Taco Tour: The Best of Merida

I figured a good way to kick of my Mexico travel-log was through the food.  Everyone likes food right? (I mean... how do you think I convinced Charlie like me.  Cookie bribes!)  

Mérida, or the Yucatán in general, is well known for their food.  Early on in our trip, we took the responsibility of specifically trying several tacos, so that we could find the best ones.  Our Mama and Papa helped us kick off our search the first Saturday here.

This pictures was taken just after we all went to Catholic mass (misa).  I've been to mass before, but it was very cool in Spanish.  We all drove off after to this little restaurant thats out of the way and hidden among a labyrinth of streets; and it was awesome.  Confession: we didn't actually tacos here.  Instead, we ate panuchos and salbutes.  Very similar to tacos, but instead the tortilla is 1)stuffed with refried beans and then fried or 2) just fried.  The toppings included pavo (turkey) and other normal taco stuff.  They were bomb!

The following Monday we stuck hopped on the bus to la playa progresso to beach it up!  Being the very authentic and non-gringas that we are, we decided to ditch the main street and go off trail to find a real, hole-in-the-wall, sketchy and should-we-really-be-eating-here, taco spot.  We were very determined to find the best spot...at least for 20 minutes until the blistering sun got to us.

 As you can see from the picture, it wasn't that sketchy.  The other girl in the picture is Olivia.  She is darling!  She, Jeanice, and I are all staying together and we have so much fun.  (Can you tell we were starting to get red here? We blistered for days after this.  Wear sunscreen kids)

Anyhow, back to tacos.  Sum up: we had tacos de puerco.  The pork was good, and the little cute lady who made them was darling and very excited to have us there.  They did come on flour tortillas though, and I really struggle with that.  If it ain't corn, it ain't Mexican.  Over all, we were pretty pleased at our little adventure, and we felt pretty darn authentic. but.......

Score of Tacos de Progress: 5

The following Tuesday our beach tacos were put to shame.  Some of the members of the church had invited us to help clean the church, which we gladly agreed too.  We may have possibly gotten in a huge water ballon fight.  One of the other gals, Montse, and I filled a huge garbage can full of water and dumped on the muchachos who were trying to terrorize us chicas with water-balloons...and we may have accidentally gotten the bishop a little bit, but just a little!

Anyhow, afterwards Emilio, who we have deemed our big brother here treated us to some REAL tacos.  He introduced us to the legendary TACOS AL PASTOR.  Now I've had Tacos al Pastor...at least I thought I'd had.  (Negative ghost rider).  Real tacos al pastor have pineapple.  The meat is cooked on this huge skewer that spins around so that the fire can reach all of the meat, and it's covered with a red condiment traditional to this area.



Needless to say, they were bomb.  It was perfect, and savory.  We went to the restaurant Mixte, which there are several of them here in Merida, but this one is apparently the best according to our taco-specialist Emilio.

Tacos al pastor at Mixte: 9.5

They get a 9.5 because I'm not sure if it was just the fact that it was my first real, taco al pastor, or if they were just chevere that night (awesome), but I've not had a taco al pastor that good since that night.  I mean you can never go wrong with a taco al pastor, but the was the best of the best.

Emilio! Our Taco guide

We had our two little tacos there and then Emilio took us to one more stop: a little taco cart on the side of the road by the Universidad Modelo, where we go to school.  This little taco truck sells taco arabe..and let me tell you...those things are bomb!  Apparently at one point there was a lot or Arabic influence here.  These tacos are put on a special bread, almost kind of like a pita.  I'm pretty sure it was beef, but what made it was the cheese and then this awesome white sauce (which I later learned is a garlic sauce) that they dumped all over.  Can't be good for your health, but it sure put a smile on my tummy!

Tacos Arabe at street cart: 9.

I only gave them a 9 just because I'm pretty attached to your more traditional Mexican tacos.  But the garlic sauce stuff totally made up for it.

little cart to the side of the road

 

The next place I had tacos al pastor was at Los Trompos.  It's a little more americanized, and much less sketchy, but still good.  We went there after the temple one night with Montse from the ward here, and then again for Jordan's (one of the gals in the group) birthday.  One time when we went Jeanice got a taco de bistec, which in my opinion tasted a lot better than their tacos al pastor.  So if you go Trompos, go bistec. 

