Morgan’s Bl[ah]g...

Public display of affection: Brittany Lancaster...

2012-01-30T08:09:00.006-07:00

Today my blog post is about one of my heroes. Her name is Brittany Lancaster (aka “THE Brittany Lancaster”). I had the privilege of meeting this amazing girl in New York. I admire her so much because she is the greatest example of living the gospel for no one else but God. Not for family or friends, but for God. This 18 year old girl is strong and brave and a sassy spit-fire. This past November she made a really difficult but incredible decision to follow the example of our Savior and be baptized. And she keeps on teaching me every day. This is a section from her last blog post:

“So it’s really hard for me to be a member of the church in my house. But I try my hardest to keep the commandments and do what the Lord has asked me to do. And I struggle everyday with it. Even though I have been going to church for a long time, it’s still hard for me to keep the commandments. Before I was a member [of the LDS church] there were lots of things I would do even though I was going to church. I thought that if I wasn’t a member the commandments didn’t apply to me. And throughout my life I realized that wasn’t the case at all. I realized that the commandments are there to help me better my life. So at this point in my life, I have been thinking about my life and how I can change it to better me.”

Isn’t she incredible? And she’s right. None of us are perfect, but the key is just to try a little harder every day to become better. That is what this life is all about. It’s trying to be better that makes us happier and improves the quality of our life. I love and miss this girl. Every time I get a call or text from her, she is such an example to me and I am reminded of the way I should be living.

Father's journey...

2012-01-20T12:23:00.002-07:00

I always sound like I’m a depressed mess on this blog. I need to do something more upbeat! But I have to share this story about my father. The other day I was talking to my mother on the phone and we were both feeling discouraged, but then she told me this story that my Dad had told her. This summer for his 50th birthday he went on a bicycle ride from the top of Maine to the tip of Florida. Can you imagine 3000 miles on bike seat? This is an experience that I had him write up:

“I was riding one day by myself. It was a Sunday and I was trying to listen to conference as I rode. I think I missed the turn because I was trying to concentrate on listening but I didn’t notice that I was on the wrong road for quite a while. I finally came to this town called Walterboro, Georgia and knew that I was in the wrong place. I looked on my GPS and expected to see about 11 miles to my destination and it said 25 miles. I had already traveled a pretty long distance that day and seeing that I would have to travel an additional 14 miles, just took the wind out of my sails. I was feeling pretty down and stopped at this little convenience store for a chocolate milk and lunch. There was this very nice African American lady running the store and she told me right off that she saw many of our group pass earlier in the day. I knew that they must have passed, because now I was quite late. I told her about being lost and that I was discouraged and she kind of put her hand on my arm and said, ‘Honey, it’s a beautiful day out and you will get there and all will be ok.’ I ate my sandwich outside and this older man with few teeth came up and talked to me for a bit. When I got on the bike to leave, he said, ‘You be careful out there now.’ It is just nice to think how many good people there are in the world, in which billions of them, we never meet. I wonder what these people’s lives are like I ran into and hope they are happy. I have seen people living under bridges and you wonder what has happened in their life to get them there. It is just humbling to think that all these people are God’s children and that He knows them and loves them.”

When I heard this story it was just what I needed to hear. Sometimes we set our mind on accomplishing something hard and we know we can make it. But add any additional thing to it and we feel defeated. My Dad new he’d ride 70 miles that day, but with that added distance it seemed impossible. These setbacks in our journey can seem like the breaking point, but then we are given little tender mercies from things that God sets in our path. Heavenly Father is aware of where we all are. He knew where my Dad was and those people were there to help him.

If you want to read more about my Dad’s he kept this blog. I was on my mission at the time and each day we’d email the sisters would ask, “Now where is he?” I’d ride my bike and think “My Dad is doing the same thing right now.” He’s become somewhat of a small town hero and he’s definitely mine.

Purpose of trials...

2012-01-16T18:29:00.005-07:00

"Yes, peace is a very precious commodity, a truly heartfelt need, and there are many things we can do to achieve it. But—for whatever reason—life has its moments when uninterrupted peace may seem to elude us for a season. We may wonder why there are such times in life, particularly when we may be trying harder than we have ever tried to live worthy of God’s blessings and obtain His help. When problems or sorrows or sadness come and they don’t seem to be our fault, what are we to make of their unwelcome appearance?

With time and perspective we recognize that such problems in life do come for a purpose, if only to allow the one who faces such despair to be convinced that he really does need divine strength beyond himself, that she really does need the offer of heaven’s hand. Those who feel no need for mercy usually never seek it and almost never bestow it. Those who have never had a heartache or a weakness or felt lonely or forsaken never have had to cry unto heaven for relief of such personal pain. Surely it is better to find the goodness of God and the grace of Christ, even at the price of despair, than to risk living our lives in a moral or material complacency that has never felt any need for faith or forgiveness,any need for redemption or relief.

A life without problems or limitations or challenges—life without 'opposition in all things,' as Lehi phrased it—would paradoxically but in very fact be less rewarding and less ennobling than one which confronts—even frequently confronts—difficulty and disappointment and sorrow. As beloved Eve said, were it not for the difficulties faced in a fallen world,neither she nor Adam nor any of the rest of us ever would have known 'the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient.'"

Elder Jeffry R. Holland, The Peaceable Things of the Kingdom

I want to be rich...

2012-01-13T17:36:00.002-07:00

A guilty pleasure of mine is daydreaming about what I would do if I were loaded. I would love to be filthy rich. There are many things I would get and do if I had endless amounts of money. I would always have expensive shampoo and faultless hair. I would own the newest gadgets and the classiest car. I would have great style, and a great body, and great jeans, and a great looking boyfriend to go with them. Shopping would be done at Anthropolgie and Pottery Barn to get my posh apparel and home decor. I would go onto grad school at an Ivy League university and travel to China to see the Great Wall. Then the weekends would be spent in Sun Valley in my cabin-mansion in the mountains with my pure-bred puppies and personal chef.

After this list of worldly desires you can probably see why I haven’t been blessed with wealth. You see, the call of the world and the things in it is a weakness that I forgot about. Sometimes I look at the world and people around me and I just want it. I want this stuff and these adventures and I fool myself that that is what brings happiness.

The other day I was feeling this way while people watching in the student center. I looked at my peers and I wanted their approval. I looked at myself and thought, “You are 18 months behind on the times and the fashions.” With my extra time I decided to read part of this month’s Ensign, a talk called Look Up. This is what was written for me:

“A challenge for all of us is not to look sideways to see how others are viewing our lives but to look up to see how Heavenly Father sees us…Looking heavenward should be our lifelong endeavor. Some foolish persons turn their backs on the wisdom of God and follow the allurement of fickle fashion, the attraction of false popularity, and the thrill of the moment. Their course of conduct resembles the disastrous experience of Esau, who exchanged his birthright for a mess of pottage…You are of a noble birthright. Eternal life in the kingdom of our Father is your goal. Such a goal is not achieved in one glorious attempt, but rather is the result of a lifetime of righteousness, an accumulation of wise choices, even a constancy of purpose and lofty ideals.”

Talk about spiritual chastisement, right? To be honest those peers around me could probably care less what I wear, or drive, or surf the web on with. The world is attractive because the adversary uses it to distract us from our eternal purpose and divine nature as children of God. I can love the world and the things it offers me, but I know that it cannot offer me more than what brings me lasting happiness.

New beginnings...

2012-01-02T13:35:00.004-07:00

I think that God created cycles for a reason. Every 24 hours we get a new day. Every seven days a new week. There are 12 new months in an entire year and of course we just celebrated the beginning of the New Year, 2012. I believe that the reason for these new beginnings is just for us, so we can have a fresh start. Thank goodness for that.

As a missionary (I know, I know, I can’t seem to make it through a post without talking about it. But you try not talking about the last 18 months of your life.) you live a very different lifestyle than when you are a normal human being. You have a lot of strict rules to follow and it can be really difficult to remain completely obedient to them, but now that I’m without them I see that they have great purpose. Of course I can’t go throughout life only having religious books, music, and movies. I can’t always have someone with me to help me make good choices and I can’t always wear a nametag so I can remember who I am, a child of God. But all of those things help you so much to do exactly that…remember who you are and which way you’re supposed to live.

So now I am in the “real world” and have been without these guidelines, cold turkey. I get really frustrated with myself because I fail all the time. I make mistakes when I know better and sometimes these mistakes make me distance myself from my Heavenly Father and His spirit. But this is why I am grateful for new beginnings. He knew we’d make mistakes and He knew we’d need clean slates. This is why He gave us His Son, so we can repent and change and move on in our new start. We may need a new start each minute, or hour, or day, or week…but we can change anytime. So for now I am celebrating the New Year and I am grateful for the new beginnings that we are given. Thank goodness, because I am utterly human and imperfect and I need as many fresh starts I can have.

Some goals for the New Year:

1. Write in my journal
2. Draw everyday
3. Blog weekly
4. Graduate
5. Run a marathon (maybe a half???)

Gratitude...

2011-12-15T09:40:00.006-07:00

What a terrible job I am doing at my blog. I really am enjoying this Christmas season. It has been great because it has been 5 years since I’ve been able to anticipate the holidays at home. Of course coming off of a mission I feel completely worthless as a human being, but I’m grateful nonetheless. I love the Christmas season because I think most of the world tries to be a little better or grateful. In the Ensign this month there is a great article about gratitude and how it is a decision we make. Often times it is hard to recognize blessings, especially if we are going through a hard time, but the main message of the article is we can choose. When we choose to be grateful, then we are happier. At the end of the article it had the best activity for youth (for some reason I still put myself in that category). It had you list 100 things you are grateful for but it helps you by giving different categories to focus on. Here are some of my top blessings (if you can even choose “top” blessings):

Healthy and able body (to dance, walk, ride bikes, etc.)
People’s ability to create (art, music, dance, writing…SO many talents to enjoy)
The gift of taste (yes it’s a gift)
Makeup (the world should be grateful in my case)
My family (they’re the best in the west [and the east, B], no battle)
Amazing friends all over the place who care about me
Freedom and those who’ve made it that way
God’s creations (mountains, sky, trees, hills, sunsets, flowers, etc.)
New York/Idaho
My favorite places (swing set, The Sacred Grove, mountains, temples)
Indoor plumbing
Internet
The restored Gospel (prophets, priesthood, scriptures, prayer, The Holy Ghost, repentance, forgiveness…how do you even list these blessings?)
My Savior and his birth

Sometimes when I am being a baby I forget I have much to be grateful for, but even looking back on this list makes my heart swell in gratitude. I know that I have been given a life where it is easy to be grateful, and many others aren’t so lucky. But how could we not feel happier by thinking about the good things in life? Give it a try.

The Christmas Story...

2011-12-15T08:40:00.002-07:00

My Dad showed this to me last night and I loved it. I love the accents of the little kids, it reminded me of my mission companion Sister Meister. But what a good reminder that Jesus Christ is the reason for the annual holiday parties, glow sticks and all.

One long bicycle ride...

2011-11-30T13:29:00.007-07:00

Ecclesiastes 3:1 ”To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven”

My last area in the mission was a biking area. I loved the area and I loved my companion, Sister Correia. Usually when we would go places I would lead the way because Sis. C was new to the area. The bikes we rode really stunk. They brakes only chose to work on occasion and the gears would only change if you held the shifter in place with your thumb, but because we were poor missionaries neither of us were about to invest in getting them fixed. Every time we would head up a big hill and I would slow down I’d hear this cheering behind, “You can do it Sister Stoker, you can do it! You can do it Sister…” etc, etc. all the way up. She would do the every time at the top of her lungs no matter who was around. This cheer soon crept into normal life. As I got tired toward the end of my mission I’d often hear the cheer, “You can do it Sister Stoker, you can do it!”

Of course adjusting to normal life after the mission is also difficult. It’s hard when you don’t know what’s happening in the world, or if you don’t care to know. I feel like I’m weird sometimes. I don’t know what clothes are in style (ponchos…since when?). My family has had to fill me in on all the YouTube videos and funny commercials. They keep asking me questions like I’ve been gone for decades, “Have you seen Aladdin?” is my Mom’s favorite. And the future is coming, and fast. Before the mission I always kind of had an excuse not to grow up. I’d always think “I’m going on a mission,” when those scary choices would come up. But now….no excuses because it’s over! Baahhh!!!

So I wrote Sister Correia about this and this is what she replied:

“Agent Morgan do you copy???

…Of course you’re super awkward around people, you clog and your fingers are not so straight! Haha, just kidding. But don’t be stressed, and do not be discouraged, because YOU CAN DO IT! I will cheer for you all the way! Keep your head up high and keep pedaling! I think the brakes don't work for a reason....because now is your time, you keep moving forward with a brightness of hope and all things will work together and fall into place. Just know I am proud of all you do. Keep smiling and don't forget to put your trust in God! Love you always!

Sister/Agent Correia”

Isn’t she great? That was just what I needed.

They made me take off my nametag...

2011-11-25T08:28:00.002-07:00

A part of my heart is in NY; therefore returning to ID has caused it to be broken. My mission was definitely the best 18 months for my life. I will miss a lot of things about my mission. I will miss New York. It is the most beautiful green state with gorgeous skies and rolling hills. I will miss the people. I will miss the people I love: the members, the missionaries, and the people I taught…I love them all. I will miss the crazy people of NY; the old man walking the streets in a lime-green Speedo, the homeless man with one HUGE dreadlock to his toes in Buffalo, the crack heads and drug deals in Rochester city, the NY citizen’s obsession with their in home animals, and the senile old ladies with their repeated stories. I will miss the sacred places there: The Sacred Grove, The Joseph Smith Farm, The Hill Cumorah, The Book of Mormon Publication Site, and The Whitmer Farm. I love these things and I love NY because of it and the experiences I had there. But most of all I will miss representing my Savior and His gospel. I will miss wearing his name on my heart and have every minute of my life focused on His purpose, to bring God’s children back to Him. But the other day…they made me take off my nametag. I am heartbroken that my mission is over but I know that it really isn’t. I trust in the Lord that I’m supposed to be home now and he has more in store for me. I am so thankful for my mission; it’s the hardest but greatest thing I’ve ever done.

Things that are weird about being home:

• I always feel like I am breaking a rule by being alone in public places…but I’m not gonna lie, it’s kinda a rush.
• I am not used to seeing my legs, wearing jeans is strange!
• Being lazy…so nice but still feel guilty.
• Having no schedule/sleeping in. Free time, what’s that?
• Trying to figure out a revised purpose for my life.
• Figuring out how to use/not forget what I’ve learned

Things that are nice about being home:

• Being with my awesome family. It’s like I never left them.
• Listening to my music. Sooooooo good.
• Rediscovering my clothes, it’s like they’re new!
• Not wearing pilgrim shoes.
• Talking to friends whenever I want.
• FB stalking people and seeing new last names and babies in their pics…strange, but also nice to know.

Missionary Bloggers

2011-03-12T14:10:00.002-07:00

Well I really didn't think that I would be back on here for another 9 months...but here I am! Now I don't want you all to think that I am on here illegally. The New York, Rochester Mission is one of the pilot missions to test out using the internet for proselyting purposes. As missionaries we have a Facebook profile and we have a blog that we work on a little bit each week. I never thought I'd be doing this as a missionary but the church is using all it's resources to spread the gospel, including the internet. This way we are able to reach audiences all over the world.

The whole purpose of our blogs is to get people to mormon.org, the church's official website for those who want to learn more about our faith. The idea is that when a person types in "Mormon" on Google, a bunch of member's and missionary's blogs will pop up instead of anti-mormon websites. If this happens than more people will be directed to the official website where they can learn the real facts about our beliefs. Pretty amazing and brilliant right?

So check our my new missionary blog: sisterstoker.blogspot.com
Add me of FB (only for missionary purposes btw :D): Sister-Morgan Stoker

Thanks for your support. I am loving my mission and it is going WAY too quickly, I can't believe it is more than half way done. This gospel is true and I am so blessed!

Peace out!

2010-05-24T11:50:00.001-06:00

So this’ll probably be the last blog post posted by me until December 2011. My sister, Kait, will be posting occasionally for me to keep people up to date. Somehow we seem to be pretty much ready for Wednesday which is kind of a miracle. I think that I am as ready as I’ll ever be too. How about some lists I’ve been keeping in my head.

Things I’m sad about:

• Leaving my family
• Leaving my friends
• I won’t have instant communication with the above people
• Everything/everyone changing while I’m gone
• Missing Baby Grace growing up
• I have to wear nylons and a slip every single day

Things I’m excited for:

• To finally start being a missionary
• To finally know the unknown
• To get letters from all of you reading this (hint hint)
• To meet my companion
• To learn a lot
• To stop having crazy dreams about my companions
• To work hard instead of being a mooch
• To spread the word!

Thanks for everything everyone. I’m serious about you writing me!!! See you in 18!

I have the best friends…

2010-05-24T11:46:00.001-06:00

I am not good at entertaining and I never really like the idea of everyone I care about all getting together to celebrate me. It’s always been that way; my mom always threw surprise parties for my siblings growing up and I made her promise me that she wouldn’t throw me one. So naturally I was super nervous for the farewell weekend and family and friends coming to see me, but it turned out so great and it was eye opening to see once again how blessed I am. I have such amazing friends and family in my life!

I guess I don’t like entertaining people because I have these issues with being the center of attention and pleasing people. I’m always scared that they’ll come and have a horrible time and be upset, that my different groups of friends won’t get along, or that no one will want to come. From what I’ve just written it sounds like I have self-esteem issues right?…but I need to have more confidence in my friends and family because it turned out great!

Seven of my good friends from Provo were able to come spend the weekend with us and then a couple more came from Provo just for Sunday. Having them come, along with some of my high school friends and my family, just made my weekend. I am so lucky to have friends who are so supportive, including those who could come and those who couldn’t make it. I had such an amazing time with them and I didn’t even have an anxiety attack like I expected because they were all so easy to please! Thanks for the support everyone. I have the best friends.

This Too Shall Pass...

2010-05-19T08:02:00.003-06:00

My mom sat down next to me yesterday and the first sentence out of her mouth was "Now I don't want you to freak out..." That is never good, right? Well she continued to explain to me that there was a mistake with my mission papers and they gave me the wrong date to report to the MTC. We have a family friend who works at the MTC and she got her list of new missionaries for May 26th and I was on it. That is a week earlier than we were planning. Dear mother called the missionary department to see if it was right, and sure enough...I am expected at the MTC in a week. Needless to say we have a lot to do, emotions are high, and I now have a permanent knot in my stomach/chest/throat area now that it's really coming...and coming fast.

You know when you have a time table set in your mind and if it gets thrown off you can't seem to adjust? Yes. The original plan was to have my farewell this weekend and then head to CO to see my mom's side of the family before I left. Now CO is out for me and we are rushing around trying to get things ready. My mother is frantically sewing my skirts as if she works in a sweatshop. I am trying to pack, write a talk, and finish that stupid independent study class before next week. Procrastination never pays. I am ok with leaving but a little bummed that I don't have more time with my family. I'm sure we'll get everything ready...this too shall pass, right?

As Idahoans Do...

2010-05-16T21:45:00.006-06:00

And people say that Idaho is ugly?

So finally I am home for a week and a half and it's been so good. There is just something about being in a place that gets cleaned more often then every cleaning check, the toilet paper is always stalked, there's a room devoted to food storage, people take care of you, and every step you take there has a memory tied to it. It kinda throws me for a loop sometimes, something about being back here. I kinda feel like I am still in high school and it's just summer break...then I remember that a lot has changed since then.

A few days ago my dad had me mow the lawn. This brought the ultimate blast to the past. This chore was passed down for each of us kids and I spent a lot of time walking behind that ancient Honda mower growing up. I don't mind the job really, basically it's a good workout and you get to listen to your favorite tunes and think for a good solid couple of hours. I started mowing our lawn in junior high and I've thought about many huge life changes, many boys, and many worries on that grass. I remember thinking and thinking about going to high school and how I was so nervous. I had just made Trendsetters and so I was so scared to be thrown in with all those older cool kids. Another huge life change contemplated in our yard was going to BYU a few weeks after graduation, and now...another big life event has crossed my mind while circling our yard. Life is insane and fast pace.

