Update!

I'm sitting at the reception desk at work thinking about all the blessings and memories this semester has brought into my life and decided an update on the bloggety blog was about due (at least I waited until AFTER finals were over this time. Ha.  Once again, sorry Mom.)
 Update #1: Boston

If you know me, you know I don't travel.  Like anywhere.  It's not out of a lack of not wanting to go.  In fact, one of my biggest aspirations in post-school life is to take a trip to Italy (for more than just the food. K? K.)  I fit the poor college girl stereotype real well, let me tell you, and taking a fancy trip anywhere was frankly way outside of my budget.

A couple months into my program at school (side note: got accepted into the HR program at BYU!  They only took a third of the people that applied this year so I felt so blessed that I made the cut!), I got an email talking about this great opportunity to take a business trip to Boston with a travel stipend.  AH!  *Cue happy dance.  I applied right away.  I was overjoyed when I found out the next week that I would be going.  I had never been on a plane before, or really a big city like Boston for that matter, so needless to say, I was PUMPED.  Pictures below :)  As always, sorry for the photo dump.

 The girls I went with were all in my program and seriously the nicest people alive.  It was a trip I will never forget!


Update #2:  The Great Divorce

Amber (my long time friend from high school) and I have lived together as roommates in the same apartment for what feels like forever now!  You could say that we've rubbed off on each other a bit.  I convinced her to start wearing men's deodorant, and she's convinced me to spend more time studying.  We're one dynamic duo I tell ya.

Anyway, this next semester, we decided that it might be time for the dynamic duo to get some other experiences elsewhere to meet new people so we'll both be moving to separate apartments next semester.  She along with the Heberite's have been my go-to women for some time now, and I definitely consider them such an awesome part of my semester.  Pictures of the me and the hooligans (ok or them and the hooligan) below.  I decided to only use the *somewhat* socially acceptable pictures.  You can tell that my judgement was a bit more lax for the last couple photos.  Ha.  Turns out finding a picture of me with my friends and a normal face is quite the feat.  Also, if you're wondering why my default photo taking pose features my mouth as wide as it can go, I'm still wondering that too.  Just go with it.

 Update #3:  Women's Conference + Family + the Gospel + My Cute Missionary Brother

There are story's behind each of these pictures but basically all of it comes down to this:  the church is true and family is the fundamental unit not only of society, but of God's eternal plan of happiness for us.  How I got so lucky to have this life, I'll never know.  Believe it or not, when I start these posts, I almost never intend on ending with the gospel, but somehow it always wanders in that direction.  I know that I owe everything to it.  If you ever have the chance, and if you're still reading this (as if anyone even reads this...let alone for this long.  Ha!)  Check out this link.  Basically, it's just me spilling my guts in writing form.  What's new.

I think that about sums up the update for now!  My new goal is to actually update this more than once a semeter.  We'll see if that actually happens.  Here's to hoping!

All my love, 

Kim

Announcement: I'm an er...clothes-wearer?

So...let's be real.  What else is a blog if not prime photo-dumping space?  Here's another wonderful photo dump to brighten your day!;)

I have recently done a bit of modeling with Sister Missionary Mall.  It's nothing serious, but I'm not going to lie, it's still fun to tell people that I am a "model."  Haha.  At first I felt really weird about saying it.

i.e.

Boy:  Hey Kim, what are you doing tonight?

Kim:  Oh you know just being a clothes-wearer for a picture-taker.

Side note:  This did actually happen and I am really not kidding...someday I might learn to talk with the opposite gender but that day is not today.  

Now though, I figure that I might as well say it how it is.   

Modeling is actually a lot harder than it looks!  I always kind of thought that all modeling entailed was just kind of standing there with good makeup on.  However, after my photographer sent me a video of over 50 different poses to practice and memorize...I realized I had probably bitten off just a little more than I could chew.  Or you know, a heck of a lot more than I could chew.  

I'm slowly but surely getting the hang of it.  Here are a few photos from some of our most recent shoots!

All my love, 

Kim 

My Friends are the Best!

Because they rock.  And because I'm going to be living {near} Kaela next year and {with} Amber next year again.  Both of those things make me pretty happy.  Too bad Hannah can't join the party at Condo Row too!

All my love,

Kim

Finals...why??

