Roommates

So we decided on Sunday to take roommate pictures because it was our last Sunday together. Leah is moving back to BYU-Hawaii and Jordan is moving to another apartment in Provo. It is hard to live with 6 girls in an apartment, but this semester has definitely been a learning and growing experience. I am excited to see what next semester brings!

Happy Birthday Trevor/Elder Jones!

So I have a soft spot in my heart for Trevor. Him and I did not always get along when we were younger and our love and respect for each other took a little bit longer to develop than with my other siblings. Trevor is so creative! He used to just sit for hours and create whole armies on paper and whole cities with such detail. It has been so fun to watch him come to know the Savior better through serving the people in South Africa. Trevor is loved by all and his nick name is "Bear" because he is such a big cuddly bear. Happy Birthday Trevor!
p.s. I can't believe he is 21! Time goes by way to quickly. I can't boss him around anymore. ;)

Christmas Present!

So one of my friends Kim decided that for Christmas she wanted all of us to be together in the celestial room instead of buying each other gifts. It was so great to be at the temple with people who you know love you and want what is best for you. I love going to the temple. It was so beautiful and we had a lot of fun.

Christmas Devotional with friends

So I got lucky this year and was invited to go to the Christmas devotional. I was so glad that I got to go because it was amazing. I felt like I was sitting in the living room with the first presidency even though I was in the balcony and there were 22,000 other people there. I also got to go with some of my best friends in the whole world. I spend every waking moment with these people because they lift me up and make me a better person.
The person standing next to me on the right is Tony and we had an awesome day together. We drove up to Riverton in the morning and went to a friend's singles ward and then made dinner at her house and went to the devotional. On the way home, Tony and I started talking about who our favorite apostles are and why (yeah I know you are not supposed to have a favorite;) and it turned into this great discussion of the gospel. How grateful I am that I have friends that I can bear my testimony to them and they share their testimony with me. It was such a great day!

Words of encouragement!

I love BYU so much because I am able to feel the Spirit strong enough to cry in a class. My literacy teacher loves to read children's books to us and yesterday he read this book to us. It is about a man who wants to be a clown and he juggles all these colorful balls and keeps the big golden one on the top of the circle the whole time. Then he sees a picture of Jesus and the baby Jesus is frowning. So he gets out the balls and starts to juggle them for the picture. Well he dies and then the baby Jesus is smiling. It is a book about Leonardo Da Vinci because he painted the first smiling Christ Child.
Anyway, my teacher twisted it to us and talked about how many balls we are juggling right now and he said as long as we keep the golden ball or Heavenly Father on the top then we will be able to juggle all the other balls. He even told us that there will be balls that we drop but we can just pick them back up and move on. It is not that big of a deal and we need ot just rely on the Lord and the rest will fall into place.
It was exactly what I needed to hear right now because I am juggling more balls than I can physically, spiritually, emotionally handle.

Christmas in 211!

Well, today we decided to put the Christmas tree up...okay I decided I wanted to do it. I made it through with out completely knocking it over. I just tipped it a little. It now sits nicely in our living room. The BYU ornaments are ones that my roommate made and they happen to match perfectly with my already purchased tree decorations and they show off our BYU pride. I also put a picture of the sparkly balls that we have hanging on our tree. One of my old roommate's mom made them and
They are small and simple, but shiny and beautiful. They glisten in the light just a little. You just can't take your eyes off of them. Our heater kicks on and they swing a little and the tree lights make them sparkle. I wish that you were seeing and feeling what I am feeling right now. It is absolutely beautiful. I am sitting in solitude in my living room and just listening to the noises outside and thinking about Christmas and what it means. I am so grateful for my Savior and for the chance we have to celebrate His birth every year!

I have been tagged!

So Mal tagged me and I thought it would be fun so here it is!

What I was doing 10 years ago:
1. Experimenting with makeup
2. Thinking I was really grown up
3. Liking a different boy every day just about
4. Getting used to braces, head gear, and glasses!!
5. Listening to Hanson over and over again.