I don't know what it is about Idaho parents but they really like the idea of having their kids participate in good hard physical labor. I guess it builds character and teaches the value of work? Parents somehow find some farmer who is willing to hire their children to move water, drive tractor, or what my parents found...hoe sugar beets. Brandon, Kait and I, along with our Andersen cousins, went and worked for my dad's cousin (Level Stoker) one summer. That work was horrible in the hot sun, walking down those rows whacking at weeds...but we all have great memories from it. We probably didn't work as hard as we should have, I think at the end of the summer I made a total of $350. Some of the best memories were dirt clod wars, off roading in Brandon's old mini-van that he drove, and the song we wrote about the job. Here is how it goes, and we would sing it while standing in a circle and passing our hoes around:

Beware of Level

And his beet hoeing hell

On a Sunday, a Monday

A Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday

A Friday, a Saturday

NIGHT!

And then we'd raise all our hoes into the air. Hahaha, where do kids get these things! It did stink, but I am glad my parents taught me to work.

Another job that all of us siblings passed down was to mow our elderly neighbors horrendous hill. This thing was huge and we had to push that bloody mower up it in the sweltering heat and try to mow around all those bushes, trees, and sprinklers. Chris started it out and he got paid $10.00 each time. Miraculously, because I was a brunette female, by the time I got the job the wage had quadrupled in size! My parents tell me that it's because his wife had similar looks to me and he missed her a lot. My brothers are pretty bitter about this, but I think it was well deserved. It was me who held regular conversation with this old man and had to dodge his wet kisses and make sure they landed on my cheek. I really am so grateful to this man and have a great love for him. He knew it was too much to pay us, but I was able to do so many things in high school that I wouldn't have been able to do if it wasn't for him. Someday I will hire teens to do work for me for a good price because Brother Saxton, Level, and many others did it for me. Someday I will do like the Idahoans do...force your kids into child labor and eventually hire other people's kids to do your labor.

Women's Lib...

2010-05-12T22:48:00.005-06:00

So basically I am a big fat spoiled brat. My parents give each of us a trip when we graduate from high school. Chris went to AL on a fishing trip and Brandon went to Europe with my dad. Since I went straight to BYU after graduation we never got around to my trip...and now that I am a senior in college we thought we better get it done, so me and mother went to NYC! I started joking at the beginning of the trip that it was women's liberation because we were vacationing without the men for the first time. The trip was amazing but I don't know how the liberation went. The second we stepped off the plane we knew that the Big Apple was a lot different than ID. It took us a while to figure out how much to tip, getting food that was in our budget, and dealing with all of the aggressive people. By the end of the trip, I think we kind of had it figured out...kinda.

My dad made sure we had a lot of awesome stuff planned while we were there. We saw three Broadway plays. We saw Mary Poppins, Phantom of the Opera, and Wicked. My favorite was Mary Poppins just because it was so fun and the set was really amazing. Wicked and Phantom were also awesome and the people were so talented, I loved it.

On our way to the hotel when we first got there we passed the Metropolitan Museum of Art and there was this big event going on with all these fancy people in gowns and tuxes. Both of us were gawking at them and then we saw Brook Shields! Kaitlin has a tendency to have brushes with fame and so we texted her immediately and told her what we saw. Her reply, "Every great vacation starts with a good celebrity spotting," and boy was she right. We went to the Met later in the week and looked at the exhibit that was opening. It was this awesome collection of American women's clothing throughout history. They had everything from old ball gowns of the 1800's to flapper dresses, and everything in amazing condition for how old they were. It was so interesting to see how the clothing changed and how it was symbolic to the history of women's rights. We were typical tourists too, don't you fret. The Statue of Liberty was pretty amazing stuff. I can't believe how much work was put in to it so long ago and now it's one of the great symbols of our country. Riding to the top of The Empire State Building was pretty amazing too. Its so crazy how many skyscrapers men have made. At the top it was so windy that day we had trouble walking against it to see all the views. Central Park was beautiful and there are so many interesting people to watch. We also shopped, went to the Manhattan Temple, saw Wall Street and Times Square, walked a ton, tried to figure out the subway, and ate plenty of cupcakes, sandwiches, and pizza.

So we made it to the end of the trip and we were proud that we did pretty well navigating without patriarch of the family, but we probably spoke too soon. Since my father usually wears the pants, and my mother is lacking in that technology area, I was in charge of our plane tickets and getting us up for our flight...but I failed pretty miserably. It was an early flight so I set my alarm to get up and get ready, but we had a change of plans when we woke up at 6:47 and our flight left at 7:50! Through some sort of miracle we got dressed, rushed downstairs, got a taxi, checked our bags, printed our passes, went through security, and boarded the plane in an hour. When we landed in Chicago we were so relieved that we made it and we just got off the plane and relaxed because we thought we had a 5 hour layover. About an hour later we realized that we weren't supposed to get off in Chicago at all but we were supposed to stay on that plane and fly to Denver! Luckily we were able to get on a plane to Denver and make our connecting flight to SLC. At that point I was done with women's lib and I realized that life is easier when you have a man like my dad who is capable of waking up on time and reading boarding passes properly!

So as you can see, I am spoiled rotten. It was an such a great trip and so great to hang out with my amazing mother all week. I don't know why I'm blessed with such great experiences, but I'm grateful.

FL...

2010-05-01T23:13:00.004-06:00

So remember in September when I went to FL to visit Brandon and I my plane trip home made an emergency landing in Tampa and they gave me a free airline ticket? Well because of that fiasco, I got to go back again...and this time the rents and Kait came along! It was such an awesome trip and I realized once again how awesome and hilarious my family is. So me and Kait flew in on Thursday after a four hour delay in Denver. We were both pretty wiped out because of finals and moving out the night before. On Friday we went to the beach and it was pretty much as fun as this picture makes it look.

Saturday the whole fam went to the Disney parks with a couple of B's friends. We went to Hollywood Studios first and hit our favorite attractions; Tower of Terror (scares the pants off of me), The Rockin' Roller Coaster (my most favorite-favorite ride ever), and The American Idol Experience (which is amazing). We then moved on to Epcot which I love because the atmosphere is so cool and the entire park is so interesting. My favorite part of Epcot is this place where they have all these sodas from around the world that you can sample. Some of them are amazing while others are down right nasty. That evening we went to Ohana's for dinner, which is like Disney's version of Tucano's. Super delicious but a lot of meat...I guess I am not so much of a carnivore. After a whole day of Disney and awesome company, we were all happy drunk and stayed at the restaurant super late just giggling like school girls. Even the up-beat Disney employees got annoyed

So Sunday was a horrible day. We slept in really late and didn't eat breakfast until 2pm. I don't know what it was but we were all in the most sour moods. I think it must have been some kind of Disney hangover or something. Like one day at the happiest place on earth takes up your happiness quota for two days or something. We pretty much bummed around all day after having a little Sunday lesson. These were the exact words from my mother at one point, "Life's just not worth living when there aren't any giant squirrels running around." I guess she was referring to Chip and Dale.

My parents flew home on Monday morning so the three of us went to Hollywood Studios again. It was awesome to do our favorites again. We went to the finale of the American Idol Experience this time and we got really into it because the people were SO good. Families kept starring at us because we were screaming for the contestants so much. We also went to the drawing studio and learned how to draw Tigger. There is a museum at the park about Walt himself and I think we read every bit of information. The Toy Story 3D ride is also one I highly recommend.

All in all it was a magical vacation. It's always so awesome to see Brandon. Since we don't get to see him a ton it's like Christmas when we do. But then we also go through Brandon withdrawals when we have to leave him and it sucks for like 3 weeks afterword...good thing he's coming for a visit in a few short weeks!

My typical conversation...

2010-04-29T10:01:00.004-06:00

I am kinda getting sick of this conversation:

Some person: "Oh, you're going on a mission?"
Me: "Yes I am."
Some person: "When do you put your papers in?"
Me: "I actually have my call. I am going to Rochester, NY June 2nd"
Some person: "Oh! You're 21? You look like you're a freshman. Rochester, NY...that will be so great." (Yes, I know I have a baby face...but yes, I'm 21)
Me: "Yeah, I am nervous but excited." (always makes me think of this SNL skit)
Some person: "There are a lot of church history sites there, you know?"
Me: "Yeah, actually I'm going to be serving at the Hill Cumorah Visitors' Center."
Some person: "What?!? OH my gosh, that is so awesome!" (with a sudden increased excitement)
Me: "Yeah, it will be great."
Some person: "You know they only call the pretty ones to the Visitors' Centers"
Me: "Haha, thank you?" (I kind of like to think the brethren called me there because the spirit prompted them...not just my face)
Some person: "We'll have to try and visit you."
Me: "Haha yeah...I'll give you a tour." (I'd rather you not)
Some person: "You're going to be the best missionary."
Me: "Oh...thanks, really." (I really don't think you know me well enough to even know that)
Some person: "It'll be the best 18 months of your life you know."
Me: "That's what I hear"
Some person: "You're gonna learn so much. Like patience. If you don't kill your companion you'll really learn so much from them."
Me: "Haha-hehe-hoho, you're totally right." (Really, you think you have to point this out to me?)
Some person: "Well good luck with everything."
Me: "Thank you, you're so kind."

Needless to say, I'm getting anxious to leave. I kinda over talking about it and thinking about it. The funny thing about this conversation, is that I know that I've done it to people and I'll do it again most likely. It's just totally different from this perspective. If I had control, I would hang out for a couple more weeks and then sneak out at midnight without any goodbyes or good lucks and head to the MTC. But alas, I must endure another month of this same conversation. I'll have to think of some ways to mix it up.

Just because...

2010-04-20T23:12:00.002-06:00

I told myself that the next post I made wouldn't be me unloading an emotional mess, and look at that thing down there! And just for that I am going to make a list post from my book on a more positive note...Things that I love. This list is long so this is just a snippet:

Being with family/friends
Chocolate covered cinnamon bears
Laughing so hard that I lean on people
Pillow talk
Walking outside in the morning
Lasagna
Heavy quilts
The color red
Old cute houses
Awesome lectures
New scrapbook supplies
Thinking
Good conversations
Funny people
Sailing on calm days
Interesting people
Plaid
Hammocks
Dollar movies
Spring/Fall
Discovering new things about people
Harry Potter
Letters in the mail
Pumpkin pie
When someone makes my bed
New mascara
Nice notes from people
Extra money
The feeling after working out
Easy bike rides
Frozen Yogurt
Winter Olympics
Mountains
Zac Efron's face

There...I feel better already.

The last moments...

2010-04-20T23:05:00.002-06:00

I have been cramming for the last 48 hours to prepare for my finals because I can't seem to motivate myself to complete my finals this time around...and do you know why??? These are my last moments here in P-town for while and I have better things to do. I am leaving Thursday morning and will not permanently reside here until January of 2012...and boy are my emotions outta whack! Between my lack of sleep, the constant goodbyes I am having with friends, and the social eating that comes with final goodbyes and these crazy mormons...I am wiped out, frazzled, haggard, disheveled, mourning, perturbed, anxious, flustered, agitated, and sad.

Wake up at 5 am, take scheduled finals with frantic studying in between, and repeat. That has been my life this week. But today I was sitting in the library with my iPod on and starring outside the window for like an hour, just thinking. I was just thinking about leaving and how bizarre it is after 3 years. I thought about my first fall semester here and how I felt super homesick one day as I was lost in the sea of 30,000 students. I remember thinking to myself that day that if I could just recognize one person on campus...even if they were just in one of my classes, then I could make it. Then I would search the crowd for a familiar face. Now I know that that is ridiculous, but I did it. And now 6 semesters later I see people I know everywhere and I am comfortable and now I'm leaving. Life does that to you constantly. Once you're comfortable it'll throw you for a loop.

So back to gazing out the window of the library...guess what song came on? Vitamin C's graduation. This is a super cheesy song about moving on in life. It's pretty old, like I remember the music video being on Disney Channel in junior high...but it sure did strike a chord!

San Fran...

2010-04-13T09:51:00.006-06:00

So this past weekend I went to San Fransisco with one of my best friends/roommate Andrea. She is in the photography program here at BYU and is considering transferring to SFAI, so we went to go check it out. We flew out early Friday Morning, checked into our hotel and bummed around Fisherman's Wharf. We ate amazing sea food (seriously, like the entire meal that's all we could talk about), we saw beautiful Pier 39, ate frozen yogurt (our favorite), checked out Ghirardelli square, and sat on the beach. Later Friday night we went to the San Fransisco Ballet, which was fantastic. Such amazing talent from around the world. The taxi driver that took us there, who was a very rude man, told us we were too young to go to the ballet. Once he found out we were "brainwashed Mormons" though...it kinda made sense since we're not huge partiers. He did not impress us much.

Saturday was SFAI's open house. It was really interesting to visit and Andrea fell in love. It's pretty much like one of those movies like Step Up but art style instead of dance. The campus is super old, in the middle of the city, has tons of character, and was filled with art. The students are completely indie and hip. I think it may be a requirement to wear red lipstick and have sweet retro glasses to get it. Not only are they cool but they are also crazy talented. The school has an amazing view of SF and the cafeteria had a complete menu filled with both vegetarian and vegan options for the hipster students.....Needless to say, it was very different than BYU. Andrea loved it there...I have mixed feelings about her going, not because I'm worried she'll have a sudden desire to save the animals or get multiple piercings, but because I want her to be in P-town when I get back. It's super weird trying to say goodbye to people for a couple years.

That being said, I am getting really nervous but excited about all these changes. From now until June 2nd is completely packed with tons of travel and family time along with all other preparations. Wish me luck!

If you'd like to see more pics of SF and life of late: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=410168&id=808060614&l=fa5839aaf1

Call me vain...

2010-04-08T09:44:00.008-06:00

but I am having a really hard time with this whole sister missionary apparel stuff. Now I am not the most stylin' girl, that's for sure. I usually prefer comfort over looks and even when I have tried to dress more fashion forward I just can't seem to keep it up, but finding clothes for the mission is a bigger trial than I thought! First of all, that white packet they send you doesn't give you very much to work off of, and the pictures from the 90's that they give you for an example are just down right comical! Seriously, come over if you'd like a good laugh.

My dear patient mother stayed a couple of days after I got my call and we started some shopping. Shopping is a pretty emotionally draining thing for me in the first place, but when you are looking for modest dress clothing for 18 months...it is horrible. Poor mother had to put up with what my high school English teacher once called "Pissy" Morgan because I got all frustrated. I'm just not ready to start dressing like I have 5 kids, mid-calf skirts are not flattering at all, nylons and slips are horrendous, I hate ironing, and I have no idea what they are expecting of me! Since I am reaching the end classes of my major there are a lot of sister missionaries in my classes and in one I sit in a spot where I am surrounded with 7 of their blessed souls. I told them about my call and they were full of much needed advice, which has helped.

Yesterday was eye opening. I was determined to try to avoid the stereotype sister missionary clothes shown above. You know exactly what I'm talking about, the Jodi dresses and the Mary Jane shoes. But I came to a realization while looking online for shoes, it's not that sister missionaries don't have a sense of style...there is just no other option. If you are not gonna kill your feet out there knocking doors, then you have to wear those clunky shoes. If you're not gonna bake out their in smoldering heat, then you gotta wear one of those light weight Jodi dresses. I tried to accept this but then my roommate chimed in, "You're not gonna buy those horrible shoes are you?" I lost it then....am I completely vain for caring about my appearance so much? Yes I am.

I called my mother and she worked me through it. She pointed out something that now makes total sense. About a year ago she was talking to me and Kait about how she and my aunt had to wear grandma shoes now because they needed shoes that didn't kill their feet. We didn't really understand why comfortable shoes had to be grandma shoes, and now I see. There is not another choice. If you are going practical, you have to drop some style.

And so it shall be...for 18 months and I will do it and let my sweet spirit and the gospel do the talking, instead of my shoes. For 18 months I will put some of my vanity away and obey the rules, even if its just four extra inches on my hemline. Hopefully in that year and a half I will help a lot of people and learn to be better, and if dressing like this is what I gotta do...then so be it. But PLEASE, I plead with you...make me burn this clothing the day I get back home!

It came...

2010-04-01T23:50:00.002-06:00

So my call came on Wednesday. Karly (roommate) and I put our papers in the same week, so she let me know on Sunday that the status online was that both our papers were in the mail so we were expecting them on Wednesday. I walked home from work at one to check the mail box, and it was the longest walk of my life. If it wasn't for my sore mouth, I probably would have run. I unlocked our apartments mailbox and the only thing there were two matching white envelopes!

My father called me a week ago and one of the first things he said was, "Your mother tells me that you think you're opening your call alone." My plan fell through from there and I figured since they were funding this adventure he better have his way. I busied myself with class, homework, and I may or may not have gone clothing shopping to keep my mind off my future enveloped and waiting on our disgusting plaid couch until my parents made it from ID.

We met at Mimi's Cafe and I was dying so I ripped it open right away. My eyes wouldn't focus to read the letter through and I picked out Rochester, NY and I about died. Remember last summer when I was in the Hill Cumorah Pageant? Well yes, I am going back to that exact place...so exact that I'm even serving at the Hill Cumorah Visitors' Center! I never even considered being called there but once I read it I was so thrilled, relieved, and it felt so perfect. I report to the MTC on June 2nd.

The week I submitted my call I started thinking and I thought about how I would really like to go to a visitors' center, it just kinda popped in my head. The three main things I was worried about a mission was learning a language (check-I think I've nailed English), leaving my family (kinda unavoidable), and not knowing enough doctrine (still on my mind for sure). I feel great with my call cause now I can focus just on the last one and serving. I get to serve in the visitors' center and proselyte...the best of both worlds. Now I just have to get my excitement under control, I keep having these strange urges to just yell at random people on the sidewalk and tell them where I'm going.

It's really cool because my Stoker grandparents served in the Palmyra temple when I was younger and when we visited them I made the goal to be in the pageant sometime. So I went last summer and I learned a lot, made some great friends, but ever since I felt that I would have done things differently and better if I could go back. I wish I would have been more prepared and worked harder while I was there. I think it was one of the first adventures I had gone on that wasn't about me, it was about serving people and I wasn't ready for that and I didn't do it right. It's going to be weird/cool to do be at pageant again. I will see a ton of people I know from last year but it will be a different role. The sister missionaries teach the pageant participants how to proselyte before the show, it'll be weird to be teaching instead of learning.

I now have decided that I will never do drugs, getting a mission call has to be one of the biggest highs you can ever get. Me and Andrea have been talking lately about bam! moments in life...like experiences that you will never forget and that you've felt the happiest. This has got to be one. The 24 hours after getting my call I couldn't stop smiling. I slept very little because my mind was just racing, "What will I wear? Who will I meet? I don't think I'm ready? Oh no...my hair freaked out there. Will I get that sister missionary voice?"....the list went on. Now, reality is setting in. I have a lot to do in the next 2 months. It went from no definite life plan to a very packed two months. Karly got called to the Temple Square Mission. We were joking before that we needed to submit good pictures so we could go to visitors' centers, little did we know. Two extreme sides of church history I guess.

I'M SO EXCITED!

Wisdom teeth...or the lack thereof

2010-03-31T11:45:00.005-06:00

For your entertainment...

My dearest Grandpa Vaughn stated it very well when he asked me, "You didn't think getting your wisdom teeth out was going to be one of those sacrifices you had to make to go on a mission, did you?" And I didn't, but I guess I was wrong! Last Friday I went and got my wisdom teeth removed and I didn't think it was going to be that big of a deal, just more of a hassle. The doctor was really informal about it and put me under (which feels as great as everyone says) and then he did the trick. Next thing I knew they were waking me up and wheeling me out to Jimmy. Kait and her roommate Whitney had to deal with me on the way home. Everything I remember is kinda fuzzy but the main side effect I've had with this whole ordeal is increased anger and irrational feelings.

