9:20 rolls around, so I'm told, and I sense someone in my bedroom, laying on my bed. I look behind me, cringe, and see Kristin's wide eyes and huge grin through the blue and red metallic Nacho Libre mask. "Good morning pee pee pants..."
"Noooooo. GET OUT! For the love of everything holy, GET OUT!"
"Get outta' bed and PLAY WITH ME!"
What the heck? Is she seriousss? Make new friends. Where's Katie? Where's our 4th roommate? This is why they cram 4 girls in an apartment...so the morning bird has friends to play with. SURELY someone wants to play at 9:20 and doesn't love sleep 90% more than their roommates.
I hear her almost ready to leave.
Cringe. I hate being alone right now.
"DON'T LEAVEEEE!" I scream down the hall.
Screaming back, "YOU LOST YOUR CHANCE TO PLAY! BYEEEE."
Fine. Go. Be that way. Didn't want to play with you anyways. You smell. Back to my delicious bed, soft sheets, perfectly fluffed pillows, Ingrid Michaelson playlist, and sweet, sweet, dreams.
I pop up like a daisy in bed, grab my phone. 12:08. Ugh.
Alarm Clock - 2
Nicole - 0
I grab my standard uniform - black yoga pants, white v-neck - brush my teeth, throw my hair up in a pony tail, paint my face, put on my flip flops that are perfectly molded to my feet, grab the obviousss diet coke, and roll out.
Honors Creative Writing get ready. You're about to see somethin' really special. I walk into class, sweating of course, but without the panting since the building is right across the street from Institute parking. I knew God loved me. The teacher is sitting there in all her "I don't give a crap" glory. Oh no. Panic sinks in. I notice the surly haircut, slight frown, all black clothing, and say a little prayer. I grab my phone and start texting the support team. Garrett, Kristin, Katie, Stacey and Mommy. One bright spot - the boys across from me were super cute, but more than that, they looked way chill. Okay, this might turn out okay. Wrong. The platinum and gold caught the bright lights on the ceiling and it was like the word "MARRIAGE" screamed at the top of it's lungs to my ears. Fine. Married. Not like I haven't seen it before. I live in the mecca now.
So the professor starts going on about the syllabus. I raise my hand to contribute a couple times. Brownie points right? This might not be so bad. Well, jokes on me. She explains our assignment for monday is to bring in a box of things that seduce us, excite us and that we anticipate. Ummmm...crickets chirping...sweating begins again...is it hot in here all of a sudden? I feel akward. I want my mommy. Class dismissed.
I walk back to my car, on the phone with my grandma, and we come up with a game plan to transfer to BYU as soon as possible. Cougars don't bring fetish boxes to class. It just doesn't happen. Apparently Wolverines do. I suddenly remember the teacher saying how she hates using words like "cliche", "inspiring", and "interesting." She likes things to be "surprising and twisted." Alright lady, two can play this game. You're expecting a dirty box from me? Wrong. You're getting a box painted with words like charity, eternity, families are forever, etc. My box is going to be filled with pictures of Temples, families, Christmas dinners, wives and husbands, eternal families and kids playing. THAT'S what I anticipate. How's that for surprising?
Jeff was the bright spot in my afternoon. We grabbed lunch at Cafe Rio, caught up, visited Spencer at his house, rubbed Garrett's face in the widget reunion, missed garrett terribly, and I hustled back to my house.
After hours of packing, me and my roomies were on our way to IDAHO! I've never been, so I was a little excited :) We packed the car, grabbed dinner, harassed the drive thru window talker guy, and hit the road. Garrett kept me sane on the ride up. I owe him big time. The Pocatello turn was tempting. Straight to Katie's house, or veer right to Garrett's house. Straight won tonight, but one day we will veer right.
It was at the 245 mile marker when all hell broke loose. My bladder was screaming at me. We stop at the rest stop. No way. You couldn't pay me to subject myself to that. So, the Idaho hills it was.
So we pull into town, and Katie starts telling us how the Twin Falls Temple is really close to their house. We're thinking it's down the street a ways, close, but a good walk away. She starts turning into the Temple parking lot, and we're thinking okay, she's showing us the Temple before taking us home. Well, the Temple is literally in their front yard. I could high five the Temple workers from my bedroom window. It's amazing. Kristin and I snuck onto the balcony and just beheld the view. It was literally breathtaking. You look up at the sky, painted with white dots at every angle. You look ahead to the Temple, and can feel the cool wind on your face. Clearly the Alders took it literally when the Prophet said to pitch your tent facing Zion. Well done Alders, well done.
So here we are, laying in the most amazing black and white bed known to man, feeling the Idaho wind blow in through the window, hearing the quiet lull of traffic on the highway, seeing the Temple through our bedroom window, eating Sister Alder's fresh baked cookies, and listening to none other than EFY music.
It's the little things in life that make you appreciate and yearn for the bigger things. When you're blessed with simple blessings in your life, like a warm home to stay at for the weekend, you see the hand of the Lord in even the tiniest details. I am constantly feeling the Spirit in my new home. I am constantly striving to improve myself, reminding myself to remember the Eternal Perspective, and seeing the little acts of charity in my home and with those around me. I feel like I can do anything right now. I feel like the world is in the palm of my hands, and for once in my life, I can feel all my walls coming down. I am confident in the decision I've made to move to my new home, and am eager to see what the future holds for me. I know without a doubt, with the Lord on my side, as daddy said, "It will be a bright one."
Goodnight from Idaho :)
