Right now, I'm sitting in a really really comfortable bed in a really really comfortable bathrobe with a really really good friend. And I'm really really thankful.
This is my fourth Thanksgiving away from home, and this year, I'm spending it in Oregon with Jenny. The twelve hour drive was not bad at all, thanks to lots of good conversation, divey gas stations, plenty of junk food, and great music. We also listened to Bossypants by Tina Fey. As you can imagine, it was funny.
Right now we're in a super cozy bed&breakfast in Parkdale and it is so relaxing. The breakfasts are amazing and there's an awesome view of Mount Hood. We're here for two nights and then we'll be off to Portland for the next two.
As I'm sitting here in bed grading exams and thinking about life, I thought I might list a few of the things I'm grateful for.
Here goes! Awesome brothers, the cutest little sister to ever grace the earth, wonderful parents and grandparents, the chance to go back to Africa again next summer to do research, good books and literature, bubble baths & scented candles, chocolate, BYU, the best roommates I could ever ask for, Spanish (and the FLSR for making me speak it), big sweaters, a car, art, my heritage, patriotic Americans, our troops, Christmas lights, jazz, the gospel, world travels, friends (I have all the best ones), pumpkin pie, comfortable beds, great conversation, a solid job, passionate people that inspire me, a major that I love, Korean food, a solid eight hours of sleep last night, and the list could go on and on.
I suppose this is why I don't usually make lists.
I guess it's just that I'm happy and so glad to be where I am right now in life.
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
a tuesday.
It's only Tuesday, and it's already a busy kind of week. The kind of week where one feels rather like a tablecloth that barely covers the corners of the table it was designed for. Or like Bilbo, when he says, "I feel thin, sort of stretched, like butter scraped over too much bread."
Not that I relate to Bilbo, what with his dealings with invisible rings and Sauron and all that jazz.
So not really that, I guess, but more stretched as in early mornings and late nights. A planner with no more room for me to write all the things that I have to remember to do. An inbox full of emails that need to be answered. Interviews and lesson-planning and studying and tests and homework. It's not a bad kind of stretched really. Over the past four years, I've gotten better and better at managing my time and getting everything done--and it's kind of a nice feeling of accomplishment when it all gets done.
I'm starting to put together my plans for next summer. It'll all be decided by this Friday--and I've realized that no matter which option ends up working out, I'll be thrilled. That's a nice feeling to have.
That's the kind of thing that makes all these four or five hour nights-worth of sleep worth it. I feel like doors have been opening in all the right places in all the right times.
I was talking to my parents last week and I realized how lucky I am that they've always supported me, even in some of my more rash decisions (i.e. deciding to study both in Spain and in England in the same year). Even right now with regards to next summer, they've given me some advice but are still letting me make my own decisions. It's nice to know they trust me to take care of myself.
BYU has been good to me.
I look at where I am now and remember back to my first night at BYU. I was a scared little freshman, thinking about studying elementary education (what was I thinking? I would be a terrible elementary school teacher). I've changed majors multiple times. I've studied lots of different things and had lots of wonderful teachers. I've traveled lots of places and had lots of learning experiences. I don't think I would change my college experience for anything.
I registered for classes next semester. That was originally the semester I was supposed to graduate. Although part of me wishes I could be graduating, about 70% of me is glad for the extra time. There is still so much I want to do as an undergrad!
And finally, Carla Bruni has been the soundtrack to my library studyin' adventures lately. Her French songs are awesome as well.
Not that I relate to Bilbo, what with his dealings with invisible rings and Sauron and all that jazz.
So not really that, I guess, but more stretched as in early mornings and late nights. A planner with no more room for me to write all the things that I have to remember to do. An inbox full of emails that need to be answered. Interviews and lesson-planning and studying and tests and homework. It's not a bad kind of stretched really. Over the past four years, I've gotten better and better at managing my time and getting everything done--and it's kind of a nice feeling of accomplishment when it all gets done.
I'm starting to put together my plans for next summer. It'll all be decided by this Friday--and I've realized that no matter which option ends up working out, I'll be thrilled. That's a nice feeling to have.
That's the kind of thing that makes all these four or five hour nights-worth of sleep worth it. I feel like doors have been opening in all the right places in all the right times.
I was talking to my parents last week and I realized how lucky I am that they've always supported me, even in some of my more rash decisions (i.e. deciding to study both in Spain and in England in the same year). Even right now with regards to next summer, they've given me some advice but are still letting me make my own decisions. It's nice to know they trust me to take care of myself.
BYU has been good to me.
I look at where I am now and remember back to my first night at BYU. I was a scared little freshman, thinking about studying elementary education (what was I thinking? I would be a terrible elementary school teacher). I've changed majors multiple times. I've studied lots of different things and had lots of wonderful teachers. I've traveled lots of places and had lots of learning experiences. I don't think I would change my college experience for anything.
I registered for classes next semester. That was originally the semester I was supposed to graduate. Although part of me wishes I could be graduating, about 70% of me is glad for the extra time. There is still so much I want to do as an undergrad!
And finally, Carla Bruni has been the soundtrack to my library studyin' adventures lately. Her French songs are awesome as well.
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