Friday night I felt fantastic. Saturday there was some definite swelling, exhaustion, and increased discomfort. Sunday was miserable, a lot more swelling and discomfort. I went to my friend Cameron's homecoming talk and despite being drugged up on lortab (which I am building an addiction and love for) and being filled with spiritual wisdom, it was a painful hour. All weekend long I would get really angry at the stupidest things and I'd just think, "this isn't you Morgan!?!" but the young gentlemen who was giving his farewell talk before Cameron spoke, was driving me nuts! He wasn't saying anything of importance whatsoever and I was in pain! Kait and Whitney kept telling me to calm down, but I couldn't, even though I knew my hostility was ridiculous.

Anyways, that night I stayed in ID till Monday when my mom drove me back to Provo and loaded me with mashed potatoes and pudding (she's the best mom/nurse EVER!) and she even slept on my apt. floor that night! Tuesday was back to normal life but I had the hardest time focusing in my classes because of the pain in my jaw. I skipped my last class and went home, read the description of dry sockets, and surely enough...I had it. I called the emergency number and they had me come into the office, basically they shoved this medicated tissue stuff back into the sockets with a metal rod, and it's about as pleasant as it sounds. I cried in my car afterwards but ever since, things have felt better. Without all the pain, I think I will be able to handle the comments like, "Man Morgan, you were really falling asleep in my lecture...you better go for a run." (I wondered later if this was a comment geared toward my fattening cheeks?) or my favorite "Yep, you're still swollen today." (Really? I hadn't noticed that new square jaw in the mirror.) All in all, this life milestone has been an adventure but if this post seems a little aggressive...I swear it's the lortab.

Music to my ears...

2010-03-19T16:08:00.004-06:00

So this was a while back, but me and Kait went to a Benton Paul concert at the Velour in Provo. He's not super well known except for in UT but he's getting out there, it's my prediction that he's gonna make it big. This always happens to me and Kait, we like some body's stuff and then we see them live and we LOVE it...which is followed by much stalking online, buying all their music, and fantasizing about one of us marrying a "hot indie guy." Haha, someday we'll grow up I swear.

I'm not a huge music guru but I like to believe have a solid understanding of what I do and don't like. I don't like a lot of the popular poppy stuff (except for the occasional dancing in the car and sometimes I have guilty pleasures) and I tend to lean towards more mellow stuff. I'm also not one to search out good stuff. I wish I was one of those people but I'm too lazy and poor and I count on my roommate Andrea to do it for me, she knows exactly what I like.

I remember my first concert was when I was a junior in high school and the four siblings all went to the Relient K show. They were me and Kait's absolute favorite then and it was the coolest night ever! I thought I was all hip because we went to a concert in SLC, on a school night I'll have you know, and the band was super good live. All four of us liked it even though we all have different tastes. Me and Kait weeded through the mosh pit clear to the front and I even scored a guitar pick from the lead. It was a big deal for us, haha!

So time for a couple more lists from the book...

Concerts I wanna go to:

Jason Mraz
Jack Johnson
Michael Buble
Dashboard Confessional
Fun.
Jason Castro (my dread lock love from AI)

Concerts that I'd like to have gone to, but it's too late:

The Jackson 5 (first CD ever and all time fav)
Michael Jackson (alas, his death is the reason I can't go to the first two on this list...but I watched the This Is It documentary and that would have been a sweet concert)
The Format (broke up...but their new bad Fun. would be good too)
Panic! At the Disco (the original band has broken up, sad day. But their Pretty. Odd. album is golden)

I take that back...

2010-03-17T11:15:00.004-06:00

Ok so I don't take back that life is wonderful...but it's not always wonderful, that's for darn sure! Life is more like a roller coaster, ups and downs and twists and turns. One thing about this catch phrase is that roller coasters are not always fun. Sometimes rides are just scary, or exciting, or unexpected, and sometimes there are those rare few that are no fun at all. And this how life is.

My life is at a stand still right now. I am putting in my mission papers tonight after my interview with my stake president. This is exciting but it is also scary. I am also waiting to see if I got a job as an EFY counselor this spring, which will also be affected by when my mission call will be. I don't know what to do with myself really. It affects everything in my life. What music is worth buying if I only have a few months? What watch/clothing should I purchase depending on where I'll be? Do I sign up for housing or classes for spring/summer? I am out of a job after this semester because I am leaving, but if my call comes for like August do I sit around Burley all alone for 4 months? What vacations do I plan? What relationships are worth developing or keeping up with when I have limited time? Where do I live? What do I do!?!?!

I'm at the point where I really don't care anymore, I just want to know. I wouldn't be too broken hearted if I didn't get the EFY position, I just wanna know. I have decided that I will go anywhere on a mission if Heavenly Father thinks I am capable of doing it, I just wanna know! I need to plan my life, so I wanna know! So anyways...this is my life right now, I'll let ya know!

Life is Wonderful...

2010-03-07T13:21:00.004-07:00

Dorky helmet and if you look close...I'M GETTING CROWS FEET WRINKLES!!! Aging everyday...just have to embrace it, jk.

I love the song Life is Wonderful by Jason Mraz....like probably my top five songs ever. Sometimes when I am just amazed with something, I think of this song because there are just those little things in life and on this planet that are just so wonderful! The mountains in Utah for instance. It's been so cool to just go up for an afternoon, it's just so darn beautiful and refreshing to breathe that fresh air and usually the whole time I'm there I am thinking, "this is just so amazing!" I know there are places like this all around the globe, each their own kind of beautiful. Like the song talks about, it takes the bad to make the good...like it takes freezing cold miserable snow storms to make the mountain look like this. But maybe the mountains aren't your thing, maybe it's an incredible concert, or some one's friendship, or a cute outfit or something. Ah la la la laaa-Life is Wonderful!

Old Friends...

2010-02-26T16:49:00.006-07:00

"The most beautiful discover true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart" -Elisabeth Foley

One of the big adjustments of going to school is the constant change in schedules, classes, apartments, wards, and even friends. Each year you meet new friends and they come and go, but I think you always take something learned from each of those friendships. Think of all the people you've come in contact with in your life? There are so many people that you encounter for just a short while but you learn from them, don't you? That's the beauty of being at school. Right now I've got the chance to have a concentrated time of learning, a time to just focus on Morgan, and with the constant change and flow...there is constant learning and growth.

This group of girls above (sorry for the poor picture quality) are just some of my roommates/neighbors of my freshman year. We went through a lot that year and had to make some major life adjustments together. When you are first away from home I think you need friends to replace your family in a way. You confide in them and they help you through a lot. These girls taught me a lot and I truly believe they were put in my life to teach me certain things and broaden my thinking. All of us in this picture are from different parts of the country and had completely different backgrounds, and since I had only known Burley, ID before, I experienced totally new things just by living with them.

There are so many memories with these girls. Once I came home from class and Kailey had caught the kitchen on fire from frying okra, Lucy had an obsession with animals and once she came into our hall with a wounded-germy bird in her hands (I couldn't believe it), and Steph constantly walked around the dorm in her underwear and thought it was funny to moon us. We went to dozens of dollars movies together, some of us gained the freshman 15 together, we laughed and cried together, we stayed out late together, and we danced to spice girls in the kitchen together. I remember when I moved back home that first summer I just started bawling that first night because I missed these girls. I had been so used to being surrounded by them and having no space to myself, and then I was cut off!

All of us went in different directions after that year and we all live in separate places, but its amazing what love I have for them all. At the beginning of the semester Stephanie (black and white dress) got married, and so we all came together at her reception. Whenever I see these girls or other roommates and friends from that year, it's like we're all freshman again. Sometimes I'll run into people on campus and I'm just flooded with feelings of fondness and nostalgia. Although we all have separate lives, I share a bond with these girls from that first year away from home. And when I think about those times, I miss them.

Book of Lists...

2010-02-25T11:41:00.004-07:00

So I dated this guy once who had a friend who showed me and my roommates his book of lists. We all thought is was a pretty awesome thing, so we all started one and I have really learned to love it. It's just a little book where I keep all kinds of lists of anything I want from things I love, to things I hate, to places to go. I decided I would share part of one of these lists.

Things I would do if I had no limits (time, money, laziness, or if I could actually get myself to enjoy it mostly):

Get a master's degree
Go to Africa to teach people about health or AIDS
Do a study abroad in Jerusalem
Teach English in China
Do a Disney internship
Run for public office
Go to an ivy league school
Start a scholarship
Raise my kids to be an Olympic athlete
Run a marathon/ride a 100 mile bike ride
Join the Peace Corps
Get another degree in graphic design
Learn to play the guitar/master the piano
Compete in a pageant
Learn a language

This is just part of the list. This is a list of things that will probably never happen but I think that it's good to keep track just in case you get the chance.

Back on the saddle again...

2010-02-17T08:44:00.004-07:00

My handsome brother with Gracie Jane. I'm so proud of Chris and Jane, they are such good parents.

Isn't she a DOLL!!!! I just love her!

So I've been back in Provo for a little over a week now. Things are going well, but I can't say that I am like it! Haha.

The bad things of Provo: it's cold (but surprisingly not too bad, yet), there is school to catch up on (but it's coming along well), I'm outta shape after my 2.5 week break (I hate getting back in the swing of things), I have work to catch up on, I had terrible jet lag (that is over...but sometimes I like to blame stuff on it), and I miss Thailand and the girls I went with.

The good part of being back: get a schedule, I choose what I eat, an income, get to spend time with friends and my sister, my hair is behaving once more, I am a little more tan than most people, I washed my clothes in a washer (and even dried them!), and I got to meet Gracie Jane Stoker! This past weekend was a three day one so I went to Idaho and spent a lot of time in Pocatello with Chris and Jane. Grace is just so cute and tiny and I love her so so so much! Chris and Jane are so cool, you can tell they've learned a lot already. I am slightly intimidated by babies myself, so props to them! Check out their blog for pictures.

Oh and on a side note...I added some pictures below of Thailand. Sometimes I hate blogger, I am just really bad at adding pictures. Also, 21 must mean that you are getting old because I got my first sun spot. My mother insists it isn't one, but I am convinced! I must have reached the age where people are wondering what I'm doing with my life. In my home ward this weekend everyone kept trying to comfort me that I wasn't married. Haha, I had to convince them that I really didn't feel bad about being single...but I guess I'll go back and talk to them when I am panicking.

So there it is...back to my completely average life!

Sunblock

2010-02-06T08:44:00.005-07:00

So I haven't posted since we flew to Phuket but it has been absolutely amazing here. This place is like heaven...minus a few things like my family and an awesome ski mountain. It's pretty much paradise because we are on a tiny southern island and there are tons of beaches, it is constantly hot, and we are staying in this super posh town house with the whole gang here. I'll go through an overview of the last couple of days:

Wednesday: We flew into Phuket in the morning and got here around 2. After we checked in, bought random food, and got settled we all headed to the beach to try and get the sunset...but we missed it. The beach was still amazing though and instantly took a dip. It has been so fun to get to know the other girls here, they are awesome.

Thursday: We had no plans for the day so we woke up and went back to the beach. It is so beautiful and the water is so blue. There are a TON of retired foreign tourists here from around the would. I guess this is the Caribbean of Asia and Europe. It is pretty interesting to people watch on the beach. Lets just say that most of them are crisp to perfection and it would be interesting to see what the skin cancer rates for the beach would be. Also, they don't leave their culture of topless beaches home in Europe, disgusting. It was a good day. I have never applied so much sunblock in 3 days then here...but so far there hasn't been a major sunburn so that is good! After the long day at the beach we headed back to the apartment and cooked up some dinner of rice, tomatoes, and cream of broccoli soup (some of the only choices from the mini-mart) and it turned out surprisingly good!

Friday: At the beach we were able to snag 2 really awesome tours for a decent price so Friday was the first. We woke up early and the tour people came to pick us up and take us to the ocean. We boarded a big speed boat with about 20 other people inside. The driver was a little hasty though and about 10 minutes into the trip our boat got stuck in some shallow sand. We all had to exit the boat and thankfully various buff, top heavy, bronzed, speedo wearing men from around the globe came together and brainstormed a way to push the boat out and saved the day! After that adventure basically this tour took us to all these remote beaches that were amazing. The water is so clear and blue and the beaches have white soft sand. Once again, much sunscreen applied but it was totally worth it. I think most the ethnic people thought we were crazy because we were slathering that stuff on our white skin so much and guarded ourselves with modest swimwear and shirts. At one of the islands we stopped at we were able to go snorkeling. The girls said not to judge snorkeling by this trip, but it was still pretty cool and we saw some cool fish. Thailand ocean is awesome because there are these huge rocks everywhere that just jet out of the ocean like skyscrapers. Its amazing. There were so many beautiful beaches to see on this tour but it is hard to explain because they all have the basic same idea...all of this warm weather is really not making it easy to go back to freezing Provo.

Friday: So today we took the second of the two tours. This one was called the James Bond tour because I guess you go to this rock that they filmed one of the James Bond movies at, something about a man with a golden gun??? The rocks that we toured were once again...amazing. We stopped at the famous one and hiked to take some pictures of it. After that stop we went to another place where Thai men would take a couple people on a canoe trip. This was awesome because they paddled you all around and inside these rocks and caves. So beautiful to see. It is really fun having Kami here because she can really talk to the people and we can laugh and get to know them somewhat. The rest of the tour consisted of getting some lunch at a floating town thingy, more sites, and then swimming and napping on the beach. After the tour we went to a hotel swimming pool and goofed off and then we made it the the beach for the sunset! It was beyond description.

God has created such beauty in this world in so many ways. Just being in this different place and at this time in my life has really got me thinking about a lot of things. I am ready to get some control and routine back in my life but I really am bumbed in a way to come back. I just don't want to face the things that have been neglected these past couple of weeks. Reality is inevitable though I guess and it will be good to get back into the swing of things. We've got one more day here and then heading back on the long trek. Tomorrow we are just doing a little church service and some more beach stuff then getting ready to go. I can't believe its almost over!

More Land of the Thai

2010-02-02T19:43:00.006-07:00

Alright so I've got a couple days to catch up on. Sorry for the daily play by play but I've skipped 2 days and I am already having a hard time remembering what has been going on. I DO remember though, that I have gone from chubby snow white, to a Charlie's Angel and Jennifer Lopez. We had a taxi driver that told me I looked like a Charlie's Angel, Drew Barrymore and another guy said I looked like J-Lo. Obviously they were both out of their minds because I don't look much like either of these two but it was a little better on the self-esteem than my first "compliments," haha jk jk.

On Monday morning we went to a university here in Bangkok which everyone keeps telling us is the Harvard of Thailand. Dr. Page, my professor, and his wife had to give a lecture to a PhD class who were studying health education. It was really interesting to listen to them teach about America's health and our systems. They talked a lot about how much our country spends on health care but how we still aren't the healthiest of countries. And then they addressed a lot of the health problems we have as a society. I think they students enjoyed it a lot too. They took us to lunch afterwards, they always are giving us food here. For every presentation they bring us a little plate of food and some water. Very generous people I guess.

So after that we went to what they call the Emperor's Palace. It is this amazing wat where the King comes to worship. It was like all the rest of the wats, really details and beautifully detailed...but like times 1000. I will definitely be posting some pictures of this. Sorry I haven't posted any pictures yet, I don't have a place where I can plug in my computer but I will try to do it once I get back to the states. The temple was really pretty but we about died from heat. It is unbelievable here, you just sweat and sweat and nothing ever drys off. Its so hard to believe its snowing at home.

After the palace we got to go eat some more food. I was so exhausted and none of us were hungry but Becca, one of the ph students, her dad works for Nu Skin and he does a lot of business here and he heard that we had to go eat at the 7 eleven that one night so he wanted to make sure we got some good food. He had a couple of Thai consultants take us to this amazing Thai place, seriously the best meal we've had here. It was so good and they were so nice! They ordered all this food that they knew we would enjoy. My favorite was the desert though, they have this sticky rice that they put this coconut sweetened condensed milk on and then you just eat fresh mangoes on it. IT WAS SO GOOD! We were really grateful to Becca's dad...although we've been full this whole time, it was nice to have a whole meal that was completely edible.

We wanted to do some more shopping at the night bazaar after dinner but we were having the hardest time getting a taxi. They would pull up and then Cami would tell them where we wanted to go and they'd say no and drive away, it was really frustrating. Other cars would have the availability light on and just turn it off when they saw us! We really didn't know what was going on. Finally we found a guy that would take us but then we were at one stop light for 20 minutes! No joke, the traffic here is absurd sometimes. So when we got to the bizarre we did some shopping, but I am kinda over with shopping for a while. We've been doing it so much!

So yesterday was Tuesday and we had a busy public health day again. The first thing we did was go to the Thailand Health Promotions Foundation. This was so awesome to see what they were doing. They talked a lot about all the methods they teach us in class and how they work to reach the people. Some of the main problems that Thailand has right now include high blood pressure (with obesity on the rise), alcohol abuse, tobacco, child drowning, maternal health or breast feeding, and helmet wearing. They have worked to change policies in the community like seat belt laws for the front seat (the back seats never even have seat belts installed), and helmet laws for the drivers (the passengers never have helmets...but hey, it's progress). Also they had laws against adding sugar to baby formula, or junk food in the schools, and of course drinking and driving. It was just cool to see PH in action. Afterwards they fed us food, of course.

Then we headed over to on of the U.S. military research buildings. There was an LDS guy who was an epidemiologist there and he spoke to us. It was super interesting stuff but it was 2 in the afternoon, it was hot, we were full, and we were tired. Not a good combination so we had a hard time staying awake. He talked about how they come up and approve vaccines though and how a lot of medical discoveries come from the military and war. It was really interesting. He helped come up with the Hepatitis A vaccine and works a lot with Dengue now.

So last night we all wanted to go watch a boxing match, the traditional Thai sport. Forever I thought it would just be boxing but then someone pointed out that it would be more like kick boxing...duh! We were all really excited so we took the subway and some tuk tuks (little gold cart like taxis) to the ring, but when we got there the tickets cost 1000 bott ($30)! and none of us were very keen to pay that much. So we ended up just going and getting some delicious pizza. They restaurant gave us a survey to fill out and it was pretty funny what the English was like. One of the questions was "Have you eaten Italian before?" Haha honestly???? We live off of pasta and pizza. It was nice to have a night to just relax and this morning we got to sleep in, which was amazing. Today we fly out to Phuket and the beaches, exciting but it just means I have to go back to Provo soon and face the reality of being behind in everything in life. Ugh...

I am an American...

2010-01-31T06:37:00.004-07:00

It was a wild ride...

We went to the international ward in Bangkok today and it was such a good block of meetings. There were a couple of really good speakers for sacrament meeting and the Sunday school teachers for the young adults were from Twin Falls! It is such a small world, we always joke that everyone knows someone from Burley and it is completely true. Well this couple's daughter was engaged to a kid I went to high school and was in Trendsetters with, Orrin Stimpson. Pretty crazy stuff, they'd never only met him for about 30 minutes but I assured them he was a great and genuine guy. The last hour was combined RS and priesthood. The bishop of the ward gave a great lesson about getting personal revelation in your life and it was so great, just what I needed to here. I guess things are easier to understand when it is in your own language. On the way out we met another 3 people from Idaho, the girls in our group keep acting surprised but I just assure them that ID is a great place! haha

After church we went to the river that runs through the city and canals branch off of it and took a long boat ride through the city. It was cool that we got to see the way that the Thai people really live and not the touristy stuff but it kinda made me frustrated with myself. You go down these canals and you see these little shacks built on the side of the river with their laundry strung out everywhere along with some nicer homes and yards. Everyone of them had their own little homes set up though with their own style. When I see all of that I started to feel sorry for them again and about my lifestyle and how I thought we had it so much better...but then I started to think about it and we have no right as Americans to think that way. I guess I just started to think that there is no reason for me to think that I have it better than these people. I mean they have a home that they have made and it is something to be proud of. They are able to support themselves and their families and just because their way is different than my families or me, doesn't make my life better than them! Who's to say taxi driving or street vending is any better than Public Health? I guess I just got disgusted with myself as an American. I guess it's just easy to figure our way of life is better, but they are used to the way they live and they have hard working people and slackers here just like we do in the U.S. But this doesn't stop me from being grateful for the place I was put I guess.

