March 20, 2016 -- Week of St. Patrick's day, social life, and future paths being unveiled

Crazy week!  These are my experimental cinnamon rolls I made with a peach cobbler filling.  My lab liked them, although they only gave me a 3 out of 10 for appearance... I guess they have never heard of St. Patrick's day Spirit!

BYU sports have been very exciting this week!  The win on Wednesday was great, but the closer game against on West Virginia was exhilarating on Friday!  I happened to be wearing yellow on Wednesday so Mom and Katy were able to spot me.

I'm now ready for the Tuesday game, then onto the unofficial final four!

My saturday was quite full yet fun with temple, bike ride with katie Jones up the Canyon, getting my phone screen fixed, cleaning my bathrooms, and then heading to the men's volleyball game with some friends.

Today was the Provo City Temple dedication.  It was so nice!  I love temples, and it is cool knowing that we are better people each time we come back out.  Maddy did my hair and I did her hair today.  Cute, Huh?

The big news of the week is that I received a $2000 scholarship from IMPA (Idaho milk Processor's association) and they will also give me $300 to go to the IMPA convention this summer in Sun Valley Idaho.  I'm stoked!  I extended my graduation to August so I will be taking required graduate classes during spring for undergraduate tuition prices instead of graduate tuition -- saving a penny here and a penny there.  (Don't worry, I'm still walking in April.)  I'm on the BYU dairy competition team as well so I'm going to be working on developing a dairy product for the IMPA competition and hopefully win some money there as well.  I will be working locally this summer, so I'm seeing what I'll end up doing.  It's kind of cool when things starting to come together.  I'm still not sure where I'm going to live or exactly where I'm going to work, but we'll burn those bridges when we get to them.  Later days.

Two more years

March 6, 2016 -- Two more years

I'm pleased to announce that I have been accepted into the BYU food science graduate program.  I will begin work in September following a summer internship.  I am so grateful for all the help that I have received over the past four years. Some help includes the following:

1. Financial assistance through many scholarships. These scholarships are given by donations to the school.  Also, I'm so blessed that about 80 percent of our tuition is subsidized by tithe dollars.  Because of these financial blessings, I have the responsibility to give back to BYU, as well as always ensure that I am representing the church and the school correctly.                         

2. Moral support by my family.  There have been so many instances when I have been overwhelmed with certain subjects and it would have been so much easier to work less and accept a lower grade.  I'm so glad my family, especially my parents, have taught me the principle of enduring well, even when I want to quit.  I would not be where I am today without these foundational principles.

3. Social support.  I can't count how many times I have had to call my sisters or mother just to vent.  They take this venting very kindly and offer me loving advice directly after.  I have spent so many nights and dinners and Drew and Cassie's house just to have a clean and loving place to unwind.  I have gone on several walks with Adam and his family where I can speak exactly what is on my mind, and Adam always has great life lessons with which to teach.  All the rest of my family is always there as well.

      

4. Spiritual support has been an imperative crutch through my undergraduate years.  This is one of my main reasons for accepting BYU for graduate school.  I've been able to attend the temple weekly and serve in my ward.  The best thing about BYU is being able to hear the testimony of my professors.  I feel so close to them, and I love seeing how they do all they can to serve the Lord through serving others on a daily basis.  

Brigham Young once said, "Mormonism has made me all that I am..."  I agree with the that statement.  Everything good in my life has come because of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and everything bad can be made good through the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I am so grateful for that.  I'm excited to discover what these next two years have in store for me.