is snow on the mountains.


tried to eat these:
then we got ready for bed...
taylor was touching his toes I think.
So then we made breakfast and Ingrid and her friends came over. Then we watched Conference and went for a drive. I was loving it...obviously.
and we found snow!
Anyways, it was a nice weekend to just get away and let loose and have fun. I was caught up on work and tests and so I could finally relax a little and enjoy the nice weather and colors.