Things on my to do list:
1. Get my oil changed (I will do it dad, don't worry)
2. Make it through this month of teaching the 6th grade
3. Go to the gym
4. Write a million lesson plans and reflections about them
5. Go to the temple

Snacks I enjoy:
1. Wheat Thins
2. Cottage cheese and grapes
3. Peanut M&M's
4. Bread in any way, shape, and form
5. Zuppa's salad (I just discovered this and I can't get enough)

Things I would do if I were a millionaire:
1. Pay off my student loans
2. Pay off my car
3. Move into a studio apartment by myself
4. Help pay for my brother's mission
5. Get my mom some much needed new furniture

5 Places I've lived:
1. Provo, UT
2. Africa
3. Germany
4. Palm Desert, CA
5. Maryland

5 Jobs I've had:
1. Sonic Drive in
2. Medical Center Receptionist
3. Teacher's Aide at a day care
4. Working in the consulate office
5. Warehouse worker at BYU Vending

I tag:
1. Ann and Brendon
2. Dad
3. Anyone else who wants to do this

Frustrations of teaching!

So first of all, this is not a picture of my students. It is just some random picture that I found on the internet. Since this is somewhat like a journal...I wanted to take an opportunity to vent. Today was a bad day and every teacher has them. One of the girls started crying because she couldn't understand the math and she couldn't finish her homework. I wanted to badly to tell her that I had been doing the same thing the night before because I couldn't understand how to teach the math so that everyone would understand. I am in a 6th grade class and a lot of the students are on 2nd grade levels with stuff and so it can be frustrating.
I don't think that people realize how quickly you become invested in these kids. I already love every single one of them for different reasons. I want to take them home and make their lives better. I want them to all know of their worth and to never feel like they are not special or not loved. So when they cry because of frustration with themselves, it tears my heart into two pieces and I want to hug them and just make everything better.
I don't love anything more than teaching. It makes me happier than most things in my life. I can't wait to be a real teacher and have my own kids. I only hope that I will be able to change their lives in a fraction of the way that they have already changed mine!

1 year!

So as of today I have been home from my mission for 1 year! It feels like yesterday that I went into the MTC. Today has been a very nostalgic day thinking about all of the wonderful people I met and the wonderful experiences I had. I am so glad that I got that opportunity to go and teach what I know to be so true. I am pretty sure that my mission changed and touched me more than anyone else. I hope to be able to go on another one!

Ms. Jones dresses up for Halloween!

I love being in the 6th grade, especially on Halloween. The students were so excited and they just loved that we dressed up too. We had a great time telling scary stories this morning (some of which actually scared me), and then we had a parade and a carnival and all sorts of fun stuff. I can't wait to be a real teacher so I can dress up every year. We got in our costumes after lunch so for the morning I wore Halloween colors with some pumkin earings. I love being festive!

Happy Birthday Dad!

So many people say that I am my dad's daughter and they are definitely right. We are kindred spirits. We think the same in a house full of incredibly creative thinkers. We are the analytical thinkers and we have to stick together and back each other up. I have always been my daddy's little princess and it has been fun to let a new princess into his life with the birth of Mary Deane. My dad just knows how to make you feel like the prettiest girl in the whole world. He also can talk my anxiety filled mind into a state of clamness. Every time I have a question about my finances or my car or my future I call my dad. So thanks so much dad. Happy Birthday! I love you!

Family Time

So I finally uploaded pictures from conference weekend. It was so fun to have dad and Katie here and to go hear the prophets voice. The only thing that would have made the weekend perfect is if mom was here at the same time. So here are a couple of the pictures.

Great Idea

So I saw on all of the Knudsen's blogs that they had posted each of their quirks and they were only allowed to write 6. This really got me thinking about my quirks and so I thought I would share my 6 with you.
1. I sing Happy Birthday about 5 times when I brush my teeth and wash my hands because a teacher once told me that that was long enough.
2. I look down at the ground when I see people I know and wait for them to say hi first.
3. I laugh really fast when I am nervous...so mostly when I am talking to cute boys.
4. I do homework before it is even assigned if it is written on the syllabus so that I can feel on top of things.
5. I go to bed ridiculously early for a college student. (10:30 at the latest)
6. I never take longer than a 10 minute shower...it is just not physically possible for me.
Well, there you go. I am sure that I could come up with a lot more, but only 6 are allowed so I hope that you enjoy learning more about me!

I hate being sick

So yep, I am sick again. I got sick almost instantly after family left on Monday and have been in bed almost ever since. I have gotten out of bed to go to the occasional classes, but have stayed in it otherwise. Lucky for me my mom is coming this weekend to take care of me! Just my luck, I will be better by the time she comes. This whole living on your own thing is not all it is cracked up to be sometimes.

