happy birthday ally!

happy birthday ally! you can FINALLY get your ears pierced! :) YAAAYY! love you ally wally!

haupia

today was my first attempt making haupia! :) i needed to make haupia for one of my classes, but i never made it before. i called gma wright earlier this week to find out her recipe, and today i tried it out. i think i did good! :) cam invited a few of her friends from hawaii in her ward to try it. haha... that was actually really nerve wrecking because i wasn't expecting anyone who actually knew how haupia was supposed to taste to try it, but they were nice, and ate it. :) i took it to my class, where about 1/4 was eaten. then i went to the mss office, where another 1/2 was eaten (haha... of course!), and then i brought 1/4 back to cam's house. i'd say my first attempt was successful! :)

MLK

today was my first time i've ever done anything to commemorate martin luther king and the things he's done. i wanted to participate, and i even got to use it as part of an assignment for 2 different classes. anyway, byu has a commemoration where we do a candlelit march and then have a speaker come. when i went to the bell tower, i saw a few friends that i took pictures with (ramon and zoe).

it was so exciting to me, because i was never part of a candlelit march. a first! :) it kinda reminded me of that part in hairspray where the black people march for integration or whatever. that made me even more excited! i was being legit! :P here's my candle...

... and here's everyone else.

we marched to the wilk where the program started. after some introductions, they had the gospel choir come and perform one of martin luther king's favorites. i thought it was.... interesting. it's definitely the first time i've heard a white gospel choir....

our keynote speaker was brother darius gray. he was one of the TWO black people that went to byu during the civil rights movement and he's now an author, a journalist, a geneologist, and an original member of the lds genesis branch presidency. he spoke about the influence and the blessings of martin luther king's dream. he gave me a big hug when i went up to shake his hand, and he was very friendly! i was quite excited that i got to meet someone "famous"! :)

goals for 2011

i think it's about time that i make a list of goals for this coming year. i'm posting this so that 1) the family is aware, and 2) so that you all can help me with them. =D these come from a carryover of last year's, as well as some new ones that brother was inspired to help me with. here they are:

attend the temple every week

* try to follow the prophet's counsel to go as often as we can... fridays around 3:30 if anyone wants to join ;) *

go to devotionals

* and STAY AWAKE! for some reason i get there and suddenly feel so tired. i WILL stay awake these times! ;) *

read the BOM every day

* i've been trying 5 verses in both spanish and english *

continue doing my gratitude journal

*as i strive to be more grateful, be consistent in writing in my gratitude journal *

keep up with my D&C readings/ journal writings

* for my class, to help me expand my knowledge and receive personal revelation *

read my patriarchal blessing more often

* find comfort in it, and see how it blesses my life as my life continues to change *

increase my faith in the savior

*make sure i put the lord first in everything, and do the necessary work, then allow him to take care of the rest *

continue to learn how the spirit speaks to me

* meaning be more in tune and sensitive to it *

follow the promptings IMMEDIATELY

* by doing this, i will be able to become "strong against the adversary and his temptations" *

call home weekly

* in addition to texts, and emails, and facebook, and blogging *

keep the word of wisdom

* eatting better, EXERCISING (every weekday... been doing good so far), SLEEPING *

visiting teaching

* find joy and fulfillment in the service *

magnify my calling

* as a sunday school teacher, as a member of the church... be more ACTIVE in my participation in church meetings *

be more sensitive to people's needs

* as an RA, as a future teacher, as a sister, as a daughter, as a friend *

be a "spiritual support" to friends on missions

* continue to write, encourage others to go, do/prepare for missionary work here at home *

work hard to do well in school

* try to develop the gift of wisdom, to adapt to different teachers expectations in classes, to have an open mind, to develop as a future elementary teacher, wife, and mother *

find a good (non-procrastinating) way to study

* god doesn't want an idle and slothful people... i want to be with god *

confidently progress in my major

* i've just applied, and will hopefully soon get a graduation map for *

study the AIMs of byu

* i didn't do this last year, so i'll work on it this year... especially as i hopefully prepare to be a soar counselor *

find a place to live

* for next fall and winter... and hopefully find more roommates *

be aware of and save money/ budget

* whether for a mission, for more classes, for trips to graduations (hopefully meags' graduation this may =D), or for after college, i need to prepare now! i need to apply for scholarships and find a job (hopefully being a soar counselor this summer)... *

"branch out" -- make friends

* people i can identify with, relate to, who i can love and serve, and who will want to do the same for me as i try to understand and work better with other people *

BALANCE :)

* find a "peaceful" balance between school, church, and a social life... "Find joy in the journey, from both big and small things" *

well family, i'm actually really excited about them. here's to 2011, and a new beginning to be better! :)