24 Hours of Evilness!!

I've decided I need to boost my immune system.
I got this awful bug, passed down my Thomas, last night that lasted a whole 24 hours.
Boy, was it a nightmare. It came on so quickly, and lingered around for too long!
I didn't sleep a wink. The bathroom floor was my best friend.


I've also come to the conclusion, due to last nights events, that I'd much rather have a cold than the stomach flu. Oh it was painful.

I checked my e-mail this afternoon and sitting in my inbox was this precious e-mail from my Art Professor:

Class has been canceled for tonight, 1/27

What a true blessing it was to read those words. Somebody loves me and is watching out for me because there is no way I could have made it to class tonight.

Poor Thomas is still sick...I'm praying he gets over it soon, I don't wish it upon anyone!

I hope you all are staying healthy! Beware of the evil stomach bug!

Living and Breathing School

Lately I feel like I've been living and breathing school.

I spent my Friday night rounding up Art supplies for my Art class with Thomas (what I fun date I am...)

I spent my Saturday morning sitting in a classroom watching the snow fall, dreaming of all the more productive ways I could spend my morning.

I spent Sunday night preparing for another busy week filled with work, school, and oh, more school.

And tonight I'll spend the night studying for Bio, drawing self-portraits (which will take me a long time since I can't figure out how to draw a nose...oh I have a lot to learn this semester).

My life consists of School and work...and a little bit of Thomas.

The good news is, I'm going home Friday morning for four days for my Grandmother's Funeral.

It'll be a whirlind trip, that will leave me wanting another vacation.

AND....the day after I get home, Chelsea will be here for a week! I'm pretty darn excited! I might even attempt to go snowboarding with her...oh what a sight that would be!

Happy Monday!

Summer? Now? PLEASE!

It's only day two of classes this semester, and I'm already looking forward to summer.
This cannot be good....

I will be running around like a chicken with it's head cut off this semester. I just know it.


On a Bitter-Sweeter note, I'm going home January 29th for a Memorial Service for my Nana! The closure will be nice, especially being around my whole family.
I need it.
I'm also excited to see my friends and get a taste of California!

I'm thankful for having the opportunity to receive an education. I shouldn't take it for granted.
I'm thankful for Karin for being so understanding with my crazy school schedule and my needy self. I feel like such an irresponsible person asking for more time off. But Life, it happens.
I'm thankful for my Mom who listens to my rants every night and offers the best advice she can.

Welcome Natalie Anne!

My new little Baby Cousin arrived a few days early!


My dear cousin Rachel delivered via emergency C-section
Natalie Anne Sowell
at 4:09 am!
weighing 7 lbs and 18in long!

And according to Rachel, "she's got lungs"!

Congratulation Rachel!
I can't wait to meet her



First Biology class tonight....oh this can't be good.

6 months...and counting!

It's Official!!!

I have been living in Utah six months TODAY!

I am amazed at how quickly the time has flown by!
I truly believe moving was the best decision I've made in a long time!

Some days I miss California more than others...but I think if I moved back, I'd miss Utah more than anything. It's crazy, but so true.

Let The Rollercoaster Begin...

My life is about to get a few more twists and turns.

Tomorrow, I'll start my first semester at the University of Utah.
Working close to fifty hours a week and
going to school 14 hours a week is going to be quite the juggle.

Finding time to fit other things in is going to be difficult.
I'll even be going to school Saturday mornings, so I might want to kiss my chances to sleep in goodbye.

Hello education...
goodbye my life!!!
I can now wear this sweatshirt officially...
I'm an official Ute.

Until We Meet Again, Nana

On January 6th my dear Grandmother passed away peacefully in her sleep.
After a short and ferocious battle with cancer, she took her last breath and left many great memories behind.

I'll remember all her hard work in the kitchen.
When we went to visit her when I was younger, Nana could always be found in the kitchen making various meals for numerous people. She was a fabulous cook and an even better baker.
Her Chocolate cake and cheesecake could be found on the counter, and was always consumed quickly thereafter.

Her laugh could make anyone smile. There was just something about it that I'll never forget, and I can't even explain her laugh. She often looked at me and told me how we look so much alike. Her red hair, long chin, small mouth, etc. I'm glad I have somebody's looks in the family, because I don't think I look like anyone in my family.

I'm glad she's not suffering anymore and I'm glad everyone was able to say goodbye.
We were able to prepare for her passing and I am so grateful for that.
I, too, am so happy to know that her journey is just beginning and that someday, we'll all be together again. This isn't goodbye, this is an I'll see you later...

RIP Nana

I am thankful I had twenty amazing years with her, longer than I had with my other Grandparent. I'm thankful she was able to be there for my High School graduation. I'm thankful I saw her before I moved to Utah and took pictures with her, pictures I'll have forever. I know she is, and would be, proud of me with whatever decision I make. She told me so.

2010 ramble #1

Happy New Year!!!

I feel like I am celebrating 2010 a date late..
It's now January 2nd at 4:30am and I can't sleep.
(*note to self: never have two Rock Stars at 12am*)

I've been thinking a lot about setting and sticking with new year's resolutions.
Those are so hard to come up with.
Commitments are so hard, either I'm letting myself or some one else down.
Hence, why setting resolutions are so difficult for me.

One thing I hope to accomplish this year is focusing on bettering myself and my future.
I need to find a balance in my life between school/work/fun time.
I need to take school seriously and focus on that over anything else.
I've never really put the time or effort into school like I should have.
But I think, for once, I'm ready to.

I've realized that by this time next year I will have gone through two semesters at The University of Utah.
I'll be 21.
I'll have been living in Utah 18 months.
I'll probably have lost touch with friends and connected with new friends.
My Brother will have graduated from Northwestern University.
I'll have survived one long and cold Utah Winter.
I'll have change, a lot, but that's to be expected.

I'm excited for what this year will bring.
I know that whatever is sent my way, that I'll have the strength to overcome it.
It will only make me stronger.
I know I'll have obstacles that will challenge me to greater abilities, and for once, I'm excited to hurdle over them.

As I look back at 2009, the change in who I was as of January 1st, 2009 to who I am today, January 2nd, 2010 is unbelievable.
I'm so much more confident in my abilities.
My drive to do better increases daily.
I feel that 2009 was my journey to get back on life's path; as I definitely decided to try the road less traveled, that ended in many dead ends.
I'm happier; I can't even describe why or how. But I am, and I love it.
I feel that I'm going somewhere. I'm finally on my own and learning so much about myself.
I'm grateful for the trials 2009 held for me. I know that without them, I would not be who I am today.

In exactly 11 days I will start my first Semester at The U, and another whole chapter of life will be opened up to me, literally.
I'm excited, I really am.

This post is a bunch of ramble, but that's what two rock starts will do to you.

I'm going to write something I'm grateful for everyday and today it only seems fitting that I mention my family.

As the Holidays came and went, I noticed the absence of my family in my life more.
Don't get me wrong, they're in my life, but being so many miles away from home (and especially during the Holidays) made me appreciate them all the more. I know families are forever, and what a blessing to know, but being away from them is so tough sometimes.
I am grateful they are only a phone call away. I am so thankful the love and support they have given me each and every day. I know that we may not always see eye to eye, but I still love them. I definitely miss them a lot and can't wait to spend time with them, whenever that may be.

Enough of my ramble.
I need sleep.