A Great Weekend :)

The weekend started out on a great note. My roommates and I organized a group date starting at 'Blastoff' in IF where we were to engage in a friendly game of phaser-tag. This is quite similar to paint balling, but indoor and with bouncy balls. This was definitely something to get the adrenaline pumping and started the night off on a great note. Then we went on to Red Robin to eat dinner.

My date and I were talking about how many speckled lemonades we had consumed in one sitting before. He had me beat with 8 while the most I had done was 4. So I decided to challenge myself and he definitely encouraged it. I was drinking the strawberry lemonades so fast that our waiter decided it would be better to start bringing me two at a time. Soon I had more drinks on the table than I could handle. I got six down and started  feeling a bit funny. Everyone at the table was determined to pressure me into doing another, but I doubt I would be alive today if I had finished number seven. Once we were done with dinner, the waiter informed me how many calories were in a single cup of the sweet beverage. We did the math and were disgusted at the fact that I drank 2,100 calories in one sitting. I also decided that it's a very good things that I don't drink alcohol. Or I would probably be wasted all the time.

The next morning I went to Alpine for breakfast with council. We found an empty cupboard and decided it would be a good idea to fit three of us grown college students in it. Never thought I would do that, maybe as a little child but never as a grown woman with two others as well. Don't worry, we documented with pictures :)

 Then on Sunday we had the pleasure of spending 5 hours at church. Sacrament meeting started at 1:50 as usual so naturally church went until 4:50. Since the ward scheduled a fireside to start at 6 they arranged to have dinner in between. I loved how we talked about gratitude all day. It was a good reminder for me and was just what I needed to hear. I love when that happens!

And now I am home and loving spending time with my family!!

-still the odd one out-

McDonald's

Wednesday morning I was sitting in my Personal Health and Wellness class and we were learning about eating disorders, Anorexia and Bulimia. Brother Evans told us about two girls that he knew who were bulimic. These girls went to McDonald's one night to have an eating contest to see who could eat the most number of Big Macs. The contest was over when one of them either threw up or stopped eating. These two girls, normal size and weight, were able to consume 13 and 15 Big Macs. I was a little disturbed at this fact but it got me craving a Big Mac.

So after Council Keri, Steven and I were hungry and cold. This is when McDonald's sounded like a great idea, so off we were to get our hot cocoa and my Big Mac. Sounds very normal right? Well that is where you would be wrong. The whole way there, the whole time there, and the whole way back to our apartments we were speaking in English accents and having a 'jolly good' time. I am certain that some people thought we were crazy...but where is the fun in being normal? 

Something else I rather enjoyed was listening to both mine and Keri's laughs at the same time. We recently found out that we have the same laugh. A friend that served his mission in South Africa told us that it sounds like a zebra. So just picture walking into a McDonald's to get a delicious and fattening dinner one Wednesday night and encountering some college students laughing like zebras and talking like Britain's. I wish I could have seen us.

I have a feeling that this is something that I am going to love remembering about college. Random trips out with friends, speaking in accents and just being silly. I love my friends :)

-still the odd one out-

What if...?

So my roommates and I watched "Letters to Juliet" last night. I had never seen it before but I am certain that it is definitely one of my new top favorites!! Something that I really liked about this movie was that it got me thinking a little bit about my life.

In the end of the movie Claire, the Grandma, reads the letter that 'Juliet' sent to her. It made mention of how 'what' and 'if' are really two of the most innocent words that are in the English language. But when these words are put together, they become something so powerful that can haunt you forever.

I couldn't agree more with this message. I hate when an opportunity presents itself and I deny it. I hate when I am too scared to say something, too lazy to help someone in need, too immature to study more for an exam. I hate to wonder 'what if?'

I like to live my life in a way that I don't ever ask myself that question. I say what comes to my mind when it comes and try to listen to my heart. Of course in the movie 'Juliet' is referring to love, but I think that this can also be applied to most every other aspect of life.

Just think- what kind of a world would this be if no one ever had to ask themselves that awful question? I think it would be a lot better :)

-still the odd one out-

Happy Halloween

I would have to say that this year was a great Halloween, I got to dress up three times, being sometime different each time, and all who really know me know how much I love to dress up. It always takes me back to 'spirit days' in high school when I went CRAZY! Then to top it off, on Sunday I got to make a super fun cake for our FHE group dinner. 

 I had so much fun being creative and creating my masterpiece :)

Yes, I know I am hot ;) Just thought I would have some fun with the nasty wax lips I put on the cake. I think I look good with the oversized lips. Plastic surgery maybe?? Haha.

And now we are on to the month of November....this means I am just that much closer to being home for Thanksgiving!! This is the longest I have gone without seeing my family. I haven't been home since July and I miss everyone :'( But life is still good here at BYU-Idaho. 

-still the odd one out-

time flies

I can't believe it is already Saturday again! I don't understand where this last week has gone. Or even where the first half of this semester has gone....

As time disappears, it becomes more clear to me just how important each day is. I have come to realize that I need to be putting more heart into each day. More meaning into each action. I haven't been the best at implementing this into my life, but hopefully I will get better at it. 

Some highlights from the week: 

~I scored a touchdown in our last football game. Although we ended up losing the game, it was such a fun season and I loved being on the team. The Feisty Females made each week a little bit better for me :)

~Katrina invited Meaghan and I to come to a Halloween party with her last night and I got to dress up as a very attractive Lion...I have to admit it was the first time I have felt 'not ugly' for Halloween

 

~On my Child Development test, I got the score of 104%...this was only after 15 minutes of studying. I felt pretty amazing.

~We went to our Ward Halloween activity on Tuesday and I was reminded how good I am at donut eating contests, and how skilled I am when bobbing for apples. It only took me 3.2 seconds to get that sucker out of the bucket :) However, my skills do lack when it comes to musical chairs.