Another thing that made me disgusted with myself was our language. I just realize that while I am here and I am trying to talk to the people I always think, "Oh they don't understand me." But I shouldn't be thinking that way, I am in their country and they don't understand me! I was thinking and if they visited our country there is no way that they would expect me or even hope that I could speak Thai, they just have to learn our language in order to get around. But I am a stuck up American tourist who only knows how to say hello and thank you. To add onto my American frustrations I had McDonald's for dinner tonight. I just couldn't take it anymore and it looked so delicious. Sadly...it was just as tasty as it looked!

So in between my tourist experience and McDonald's we stopped in this huge park in the middle of the city and it was so awesome! I saw some stuff that Americans can definitely learn from. So there was a huge sidewalk loop around a lake where people were on paddle boats and stuff. Tons of different people were jogging around in really ridiculous jogging outfits, getting exercise though...that is the point. Then they had multiple aerobics instructors on these stages and like a hundred people just joined in whenever they pleased! I love love love aerobics and I miss it but the girls were reluctant to join in with me. I admit it was a little odd to see, especially these tiny Thai versions of Richard Simmons leading the pack...but I just thought it was so awesome. I mean I love aerobics and I pay money to do it every semester, but if our communities paid instructors to just offer it in the park...think of how much good that would do our country. Think of all the health costs that might go down! This is public health people! Not only did they have instructors but they also had these weight lifting gyms set up just outside under some trees for the public to use. I just couldn't get over how awesome it was.

So here is a list of PH stuff that I am impressed with here:

Everyone seems to wear helmets on motorbikes in Bangkok, I'm not sure if it is a law or not...just an observation.

The taxis here are always hesitant to let 6 of us into one car because there is a 1000 bott fine when they are caught with too many people. This is a great idea but kind of a pain when tourists are trying to save money.

Portion sizes here are a lot smaller usually...usually is the key word. McDonald's fries were the same size, but coke bottles and the McFlurry that one girl bought was definitely smaller. A++ for Thailand.

Sweaty Cows and Farmer's Tans

2010-01-30T07:11:00.007-07:00

So I am super exhausted and when I am tired I tend to get frustrated...SO, I am going to make a list of things that I am sick of in Thailand:

The humidity. My hair is crazy and I can't do it the way that I would like and you always feel wet and disgusting.
The heat. It is so hot and I got sunburned today. I guess I will be sporting a farmer's tan in Provo in mid February.
The food. I like it fine but they should mix it up a bit. American food is way more expensive but we had Subway for dinner and it was divine.
The waste system. There are no trash cans in this country and it is a major problem! Pretty much drives me bonkers.
That I have to go back to school eventually...ugh, I guess if you never left you never would have to go back, but that probably wouldn't be worth it.

So today we went to this place called the Ancient City. It is basically this huge place where they make all of these replicas of landmarks and sites in Thailand. It was so amazing and beautiful. You go and pay about 350 bott and they give you a bike to ride all over this land. It is just packed with beautiful replicas and landscaping. It was so awesome to see all the statues, temples, and buildings...seriously, this place was packed. It was also amazing to get out and get some physical activity on the bikes. I just love easy bike rides so this trip was perfect. It was a beautiful day and we had a lot of fun. More pics to come. There were a lot of groups at the park. Some of them were kids from like junior highs or high schools. The kids here are so interested by us foreigners. They would tell us hi and then when we would answer them back they would giggle uncontrollably. There was one group that wanted to take a picture of us and they yelled what sounded to me like "Sweaty Cow." I went over with the rest of the group but I didn't understand why they called me that. I asked Cami and she explained that they said "Sawa de kaw" which means hello. Haha I was so confused and offended!

So after that we headed back to the hotel via taxi and sky train and did some shopping and grabbed dinner. I am so exhausted from the sun and bike riding. I am having a good time and already thinking about how I don't want to go back to school. My family emailed me pics of Gracie and she is so cute, I can't wait to meet her. Quick funny story, so last night I was writing emails to all of these people and I asked a girl in the group how you spell Bangkok. I thought I heard her say it was Bangkak so I wrote all these emails spelling it that way...I was pretty embarrassed once I figured that one out, haha

So I am sorry if you don't give a care about what I am doing in Thailand everyday. As I've said before this is more for a record of the trip. Don't feel obligated to read if it bores you. Hope you all are well!

Bangkok and a New NIECE!!!

2010-01-29T07:55:00.004-07:00

So today we left Chaing Mia bright and early and headed to Bangkok. It was only an hour flight so we got to our hotel after a crazy taxi ride around 1pm. Bangkok is even more packed and polluted than Chaing Mia. It is also extremely hot...like you feel wet constantly and my hair has gotten even curlier. We took this crazy little boat subway thingy to a shopping area. It is like a little canal system that takes you places. Its crazy because they just stop it at a station and you hop onto the side and hold on then try to climb in it before it starts going. So our whole party hopped onto it and I was last to get on and the things started going with me on the side! Needless to say I was a little freaked out when there wasn't any spots for me to even climb into, but it worked out ok...just a little shocker, haha. We grabbed some dinner at a food court in the market/mall thing. It was good but I am really getting sick of the food. It's just a lot of the same tastes for every meal and I don't know the menus well enough to order differently. We roamed around the city a bit and shopped a little. Cami, one of the girls who is here with me who served a mission in Thailand, knew a recent member of the church who was a tailor so we went to his shop so Dr. Page could get a suit for cheap.

We headed back to the hotel after the shopping and I washed some of my laundry in the tub. If you haven't ever washed your laundry by hand, it is not fun and kind of exhausting. I hate paying quarters to use the washers at school but this is even worse! Then me and the other two public health students had to go out on the town and get some dinner. We were without anyone else so we had to try and do it alone and we failed miserably. We could only find expensive places so we ended up just going to the 7 Eleven. There are a ton of these places, they pretty much own the country. But we always go there and get drinkable yogurts and Milo. We also went to a fruit stand and I picked up some guava which I'm not sure I like. All that I've had here tastes like unripe apples, but maybe it's just the ones I've gotten. Not much of a dinner but it'll do I guess!

So I guess I have a new niece!!! I can't believe it and I am so excited. I am also super sad that I am missing everything. This whole trip I've been trying to sense if my new niece was in the world but I guess it didn't work. This is the first grandchild so it is super exciting and I have yet to hear the details. I guess she was born at 4am on the 29th of January. Her name is Gracie Jane Stoker and she weighed a little over 8 lbs. I am so proud of Jane for her hard work and I can't wait to meet Baby Gracie. I love her already!

Elephant Rides and Happy Thai Children

2010-01-28T03:31:00.003-07:00

So today has been one of those days that just has been excellent. We got up this morning and headed for the elephant farm. I have been looking forward to riding an elephant since I knew I was going to Thailand and it was just as awesome as I thought it would be. They had these cool seats made for the elephants backs and two passengers sit on them for a half hour ride through the jungle. I sat with one of our Thai contacts, Jitaporn. She is the cutest 50 something woman, just so so classy and cute. She always calls me Snow White, so basically the Thai people notice me because I am pasty white and chubby, haha. Jitaporn teaches public health at Chaing Mia University and she was so cute to ride with. Our elephant was 40 something years old and it was a bumpy ride and the scenery was beautiful. After that we went on a wagon ride. It was fun, but I guess when you are from ID riding a wagon pulled by cowish oxen things just isn't as exciting as an elephant, haha. The elephant village then had an elephant show where they trained elephants to play soccer, balance, make music, dance, and even paint! Lets just say after all of this PETA would have had a hay day. The paintings were amazing and they sold them for like $30 to raise money for elephant care. I sure hope that's what it really was for. The farm fed us a good lunch and then the final activity was a bamboo raft ride down the river. This was really fun and you got to see some beautiful scenery again. We passed a couple rafts with Korean people in them and they were all very excited when I told them hello in Korean. My dad served his mission there and that is one of the few phrases that he's taught us. They just cheered and cheered and called us beautiful after that. It was pretty funny.

On the way home from the elephant farm we stopped at one of the schools that we conducted the survey at. The survey is about media literacy in Thailand. Media literacy is basically Dr. Page's (my teacher) theory about how well people can read and understand the media. This means that when kids see people smoking in a movie they are able to understand that just because someone says its cool, it doesn't mean its good. So the surveys that we are conducting are seeing Thailand's media literacy compared to the United States. Anyways, the school was so much fun! It was for kids ages 10 to 18 and there were about 2500 students. The kids were so excited for us to be there. When we walked down the open halls they all just stared and would bow to us and greet us with grins. It was so exciting for them and us. They took us into this room and they had this whole presentation for us. They gave us corsages and pinned them on our chests and we sat down. They did a Power Point presentation about their school and their language programs. At the beginning all these students brought us all this hot chocolate stuff they drink (which is like ovaltine) and fruit and these weird bland treats on a plate. They were so cute. After the presentation they put on a play for us. It was about how an emperor fell in love with a peasant and they ended up having to leave each other because it wasn't right for them to be together. The kids were very good and dramatic, pretty heart wrenching actually. The teachers and students then took us to their English room and around the school. Then they took us to this lake and gave us food to go feed the fish. We would throw these little pellets in the water and hundreds of fish just swarmed to the edge of the lake. The kids just latched onto you and would talk to you about everything. Some of them were really shy but it was so fun to be with them. Once again, I will post some pictures when I get home!

21 Things...

2010-01-27T23:00:00.002-07:00

haha

I am so glad that I grew up in the small town of Burley, ID. When you grow up in a place with wide open spaces, and not a lot to do, you have to come up with creative things to do. I have some very creative siblings and I have the fondest memories of playing wizards, town, or run-away. I am convinced I had the greatest childhood and I miss those summer days of no worries.

I am so glad that my parents taught me how to work. I am not going to lie...I hated Saturday jobs and mowing the lawn and hoeing beets. But I now see that they taught me a life lesson that many people never learn. This lesson has helped me so much today. When I started at BYU I thought I was doomed to fail because I know that I am not as smart as most the kids here, but I've learned that a little hard work can get you places.

I am so glad that I was able to take dance classes. Obviously dance never really got me anywhere, I am definitely not on a team or do it professionally. Those early years of ballet and then clogging were such a great opportunities for me and I am so lucky to have had that. I made some best friends from clogging and touring in Bulgaria definitely expanded my thinking and I'll never forget it.

I am so glad that my brother Chris taught me how to snowboard. I LOVE it, especially going with my dad. My goal is to keep doing it until I grow old...hold me to it!

I am so glad that I tried out for Trendsetters in 8th grade. It was kind of an impulse thing. All the girls were trying out for dance team and cheer leading and since I knew I wasn't a graceful dancer and I hated my legs...Trendsetters sounded good to me. I am still amazed that I made it since I didn't even know what an alto was, but I made my best friends in Trendsetters and I truly belief that's where I got my confidence and became Morgan.

I am so glad that my parents thought travel was a good investment. I didn't realize that it was so rare until I got older but I am so glad that we've seen the things we've seen and that we have those family memories together. I think that we have to much to experience just in our own country and we should all try to experience the different cultures and scenery.

I am so glad that I had good friends growing up. It was never really hard for me to make right choices because of my friends. We were able to have fun and laugh together and I have some of the greatest memories with them.

I am so glad that I went to Declo High. A lot of people laugh when I tell them my graduating class was 67 people but I can't imagine it any other way. Me and Kaitlin have talked about how we lost a lot of our confidence when we came to college and I think that is because we were somebody's in that small school. I knew everyone there, the teachers knew and cared for us, and I had opportunities there that I never would have had at any other school. My family might call me a lifer, but Declo High School is a great place.

I am glad that I went to the Hugh O' Brian Youth Leadership Convention. I went the summer between 9th and 10th grade and I think I gained confidence here too. I was the only one from my high school who went and it was the first thing I'd ever done like that and I had such a great time. It was totally out of my comfort zone to be all alone like that, but I learned something about myself there. I like to put myself in unknown places and had adventures.

I am glad that I became friends with my parents. They are my best friends and I don't know what I would do without them.

I am glad that I could live next to extended family. It is such a blessing to have so many cousins close by. Sunday nights were mostly spent at my grandparents next door and I just loved to listen to everyone talk.

I am glad I got to do Student Council in high school. This stems back to the small school things cause I know I couldn't have done it anywhere else, but those 3 years planning things with friends and going to the yearly conferences are some great memories.

I am glad I had to drive a beater truck growing up. "Oprah" was our big brown ford truck that most of us drove (excuse the offensive name, Kait came up with it). At the time I hated that gas guzzling machine but I sure appreciate Jimmy the Taurus now! One plus from that monster was everyone knew where you were...it was one of a kind.

I am glad that I was raised in the church and in mormonville. I'd like to think that I would have been ok in another place but I know I have been (and still am) sheltered from the world in Burley (and now Provo). I liked this though because this world really is an ugly place, and its kind of nice to be able to be a worry free kid for a while.

I am glad I got to work for Terri Dowdle my senior year. She taught me so much in those 7 months that she was alive. When I first started working for them they said it would be 3 months and I am so glad she lived longer because she taught me about faith, love, forgiveness, enduring, and humor. I am so lucky.

I am glad that I decided to go to BYU. I had my heart set on BYUI until the last moment when I didn't get into the fall/winter track, and I'll tell the truth...I chose Provo mostly because of bitterness, but I am so glad I did and I now know that it was right. This is the place I was supposed to be and I can't even tell you how much I've learned here and what great opportunities I've had. I know not everyone is a fan of BYU, and I don't blame anyone...but I think its right for some people.

I am glad that I have the opportunity to learn from great teachers. Whether it be Mrs. Young and Mr. Roper in high school, or Sister Susan E. Black for Church history or Brother Bott for Mission Prep. There are some brilliant people out there.

I am so glad that I got to babysit those 4 Gasaway boys 2 summers ago. Before that I was having a horrible time with the thought of being a mom. After spending all day 5 days a week with them, I learned so much! I grew to love those kids so much.

I am glad that I was put with good roommates and friends in college. It hard sometimes to find lasting relationships when you are always moving and busy...but I have been lucky. The people I've met have taught me so many things and expanded my thinking, which has been a true blessing.

I am so glad that am blessed to be in Thailand.

I am so glad that I've made it to 21...Isn't that bizarre!?! As you can see up above...I am one lucky chick.

So. Much. Rice.

2010-01-27T07:49:00.003-07:00

Bathroom sign, also check out the sign to the left.

Traditional Thai dinner and entertainment.

HUGE Buddah at the Golden Triangle.

You can see Thailand, Burma, and Laos at one point...The Golden Triangle.

So last night we went to a traditional Thai dinner. It was pretty sweet. They had it at this center and we sat on the floor and ate their traditional food. They eat SO MUCH RICE HERE!!! I didn't mind it at first but now I am getting kind of sick of it. Like it isn't gross but it's just not satisfying. It's basically a lot like the Chinese food we have in America. The snacks here are really good. My mouth is so sore from all the fruit, which is delicious. I love their drinkable yogurt. They have yummy street food like crapes and smoothies. Haha, anyways the dinner was really cool and they had a bunch of traditional Thai dancing and music and the atmosphere was just awesome. I am really enjoying the girls and my teachers as we get to know one another. We stayed up so late last night just having pillow talk, I'm afraid I fell asleep on them though.

Today we got up early and drove up to northern Thailand. I got really car sick on the way because the roads are so windy because of all the hills. The mountains here are like Utah's but just covered in green trees. It's beautiful. There are also temples everywhere...like more than church buildings in Utah. I would say there would be a beautiful full blown temple at least once a mile. I also used my first squatter today. Lets just say they have different toilets than we do sometimes. We then got some noodles and then we went to the completely white Wat (temple). It was quite beautiful but really different from any of the others because it was pretty modern and had a lot of symbolism of good versus evil. They had this mote type thing at the beginning with all these creepy hands grabbing up at you and these evil looking statues. Also the mural inside had a bunch of worldly stuff attacking people along with super heroes and machinery. Kinda weird for a mural in a temple with Buddha and a monk. But it was really cool to see...pictures to come.

After that we went to what they call the Golden Triangle. Its on the northern shore of Thailand where is meets Burma and Laos. It is kind of the idea of four corners but with countries and with a river in between. We went to the opium museum afterwords. To our disappointment it was not an experiment with drugs museum but more the history of how opium has influenced Asia's history. It was so cool and I had learned a bit about it in one of my prior history classes so super interesting. Crazy what drugs do to people really. It has caused a ton of wars and is greatly related to the tea issue in our countries revolution. After the museum we just headed back to Chaing Mia. Hopefully I'll get to write again soon. Missing home but having a good time!

Sawa Dee Kah!

2010-01-26T02:42:00.003-07:00

Seoul Korea airport. It was an amazing airport. We were doing a cultural experience.

On the my bday we went to this mount where a big wat was. The people here are obsessed with their King!

The first wat we visited.

The red trucks that are used as taxis everywhere. Pretty much a different health code that we have in the U.S.

My 21st birthday waffle. It was delicious, bannana chocolate, and they always make them on the street.

Yes, that it purple squid on my plate...I can't stomach that so never actually ate it.

Some girls at the hot spring, boiling eggs for lunch.

Umbrella factory, these people were so talented.

TONS of Thai food.

Painful massage. 50 lbs. on your pressure points.

This is the Thai woman that took us around and called us chubby...haha. She is so cute.

So I am in Thailand!!! This will probably be a long one but don't feel any pressure to read it. It may be kind of dull, especially for those who've received emails from me. I am going to just go though our day to day activities. Sooooooo HERE WE GO!

Thursday/Friday Jan 21 & 22: Our flights were so long. We flew 2 hours to Seattle, 11 to Korea, and 6 to Thailand. I watched a total of four movies on the Korean flight. Korea made me think a lot of my dad, I wish I could have seen more. We got to Chaing Mia, Thailand late but it didn't feel late. It was hard to fall asleep. Our beds are as hard as a floor with carpet, it was weird.

Saturday Jan. 23: So the 23 was my 21 first birthday, pretty exciting place to turn 21, eh? We got up and went to breakfast. They don't eat normal food like cereal so I had fruit and yogurt. But the people mostly eat veggies and rice. After that we just looked around the city and exchanged money. It was hard to figure out. After that we walked to the church house and met some missionaries and members. Then we had some lunch. We also visited a TON of temples. We look out our window and there are like 8 temples. They are really elaborate and just open for anyone. There is a lot of gold and decorations and a lot of buddahs. I've taken a ton of pictures show I'll post them. After some of the temples we went back for a nap. It was awesome but made me groggy. We went to dinner at this restaurant. Things are so cheap here. A meal that would cost like 10 bucks is only 2. I had curry and it was the least spicy kind and I could hardly eat it because it was SO HOT!!! And when the people bring it to you they bring one of your dinner's at a time. THey just don't have urgency like we do. We went to the market and they have such cheap stuff and it was so packed. I bought some button earrings in the states for $11 and just bought 4 pairs of them here for $1.30. Crazy huh. It hasn't felt much like my birthday but its been good. They kept making me make decisions because it was my birthday and I'm glad that it's over, haha. They sang a lot to me too and bought me dinner. At the market they bought me a waffle that the street venders make and they brought some candles like a cake. It was pretty cool. Thailand is packed with people and cars and the air is so gross. Like breathing constant gunk because the constant cars. It is also so hot and humid. My hair is crazy. I don't really like the enviroment. It's too crouded but I'm getting used to it. It makes me sad too because I feel like we've got it a lot better. There are a lot of handicaped people begging and stuff and it just makes me sad.

Sunday Jan 24: So we were able to go to church in Chaing Mia and we just walked about 20 minutes to get to the church building. It was a pretty cool experience because we just listened on headphones while a missionary was translating the sacrament meeting. The people were pretty inspiring because they really had to gain a complete testimony of Christ and the church before becoming members. The branch was planning a temple trip in a few months and they have to go clear to Hong Kong to do so. That requires a plane ride and a lot of sacrifice but they're doing it. The members looked at us a lot and smiled. In RS the sister even called on me to answer a question. It caught me off guard because I didn't understand anything and then "Mogan?." Also, there was a American member who had a factory who was from Burley! Talk about small world! Her name was Ellen Clark and grew up in my stake. Crazy. All in all it was awesome to see how strong people can be.

