Mad Scientist Baby

When I hold mad scientist baby:


When Sarah holds mad scientist baby:

...I see how it is Anna haha

THE WHITE ENVELOPE CAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So last Thursday, April 15, I came home from work and rushed to the mailbox with Andrew. I opened the door...AND THERE IT WAS! The big white envelope I had waited for :) I couldn't wipe the smile off my face...and wished I didn't have to wait an hour until mom came home to open it. Well five o'clock came around and Mom, Dad, Sarah, Andrew, Anna, Deerwesters (on skype), Grandma & Grandpa Palmer, Nikki, Rachelle, Esther, Larry, Jon, and the exchange students were all gathered in the living room to hear the words:

TEXAS MCALLEN JULY 7TH SPANISH SPEAKING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Hahah I was laughing so hard. Never in a million years would I have guessed Texas. I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO excited though. I am happy with where I am going and have a good feeling about it. I think Heavenly Father knows I like surprises so He picked the last place I would ever think and go at the time I never expected...the day after my birthday. Good times...if you want to see a video, my sister Debbie took this one over skype:

http://deerwesters.blogspot.com/2010/04/marys-mission-call.html

haha at 5 seconds you can hear me ask Nikki "is Lyndee on the phone??" wayyyyy to go Lyndee.

C.S. Lewis

"At first, perhaps, you can understand what [God] is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof. . . . But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that . . . does not seem to make sense. . . . He is building quite a different
house from the one you thought of. . . . You thought you were going to be made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace."

MISSION PAPERS SUBMITTED

As of last night, my mission papers are submitted! I am SOOOOOOOOO EXCITED. I was a little nervous for the Stake President interview. I said a lot of stupid things to some of his questions :/ it is frustrating when you are nervous and can't express yourself how you want to... but he was nice and helped me to think about what I should be doing to prepare. He gave me some conference talks and the 2007 New Era magazine on preparing for a mission. I wish I could go back and talk to him and answer his questions now... but it doesn't matter because the questions were for my benefit anyway - not his. To prepare I am going to study Preach My Gospel like crazy! I also want to go out with the missionaries back home and give a Book of Mormon away. Oh and role play teaching more.

I'm excited to help others come unto Christ :) Nothing is better than that! What I will be looking forward to getting in the mail during the next two weeks:

I am NOT giving up.

Lately, all my friends that I have been talking to are giving up on going into Nursing. They have been wanting to do nursing since I have known them, but it has been hard for them to get into a program. They are switching to other careers...which is totally cool if that is what they want to do but I AM NOT GIVING UP. I know that is what I am supposed to be doing and what I want to be doing. Its the best of both worlds - SCIENCE and getting to be around people all the time...now if it was outdoors, it would be perfect. It is going to be hard. I am determined in this. I don't care how long it takes for me to get into a program, IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN! As they would say on Galaxy Quest - "NEVER SURRENDER, NEVER GIVE UP." haha

Not my teeth but they looked like these^^^

In other news I GOT MY WISDOM TEETH OUT!!!!!!!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! I have heard many horror stories so I was a bit apprehensive walking to the dentist. Everything went great though! Thank you for your prayers, it worked :) I know God hears them that is for sure. My wonderful angel of a roommate Lyndee picked me up afterward and made me pudding :) Mmm I love pudding...but I sure do miss my vegetables...two days is too long to go without them. It has been hard for me to stay inside and stay in bed. That is the worst for me. I want to go run and get my homework done but my swollen mouth and cheeks tell me otherwise. IN TWO WEEKS I CAN TURN MY PAPERS IN!!!!!! OH YEAH.

Well I am going to go back to bed. I hope I don't get an infection or dry socket - please oh please oh please just heal well!

Pathophysiology

Sometimes I study so much I want to cry because of exhaustion. Haha but I think I'm over that phase now and on to silliness because of lack of sleep. It is my fault though. I played all last weekend - hiking and going to Relief Society things. I just need to remember WORK before PLAY! Pathophysiology is the hardest class I've ever taken. SO MUCH MATERIAL - SO LITTLE TIME...but it is definitly interesting. My favorite word from tonight's study session (yes I spent all friday night studying) was - ESOPHAGOGASTRODUODENOSCOPY. Cool eh? Okay it is time for bed. I will have sweet dreams about hiatial hernias, gall stones, and jaundice :)

Oh yeah! I had my missionary physical today... and we are good to go!!!! Healthy as an OX! Haha well good enough to go anyway. Next thursday I get two cavities filled and three wisdom teeth out at the dentist. OH BOY it is going to be a fun time haha but its free after insurance... who can pass that up? Yay for Idaho cheapness. After all that dental work is done then I can meet with the bishop and stake president and turn them in!!!!!!!! SO EXCITED!

