Happy 19 years to me

Today at 5:28pm I turned 19. It wasn't a very eventful day. Watched conference which was lovely, but other than that it was really quiet. Lots of birthday texts and Facebook birthday wishes.
Then tonight my roommates made me a cake and sang me happy birthday. It was really nice of them. :)

That's all for now folks!

Easter

Yesterday was my first Easter away from my family. I missed them but I had a great time with my roommate Emily in the warm sunshine with the things my family sent me.
My family sent me a wonderful Easter package with chalk shaped like eggs, marshmallows for Resurrection rolls, bubble wand, amazing chocolate, peeps {microwaved those suckers....}, ring pops, plastic eggs filled with notes from the family {Jamesy boy gave me some of his money. SO CUTE}, dye to color eggs with and a frisbee.
Emily and I used up the chalk by attempting to draw Easter bunnies and eggs and a "Happy Easter" sign on the ground. My bunny looked like He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.... and Emily's...was special looking as well. ;)
After having fun with the chalk and bubble wand we dyed eggs...and....it was epic.  We kind of had a little too much fun and turned it into a zombie apocalypse..... It was probably a little too fun for decent, classy folk. Yet, we had a blast. :D {hehe} My eggs accidentally got frozen because our fridge is possessed, so we weren't going to eat the eggs anyways...
In short, it was a good Easter.

Now I begin the last full week here at the amazing BYU-Idaho. There is a lot to accomplish, so I am crossing my fingers in hope that all goes well.
Tomorrow night I have "Grad Night" where President Clark speaks to all of the graduates about being a BYU-Idaho alumni and how we can be disciples as we go out into the world.  I am pretty excited. :o)

That's all I have for now.
Cheers,
McKenna


Here are some Easter 2013 pictures.

Cadaver excitement

Yesterday in my American Epidemic class we went to the cadaver lab and examined a two bodies.  They were both female. One was very thin while the other was a little bit bigger.  The smaller woman was completely taken apart in front whereas the other woman was completely intact in front and her back was opened up.
I am not gonna lie. I had a great time! I thought it was very interesting and I learned way more by actually feeling, moving and touching different parts of human anatomy than I ever have studying from a book. Best learning experience ever. It did smell pretty yucky though...I smelled like dead people all day untnil I was able to change. haha
What we were mainly at the cadaver lab to look at was a body that had a pretty bad case of atherosclerosis and what it looks (and feels) like. We also have been learning about the anatomy of the heart, pancreas, liver, kidney, and pituitary gland so we looked more closely at those.  It was so cool! Who I would have such a good time in a cadaver lab? :D

This class has been pretty challenging but also so interesting and life changing. I am glad that I have been able to take this class and learn just how importance it is to take care of your body and the different things that can happen when we get careless. I have also learned that those with diabetes need to pay close attention to their glucose levels so that they can better avoid the painful issues that can occur more easily because of diabetes. Basically, I love this class and the things I am learning. :)

The End

Sweet Sabbath Day

Sundays. Oh how I love them. The one day a week I can truly rest! I don't get to sleep in on Sundays since I have 9am church, however, I get to take it easy the rest of the day which I enjoy. I try my best to not do home work on Sundays {doesn't always work out that way...} so that I can not worry about school and just have a day of peace.

I really enjoyed Relief Society today. The lesson was based on the talk "First observe, then serve" given by Sister Burton during the October 2012 General Conference. It was a good reminder to me that I need to really pay attention to what and how those around me need to be served.  I think that sometimes (especially here at school) people feel like if they bake someone a batch of cookies, that person will feel served and loved.  This isn't always the case.  While cookies are delicious and a lovely gesture, I think that taking the 10-15 minutes to really talk and listen to someone is a service that is most appreciated and felt in the heart. This is at least something I have found. Just a little thought I felt like I should share.

{My little hope for this blog is that I can share a little bit of my thoughts, feelings, experiences and things I have learned with friends and family. I also hope it is something that I can look back on and see  how far I have come and what I want to work on in myself to become better.}

What happened over the weekend-

-Friday I went and sang at the assisted living home in Rexburg with BYU-Idaho's Women's Choir.  It was awesome  :) I love going to sing for the elderly who are in assisted living homes without their loved ones.  I was able to sit and chat with several of the cute little old ladies that were present to hear us sing. My heart gets so full when I get to talk to these people. I love hearing the stories they tell and just being able to make them smile.  It makes my day and I hope it makes theirs.  I have such a deep respect for the elderly. The End.

- Saturday I got a haircut.  I needed something a little new and fresh.  I added some layers which helped take some weight off and gave me a little different look.  I am trying to grow my locks out so I just trimmed an inch off for hair health. :)

A little overview for this week-

Tomorrow {Monday, March 25}
-My 10 page research paper on barefoot running is due to be graded{I. AM. NERVOUS.}
-I am taking my roommates {Emily} engagement pictures.  She finally got officially engaged over the weekend to Lynn Mecham from Carey, ID.
They are getting married August 17th (providing they don't change the date again...) and Emily asked me to be her maid of honor! I am very excited for her. She is happy and that makes me happy. :)

Tuesday
Normal class schedule.  I might be taking part in "Adopt a Grandparent" program that is apparently run by BYU-Idaho students {I hadn't heard about it....} and sing to those living at the assisted living center again. {hehe *happy dance*}
The only problem is that I haven't received any more info on it since I was asked 2 weeks ago...sooo we will see if I make it....

