Oh Admiral!

Exactly one month from today I will be finished interning.

From now until then I want to capture Admiral moments.

Reasons why Admiral is a great leader:

1. He forgives me when I make mistakes.

2. He is very gracious and thanks me for everything I do.

3. He compliments my ensembles and tells me when I look pretty!

Clownin' Around

Last week I managed to go running once. I'm really not motivated this winter. I sort of hate the frigid temperatures! I run with my dear friend Anna after work. At 5 pm we promptly change out of our tights/nylons into running tights to brave the NYC cold. Well, I forgot to pack my running tights, so I walked out in shorts and my legs were glowing. Anna was worried that I would get frost bite, so she kindly encouraged me to put my pink tights back on. I was reluctant, but didn't want to freeze my petooties off, so I changed again. I was a hot mess. Nate's Houston Rocket's sweater (a couple sizes too large), my blue BYU-I shorts (super unattractive), a lovely shade of magenta tights, and yellow neon running shoes. Phew! I don't know what was worse, my magenta tights or my white legs. I opted for magenta.

We enter the park. I told Anna I felt like a clown! Though, it isn't unusual for people to wear random colors and hideous outfits. (For instance, Mr. Man/speed walker on first Ave. thinks it is okay to wear his thong leo with fish net tights all year long. SO NOT OKAY!) 5 miles. Check.

Then, the commute home from UWS to UES. Should I have changed back into my skirt? Yes. Did I? NO. I proceeded to use public transportation in my clown outfit. I wasn't ashamed. Though, I joked with Anna that I was one of those "What is that person thinking?" people that others discretely take pictures of. We laughed.

Taken July 2010 at the Statue of Liberty
Woman wearing a Skort. Mickey Mouse watch. Wild hair that I never wanted to forget. oh, and a Bow!

Forward to this week. We ran once. I was decked out in Nike from head to toe and even had on my Brooklyn Half shirt. Anna told me I looked official. My inner runner (jogger now a days) was very proud.

Field Trip

A good book is the precious lifeblood of a master spirit,
embalmed and treasured up on purpose to a life beyond life.

To the NYC Public Library

When I grow up...

I want to be a librarian so that I can wear glasses
and read children's books all day!

Quite unlike this.Completely like this.

From Then to Now

I love this picture because it encompasses our story of BYU-Idaho, love, and the beauty of rural Rexburg. So many memories come to mind: the temple dedication, firsts, nightly strolls through campus, moments in the gardens, our engagement, and the daily grind of student life. As I am still a student, I often miss being there. I don't miss the winters! I'll tell you that right now. This picture just reminds me of where I've been and the good times.
This is what I get to experience now. My internship brings me here every day. I love it! I know that this experience is going to go by in the blink of an eye, in a New York minute really. For now, I'm getting used to the daily commute to the West Side, taking sneak peeks into the Julliard dance studio across the street (secretly wishing I was up there dancing!), laughing with the other interns, grazing on mini candy bars that are overflowing at the office, and warming my belly with soup from Europan for lunch every day. These are the little things that are making the winter bearable for me this year. It's officially been a year since I started school online. I know I'll look back on my schooling one day and be glad that I did it. In the NOW, Nate is surviving busy season and I'm loving the 9-5 world. In the FUTURE: Two semesters left. Mom is coming in April and friends and family are coming in June! Lots to look forward to.

Follow Up Post

I have to admit that I was much more excited about the finale of Americas Next Top Model for cycle 11 than I am for the Twilight movie that everyone is hyping about. I read the first book, and it was good, but I'm pretty much an ANTM fan. I'm a geek what can I say! Even with Tyras over the topness I enjoyed this season. McKey won! She looks like a model for sure, but I wanted Sam to win because she wanted it so bad! Sam was runner up. Analeigh was gorgeous, but they told her to pursue an acting career, even though she messed up her commercial terribly. Anyway, that's a wrap with the models.

I saw the Rockettes! It was so much fun and it made me miss tap and jazz and ballet so much! Nate bought the tickets for us, but then ended up having to stay late at the office, so I took a friend from the ward. So Mindy and I, and Michael and Shannon Thornton went on a double date! (Thanks Shannon for the idea!) It definitely got me into the Christmas spirit! They even had live animals for the Nativity scene...a camel, donkey, and sheep. Pretty nifty! I couldn't find a video of my favorite number, but it was scene 9: The Holiday Greeting Card. Lots of pretty lifts by the "background dancers and singers" in the show...kinda funny that my favorite number didn't include the Rockettes themselves. All of their numbers were fun! And there were tons of cool special effects in the show including 3D glasses, snow, and a real ice skating rink on the stage. It was a great show and I wish I could have shared it with Nathan, but I'm glad I got to take Mindy. I actually visit teach her, and Nate home teaches her. I couldn't think of a more perfect way to share a christmas message with her than through music and dance because that is what I love so much. The only not so fun part of the night was standing waiting for the bus in the cold, and then getting hit by the back door of the bus when I was trying to get off. We all had a good laugh at that, even some random kid on the street laughed at me, but I was frozen.