Tacos de Los Trompos: 7.

Girls night out after the Temple at Los Trompos in the Gran Plaza

Celebrating Jordan's Birthday with the group! There are 14 students+ Profe Brian's cute family!

They were great, not amazing.  Part of it is the environment and it just didn't feel sketchy enough to me.  It's a great place to start your taco tour here in Mérida, but I'd leave it at that.

At La Playa Carmen! I have a really funny tan-line from that cover-up

Last Friday we drove four hours to Tulum, which has some beautiful mayan sites (I will be writing a post about those sites next!) After touring the ruins for a while, we went to another beach: La Playa Carmen.  It's a much more tourist spot than la Playa Progresso, and so it had a lot more shops and things.  The water is considered part of the Caribbean, and it was beautiful!

Me, Ellora, Olivia, and Whitney waiting for our tacos!

We walked around the shops for a while trying to find some cool shoes, and a good spot for tacos.  One guy saw us looking around like confused gringas, so he pointed us in the right direction to Los Fabulosos.  And...the tacos were pretty fabulous.  

Maybe because I was really hungry by this point, but our Tacos Al Pastor were really good! Our waiter was great.  He made sure we knew which salsa was spicy.  As he walked away, we each reached for the spiciest one, and he ran back in a panic.  After we explained that we knew what it was, he calmed down.  It wasn't actually that spicy.  My tongue is de-gringfying!

Socre of Los Fabulosos: 8.5

Up next: we went to three restaurants in one night for Family Home Evening.  (FHE is a night that we set aside in the church to spend time as a family.  Typically, it's a Monday night.  While here in Mexico, our little group of 14 students and the professors family is our FHE group).  Now that's a taco tour!!!

The first place we went was Caciques.  This place wins for the best onions.  I'm a sucked for sauted onions, and they had a whole bowl sitting right in front of me! I also liked their salsa the best.

Ellora, Olivia, Me, and Connor each with our waiter's number. F.L.I.R.T

The traditional salsa of this area is made from Habaneros.  Now can be some hot stuff.  The first time here my Mama passed me the chile, and warned me to only cut a little.  I held it between my hands as I cut, which totally freaked her out.  She made sure I didn't touch my face or eyes and that I washed my hands right away, because if I did, I could really burn myself.  As I ate my food, the little lead thick piece I cut made me start to cry, and I downed 8 glasses of water right in a row.  Even after eating some cream later, I could still feel the burn on my lips.  That's just a hint of how hot this stuff is.  The cool thing is that I'm getting to the point where the heat doesn't bother me so much and I can actually taste the flavor of the salsa (I'm pretty proud of myself.  Jalapeños are like candy!)

Jeanice, Olivia, and I at the round-about on Paseo Montejo (the street with all these tacos!)

Anyhow, back to the tacos de Caciques.  I had a taco de bistec, and it was good, but nothing extraordinary.  

Tacos de C: 7.5, because the onions and salsa were really good!

Next stop was Tacos Payasos, with some suppossedly famous taquitos.  I had a taco al pastor there.  The taco itself was good but again nothin extra-ordinary, and the condiments were lacking.  However, the service was very notable.  

I told our waiter that we were ready to order and he winked at me and said he'd be right there.  After ordering our tacos I requested that our tacos al pastor have a lot of meat and a lot of pineapple, which just made him bust up.  This guy was obviously a flirt, and as we thanked him for bringing our food, he said we didn't need thank him, we just needed to give him our numbers.  He then proceeded to bring out a pad of paper accompanied by a pen, so there was to be no confusion.  I'd tried slyly letting my ring shine as I brushed back my hair several times by this point, but to no avail.  So as to avoid further problems, I showed him my hand and very clearly explained that I was engaged.  "Yo también!" he said (me too!).  He then whipped out his phone and showed us pictures of his little baby.  I tried to further explain that I really couldn't give him my number, when he interrupted that we weren't going to be "novios", just go dancing!

