In good company

I really love the people in my program. They are all so nice and wonderful to be around. It's also good to know that we're all in this together. We're all having similar doubts about our abilities and going through similar trials. We've had a few conversations this week about how to deal with stress and just generally motivating each other to keep doing our best and know that it will all work out in the end. It's comforting to know that there are people who are going through the same things as me and who have got my back. We're a team and we're in this together until the end. It's really wonderful to be surrounded by people like that.

And on that topic, I appreciate all the love and support I've felt from family and friends as I've been trying to figure out this new phase in life. Thank so all so much for your love, support, and encouragement. I couldn't do it without all of you! It's challenging every day, but it's absolutely worth every single second. I love knowing that I am finally in a place to be doing what I've always wanted to do. And that's a good feeling.

A pick-me-up

Sometimes when I need a pick-me-up (on days like today), I watch this video and I'm happy again. Seriously, how can you not have a smile on your face while watching those little kids? They're amazing, and their singing is enough to take your breath away. I adore them and I'm so grateful that I had the opportunity to meet them and learn from them. And it's moments like these that remind me how good life really is. Even when you're home on a Friday night studying :)

Packages from home make Mique a happy girl :)

Have I ever mentioned how amazing my mom is? Cause she is. A.MAZ.ING.

Today I got a package from her with all sorts of goodies inside. Delicious things like recipes and cinnamon that resulted in an amazing dinner of pumpkin waffles. (To die for, right? I know. And I'm not usually a huge fan of pumpkin, which just tells you how dang good they were.) And things like warm socks because I randomly told her the other day that I was planning on investing in some to keep me toasty warm this winter and some hair products to try to make my hair behave in this humidity. And that isn't even the end of it!

It just goes to show you how thoughtful and wonderful my mother is. And I hate to break it to you, but she's just the best mother in the entire world. She really is the greatest. And I'm so grateful she's mine :)

When Mom and Daddy came to visit me in Jerusalem.

LOVE this pic of Mom and Bear

She's a dang cute grandma too.

Thanks Mom, for always knowing how to make my day. I love you!

New Hampshire

There's a kid in my program who's from New Hampshire and every time I hear about New Hampshire I think of a shirt he wears that says, "New Hampshire: better than the old one."

A few weekends ago we had a tri-ward campout in New Hampshire at a campground the church owns up there. It went Friday, Saturday, and Sunday but I drove up with two of my roommates Saturday afternoon and we stayed overnight and left on Sunday. It was only like an hour to an hour and a half away which was surprising to me. It was way fun though and we had a skit night on Saturday that was highly entertaining. The weather was nice during the day, but my heavens, I very nearly froze to death that night. I was wearing so many layers, but still I couldn't sleep because of the cold. So that wasn't the most fun thing of my life, but what can ya do? Just a note to anyone who wants to go camping in New Hampshire--you really will need a sleeping bag. Really.

Saturday night watching the BYU/Utah game. Still a touchy subject.

The dock at the lake

Sunset over the lake

Getting ready

When left over hair and makeup from the day before counts as getting ready and warrants mention from your classmates, you know you've reached a new low.

Ramblings

Since when did it get to be October? This is weird.

Speaking of weird, this post has no real purpose or cohesiveness. Just the ramblings of a mind taking a break from studying.

You know when you have experiences where it just feels like, "Why yes, I did choose the right major," or "Now, this is why I have this job," or "THAT is why we are friends"? Maybe it's just me, but I sometimes have those moments, and yesterday was one of those days. It was our second day of clinical and the first day where we were assigned our own patient to care for. I was slightly apprehensive because I've never had my own patient before and had no idea what I was doing. That being said, it was SUCH a good day. I felt like a real nurse. I was actually able to provide care to someone who couldn't do it for himself. Granted, I still have so much to learn. But with the help of a wonderful and patient supervising nurse, I felt like I was actually contributing to someone's well-being. I made a difference, even if it was only in one person's life. And that's a dang good feeling. And THAT is why I'm going to be a nurse.

Also, I'm grateful for my friends: old and new. (I told you this post was going to be random, didn't I?) "People say best friends are hard to find--that's because the best are already mine." *enter a random compilation of pictures of some of the best friends a girl could ever hope for*

Our last get-together before I moved to Boston

A gathering before I left on my study abroad

At Kate's bridal shower

A random In-N-Out run after a beastly Micro exam

Dance party freshman year

After Kate's vocal recital

And to round out the randomness, how about the song that I've been loving recently:

Alright, I think that's enough randomness for one day. Back to the studies I go...

When in doubt, wear rain boots.

That's my new mantra for Boston, because every time I think about wearing rain boots and then don't, I regret it. Take last night for example. The second we walked away from our house, it started POURING rain. I was soaked from the knee down. So, lesson learned. Rain boots are your friend.

Last night we had a girls night out while the men were at the Priesthood session of General Conference. We went to this restaurant named John Harvard's in Harvard Square. It was gooooood. There were 22 of us there, and it was so fun! Those girls are so cute. I was glad to continue the tradition of having a girl's night, even though I'm not home to be able to have one with my mom and sisters.

Also, any hints for doing hair in the humidity? They would be much appreciated. Come to find out, my hair hates me. Or at least hates the humidity. Last night I straightened my hair right before I went out, and this is what it looked like when I got home:

Attractive, I know. Note to self, save yourself time and energy and don't bother doing your hair, because you'll end up looking like an idiot no matter what.

P.S. I feel like I look like an elderly person in that photo. Squinting, even with my glasses on. Love. it. :)