Goodbye 2010....

WARNING: LONG AND SENTIMENTALLY NOSTALGIC BLOG POST AHEAD.
2010 was a big year. So many monumental events took place this year and all the little things were important too. Looking back, I can't believe all the things that have happened this year. I started a blog, turned eighteen, graduated from seminary, I graduated from high school, crushed on boys, had an amazing summer, spent lots of time in the outdoors, had my very last year at Cedar Badge, laughed, smiled, cried, and moved to Logan for my freshman year of college. Let's take a looksie with some pictures:

This was the very first picture of 2010..quite flattering.

I took at trip to the State Capitol with one of my best friends and one of my favorite teachers. We ruled Boise.

I was published in two local magazines.

I got an A on my senior project, the last step to graduating.

I spoke at the First Annual Seminary Fireside and cried my eyes out. The next week, I cooked ten pounds of beef for the Seminary Barbacue. I miss Seminary Council.

I turned eighteen and the next day, I went to my last high school dance with one of my best friends.


I graduated high school. Because I was a senior class officer, I sat on stage alongside some of my best friends.

I had my last and greatest year of Cedar Badge. Ever.

I scarred my leg. Isn't it a beaut?
I went on epic camping trips with my best friends and my family.


I started my freshmen year of college.
One of my best friends left on his mission, the first to go and change our group.

Ky came home from his mission in November.
I got closer with my roommates, met new people, had many adventures in my apartment, and fell in love with Logan.

2010 was a great year, really. One of the best I've ever had. I'll never forget the things that happened this year but it will be exciting to see what the next year holds for me. I know my Father lives, and I know that my brother Jesus Christ lives. I know that I've been blessed with something great. That I've haven't been given the trials that others have endured and that I'll receive trials that will be harder for me than for others because our Father knows what we can endure. My Father loves me. I've really begun to grasp that this year as I been through certain experiences and learned different lessons and received answers. The Church is true, oh so true. Do not let doubt and fear creep into your hearts when you know that your Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love you and watch out for you. There is a plan set out for all of us and it is up to us to make the right decisions that will lead us to our happiest life. I hope you've had a wonderful holiday and I know great things are in store for all of us. Have a happy new year.

"We can never have a new beginning but we can always have a new ending."

Ba-Ba-Ba-Bangs

I got a haircut! Super interesting blog post right? I'm just really happy with my new bangs. They probably look the same to everyone else but if you haven't seen me for two weeks, then you haven't seen that my bangs were beginning to resemble this. Not joking. They were B-A-D. Headbands were becoming a daily ritual because it was the only way to tame this hot mess. After I got my haircut, my mom even said, "Look! You have eyes!" Anyways, I know you were all riveted by that piece of priceless literature up there. Let's look at my new camera.

Isn't a beauty? I'm in love really.


I'm Randi and someday I'm going to go through my blog and delete the random/insane/weird posts. Just like this one.

Had Myself A Very Lazy Christmas...

Christmas was wonderful, honestly. I felt like I needed to cram in some holiday cheer the whole week of Christmas because I was just feeling so Bah Humbug after finals and everything that had gone on in the month of December. A few weeks before I went home, I was struggling. I cried buckets. I remember thinking that this was probably one of the hardest December's I've ever had. But that all magically disappeared when I got home and it was the week before Christmas. The weird thing about Christmas, is that the older you get the faster is comes. Not quite sure how I feel about that.
Back in grade school, when asked about their favorite holiday, kids would always say, "My favorite holiday is Christmas." I didn't want to be like everyone else so I throw out something like Thanksgiving or the Fourth of July. I love those two holidays, but I have a secret special love for Christmas. I love the music. I love that everyone is super nice to each other and strangers tell each other "Happy Holidays" just on the streets. I love the way my Christmas tree looks at night. I love all the decorations. I love that for one month of the year, most of the world is religiously centered on Christ, or that feeling of Christ-like love. I feel like I've put off this post about the holiday because subconsciously, I feel like once I post it, it's over. I'm a sap about Christmas that way. I'm that kid who feels like crying the night of Christmas because it's almost over. I don't know how many Christmases I'll have left at home. But this Christmas holiday was purely wonderful and instead of going into great detail of everything we've done because I'm purely lazy and haven't blogged for days, I'll just list it off.
-Went to the new Chronicles of Narnia with the family. I enjoyed it and as always, there were wonderful bits of actual advice from that lovely lion, Aslan. I want one. I wouldn't mind seeing more of Prince Caspian too.
-Had Christmas Eve at my grandparents' house. Ever since Ky left for his mission, we started having our family get together the night before Christmas since we would be waiting around on Christmas day for a phone call. This year was wonderful. I got some beautiful baking pans and a slow cooker/crock pot. Jayden, my cousin's little boy, was running around, asking if he could help open presents, and of course we all let him because we dote on the younger boys.
-Christmas morning, I ran around and woke up brothers. Cheeko was a little less than enthused and Ky obligingly and dutifully got up. Our parents and Santa spoiled us like no other. Seriously. I got clothes, perfume, jewlery, a Domo DVD, a compilation of Jane Austen's seven novels, a capo, and so many beautifully nice things. I got a beautiful new purse (I think it's lovely at least)and drum roll please..........a new CAMERA. I'm very very very excited about this gift and I can't wait to start taking more pictures with it. Caaaaaan't wait. We had dinner with my grandparents and the missionaries came over that night and played games with us. That night I sat in the dark and looked at our beautifully lighted tree like I try to do every year. As I sat and looked at the beautiful lights, the verse from "Oh Little Town of Bethlehem" popped into my head, "The hopes and fears of all the years, are met in Thee tonight."
-We've watched many movies during Christmas break and all of them I've loved. Among the list are Despicable Me, The A Team, and Inception.
-Yesterday, I went snowmobiling with my brother and Dad. There was like four inches of powder where we went. SO MUCH SNOW.