Olivia, Ellora, Conner, and I decided instead we would each draw a picture of a happy little family on the pad of paper he had given us.  He figured it out pretty quickly, so he wrote his number on the paper, and each gave us a copy..even Conner :)

Yeah... we scarfed down our tacos and booked it out before we busted up.

Score of Tacos Payasos: 7.5

Last of the night was Taquitos de PM.  Personally, this was my favorite of the night.  By this point I had eated 2 tacos and I wasn't really hungry, but if a place brings out chips and bean dip, I'm a happy camper.  I'm sure that is a very American thing to do, but I really enjoy it!  They also had this quacamole sauce, which was bomb.  The environment was great, the service was kind and un-flirtatious, and it had a the best bathroom I've seen here other than the ones at the Temple.  The tacos itself, our Professor said were the best tacos al pastor of the night.  

Score of Taquitos de PM : 9!

Defiantly some good stuff.

Our Mexican Big Brother Emilio!

Tonight Emilio is going to swing by again to pick us up again for more taco hunting...so I'm going to be adding to this soon.  Stay tuned for more taco adventures!

...
So yesterday, Emilio took us to try some tacos de carnitas del Michoacán, which is another state in Mexico.  They were awesome!  This guy has the best little taco spots pinned down.  I really appreciated these because they weren't quite as greasy.  We ate them with napal (cactus) and some yummy salsa.  Of course, if you are going to get real authentic, you MUST drink it with coco-cola.  That, is a requirement.

They cook all the meat in this big pot.  You can request different parts... careful lol

Me, Olivia, and Jeanice outisde of the little taco cart

overall score: 9.5  Good stuff!!! And it came out of a cart, which always makes it better.

How Marquesitas are made!

Afterwards, we requested marquesitas.  We have passed so many marquesita carts it's not even funny, but any time we actually want to eat one we can't find one!!! Emilio took us to what he assured us were the best ones, at the Park de las Americas.  It's this cool place with like four parks right next to each other.

So we had marquesitas which is like a cross between a crep and a waffle cone, that they fill with this sharp cheese.  The cheese is the base, and then you choose your other topping.  We all chose Nutella.  Yeah, sharp cheese and Nutella sounds weird....but it's waaay good.  Seriously, I was a pretty happy girl.  Charlie wasn't around, so I kissed a statue instead.


Overall: The food is awesome here, but so is everything else (other than the heat). I really enjoy how we get to know the people and their culture.  I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to be here.  My spanish has improved a lot, and I've fallen in love with the region.  The Yucatan culture is so kind and inviting: su casa really is tu casa here.  What a wonderful place! I can't believe I've already been here 5 weeks.  I just need my family and friends here and it would be heaven on earth.

I hope y'all enjoyed reading a little bit about some of my adventures.  Stay tuned!

Love y'alls guts!

"If you want to make God laugh... tell him your plans"

When I graduated high school I had this outline in my head of how my life would go: I would go to school and social studies so that I could apply for the teaching program, and eventually be a high school teacher.  Somewhere in the midst of studies, I hoped to go on a Study Abroad, possibly the Jerusalem.  I would take a break from school at age 21 so that I could serve a 18 month mission for my church.   I'd get home, finish school, find some guy who was crazy enough to date me, and get married around the age of 25.  

May 2013

Well....I gave God a good laugh at least.  My major is now Spanish and I am applying for the Spanish Teaching program.  I served my mission in the Alabama Birmingham Mission and returned home in December of 2014.  I am currently in Merida, Mexico on a Study Abroad and I will be marrying Charlie DeMartino in less than two months.  

May 2015..Have we changed much?

So...I've completed several of my goals...it just didn't happen the way I planned.  Instead, it has worked out much better than I could have ever planned.  

At the time I started my blog, I had no idea any of that was going to happen.  I've spent a few weeks in Louisiana, and have many more to come there.  

