November

Happy almost November! To celebrate for this changing of months, I will be studying like a maniac for a couple of important tests. So right now I am in the library and these are beautiful pictures of me trying to study.

I have earbuds in because I can't stand being in total silence with only a little creaking here and a little creaking there. But don't worry it is just used as background music. Nothing to exciting ;)

haha enjoy these embarrassing pictures :)

Food :)

One thing I take a ton of pictures of is food. I love food! I have done a lot of different experiments this semester and lets just say, I haven't starved. I take lots of food pictures so I thought I would share a couple of things that I have been eating recently. Not everything I have made is pictured. :)

 Homemade Caesar salad 

 Pumpkin Chocolate Chip cookies :)

 Homemade French Bread

 Homemade Croutons in my salad

 Black Bean Enchiladas

So these are just a few things that I have made. Will keep you posted on other foods :)

-Rach

Homecoming Week

So Homecoming was two weeks ago, but it was one of the funnest weeks here, so I still need to blog about it!! Let's just say that homecoming at BYU is way better than high school.

 First we started the week off by hiking and lighting the Y. It was a really fun hike, it is always harder than I think. So we got up there and got a light. The top right corner of the Y was our light that we got to turn on!

 Wednesday was Shaylee's birthday and we celebrated by getting together with the FHE brothers and Carly to go get some Cafe Rio. It was a lot of fun! Happy Birthday Shaysta!!

 Wednesday was also true blue. Unfortunately as we were at the top of the line they closed the slide so we had to hurry and slide down what was left and jump in a pile of foam, but it was still really fun!

 Friday was the dance, but I didn't get any pictures. Saturday morning was blue pancake day. Mary, Carly and I woke up bright and early to get a good spot in line to eat some delicious pancakes!

 Then of course Saturday afternoon was the homecoming football game against OSU! It was a black out and the stadium was really cool, we also got front row seats right behind the field goal. It was a fun game despite the loss. Overall it was probably one of the best weeks that I have had.

I love it here at BYU! I can't believe that I have been living on my own for 4 months! That is just crazy. Time has just flown. I am still getting used to things, but so far so good. I can't wait to go home for Thanksgiving and not worry about school for 5 whole days. I love school and I am so grateful that I was accepted into this great university. Hope all of you have a wonderful week.

I am sorry for being scattered with my posts. And I think I am going to go public. But I am still deciding on that!

-Rach

Unique Challenges

This year before I started my Fall semester I asked for my yearly father's blessing. This blessing is very personal for me and it helped answer many questions and give me a lot of comfort. But one of the things that was mentioned in my blessings was that I would experience many unique challenges. I have been here for 3 months and I have definitely experienced unique challenges.

The first was a conflict with my job and school. I love my job and didn't want to quit, I got that figured out. The second was that a dear friend came home from his mission. And right now I am struggling with the death of a friend.

I went to Haley's funeral on Tuesday, and it made me realize how precious life is. I realized how much I love my family and how much they mean to me. I realized that the fight I am in with a dear friend is silly and petty and I want to make things better. I tried to think of how I would be remembered if I were to die today. I have felt that all that I do these days is complain. I don't want to be remembered as the girl who always complained.

So I have some goals. I am going to be happy, I am going to take life one day at a time and I am going to find the simple happy things that happen. I love life! I love my family! I love my friends! I love school! I love the gospel!!

I am so grateful for my savior, Jesus Christ, for the opportunity that we will be able to see our friends and loved ones after this life. I know that these unique challenges that I experience are for some good that I can't yet see. I am grateful for the experiences that I have. I am so grateful for this gospel and I know that it is true!

-Rach

Letter to Haley :)

Today a dear child -hood friend passed away. This is a letter to her!

Dear Haley,

Thank you so much for all that you have done for me. I remember how good of a friend you were when we were younger, in elementary school. As we grew older we didn't stay too close, but you were still my friend and I am so glad for the opportunity to have known you! I know that your struggle through this disease was difficult, but you are my hero because of the attitude you had throughout it all. I love you girl, and you will be missed by everyone from school, your family and especially me! Thanks for being a great example to me and for being my hero. I know that you are in a better place, but that doesn't mean that we won't miss you! Thanks girl, I love you!!

-Rachel

BEAUTY!!

Today Mary and I went on a hike to Stewart Falls! It was really good to get out and go enjoy the beautiful fall colors. As we were walking we found out the news that girls can go on missions at 19, but that is for a later post. Anyways, it was amazing! I love Mary and I am so glad that I dragged her to come with me!

It was absolutely gorgeous. I love Fall, it is a time of change. I have definitely felt that the last couple of weeks, and to be honest some of it is not good. I realized that change is inevitable and we are just going to have to deal with it. But I love the changing of the seasons, it always makes me so happy to see the year go by. :)

I hope you all enjoy conference this weekend, and I will do a later post on that.

-Rach

p.s I think I might be going public instead of private, I haven't decided. Will post soon!!