Turkey Day!!

I absolutely love the holiday season! My parents drove up yesterday and took my brother and I skiing! It was incredible for preseason snow.  It was a tad bit icy and I had a hard time skiing down the slopes at first, but I found out that after 3 and 1/2 years of not skiing, I've still got it :) I may not be as good as my parents, but I'm getting there! I am exhausted though.  Skiing keeps you in shape! I was glad to ski, but I'm not going to lie, finally taking off all my snow gear afterwards felt great.  I can't wait for the rest of the mountain resorts to open up and ski on some fresh powder! :) Maybe I will survive the snow!

Today was incredible! I slept in until about 11 after my intense day yesterday and then my dad picked me up and took me to my cousins house for Thanksgiving.  I played with all my little cousins before lunch and loved it.  We jumped on the trampoline and had tickle fights galore.  Then, the food was ready and we feasted! The food was so freaking good! I was full after only one plate, but I made room for chocolate pie and pumpkin cheese cake! My family bonded and it was great.  We are all currently either on a computer or looking through ads for Black Friday! I love this! We'll all be staying up all night and then shopping for all the good deals. I can't wait! Although I must admit, I miss Taylor, but being with my family is what I needed more than anything! I am so blessed to have them!

Finding Joy During Trials

My time here seems to both be flying by and dragging on.  I have recently met an incredible young man and couldn't be happier, but my grades are another story.  It's harder than I would've expected here at BYU.  The more I think about it though, the more I remember, everyone here was the top of their class.  Everyone here had amazing grades, did hundreds of hours of service and worked extremely hard to make it to where they are now.  I just don't want to let people down.  However, despite my struggles, God still reminds me I am loved.  Taylor stopped by today and brought me Jamba Juice because he knew I was sick and then had his sister drop me off soup, ice cream and hot chocolate.  It was the sweetest thing ever and it brightened my day.  I also find myself feeling down at times and my brother will call and talk to me and cheer me up or a much needed phone call from my cousin Kaylyn always puts a big smile on my face.  I guess what I'm learning is, life will always present challenges, but I just have to remember that God loves me and wants me to succeed.  There's a reason for everything that happens, and it's not always easy to accept it, but it is worth it to always trust in God.  As it says in Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways, acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths."

Also, Thanksgiving is coming up! My parents are driving up to visit me and my brother, since my lucky little sister gets to go to Hawaii for marching band! I'm so excited to see them though! It's amazing how much you miss your parents once you move out! But I can't wait to show them how much I've learned and grown up.  Hopefully they'll agree with me when I say I've grown up! :p I also can't wait for the delicious Thanksgiving dinner! Ah, it's going to be so yummy compared to my cheap meals I normally eat! Overall, life is good.  Hard? Yes! Worth it? Of course!

First Snow of the Season

I'm an Arizona girl through and through.  My idea of winter is just cold enough to need a jacket, but not so cold that your limbs will freeze and fall off if you don't.  That is the cold I experienced today.  I woke up at 8, and quickly got ready for class at 9.  I left the apartment and my hair was still soaking wet. The cold air engulfed me within a few seconds of stepping outside my door.  Water was building up everywhere, so by the time I reached the JKB, I was soaked.

 I thought to myself, "Utah, you must hate me."  Trigonometry passed and I slowly warmed up.  I went to Book of Mormon, my engineering seminar and then decided i needed a toasted Subway sandwich to warm me up.  I walked back to my apartment and my face felt like the frozen chicken most of my meals consist of (my cooking skills=fail).  I bundled up and began studying and trying to warm myself up.

Snow on the mountain seemed to say, "this is what's coming for you" and I shuddered at the thought.  Then, to my dismay little foreign white specks began to fall outside.  I was desperately hoping it was still rain, but alas, snow.  Cold, wet, snow.  Don't get me wrong, snow can be amazing and it is beautiful, but this early in the year? I mean, back home, in October, people can still get away with wearing shorts.  I went to my next class after an eventful trip to the creamery where I purchased delicious Root Beer.  The creamery has so many hidden treats.  I always find just what I need to raise my spirits.  Nutrition was just great today.  I immersed myself in the lecture and tried to ignore the shivers and goosebumps that I couldn't seem to rid myself of.  We learned about Vitamins and my professor started talking about different lifestyles and ways of eating and how we can still get all our nutrients.  He told us about a girl who tried to eat just fruit for 3 days.  He followed it up by saying in a chuckle, "she didn't make it."  Then looking at the horrified looks on our faces, he quickly responded, "Oh, she didn't die!"  I love my professor.  His enthusiasm has sparked my interest in Nutrition.  Not to mention, the man is hilarious.  I was sad to see the time on the clock, 5:45.  Class was over and the bitter Utah air was calling my name.  I zipped up my jacket and headed back home.  However, as I looked at the beautiful lighting from the overcast sky and the snow that lightly coated the towering mountains ahead of me, I began to love the weather.  Well... maybe love is to strong.  I was able to tolerate it a little more.