A Quick Celebratory Note

I just wanted to let you all know that I officially turned in my student teaching application today and I could not be happier about it! I never have to register for classes again...that is until grad school, but I am going to enjoy this moment anyway because it feels pretty amazing. I also have a temporary teaching license which is cool. So yay for me! Okay moment over.

Mary Deane Jones is finally here!

So I met my niece today and she is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. She is so little and petite. When I first held her, she had just been fed by her wonderful mommy and so she was so happy. She opened those big eyes at me and gave me a look like, "hey, I know you." It was so awesome and I couldn't help but shed a few tears. I am so happy that she is here and I love her so much. She picked the best parents too!

Amazing Church!

"I can and will make a difference in my own life and in the lives of others." "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Phillipians 4:13. This is our Stake theme and scripture for this year. We had a Sunday school lesson about it yesterday and it was amazing. I have been so caught up in myself and school lately that I forgot what my purpose here is. Our sacrament meeting was on the Atonement and how we forget that Christ really did feel all that we feel now and all that we will ever feel. Then our Relief Society lesson was on the three degrees of glory and eternity. We now have a string hanging across our living room cieling with a little knot tied in it to remind us that this life is something you can't even see when you look at eternity. We need to remember that the bad days are just one day in this life. We also need to remember that the decisions we make in this life can and will effect eternity so we need to be serving others and balancing our lives. What and awesome theme and I plan to strive to live it daily!

Dating can be fun!

So I usually am the type of person that hates dating. The first date akwardness is just not my favorite thing in the whole world. So last weekend I got asked out on one of the most creative and fun dates that I have ever been on. We went to Lowe's and stole (not really because they are free) a bunch of the paint swatches. Then we came back to the apartment with another couple and each couple made a mosiac out of the swatches. Ours is supposed to be like some painting that I have never even heard of. (some guy holding a pitchfork next to a lady?) Anyway, I feel sorry for Casey because I am not creative at all so all I did was cut and paste the pieces and he did the creative part. So if anyone is looking for a cheap and fun date, I suggest this one. Here is a picture of our finished mosiac!

No time!

So lately I have felt like I have no time to do anything. I don't think 24 hours in a day is enough! I really have loved being busy though. Because this is my last real semester in school, we have to get everything done in these four short months and that means a lot of work. So between school, work, working in the temple, and a little bit of a social life it has been crazy. Today though I make time for football! There will never be not enough time for a football game.
Time has gone by so fast, but as I want anxiously to be an aunt, time seems to be crawling. I just wish that that little one was here already. I am so excited to meet her and hold her and let her know how much I already love her. I hope that time will fly by the next week and that she will be here before I know it!

New schedule!

So I am a little obsessive compulsive when it comes to scheduling and being on time and all of that. I am pretty sure that this quality of mine is a perfect mix of my parents...my mom organized things like 6 times to make sure that they are perfect and my dad is always on time and manages his time very well. So because of that I always draw out my week. You can make fun of me now. It is mostly so that my roommate will know where I am in case she ever wonders. Okay that is a big fat lie. I get anxious if I am not organized and don't have things planned out like way in advance. So I just thought I would share this random quirk of mine with you.

The Quest Begins!

So any of you who know me well, know that I love BYU football! My dad has always loved it and talked about it and watched it while I was growing up so I guess you could say that I almost do "bleed blue." I love the atmosphere of a football game. I love how my heart pounds right before they kick the ball to start the game. I love the drama of it all. I love not knowing what is going to happen. I love coming home with almost no voice left from screaming too hard. I love seeing everyone sit together and cheer for one common goal. I just love football! It does help that our team is awesome this year. This game was a nail biter even though the final score was 41 to 17. When Michael Reed was laying on the field becuase he has been hit too hard, I was clutching the person next to me wondering why I like to come watch guys get hit by other guys. The I remembered that it is so fun and I just love it. Here is a picture from the game and hopefully more to follow this season. Go cougars!

Elder Samuel Chase Brooks!