I can't think of anything else noteworthy happening in the week.....so I will close with saying that I hope the reader of this post may have a lovely day and do something that brings a smile to the face. :)

Last Women's Choir concert

Boy am I going to miss singing in Women's Choir. Such an amazing opportunity! Tonight was the last BYU-Idaho concert ill be in.
I was blessed to be directed by Sister Eda Ashby. She is such a sweet, incredible, and Inspiring woman. I love her so much and will always treasure the opportunity to know her and be in choir.

Tonight out concert was based around Christ and the theme of Easter.
Song list:
Pueri Hebraeorum
Jerusalem of Gold
El Yivneh Hagalil
Oh my Father
The Lord's Prayer
Agnus Dei
I stand all amazed
Ride on king Jesus

It was incredible. I will never forget the memories made in choir and at BYU-Idaho.
I will admit that sentimental tears were shed tonight. I was overwhelmed with the realization that this is goodbye and also grateful for the blessing to have been in such an amazing choir and a student at BYU-Idaho.
:')

3/21/2013

A few that have happened, will be happening, and random thoughts. :D -I auditioned to sing a solo at graduation and got it! I am very excited for the opportunity and the memory I will get to take from it. I am singing Our Savior's Love. :) - Tonight (3/21) is my last Women's Choir concert. I am going to miss choir, but look forward to new singing opportunities to come. Tonight our concert is around the theme of the Resurrection and Easter since that is coming up soon. We are singing several Latin songs and Hebrew songs. They are absolutely beautiful. -Tomorrow for choir we are going to an assisted living center and singing to the residents there and then visiting with them. I love being able to go sing to and visit those in assisted living homes. I know that they must get very lonely and enjoy being listened too and talked too. That will be a lot of fun and I will probably tear up. I am such a sap and have become a lot more emotional over the last year. ah well. I can live with having a big heart :) -Saturday I am going on a hike to the hot springs. I will take some pictures and then post them here. :) -I am writing a 10-15 page research paper for my writing class on barefoot running and how barefoot running is actually better than conventional running in many ways and the science behind it. - On Tuesday (3/19) I had a presentation in my Cognitive Psychology class that I COMPLETELY spaced. Lucky I can usually speak on the fly, so I did alright....and got an A on it ;) {hehe so smooth} -I have actually enjoyed learning about diabetes and better understanding it and the complications that can arise because of it. I have family members with it and am glad I can better understand what they go through, feel, experience and how to help them better live with diabetes. -I REALLY miss eating clean. I eat ok here at school, but I am just not able to eat how I normally do when living in Oregon. I can;t wait to come home and start eating a whole lot cleaner. Also. SUSHI. I miss that stuff with all of my heart. Sushi appears in my dreams. How sad and pathetic is that?! I just miss eating that glorious food of the Gods and can't wait to taste it once more.... *sigh* -It is sad when the sun shines and it is 40 degrees here in Rexburg and I feel like it is t-shirt weather and I am sweating a little bit.... I remember being in Oregon in December and it being 40 and me FREEZING. CRAZY! -I miss my family SO much. I miss my little brothers especially. Every time I Skype them they always ask when I will be home and when they can hang out with me. It honestly makes me tear up and my heart melt. -I need a massage and an adjustment. My back, shoulders and neck are super tight and I get headaches often. NO FUN. Alright, that is enough for now. :) Thanks for reading.

College life is coming to a close

WOW. As I sit here on my uncomfortable twin bed in my humble apartment, I feel a bit sentimental. (I have always been ridiculously sentimental...so the feel isn't new....but still..) I am just getting hit with the reality that college life is coming to an end. Don't get me wrong. I am VERY excited to leave Rexburg and get on with my life. I just feel a chapter of my life ending and feel that a moment of reflection is in order. I have loved being here at BYU-Idaho. Besides it being in the middle of nowhere and too cold for my taste in the winter....{teehee} it has been one truly great experience. I have been able to learn so much academically, spiritually, emotionally, personally, and socially. I have had the opportunity to have an incredible roommate who I love to death and will miss. I have done some very fun stuff indoors and out. (just to name a FEW:snowshoeing, skeet shooting, hiking, Yellowstone, Latin dancing, Ballroom dancing, choir performances, wild roommate escapades to the store for ice cream late at night, different concerts such as Vocal Point/BYU Singers/etc.) Although the homework load sometimes gets crazy, I have LOVED the classes I have taken and the things I have learned in them. I have had fun exploring new things and finding out what I like most and want in life. This college life has treated me pretty well and I am thankful for it. Now, on to new experiences!