~I also learned that I LOVE and ADORE pumpkin waffles with butter cream syrup...thanks to my wonderful FHE sisters :)

-still the odd one out-

change

I have found that change is something that most people grow to fear. I like to think of myself as someone that looks forward to, desires and even craves change. Typically this is the story. Like when I was looking forward to the new school year, having new classes and new roommates (whom I love so much!). Or like each time that my parents have told me that there would be a new addition (or additions this last time) to our family. Or just when I am about to try a new kind of food or dye my hair (yes, even doing the purple over the summer). But this last weekend I realized that some changes are harder than others. 

For me, I suppose it's when the change was not suspected at all. When it catches me off guard and I don't know how to deal with it. Adapting to such situations is something that takes time and practice. Something else that I realized is that 'change' doesn't mean that the world is going to stop spinning, or that existence will cease as we know it. Rather, it is something that we just need to adjust to.

Just a bit of advice: when change comes don't shy away from it, embrace it. I know of so many people that are unhappy in there present situation and I feel like it is due to their attitude toward the change that has come into their lives. I am quite confident that if they would only embrace it and look for the 'silver lining' that life would seem so much better. I am sure that everyone has heard the saying, "When life gives you lemons, make some lemonade!" I am a strong believer of this saying. I know I am not perfect at implementing it, but I am currently working on it!

"The key to change....is to let go of fear."  

-Rosanne Cash

 

“Life can either be accepted or changed. If it is not accepted, it must be changed. If it cannot be changed, then it must be accepted.”  

-Anonymous

 

-still the odd one out-

Tender Mercies

This last weekend had its ups and downs. You know those times when you just want the next day to come and be better? Well that's pretty much how it was. But I am not here to complain about that. I am here to express my gratitude for Tender Mercies in my life.

At the end of Council every day we sing a hymn then share our tender mercies of the day. The hymn that we sang was just what I needed to remember. It was "Where Can I Turn for Peace" #129. It just reminded me that in my rough times, there is somewhere and Someone that I can turn to for help. I was really grateful for that and hope that I, and all my friends and family will remember that in the future.

The words that brightened my day:

Where can I turn for peace? Where is my solace

When other sources cease to make me whole?

When with a wounded heart, anger or malice

I draw myself apart, searching my soul?

Where when my aching grows, where when I languish

Where in my need to know, where can I run?

Where is the quiet hand to calm my anguish?

Who, who can understand? He, only One.

He answers privately, reaches my reaching

In my Gethsemane, Savior and Friend.

Gentle the peace he finds for my beseeching.

Constant He is and kind, Love without end.

I hope everyone out there remembers this in their down times....I know I want to.

-still the odd one out-

keeping things up to date

big events in my life (recently):   

• my flag football team and i wore painted mustaches to our last game and scared the senses out of the other team
• i can still solve my rubik's cube
• i got a letter from a friend that is serving in Portugal...who knew it took over a month for mail to travel that far...
• i sold my plasma for the first time today--easiest 25 dollars ever :)
• reunion with my pals from my MATS trip was swell
• i finally bought some pizza (yum)

So I have been thinking a lot recently. Perhaps it's the classes that I am taking, but more often than not I find myself asking questions that really get me thinking. I have been thinking a lot about, "What can I do tomorrow to make me better today?" This was a thought that my Health and Wellness teacher put into my head on the first day. It is supposed to motivate people to do things to improve themselves and others today and not put things off for another day. He also tells us regularly that, "Things don't have to be as they currently are." This, in addition to what I already knew in the church, gives me hope for a brighter tomorrow. 

Hope is one of my favorite things. I know that my hope can always be restored if I see a beautiful sunset, or see a sweet act of service, or even if I think a happy thought. I love my life and am trying to see more positive in my days. I recommend this to all....I am not perfect at it but I definitely see a difference when I try.

-still the odd one out-

dear little ones

to my future students-

My name is Ms. Hawkins (well perhaps I will be using a different name by the time I start teaching) and I love learning!! Learning is fun and I am going to help make it easier for you. My favorite subject is reading, but all the other ones are really good as well. 

I believe that great learning and growth begins at such a young age that I want to really make a difference in the lives of my students. The grades that I would really love to teach are K-3. Laying a strong foundation in those young minds is so pivotal to how they will do the rest of their lives. Granted, you do need to keep feeding a child a super education for many years after, but my hope is to lay a great foundation that they will have that desire in them to continue to learn. 

Freedom of expression is something that I really want to incorporate into my classroom, and I would love it if I could get to know each of my students and understand them and why they act certain ways. I am so excited to be a teacher and to be able to mold the minds of my students! I know this is what I am supposed to do :)

-still the odd one out-

Blog Entry #1

Hello blogging world. My name is Liesl and I am new to you. Just a little about me, I am a student at Brigham Young University- IDAHO....not Utah. I love to sing, dance and do homework. Cooking is quite enjoyable to me. I love myself and the world around me. I just experienced probably my warmest birthday ever. I have 9 siblings. Heather, 22, is in Australia serving a mission; Jessica, 21, is in Jerusalem through a BYU program; while the rest of my siblings: Christopher (16), Adam (14), Isaiah (11), Spencer (9), Gabriel (8), Madison and Maria (4) are still living at home with my amazing parents that I love and adore so much!!

A couple of things that you should know about me:

• I love cheese
• My favorite movie is Baby Mama
• One of my thumbs has more wrinkles than the other
• I have spats of OCD-like behavior
• If I don't put something in my planner-odds are it won't be done
• My favorite color is purple
• I like to burp
• I have a line of freckles down the back of my left ear lobe
• I am indeed left-handed and have a habit of noticing other south-paws in movies and classes

-still the odd one out-