The Quote Box--Today I am exhausted.

“ I love to sleep. Do you? Isn’t it great? It really is the best of both worlds. You get to be alive and unconscious. ”

— Rita Rudner (via kari-shma) (via quote-book)

(courtesy of accidentally on purpose♥) 

We call you "bug" for a reason...

I guess a little background is appropriate.

After we dropped Stephie and Deruda off at school, the Cita took a left turn on a busy road. 

(she doesn't like left turns onto busy roads)  

I always tease her, squeeze her cheeks and tell her how proud I am of her.

Bug likes this.

She thinks it is hilarious and laughs quite a bit...every morning.

This morning she added this comment in the midst of her laughter:

Bug: You know Aliswan, when...I mean, IF you ever get married your kids are going to think you are awesome...that, or they will be really, really embarrassed.

Aliswan:  Gee, thanks bug, you're real sweet.

Bug: Notice how I changed 'when' to 'if you ever get married'? (followed by loud and obnoxious laughing)

Aliswan: Yes, bug I did, thanks for your unfailing support.

So, I just finished my last 2 quizzes before my midterm tomorrow.  As of tomorrow my class is half-done.
Getting closer!!!

Weak Sauce--I am weak sauce.

For those of you who are wondering how the running/swimming training is going...well it isn't.  Unless, of course, you count the fact that I am drowning in statistical formulas and vocabulary.  

The good news?  If I'm able to finish according to plan I will be done with my lessons in two weeks, study for my final, and be DONE with the class in 3 weeks.  

The statistical probability of that happening apparently is uncomputable due to the lack of repeated simple random samples of all the possible outcomes of repeated observations.  But, if I did have a sample space consisting of the random phenomenon of all possible outcomes, the probability of me completing the class would be:

P(A) = count of outcomes in an event of interest / count of outcomes in the sample space

(where P is the Probability that A (the event of interest) will occur)

I could give you deviations, derivatives, slopes, percentages, means, z-scores, intercepts, and who knows what else, but lets pass on that for today.

See?  I am doing my homework.

♥ Tender Mercies--Answers to Prayers ♥

I have been struggling lately...I know, I know, I have said this before.  Lately I have been unfortunate to find that often when others don't feel they have control in their own lives, they deem it necessary to try to control yours.  They question your decisions, motives and personal revelation.

Apparently my life is not up to the standard others believe is necessary.

I won't go into the list of whys but I think I should say that every action I am and have taken has been through personal reflection, ceaseless prayer, and the strongest personal revelation I have ever received in my life.

I guess that with such strong spiritual manifestations comes the strongest of opposition.

So last night as I was praying, and trying to deal with the judgmental comments and actions of others, I read these verses in the Doctrine and Covenants chapter 64.

I bookmarked it with a paper crane, because I can make those now. :)

29. Wherefore, as ye are agents, ye are on the Lord's errand; and whatever ye do according to the will of the Lord is the Lord's business.

30. And he hath set you to provide for his saints in these last days, that they may obtain an inheritance in the land of Zion.

31. And behold, I, the Lord, declare unto you, and my words are sure and shall not fail, that they shall obtain it.

32. But all things must come to pass in their time.

33. Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work.  And out of small things proceedeth that which is great.

34. Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind; and the willing and obedient shall eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days.

 So I won't even try to explain how these verses answered my prayers.  The important thing is that my Father in Heaven answered my prayers, He loves me, and I'm doing what He wants me to.  

Yep, God loves us.

How could we ever think otherwise?

♥ ♥ ♥

Yeah that's a favorite

I realize that this photo is not perfect but I couldn't get a larger copy.  

I found it at nbc.com's daily photo gallery.

I just have to say,

I love the Olympics.

The Strange Familia(r)--BOOP!

So at the moment I am a complete basket case.  I just want the wait for...everything...to be over.  I kind of feel like I have placed all my eggs in one basket.  Despite my faith that I believe this is the right basket, it's still incredibly stressful knowing I've placed my future in someone else's hands...actually I think it is committee, but you catch my drift.

After an exceptionally long, sleepless night, followed by an exceptionally long, homework filled morning; I got to go home and take a nap and play with my little Widgie.  While her mommy put away the groceries, I kept Lizzie entertained by dropping a spoon.  Yep, that's all I did, and she thought it was hilarious.

GIGGLES!!! @ Yahoo! Video

So I spent a few minutes with the Widgie and erased hours of unrest and strain.
I love babies.
I can't wait to have my own
someday...

Break A Leg--My day off

I have been working pretty non-stop on my independent study class for the past week.  Hence the lack of posts and baking endeavors.  Wednesday, I finally finished the lessons for the first section of my course and was ready to take my exam on Thursday.  Unfortunately I forgot to request my exam, so I took my test yesterday (Friday).  This meant that I had Thursday off.  