All in all, life is challenging but good :) soooooooo good. I've got a SUPERB Heavenly Father, an AWESOME FAMILY and sweet friends. What more do you need?

Watch this...

"You've been talking to the Mormon's haven't you?!" haha

Live for right here, right now :)

If we always have a theoretically better substitute available from somebody or someplace else, we will never make the most of anything.

There is no time like the present! Can't waste it on wishing you were somewhere else with someone else - have the BEST DAY EVERY DAY! Woooooooooooooooooooo!

V-day cookies

Sometimes I can't say no to a free cookie. Even though I will get bad gas and maybe a headache (because of the gluten) and spike my blood sugar way up... sometimes it is worth it. Especially when they are in pretty heart shapes :) Thank you BYU - Idaho Bookstore for the free DELICIOUS - MELT IN YOUR MOUTH - cookie!

HIKES: TO DO BEFORE MISSION

This is my "to do" list of adventures before I leave on my mission. Anyone is welcome :)

1. Mt. St. Helens - 9 miles rt - Day Hike

2. Hurricane Ridge (Klahhane Ridge) - 5 miles rt - Day Hike


To be continued...

Three weeks down...

It is officially three weeks into the semester. I feel like I'm back in the school groove again :) Time flies while I'm here at school. Days go by so quickly - always doing homework or studying! Here is my daily schedule if you are really bored haha:

6:00am - Roll out of bed, put on my byui workout clothes and head to the gym (which is conveniently right across the street!)
7:30am - Go home, change, eat a GLUTEN free breakfast
8:00am - Walk to the Hart building and grab an empty couch and do some scripture study
8:45am - Head to the McKay library (where the comphy chairs are :)) and read my Pathophysiology book
11:30am - Go to Book of Mormon for Prospective Missionaries
1:00pm - Head to the newly remodeled dining area and eat my lunch (today I packed broccoli/cheddar/potato soup and carrots)... there was a jazz band playing while everyone ate, that was fun
1:30pm - back to the library for more homework/studying...probably Pathophysiology
3:15pm - either Advanced Writing or my Pathophysiology class
5:30pm - GO HOME! take my time and make some dinner, talk with my roommates :)
7:00pm - depending on the day we might have FHE or a bishop interview or go to the library for homework... or if I'm REALLY LUCKY and ahead in my classes - NIGHT SNOWBOARDING!
10:00pm - BED TIME!

Exciting life I lead? haha I love it, life is good. Getting up early and working out is one of the best things in the world!!!! I feel SO GOOD!

I got to go to my friend Erika's farewell last Sunday. She is going to be a great missionary. I am excited for her to go to Spokane! Speaking of which I have an appointment with my Bishop this Sunday so hopefully I can start working on my papers!!! Woop woop!

I miss little Anna and Andrew!!! Sarah you better not let them grow up too much before I come home. Oh and I got the CUTEST letter from Kylie the other day :D I LOVED it!!!!! A package will be on the way :) And I owe basically everyone a phone call - it will happen I promise!!!! Probably on Saturday or Sunday.

Important Lesson

Somebody always has it worse. I used to think that I had a lot of homework - a lot to study... but I definitely DID NOT!!!! Pathophysiology is kicking my butt and its only the SECOND WEEK!!!! I spend four hours a day and still don't get enough studying in for that class.

I can tell tempurature...

When I walk outside and my nose hairs instantly freeze into icicles...

I know it is below zero haha.

First Day

Well I'm back in the BURG. At first I drove up and was like "oh dang I'm officially back and it is weird." It has been a couple days though and I'm adjusting - getting back into the swing of things here.

Today was the first day of classes. I got to my first class right as it was ending. I thought my schedule said it started at 12:30... but it actually started at 11:30. Haha sometimes I think maybe I'm too spacey to be in college. I just laughed and went to talk to my teacher to tell him that I actually DO want to be in his class, so he wouldn't drop me. Pathophysiology is going to be a really interesting class, but, also very hard. I'm nervous for the tests. FAITH NOT FEAR! If I am prepared I won't have anything to worry about! I think that is in the D&C somewhere?

It has been hard not to have Steph and Nicki here but my roommates are sooooooooo nice and awesome and fun and put up with me - it is going to be a good semester :)

"The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we hit it."
-Michelangelo