Thanksgiving

So I know its late for Thanksgiving but I have some really cute pictures from it so I will put those on.

Kitt gave Grandpa a lesson on baking cake mix cookies and it was so adorable. He took notes and everything.

On Friday, Katey and Jason came down and me and Kylee took twin Queen Elsa braid pictures.

I just love being with me family so much. They are the people who get me through everything that goes on. I am so grateful for their words of kindness, advice and their total support.

Times flies when you're having Fun!

So I have been totally slacking on this blog, my apologies. But I cannot believe how fast time is going. I mean, really. I only have 4 weeks left of school this semester. Get out of town, right?

This past month has been such a growing experience for me. I have learned so much about myself, my family and the importance of having an eternal perspective. Time is precious. Time is a gift. There is nothing that compares to the happiness I feel when I spend time, real time, with the people I care about. And the cool thing is, I think that's what eternity will be like, except we never have to say goodbye. We will all be up there building our world with our spouses and visiting each other in our different universes and I think that its going to be a blast. Maybe that's not the most appropriate way to put it I think that it work for now.

I am so excited for Thanksgiving. I will be at my Grandpa's house tomorrow and I'm not leaving until Sunday! Yay for family. Happy Thanksgiving to all!!

TTFN

Personal Mission Statement

My classes this semester are incredible. They have been opening my mind to so many different ideas and teaching me so many good things! In one of my classes we are studying the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, the second of which is "Begin with the End in Mind". For this habit our teacher asked us to imagine our 40th birthday party. She wanted us to think of who would be there and what would they be saying about us. That was a very eye-opening experience. I have gotten into the habit of only looking about 3 months into the future. This is not necessarily bad but I think that it was limited me in my ability to really progress. So I started really thinking about what I want for my future. My ultimate goal is eternal life of course but what am I doing to get there? I'm not going to tell you all my goals because that's a little personal to put out on the internet but I will tell you that most of them pertain to improving and maintaining the relationships between me and the people I love and care about and also my relationship with my Savior and Father in Heaven. 

This is a little visual representation of my mission statement.

So, its been a while, huh? I think the last thing I posted was about Aspen Grove and that adventure ended 4 weeks ago! Sorry about that. Well the summer turned out great up there. I met so many fun people and learned things about myself that I could never have learned other ways. Well, I might have learned them but it would have taken longer and I wouldn't have the fun memories to go along with the lesson:)

I just want to take a second and tell you guys that Heavenly Father really knows His children individually and perfectly. Everything that has happen since April has confirmed that to me. The fact that I spent 10 days with Katey in April, had a job at home, got another job in Utah at exactly the right time, my family reunion, the three weeks at home before going to school and this volunteer thing that I did up here tell me that there is a loving Heavenly Father who is directing my life and preparing me for what I need to accomplish in every phase of life.

Well, I love you all TTFN

What Can't You See That's Always Ahead of You?

The Future...and man did I get blind sided! But I have to say that as far as blindsides go this is definitely the best one to have.

I was sitting at work on day and mom called me on the office phone. These are her exact words, "Have you heard from Kitt this morning or checked your email?" I said no. She says, "Well you need to right now because there is something that you need to think about right away." How's that for getting curiosity peaked? I was so scared that something had happened to Kitt but it turns out that nothing was wrong with Kitt at all. Mark Longhurst from Aspen Grove had emailed her and asked if I still wanted a job up here. So she emailed me and said I needed to call them as soon as possible. The rest of the morning was probably the most unproductive morning I had all summer. All I could think about was if I was going to go to Aspen Grove. Well, I called up here and they set up another skype interview with me. In the interview they asked me how fast I could get up here and I said that I had a ride that could leave Saturday and I could be to work on Tuesday. They said great and I went back to the office and told Camille that Friday was going to be my last day. She was heart-broken but asked me to come back and work for them the last 3 weeks of August before I go back to school and she also gave me a pay raise! So now I am working in the dining hall at Aspen Grove Family Camp.

This has been an amazing experience. It has had its challenges but I am really enjoying being up here. THe people that I work with are super fun and the rest of the staff is freakin bomb, too. So far I've been able to play in the river, shop at DI, make a bowl, and play water polo.Plus Kara and Seth came to visit! I am so grateful that I am here. This experience has taught me many things and is still teaching me things. The biggest lesson I've learned is that Heavenly Father is very aware of me. He knows that there is a Klaire Bryce in Provo Canyon and He is watching out for me every step of my journey through life.

*I dont know how to rotate photos... sorry

My cabin

My Room

The Bowl I made

Stewart Falls

Kara and Me 

Beautiful View

This is the LIFE!!

So I finished up my freshman year of college...what??  This year has been incredible and am so grateful for all the ways that I have grown and changed.

When school ended I didn't have a job to go to so I headed down to Virginia and spent 4 days with Grandma and Grandpa. It was so nice to be able be in such a peaceful place after being so stressed out with finals and moving and work, etc. After that I headed to Centerville. I got to spend whole day with my Aunt Shara and cousin Lisa. It was so much fun to talk and hang out with them. Then I hopped on a plane and headed to Colorado to spend 10 DAYS with Katey, my fabulous sister.

Me and Katey had a blast together. I always feel so loved when I am with her. I got to meet my new niece, Tia and become better acquainted with my 2 year old niece, Kylee. They are both super adorable. Kylee is definitely 2, haha. She has her own opinions and makes them known. Katey and I got to talk for as long as we wanted, run together, bake together and enjoy the beautiful weather of Colorado.

On the plane I had really my first experience in talking with someone about the gospel. I don't know that I did the best job but I think I left him  with a pretty good impression of the church and our missionaries.

