Tuesday's class was interesting. And it looks like I wasn't the only one who asked a friend to come to class. I think Jeff (the friend I brought) had more fun than I did. He even took notes during the lecture portion! When my instructor gave examples of possible disagreements, such as in-laws ("Your mother never invites me to..."), Jeff jokingly said: "Your mother never invites me to dinner!" I said, "Well, she hasn't exactly seen you since you were twelve..." (which is true). He then turned his back to me. It was pretty funny.

After the lecture portion, we were assigned to MFT students who were to facilitate our communication practice and to give feedback. Jeff and I were with another pair. In this setting, we first had to role play and then talk about a real issue and receive feedback about how we did. I do not like performing for an audience, so it was pretty weird for me. Then we had to set up a time outside of class to talk about relational issues and use the skills we learned that day. I think I did a lot better in that part because I didn't have an audience. But it is kind of odd to talk about relational issues when you're not dating! However, it was quite enlightening and we chose topics that weren't oh-so-serious (personal habits and similarity/difference). I think my communication skills will be better thanks to this class. I seriously owe Jeff for this.

I have to tell y'all, I think Marriage Prep should be a required class. No joke. It is so good. Yeah, there are awkward days, but the class is so worth it. I also took the Marriage and Family class offered through the religion department a few years ago. Also a good class. It talks about marriage and family through a gospel perspective.

I'm feeling even more motivated to study my French. This last week at the MTC was a little easier because the missionaries were practicing their door approach (these were brand-new missionaries). Is it just me, or are the missionaries getting younger? Perhaps I'm getting older. My mom also sent me my Livre de Mormon, La Sainte Bible, and Les Cantiques (French hymnal). Thanks Mom!

I also ordered a diffuser. I know, ideally I could just go to the store and buy one, but I have a Conair Infiniti:

It's one of those that comes with a straightening attachment. The straightening part doesn't work so well on my hair. It straightens the bottom layers just fine, but the top layer is difficult to straighten. They don't sell the diffuser that goes to it in stores, so I ordered one. One of my friends dried my hair with a diffuser a few weeks ago, and it looked so good! And it didn't take very long. I like my curls. The diffuser should come in a few days.

I've been a good girl and exercised every single day this week, even on Memorial Day. I alternated between jog/walking and Pilates. When I say jog/walking, I mean mostly walking with a little bit of jogging. Right now, I limit my jogging to doing it across intersections (legally, of course). I don't want to hurt myself. It feels good to exercise! I've also been pretty good about eating healthy and drinking lots of water too. It feels good.

an update

I had been worried about finding a male to accompany me to my Marriage Prep class on Tuesday for the Communication lesson, but I decided to ask an old friend of mine and he agreed to do it. Hopefully, he can still make it. I think I gave him a bit of a scare at Institute when I mentioned that the class was three hours (and I did tell him in the e-mail) because he is working full-time. But so far, I haven't received word that he can't do it. What a way to start, we've already had an error in communication. But seriously, I owe him for this.

I volunteered at the MTC again last week. For the first hour, I was by myself with the elders and yet I was supposed to have someone with me. It was awkward because my French isn't that great and they were struggling themselves. I've got to study my French harder. But this should hopefully help me improve my speaking French.

My brother Scott got into BYU! He was initially rejected, which surprised us because he got a really good score on the ACT. But a few days ago, Scott received a letter from BYU: he has been accepted to BYU for Winter 2009. He will attend BYU-Idaho in the fall and then come down to Provo for Winter. Before he got his acceptance letter, he was planning on attending BYU-I for a year, going on his mission, then transferring to Provo afterwards. Now that he has been accepted, he won't have to go through the transfer process at all. I will also get to have my little brother with me here in Happy Valley during my last several months before I graduate. And I'll get to harass him about his mission papers and perhaps be present when his mission call comes.

boo-yah!

I knew I was a fast typist, but wow! If you need a secretary, call me.



72 words

Speed test

Life is good, mostly

I'm enjoying life right now. My classes aren't impossible but they aren't hard--they keep me busy. I've re-started my Pilates routine and I'm planning on adding walking to it because I need a cardio workout, and I am not a fan of running. I've also mostly cut junk food out of my diet! I know you are saying: "But you're so thin!" Well, I'm not *that* thin and it's not a bad idea to eat healthy foods in the first place. I feel so much better since I reduced my junk food intake. The most junk food I had this last week was some vanilla ice cream at a ward party and hot dogs and various junk foods at a barbecue my friends had in Canyon Glen Park last night. I don't like hot dogs, but these were OK.

I also started volunteering in the Teaching Resource Center (TRC) at the Missionary Training Center (MTC) this last week for the French-speaking missionary. I enjoyed it and I wish I had started it sooner. I decided to do it because I really want to improve my speaking skills in French.

Today, I taught my first Relief Society lesson and it went well. I thought I was going to be so nervous, as what usually happens when I give some sort of lesson or talk.

