Happy Thoughts.

The title of this post reminds me of, in the A&E version of Pride and Prejudice, when the married Mr. Collins proudly shows Elizabeth some shelves that Lady Catherine de Bourgh recommended he install in a closet of his "humble abode." 

To his home improvement she says with an amused smile, 

"Shelves in the closet? Happy thought, indeed."

Today was lovely.

Yesterday was lovely.

Tomorrow--because I will make it so--will be lovely!

Happy thought, indeed. ;)

This last semester I was introduced to a beautiful arrangement of the hymn, "Savior, Redeemer of my Soul," which has, since then, become a favorite of mine. There are a couple lines of the song though, that I absolutely love.

It says, 

"Never can I repay thee, Lord.

But I can love Thee, thy pure word.

Hath it not been my one delight?

My joy by day, my dream by night."

I had never considered the Word of God to be my dream by night...

When I think of dreaming at night, I think of dreaming of far away places and thinking up fun stories as I fall asleep.  But I had never thought to think of and find sleepily happy comfort in the Word of God, in my Savior. I thought that was such an interesting, but beautiful idea. Don't you?

Here's the whole song, including a narration at the beginning. I love listening to the narration before the song because it helps put the song into a context, and in a way, it makes the song that much more beautiful.

I love this.

What a blessing the Gospel of Jesus Christ is.

On other, random planes of thought, 

I got my two top wisdom teeth extracted on Monday!

Recovery is going well, and I am not very puffy, thank goodness!

I am also grateful I never have to experience that again.

I was fully awake the entire time, though I did have a good dose of Novocaine. You've seen Brian Reagan's stand-up comedy sketch about "pressure," right? Well I felt plenty of that... 

But it was pain-free, thank goodness!

I've been eating my fair share of ice cream though. I never thought I could have my fill of the stuff, but I think I might be nearing that point. :)

Today for lunch I had four pudding cups... I anxiously await the day I can eat "real" food again!!

Someone reading this might think that I should make misself a smoothie or something and take a healthy route, but honestly... who wouldn't take advantage of an excuse to enjoy a temporary diet of pudding and ice cream? ;)

Memories are so we can have June lilies in the winters of our lives.

This past semester was so busy!! 

I felt like I didn't have time to blog. 

But now it's over, and I'm just working as I wait for the next semester to start.

I have some pictures to show you guys all the fun we had in the sun this past spring!!

Amanda's birthday--We went to Gator Jack's... so yummy!!

Haha, Becca attacked Amanda with a fork one Sunday night, and here's a diagram of sorts to help tell the story.

Filling a tub with boiling water to take a bath Memorial Day weekend when our water heater decided to stop working.

Having fun in Driggs, ID haha

I got to see this cutie pie!! She's getting so big.

Heading to the lake--or sandbar--on the 4th!

Stress relief through photo booth :)

Party at the Nature Park!! 

I found this picture on my camera while looking through it later...
You two are so funny!!

Painting pretty pictures... I still have that painting, Amanda!!

Saying goodbye to Tiffany! I miss you!!

Yummy kiwi loco with Amanda, Jamie, and Camille.

{Jamie my dear, I realized this is the only picture I have with you, and Camille, I only have this one with you and the one from Amanda's birthday... It makes me sad, and I miss you guys :( }

Melaleuca fireworks with Katie... I love you and miss you, you cutie!!

Haha we got a little tired and hyper... and these are some quotes from what was said. :)

Two more of my lovely ladies at Amanda's graduation! Woot, Woot!! Go Amanda!!

Oh, how I love my lovely roomies. I miss you ladies so much!! Seriously some of the very best girls I have ever had the privilege to know. I love them all to death. 

They were like sisters to me!!

Best semester of my life!!

I am sure there will be many more adventures in the upcoming weeks/months/years/etc.  

Life is so good! 

No matter what happens, good things are never in short supply 

if you keep your eyes open to them.

I am so blessed, I just don't know what to do with all the happy memories. I am so grateful I have them!!

AHHH I'm so blessed it hurts!!!

Anybody else ever feel that way too?

Fun, Stress, and Eternal Perspective

Hello, world!!

I am alive and well... and back in Rexy-town!!

I'm having so much fun, working hard in class and having fun meeting new people.

My roommates are so fun... We have lots of adventures. :)

Like a week ago, when our water heater and our dishwasher were broken. At the same time!

It was an interesting experience, for sure.

And then this past weekend, we didn't really have any adventures because we've all been crazy busy, but this week we just might have some. I hope!

But speaking of being crazy busy... We have all been so stressed! It reached its peak on Thursday night when everyone had a bunch of tests/assignments due, plus Jamie was really sick. It was not a fun day.

But then Friday came and went, and so did Saturday...

(I went horseback riding yesterday, by the way... for the first time in 5 years!!

It was super fun. I should have taken pictures! But I didn't. Shoot!!)

And then came Sunday. And all was well.

But I'm feeling a little emotionally/mentally bruised from this past week.

So, I have decided.

This coming week is my vacation from stress.

How will I do this, you ask?

By keeping my priorities straight!!

Basically,

1. I refuse to let anything bother me, and 

2. If I have homework to do, I will put it 100% first.

So let's say I am invited to go hang out but I have to study for my Soils test, what will I do?

I will kindly refrain from going, but thank friends for the invite!

(I'll study instead!)

Then, when I hear about it later, I won't let myself feel like I missed out.

I will tell myself not to. 

Because I'm thinking, that all those negative feelings like feeling left out can be controlled, and if I don't feel like feeling like I missed all the fun, then I don't need to feel that way. 