After church we went to dinner with a woman who has been organizing a lot of our activity in Chaing Mia. The food here is pretty good but I am getting sick of eating the same stuff for every meal. I guess I don't know the menu well enough to know the difference. There is a lot of soups and noodles and rice. I kind of miss American food but I definitely don't eat as much here! After dinner we went to all of these different shops. We went and saw how they made their silver jewelry, wood carvings, laquerware, and umbrellas. After that we were able to rest a bit and that night we went to the Sunday market. It was definitely the best market yet, but I get so tired toward the end of the day that I can't take much of it.

Monday Jan 25: So yesterday we started doing the Public Health related stuff. We switched hotels in the morning and then Dr. Suwat, the contact form Chaing Mia University, picked us up for the day. We went to the University and he gave us a little lecture about what they are working on and what the health care is like in Thailand. It was super interesting. They work a lot with the AIDS issue because its a big problem here. It was interesting how they went about reaching the different target audiences. They also worked with breast feeding and trying to educate the people about why it is important. Next he talked about the health care system and boy is it different the the U.S.'s. They have this pyramid system and they have different hospitals at each level like 2 primary prevention levels, a secondary level, and a tertiary level. The bottom two are small health care facilities where the people can get basic health care, the 3rd is a community health center for more serious things, and then the top is their general health facility which is like our hospitals. It sounds like a pretty good way of handling things but there is no way we could go to that method because we are used to the top treatment for even the little things. Also most medical workers work for the government and they make just as much as most professions.

After that we all went to lunch together. Then we had the opportunity to go to this Watt (or temple) and talk to think Monk who really worked with people with people with AIDS, substance abuse or drug problems. He offered different types of counseling and programs for them and also worked to find work for them to do like sewing clothes. He was also pretty inspiring. These monks just give up a portion of their life, whether it be a day or 6 years. The people would sew and sew all day at these stations that this monk had set up for them.

Dr. Suwat then took us to do some shopping. We went to this wood carving place. This was such a humbling experience for me. The carvings were really amazing and these people just have so much talent. Like I've said, everything is super cheap here but it really makes me feel guilty at the markets. For example, at this wood carving place, there were a lot of people who just sat and carved amazing statues and wall hangings all day long. I found these two wall hangings with elephants on them that I really liked and asked how much they were and she said 100 bott. There are 30 bott to the dollar so that means 2 wall hangings that probably took her a day each to make cost me $3!!!! So I bought them and I busted out my 1000 bott bill ($30...I'm so stupid) and they couldn't break it and just laughed. I felt HORRIBLE!!! They probably never even see 1000 bott at once. I have been so humbled. We have tons of shoes, clothes, food, etc. and these people can survive on one dollar a day for their entire family. Ugh.

After that the 5 of us girls went to the campus market. It was super fun because everything was geared toward people our age. All the clothes are super small though because they're made for Asians who are tiny weeny. We found this awesome little shop where this Thai girl bought all these vintage clothes. They were more our size and we all had luck. This girl was probably in heaven because we all bought at least one dress. She was so cute and you could tell she was so excited to sell us so much. Afterwards, I just passed out in the hotel again.

Tuesday Jan. 26: So today (finally caught up) we had another big PH day. We first went to one of the community level hospitals and they told us more about what they were working on. He talked a lot about the breast feeding and maternal health concerns they had. It was really interesting and that's something that the U.S. is on the same level with them. They also took us on a tour and told about some of their traditional medicine methods like acupuncture and massage. They gave each of us a short massage and oh my gosh....it hurt SO bad. They push really hard on all of our pressure points and it is so painful but afterwords you DO feel better! The hospital is so different from ours. They aren't as nearly as nice and they were all open and air just flows through.

Then they took us to lunch to this place where they gave us SO much food!!! It was pretty funny because this woman taking us around was telling us about her 12 year old daughter who was named Im, which means full. She told us she called her that because she wanted her to have plenty of food and to be fat. Then after saying that she pointed to this girl and me and said, "Like you, and you!" HAHAHA can you believe that! It was really funny because that is just the way that they are and I am like 2 times the size of all these tiny people. I guess for her it was a complement. haha

She then took us to this tiny Church of Christ. This is really rare for here because not a lot of people are Christians. This church worked a lot with those with AIDS and there was a woman who had been working with them for eleven years as a missionary and she was from the UK. They would visit the people infected and work in the schools and taught abstinence and to have safe sex. They seemed to do a lot of good and they were helping to change the stigma that AIDS infected people have in the community.

Well I am having a great experience and I will try to keep everyone posted. I am so blessed to have such great opportunities in my life, I just don't get it!!!

Welcome 2010

2010-01-10T16:40:00.003-07:00

Another year down. It's now 2010. I remember when the new state quarters came out and we had one of those booklets to keep them all in. I looked at the slot for the ID quarter and I remember thinking that 2007 would never come. Well it came and went and now it's 2010. Crazy stuff. For new years eve my family went over to our cousins, the Andersen's. We all just ate a bunch of delicious food and played some games. Then we welcomed in the new year. I always enjoy going to their place, it's where we spent a lot of time when we were kids and it's good to go back.

Now here are some different changes that have happened this year:

New school schedule. This semester is good because I only have class Tuesday through Thursday. Pretty sweet setup because that leaves time for studies and snowboarding. So this semester I am taking Health Behavior Change, Environmental Health, Methods in Health Promotion, and Substance Abuse and Addictive Behavior. They all seem good but I am pretty stressed for now because we are going to Thailand on the 21st of this month and not returning until Feb. 9th. Needless to say I am missing a lot of school.

Another change is that I was just released from my calling today at church. I've been the Relief Society 1st counselor so I was in charge of education. I really learned to love that calling. I loved serving the girls in my ward, I loved teaching, I loved the girls I served with, and I grew to love every one of those sisters. I was so bummed when they released me but I know the new presidency will be excellent.

I am working mornings now instead of afternoons so I am trying to adjust to 8am schedule every single day. I don't know why its so hard. I used to get up early to exercise but for some reason work is very difficult.

A lot of people my age are getting engaged and married. They are dwindling and it is a major change!!! FB is littered with engagements and wedding albums!

Ok here are my new years resolutions...I am keeping it simple because I failed miserably on 2/3 of mine last year:

I will read my scriptures everyday this year

I will do my best to better my posture...since it is horrible at the time

I am going to exercise still

I am going to try to cook more often

I am going to go on a mission

So the first two are going to be enforced strictly. The second two are hopefuls. The last one is like a 95% thing but I always hesitate in vocalizing it because I'm worried if it doesn't happen people will be disappointed...but I figure that since when I go home the entire Stoker family and the entire community knows, it's pretty much out there! Happy New Year!!!

Quick Christmas Recap...

2010-01-10T15:39:00.005-07:00

Ok so I've been slacking pretty bad but things have been so busy! I am going to give a brief overview of the excellent Christmas I had. So me and Kait went back to Idaho to begin the festivities and we were so lucky this year! Brandon, Chris and Jane all came home for Christmas...this hasn't happened since before Chris went on his mission and he's like 26 now. So on Christmas eve we did the usual and ate finger foods and opened pajamas. We also watched some classic home videos until Chris and Jane drove to Burley from Pocatello. Everyone slept in till 9 on Christmas except me...my eyes were still trained to pop open at 7 so I just watched a movie and waited for the rest of them. I guess sleeping in is part of the perks of all us being adults.
Chris and Jane and baby on Christmas morning.

Grandma Jean and Grandpa Vaughn always come over for breakfast and then they watched us finish opening our gifts afterwards. Its so awesome to have them close by. Grandma always gives us some of her homemade jam for Christmas and it is amazing!

I had a really great Christmas gift wise. I really wanted a new/nice camera to go to Thailand and everything so my parents combined Christmas and my birthday and I got a nice canon one. I love love love it! So hopefully I'll get in the habit of taking pictures to post....hopefully. I also got some scrapbooking stuff and jewelry from my mom and dad. Brandon got me some awesome perfume that I love. Grandma Joyce got me some silverware so I didn't have to eat off of that cheap stuff that tastes like metal anymore.

We're all excited for the baby girl to come very very soon!!!! I think Jane is probably the most ready. It will definitely change our family dynamics but it'll be worth it!

Yummy Christmas dinner on mom's china.

The whole family. So for the rest of the break we just hung out together, watched movies, played some games, went shopping, looked at lights, sang, ate, and had fun. Its always so much fun when we get together and I wish we could do it more often...but I guess that's what makes it awesome. I have the best family ever.

Kait had to go back to Provo for 3 days to work a bit the week after Christmas. Brandon and I drove down there for a bit to keep her company. It was fun to show Brandon some of our stomping grounds like campus, our apartments (Brandon said Kait's is definitely the nicer one), Cafe Rio and Guru's. When we first got there I took B to the Museum of Art on Campus and the HFAC where the student's work was and we looked at EVERY piece of art. It was pretty cool. I'd never done it all before and once again....people's talents are amazing! On the way home we went to SLC and ate some Greek food and caught a movie.

I think its important for me to point out the true meaning of this whole holiday season. Christ is the reason for the season and I have sure grown to love him and appreciate him so much. I love my family more than anything and because of Christ I have the opportunity to live with them for ever and have eternal life.

Christmas Festivities!

2009-12-19T12:54:00.006-07:00

So as I said, the semester is over! Andrea and I planned a little celebration for after finals. Last night we went to SLC and we first went to dinner. We went to The Lion House with our friend Landon. I had never been and and it was some good home style cookin! After that Landon had to go but me and Andrea went to the temple square lights...they never cease to amaze me. We didn't take any pictures this year so the one above is from last year with our friend Anna in the middle.
Earlier in the month we bought some tickets to the Utah Symphony, so later that night we made our way to the location. The symphony played a lot of Christmas arrangements and I loved the entire thing! We were definitely some of the youngest people there but I just love seeing how amazing people are, these musicians were so talented and I can't get over it! The Christmas filled evening definitely helped get that Christmas feeling that is sometimes lacking during school.

Semester Down!

2009-12-19T12:44:00.002-07:00

So finals finally finished for me yesterday afternoon. I cannot explain how extremely thrilled I am to be done with Chronic Disease and Epidemiology FOREVER!!!! Hopefully at least, I didn't feel to great about either final so I'm praying my grades turn out. Once again I learned a ton this semester and I am so grateful for the knowledge and my great teachers. My favorite class this semester was Church History but I also liked my Technology in Health Promotions one. For the class we had to make a blog about a health topic of our choice. What I am particularly passionate about is teaching health to young people. I feel like this is where you can really teach them something and their choices will influence their whole life. So I did my blog on abstinence, not just from sex but everything harmful to your health. My roommate doesn't believe in teaching this, and I've found a lot of people share these same opinions.....SO, I don't want to offend so if you have these beliefs just stay clear! Here's the link if you're interested (it's pretty dull so I totally understand). Hooray for the end of another semester!!! 3 to go and then an internship and I'M DONE!!!!

My name's Morgan and I'm a boring person...

2009-12-17T16:07:00.005-07:00

Alright so some of you may have noticed or heard me say that one of my life goals is to become an interesting person. So I work at a desk for 4 hours everyday and I stalk other people's blogs when I'm not busy, which is often. Not just my friends and family members, but people I don't even know. It's usually friends of friends or even friends of acquaintances...their link located on the side of the page I happen to be reading. These people are interesting, they have to be, because for some reason their link catches my eye and I click it. I read and read about their lives and I sometimes read the entire blog. I am not proud of this embarrassing quirk, I just share it in order to point out another flaw. I, Morgan Jean Stoker, am a Boring person and I am giving up hope to become interesting.

Now obviously there are a lot of different groups of interesting people. There are those who are extremely smart, those who've lived different lives than you, or those who are extremely talented in some way. But today I want to write about a particular group of interesting people, the indie/granola/green/free spirit people...I find them SO interesting!

Now here is the total stereotype for these type of people. They were super cool retro style clothes, a lot of which are bought for a ridiculous price at thrift/vintage stores. They listen to bands that most of us have never heard of. They are usually liberal. They do cool things with their friends like eat sushi or go protest. They have awesome majors. They do cool things like travel to cool countries and save the planet. They are environmentalists. They wear skinny jeans and vans. They have cool, old-school hair and the boys grow mustaches. All in all, they are just super super cool! (I know its not fair to judge but this is just an idea)

My freshman year I became really good friends with one of these indie people. She wasn't one of those poser ones that try really hard to be this way (that would be me if I were to try), but a true and legit free spirit. She doesn't care at all if her closed matched or where she bought them, as long as she liked them. She wears her hair the way she liked it. She has the most amazing personality and zeal for life. She listens to cool music. She wants the world to be a better place. She just so darn amazing. I could listen to her for hours because I find her, her thoughts/beliefs, and her originality so refreshing. And every time I hang out with her I wonder, "Why is she hanging out with a boring person like me?"

I have tried to be a different type of person than I actually am, probably since the early years of elementary school....and it just doesn't work. To change who you are is just too difficult and takes way too much work. For some reason, no matter how interesting these other groups are, I cannot become one of them. I can't find it in me to go to thrift stores and shop, or cut my hair in an extremely retro style, or recycle obsessively, or stop wearing as much makeup, and for some strange reason....I can't stop shopping at American Eagle! Sometimes I'll see a vintage looking top that I like, but then I realize that I can't buy it because I'd have to change my entire wardrobe/life! So I guess I am just supposed to be me. I guess for now I am just going to have to settle and just strive to become interesting in some other ways. I've been observing interesting people for a while now and I think I've come up with some of what it takes:

Reading-books, newspapers, everything
Travel-seeing the world
Confidence-in yourself and your beliefs
Continuous Learning-just plain knowledge

So the quest goes on...

Thanksgiving Weekend

2009-12-14T14:43:00.002-07:00

So yeah, I'm doing very poorly at keeping up on my blog but I just wanted to make a quick post about Thanksgiving weekend. I had to work till the Wednesday before, so I headed back to Idaho that night. Thanksgiving morning my family always runs the Turkey Trot 5k in Burley and then we go to McDonald's to undo all the good we did. I ran it the fastest I've ever done it, that is still slower than most people, but it was fun and I was proud!

After the run we went home and got ready then headed to Aunt Susan and Uncle Jay's house for dinner. It was just the Anderson's, us, and Grandma Jean and Grandpa Vaughn this year but it was a lot of fun. It was still quite the crowd because some of the older Anderson cousins were in town, our cousin Devin who's at BYU with us came to ID, and Chris and Jane came too. We ate a lot of the typical food, the girls made crafts, and then it was time for more food. Later that night the rest of the Stoker family came for pie, which made for a full house.

Unfortunately me and Kait had a lot of homework to get done over the break. I had a Chronic Disease test coming up (curse that bloody class), so we had to set some time aside to get that done. Thursday and Friday morning we studied and then the afternoon was party time. We saw two matinees during the weekend. The first was A Christmas Carol with Jim Carey. We were a little disappointed here, I thought that it would be funny but Jim Carey was quite misleading on this film. It was pretty much like the book and kinda scary for little kids...and me. The second film was Blind Side. I loved this movie, it was really funny and had a great story so I definatly recommend it.

Chris, Dad, and Devin were adventurous this break. They shot guns one morning and they even took the sail boat out on the river in the freezing cold! They are crazy. Chris taught us all how to play Texas Hold 'em, so we had a good time gambling as a family. On Saturday night we went back to the Andersons. Hillary is one of my cousins and her husband is a youth preacher at their church, so we decided to have a family home evening together and have him teach us. It was really awesome to listen to him. He sang a few songs on his guitar and taught us how we need to search for truth in our lives. He did a great job.

On Sunday we had to head back early so we could pick Kait's roommate up from the airport, but we were all bumbed to head back to Provo. I had to keep telling myself that we only had 3 weeks left until Christmas break. Right now we have only one week to go, but unfortunately it is finals week AND Provo is like a winter wonderland now. It will be so nice to be done with another semester and then it will be Christmas. Brandon is coming home this year and I am so excited I can barely contain myself!!!!

What I'm Thankful For

2009-11-19T16:21:00.004-07:00

In the Spirit of Thanksgiving

Since it's the Thanksgiving season I've been thinking a lot about what I'm grateful for. I feel like I have been so blessed/lucky. A lot of the time I look at my life and the opportunities and experiences I've had, and the people in it, and I can't even believe it. I am just so lucky. I just want to express my gratitude for a lot of the blessings I have in my life.

First off I am so grateful for my membership in the LDS church. I think as I get older I look at the gospel in my life differently and I don't take it for granted as much. I think I look at it now as a thing for me and not just something that I do. When I was younger I used to look at people older than me and wonder why they got boring, but now I totally see why! I've talked to my mom about it quite a bit and I realized that when you get older you start to see the sad/hard things in life. People's parents die when they need them, others get sick, you start to realize that relationships aren't always perfect and people are given trials that you don't always understand. As I've started to see these hard things more, it can really get you down about life. But this is why that the gospel makes me so happy, because it is such a good thing in a not so good world and it is the only thing that will stay constant...the only thing. I have been so grateful for this this year.

This leads me to my second topic, my family. I am so grateful for them in my life and the continual support they are to me. This is another thing that you start to appreciate more when you get older. When you go to school you meet a ton of people and you see little bits of their lives and their different lifestyles and families. This is awesome because you meet such different people who open your mind to all of these different ways of life that you've never seen. But what you also see are different family dynamics and this makes me so grateful for my family. I am so grateful for what my parents have taught me, for their support, and for their friendship. I love them and my siblings so much, like I can't even describe it. And I am so grateful that I can be with them forever.

I'm grateful for my opportunity to be here at BYU. I am grateful for the chance to have a concentrated period of time just to learn. I feel like they've crammed so much into my head already and still don't feel even close to ready to go out in the real world. I am so lucky to be here at BYU, really. I wonder why I am with all these brilliant people and professors everyday but I am so grateful because I've loved it. I am so lucky to get this quality of education because I know that there are a lot of members of the church who are paying tithing so that I can learn. And I also know that there are plenty of people who would kill for this opportunity while I am complaining about homework and tests. There are so many awesome things here and I'm so lucky my parents help me out with school. Deciding to continue education is not that hard when you get help with all of that money. Once again, I am so blessed.

With this horrible economy I am so blessed to have a good job. I work on campus as a secretary about 20 hours a week and even though I get sick of it, once again...I am lucky. I have a good job that provides needed funds, I work with good and understanding people, and I have the opportunity to work when many people don't these days.

I am also grateful for good friends both old and new. One of the hard things about coming to school is that relationships are so different. Since you're always changing classes and moving to different apartments it's hard to stay in touch with people and build lasting relationships, but I have some amazing friends up here. I have so much fun with them all and they are my family away from home. I am also grateful for all of my old friends from high school who helped make me who I am today. I wish we could stay in better touch because I miss them.

I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving!!!

Labor Day Weekend

2009-11-09T15:25:00.004-07:00

Yep, you read right...Labor Day weekend. Nothing is really happening in my life right now and Labor Day weekend was an amazing weekend that I never blogged about so I figure 2 months later will do. I went to go visit Brandon in FL for the weekend. It was pretty funny because whenever people would ask me my plans for the long weekend I'd just say, "Oh you know...going to FL!" So I flew there on Friday afternoon and got there pretty late and we just went to Brandon's house and went to bed.

The next morning we went to Disney's MGM studios with a couple of Brandon's friends. They were so much fun! We went on all the rides, the Tower of Terror and Rockin' Roller coaster was the favorite. We also had lunch at this diner style restaurant that was decked out in old school decor and had homemade cooking. One of my favorite parts was the American Idol Experience. It was like a mini-American Idol and they had park guests who competed and you got to vote. I love AI so it was fun to go to and one of the contestants was actually super good! I was amazed when B told me that the winner of the day gets a golden ticket that will get them straight to the judges at an actual American Idol audition...that's a HUGE DEAL!!! We also went to this place in the park where they teach you how to draw certain Disney characters. We were taught how to draw Tinkerbell, it was so fun/frustrating and I don't think any of us were happy with our drawings...but some were worse than others :) That night we just got pizza with B's Friends Ben and Christy, that group was just so fun.