So what do I do on my days off?  Well, I watch movies, read, and do origami.  Actually that was just Thursday.  I have always wanted to learn to fold paper awesomely but never have had the time.  So I did it on Thursday.  Here are a few of the results:

So overall, it was nice to have a day off.  I have been working incredibly hard and the break was nice.

Still waiting to hear back on grad school.  

Weak Sauce--2 miles and counting

So on Monday I did a 2 mile jog!!!  Probably the slowest 2 mile jog ever recorded, but it was 2 miles. :)  It's been a bit frustrating getting back into the swing of things.  Last semester I did 4 miles on my last run but then I got sick, had finals, got sick again...and again.  So after a long break, Otis is getting me up there again.  I'm trying to run at least every other day, and things are slowly getting better.  Thank goodness.

Checked the mailbox the other day and my letter of recommendation was in there from the Graduate Studies Office.  I have never had a letter like this, it was amazing to read and I blushed more than once.  

Still working on my Statistics Class.  I'm taking my first midterm (hopefully) tomorrow...maybe Friday, we'll see.  

So life is good...meaning it's continuing forward, and I'm moseying along through it!

The Mailbox

Hmmm....to check or not to check the mailbox.  After the "point of no return" day I reached a few days back, I've been thinking about the mailbox, and if or how often I should check it.  Sounds silly and a little ridiculous but here a current list of what I am waiting for in the mailbox:

1. An acceptance or rejection letter for grad school.
2. Acceptance and preparation packet for Syria field school 
3. Letter of Recommendation from the Graduate Studies Office (boy, that is a story in and of itself)

So there are the top 3 things that I'm waiting for.  2 that could possible change the direction of my life.  Not to be dramatic, but it's true.  Oh well, maybe I'll check the mail tomorrow. :)

Weak Sauce--The blister and the brother ♥

So I went running with Otis and company on Monday.  It's been awhile since I ran, thus the development of the blister on the arch of my left foot.  While I was running, I could definitely feel it forming, but I must say that I was surprised when I took off my shoe and found this puss filled beast in there.  I know it is puss-filled, because it popped last night, and there was puss literally squirting everywhere.  I hope no one eats while they read this.  

Well, the next day (Tuesday), I went for another run, and it was a bit excruciating.  Afterwards I was looking at old pictures on my computer and came across this baby:

Now, this picture was not taken by me...obviously.  My dad cannot take an in-focus picture to save his life.  I found it humbling that as I was thinking about the gross blister on my foot, I came across a picture of the little juan's foot when he was running in high school.  Yes, that disgusting, rotting looking thing taking up over 50% of my brother's foot is a blister.  It was so bad that they had to take him to the hospital.  And I thought my feet were bad when I was doing ballet.  So there is the humbling moment for this week.  

So I am trying to get my independent study statistics class done asap.  I'm making pretty good progress.  I figure that if I do about 3 lessons a day I can get the class done in just under a month.  That would be fabulous.  I'm a little behind but I think I can catch up...if I stop posting pictures on my blog of gross feet. :)  No, it's going pretty well.

The neatest thing about yesterday was that after the longest day ever (just doing homework) I got out of the car to see the whisper of a rainbow to end a very sunny day.  I tried to get a picture of it, it was really hard because it was so faint but here is the best, unedited shot.

It was very small but it was beautiful and made me happy.  

I really miss my brother today, I can't wait until he comes home from Peru.  I try not to think about him a ton because then I miss him and get sad.  When he was at college he would call me every other week asking my advice or just to talk.  So sometimes it is hard when I kind of expect a call and then realize that he can't call.  :(

It also didn't help that I came across a bunch of pictures of him yesterday from before the mission.  

Yes, I realize his eyes are closed and gum is falling out of his mouth, but the padre looks great. :)

I ♥ love ♥ that he is goofy and has big ears...yep, it's a favorite.

IT'S THAT ONE DAY...

There is this point when you are flying in an airplane, 'the point of no return', where you can no longer go back, you are committed to the path you have chosen.  Welcome to that point folks.  I have been preparing for this day for a very, very, very long time.  Today is the deadline for my grad school application and my Syria application.  My grad school stuff has been done for months but there is something significant about the fact that, as of today, I cannot look back.  I've chosen my path and made my commitment.  Moment of silence please for my possible horrendous mistake.....................................just kidding, it's the right thing, I'm just nervous whether I'm going to get in or not.

Last night I finished my Syria application.  I thought I would post a picture of it because it is a big deal for me.  So there you go, big day, and I am off to turn in my application, money, and whatever is left of my sanity.  Updates on what happens will most definitely follow.