Festival of Colors

This last weekend a ton of friends and I went to the Hare Krishna temple in Spanish Fork for Holi, the festival of colors. It is an Indian tradition to welcome in Spring. They have tons of food and dancers and you can tour the temple and buy cool things. Then they start a huge bonfire where they burn in effigy a devil woman representing all evil. As soon as the devil woman lights on fire everything goes crazy. Everyone has bags of colorful chalk powder and you just start throwing it and rubbing it all over everyone. It is insane. But so much fun. It is so hard to describe, so the picture will have to do. This is not even half of my friends that went. There were tons of us! This is before the chalk throwing. Notice the colorful bags that everyone is holding. After...totally covered in chalk! My eyes hurt so bad because my friend Craig accidentally shoved a handful of chalk right in my eyes. It took forever to wash all the chalk out of my hair and clothes. And even the next day I was cleaning more chalk out of my ears! It was a blast!

Big Changes!

Lots of change is happening in my life! The last couple weeks have been full of interesting things and lots of prayers and trying to figure out what I am to be doing right now. Through some wonderful experiences and help of my amazing family and incredible friends I have decided to make some big changes. I am looking forward to what the future holds and know that the Lord is guiding my life. I am so grateful to be led by the Spirit and to be doing what I know is right.

The first big change (but the last that will actually happen) is that I have decided to MOVE. I have lived in my apartment for almost two years and it's time for a change. I need to get out of my comfort zone and change some scenery. It isn't a huge move, only about 2 miles away, but it is a very different area than I have lived in the last few years. This picture is of the complex that I am moving to. It is only a couple years old and the units are gorgeous. I have three really close friends who live there now and one of them just put her mission papers in. So I am going to take her spot when she leaves this summer. I am excited to be in a new place and meet new people. This is definitely a good change!

A change I haven't been a huge fan of is one of my best friends moving. This past week he decided he needed to make a quick change and picked up and left Provo and moved to Salt Lake for the last six weeks of school and then he is going back home to Arizona. I didn't realize how much I rely on him until this last week when he hasn't been around. Thank goodness for cell phones and texting!! I miss you already Tim!










Probably the greatest change (well, it's a change from the last 18 months) is that two weeks ago my sister got home from her mission!! My parents went and picked her up in the Philippines and they traveled for a couple weeks and returned home to Utah on March 5th. It has been so much fun having her home! I'm especially excited that she is going to be living in Provo for the summer!



The last change, and the one I am most excited about, just happened this morning! I am starting a new JOB in two weeks!! My sister-in-law's mom let me know about some job openings that she thought I would enjoy and that I would do well at, so I applied and interviewed the end of last week and I got the wonderful call this morning. I am going to be working for the Fourth District Court here in Provo as a Deputy Court Clerk. Meaning, I will be on a team that works for a specific judge handling their cases. I am excited to learn something new and expand my knowledge. It will be sad to leave the company I have worked for for the last 3 years, but this is a great opportunity and I need to take it. It just feels right. And now I will have insurance! :)

I have never been a fan of change, but right now it needs to happen. I need to learn and progress and stretch myself. It is going to be an eventful ride the next couple months. Wish me luck!

The 80's are back!

Last night my ward had an 80's skating party at Classic Skating. The 80's and all their glory (or at least all their spandex and ankle warmers) were back.

Chase, the activity organizer! Love the mullet!!

Chad, Allison, Hillary & Josh...sweatbands and ankle warmers...gotta love 'emAaron & Devin...I think my dad had/has those exact same sunglasses. They look like they should be part of Bon Jovi or something...Jen, Michelle, and Jen...at least Jen #1 wore a side ponytail. I was kind of a party pooper. Oh well.I had to put this picture on here from our 80's night last year. It's my favorite! Wrestler Aaron with his fro, sweat band and teeth guard...so hot!!!

and just for fun...

You Know You Grew Up In The 80's If...

1. You've ever ended a sentence with the word "PSYCHE".
2. You watched the Pound Puppies.
3. You can sing the rap to the "Fresh Prince of Belair " ...and can do the "Carlton".
4. Girls wore biker shorts under their skirts and felt stylishly sexy.
5. You yearned to be a member of the Baby-sitters club and tried to start a club of your own.
6. You owned those lil' Strawberry Shortcake pals scented dolls.