So today I had a wonderful spiritually filled day. A friend from my home ward, Elder Sam Brooks asked me to take him to the MTC. As I put on his tag for him, tears came to my eyes as I thought back to when I was in his position. I thought of the families I taught and the people I met and the experiences I had. I thought of how much I learned and what a different person I am. I then took all of those thoughts and went to the temple with a friend. We went to the Mt. Timpanogas temple which is beautiful and there were 3 boys receiving their endowments for their missions. I thought back to that day and how overwhelmed I was with the love that my family had for me. All of them came to support me. I sat in the celestial room and cried sweet tears of gratitude because I have been so blessed since those two eventful days in my life. I am a much better person because of those experiences and I would not take them back for anything. Anyway, here are some pictures from our outing...I took some friends so I wouldn't be alone with Elder Brooks.

My 23rd Birthday!

So I have to say that turning 23 was pretty grand! It was a great day filled with eating great food which I love. I went to my pseudo families house and had burgers and fries and a great cake. Then I came home and ate 23 desserts. Here are some pictures from the day.

Hanging with old friends!

So I have so many amazing friends in my life. I was able to live in a ward for two years and make some life long friends. They have all since moved on and gone other places, but we were all in the same place at the same time this weekend so we hung out and I loved every minute of it. I have not smiled that much in a long time. One of them is getting married next weekend so I got to meet his sweetheart and that was so fun. I love having great friends!

Birthday Present!

Today in the mail I got a wonderful suprise...a birthday present. It isn't even my birthday yet! I was just thinking the other day how I needed new clothes from Old Navy and lo and behold I get a gift card to Old Navy! I remembered today why I love my birthday so much! I also remembered why I love my family so much! Thanks guys I love you!

Rock Band!

So I have a new addiction! Every week we go over to some boys' apartment in our ward and we play rock band. It is a lot of fun and I have even graduated to medium on the guitar. The second pictuure is of me focusing really hard on the drums because I am not so good at them even on easy! I sure have fun though!

I love my school!

So today I was walking into a building carrying a crate full of food and I was wondering how I was going to be able to open the door when a nice old man ran up the stairs and opened the door for me and my partner. Then at the MTC some elders dropped their stuff and helped us carry some stuff downstairs. So it got me thinking, I really love my school! There are so many nice people here. I love that I can express freely what I believe at work and that I can ask questions to my roommates. I am so lucky that I go here and that I am surrounded by such good people who lift me up. Go cougars!

Camping Trip!

So we decided camping was one of our summer wishes/goals and it finally came true last night. We went down to Spanish Fork and did a one night camping trip. We "waded" in the river and explored the outdoors. We even got a game of starburst poker in before making smores and going to bed on the hard earthy floor. My hips definitely hurt this morning but it was worth it and it was so much fun. So here are a couple of my favorite pictures for your viewing pleasure!

My New Bedset!

It has finally come time for me to get a new bedset. My old one was the one that my mom bought me for my freshman year in college...that was 5 years ago! Plus it sat in my grandma's garage for a year and a half while I was gone. I loved my old bed set, but I think that this is a great improvement!

My amazing parents!

So this is just a random blog for your reading pleasure. I was making the long walk home from school tonight and as I was solving the world's problems in my head, I thought to myself, "wow, I have amazing parents." I love both of them for very different reasons. My mom is my complete opposite and that is why we get along so well. We love to hang out and be girls. Some of my friends talk about how they have to call their parents, but I have to try and limit my phone calls with my mom to 3 times a week! She is caring and forgiving which is lucky for me because I need a lot of forgiving. My dad on the other hand is pretty much me but a man and a lot older than me. ;) That is why we get along. We think the same and we just get each other. He is sensitive to my needs and he even calls me "girlfriend" which I think is funny because he is as white as they come, but he thinks he is black (another trait that he shares with me). My parents are so great and I just wanted my blog readers to know this lovely fact. I am so lucky that I picked them as my parents and I would even say that I made an awesome choice so yay for me! I love you mom and dad!
p.s. Whose parents dress up like pirates and are proud of it?

Happy Birthday Katie!

This picture sums up Katie and how amazing she is. I mean who can look that hott while making a silly face? 17 years ago today I received one of the best answers to prayer...a little sister. Ever since then she has given me grief, but mostly she has given me indescribable joy. Katie is the one that always tells me when my jokes aren't funny or when I can't leave the house in a certain outfit because it doesn't match. She helps me with my hair and makeup because I am not talented in that department. She lets me know when I am being rude. She also never forgets to tell me that she loves me and that she appreciated me. She makes me laugh to the point of tears and she always keeps me wanting to be a better person. Oh how I love this crazy girl! Happy 17th Birthday Katie! I love you!