I've been in Utah since Thursday night. I helped Kitt pack up her apartment, went to a graduation, bought a swim suit and went to a BYU MENS VOLLEYBALL GAME!!! Oh that game was so much fun. They are so stinkin good I can't believe it. They won of course, haha.

Sorry this post is kinda everywhere but hey alot has happened and the best way to make sure I get it all is just to right it down as it comes. haha:)

So I realized something...

So I was writing in my journal today and I realized something that I think is pretty important. I like who I am. That sounds so weird, I know. (I can't help but think of the line from Enchanted when Nathaniel asks prince Edward if he likes himself and then Prince Edward just smiles and says, "What's not like?") I realized that when I am truly being 100% Klaire, I am so happy. My whole outlook changes. Suddenly, I don't feel like I'm not enough or that so-and-so is so much better at this or that.

I'm not saying I'm perfect because we all know that's a joke but I"m trying to be the best I can. Improving is part of living the Gospel. If we aren't improving we are falling behind.

We are all special children of our Heavenly Father. We are all unique. We have talents and gifts and a destiny that is uniquely ours, made with our best interests in mind. I know that Heavenly Father loves me. He is guiding me and blessing my life in ways that would not happen if He were not in charge. Things happen for a reason. Every situation, good or bad, helps us become more like our Heavenly Father and more ready to live with Him for eternity. Frustration and discouragement are of the devil. Don't let Satan have that power over you. Stand tall, you are a child of God. Keep this in mind as you use your agency during the day...

This is why boredom is sometimes dangerous

So this Saturday (yesterday) me and two of my roommates were really bored. We had been doing homework all day and we were just tired of doing school. So we decided to wander around campus at 9:00 at night. We ended up in the MC sitting in some chairs and talking. We were discussing what we could do and then it hit me...we could dye our hair!

We called our friend Tanner and told him our plan and he was more than willing to take us to the store and watch us color our hair. So we went to his sister's house and stole her car. We found this book in the backseat...

Then, we bought red hair dye and headed back to our apartment. My one roommate is a cosmetologist so she said that we should bleach our hair first. Why the heck not?! So we bleached our hair

Step 1: Mix the bleach and apply with a brush

So this is a little taste of what I would look like if I went blonde

Then we mixed the red dye. It was soooo red. It looked so intense I was way too afraid to put it on the whole strand like we had planned. But we had bough the dye so I decided to just do the tips. I let Taylor do the beach but I did the red so that if it wen t really bad I had no one to blame but myself.

Here it is with the red tips. They kinda look pink but that's ok haha

I was a little shocked at the result and I am definitely relieved that I did not do the whole the thing this color. It scared Paige and Taylor enough that they wimped out and did the littlest amount possible and then washed it right out. Here is what it looks like with my hair being normal

I know its not the best picture but you can see that its really not too bad.

So this was a fun adventure and I'm really glad that I already had my job interview for Badger Creek:) Gotta love Saturday nights

Little Miracles

So it is no secret that I do not like math. It's not that I'm not good at it, its that is frustrates me and I have no interest in doing it. So I was pretty bummed that I had to take a math up here at college. However, since I had taken a higher math than what the university requires I was eligible for the test out option. I could be done with the course as fast or as slow as I wanted. I made a goal to have this class done by the end of the month (January). The first two parts of the test were pretty simple and relatively low stress. Then I got to the last test. I have not been that stressed about a test in so long. I had to pass it with a 60% or all my effort was down the tubes and I would have to the real math class. So I did the lessons in the book and on the powerpoints and started the test of 25 questions. I decided that I would go through and do what I knew for sure first and then go back to the questions I skipped. I ended up skipping 11 questions. I tried to work them out and the answers were not right. I spent 45 minutes on those questions and then my time was about to run out. So I said a prayer. I told Heavenly Father what the situation was and how important this test was and what I needed to get to pass. I closed my prayer and hit submit. I have never been so happy to see a 60% in all my life. I know that Heavenly Father heard my prayer and knew that I had tried my best and blessed me with a passing grade.

I know that this sounds silly but it is a testimony to me that Heavenly Father knows where I am and what I am doing. He is there to lead me through m trials. He cares about what happens to me and will not let me fail when I am doing all I can to honor and serve Him. It is a miracle that I passed that test and I know that everyday little miracles are happening in other areas of my life as well. Never doubt how important you are to Christ and Heavenly Father. They both love you and me so much and want nothing more than for us to turn to them and be lifted and guided.

1 week down 13 to go!

I cannot believe I have only been in Rexburg for one week. It feels like an eternity, haha! Nothing like starting the semester with a cancelled flight, new apartment, new roommates, new major and snow. Honestly, I am blowing my own mind as I think about it. However, I have not been alone this week. I was blessed with many tender mercies and miracles. Let's list a few:

1. My roommates are incredible! Who knew it was possible to build a better friendship with 6 girls in 7 days than I had all last semester with 2 girls?
2. My ED 200 is for secondary education majors and I feel right at home.
3. My ward has nice guys and girls in it.
4. My winter coat works like a charm.
5. I have a phone that calls all my favorite people.
6. People that I met last semester remember me and say "hi"
7. I got my birthday and Christmas package (you can call me for details on that one if you'd like)
8. I have food :)
9. I am a little over a 1/3 done with math
10. I didn't have any emotional break-downs on campus

These probably seem like insignificant things but if you had been in my shoes would know how important they were to my survival. I am so grateful for prayer and family. Heavenly Father is so aware of each of us  and our individual needs. He is always listening to our prayers even when we can't feel it right then. He will never leave us helpless. God puts things, people, and circumstance in our lives to help us grow and lift us higher. We can't compare our experiences or feelings to anyone else's because we all need to grow in different ways and our experiences our what lead us in that growth.