Haunted Houses

Ever since I was 12, I was absolutely obsessed with being scared, watching scary movies, popping out and scaring people, telling scary stories to scare my friends, etc. On Friday, I went to a haunted house on a date, and I hated it! I could not wait to get out. I was clinging to my date like a baby (not because I wanted to - I needed to) and laughing hysterically because I didn't know what else to do. Does becoming a chicken mean turning into a grownup?  Just imagine this guy following you down a dark, quiet hallway and you not noticing until he taps you on the shoulder...

I'm going to be a teacher!

After having my mid-college crisis, I came to the conclusion to change my major to Math Education. I felt pretty good and excited about this new change. I honestly can say that I am headed for the right direction because the more I think about being a high school math teacher, the more excited I get! That's not to say that there aren't a few bumps along the road. Not having taken a math class for two years really rocked my world the first month of college Calculus. Not going to lie, this made me start to question if I could handle majoring in math. But I was reaffirmed in my decision after having completed two "observation days," one in a 6th grade math class and the other in a 4th grade class. I loved being back in a school again! It was so fun to be looked up to by the kids and being around their high energy.

While observing:

-In the fourth grade class when asked to partner up, one girl was paired with a boy, she had an absolute look of disgust on her face.....I would really like to see her in another 5 years in the same situation.

-I was told I look like I am in high school.

-When I said my favorite color was green in my introduction, there were so many shouts on how that was THEIR favorite color too! One boy even had to show me his green pencils.

-6th grade girls are so complimentary, I was told multiple times how pretty I was.

-I heard this about 5 times, "It's under there." "Under where?" "Underwear!!!!"

-Along with this:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Hh6w-r17hk

General Conference

I remember the days of living at home and General Conference meant a Sunday that I got to stay in my pajamas and sit in the living room with the family and try to keep myself entertained, or even awake. It never hit me just how important and how much it can spiritually benefit me until the last couple years. I will admit, after leaving home I realized that I had the freedom to choose whether or not to listen, but after taking my Institute class, Teachings of the Living Prophets, my testimony of General Conference began to develop. I had never watched all of the sessions until the Fall Conference last year. It truly was a blessing in my life to finally do that. It really makes a difference when you make the choice to listen and watch with the mind set that you want to learn how to become better.

This year I just couldn't get enough of it. These are some of the talks that really stood out to me.

Elder Boyd K. Packer spoke in the Saturday morning session. He spoke of the power we have, claiming our second estate, our bodies. One line that really stuck out to me was that the Atonement is the key we have to the prison we lock ourselves in through sin. And the Atonement, no matter what it is, can heal whatever hurts. I believe this to be true. He also advises us to look forward to the future, that even in the awfulness that surrounds us in the last days, we still can have the righteous desires of our hearts, and we must live a life to get them.

Sister Elaine S. Dalton's talk in the Sunday morning session was so sweet. She talked about the important roles a father has in raising a daughter. Her advice was to love her mother. It made me think of all the things my dad did for me growing up, some of which I resented (not being allowed to hangout with boys before I was 16) and how I was so blessed to grow up in a home that had a father who held the priesthood and a mother. It made me so excited for the future in my own family on the things I am looking for in a husband. 

Other quotes that I liked from the Conference were:

"Our Heavenly Father loves us so much that the things that are important to us become important to Him." - J. Devn Cornish

"The Atonement covers all of the unfairness of life." -  Elder Quentin L. Cook

"The greatest compliment in this life is to be known as a 'covenant keeper.'" - Elder Russell M. Nelson

"Look up. Most of what we worry about will not effect our eternal salvation, and if it does the Lord will help with it." - Carl B. Cook

Also, there's going to be a Wyoming temple! (These truly are the last days)