It appears I have something resembling a social life. My next-door neighbors are super social and keep inviting me to stuff. I've been doing something every Saturday for the last three weeks. On Friday, I got to see Prince Caspian and it was really good. I'm not sure how I felt about the romantic element they added between Susan and Prince Caspian--it wasn't originally in the book! Last night, I went to Canyon Glen Park for a barbecue and played Ultimate Frisbee for the first time in my life. I'm told that I'm good with a frisbee--perhaps this is something I should take up.

So, this week I need to find a guy who is willing to come to my Marriage Prep class a week from Tuesday for a communication exercise. This is one time I wish I were dating someone. This is going to be oh-so-awkward. I don't really have any close guy friends either...*sighs*.

death to fairytales?

As I have mentioned before, I am taking a Marriage Prep class even though I am nowhere close to getting married. The class is very enjoyable, and I highly recommend it. But after last Thursday, I am beginning to think that fairy tales should not exist.

Last Thursday, we covered the Stages of Marriage and the Myths of Marriage.

I have begun to wonder if the divorce rates wouldn't be so high if fairytales ceased to exist. Think about it. You know how fairy tales end with "and they lived happily ever after", after the girl and the prince get married? Many people get married thinking that all their troubles will end after they are married to their one true love. Things are fine and dandy for a time, but then reality sets in and it ain't pretty. Thanks to Hollywood, the couple thinks there is something wrong with their marriage and if it isn't constantly deliriously happy, then they would be better off not being together. I know I could be exaggerating, but if you look at our divorce rates and the top reasons for divorce...you have to wonder. And what girl didn't grow up on fairy tales, dreaming that one day she would meet her handsome prince?

My desire to be married hasn't been trampled by any means, but after this lecture, I'm glad that marriage isn't in the Lord's plan for me at this point in my life. I've known for years that marriage is hard, but I didn't realize it was THAT hard! Mom, Dad...you make it look pretty easy. But then again, you had been married for almost eight years by the time I came along!

There were quite a few myths that made me laugh, such as the "true love at first sight" myth. Okay, whoever believes it by the time they're my age needs help. I haven't believed that in years. There is one fairy tale that doesn't capitalize on that myth: Beauty and the Beast. There's one movie I'll continue watching. I believe in infatuation at first sight, and yes, I have been a victim...but never again. I also think that Mormons who "knew" that they would marry their spouse the first time they saw each other, should stop sharing that. It raises our hopes a little too high. I don't think that'll happen to me. I've been told that I have a personality that takes getting used to. It seems to run in my family.

I know that my posts tend to be a little bit disorganized, but I hope you understand this one!

I don't have a good title

I have a new church calling. I am now a Relief Society Instructor. My reaction? Well, a little bit nervous for starters. I've never given a full-on lesson outside of Family Home Evening, and even then, those were short lessons. However, I am no longer FHE group leader and that makes me very happy. I got really tired of people not coming to Family Home Evening and feeling like it was somehow my fault.

And last night, I saw the second Single's Ward movie. Hilarious, but painful at the same time. It is painfully accurate in portraying what BYU single's wards are like, at least, the ones I've been in. And amusingly, part of the movie was filmed at my apartment complex. But I wasn't around when they filmed it--I was back in Houston.

Eh, don't feel like writing analytical right now.

a new month, a new term

Hello hello, I haven't been on in over a week.

I did get to go home. It was nice, though it went by too fast! But I got some stuff done. I got my hair cut, did some shopping, ate at good restaurants, ate some of Mom's home-cooking, went to a concert (classical music, if you must know), and visited my violin teacher in the hospital. He has a staph infection, and it was pretty gross. I was also in church when my mom was sustained as a youth Sunday School teacher--she's going to teach the 14-15 year olds. This should be interesting. She is no longer the ward choir director--she was only too happy to be released from that calling.

I got back to Provo on Monday, and of course, I didn't want to come back. I managed to mostly get unpacked into my new apartment. Be proud of me. Classes started on Tuesday. I'm only taking two classes this term. One of them is a French class--I'm taking a lower level one because (a) I need three more credits to fulfill the foreign language requirement for my major and (b) I didn't want to potentially have a mental breakdown if I signed up for the RM class. I need a review anyway--it's been a while since my last French class. I am also taking HFL 223 (Preparation for Marriage). I know what you're thinking. It's a good class, so far. But I'll have to go on three "date-like" activities this term. Oh goody. It's been a while since my last date and I'm not exactly a fan of being the initiator. My worst possible dating situation was one that I had initiated. I don't know what I'm going to do. I already have problems interacting with the opposite sex as it is. I'm not friends with very many guys and I'm simply incapable of flirting. I'm serious when I say that. I've found that when I do try to flirt, my IQ drops by about forty points and I start acting like a total idiot. And I begin hating myself. If there are any takers or anyone with ideas (or potential dates), feel free to offer them.

But other than that, I think I'm going to enjoy the class and learn lots from it. What's funny is that my teacher is not married and yet he's a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. Maybe there's a reason....ha ha. But he did say that he's in the same boat as those of us who are looking.