I have never seen so much white in all my life!

I understand why they call this place a winter wonderland. All I do is wonder about who in their right mind decided Rexburg was a pleasant place to live in the winter. ;)

Just kidding, it really isn't all that bad. I have good coats and boots so I am set.

I can't believe that this semester is basically over. So much has happened in just three little months. As I was writing in my journal today I started listing the tender mercies that Heavenly Father has given me this semester. There were so many! It is crazy to look back to September and remember what I felt then compared to right now. Back then I thought I walked off the end of the earth. What was I thinking leaving Pima and my parents? How the heck was I supposed to make it all the way to December without mom and dad being next to me? Sometimes I'm still a little surprised I actually did it and that I do not dread coming back here in January. I was able to be away from my parents because I know they love me and pray for me everyday. I want to make them proud by getting a education and doing something useful with my life. The saying, "Miles apart but close art heart" is so true; with my parents as well as all my siblings and other family members.

I have loved being at school and I am so excited to be able to spend the next four years in Brigham Young University Idaho. I know the Lord blesses us when we are trying our best to follow Him and His plan for us. I know He loves each one of His children and He will never leave us helpless. I love Him and I know this gospel is true.

Have a very Merry Christmas!!

Lessons learned

Who would have thought that coming to college would teach me so much about life. I guess I should have guessed but I didn't do I have been pleasantly surprised. Also I can't remember what I wrote last time so this might be a little repeat, I don't know :)

Lesson One: The priesthood makes such a difference in the home/apartment. I thought that since I had 3 sisters moving into an apartment of only girls wouldn't be all that different. It's different in a lot of ways but one that stood out to me this week was the lack of priesthood. It is real power that can be felt in homes. I have never not had it, so I never knew the difference until now.

Lesson Two: Friends are an interesting thing. What is a friend? Knowing that can change your whole outlook. I thought friends meant people who you could share everything with and never get sick of each other. So if that is the definition of friends then my only friends are my family. Which is awesome but when they all live 5-24 hours away it kind of leaves you lonely. However, if a friend is someone you can say hello to on campus and share a couple laughs with then I have friends all over the place here. I wouldn't call them bosom-buddies but I'm happy to see them and they are happy to see me when we meet.

Well, that's all for today! I love where I am and all the new things that I am learning. TTFN

Well, its been awhile...

So I haven't blogged in an eternity. It would be fun to post pictures but I haven't taken any so no pictures today.

College is...different than what I expected. Its great and I'm learning more than I thought was possible but tis also more work than I thought was possible. I enjoy the challenge on most days. On the days that I don't enjoy it so much I just have to remind my self that the hard never last.

There is such a wonderful spirit up here. Even though I am stressed, I never feel fear. I feel calm and reassured that I am in a special place. It's kind of weird to fell stress and peace at the time but I think that comes from knowing that I am where the Lord wants me to be.

My ward is good. It's older people which is strange but still good. I am playing ultimate frisbee this semester and my team name is Titans! Katey's legend lives on up here so I have some pretty big shoes to fill.

I'm grateful for my family and their love. I might not have made it through that first week without the phone calls and texts! At least, it definitely would not have gone as smooth.

Right now is such an exciting time in my life. I can't believe its real and it's going by so fast! I can't wait to see what the future has in store for me.

One. Month.

In one month this is where I'll be living...or something very similar. Pretty crazy that its soo close but so far haha.

Let's take a look at what I've done:
1. Worked at my very first job.
2. Been to not 1 but 2 amazing family reunions
3. Been in a court room and listened to a real life hearing
4. Cooked every Tuesday for 3 months
5. Read 5 books
6. Rode the Emotional Roller Coaster way too often.
7. Drove to and around Mesa
8. Said good bye to 4 missionaries
9. Said hello to 2 missionaries
10. Braved the Mt. Graham Singles Ward

Not much but enough. I can't wait to start this new chapter of my life!

My life will never be the same (my posts are kinda scattered but they help me sort things out. So, its okay if it doesn't make sense to you)

Holey Moley. What happened to summers being full of days where you do whatever you want, whenever you want? Oh, that's right I got off the 0-17 year old train and jumped into 18-how ever long you live jet plane!

This plane is showing me a whole new perspective on life. The last two weeks haven't been the greatest on this little plane but compared to where it can take me...what's a little turbulence?

I have a dream job for someone with a high school diploma and no real job experience. I'm going to a ward with my friends that I've never got the chance to be with and I have almost everything lined up to attended the greatest university in the fall. I have parents that are supporting and encouraging me, siblings who are just as supportive and encouraging and a Father in Heaven who is watching over me and blessing my life in a million different ways every day.

I just wrote a journal entry about how upset and frustrated I am. It's amazing how looking at the positive things instead of the negative things makes such a difference in how my life looks. Sure the challenges are still here but I know I'm not alone in them.

My life will never be the same because I am moving forward. I've learned lessons, gained experience, made mistakes, and had great success. This next phase of life isn't going to be easy. I'm going to learn lessons, gain experience, make mistakes and have success. I'm excited! Life is happening and so am I!

Look out world! Klaire Bryce is comin' in and I'm going to make a difference, for the better.

Weekend Power UP!

Holy Moley! This weekend was the kick-start I needed to be able to finish these last two weeks of high school (say what?) and start a whole new summer.

1. My family is mine forever!
           Leaving family is always hard because I love them so stinkin much. How blessed I am to know                            that no matter what I will see them again and they will always be my family

2. Drops of Awesome
            Everyday I do something good. Maybe all it is is brushing my teeth, but if I can focus on little awesomenesses then that will help me keep on the bright side of life. I love being happy and since sometimes its a little difficult, I'm going to make a "Drops of Awesome" journal and write in it every night (in addition to my Heavenly Father's Hand journal)

3. Tough times never last, but Tough people do
            The regrets, hard times, mistakes, annoyances and all that other junk will not be forever. The person who endures them with a heart full of faith in the Savior will last forever.

Oops! I forgot I have a blog!

Sooo. It's been a while. Well not much has happened in my life so it's not like it's a big deal.

I do have to say though, that life is really good. True, I don't have exciting experiences but I love what's going on right now. I'm getting ready to graduate from high school, I've been accepted to BYU-I, I have good grades (just got 97% on a ten page research paper), and I have friends and family that like me. Sure I still have days when I think, "Man, I need a life". But then I look at the people who have a 'life' and I realize that is not for me. Too much drama and stress I'll stick with my happy, less stressed out life!

TTFN

The End

I am officially done with high school sports for the rest of my life. It almost doesn't seem real. I know I have complained about this season to the high heavens but I do think there was a reason for me finishing out this sport. It was interesting though, there were many, many times that I could have quit and never looked back but I still don't regret or wish I hadn't played. I will miss a couple of the girls but for the most part I am grateful that my parents didn't raise me to be like the rest of them.  So here's to last high school sports season that my parents will have live through. They really are the best and I couldn't have made it all these years without them or my wonderful sibs.

Here's the team after we won the Section Championship

Whatta Vacation!

This Christmas was AMAZING!! All of my beautiful family was at my house and I throughly enjoyed every second. 

I also went to girls dance so there are some pictures of that too.

Here's some snapshots of the fun

The whole group

The girls

Me and my date (I don't know how to rotate pics)

The guys

My niece Kylee (I call her Kylee Q)

The lovely Kitt

Merrill Family

Jack and Lindsay

A very happy mom

The Blacks

This is what all the pics of dad looked like

Couch Potatoes

Don't speak, Auntie Kara

Beautiful Betty Jane

Two cutest babies in the World!

Happy Birthday Jack

"No. Way."