A spark of Heavenly Fire

"There is in every woman's heart a spark of heavenly fire, which lies dormant in the broad daylight of prosperity; but which kindles up and beams and blazes in the dark hour of adversity." -Washington Irving

I love reading about women who have done challenging things.

I just feel so inspired.

Today I heard about this women today through a friend's blog.

I highly recommend reading this article about her, you will cry.

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/stephanie-nielson-fireside-120609.html

OK, BACK TO ME...

Today my parents e-mailed me our Family Christmas Card.

E-MAILED!

I was shocked, but loved reading it.

I always love the paragraph about me...I inserted it...

"Annalise, currently taking finals at BYU. She is tremendously enjoying her Medical Dietetics program (It is great to be IN the program and not taking the prerequisite courses). She grades Nutrition papers for one of the professors. She has a blog where she gets out her old journalism talents. For those interested in a little bit of humor and selected video clips see http://livevicariouswithme.blogspot.com She enjoyed a National Dietetics Conference in Denver a few weeks ago."

I think my Mom did a good job.

Christmas cards, OH the memories of stuffing envelopes, writing addresses, and licking envelopes for extra money. I will spare my faint-hearted (2) readers the details of the paper cuts on my hands and mouth. I am really going to miss seeing all the Christmas cards our family gets. They are so fun to read and I love the pictures. My favorite one of all time is of my Aunt and Uncle in Scotland in traditional dress, it was a riot!

Finals are going...I did VERY well today.

I am looking forward to another smashing success in the Testing Center tomorrow on my Nutrition Test and D&C.

From Provo, super super tired and happy.

I am a duck, THE DUCK.

Finals week definition-

"I am a duck. Calm on the surface, but kicking like heck underneath the surface." -can't remember who

First final today, Advanced Writing 7 AM. Just because its an honors class it doesn't mean we like to arise early...remember that 10-14 page paper I needed to write for this class, its done. 8 pages and out of ideas.

I sent a package to brother on mission (love/miss his face and the roses he used to send me when I was stressed). Little side note, randomly in the semester he would send me roses, usually around pathophysiology tests. If you don't know, these are tests like are the equivalent of dementors performing "The Kiss" on you in 'Harry Potter.'

Serious. These test sucked all happiness out of my life and my soul.

Good news, I recovered.

Real-life story to illustrate Hyrum's kindness to his sister--

Knock at door...I answer.

"Does Anna live here?"--flower lady

"She lives upstairs."--Me

"Anna Shumway?"--flower lady

"Oh, [pause] that's me."--Me

"Can you sign this, these roses are for you."--flower lady

I read cute note (that I still have, written in his Doctor handwriting...he is gonna be a Doctor so he started writing like one in 4th grade, a little premature if you ask me, but its okay)

"Hyrum is so nice."--Roommate/Cousin Britta. (B call me, I miss you!)

"Lucky girl who marries him. Could I take this to my test?"--Me

I love the notes my Mom puts on her packages...I want to be/look just like her when I grow up.

Remembering Europe (last November she visited me on my study abroad, we went to Switzerland, rode a lot of trains, saw a lot of art and ate chocolate) and Michigan (where we eat chocolate covered cherries on the beach.)

I also got 2 packages in the mail and a letter, it was a big day for me...Mom/Sister each sent me a package with fudge, European chocolate, and chocolate dipped cherries...I think this finals week is gonna be a gastric success.

Sarah didn't write me any notes on her package, someday she will.

I wrote love notes on the outside of brothers package (smile).

Tomorrow--GE class final/Sarah comes to distract me.

Wednesday/Thursday/Friday-Nutrition. Nutrition. Nutrition. Nutrition. Nutrition. Nutrition. Nutrition. Nutrition. Nutrition. Nutrition. Nutrition. Nutrition. Nutrition. Nutrition.Nutrition. Nutrition.Nutrition. Nutrition.Nutrition. Nutrition. Nutrition. AND

Pack=breezy skirts+shirts+shorts+books+swim garb

Friday night-sit in airport, the Nicaragua flight leaves uber early. I have a few things packed: swim suit (4), chacos, sunglasses (2), and aloe vera.