After that me and Brandon went to the Cirque du Soleil, La Nouba. IT WAS AMAZING!!!! Brandon and his friends seem to have connections everywhere and we had excellence seats. I cannot describe how amazing this show is. If you ever get the opportunity to see it...you have to. The entire show is filled with talent that you can't even comprehend. Every second we were entertained and we were blown away by the entire show. It was awesome.

That next day we went to Epcot and Animal Kingdom. I was finally able to go on the Kilimanjaro Safari that Brandon did on his internship a few years ago. It was a lot of fun and I'm sure that Brandon was amazing at it. He even showed me the dent he made on one of the trees when he crashed his truck into it. We went to a bird show too which was very entertaining. Afterwords we went to Epcot and looked at all of the countries and went on some of the rides. My favorite part was when we went to this place where they have soda from all around the world. It's crazy what some people drink, there were a lot of disgusting pops I'll tell you.

Unfortunately I had to leave the next day. Brandon took me to the mall that he works at, it's crazy huge and a lot different than ours...some pretty high class stores there. I was so bummed to leave, I hate when Brandon has to go because we never know when we'll see him next!

Here are some pics of FL.

MGM

Rockin' Rollercoaster

Epcot

Ain't he handsome?

It was all around awesome...Thanks B for planning everything and providing the fun, you're the greatest and I had so much fun. Love you.

So now for the 2nd part of the adventure. I was on the plane and super bummed to be leaving. We took off and flew for about 15 minutes and then the pilot came on the speaker and told us that we were going to make an emergency landing because the smoke alarm went off in the bathroom. We were all mainly just upset because we thought someone had tried to smoke in the bathroom, but we didn't think it was a big deal. So we landed and the attendants told us to leave everything on and that we'd evacuate the plane. We all just stood up and then I heard yelling from the exit. Once we got there I realized that they were telling everyone to cross their arms and jump off the plane on those balloon slide things (they are just as fun as they look)! I didn't have time to really think and just jumped off onto the runway. From there they bused us to the airport and had to take care of all the people who got hurt on the slides (I think these people were just fine and they were milking it for all it's worth). We had to wait for about 2 hours while they switched our stuff over. Thank goodness I secretly brought my book and cell phone. Needless to say I got back to SLC really late. We found out that the evacuation was a bigger deal than we thought because we made national news and everything. I guess some of the wires in the plane were smoking. I wasn't too put out by the whole ordeal...it is an awesome story to tell people! Also the whole thing was made A-okay because Southwest sent me a package a few weeks later with a free ticket to anywhere (probably FL again) and a hefty check. I guess paying all the passengers is a lot cheaper than paying for a couple law suits. I was thrilled!!!!

Halloween

2009-11-04T13:44:00.005-07:00

Alpine dance party pic.

Andrea: Undead bridesmaid/babe/photographer extraordinaire.

Kaitlin: corpse bridesmaid/babe

Anna: Corpse bride/babe

I think this is just frightening.

So it's been a while since I posted but nothing too eventful is happening in my life. Just the usual busy life of school, church, and work...and some fun in there too. This weekend was Halloween and we planned some pretty scary costumes this year. I usually never put a lot of effort into Halloween and just pull some stuff together, I think I've been a pirate every year since I came to school. This year we mixed it up a bit though and me and Anna decided to be corpse brides and Andrea and Kait joined in to be our bridesmaids. A few weeks ago we went to DI to find our dresses. We weren't going to get them because they were pricier than we hoped, but then we tried them on and couldn't resist their 80's charm. It was a lot of fun. We went to a few ward parties and dance parties and had a lot of fun together. I even won the scariest costume award at my ward party which thrilled me. Andrea, my roommate, is a photography major and so she gets us all to do photo shoots every once in a while. She does and awesome job and made us look really creepy. She's amazing, if you wanna see her photography blog click here. All in all it was a fantastic Halloween weekend!

Recent entertainment that rocked my socks...

2009-09-21T13:36:00.004-06:00

Ok so life is crazy busy right now, like constant stress busy, like mind always at work busy, like not fun busy. BUT...somehow, there has been some really good times in the last couple weeks too, including some amazing entertainment. Last weekend my friend Anna was going to go to a concert for the band Allred and invited us to tag along. It's mainly just one dude but he was SO GOOD! He does a lot of covers but his own stuff is really brilliantly written and passionate. My sister had seen him before and told me how awesome he was, so I'd heard some of his music before but in my opinion, I think he is better live than recorded. Andrea, Anna, Kait and I went to the concert and enjoyed the entire thing even though it was blazing hot in there. Sometimes I am amazed by musicians talent...and the view wasn't too bad either ;) He was so good that we went and saw him again this weekend. It was at an even smaller venue so everyone was able to just sit down an listen...it was really good.

This past Thursday night me and Kait went to World of Dance on campus. Kait is in a Introduction to Dance class and had to go for an assignment and she was nice enough to let me tag along. The show was just the main dance teams at BYU performing a couple numbers each. It was A to the mazing. I was amazed and entertained the entire time and the dancers looked like they were having so much fun. I love going to the different shows on campus because so many students are extremely talented. It's just amazing to me that I go to class with these people everyday. It's really awesome to see this talent, but it can also make you feel really mediocre and inadequate...haha.

Last but not least...Anna, Andrea and I went to the movie 500 Days of Summer Saturday night and I loved it. I heard mixed reviews about it, but I enjoyed it. I found it so funny, it was cute and it was painfully honest about how relationships can be. Also, it had great music. I went straight home and bought the album.

Back To School...

2009-09-18T07:59:00.010-06:00

So the new fall semester has begun and it's already making me insane. I was originally signed up for 18 credits but I made a very wise decision and I dropped a class, thank the heaven's above.

1st class, Epidemiology: Pretty interesting but it's gonna take some work. Bad news in my opinion.

2nd matter of business, Chronic Disease Prevention and Control: Sounds exciting right? Well it's not. It's all about the nitty gritty biology of Chronic Disease. I want to teach people how to be healthy and take care of themselves. I want to teach them to not smoke, wear their seat belts, eat healthily, and exercise. BUT I do not care to learn about what in the cell makes a person get fat because they are taking too many calories in and not putting enough out, or why a person's body swells up like a balloon when they bump/burn themselves, or why putting a little bit of virus in someone will prevent them from getting a disease (immunizations that is). Unfortunately for me, learning all the little tidbits of the human body is necessary for receiving my degree...as is life.

3rd class, Technology in Health Promotions: My favorite class this semester. My teacher graduated from BYU's MPH program and she is awesome! We are basically learning the different ways to promote health using technology and therefore, use creativity...which is GRAND!

4th, last but not least, Church History: Susan Easten Black is my teacher. She is simply amazing and packed with infinite knowledge about church history and Joseph Smith. We go to class two hours a week and we write frantically the entire time. She is SO interesting, but I'm a little nervous for the exams. Oh well, I excepted a long time ago that my GPA would be a lot higher without religion classes...hopefully it'll be worth it in the eternities.

Also new this semester, the Thailand public health study. So far it's been really great. We've met once thus far and the 3 student involved get together with our professor and we all research a topic to discuss in the group. For the first discussion I researched tuberculosis in Thailand. It was really fascinating to learn about, I didn't realize what a problem it is in the world. I thought that disease was pretty much under control but about 1/3 of the world's population today has been exposed to it! I guess it's a big problem in Thailand because with the raise in HIV cases, people's immune systems are suppressed and they are more prone to getting TB. Also, the people are so poor it's hard for them to finish the treatment, which takes about 9 months. It's so sad that a lot of countries aren't blessed the way that we are in America and they don't have the health care, knowledge, or resources we do.

I still haven't finished my El Ed independent study class. I am almost finished with all of the books, just 2 and a half chapter books left. I love this class and I don't care that I am not done yet, but progress has definitely slowed since school started. Hopefully I can discipline myself and get everything under control. Ugh...school has already lost its charm!

A Simply Brilliant Woman....through and through.

2009-08-26T12:52:00.003-06:00

I am a big fan of the Harry Potter series. I didn't enjoy reading much when I was younger, but for some reason these books were the exception, which is the case for many kids today. This is one reason that I think that J.K. Rowling is such a brilliant woman. Anyone who is capable of getting young kids to pick up a book, let alone reading a 700 page novel, has got to be inspired. Her books are incredible and if you haven't read them, you need to...no matter how old you are. I can't even wrap my mind around how she created such a story.

Recently I was reading a coworkers blog and she quoted J.K. Rowling's speech from a Harvard graduation a couple years ago. I followed her link to the entire speech and it was amazing and has stuck with me ever since. For part of the address she spoke about the importance of imagination. There is no way I could summarize her words, so here is just a peek.

"You might think that I chose my second theme, the importance of imagination, because of the part it played in rebuilding my life, but that is not wholly so. Though I will defend the value of bedtime stories to my last gasp, I have learned to value imagination in a much broader sense. Imagination is not only the uniquely human capacity to envision that which is not, and therefore the fount of all invention and innovation. In its arguably most transformative and revelatory capacity, it is the power that enables us to empathise with humans whose experiences we have never shared...

Unlike any other creature on this planet, humans can learn and understand, without having experienced. They can think themselves into other people's minds, imagine themselves into other people's places.

Of course, this is a power, like my brand of fictional magic, that is morally neutral. One might use such an ability to manipulate, or control, just as much as to understand or sympathise.And many prefer not to exercise their imaginations at all. They choose to remain comfortably within the bounds of their own experience, never troubling to wonder how it would feel to have been born other than they are. They can refuse to hear screams or to peer inside cages; they can close their minds and hearts to any suffering that does not touch them personally; they can refuse to know.

I might be tempted to envy people who can live that way, except that I do not think they have any fewer nightmares than I do. Choosing to live in narrow spaces can lead to a form of mental agoraphobia, and that brings its own terrors. I think the wilfully unimaginative see more monsters. They are often more afraid.

What is more, those who choose not to empathise may enable real monsters. For without ever committing an act of outright evil ourselves, we collude with it, through our own apathy."

This speech, the text from my El Ed class, and the countless children's books I've been reading have really made me realize how important it is for kids to step out of themselves and imagine. Books can teach children things that nothing else can. J.K. Rowlings really nailed that point and I urge you all to read her entire speech, you won't regret it I promise! She's bloody brilliant!

http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/2008/06.05/99-rowlingspeech.html

Stoker Family Reunion

2009-08-17T15:18:00.003-06:00

This past weekend was the Stoker Reunion in Burley. Kaitlin has moved up to Provo to start working and my cousin Devin started at BYU this past Summer term, so we were all able to pile into Jimmy and head to Burley. The family went up to Lake Cleveland for the night and fished and had dinner but we didn't make it in time. That next morning we went to the Susan and Jay Anderson's place for breakfast and we just hung out that morning. I love their home, we spent a lot of time their growing up so it always brings back good memories. It was fun to see all of my extended family too. I can't believe all the great grandchildren that are being born, I can't even keep track of their names and who their parents are. My Grandma Jean told me that their are now 39 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren...and all of that started with just two people!

Later that night we went to the legendary Cassia County fair. When I was growing up I used to hate the fair! I've been probably every year since I was born but in Young Women's we used to have to sell at the ward booth. Now it wasn't just taking orders and making hamburgers for the customers like any other ward booth, we had the rodeo-stands booth. It's a great booth to have, because you get a lot of business, but the mutual kids have to go out into the stands and walk around trying to sell cotton candy, popcorn, and pop to the people. This might not seem terrible but when you are in junior high or high school and every one of your classmates is watching the rodeo, it is quite humiliating. The leaders always wanted us to yell and try to get customers, but most of us just walked around the stands and tried not to draw attention to ourselves. BUT, we had to do it because it earned money for our youth activities, it gave us humility, my dad did it when he was a kid, etc. etc.

That was the main reason why I hated the fair. Those were six dreaded fair years and even when I go back now I get that sick feeling inside and I remember how awful that was. The other reason the fair never was my favorite was that it meant school was coming back. Everyone in the entire community goes to the fair and all the kids bust out their new school clothes and it's like a debut into society again. When you are old enough to hang with your friends and catch up,(and it wasn't your night to sell in the stands) then it can be pretty fun.

So going back to the fair this year brought back a lot of those memories. I forgot how crowded it gets around the fair grounds, but we were finally able to buy ourselves some delicious greasy food and go to the rodeo. The rodeo was a lot of fun with the entire family and me and Kait got really into some of the events. I saw the kids selling in the stands...and I hurt for them, I really did.

That Sunday we went to our home ward and my cousin Heather gave her homecoming talk. She just returned from the Chicago, Illinois mission and she did a really good job on her talk. After that we went to my grandma's house and ate dinner and socialized. I guess when my dad and aunts and uncles were kids, they used to go next door to my great-grandma's place and pull taffy sometimes. My mom and Aunt Susan made a ton of it and we all pulled taffy. That stuff sure got hard to pull but it tasted pretty good!

Overall the reunion was a really fun weekend. I always enjoy being around the entire family but it sure makes me homesick for the days when we were all younger. We used to get together a lot, pretty much every Sunday afternoon. When we were little we'd go play outside and the big kids would bounce us high on the tramp, catch frogs, play house, or play night games or gopher's. It's kind of sad that things change so much as time goes on. Now we are all older and a lot of those "big cousins" have 2 or 3 kids of their own, and a whole new generation is starting. It's sad that those fun times are ending for us, but now we are doing different fun things with our lives and hopefully that new generation can experience some of the memories we have together.

Mosaic

2009-08-17T15:07:00.002-06:00

This is a fun thing that tell shows a bit about yourself:

1: go to flickr.com
2: in another window open http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/mosaic.php
3: choose 4 columns, 3 rows
4: answer the following questions in the search bar of flicker. pick your favorite one on the first page and paste the address into your mosaic.

1. What is your first name? Morgan
2. What is your favorite food? Lasagna
3. What school do you go to? Brigham Young University
4. What is your favorite color? Red
5. Who is your celebrity crush? Zac Efron
6. Favorite drink? Milk
7. Dream vacation? China
8. Favorite dessert? Frozen Yogurt
9. What you want to be when you grow up? Public Health Educator
10. What do you love most in life? Family
11. One word to describe you? Funny
12. Your nickname? Mo

The Giver

2009-08-13T10:45:00.009-06:00

So I mentioned that for my online class I have to read a number of required books and then I also get to choose a few books from each genre to read. The first genre was modern fantasy chapter books for kids. One morning I was going into work and I decided to run to the BYU Bookstore real quick and grab myself a book to read that day. I was going to get the first Harry Potter book because it is required for the class but then I saw The Giver and I decided to get it instead. I don't know what drove me to get it because I had to read it in 7th grade and I hated it, but I'm so glad I gave it another shot because it was awesome and it really got me thinking!

Basically the story is about a community that has been set up to be some sort of utopian society. All of the people are given the same opportunities and complete equality in everything. They also never make choices for themselves, they've never had to because the maker of the society realized that different choices can lead to pain. Because the people are so protected, they miss out on a lot of the happiness in life too. Since they were protected from the pains of life they weren't able to experience some of the best things in life like love, knowledge, imagination, and experience.

I enjoyed this book a lot because it really got me thinking about things and the nature of our lives. This "utopian" society that was created for these people reminded me so much of what I believe Satan wanted our lives to be. Lucifer wanted us to go to earth and live a life without the agency to choose. With his plan we would all make it back to our Heavenly Father again and we would not have a lot of the pain that we would experience with the freedom to choose for ourselves. We would avoid some of the mistakes that we make and we would not have to go through the pain or consequences of them because our lives would be set out for us. With this plan, we would escape these hardships, but we would be like the society in The Giver and miss out on a lot of the good.

With what I believe to be Jesus Christ's plan, we have the agency to choose for ourselves and though we might have sorrow in our lives, we can learn from our choices and experiences. With Jesus Christ's plan we might make mistakes and suffer from them, but with his Atonement we can still learn from these choices and return to live with him. With this plan we might have heartbreak, but we can also feel love. With his plan we have to mourn death, but we can also celebrate a life. With his plan we might suffer from our mistakes, but we can also find happiness in our triumphs. With his plan we might be burdened with the world, but we can also learn from this world.

Life can be so challenging sometimes and it's difficult to understand why we have to face certain trials. In these past few years I sometimes have felt overwhelmed with some of the hardships we have to face. It seems like once we make it over a huge hill we are faced with another mountain and it never seems to get easy. A lot of the time it's difficult for me to accept that we have to go through these difficulties but this book really made me realize a lot of the good things that we have in our lives. I definitely recommend it to everyone, and if you've read it before...read it again!

2 Nephi 2:25

El Ed 340

2009-08-10T09:09:00.006-06:00

So last week I decided that I would look at my school schedule and see how many credits and classes I needed to get done in the next two years. I only have about 9 credits of generals left and I've decided to take one of the classes independent study. This way I can get a head start on the semester because it is looking like it'll be pretty busy, about 18 credits with the Thailand study. The class that I signed up for is El Ed 340. Now I am not an elementary education major, and I personally have no desire to be one, it just fulfills on of my GE's.
I've always wondered why this major appeals to so many girls at BYU. I mean, I know that it takes a really special and patient person to become a teacher and I lack in many of the required areas for this career so I guess it's hard for me to imagine being able to tend and teach a lot of kids and wanting to! I have never been one of those people who are really good with children, I might even go as far to say that I was somewhat bad with children before I took that nanny job last summer. Now I can say that while I DO enjoy little kids, I think that caring for a few of my own will be quite enough and I'll appreciate those teachers who will be able to educate them. Little kids are so amazing and so funny and I love them but I just don't know if I could handle 20 of them at a time! Actually, I know that I couldn't...that's why it takes someone special to do that!

Now this El Ed class does help me understand the Elementary Education major a little more because this class has been so much fun! It is a class on children's literature so basically I read the textbook and lecture material and then read a ton of children's books. For the first few assignments I had to read about 40 picture books with amazing art. Now that I've finished those I'm starting on the larger children's novels. This has been so fun too and some of the required text were my childhood favorites. I've learned about the different types of kids books and what is important to teach kids and expose them to and it's been so interesting and I hope someday I'll be able to use what I've learned with my kids.

So far the chapter books I've read are:

1)The Black Cauldron
2)Tuck Everlasting
3)The BFG
4)The Giver
5)Frindle
6)Wait Till Helen Comes

All of these were pretty good. Wait Till Helen Comes was one of my favorites when I was in junior high and it still managed to scare me when I was reading it alone at night. Tuck Everlasting was a neat quick story to read and gets you thinking. Frindle was such a cute story, it's not very long but it was so entertaining! My favorite so far was The Giver, but I'll write more about that later. Anyways, I'm loving this class!

I Finally Washed My Car

2009-07-30T13:02:00.006-06:00

So earlier this week something exciting happened that doesn't occur very much....I gave Jimmy Junior a bath! Now Jimmy is my car, a Ford Taurus to be exact, and I love him. Some people may wonder why you would love a gray Taurus-grandma car, but I do. Some may also wonder why I am blogging about washing my car but I figure this is a rare occasion. Actually, it's been almost a year exactly since I washed that car. Now people blog about other yearly celebrations, like Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter etc...so why not blog about a yearly car wash!

Now Jimmy was in desperate need of a good scrubbing. It had been through a lot this past year and he did me well. A guy that I dated in the fall was really bothered that I didn't wash my car very often, and that was only 3 months from the last wash! That boy came and went but Jimmy never saw those scrubbing bubbles. Jimmy collected dirt from many parking lots this past year, got crunched a bit by my mother, sat uncomfortable with a boot on his tire while I paid a dude $60 to let us free, listened to me belt songs on the way home to ID, and took me and the roomies many places...so I figured he deserved a good wash since it had been so long. We went to a nice car wash where I paid an entire $6.50 to wash and vacuum him out, and I even went home and wiped down the dash, cleaned the inside of the windows, and even unwrapped a new tree-air freshener for the guy.