On another note. As it is Grattitude month, I wanted to share a bit of grattitude for all of our wonderful friends. I know that Nathan and I have been truly blessed to have great friends no matter where we go. I recieved a few phone calls and e-mails this week that let me know that the Lord has blessed us with people in our lives that will help us to grow. My friend Lauren Davies has been in Jerusalem for the past couple of months and she has sent out an e-mail each week telling all about her adventures and experiences there. (She just recently got her mission call to the Toronto Canada East mission--the same mission that my mom served. kinda cool side note.)In her last e-mail she shared a few songs from a 1970s hymn book and this one was very touching to me:

Hymn 293-Each Life That Touches Ours for Good
"Each life that touches ours for good Reflects thine own great mercy, Lord; Thou sendest blessings from above Thru words and deeds of those who love. What greateer gift dost thou bestow, What greater goodness can we know Than Christ-like friends, whose gentle ways Strengthen our faith, enrich our days. When such a friend from us departs, We hold forever in our hearts A sweet and hallowed memory, Bringing us nearer, Lord, to thee. For worthy friends whose lives proclaim Devotion to the Savior's name, Who bless our days with peace and love, We praise thy goodness, Lord above."

There is another song that shares a similar message that I've been wanting to post for some time so here is just a snip-it from the song "For Good" from the broadway musical Wicked. I have always loved this song and I have many special memories attached to it.

"I've heard it said that people come into our lives for a reason, bringing something we must learn.And we are led to those who help us most to grow, If we let them and we help them in return.Well, I don't know if I believe that's true, but I know I'm who I am today because I knew you...It well may be that we will never meet again in this lifetime, so let me say before we part,so much of me is made of what I learned from you.You'll be with me like a handprint on my heart. And now whatever way our stories end, I know you have re-written mine by being my friend...Because I knew you...I have been changed for good."

Next week our friends Luck and Charlene will be returning back to Idaho. Luke's internship has come to an end and we are so sad to see them go, but we are just grateful that we've been able to get to know them well. We will be sharing Thanksgiving with them and some others, so stay tuned for those pictures. We're hoping to make it to the Macys Thanksgiving Day parade. It should be fun, and freezing! It's definitely winter weather here already!

Good Times!

We haven't posted in a while because we've both been busy for once!! I started work at Gap about a week ago and I've been getting a full time load there as a part timer. It's nice because it keeps me busy since Nate has been working late in New Jersey the past couple of weeks. He usually gets off around 11 and then it takes about a half hour to commute back to Manhattan by taxi. Once in a while we get to leave for work together in the mornings and it is really nice to leave together, ride the bus together and then I get off one stop before he does on the subway. We've spent a lot of time with our friends Luke and Charlene! They are fellow BYU-Idahoans out here for Luke's internship. We will be sad when they go back to Idaho soon after Thanksgiving. My brother Donny told Luke that he has to find us replacement friends for when they leave. Really we have been very blessed to make friends with ward members and to live in such a great neighborhood since we both get off work pretty late. We are enjoying the fall weather here and looking forward to the Holiday season in New York City. Christmas is going to be a little different this year because it is just going to be the two of us here in the city! We will make it special nonetheless. Not too much has been going on though. We are still adjusting to the city and our new home! Well, I guess Nate has adjusted fine, but I'm still having to talk myself into loving it here everyday. It's a choice! We really enjoyed conference this year. I was starving for spiritual nourishment and it was just what I needed. There were lots of wonderful talks this time. I especially liked Elder Neil Anderson's titled "You Know Enough" and President Monson's titled "Finding Joy in the Journey!" Elder Anderson said, " Faith is not only a feeling it is a decision!" Indeed it is, and this move has been a big leap of faith for us but we are moving forward with faith and trying to enjoy the journey! And by the way, we are ready for visitors at any time!!!

Some random pictures from New York last April. Nate flew me and my mom out to New York for Easter. We got to meet his parents on this trip. Nate was there for his internship. He did awesome and they offered him a job to work for them in the Fall after he graduates. He accepted it and we will be moving to NYC in the fall! Crazy!