In 2013 I was going to school at BYU in Provo, Utah.  Not too long after I left for my mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to the Alabama Birmingham Mission on June 12th, 2013  Since then I've lived in:

• Decatur, AL
• Columbus, MS
• Birmingham, AL
• Athens, AL
• Bessemer, AL
• Wenatchee, WA
• Provo, UT
• Merida, Mexico

So it's been a hot minute since I've touched this blog.  I don't even know if anyone else does or will read this, but I've really enjoyed looking back on my blog posts from freshman year.  Even if no one else ever reads my blog it's worth it for me to write as a journal of sorts!  In my last posts I had just received my mission call with the assignment to teach in the Spanish language.

There is no way I will ever be able to put into words those 18 months.  They were some of the hardest times of my life, but the best times for my life.  I met so many people who truly inspire me and I came to instantly love.  I grew a lot, and I know a big reason that I was called to serve in that mission was because there was so many people there who I needed to learn form.  

The Wonderful Ware Family! They are such wonderful examples to me.  This was my last night in the mission.
December 2014

Spending time with wonderful sisters in B-ham
Spring 2014

This was taken at the Capps home, who are also an amazing family in the Athens, AL ward
July 2014

Montse is a beautiful girl, and I miss her tons!
May 2014

Mama Donna and two of the Norton girls at the temple
March 2014

Mama Brenda, one of the biggest reasons I was sent to Alabama.  One of the most beautiful people I know inside and outside.
January 2014

Baking cookies with the Elliot family.  I can't explain how much they mean to me.

I think one of the biggest lessons I learned on my mission was just how much God loves his children.  He truly is our Father in heaven, and he wants what is best for each of us.  As a missionary, you feel a part of that love for people.  I felt just stuffed full of the compassion I had for the people I met there, and if that is only a small part of the love God feels, then I can't even contemplate how much he loves us! It's so easy for us to forget that love, or to be hurt by something that has happened.  It was a blessing to me to go out and serve and help people take the same steps that I have taken to come closer to their savior, and feel the love that their Father in Heaven has for them.  I testify that God loves us so much he gave us his Son.  He has given us guidance through the Bible, the Book of Mormon and prophets--even today--so that we can go back home to him.  I am so grateful I was able to share that knowledge and love that has blessed me so much.

...

So then what? 

I got home from my mission and after spending only a few short weeks home, headed right back to BYU.  Towards the end of January, I got the nudge that I should do a Study Abroad this summer.  It was a goal of mine, but I had originally planned to wait until the following summer so that I could save up.  The nudge kept getting bigger...and now I'm sitting in Mexico typing all of this out on my computer in front of a fan because it's blistering hot and I'm sweating like a sinner in church!!!

Turns out it's a good thing I didn't wait, because I wouldn't have been able to go next summer.  Long story short, I went on a few dates with a guy, realized just how awesome he was, and that I should probably give things a shot.  He is one of the biggest blessings of my life, and I am so grateful to be marrying him on September 18th.  (I'll probably write a separate blog about our story later).  

If you aren't bored out of your mind reading this yet, you are awesome!!!  That was a lot of catch up! But one of the reasons that I wanted to starting blogging again is because I am in Mexico and there will be many more adventures to come as Charlie and I start our marriage that I'd love to keep documented in a way that we can share with family and friends.  

So the next post, now that I've briefly caught up on the last 2.5 years since I've written, will be about some adventures here in Mexico.

I do want to make a shout out to so many wonderful friends and family members who have been there for me through this time.  I had so much support and prayers as I gave a year and a half to serve and I couldn't have done it without y'all.  I've been very blessed!

Stay tuned y'all!

Life is funny, it makes me laugh

We had the most fun trip a couple weekends ago!  Whitney, Jesse, Jeanice, and I stayed with Jeanice's sister in Salt Lake City.  All week long we were waiting for it to be Friday so we could finally leave.  When 4:40 came Friday afternoon, we were out the door on the way to the bus stop.  We caught the bus to the front runner (the train that runs between Provo and SLC) and hopped on the top level of the car.  It's great!  One way trip is like 8 bucks total, and it's a fun way to travel.  It is always a littler nerve racking though because we are never completely sure which stop to get off at, but we figure it out.  (I attribute that to Whitney's navigation and map skills)