Nicaragua had the high of 93 today. High of 94 on Saturday.

There is a light at the end of the tunnel.

From Provo, currently 42 degrees with the snow melting and getting my feet wet, very wet indeed.

Super Sunday

Today I woke up at 10, I felt a little gluttonous after talking to sister and she said she woke up at 7 to speak at a church an HOUR away!

It rained today so it was really slushy. It was really fun since I wore boots so I was able to jump in all the puddles walking home. I loved it.

Today I cleaned my room, a TOTAL necessity for sanity reasons.

The chair in the corner is suppose to be in the living room, but I needed it as my second closet/clothes pile. When my room is this messy it means I am stressed with school and I am having issues picking out my clothes in the morning.

Vienna reunion. I love these girls so much and Jesse. We are missing a lot of girls due to missions and it will continue to dwindle as 5 more leave this January! I really miss dear Anna Elizabeth.

I really want to go back to Europe. Today I also looked up jobs in Paris/Vienna/Budapest doing segway tours. Too bad I missed the deadline--2 months back! I love all these cities. I would have been the best tour guide.

It was a good day.

I am so ready for finals.

I am really excited because dear Sister comes on town on Tuesday-ish depending on when she wants to come down and stop playing with some friends up there. Hopefully she will cook for me.

From Provo.

ps. Here is a delightful picture from last weekend, the ward masquerade party. I used a Chinese fan as my mask.

'Hey, I think I know you.'

I was sitting very nicely in the pencourt studying.

Suddenly I hear a voice "Hey, I think I know you."

I ignored it since I assumed the loud voice was not talking to me and Michael Buble was singing to me, "Save the last dance for me."

Awkward pause.

'Hey, I know you," the booming voice said now in front of my table. I pull out my headphones.

'You don't really look that familiar.'

'What year are you?'

'I am a senior.'

'So, you started in 2006, me too. We must have had a class together.'

'Maybe.'

'Were you in Bio 120, Econ 110 or American Heritage.'

'Nope, sorry.'

The whole time my face kept getting redder and redder. The whole of the Pencourt was watching us. I left the Pencourt about 5 minutes after this experience, that kid made it impossible for me to study any longer in there.

I related said story to friend she said, 'Hey, I think I know you' is a pick up line...since when?????? Sometimes I think my life should be a movie or musical. Some of my life experiences would translate well to song/dance or just words with really cute costumes...

From Provo. keeping it awkward.

Recent happenings

1) When I left my house yesterday morning (7:30) it was -3 degrees outside.

My house is set at 82 degrees...79 degree difference!

2) Tap final...I am the weirdie in the REALLY baggy white gangster shirt. I had a presentation afterwards so I was wearing pearls and my dress pants are rolled up, huge fashion faux pas.

3) English final presentation, I love dressing all professional for school. The presentation went well. People listened to me. I talked a mile a minute and I was later informed that I had a lot of awkward hand gestures...yes, I talk with my hands. People who talk with their hands are SMARTER then people who don't. I learned that from McKay Yancey and I have never forgotten it.

4) After my last English class, Bree (dietetics kindred spirit and in my boring English class) and I tried on cute clothes in the bookstore, we were going to go study NDFS, but we felt the need to celebrate the last day of classes. We have a plan to go back.

4b) Emily, the cousins and I suffered through our last D&C lecture. The cousins talked/played sudoku. Emily read a book. I made a flyer for the ward and took a nap. It was a productive 50 minutes.

5) I had the privilege to puncture my skin for the rabies, typhoid, and tetanus shot...the things I do to leave this blessed country! I can hardly move my right arm.

6) Ordered a winter hat online, uber cute. A definite challenge finding the exact color I wanted and to get free shipping. I am so excited to have a warm head when I walk to school...across the street.

7) Writing my English 316 final paper is still a bore. 4 pages left to write. Currently I have 25 internet windows open for all my sources, its really confusing.

8) Fell out of my bed this morning reaching for my alarm clock...it was set for 6:30, a oversight on my part for sure.

9) 110/110 on all the assignments/projects I just turned in for NDFS 300...good grade padding.

10) My favorite cubical was free today when I went to the HBLL, some stinker has been sitting in it all the time for the past 3 weeks! I plan on putting my name on it to protect myself next semester.