It's new and it's going to take some getting used to, but my life here is just the same.  It's new and foreign, just like those little flecks of snow that fell on me, but if I prepare myself and see the good in it, i can learn to love it.  At least, I'm praying I can view it that way.  It tries my faith and patience every time I leave the testing center or forget an assignment or simply just have an off day, but I know I'm here for a reason.  I don't know why yet, but the first snowfall of the season has reminded me that I can do this.  Everyone was just as cold as I was, but they pushed on through.  I keep looking for that illusive perfect college experience.  I have learned, it doesn't exist, but our actions and experiences make it special for us.  You get out of college what you put in.  With the help of my roommates, I'm willing to face the rest of this year.  I may be off to a rocky start, but my hope is renewed thanks to the first snow fall of the season.

Dinner to Satisfy Even the Hungriest College Student! :D

I, being a poor college student look forward very much to Sunday dinners at my cousin's house.  This Sunday especially.  I was getting so tired of rice, so the idea of grilled chicken, mango salsa and a variety of fruits and veggies sent my taste buds tingling!  I got there and was met by smiling and welcome faces of all my cousins.  They are all older than myself, so they have beautiful families.  Their children range in age from newborns to 14 year olds.  I love chasing my little cousins around, getting in tickle fights, pushing them on swings until my arms get tired and best of all, getting hugs from every single one of them.  I love my family up here dearly.  They make college life on my own a little more bearable. We spent the whole night in their backyard.  It's so beautiful this time of year.

Their backyard is the mountain.  I love it.  I can't wait to sled down it in the winter!  They are spending as much time as they can out here while the weather is still so nice. 

The flowers bloom in their gorgeous garden and if you're lucky, you'll spot a deer curiously approaching in search of food.  I guess it's not so lucky for their garden, but I love it. 

Tonight's conversation took an unexpected turn.  My cousin Becca's brother, Seth, has decided he is going to set me up on dates since guys at BYU are just not asking girls on dates.   With most of my cousins married, I guess I'm next or so they say.  My little cousin Kaitlyn asked me on the car ride, "Christina, when are you going to get married?!"  I laughed and was surprised, but her mom, Becky, saved me from having to answer.  She replied that I had a few years to go.  I was laughing so hard.  I love little children's directness and curiosity.  It always allows the most interesting conversations.  I can't wait for the next dinner.  Hopefully my brother will be there with his beautiful wife. Until then, I must come back to reality and finish my homework that has piled up on my desk.

Discovering New Oceans

I have always been intrigued by blogs, but I have never been brave enough to create my own.  Well, my wonderful roommate has finally convinced me to do so.  I named this blog "Discovering New Oceans" because of my favorite quote.  "You can't discover new oceans unless you have courage to loose sight of the shore."  Well, that is exactly what I'm doing.  I'm on my own for the first time, in a new city and state and I'm letting go of everything that tied me down before.  I'm venturing into the unknown and to be honest, I'm terrified.  This is my first year at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.  I have already been here for a semester over the Summer.  So, when all the moms and dads were saying their tearful goodbyes, mine were back home.  We'd already exchanged our sentimental farewells last semester, so this move into my new dorms was nothing new.  I'm settled in and already over a month has passed.  Time is flying and I can hardly keep up.  My roommate and I get along better than I could have dreamed.  We're both nutty and crazy when tired and have the same affinity towards sugar, which means our daily trips to the gym are that much more needed.

Life is getting easier.  I am an undergraduate, majoring in Civil Engineering.  My grandfather, father, uncle, cousins and multiple other family members are civil engineers as well.  I guess it runs in my blood.   A love for math however, does not.  I have been told that as long as I stick it out, I won't ever have to use Calculus again in my chosen career.  I am desperately hoping this is true or I am in trouble.  I do, despite my distaste for math, love engineering.  It is so fascinating to me.  I have always wanted to discover new things and getting into the green movement is calling my name.  I am intimidated by what lies beyond college, but I'm ready to take on the challenges life hands me.  College has its ups and downs, but the positive things make the hard moments worth it.  I hope I can press forward and have courage to loose sight of the shore.