So when I lived back home my barn would go Christmas caroling to a horse property neighborhood, we would dress up the horses and ourselves and attempt to sing more than five carols. I was really sad I would miss it this year, but one of my new horse friends put together Christmas caroling so I was stoked! I don't have my own horse up here so we went on foot. It was a blast meeting new people and singing to random families! At one point in the night I ran to a front door, turned the corner and did a 360 flip onto the ice.... first thing i thought was "good gandhi I'm going to sue someone." haha just kidding but the hip pain was inconvenient! As we were singing, when in doubt of which song to sing next I just burst into Rudolph, it was completely necessary. It's just great spreading Christmas cheer to everyone and having horses to help:)
Something about a truck....
Many of the good times up here at college have happened in a truck. I learned how to drive stick shift int he church parking lot, I enjoyed it very much and I'm pretty sure I could be in fast and furious if I actually owned a stick car, but us less fortunate automatic drivers still exist and life goes on. Also when finals were about to make my brain implode through my skull my male friends took me to get pizza....however they are a little larger than me. We squeezed into Austin's little truck and of course I sat in the middle (aka party seat) between them. Somehow we ended up eating 2 boxes of little caesars, while listening to bagpipe music and Jonathan having the giggles etc. Let's just saw we bonded very "closely" that night, I'll keep them around but only cause they buy me pizza;)
Horsin' Around!
I was so blessed with Nicole. Not only are we practically the same person with the same future, but she lets me come ride her horses! We bundle up and go ride up the mountain the snow, sometimes we almost die and can't feel our toes but we push through:) I started to ride western, and I think I'm converted:)
Hit me with your best shot.
Learned how to shoot a gun! It's all about learning that self defense up here at college, just kidding Logan is VERY safe I just wanted to learn:) At first I was 100% sure I would shoot one of my friends and get put in jail and never go back to college. Lucky for them I shot nothing, not even the pigeons, but it was still a blast so we are doing it again. Holding that little shot gun and shooting milk cartons all i could think was, "how do they do kill shots in the movies and not fall over?" Those things have a kick and weigh more than my left thigh! Fun fact: Remember how I collect milk cartons, because I have a chocolate milk obsession? Well they came in handy, I'm now a trusty donator to the milk carton shooting club. Take that all those people who judged me for keeping them.
*No phones were harmed in the taking of this photo*
Learning to herd cattle with Erin and Jonathan was super fun, nothing better than sitting atop a horse and hanging out with friends (aka mom and dad)
For finals week we went down to temple square, my other friends went to do a session (since they are all return missionaries) Right now I can do baptisms for the dead (which means people who have already died can become a member of the church by me going in place of them and receiving their membership!) Sessions last about 2 hours, baptisms more like 20 minutes..... I got out of the temple and still had a solid 2 hours left before everyone else would be done. None of them could use their cell phones so i wondered downtown for a little bit and then turned around and did more names! I came out and still had about a hour and a half. I walked around with wet hair and it started to turn into ice, meanwhile some random guy grabbed my hand and asked if I wanted to tour the world with him. I removed my hand and said no thanks, that I would rather stay in college.... I almost got kidnapped in temple square!!! What has the world come to..... then the rest of my friends came out and it turned into a date! We looked at the lights and ate at blue lemon, it twas prime:)
My roomies' and I's best friend Edwin got baptized! Oh it was so great! Just being there to watch him change, being in the missionary discussions and seeing the power of missionary work makes me so excited to serve myself! Edwin, I know your life is going to be blessed tremendously because you have a loving Christ by your side always:)
Learning everyday!
I failed my first college class, biology. College is different than high school, you WORK for your grade, no slacking. I have already learned this the hard way, you aren't always going to be a straight A student. It's all though, taking bio a second time will be so much more beneficial because I can relearn everything better! So never be ashamed if you have to retake a class, there is a goos chance 20 other kids have had to do the same. You learn a lot about what study skills and lecture skills are best for you so the first semester is a little crazy! I feel a lot more confident in second semester:)
Finals are psychotic. Start studying as early as you can, get a great study group and quiz each other like crazy! Any down time you have, study but make sure you give yourself breaks else your brain will just stop caring and just throw up any more knowledge! Luckily I have amazing friends who are killer students and did amazing on their finals!
The people you met in college will be your best friends forever:)
KEEP SMILING:)
Love,
Abbey
