Just a little somethin somethin

I wanted to update my blog frequently so it'd be like a journal (which I have way too much trouble keeping) but my life is pretty not exciting this week. At least it's friday....right? I have my first French exam on Monday and I'm going to be spending most the weekend studying for it since I said I'd get an A and dedicate it to Zack. His birthday is on Sunday. It feels like it was only a couple months ago when Sierra and I got up early to put balloons at his house, how nuts. I'm really excited about going up to Utah next weekend, not only do I get to see my love, but we are touring temple square and going to conference Sunday afternoon! PUMPED :) I'm really thankful for Mamma and Papa R for getting me a ticket to come up there. Zack and I skype a lot now because it helps with the distance I think. We like to leave the webcam on and "act natural". We read the scriptures or work on our homework and get to look up and see each other! I got a package from my mom today with a superrr cute shirt. I'm glad she has cute style haha. Sighhh, gotta go finish my math test!

Lauren

Sunday Afternoon

I thought I would give a quick recap of this week. I think week three has been the hardest so far. I'm starting to miss home and I'm really missing Zack (although I get to see him in less than two weeks!) My classes are all going well. I find biology the most challenging, maybe because it's so hard to pay attention. And the only class I am really enjoying so far is French. Oh! And my institute class. It seems I've been spending more and more time studying and lounging around my room but I hate being stuffed up so this afternoon I took a blanket and my scriptures outside. There was a nice shady tree right by my dorm :) - just what I needed! I bought a bunch of cute stickers at Michaels the other day and I would LOVE to write you a letter. So if anyone wants to be penpals let me know :)

Love and miss you all
Lauren

A Day In the Life of....

6:58 - wake up, it feels to earl since I've been sleeping in. Take our my make shift "curlers", am appalled by the site of my hair so I try to fix it.
7:30 - realize I still have to get ready! Brush teeth, puts on make up
7:40 - off to Institute!
8:00 Get to Institute on time, we talk about Prophets and how they different from other Church leaders.
8:50 - decide it's time for breakfast, so I try to find the south campus dining
9:10 - Twenty minutes later realize it was just around the corner. Get a bagel and begin to eat peacefully
9:15 A girl comes up and asks to use my phone really quick for an important call, she forgot hers. I say sure, why not.
9:25 - Get my phone back from the girl. Ten minutes is not "real quick". Leave the dining area and head for the bus stop
9:30 - Get on the bus, for the first time. Find a seat and listen to two guys talking. One of the guys thinks he knows the other. They figure out they don't
9:35 - get back to room and prepare for next class, Bio 181 Lecture

Institute - D&C

As some of you know I'm taking an institute class on the Doctrine and Covenants Mondays and Wednesdays at eight in the morning. So this morning I woke up at seven to a very unattractive hairstyle. Unfortunately I left my flat iron in Utah so I had to quickly hop in the shower and we out of the door by 7:45 because it takes about fifteen minutes to walk to the other side of campus. No time for breakfast! As I'm walking along it starts raining...great. By the time I walk into the institute building I have a feeling my morning is not going to turn out. I plop down in my chair and Brother Leisek asks for someone to say the opening prayer, my hand shoots up. Now, not everyone knows about my anxiety of having to do the prayer in a group but it's definitely not something I raise my hand for. So shocked I go up and say it and when I sit back down my morning starts feeling better already. We began talking about the apostasy and restoration. Countless missionary discussions and Sunday school classes and I never realize till today why it is so important to the LDS church. We talked about how privileged we are to have to gospel given to us and how sometimes we don't take advantage of it as much as we should. It made me think of some of my ancesters who maybe were searching for the true gospel but never got it here on this earth. Now that we have it I think it's important that we share it. I know that the true church of Jesus Christ has been brought forth in these latter-days by the prophet Joseph Smith. Because of the dark ages, a reformation was not needed to bring back the gospel but a restoration. A restoration was needed so that we can have the real priesthood authority and true prophets. I am thankful that I am living on this earth at this time and that you are all here with me. I know everyone is here for a reason. I love talking about what I believe and why I believe it so if anyone has any questions please ask. And have a great day!

<3
Lauren

Enough Love for an Eternity

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Thursday morning I was sitting on my bed and Becky and I were casually talking about the upcoming three day weekend. All of a sudden I belted out "I should go visit Zack!" When I said it I didn't actually think I was going to but the next day after classes I am sitting in the Flagstaff airport about to embark on my journey. The first week of school was (secretly) really hard because barely knowing anyone and being in a completely new place is scary. There is no one to come home to who can give you a hug, only phone calls and text messages really make the people you love feel near. I was definitely in need of some loving from my sweetheart. It is not the week apart that motivated me to go but knowing that we both needed each other. I am really glad I made the trip and I feel emotionally refueled and ready to take on the semester. One of my favorite parts of the trip was when Zack and I walked in the blazing hot to the Provo temple. It is the perfect place to sit in the shade and think about life. It made me think of the quote " A life loving is a life well spent. " I couldn't agree more.