Because, really, those feelings get pretty exhausting, pretty quickly.

So I am doing myself a favor and keeping it positive. :)

I don't need to stress!

So I won't. 

And I think this will help me find joy in the journey now.

Which is something I need a little help with.

The Devotional this past week was about finding beauty in all the world around us, and how it is a manifestation of God's love for us.

I think that I've been a bit run down lately because I haven't been looking for the beautiful side of things.  

In the past, I've been influenced a lot by Anne Shirley because in her books she likes to talk about how "romantic" things are--like when something is especially difficult, she likes to think on how romantic the struggle is.

And so I adopted that thought pattern as a young teenager... 

But I've lost it since then. 

And maybe it seems a bit silly, but I think that it helps me cope with the hard times, knowing that it will turn into something more beautiful along the way. 

But I think that might be part of having eternal perspective and having faith.

Having faith in God's plan for each of us. 

And having faith in the Atonement.

All I know is, I'm really excited to test this all out.
I'm really hoping it'll all work out!

:)

Hey, there!!

It's been almost two months since I last blogged!

(Sorry about that.)

And guess what?

I'm leaving in less than a week to return to the jewel of southeastern Idaho...

BYU-Idaho!!

I'm really excited.

My roommates are going to be awesome this semester, 

my classes are going to be awesome this semester, 

the weather is going to be awesome(-er) this semester, 

everything is going to be great this semester!!

I can't wait to jump back into school and, as Cindy Lauper would say, 

"When the working day is done, {Angela is going} to have fun!"

Work hard, play hard.

It's going to be great!

But I've really loved having so much time back home in good ol' California.

I've been able to enjoy the green hills and sun and rain and earn money and go to a really fun YSA ward. 

Plus, polish up on my baking skills... :)

Yesterday put the cherry on top though.

Two dear friends got baptized!!

A mother and a daughter who I love so much!

I wish I had a picture of them... they were radiant! 

I am so, so happy for them. 

I love the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints!

Check it out!! 

 lds.org (a resource center for church members) 

or mormon.org (a super cool website for people who want to know more about mormons!)!!

Happy Easter!!

Happy Easter!!

I love Easter. 

It's one of my most favorite holidays because of what we get to celebrate!

I am so grateful for the Savior's Atonement and great sacrifice.

Cooking Bug

If you have, by chance, wondered where I've been for the past two weeks, I've been in the kitchen.

At first it was serious cooking... (out of this fun cookbook!)

But lately I've just been messin' around, mostly. 

I ran across this really cool healthier desserts blog called Chocolate-Covered Katie... 

So far I've tried two recipes from it:

The Chocolate Bar Pie 

and 

Cookie Dough Dip.

Both are good, but I would have to say... I'd alter them a little bit if I were to make them again. 

For one thing, I used semi-sweet chocolate in the pie when I think milk chocolate would be better, 

and I used white kidney beans instead of garbanzo beans in the dip... BIG mistake.

I, personally, think the chocolate bar pie is really, really good for being "healthy," even 

when it is made with semi-sweet chocolate. 

Probably a 7.5 on the yummy scale. Milk chocolate would probably make it an 8.5 or 9.

(by the way, I used an oreo crust for the pie... so much for healthy, but all the same, yum!!)

As for the dip... I'm not sure if it's good, but I think I'm going to give it another try soon. 

With garbanzo beans this time. :)

Hooray for experimental cooking! 

I love it!!

P.S.  Valentine's Day is around the corner... Yay!!

Lots of people my age dislike it because they're single, but I still like it even if I am single!

For me it's pretty much just Romance Appreciation Day, and when I think romances worth appreciating, 

I think of... 

well, you'll have to hear it from me on Tuesday... that is, if I remember to post.

But in case I forget, one of my favorites is:

Anne Shirley & Gilbert Blythe

They're adorable!!

The reason why I mention them, of all couples, is because I just listened (yes... I listen to books more than actually read them... I like to multi-task!!) to Anne of Avonlea and Anne of the Island while commuting half an hour almost everyday for the past month. I was mostly holding out till Anne finally admitted she was in love with Gilbert.  And hey, come on--that's why we finish half the books we read! (ahem... Hunger Games Trilogy?)

Workin' like Mary Poppins

I'm back!!

But this time...

 rather than living in Rexburg and going to school, 

I'm back home and working to earn some money for next semester.

Fact #1: 

 I have a job.

Fact #2:

My job consists of 

nannying two two-year-olds (twins) and a six-month-old.

Talk about busy!!

But don't get me wrong, I really do love it. 

I started on Tuesday and it's great! Lots and lots of fun working with little kids!!

My only challenge = not feeding them all at once... 

otherwise, it's mayhem.

Yesterday lunchtime was so bad, I came home with the "badge of motherhood," as my mom calls it,

(a.k.a. spit-up, drool, food, etc. all down the front of your shirt)

and I wondered how people like Mary Poppins and professional nannies come out of those situations without a spot. I guess it's part of being a pro. 

Or keeping a change of clothes in your bag, which I might do at some point.

Really though, this job is a blessing.

 I don't want to brag, but I think it might be the best in the world.

1. I'm getting paid (hooray!).

2. I have something fun/rewarding to do all day, every week day.

3. I am learning sooo much about how to manage little kids/babies.

4. I have my evenings & weekends off.

Now for the downside...

I come home from work

So. Tired.

So all I want to do tonight (and have wanted to do the past two nights) is sit around in my pajamas, eat chocolate, and watch old classic movies.

I may need some intervention... I am on my way to eating a whole half of a Toblerone bar.