When we first got there, we went straight to City Creek Mall to start our sister-missionary-shopping-escapade!  We started at the loft, and made our way around.  Of course we had to take a break at Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory to get a chocolate covered pretzel stick (a necessity!) and the continued on our way.  I found a basic, black skirt at Macy's that is perfect for riding a bike and everything.  Jeanice found some cute sweaters (surprise surprise!)  We finished the night at Blue Lemon for dinner with some yummy salads, then went to Jeanice's sister, Meredith's, house to sleep.  She was so good to us!  We talked for a while (her house is so cute) and in the morning, she bought us doughnuts, yogurt, and bananas.  After breakfast we started at Trader Joes.  I have never been there before but its great!  I bought lentils, steel cut oats, and this amazing thing called cookie butter (its like a yummier version of PB!), and other yummy stuff.  Then we went back to the mall, found some more skirts, and finished with lunch at a shushi restuarant.  Apparently it's ranked best sushi in Utah, and it was way good.  I haven't had a ton of sushi before, okay like none, but man it was delcious!  After we ate that, we decided we just had to have some cheesecake from the Cheesecake factor (calories did not apply to this trip-obviously) and then Meredith drove us back to Provo.  It was so much fun!  A huge highlight of my college life.

Valentine's Day was also a lot of fun.  I LOVE VALENTINES DAY!!! EVERYBODY IS MY VALENTINE.  All that negative attitude that it's singles awareness day is so sad.  Really its an opportunity to be happy, love everybody, and eat lots of chocolate and sugar cookies! And thats exactly what I did.  In our family we have a tradition of making heart-shaped sugar cookies.

I couldn't break tradition, so I went all out, and took them to some of the people that I am so thankful for!  For Valentine Activity some of my roommates and I went to a Sleeping Beauty Ballet put on by BYU.  It was really good.  I couldn't watch a ton of ballets, but every now and then I really enjoy them.  I guess it helps that I went to many a dance recitals for Devyn, my best friend, and that really helped me to appreciate dance.  I wish I could dance!

My Mom and best friend Devyn also sent me Valentine's Packages!  I was so excited!

The day after V-day, Jeanice and I both had dates.  My mom sent me awesome socks in the package, so of course we had to wear them!

That Saturday we went to the Basketball game, where they retired two Jerseys.  It was so sweet to see these two, older, and very tall men dance around the court and share their memories.

Monday was no school, so Jesse, Jeanice, Leah, and I walked up to the Y.... hahaha (ask Leah why I am laughing).  Then afterwards we bought ice cream, and proceeded to stuff ourself with left over Valentine's chocolate.  Because of that Jeanice an I are now on a chocolate fast, which we have been doing an excellent job of!  Go us!

This past week my friend Connor and I were busy getting ready for the BYUSA even that we were in charge of.  We had a nerf gun war as a bonding and team building experience for some of the office members.  We used dividers and inflatables and boxes to set up a course in a big room-it turned out pretty cool!  The pictures online and here are examples of how hard it is to blow up a 5' cactus or palm tree-my cheeks hurt sooo bad.

Yesterday we had cleaning checks.  Before we cleaned though, we had some people come by who were playing Bigger or Better.  We traded them for a vinyl record.  This is what happens when you get curious what a smashed record looks like, and you throw it on the ground:

As I was standing on the table, Jesse asked:"Do you think it will hurt the floor?"  "I don't know " I said "What do you think"
She finished with: "I think you should do it"

Jeanice also made her southern Chicken Pot Pie yesterday--soooooo good!  We had some friends over and all enjoyed its goodness.  We also went to Living Legends, which is a performance of Native American, Latin American, and Polynesian dances.  It was awesome!  I love the hoop dances, they are my favorite.


Classes are good, although I really need to get better at Spanish, considering I will be serving a Spanish speaking mission in Alabama.
Here is a picture of my official acceptance letter to the First Presidency, accepting my call to serve in Alabama.  I think about it all the time....it's a little distracting.  I am very excited, and am working hard to prepare to be a good missionary.

That being said, I am certainly taking advantage of every awesome opportunity here at BYU.  I love this college, and am so grateful to be here.


That about sums it up
Until next time! Thanks for reading.

My Call to Serve...