Now many of you might also be wondering where Jimmy Jr. got his name. I don't know where Jimmy came from, I have loved the name since I was a little girl. My sister and I once saved our money for some new G.I. Joe dolls (they were more ripped than the Ken dolls) and I named him Jimmy too. But the Junior part...well you see, I killed Jimmy's father my first semester at BYU. It was the Sunday before finals week in December and a bunch of us were rushing to a friend's farewell talk and I accidentally forgot to look at a traffic light. Jimmy Senior died that day and so did part of my soul. I felt horrible for months about wrecking the car that my dad let me use, but what did he do as punishment? He bought an upgraded Jimmy for me to use-same color and everything, including a CD player and a lock/unlock door button thingy. Isn't he a crazy parent, you don't teach a child anything by giving them an upgrade! But my dad figured that boat saved some of my friends lives, which it did. What a dependable selfless car, eh?

This is why I love that gray-grandma Ford Taurus, my Dad has graciously provided a car during these past few years at college and it has made my life a ton easier. I am able to go to the movies, the grocery store, to parties, or home to Idaho whenever it's necessary which makes me a lot luckier than a lot of students up here. So as long as Jimmy Jr. is in my possession, I will wash him at least once a year!

The Hill Cumorah Pageant

2009-07-23T10:16:00.006-06:00

Met some really awesome new people and also got to spend some time with Jess and Gabe.

This is the stage that we performed on and we are practicing the Christ dissension scene.

So I just got back from spending two weeks in Palmyra, NY where I was in the Hill Cumorah Pageant. A little less than a year ago my friend Jessica Alvarez and I applied to be in it and we both got in! Jess has been in the pageant in years past and she has some family in NY that were kind enough to let us stay with them. New York was just beautiful and it was a surprisingly chilly couple of weeks with quite a bit of rain, I wasn't complaining...I'd rather be a little chilly than hot any day. The weather was so weird because it be blazing hot one minute and then pouring rain the next...I never knew what to wear! The Hill Cumorah Pageant is basically a play of some of the main stories of the Book of Mormon which are acted out on this amazing stage on the Hill Cumorah. There were about 720 people in the cast this year and it was so awesome to see it come together. There are some awesome special affects, lights, costumes, and props used and people had put so much work into this pageant.

We got there on the 3rd of July where we first registered and then we were put into our parts. Everyone who wants a "movement" (or dancing) part had to learn this little dance and do it over and over and over again until they gave you a part. Jess reassured me that the dance wouldn't be hard so I wasn't too worried, but I must be extremely out of practice because that dance seemed pretty difficult to me! Well the best dancers were being weeded out because they got the harder dancing parts and I just kept on doing that little 32 count dance again and again. Finally, I got a part as a Harvest Worker...which I later found out to be the lowest of all the dancing parts...haha but I didn't mind! My other non-dancing part was to be a Lamanite for a little part, I even had to wear this long black wig for it and a headband with little skulls on it...I looked horrible in it, which is why there were no pictures taken in it!

After getting our parts the next few days were filled with rehearsal and time with our cast teams. Every morning you look at the schedule to see when your group was practicing and you make sure that you are there. The Harvest scene is the part of the Book of Mormon when Lehi and his family make it to the promised land. The people were really prosperous because they followed the Lord's commandments. The scene depicts this time of prosperity among the people. So basically for my part me and another girl carried this huge litter of fruit onto the stage and then she and I pretended to plant seeds and spun around a couple of times for a few counts of eight...I personally did not think that the intense, 45 minute, dance try-out was particularly necessary for casting my part, but maybe I'm just crazy.

Our cast teams were the groups they put us in with people our own age. We would play games and do crafts and stuff just to keep us busy in between rehearsals. It was fun to get to know other people from across the country. A couple people got mission calls while we were there. Once the show began and we didn't rehearse all day we had a few days of planned activities. We had a free day with our cast team where we got to go bowling and other teams went to the lake or swimming. Also one of the days we did a service project in the community and our team went and cleaned a really creepy museum. It was an old boarding house and store from the 1800's but to us it looked like a place where they would film a scary movie. I think the community really appreciated our service though...I think it helps with their opinions of us crazy Mormons. Another day our team went and saw some of the church sites. We went to the place where they printed the Book of Mormon and also to the Sacred Grove. We were pretty busy for the entire two weeks and got pretty tired, granted our decision to go to the midnight showing of Harry Potter probably didn't help!

We also would have a lot of devotionals all two weeks and different leaders in the quorum of the 70's and cast members would speak to us. One of the main focus' of the pageant is to share the gospel that we believe in. The full-time missionaries gave us 3 workshops that taught us effective ways to share what we believe to those who come and watch. Before each performance we would go out in groups and greet the audience. We would share out testimonies or scriptures with the people and it was a really unique experience that I really haven't had before. Sometimes it was discouraging and scary but I really think I grew from that experience.

The rest of the pageant told the stories of Nephi, Alma, Abinidi, Mormon and Moroni, and the Restoration along with a lot of Nephite and Lamanite battles. My favorite part of the pageant though is the scene when Christ comes to visit the people in the Americas. The whole cast got to be on the stage at that part and it was so cool to see the cast member who represented Christ come and interact with the children and heal the people. I don't know if it was just because I saw the production come together, but the whole pageant just seemed to bring the characters to life and it brought such a neat spirit.

Toward the end of the pageant I was sure tired, grumpy, and worn out! My parents and sister got to come visit for the last few days and I was so glad to see them, but they probably didn't enjoy me as much because I was complaining up a storm! I'm so glad that they came though, and were able to see what we'd been working so hard on. Even though being in the pageant wiped me out, I am so glad that I did it. It was an amazing opportunity and I learned a lot about our church and a lot about myself. I met some really amazing people and it was sure fun to spend more time with Jess and my second cousin Gabrielle Stoker. I would recommend this experience to anyone!

Alaska!

2009-06-29T16:24:00.001-06:00

Two weeks ago my family went on an Alaskan cruise together. It was so much fun and quite the adventure. We started our journey on the 13th of June and we all piled into our mini-van and drove to Seattle where we picked up Brandon who had flown there from Orlando. We stayed the night and drove the remaining way to Canada that morning. We were loaded onto our ship that afternoon where we partook of our first buffet of the week, and we were off!

We enjoyed a couple of days on sea where we enjoyed many activities offered on the boat including: eating, ping-pong, hot tubs, eating, dancing, sleeping, watching movies, eating, shows, bingo, watching for whales, eating, working out, playing games and hanging with the family. It was really nice to be able to relax and spend time with the whole family and the scenery up in Alaska is just beautiful!

Tuesday was our first day on land and I got to step foot on my 28th state. Woo Hoo! We stopped in Ketchikan which was the first town established in Alaska. It was pretty much a tourist fishing town but it was really pretty. We just took a walking tour of the town and saw some really pretty country. Everything is so green there and they had a lot of cute houses built up high with big staircases. Me, Kait, and Dad were walking along and we saw a bald eagle flying really close. Afterwards we boarded the ship again.

The next day we stopped in Juneau, which is the state capital of Alaska. We slept in a little late that morning so we had limited time on land but we decided to take a bus to a HUGE glacier that was about a half an hour away. We planned it perfectly so that we would get back to the boat right at the deadline. The glacier was really awesome to see. It was massive and the ice is really blue because the ice is so dense that only the small blue wavelengths can get through. Well it was time to leave and we went to go wait for our bus back that was guaranteed to come every 30 minutes. We waited and waited but the bus was late. We were starting to panic because it looked like we might miss our ship and while we waited about two buses worth of people were in line for the bus. Finally the late bus came and everyone was cramming into the bus. There was no way we were going to get a spot. We explained to some people that we had to get onto our boat and finally this other bus let us on and we stood up for the drive. We were late to board but we got on ok. It was super stressful and we were all pretty grumpy that night.

The next stop was at Skagway the next day where we went on a historical tour of the town. It was a town that was established at the gold rush. It was pretty interesting to listen to. We also watched a movie but a lot of us slept through it….I guess we didn’t get enough naps in on the boat.

The Thursday following all of our excursions a lot of the family spent being sea sick. The prior days were spent cruising in land passages but this day we were in the ocean. I slept for the majority of the day because whenever I stood up I felt sick to my stomach. The boat was rocking pretty well. That night we were back in the land passages so we felt fine and were back to our glutinous habits.

On Sunday morning we had to leave the ship. I think we were all glad to get back on land but we were sad to realize that our time together was coming to an end. We dropped Brandon off in Seattle again and drove the extremely long drive back to Idaho. It was so good to be with the family and we are so lucky for the opportunity to travel together, but now we are back to normal boring life where we have to wake up in the morning, cook our own food, go to work, and make our own beds. The worst part is that we are spread out again…but it was fun while it lasted!

A Day For Father's

2009-06-23T11:42:00.004-06:00

This past Sunday was Father’s Day and I didn’t want to forget my amazing Dad. I love him so much that my words cannot even describe it. He’s such an amazing person, friend, support and friend. There are many characteristics about him that I admire so much.

He is my spiritual giant. He has an amazing faith and dedication to the church. I am so grateful that I can turn to him for any gospel question or whenever I need that priesthood holder.

My Dad is such a hard worker. My Dad went back to school to be a CPA after he and my Mom started their family. He graduated the year I was born. For the past 20 years he has worked so hard to support our family and we have had so many wonderful experiences because of it.

I have the funniest father in the world and he is such a fun guy to be around and most of the time he doesn’t even have to try! All of my friends love my dad because he loves to play games just like the kids.

My Dad is amazing because he is able to set goals and adventures for himself and he does them! I like to joke that he’s had 3 midlife crises because he starts these new hobbies. The first was when he purchased our sailboat. We thought he was crazy but we have so many fond memories on that thing. Second were his road bicycles. He started this hobby a few years ago and hasn’t stopped. He’s completed 100 and 200 mile bike rides in one day and he’s going to ride across Iowa in a week this summer. That is just amazing to me! His third and most recent midlife crises is his motorcycle. A lot of the family is nervous about this but it sure is sweet!

My dad is my co best friend with my mom. He is an amazing support to me and my dreams and goals. He helps me a lot with my schooling of which I am so grateful and he supports me in my life decisions. One of my goals in life is to visit all 50 states before I die. Last summer I was living at home and he decided one weekend that we should go visit Mt. Rushmore in South Dakota. He, my sister and I loaded up in our car and drove the 12 hour ride there, camped on the way, and 12 hours back in only 3 days. It was such a quick trip but it was so much fun, with great memories. He's always made sure that we have great experiences as a family and I love that.

My mom always tells a story about a conversation I had when I was really young. She was talking to me about temple marriage and how someday I will marry a man and we could be together forever. After she explained this to me I just turned to her and said, “I can never marry another human…Dad would be too sad.” Now I think that Dad can probably handle this but I know that someday it’s going to be difficult for me. I am so grateful for my Dad and for the huge role he plays in my life. I love you Dad, Happy Father’s Day!

Wedding Filled Weekend

2009-06-11T15:31:00.006-06:00

So this past weekend one of our former roommates got married, which feels so crazy to me...I'm not that old! Chelsea asked Andrea and I if we would be part of her wedding (and wear 5 inch patent leather pumps...killer) so our weekend was filled with wedding celebrations. On Thursday night was the rehearsal dinner in Salt Lake. Then on Saturday we drove to Draper to wait outside the temple when they got married. Chelsea looked so A to the mazing and they were both so happy. I am SO glad that they found each other. We seriously got to witness all the stages of their romance, which wasn't always fun, but it was cool to see them fall in love these past two semesters. They really do bring out the best in each other. After the wedding we drove to Burley and stayed the night with my fam. That next morning we drove the remainder of the trip to Boise and helped set up the reception decorations and we were able to hangout with Chels a bit. The reception venue was gorgeous but it rained for the majority of the outdoor reception. Part of our bridesmaid duties was to hold an umbrella over the wedding cake for about 30 minutes until the rain let up. By the time we headed to a hotel for the night we looked pretty frazzled and I think the hotel managers thought we had been to a pretty crazy party. It was a really busy and fun weekend and I am so happy for my friend, congrats Smiths!

Exciting Event #3

2009-05-26T12:09:00.002-06:00

So Exciting Event #3...About a month ago one of my teachers from this past semester emailed me about a student research project that he is heading. He wanted to know if I would be interested in applying for one of the four student positions so I went ahead and applied. They are going to be performing research this next fall semester on the country of Thailand and their public health practices. Then they are thinking that at the end of the semester they will be going to Thailand to see the country and health facilities and perform some further research. The research is on all kinds of health things but some of it is on sexual behavior, STD's, and sex trafficking in Thailand...super interesting stuff. On Friday my professor emailed me back and let me know that I was picked as one of the students! I am so excited and grateful for this opportunity. I am so lucky! I really wanted to go to a foreign country to do some type of study abroad or service but I didn't think I would be able to because of the lack of funds. This way I will be able to improve my resume, have this experience, and BYU is funding a lot of the costs! I just can't get over how blessed I have been. I don't know all the details about the project yet. We are meeting in a couple of weeks to discuss things, I will keep you updated!

New Calling

2009-05-25T14:49:00.002-06:00

So I got a new calling in the ward. I was what they call a ward extractionist, which is doing family history, but I failed miserably at it. We never got trained so I did nothing the entire year, which is mostly my fault. I got a new calling last week as a Relief Society instructor. Sunday was the first time that I taught and I think it went pretty well despite my nerves. Saturday I prepared the lesson and it was on Elder Uchtdorf's talk last conference called "The Way of The Disciple." It was really good to pick the talk apart but I was having such a hard time getting enough material for the lesson. As usual, I couldn't have done it without my wonderful parents. I think that this calling is going to teach me a lot. It's going to force me to study the lessons and hopefully I will get better and public speaking for long periods of time.

Family Time

2009-05-24T14:20:00.003-06:00

So the whole family was down for the graduation. Grandma and Grandpa Carter, Grandma and Grandpa Jones, Grandma and Grandpa Stoker, Uncle Harley, Brandon, and Chris and Jane were all able to come. It was fun to spend a couple of days together. Most of the time we just hung out and ate and made food (like we typically do) but on Wednesday night we all traveled to Twin Falls and had a picnic at Shoshone falls.

Picture of the river in the canyon. It was a really nice day but windy, as usual in Idaho.

Brandon looking like and American Eagle model and me sporting Kait's dance sweats because all of my clothes were in the laundry at home (have to take advantage of the free facilities).

Chris and Jane, so good to see them!

Waiting for the dutch oven chicken enchiladas to be done, they were super good. We also roasted smores afterword. It was a really good time.

Kait, Brandon, and Grandma Jan getting ready for a game of Bocce Ball.

Grandpa Vaughn, Grandpa Charles, Father Dearest, and I played a round ourselves. It was a good time but Grandpa Vaughn definitely dominated. He might have cheated though, he tends to do that on occasion.

Exciting Event #2

2009-05-24T13:47:00.004-06:00

So my little sister, Kaitlin, graduated from high school last Tuesday. It was really good but kind of a different experience. I can't believe that it has already been two years since I graduated! That is so weird. It made me think about how much has changed since then. This is a picture of me and my best friends. We are all at different schools or serving around the world and doing different things with out lives. I feel like I've changed a lot since graduation and I feel like I've learned so much about the world and life. Don't get me wrong, I know I still have a lot of things to learn and that I am still pretty immature, but it just amazes me how much can change in two years. It is always weird to go back to Declo High too. I really loved going to high school there and I was given so many opportunities because it was such a small school. Declo High School is really where I became who I am today. There are such great teachers and I was taught a lot of great things there. I do have to say though, I really hate going back and seeing all my peers. I don't know if it's just because it hasn't been quite long enough or if I hate explaining what I'm up to a thousand times.

I was able to go home with the rest of the family to go to the ceremony. It was really good to see her get her diploma and I am so proud of her. Look at how many cords she has! This girl is beautiful and brilliant! Here she is with my amazing parents.

Kait was in charge of the slide show for the graduation. It showed all of the Seniors pictures and also one of their baby photos. Along with that it showed the graduates future plans and any scholarships that they had received. The PowerPoint was really great, she has a really great eye for those kinds of things.

Kait is coming to BYU in the fall and I am SO excited for her to come! It is going to be so nice to have family in Provo with me. Plus it will be easier to drive home on the weekend and such. The only downside, is that we are going to have to share a car, but we'll live with it...haha.

Here is Kait and Ainsley my cousin. These two have been good friends for a long time and it's been kinda fun because they went through all of school together. I really love Ainsley, it was fun to be in school with her too. Me, Kait, and Ainsley and her brothers did Trendsetters together and it was fun to have each other in high school. Ainsley is going to Rexburg to do cosmetology school.

Brandon was able to fly home from Orlando for Kait's graduation and spend a few days. I just love this boy so much, he's always been such a good friend to me and Kaitlin. I wish we lived closer to him so we could see him more but it's always good to see him. He's so much fun.

Exciting Event #1

2009-05-23T17:37:00.004-06:00

So the last week or so I have had a few exciting things occur. I really don't have time right now to write about them now but I will eventually. Exciting event #1 is thrilling for me, but probably not as much for the rest of you is...Kris Allen won American Idol!!! Now Kris has been my favorite this entire season and a lot of people didn't think he'd make it to the end, including myself, but he won! The defeat of Adam Lambert caused quite the uproar and I really don't blame the people because I personally believe that Adam is more talented vocally. He was creative with his songs, he has a excellent range, and he has unbelievable showmanship. BUT, Kris won my vote because I prefer his style of music and he is amazingly gifted. He also showed a lot of artistic flare with his pieces, is talented vocally and with the guitar, is good looking (but unfortunately married), and a lot more low key. Therefore, Kris deserved to win because most of America obviously prefers to sit back and listen to his soothing voice compared to Adam rockin' screams. So that is the exciting news for today. You should totally check some of Kris' stuff out. My favorite songs of his are "Falling Slowly" and "To Make You Feel My Love."

My Greatest Friend

2009-05-11T12:50:00.000-06:00

Yesterday was Mother's Day and although I was in Provo and away from her, I spent a great deal of time thinking about my mother and how amazing she is. My mom is such an example to me and she is my best friend. She is always there for me when I need her. I call her almost everyday whether I'm angry at someone, frustrated with myself, stressed in life, happy or excited and she's always able to calm me down or cheer me up. My mom serves and loves her children so much, and I know she's sad to see Kait leave home, but we will always need her in our lives no matter where we are. My mother can't see how amazing she is but everyone else does. She is an amazing Relief Society President and I know it because I've sat in the meeting and watched her in action. She has a love for learning that I never understood until recently. She is the greatest person to talk to because she really listens to people and never puts anyone down. When you are running errands or at the store she always says a kind word to the checker or will tell a parent how adorable their child is. My mom keeps an excellent household and she is so creative in everything she does. My mom always supports me in my goals and does everything possible for me to achieve them, even if it means she does them with me. My mom has such a great spirit and I'm so proud of her for joining the church when she was my age, I don't think I ever would be able to do that alone. She has taught me so much growing up and I owe every good quality about myself to her and my Dad. She is the greatest mother I could have asked for and I think of how lucky I am to have her every day of my life.

When I was in elementary school I used to catch the bus pretty early in the morning. I remember sitting on the green plastic seats and feeling simply sick inside because I had to leave me mom. I thought that feeling would leave as I got older but it occasionally happens even today. I get that feeling sometimes when I drive back to Provo and I can't even count how many goodbyes are spent with me and my mom crying. I love her so much and I am so grateful that I have her as my best friend. Happy Mother's Day!

TRC

2009-05-10T15:08:00.002-06:00

Since I'm not going to school right now and I am just working 40 hours a week, I find that I have a lot more time on my hands then I am used to. Before I would work for 20 hours per week and then have class for about 15 hours but then I would have a large amount of homework and studies to work on in the evenings. One of my roommates started volunteering at our church's Missionary Training Center at what they call the Teaching Resource Center. It's where they have the training missionaries give the church discussions to volunteers who are acting as church investigators. A lot of people in the Provo community go and do this. Those who know foreign languages are able to sit and be taught by the missionaries who are called abroad and who are trying to learn the native language. So I decided that this would be a worthwhile way to spend some time and I've gone for the last couple of weeks.

The first time I went it was with the training visitor center sisters. They had a fake visitor center set up and they took us on fake tours while they taught us about the gospel. It was really neat to see. One sister was from Provo and another from the Philippines. They were both so scared but they did a really good job. It must be so scary to learn a new language and know that you have to leave in a couple weeks and to know that you aren't prepared to speak to the people. It must take such great faith.