I hope you all had a magical holiday.


I'm Randi...and I feel like I missed something.

O Christmas Tree...

Christmas Memories: Every year, my brothers and I get a new ornament. We've gotten one each year since we've been born. They range from silly cartoon characters, to snowmen and Santas, to mice performing various tasks, and hobbies that we've all had. I have many dancing ornaments, Ky's got plenty of fishing ornaments, and Cheeko's ranges. This year, I got a graduation ornament, Ky got a missionary riding a bicycle, and Cheeko got a moose riding a snow machine (or snow mobile for my non-Idaho people). Since we've been in our current house and had a finished basement, we've put the fancy tree upstairs and the kid tree downstairs.

Cheeko Turns Fifteen...

Today was this precious child's birthday. That's right, remember my baby? He turned fifteen. I don't really know how he got so old because I remember him being a chubby cheeked little boy with feather soft hair. Now he's huge. When I say huge, I mean that the little brother isn't little anymore. Makes me a little sad. I don't think I'm going to be able to let him go on a mission because I might just die. Not that I'm dramatic or anything. He gets his height and dark brown eyes from Dad, his softness from Mom, his love of technology from Kyle and that quirky, weirdness....yeah, that's all me.




Christmas Memories: Cheeko was born on the 22nd of December and came home on Christmas Eve. I remember vacuuming with my Grandma the night that Cheeko came home. She had the vacuum and I followed her around with our toy that we always thought was a vacuum because as Grandma said, "We have to get this house nice and clean for our Christmas baby."



I'm Randi and I have a soft spot for my little brother.

Oh, Bing...

Christmas Memories: Have you ever seen this? It's one of my favorite holiday movies. Bing Crosby was such a stud. And Holiday Inn has "White Christmas" in it. Plus Fred Astaire. Anyways, I just love this movie. Last year I introduced it to my friend Bee. This year E and I sat down in our apartment one night and watched it. We changed into PJ's, grabbed blankets and pillows, turned off all the lights except for the Christmas tree and flopped down onto our couch so I could proceed to show her one of the best holiday shows. Ever. Unless you don't like singing or tap-dancing, then you just might be out of luck.



I'm Randi and I have a crush on Bing Crosby.

I Didn't Get December...

I didn't get a month of December. Or at least that's what it feels like. I feel like I just spent so much time worrying, cleaning, freaking out, and studying for finals. I can't believe that Christmas is on SATURDAY. Good thing I've had my Christmas presents bought and wrapped since the first week of December. It's so crazy to think of how things are changing. So many people from our graduating class are engaged or married. I went to my first friend bridal shower last week and it was strange to realize that I'm old enough to get married. Mature enough no, but old enough yes. I can't believe that I'm halfway done with my freshmen year of college. When I was in high school, college was just that thing that sat in my future. I was going to college, no questions asked. But a part of me thought that maybe college was too hard for me. That I would go for a year and be done but now I'm starting my second semester and it's been hard but manageable. It'll probably be better next semester if I study in the library more instead of "studying at home" which consists of laying on the floor with my books open, talking to my roommates. Not quite productive. I really have no idea why I wrote this post. It bounces from one subject to another without anything really important being mentioned. Whatever.