2/1 2013
5:53 PM
Before:
   I thought I would do something a little different.  Since I was planning on doing a post about my mission call to help share with my loved ones an friends why I am going, I thought it might be cool to write part before I open my call, and after.  Here it goes.
  I believe it was Junior Year of High school, we were sent some wonderful sister missionaries in our Wenatchee area.  Natalie told me that she had gone out with them a couple times, and what a great experience it was.  I decided I wanted to get in on it, and called them.  While I was out at discussions or doing church tours with them, I felt prompted that this was something I should do.
  Now fast forward to the begging of this year.  I started my BYU experience at a camp called Foundations of Leadership.  It was a great way to jump in.  At the camp I met lots of great people, and learned a lot about what I could and wanted to get out of my college experience.  More importantly though, I kept wondering what in the world I was supposed to be doing.  I know a general direction of what I want to major in, but not specifics.  What classes am I supposed to take?  What clubs should I be involved in?  Where should I work?  Should I study abroad?  How many credits?  The questions seem endless.  Unfortunately, I have yet to find a magic crystal ball that will tell me all the answers to life.  Fortunately however, I know I have a loving Heavenly Father who knows exactly what he has planned for me, so I prayed to him.  I prayed to know his will for me.  I felt comforted, but I didn't get the answer I was looking for.  So I kept praying, almost every night.  I felt like there was something I needed to be doing, I just couldn't pin point what it was.  The week before general conference, I fasted and prayed that I would find my answer, whatever it was, from those words that would be said.  I wanted to be open and ready for the answer.
Ha.  I couldn't have missed that answer if I tried!
The first thing they announced that conference was the change in the age of Missionaries.  Boys could now go at 18 instead of 19, and girls could go at 19 instead of 21....that was my answer!  I thought I would have to wait another three years!  I was shocked, and I think I scared my roommates because I started to cry right then.
Before making any final decisions, my parents strongly encouraged that I pray and really think about the big commitment of a mission.   I did exactly that, and I felt an assuring peace in my heart that it was the right thing for me to do.
Since then, I have been going to school and loving every bit of that of course, but also preparing for this big event in my life.
Tonight, in approximately 2 and a half hours, I get to find out where I will be serving and when.  I've had a lot of people ask me if I am excited or anxious.  Truth be told, I am.  For different reasons though.  The exciting part isn't that I could go to some exotic land, or Pocathello Idaho (I really don't like Idaho).  I already know the exciting part-that I will get to serve The Lord completely for 18 months of my life.   I love this gospel, and I know that it is true.  I know I am daughter of a Heavenly Father loves me, and the wonderful thing is that on my mission I can share the love that Heavenly Father has for those that I serve and teach.  It won't be easy, it will probably be one of the hardest things I ever do.  It will also be one of the most worth while things I do.  I know that I will grow and learn so much that will help me to become more of the person that I want to be, and that my Heavenly Father wants me to be.  So where ever I go,  I know that my call is inspired by God through his prophets on this earth, and I know that where ever I go, is where I am supposed to be.

After:
My Mom, Dad, Derek, Landon, my best friend Devyn skyped while Grandpa waited on the phone, my roommates, Natalie  and Aunt Diana, Uncle Dennis, an cousin Matthew were in the room as I read:

"Dear Sister McClune:

You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  You are assigned to labor in the Alabama Birmingham Mission.  It is anticipated that you will serve a period of 18 months.

You should report to the Provo Missionary Training Center on Wednesday, June 12, 2013.  You will prepare to preach the gospel in the Spanish language..."

I'm going to have one funky accent.
I am so excited though to serve the people of Alabama.  I know that this is where I am needed, and where I need to be.

Love you all.  Thank you for all your love and support.  I am so blessed.

Whoops...It's been a while

Natalie and my Mom keep reminding me that I needed to update my blog.  Needless to say, college is really busy.  I would have written earlier but I like to have pictures on my blog, and I kept not taking pictures...anyhow I figured I should just cut to the chase and do it.

Soo I had an absolutely wonderful Christmas.  I am so, so, so blessed to have my family.  Honestly, I can't put it into words.  Even though I got my wisdom teeth  out on the 19th, it was great!  Landon took me on a date ice skating, that he paid for.  He worked really hard to save money, and acted like a true gentleman.  Best Date ever!