7. "WOAH " comes from Joey on Blossom.
8. Two words: Hammer Pants.
9. If you ever watched "Fraggle Rock ".
10. You had plastic streamers on your handle bars... and "spokey-dokes" or playing cards on your spokes for that incredible sound effect.
11. You can sing the entire theme song to "Duck Tales ". (Woo ooh!)
12. You wore a ponytail on the side of your head.
13. When it was actually worth getting up early on a Saturday to watch cartoons.
14. You saw the original "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles " on the big screen... and still know the turtles names.
15. You got super-excited when it was Oregon Trail day in computer class at school.
16. You made your mom buy one of those clips that would hold your shirt in a knot on the side.
17. You played the game "MASH ". (Mansion, Apartment, Shelter, House)
18. You wore stonewashed Jordache jean jackets and were proud of it.
19. L.A. Gear... need I say more.
20. You wanted to change your name to "JEM " in Kindergarten. (She's truly outrageous)
21. You remember reading "Tales of a fourth grade nothing " and all the Ramona books.
22. You know the profound meaning of "WAX ON, WAX OFF".
23. You wanted to be a Goonie.
24. You ever wore fluorescent clothing. (some of us... head-to-toe)
25. You can remember what Michael Jackson looked like before his nose fell off and his cheeks shifted.
26. You have ever pondered why Smurfette was the only female smurf.
27. You took lunch boxes to school... and traded Garbage Pail Kids in the schoolyard.
28. You remember the CRAZE, then the BANNING of slap bracelets.
29. You still get the urge to say "NOT " after every sentence.
30. You remember Hypercolor t-shirts.
31. Barbie and the Rockers was your favorite band.
32. You thought She-ra (Princess of Power!) and He-Man should hookup.
33. You thought your childhood friends would never leave because you exchanged handmade friendship bracelets.
34. You ever owned a pair of Jelly-Shoes. (and like #24, probably in neon colors, too)
35. After you saw Pee-Wee's Big Adventure you kept saying "I know you are, but what am I?"
36. You remember "I've fallen and I can't get up"
37. You remember going to the skating rink before there were inline skates.
38. You ever got seriously injured on a Slip and Slide.
39. You have ever played with a Skip-It.
40. You had or attended a birthday party at McDonalds.
41. You've gone through this nodding your head in agreement.
42. You remember Popples.
43. "Don't worry, be happy"
44. You wore like, EIGHT pairs of socks over tights with high top Reeboks.
45. You wore socks scrunched down (and sometimes still do...getting yelled at by "younger hip" members of the family)
46. "Miss MARY MACK MACK MACK, all dressed in BLACK BLACK BLACK "
47. You remember boom boxes. and walking around with one on your shoulder like you were all that.
48. You remember watching both "Gremlins" movies.
49. You know what it meant to say "Care Bear Stare!"
50. You remember watching "Rainbow Bright" and "My Little Pony Tales "
51. You thought Doogie Howser/Samantha Micelli was hot.
52. You remember Alf, the lil furry brown alien from Melmac.
53. You remember New Kids on the Block when they were cool... and don't even flinch when people refer to them as "NKOTB".
54. You knew all the characters names and their life stories on "Saved By the Bell ", the ORIGINAL class.
55. You know all the words to Bon Jovi - SHOT THROUGH THE HEART.
56. You just sang those words to yourself.
57.You remember watching Magic vs. Bird.
58. Homemade Levi shorts. (the shorter the better)
59. You remember when mullets were cool!
60. You had a mullet!
61. You still sing "We are the World"
62. You tight rolled your jeans.
63. You owned a bannana clip.
64. You remember "Where's the Beef?"
65. You used to (and probably still do) say "What you talkin' about Willis?"
66. You had big hair and you knew how to use it.
67. You're still singing shot through the heart in your head,aren't you!

I Heart Hockey

Recently, a bunch of friends and I have been obsessed with going to hockey games. Specifically, BYU Ice Cat games. They are so much fun! We cheer on the Ice Cats, eat nachos, dance to the Black Eyed Peas, and freeze! It is so cold, but we have such a good time! I especially enjoy watching the fights that randomly break out. What would a hockey game be without a good fight?!? Plus, every time I've gone to a game, they've won. I think I am definitely their good luck charm! ;)

BYU vs. Utah game

The girls plus Stephen

Top L-R: Stephen, Lydia, Tansy, Stephanie, Rachel

Bottom: Diana, Maurie, JenMe and Rachel...she is such a cute girl!

BYU vs. UVSC game

L-R: Brian, Stephen, Stephanie, Diana, Jen, Kristy, Lydia

I didn't know we were taking a picture. I'm hiding behind Tyler...