Christmas Memories: There was one time back when I was probably around six or seven and we still lived in our house in Rexburg. I'd just woken up on Christmas morning and I'd crawled down the hall to our living room. I just sat behind the couch for the longest time, not even peeking at the presents or the tree. Then I heard a sound, and to this day I'm not even sure what it was, but I flew back to my bed faster than the speed of light. Not even kidding. I'm not sure why I ran, because it's not like I was unwrapping presents or anything, but I just jumped back into my bed, heart pounding, and I waited till everyone else got up.


I'm Randi and I feel like Scrooge.

I Came Home For Christmas...

I'm home for Christmas.
I couldn't be happier. I love the feeling I get when I cross the Idaho/Utah border. It puts a smile on my face even though I know I still have two more hours of driving.
Yesterday did not go as planned. I was sick so I pretty much stayed in bed all day, studied, packed, and watched Hulu. I had one more final this morning and I was totally peeved completely indifferent that I had to stick around till Friday. I got up, studied, went and took my final (I got a B, which is fine by me, I'll take that) and I went and took a Math Placement Test that I passed. Score. On my way home I got to talk to a cute boy. Double score. Then I got to hop into my car (after a brief adventure with my ice scraper) and hit the road.
Guess what was waiting for me? I love letters from friends.

Merry Christmas.

Christmas Memories: I love waking up early on Christmas morning. One year, I woke up at four o' clock and read this. Now that I'm older than ten a little more "mature" my parents think that we should sleep in on Christmas morning. B-L-A-S-P-H-E-M-Y. (I bargained for eight thirty this year). Back to the memory. I love waking up my little brother, especially when he was younger and all bright eyed on Christmas. I loved waking him up and whispering that it was Christmas and seeing his cute little round face rise with a grin. Now I have to jump/shake like an earthquake/beat/pummel with a pillow gently shake him a few times to get him to arise from the slumber of the dead. But I'll do it every year (excluding when he's married of course).



I'm Randi and I'm home for Christmas.

Get Your Ugly On...

O4: All Because Five People Fell In Love
So...last week was the O4 Ugly Sweater/Bring Your Own Mug Christmas party. It was a blast. There was a multitude of funny mugs, ugly sweaters, great people, and lots and lots of cookies and hot chocolate. We even played the Blanket Game! What is the Blanket Game? It is possibly one of the silliest, stupidest and most fun games ever invented! All you need is a whole bunch of blankets, one chair, and people. You split up into two teams (we did boys vs. girls). One team goes off into another room while the remaining team puts players under the blanket and are allowed to use one chair as a prop. The other team will come back into the room when summoned and they have to guess how many people are under the blanket. It gets insanely fun, sometimes hot, and very competitive. Sounds ridiculous, but trust me on how fun it is.
We had a great time with our neighbors and it just made me appreciate how much I love my roommates that much more. We have such a fun time with each other and we all get along so well. It also made me appreciate where I live. My apartment neighbors and my ward are just so great. I can't believe how well things have worked out here and I'm so glad that I live where I live. I hear some people talk about how much they hate their roommates, or how they never get along, or the people who live in places where there's only four apartments in a building and I just can't imagine myself living anywhere else. We have so many hilarious, nice, crazy, sweet, thoughtful, fun people all around us and it's like having a whole ward of siblings and friends. I really don't believe people when they say that if you don't live on campus, you miss out on a lot. Because come on, does it look like we're missing out on anything?

The group pictures were taken from inside our microwave...we're so inventive.







This picture pretty much describes everything you need to know about our apartment...


I'm Randi, I live in O4, and I'm rockin' it.

I Will Not Sink...

For the past few weeks I have been susceptible to the whisperings of doubt. To that nagging question in my ear of, "Can you really do this? Can you actually succeed? Look at what you're not achieving. Look at other people, achieving your goals. Is there any hope for you?" It's a terrible habit, a difficult thing to fight. I think that the adversary knows this is something I struggle with. He knows my self doubt is my strongest weakness and sometimes I let it get the best of me. When I begin to struggle, I do the best I know how. I avoid looking at the mirror. I read my scriptures and my patriarchal blessing. I spend time on my knees and I carry prayers in my heart. I read words of apostles and prophets.
I'm feeling better

“My message to you today, my brothers and sisters, is simply this: the Lord is in control. He knows the end from the beginning. He has given us adequate instruction that, if followed, will see us safely through any crisis. His purposes will be fulfilled, and someday we will understand the eternal reasons for all of these events. Therefore, today we must be careful to not overreact, nor should we be caught up in extreme preparations; but what we must do is keep the commandments of God and never lose hope!”-M. Russell Ballard, “The Joy of Hope Fulfilled,” Ensign, Nov. 1992, 31