I sure do love this guy.  How'd I get so lucky.

Dad and I had a lot of fun, we went snowboarding and snowshoeing and just hung out lots.  Mom and I baked a lot and had lots of girl time.  It's amazing how much I miss them.  I love college, don't get me wrong.  Sometimes though it would be nice to still come home and be with your family. Nothing replaces family.   

For Christmas, My mom gave me the most awesome present!!! I have a collection of t-shirts that I hate to get rid of because they all have special, fun memories.  My  mom took the shirts, and made them into a quilt!!! I love it, and sleep with it every night!  It's a little piece of home here in the dorm sweet dorm.

My roomies and I all snuggled up in our blankets-I love mine!

Over break I also hung out lots with my dear friend, Devyn.  I sure do wish she was at BYU with me too.  Here is a picture of Natalie, Devyn and I after going to see the 4th Twilight movies (yes, I know the Hobbit is in the background).  These two are my wonderful, best friends.  I'll say it again... I am so blessed!  

I also went snowshoeing with my other close friends I missed tons, Keisha and Niki.  We had a great time catching up and talking!

Okay, so back at college.  I really love my schedule this semester!  I am taking 16.5 credits, in comparison to my 14 from last semester.  

Here's my schedule:

Monday: 

5:00-Temple with Natalie, Kameron, and Elena (we miss Kennie, who will be serving his mission in Mexico soon!)

then I have a break to do homework, get ready...

10:00-Honors Writing and Rhetoric.  It's a great class, I really enjoy my professor.  We just finished reading Frankenstein (second time I've read it).  It's nice because the class is smaller, so we have a lot of discussion about persuasion and literary principles. 

11:00- break for lunch and homework

12:00-Physical Science.  I don't like science, and I really don't like physics, but I sit next to awesome people, and my professor is hilarious.

1:00-Spanish.  I love spanish, and really would like to learn it better.

then I work out, and study in the library, go to BYUSA if I need too, and get home around 5.  Finish the night with FHE!

Speaking of BYUSA...it is a really great part of my experience at BYU.  In a way it's the student government...but different. Here is a picture from a luncheon we had a few weeks ago. 

I serve in the Administration area as a program director.  Nothing big, and a small part, but It's fun and I really like being involved!  Plus I get to hang out and work with awesome people:

Anyhow, back to my week.  

Tuesday:

Wake up at 4, go to work at 5. 

12-Book of Mormon Part 2 class with Natalie.  We were asked to ready the Book of Mormon in 2 weeks...and it has honestly been one of my favorite homework assignments ever.  It's such an important part of my life.

1- Spanish.

then finish out the day with studying anda all that jazz.

Wed-like Monday except I wake up at 6 and work out.  

Thursday- I don't have class until noon!  At least until second block when I will have another class (Adolescent Development).

then, it's the same as Tuesday.

Friday-Work, the class like Monday and Wednesday

At next block, I will have another class tuesday and thursdays from 8 to 10-Adolescent Development.  I am really excited to take it, since its actually part of my major!

The above picture was taken after a Friday-night snowball fight.  We were soaked!!!! Whitney and I got whitewashed a couple times, but I did my fair share of whitewashing as well, so it was well deserved!  

Tonight, I went with a friend to make sushi!   It was way fun, and delicious!  

Here is a picture of two of my FHE brothers, right after getting their mission call.  They will be going to Netherlands and Belgium.  Natalie also received her call!! I am so excited for them!  Mine should be arriving this week...   

I am so excited to serve a mission.  My parent's guess is that I will be going to New York.  Landon thinks I am going to Africa.  I've learned not to misjudge my  Mom's intuition, so I really wouldn't be surprised if I went there.   Honestly, to me, it doesn't matter where I go.  I will work hard and serve anywhere I am needed.  Even if that is Pocatello Idaho (I really don't care for that place, or Idaho in general.  I have an aunt and uncle there who I love dearly, but the place itself.....nah).  I know that wherever I am sent is where I am needed.  I am excited to find out!

Now that I am all caught up, I will be  posting much more regularly.  Stayed tuned-especially about my mission call!