New Blog!

This is old news....like way old. I don't know if anyone still looks at this blog, but just in case, we have a new blog! Check it out at http://hydefamilyjune2013.blogspot.com! :)

End of Year Post

The holidays are officially over, another year has passed. It flew by and I have been blessed. Academically I reached my goals this last year by keeping my grades at the level I wanted them to be at and I am officially a fourth semester nursing student. I can't believe that in a few short weeks I will begin my final semester of the nursing program. The next semester is going to be fast and furious with no time to become complacent but I hope to learn a lot and be even more prepared to step out into the workforce. I wouldn't have come this far without wonderful friends-we've been through thick and thin together-sadly we are in different rotations this coming semester. It will be sad not to be able to study with all four of us! I was definitely blessed with wonderful friends-I could not have asked for better people to go through school with.

Other highlights of the year were:

Visiting Lindsey and Brenen over Spring Break. We went sand dune jumping and did lots of other fun activities despite the rainy and cold weather.

Taking a much needed break from school and life by going to BYU Women's Conference with my mom, aunts, and cousins.

Staying with Katie while in Utah and even getting to meet her future husband...before they were even dating! Now they're engaged-congrats Katie and Chizm! :)

Family Vacation to the Oregon Coast.

Meeting Shelby, spending tons of time with each other, and still successfully surviving work and school! 2013 will be full of lots of changes and I am excited for what this next year has to bring!

Christmas 2012

Christmas has come and gone already. This month is going by so fast! Earlier last week I wrapped up my third semester of the Nursing program with a strong grade on the Final Exam. I was determined to do well on the Final and the whole week before Fianls I studied for at least six hours every day. It paid off and I survived another semester. One more semester to go! On Friday afternoon I drove from Twin Falls to Boise for a doctor appointment and then I drove the rest of the way home to spend the holiday with my family. That night I went and helped Lila finish her Christmas shopping and I finished a few things as well while we were out and about. The stores were a little crazy but what can you expect on the Friday before Christmas? We spent the weekend preparing for Christmas and wrapping presents. On Sunday I was able to go to church with my family and hear them sing in the choir. Calvin even sang a solo which was great and his voice is coming along quite nicely! All of my siblings are growing up and each Christmas it is more evident. We were able to enjoy Christmas Eve with the West family and then spent Christmas Day with my parents and the three youngest kiddos. All in all it was great. I am so blessed with my family, friends, and the life that I have. I am so grateful for my education and for the gospel in my life. More news and Christmas pictures to come...

Gratitude

I was awakened at 5:45 this morning by a glowstick...but that is another story for another time. :) As I lay there in the early hours of the morning I was struck with an overwhelming feeling of gratitude. Gratitude for my parents and the home that I was raised in. My family was and is no where near perfect...abd let's face it, I am the guinea pig child. My parents did their best though. We consistently had family scripture study, prayer, and Family Home Evening. I remember some of these would end with fighting and tears but my parents never ever gave up and with three children still living at home they still haven't stopped those habits that they began early on in their marriage. I am so grateful that I can say, like Nephi, that I was born of goodly parents. There have and will continue to be multiple times in my life where I stop and say a prayer of gratitude for the home that my parent's established. So Dad and Mom: thank you! Your work was not in vain.

This was the only halfway decent picture I could find with my parents...and of course Cameron and Lila. :)

Burnout with a nice surprise

Quick update-this last week was a little bit of a roller coaster. I didn't do as well on a nursing exam as I would have liked. As the semester slowly comes to a close I have been feeling burned out and a little less motivated. I am determined not to let it affect my grades anymore though! I am blessed though. On Tuesday night this is what I saw when I walked into my apartment:

There were sticky notes with arrows on them pointing in all different directions, but mostly towards my bedroom door. This was on my bedroom door:

I opened the door and my bed was covered in balloons. (I had pictures but my computer won't upload them for some reason.) In each of the balloons there was a piece of paper. I popped each balloon and when I put the papers together, it was a love note. Shelby picked the perfect day to surprise me. :) Now, after that sweet surprise and after feeling angry with myself I am trying to stay on top of things and finish out the semester strong. Nursing school sure does know how to push you to your limits but I am so grateful for the challenge and opportunity that I have to become more educated and to serve others. There's no other thing I'd rather be doing right now and now other place and people I'd rather be with.

Boise Temple Open House

I was able to go home two weekends in a row this month to go to the Boise Temple Open House. The first weekend Shelby and I went with our single's ward. The next weekend I rode with Lindsey and Brenen and got to go again. It was like a feast after a famine since it had been awhile since I'd spent time with my family. I'm grateful for the holiday breaks that are coming where I can spend time with my family and not be stressed out about school...one more month until Christmas break. :)

Thoughts on the weekend...

This past weekend was General Conference. It was so wonderful and the Spirit was strong. President Monson, who is the prophet today, made a big announcement. Young men can now go on a mission when they are 18 years old and young women can go when they are 19. I became so emotional when he made this announcement! I ABSOLUTELY LOVED my mission. It is the best thing that I have ever done and I am so excited that so many more young women will have the opportunity to serve the Lord. So, for all of you sisters who may read this: if you are thinking about going on a mission-just do it! You will never, ever regret the decision to serve. Before I left on my mission, a close family friend told me that for young men, there is one time when they feel the closest to the Lord and that is when they are on their missions. For women, it is when they are on a mission, if they go, and then when they become a mother. I feel so blessed to have served the Lord 24/7 for 18 months and felt so close to Him. It is a daily battle to keep that feeling with me now. Speaking of missions, my mission reunion was this last weekend but I wasn't able to go due to some car problems. I decided it wasn't wise for me to make the long drive to Provo by myself until my car got checked out and worked on. I was bummed that I couldn't go but I had a fun weekend staying home and catching up on life here.

The cooler Autumn weather has been making me go through withdrawals and I miss this:

Nothing compares to a New York fall. Shelby and I went on a walk yesterday and I have yet to find anything that compares to the colors and scenery in NY. I don't know if I'll ever stop having NY withdrawals, I hope that I don't because those memories are forever a part of me. Life is good here in Idaho though and I'm grateful for all that I have been blessed with. I'm so grateful that I could watch General Conference this weekend and am excited for the goals that I have set for myself for the next six months. Go here to watch General Conference-it is definitely worth the time and I promise that you will receive divine inspiration for you personally if you take the time to even watch a little bit of it.