"I wonder if you sisters fully understand the greatness of your gifts and talents and how all of you can achieve the 'highest place of honor' in the Church and in the world. One of your unique, precious, and sublime gifts is your femininity, with its natural grace, goodness, and divinity. Femininity is not just lipstick, stylish hairdos, and trendy clothes. It is the divine adornment of humanity. It finds expression in your qualities of your capacity to love, your spirituality, delicacy, radiance, sensitivity, creativity, charm, graciousness, gentleness, dignity, and quiet strength. It is manifest differently in each girl or woman, but each of you possesses it. Femininity is part of your inner beauty.

"One of your particular gifts is your feminine intuition. Do not limit yourselves. As you seek to know the will of our Heavenly Father in your life and become more spiritual, you will be far more attractive, even irresistible. You can use your smiling loveliness to bless those you love and all you meet, and spread great joy. Femininity is part of the God-given divinity within each of you. It is your incomparable power and influence to do good. You can, through your supernal gifts, bless the lives of children, women, and men. Be proud of your womanhood. Enhance it. Use it to serve others."-James E. Faust, "Womanhood: The Highest Place of Honor," Ensign, May 2000, 96

"Turn to the Lord. Exercise all of the faith you have in Him. Let Him share your burden. Allow His grace to lighten your load."-Donald L. Hallstrom, "Turn to the Lord," Ensign, May 2010, 80

“All you have to do is trust your Heavenly Father. Trust Him enough to follow His plan.”-Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Your Happily Ever After,” Ensign, May 2010, 127

“No matter the burdens we face in life as a consequence of natural conditions, the misconduct of others, or our own mistakes and shortcomings, we are all children of a loving Heavenly Father, who sent us to earth as part of His eternal plan for our growth and progress. Our unique individual experiences can help us prepare to return to Him. The adversity and afflictions that are ours, however difficult to bear, last, from heaven’s perspective, for ‘but a small moment; and then, if [we] endure it well, God shall exalt [us] on high.’ We must do everything we can to bear our burdens “well” for however long our ‘small moment’ carrying them lasts.”-L. Whitney Clayton, “That Your Burdens May Be Light,” Ensign, Nov. 2009, 13

(Even though I'm not ready to be married...this makes me feel better on the whole dating situation)
"Men, if you have returned from your mission and you are still following the boy-girl patterns you were counseled to follow when you were 15, it is time for you to grow up. Gather your courage and look for someone to pair off with. Start with a variety of dates with a variety of young women, and when that phase yields a good prospect, proceed to courtship. It's marriage time. That is what the Lord intends for His young adult sons and daughters. Men have the initiative, and you men should get on with it. If you don't know what a date is, perhaps this definition will help. I heard it from my 18-year-old granddaughter. A 'date' must pass the test of three p's: (1) planned ahead, (2) paid for, and (3) paired off. "Young women, resist too much hanging out, and encourage dates that are simple, inexpensive, and frequent. Don't make it easy for young men to hang out in a setting where you women provide the food. Don't subsidize freeloaders. An occasional group activity is OK, but when you see men who make hanging out their primary interaction with the opposite sex, I think you should lock the pantry and bolt the front door. . . . "My single young friends, we counsel you to channel your associations with the opposite sex into dating patterns that have the potential to mature into marriage, not hanging-out patterns that only have the prospect to mature into team sports like touch football. Marriage is not a group activity—at least, not until the children come along in goodly numbers."
-Dallin H. Oaks, "Dating versus Hanging Out," Ensign, June 2006, 13-14


To think that my Savior was born in a barn, a lowly resting place for a King. He could have been born in a palace but instead he was born in a stable, to His loving mother, Mary. It's my constant thought throughout Christmas.



I will not sink.

Week Before Finals..

So it's the week before finals and I will admit that I'm more than a little...shall we say freaking out about a few of them. I had one this week and I was in my seat for a total of twelve minutes. Easy as pie. But the others? Eh. We shall see. On a lighter note, tonight is the O4 Ugly Sweater/Bring Your Own Mug party! I cannot wait to take some pictures and post them. Basically, this post is just to fill up time while I take a break from quadratic equations and the carbon cycle.

A few of my favorite things lately:

My milk jug.

My mug for the party.

Christmas pictures across the internet.



My favorite Christmas song this year? "I'll Be Home For Christmas" by Harry Connick Jr. Wonder why?