11) The washer in our apartment is broken. It froze due to the cold weather. All the clothes I like are dirty, minor issue.

12) Andrea and I made bread last night, we were going to go to bed then all our roommates came home. Benson analyzed all our issues as well.

13) Sister comes to UT in 5 days! Unfortunately she will not really be in Provo. But we fly down to Nicaragua together...13 hours of flying/airport time. I love flying with people. I have flown alone A LOT in the past year and a half, its really lonely.

14) Finished grading all the NDFS 100 papers. Some people were REALLY bad writers, favorite sentence, "My little sister used to be really fat. I would call her more obese actually. As she has gotten older she has become a more normal size and gotten curves." I wrote 'harsh' on the side and continued to laugh and mark up his paper even more.

15) I have lost my ice scraper. I am really sad. Yesterday I used my half marathon hat to get rid of all the white stuff on my car. It worked well enough for me to to drive safely.

16) I saw the Cutler's apartment. Kimber and Casey are married now! I love their holiday decorations, I am just a little jealous.

17) I found my thick wool socks. My feet are so happy.

18) When I went to bed last night there was a DTR going on outside my window. I fell asleep before it ended, it was kinda boring and they talked too softly. Nevertheless, I have witnessed a few this past semester. I love my room.

19) I successfully put in my contacts. Usually I need a little cheerleading team on my side, its really hard. Why should I know how to put in my contacts when keep them in for a month? I blame this fact for my learning curve that's slower then a snail/fish/ant...pick your favorite animal.

20) I called the family when I was walking home and my brother asked me what I had been up to. I responded, "I am just leaving the library." My brother said, "I thought your life was fun?" He just doesn't understand my love for old books and completing papers just before they are due. I thrive off stress, its my best motivation.

From Provo.

Texting

I love to text message.
Its the best...you can talk to a friend to confirm lunch/gym appointments, ask about homework assignments, invite friends to activities (mass text), notify said friend you are running late to class and to save you a seat, etc ALL without calling them.

It can be done in the quiet of the library when you are studying, in the middle of class or walking to class in the freezing cold!

This morning I learned its really hard to text with thick gloves on, really hard.

I had to start all over a few times then I finally exposed a little skin to finish my message.

Target now sells, texting gloves. weird.

I kinda want a pair. I would put them to good use for sure.

Today in nutrition class my professor told us about a family she knows (at the break we all pull out our phones and text everyone back who has texted us in the past hour...)

They have 4 kids.

Last month the kids sent/received 80,000 text messages!
One kid-20,000 month/31= 645 in a day.. not normal.

Yesterday I sent/received 189.

One time I had an exorbitant texting bill, my parents made me pay it. The next day I called sprint and we were put on a unlimited texting plan...there have been no complaints about my texting volume since then.

Texting just got better this semester since my little brother, Peter text me goodnight and wishes me good luck on stuff.

From Provo.

no title needed, just me.

It has snowed.

I woke up yesterday for church and it looked like a winter wonderland outside my window.

It looked so beautiful with our sparkling tree in the window.

I love Christmas time, but not being cold so much.

This week: 3 projects, 1 monster paper (2 pages down, 10 to go), 2 presentations. I report such stats, so you can think of me fondly as you sip hot chocolate in Boarder's, go shopping for presents, or slave away at school like me OR I really just wanted people to know I am dying just a little inside.

The spirit of Christmas will not be crushed within me,

even if I will get bed sores from hard library chairs.

11 days until I fly here...this is my cousin, David and his four legged friend.

I am really excited. I just got an email about place where we are staying and I looked them up.

Such emails are distracting...in a good way.

Anyone who wants to take my finals, please contact.

I will pay your for your suffering.

From Provo.

ps. Today I ran 8 miles. I did not enjoy it, not one minute of it. I can't believe I once ran a half marathon...I remember hating every footstep of that "adventure" too.....

On a lighter, less healthy note (don't you dare judge me, Shannan Brooks and other dietetics people)...

FAMILY, send fudge. don't forget and in the quantity we discussed. I know its there, it can smell it over the phone.

Friends, I am not sharing, forget it.