I crossed the finish line...

I finished the semester this morning at 730 am when Hermano Maxfield handed me my graded spanish final. I am so proud of myself. After 2 years with no school. I have managed to make B+ or higher in all of my classes. Well a B+ in Spanish and A's in all the rest. I never thought I would say this but I love school. I know there are times when I sit in class and I say I so do not want to be there but after 2 years working a job and not having a career I know this is the place to be.

I am looking forward to the break but I am even more excited for next semester. I am taking 4 courses that will total 16 credits. The highest credit class is my EMT class at 7 credits. Next is my 4 credit spanish 102 class, then 3 Families and Communities, and lastly 2 Health Behavior theories. I am excited. I also have the job in the library, that is low stress. I am going to be one busy lady.

Wow. I just can't believe it. I knew all along that I could do it but it seriously amazes me that I have done so well this semester. It makes me think I wish I would of taken my studies this seriously when I first started school and I could of been finished by now. But I know that without those 2 years working in the hospital I would never be as serious about my future as I am now. I know I wouldn't be standing so firm in my decision to become a Child Life Specialist and Paramedic. I love medicine and I never saw myself saying so. But I guess my mom had more of an influence on me than I thought. It's not such a bad thing after all.

Well it is onto packing and cleaning so that I can get myself home! Home. Home. Home. It's all I can think about for now.

Always,

~Hannah~

It's Coming to the End

The semester is almost over and boy has it been a busy semester. It has been so wonderful to come back to school. Who knew that 3 months could change a person so much on so many levels. I see life in a different light. Instead of seeing just today, I see today as a way to prepare for tomorrow. Today in church a brother said, "Practice today for tomorrow." I think it fits perfectly. Life is starting to come full circle. My classes are finally more than generals and are actually interesting. I took three child development courses this semester and I can honestly say that I have learned a ton. It makes me excited for next semester when I get to start taking some of my emergency care courses. I am most excited for my EMT class. It's a 7 credit class. But really I am so excited. I feel like I am getting closer to my end goal of paramedicine and child life.

I am excited to go home in a few days and take a little break from all the wonderfulness of school. I am excited to make a little money so I can hopefully buy a car. Now that I have a job for the fall, my goal is before the snow comes to have a car. I would like to wait as long as possible but chances are I'll start freezing before the snow gets here and I'll give in and buy one. I can't wait to see my family. I am looking forward to spending my time off with them. The heat may be hard at first But I am sure that's nothing a swimming pool or the beach can't cure!

Well on a side note my ankle is healing well, it'd probably heal faster if I'd wear the brace but the doctor told me I could take it off after two weeks and well it's been two weeks. It is a little bruised and still swollen but it only hurts if I bump it or twist it the wrong way. But all is good.

Well I am going to rest and enjoy the rest of my Sabbath before a week of head aches and worry.

Always,

~Hannah~

Going to the Opera

I went to the Opera last night. It was surprisingly good. I had never been before and never really had the urge to go but I had found out a old friend was performing so I figured I'd go support. I went with my Minnesotan neighbor, Rachel and her roommate Heidi. It is a funny story how it all cam up really. On Thursday Rachel invited me on a trip down to Idaho Falls. On the way down got talking about all our different Minnesota friends. Rachel and I grew up in different parts of Minnesota but had weird connections through our parents and older siblings. When my family was getting ready to move to Minnesota the Payne's invited us over an evening of dinner and fun. All I really remember was playing pool in their basement. Rachel and I didn't see each other again until Young Women Encampment, and even then I don't think we realized each other. And this year when I was moving into my apartment we ended up being neighbors all by chance.

Anyway back to the story. So Rachel and I were talking about different people and what not. She grew up in the Burnsville stake and I in the Minneapolis stake. I didn't and still don't know very many people in her stake but I did knew one. He was the only reason I went to stake dances and the last time I had seen him was when I was 15 until last night. He looked very different, which is only to be expected considering it has been 7 years. We didn't get the chance to talk to him after the opera but he did sound amazing. It was kind of hard to wrap my mind around the whole thing. I never thought I would be going to an opera at BYU-I to see this guy. It was fun and something I will probably never forget. Just another funny experience. It just goes to show how small the world really is.

Well two more weeks left of the semester and I have a lot more studying to do. I better hit the books.

Always,

~Hannah~

4th of July Weekend

This weekend was a lot of firsts for me. I went to Star Vally, Wyoming to visit a friend, Kyle, and it turned out that his sister, Katie, came up for a visit, it was a nice surprise. So it turned from visiting one friend to visiting two friends. It started on the 3rd. After I had gotten to Star Valley Kyle took me on a ride up Weber canyon on a 4wheeler of which I had never been on before. It was amazing. I enjoyed every second of it. At one point I had to get off because Kyle was afraid that the 4wheeler was going to slip. I walked up this incline that wasn't that far at all, but the air was thin and I had a hard time with my asthma. Talk about embarrassing! After the ride up the canyon Kyle got to talking with his uncle about an old barn on their property that his dad and grandpa had built, that burned down in 1994. While he did that I made friends with a little girl that was too cute for words.

Later that after noon after watching a movie with one of Kyle's oldest friends we went across the street to Kyle's cousin's home. We ate dinner and enjoyed talking to each other telling stories. This is when I found out that little kids adore Kyle. He would flip them upside down and walk them on the ceiling. He was pretty much the coolest guy in their eyes. After dinner while we were all still talking Katie arrived home. We all had figured she wasn't coming but she did. She conquered her fears and got in the car and drove 4 hours by herself up for the weekend. It was so nice to see her again. We stayed up late talking.

The 4th was a busy day! We went to 2 parades... small town parades are awesome by the way, mom I took pictures for you. I had a lot of fun enjoying the sun and my pink face will prove it. After the parade in Afton was over we went to lunch in the park with Kyle and Katie's grandparents and some cousins. It was very enjoyable. I had cell phone service and my mom took full advantage of it... 50 text messages later I got a phone call. I got a job this fall working as library security. I am really excited. I totally wasn't expecting the phone call on a Saturday or a holiday but it only made it that much better. After lunch we headed back to Kyle's place and just relaxed. I sat outside on the tramp and just thought about lots of stuff. It was hard not to when you are surrounded in such a beautiful place. Well after a few minutes... this is when it got exciting...

Kyle's cousin came out and wanted to jump on the tramp and I joined them. We took turns doing silly little tricks and showing off for each other. Maybe I should clarify his cousins are 7 and 3. Well I did a silly twirl in the air and came down wrong, really wrong and hurt my ankle. Long story short. Kyle and his mom took me to the ER and I tore a ligament in my ankle and it is all purple and painful looking. It really isn't that bad but I am surviving. We ended up missing fireworks but got to see an amazing sunset and some pretty cool lightening.

Sunday was wonderful also! Church was good, and afterward Kyle took me on a nice little tour of the dry farm with my splinted ankle and everything. After ward I helped his dad and cousin build a fire to roast hot dogs for lunch over. It was a very enjoyable afternoon in the sun. About an hour after lunch my friend's picked me up and we came back to Rexburg.

All in all I had a wonderful weekend torn ligament and all. I can't wait to make it back to Star Valley. Till next time...

Always,

~Hannah~