Currently posting because I'm sitting on the floor eating cereal without the milk and studying for finals in my pajama pants while simultaneously realizing that I have just met every college girl stereotype.  Worse, I'm not even mad about it.  While I'm procrastinating finals, I might as well make a summer bucket list right?? (Just indulge me here people!)

So I have a pained smile??  Its finals week,  I can do what I want!

• Two words: Tulip Festival.  

I have seriously wanted to go to it forever!  It's got to happen! Forizzle though.

• Parade of homes
• Camping with the fab 4 - 1 (Jeanette will be home soon...YAY!!)  
• Eating Healthier Dole Whips
• Actually using that gym pass I bought
• Taking the time to read some more classics!!  (Side note:  I love ENGLISH you guys.  Like, with my whole soul.  Classic lit is my fave.)
• Study for the LSAT
• Start a book club
• Go to the temple every week

Now only to wait for these finals to be over!  Less than a week!  So close I can almost (smell? taste?) it!

All my love,

Kim  

Who said summer could end??

This can't be real life.  How can Sophomore year possibly be starting already??  I haven't even posted anything from the summer yet!  One nasty catch up post is coming your way mighty fast.  First, I just left this dang cute room yesterday so I could move into my new apartment.  I decided to put a picture of it on the blog because I don't think any of my friends have actually seen it...and its too cute for nobody to see.  So there it is, world.  The cutest girls room you ever did see.  

Anyway, moving on to the summer adventures.  Too many fun things to count! I got to play in St. George with the fam bam, see some beautiful views atop my favorite mountain, pretend like I'm a real country girl while stitting on a tractor in flannel (it was a big, green tractor folks.  Doesn't get better than that!), watch my little brother go through the temple for the very first time, try foot golf (sooo fun!), start a new job (a name plate was even included in the deal), lose terribly on a bowling date, receive free bread at the mall with my best friend, work with a non-profit organization, compete in a pageant, spend some time at the Mona rope swings with friends, and take a weekend trip to my beloved Lake Como.  It's a lot of catching up, I know.  But for documentation purposes, it just had to be done.  I couldn't be more grateful for the family and friends that I have.  They truly make this life worth living!  Loved the summer fun, and I'm excited to go back to school and kick some hardcore homework butt!

All my love,

Kim

Family

Excuse the messy kitchen, but I love this picture. Jason has decided to compete for the region social studies sterling scholar title. This is a great endeavor, and there is a lot of work involved in the process. This picture was taken the weekend before the competition was to take place. I went home to visit my family and help Jason with some of the last bits of his project. At one point, I went upstairs to grab something and came down only to witness this sight. All three of my other family members were giving Jason a practice interview. As I watched them, I realized truly how much I love my family. Not only do I love them, but I love who they are. I love that one boy's project is a project for all of us. I love that we all help each other in every endeavor in our lives. I love that I can tell them anything, and I love that I can look to them as examplars of the life I want to lead. Truly, I know that God knows me and that he knew I needed a dang good family to put up with me!

We may not have it all together, but together we have it all.

All my love,

Kim 

Tender Mercies

I'm posting twice in one day (judge me), but I have been incredibly blessed lately, and I wanted to post some tender mercies I have seen in my life these last few weeks.

• I was extremely nervous about getting a high enough GPA to keep my scholarship.  I signed up for some tough classes this last semester, and based off the calculations I did, I believed there was no way I could maintain a high enough GPA.  My mom and I prayed our guts out that things would work out.  I was beyond surprised when I looked at my transcripts this morning and realized that although my grades were all the same, somehow, my GPA had been raised.  Prayer and miracles are real.  
• My best friend's mission call was also another tender mercy.  Recently, my best friend, Jeanette was called on her mission to South Korea.  Jeanette has always been fascinated with Korean culture, and it was a neat experience to see her so excited and happy.  Although I acknowledge that not everyone gets called to the mission of their dreams, and that God still lives despite that fact, it strengthened my testimony deeply in  revelation.   Whoever made the final decision to assign Jeannette to Korea surely had no idea that Jeanette already loved that country.  However, she was still called to serve there.  Coincidence? I think not.  
• My last tender mercy is also a bit of an announcement.  

I finished my mission papers.  

I am grateful for the opportunity to serve a mission and consider it one of the greatest of God's tender mercies.  How fortunate I am that He allows me to be apart of this great work.  For that, I am truly grateful.  My availability date is May 15, 2015.  

All my love, 

Kim