Yesterday I went again and it was with the missionaries who would actually be proselyting. They gave me a scenario to look over and then a couple of 19 year old boys came and taught me about the Plan of Salvation and the Word of Wisdom. I just listened to what they had to say and asked them some questions about what they taught me. You could tell that they were nervous too but they did a good job. It really opens your eyes to what it would be like to be new to the church. I take being born into the church for granted I think. It was a really great experience and I think that I will try to do it more often. Not only does it help out the missionaries but I feel like I benefit by going.

Aerobics

2009-05-10T14:58:00.002-06:00

So since I started at BYU I have found a new hobby (if that's what you call it) that I absolutely love! BYU has what they call inter mural aerobics where you can pay a fee to go to an aerobics class a few times a week for an hour. This is my 4th semester doing it and I've enjoyed it so much. Last semester I took a "Power Sculpt n' Tone" class (yes, they really did spell it that way) and this semester I am taking a "Kardio Fusion" class where they mix a few types of workouts together. I really like it because I find it easier to go workout if I am dancing around to music than to put on an exercise tape or run a few miles. It gives me a work out and I am able to think about all different kinds of things during that hour. Yesterday we did a new workout that I have never done before called Zumba. It was soooo fun! It was like Latin dancing stuff that worked your whole body and it was so fun. I was sweating like crazy and I know that I looked like an idiot, but it didn't matter because everyone except the extremely fit teacher looked like an idiot. I've decided that taking exercise classes is something that I would like to do throughout my life. I figure that it is a worthwhile thing to prioritize the funds for because it is good for your health and it's a good time!

World of Warcraft

2009-05-07T16:20:00.004-06:00

So I have been working for a bunch of computer programmers and engineers for about a year and a half and I've met a lot of really cool people, but a lot of them are pretty different too. One time we were in a meeting with all of BYU OIT and me and the other secretaries were all sitting in the back of the room zoning out because it had nothing to do with us and our jobs. There was a student employee sitting in front of me with his laptop and he was playing World of Warcraft also known a "WOW." I thought this was pretty funny myself but my boss wasn't too amused. Like I have written about before, I switched offices for the summer. It's been really fun to meet a whole new group of somewhat awkward engineers. My new supervisor has talked about how whole teams of employees will play WOW on their downtime. Sometimes when I walk in to clean white boards or deliver mail they'll be talking about how they updated their version or something like that. I find this game kind of ridiculous personally. I mean, I can understand playing it as a hobby occasionally or just for some entertainment but I think playing it at work or during a training meeting is a little excessive.

Last year I had a really good friend who was a WOW player. He was a really fun guy and we hung out a lot but you would never have guessed he was a World of Warcraft addict. He was going to school that semester and at first he was able to keep up with his school work and the game but then he started to drop a lot of school things. At the beginning he quit going to class and stuff but he'd show up to turn in papers and take tests...no biggy really, a lot of non-WOW players get through college this way. But then the addiction started getting worse. He would stay up all night playing WOW with his "friends" (as he would call them) around the globe. He told me about some of these friends. One of them was a mother of 3 who would take breaks to go feed her children. Another woman started WOW in order for her and her husband to have a common hobby together while one of the players was a boy from Argentina. The more my friend played this he quit doing all school work and he would only take occasional breaks to socialize with us a bit.

Now I do admit, he let me play the game once it was really entertaining and I can understand how someone may get addicted. I got to choose my character, a Paladin Gnome (I don't remember exactly what that was but it had something to do with the powers it had), and what it would wear and it was really excited. I even played long enough to pass the first level. I don't necessarily think that being involved in video games is a bad thing, I just don't think that it should consume your life.

I am a strong believer that a person needs constant progression in life. I feel someone should try to better themselves no matter what stage in life they're in whether it be in college, a career, or learning knew things in books while raising kids at home. Now my friend was certainly progressing but he was progressing in the virtual World of Warcraft. He was making it from one level to the next, gaining many new powers, learning new conquering tactics, and progressing as a WOW character, but in his own life he was sitting on his old couch wearing dirty pajamas in the dark. This is not healthy. He ended up having to figure out a way to withdraw from all of his classes for that semester because he was failing them beyond repair. He still plays WOW occasionally, as far as I know, and I don't think that it's wrong. You just have to make sure it doesn't consume your life and you are still growing as a person...not as some mystical character.

Roomies

2009-05-01T15:23:00.004-06:00

So the next important people in my life are my roommates. Two of them just barely moved out and we're in the process of getting some new ones, but here is a brief overview of the roomies.

Anna just moved home to AZ for the summer. We met my first summer term at BYU in heritage halls. She is a dear friend and I have a lot of fun with her. She is a technology and engineering education major which means she will teach elective classes in high school. This past semester she had to take all these crazy cool classes like wood shop, welding, and graphic design. I love her so much because she is my wing-woman for social activity and we are able to be super stupid and silly together.

Chelsea just moved out also but she is from Middleton, ID. She is now living in Alpine, UT with at friend and commuting to BYU to work. She is now engaged to Lance Smith, or "Number 7" (meaning our seventh roommate this semester), and they are getting married June 5th. She became our roommate because her and Anna were friends last fall. Last winter I had snowboarding and interior design class with her and I found out how cool she was. She is an extremely caring and spiritual person and I really enjoyed getting to know her this year.

Andrea was also my first roommate in summer term about two years ago. She's from TX. She is also brilliant. Period. End of story. I love her so much because we are able to talk about everything and I trust her with practically everything. She is super funny but in an intellectual way. She is one of the people that I am able to get upset with up front, which really means something because it confirms that I know she'll love me still. We work in the same department but in different offices on campus. We are going to be roommates in the fall too at University Villa, which shall be an adventure.

Lauren in my roommate that I share a room with and she's from Lancaster, CA. She is basically awesome and super down to earth. She is pure muscle and is really tough. She is the easiest roommate to share a room with because we are both pretty clean and she doesn't like drama. She too is engaged, which is bitter-sweet because I'm happy for her...but I really don't want to give her up as a roommate. She will official leave me for her man on July 25th.

Mandy was our new roommate this year. She is from Glendora, CA. Graduated just last year and I am so glad that she was put into our apartment because she has added so much fun into our group. I think that she is the funniest roommate, but this is an ongoing argument with me and her. She works full time at Nordstrom it shows...she is very fashionable.

So those were the original six this year. Of course I have my old roommates from the dorms that I am still friends with and everything, but right now this is it. That's a funny thing about college, your family unit is always changing, but it's fun to see all the different personalities.

25 Interesting Things

2009-04-29T13:04:00.003-06:00

OK so a while back there was this big fad going around Facebook to write 25 interesting things about yourself. I like reading other people's lists so I decided to write one myself. Here they are...I had to update them a bit but I hope you enjoy.

Morgan's 25:

1. I am really bored at work…that’s why I’m doing this

2. I used to have a pair of moccasins that would make it rain practically every time I wore them…no lie. They were magical and I had them forever until they mysteriously disappeared out of my closet. My guess is that the tribal chief came and stole them back.

3. When we were kids we used to play really creative games. We used to play “town” and my brothers would own the casino and the pub. For some reason I always thought a library would be a good business but my cousins and siblings seemed more preoccupied with sinning.

4. I have freaky double-jointed fingers.

5.Heaven for me would be snowboarding with my father on a never ending slope.

6.I am going to visit all 50 states before I die. I’ve been to 26 so far. It would be more because of the four corners but my father says that I need to at least pee in them and mark my territory.

7.Some of my favorite things to consume are chocolate covered cinnamon bears, sandwiches, salad, my Mom’s lasagna, chicken enchiladas, and my Dad’s pancakes.

8.I’m on my 6th pair of converse all star shoes…I love them.

9.The first CD I ever owned was the greatest hits of The Jackson 5.

10.If I’m able to get angry at you and tell you…then I love you more than most people. I am passive aggressive a lot of the time. I just hold it inside for a long time and then I just explode. Not the best habit.

11. I love lectures in school but I hate homework and tests.

12. My cars name is Jimmy Junior and I love him.

13. I have a playlist of really good songs on my iPod. When I listen to it while I am walking or driving someplace alone I love it because it makes me feel like I am in a movie with my own soundtrack…weird and embarrassing, I know.

14. I like to cuddle with the people I love and am comfortable with.

15. When my hair dries one side curls in and one side curls out. It’s annoying.

16. I have a one eyed dog named Lucy. (Well I had a one-eyed dog named Lucy. She just passed away a few weeks ago. We miss her very much but we know that she is frolicking in the meadows and not running into any cars because she can see out of two eyes now).

17. My nicknames have been Mo, Mogy, Morg, Morgs, Stokes, and Momo.

18. I am fascinated with money and what it does to people.

19. My favorite movie ever is Little Women…most people don’t enjoy it but it makes me happy.

20. I broke my leg once when I was 5 and nobody believed me…even the doctors. I think I went like a week without a cast on it and everybody kept making me walk. We finally figured it out and I got a pink cast.

21. In 7th grade I tried out for the basketball team and I didn’t make it. I was really sad but now I see that it was a blessing. I would have been humiliated out there.

22. I often wish that I fit into another category of people like indie, granola, athletic, hippie, high maintenance, intellectual, or political but it just doesn’t really work.

23. I want to live in a really small old house when I grow up so I can fix it up and make it have a lot of character.

24. My favorite thing is to be with my family and friends and just laugh. Funny people are my favorite and I seem to be surrounded by them.

25. I love interesting people and I would love to be one someday.

Family

2009-04-29T12:53:00.003-06:00

So I figure that I need to make an overview of the people in my life. I will start with the most important and the ones that I love the most, my family. I am the third of four children. There are two boys followed by two girls. And it all began with the "golden child," ha ha.

Chris is my oldest brother at the old age of 25. I spent my entire childhood and I am starting my adult life being teased by this boy. As kids he came up with endless games for us to play and he also taught me one of my favorite hobbies, snowboarding! He is married to my sister in law, Jane Noorda Stoker. They both recently graduated from BYU-I last summer, Chris in sociology and Jane in social work. Together they are just a social-social couple. They are now living in Pocatello, ID where Chris is just finishing up a semester of pre-recs to become a physicians assistant. Both Jane and Chris work as PSR workers right now. Chris is serving in the National Guard so he occasionally has to go to different trainings. I love these two very much and I am so glad Chris tricked Jane into joining our family because I love her very very much. I admire them both a lot too. Last year Jane lost her amazing father and I know it's been so hard for them both and her family. Jane and Chris have shown so much strength this past year. A lot of the time I don't understand why they have to go through such a hardship but I know that they have both grown because of it. I love them so much and think so highly of them both.

Brandon is my next brother who just turned 23 and is living in Orlando, FL. He is so adventurous because he is not afraid to move to crazy places all over the country which are nothing like the comforts of Burley, ID. His first destination was Seattle and he lived there for a little over a year. In August he made the drive clear across the country to FL, as if Seattle was not far enough from us. He graduated from CSI with a degree in graphic design and he is SO talented, but he doesn't believe it. I would kill for talent and ability like his. Right now he works for the Apple computer stores and I think he single handedly keeps them in business. Brandon is such an amazing guy and he's been one of my best friends my entire life. When we grew up he always played with me and Kaitlin and he was always our friend. Brandon has the best sense of humor and everyone who meets him just loves him...including me!

Kait is my younger sister who is a senior at Declo High this year. We have always been really close, the best of friends. But with that territory came complete comfort which means that we fought a lot during the growing up years. We would fight over clothes and stuff but after an hour or two later we'd get over it and be telling each other everything again. We shared a room our entire lives and had a lot of pillow talk together. Kaitlin is so spunky and loves to do active things like dancing and soccer. She is also brilliant and does awesome things like taking Calculus as an elective. I think she is a total babe with lots of style. We are still really close and I am so so so excited for her to come to BYU in the fall, poor thing is probably really sick of me planning her school schedule planning what we'll do together. Right now she works at the local orthodontist as a part time receptionist. Kait is always there for me when I need a talk and I love her very much.

Now for the two who started it all, my parents. My parents are my best friends in the entire world. I have been living away from home for 2 years and I still can hardly go a day without talking to them. I get homesick for them everyday and every time I go home for a visit I am extremely homesick for about a week, it's quite ridiculous actually. I never really fought with them too much growing up. I know there were a few fights here and there and I've been told that I got a little "saucy" before I graduated and moved out. I love my parents and I can't stand the thought of disappointing them.

My mom and I talk so much and about everything. We discuss home decor, relationships, life ambitions, frustrations, ideas, and everything in between. She is such an amazing woman and I admire her so much. Currently she is the RS president of our ward and she does it amazingly but fails to see it. While we were growing up she performed the impossible and got her bachelor's in nursing. Every time I see a mom-type student in one of my classes I think of her and how hard it must have been to do that. School is hard enough to do when you are 20 but I can't imagine doing it with 4 kids waiting to be fed at home! Mom is such a sweet person and serves a lot of people. I love her more than words can express.

My Dad is amazing too. I love him so much and think so highly of him. Not only is he so funny and fun to be around but he's a hard worker and is so responsible. I know that if I ever have a question about that gospel I can talk to my dad about it. Not only is he a genuinely good man but he does a lot of cool things. Some of what we call mid-life crisis' include a sail-boat, road bikes, and the most recent...a motorcycle. He always does these crazy things too. Last summer he and Chris rode 200 miles on a bike ride in Seattle in just one day! My dad is my favorite snowboarding partner and he is always willing to do things for me. Last summer he drove Kait and I to South Dakota to see Mt. Rushmore. We did the whole trip in only 3 days so I could mark off SD off of the list of states to see before I die. Someday I would like to marry a man that is a lot like my Dad because I can't imagine loving another man more.

So this is my family. They are amazing and I am so glad I was put with them. If I have to be with someone forever then it is definitely them!

Old Homes

2009-04-29T10:52:00.003-06:00

Last night after work I decided to go for a walk for a bit of exercise before I sat my tail end back down to watch American Idol. I went and walked south of campus and looked at all the old houses that I love. They are all so old and they each have their own character. It's so neat to see. Of course you get the old junky homes too, which can always be interesting. My mom and I discussed this once while driving the streets of Burley looking at the tiny homes. There are the old houses with the owners who truly take pride in their homes. These people work to care for their homes and make them look nice by doing yard work and making improvements on the house as necessary. Then there are the people who live in an old home and move often and don't take much pride in where they live. Most of the houses become worn down. Well there are some really nice homes in south Provo and a few run down ones also.

Last night it was really neat to walk around in the evening and watch the people care for their homes. There were the young couples which you could tell were creating memories in their first home and beginning to fill it with young kids and love. Some of the homes had perfect landscaping and paint jobs and I'd see an elderly man come round the corner with his yard tools. It was pretty funny, in one of the more distressed homes there were a couple of men working on the yard. One of them was mowing the front lawn and the other was trimming close to the fence and trees with a machete! I couldn't believe it. I couldn't help but wonder if he just waited for innocent walkers to pass by and then perform murder with that machete!

Someday I would really like to live in an old tiny house in town. I don't know exactly where yet but I know that an old house would be ideal. I grew up in a fairly large home with a huge yard and it was a lot of fun to play with my sibling outside and everything but I also think it would be fun to live in a neighborhood with close neighbors. Fixing up the place and making it my own would be so fun. I know I've got a while until I settle down but till then, I will just keep taking walks and observing the different people and their homes.

Home Again, Home Again

2009-04-28T21:08:00.002-06:00

So this weekend I was able to go home for a visit to Burley. It was really good to finally go home and not have to worry about finishing a project or do homework. I drove there on Friday night after work and just caught up with the rents and Kait, my sister. On Saturday my mother and I went to "town" and we just ran some errands and looked at fabric for some decorating my mom was doing. It's always fun just spending time with her.

Right: Me and Derek during the summer. He's a lot bigger now but still covered with scratches like a typical little boy.

So the four boys that I babysat last summer are living in Declo now so Saturday afternoon I was able to go to the matinee with them. It was so good to see them because it has been a long time. I was worried that the youngest wouldn't remember me. We drove with them to the theater and once he was out of his car seat he reached up for me and stayed there till we went home. I was so happy! The other boys seemed really good too, they had all gotten older but were still the boys I love. Despite the extremely stupid movie we saw, it was great.

Chris and Jane came to visit Saturday night. We ate dinner together and afterwards we went and saw my mom perform in the stake roadshow. She was an old grandma and Kait worked her hair and makeup magic on her and she fit the part very well. She had some wicked penciled eyebrows, heavy blush, and a tight bun. In my opinion she stole the show.

Unfortunately I had to head home Sunday after church and dinner with the family and grandparents. Once again the trip went by way too quickly but I found it a little easier to go back when I didn't have school to greet me. I always get really homesick for my family and the easy life at home when I get back. I'm suffering from it now but it goes away with time. I've just learned to accept it, it's inescapable.

New Summer Job

2009-04-24T14:46:00.003-06:00

For the past 3 semesters I've been working on campus for the Office of Information Technology Engineer department. I mainly work as a travel specialist and book travel for the engineers when they go out of town for conferences, but I also do some basic secretary work too. My favorite part of the job is to do the decoration for each month or holiday. I get to go to the scrapbook store and buy all the supplies and spend hours and hours making the birthday board and door signs for the employees. I also enjoy booking travel, they get to go to so many awesome states that I have never been to and I get really jealous. One of my goals is to go to all 50 states before I die and so when they get to go to Baltimore or some place I've never been it's fun to look up hotels and restaurants for them. It has been a really good job because I work for 20 hours and week and still get my schooling finished.

Last summer I went home to Burley to live with the family and work. I ended up taking a babysitting job where I babysat four boys ages two to nine for eight hours a day . It was a good summer because I spent a lot of time with my family and I learned a ton about kids. I really learned to love those boys and I still miss them, but it was a tough job.

This summer I would have liked to go home and be with my family but there's no way with this economy that I would be able to find a good paying job in a small town. Since money is necessary in order to live and especially to go to school, I decided to stay in Provo for the summer and work full time. In order to work 40 hours a week I switched offices so my co-worker, Haley, and I could both work full time. I now work in a different building with different people but we still do HR work for OIT Engineering. I mainly do reception work now and I've really enjoyed the change of pace. I now work with 3 other students along with a supervisor and they have been really good to me. They are all super fun and I enjoy the social office. Right now the plan is for me to go back to my former job in the fall and work part time again.

I am really looking forward to this summer. I think it will be really good to work and then have the evening to relax and do anything but school work. The last time I was here for the summer was really great and I met a lot of awesome people. Hopefully this summer will be the same. There is also a lot of fun stuff planned for this summer too. My family is going on an Alaskan cruise in June together and I can't wait. I also got accepted to be in the Hill Cumorah Pageant in July so I'm looking forward that too.

Another Semester Complete

2009-04-24T13:40:00.004-06:00

It's crazy to me that I just finished my second year at BYU. It seems like only months ago when my parents brought me down to Provo. It was only the second time that I had been here and I was not happy to be going to school so soon after graduating from Declo High. I had gotten my immunization shots the day before and stayed up the majority of the night hanging out with my friends one last time, so I didn't feel so hot. When we first got to Provo we unpacked my things in the dorm and I attended the new student orientation. I can just remember how overwhelming that campus felt in the June heat and crying myself to sleep that night because I was convinced I could never do it and I had made a mistake. But I'm still here...alive...two years later. I have learned so much these past two years. Not only have I learned a lot in my classes and from amazing professors, but I've learned so much from the incredible people I've met with so many different backgrounds, and so much from the experiences I've had and the jobs I've held, and so much about dealing different people and personalities, and I've learned so much about myself and what I can actually accomplish. When I got accepted to BYU I had no desire to go here and I didn't think I would, but now that I'm here I realize this is where I needed to be. I know that there is no way that I could have gotten one job, passed one class, or met any of these amazing people without the help from my Heavenly Father. I am so grateful to be given so many opportunities in my life that have made me who I am. I was presented great opportunities before college and for some reason they just keep coming. I have been so blessed throughout my life, I only hope that I can go out and do what of me because of it.