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?

Three Pack...

My mom wanted a picture of the three of us on Thanksgiving. I don't think she got one where all three of us were serious (ignore my misbehaving hair in half these photos). Aren't my brothers adorable?
I wouldn't trade them for anything...the majority of the time anyways.

Frustration List...

Sometimes...
I get frustrated. Big surprise right?! Because I'm the first person in the history of the big wide world to get frustrated. Not. What's frustrating me? Let's look at the list (I'm a list oriented person but I'll make it short).
1. It seems like I study, study, study, for some of my tests and then I don't get a good grade on them. Yeah, I pass(eh...) but not with the score I would like.
2. I don't date. Not for a lack of trying you see, but I haven't been on a date since the end of September. I haven't been on a single date with anyone from Utah State and it's a little hard when my friends and roommates are going on dates and I'm home...cleaning.
3. Boys. They go right along with dating.
4. Working out. Enough said.
5. Just trying to figure out when I'm going to do with my life in the next five years.

But you know what else? Being frustrated just helps lead me to what I'm thankful and some minor solutions to my frustrations.
1. Today, I barely studied for my Human Development test. I got a 98% on it. That's right, I studied an hour before class and missed one question. Guess who doesn't have to take the final now?
2. There's not really a solution for this one because I don't really know how to fix it unless I start throwing myself on every cute boy in my path and brothers and sisters, I don't think that's the best way to get a date.
3. Boys...grmmff. All I can say is that I'm not playing the games anymore. I've dated boys who played the games and I'm done with all that. I left it behind me in high school and I'm not picking it up again. Yes, I'm interested in some boys but I'm not just another girl to join their fan club. I've been told I'm a special kind of girl my whole life (usually by the old people in my ward who consequently ask me in church how many boys I have to beat off me every week...which is a big zero) and dang it, I'm going to make guys realize it. There's no one else out there like me. I'm not going to chase anyone. It's high time that I deserve to be chased. And if not, then I'll grow to be an old cat lady with 67 cats and I'll live happy by darn it!
4. Ahem. I haven't gained my freshmen fifteen and I still refuse to do it. Hello gym and aerobic kickboxing, here I come.
5. Planning out my life is hard. I have no idea where I'll be in five years. I'm taking 17 credits next semester. Hello, no social life. But its going to be fine. All good. If all else fails, I'll learn never to take 17 credits so help me again.

This I know...
My Father in Heaven loves me.
The Church is true.
I belong at Utah State.
My parents and my best friends are a phone call away.
I can do almost anything.
And from one of my favorite movies...
"My life is good. Real good."

Kyle Comes Home...

So Kyle came home...last week haha. I've been terrible about keeping up with the blog but things have been so insanely crazy for the past few weeks that my poor little blog has been the last thing on my mind. The week that Kyle came home was absolute madness. I had four tests that week, a million things that had to be finished, and I was not going to miss being at the airport. I was so glad that I was able to get home for it. The moment he walked down that escalator, I started crying my eyes out.

I was so happy to get him home. He hugged my mom first and then my dad and my little brother. I hung back waiting for my turn and then started bawling my eyes out when he hugged me. He kept saying, "Why are you CRYING, you're supposed to be HAPPY!" and my response was...well, more blubbering.
I sadly had to journey back to the land of Logan that night but my roommate, Emma and I drove back Friday and were able to spend the weekend with my family and my wonderful cousins who came from Utah. We shopped, ate way too many of my pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, and even highlighted Miss Emma's hair! It was a great weekend and I'm so thankful that I got to see my family, my friends, and have my family reunited!


I'm Randi and I couldn't be happier that my brother is home.

Our Guitar Debut...

I'm so behind on blogging.

Friday night (November 12th) was the Old Farm 13th Ward Guitar Concert.
Here at my apartment, four out of the five of us play the guitar. Emma had signed up to play a few weeks ago and this week, (because I love her) I told her that I'd play with her. Even though she tried to get me to play the first song by myself (I never ever ever play the guitar or sing in front of other people) we played two songs together, and Emma played one by herself. I think we did pretty good considering the fact that I was shaking from being nervous (I could have cried before we went on because hello, I cry all the time) and from having a cold all week long.
Here's a funny story though. In the first video, you'll hear us dedicate our song to Steve. Steve is our Family Home Evening brother who told us about five minutes before we went on that we should dedicate our song to him. "Are you sure?" we asked, because we knew the lyrics to the song and we weren't sure that he did. So during our performance, you can hear how people liked that we dedicated it to good ol' Steve. Plus, he dedicated his performance to "Emma and Randall, the great girls from 04". We're so famous.


We only got half of our second song.


My roommate is so cute, watch her scratch her nose haha.


I'm Randi and this is why I shouldn't sing while I'm sick.

There's Really No Reason For A Title...

Kyle comes home in [7 days]!
I cannot wait.
Downsides:
I have a nasty cold and Emma and I are supposed to be playing and singing in a ward guitar concert on Friday. Let it be known that I never rarely play the guitar for other people, and on top of that sing too.
I have four tests next week.
I have to go see another movie for Creative Arts.
I'm registering for next semester on Nov. 19th, 12:00 am so I need to figure out what I'm doing with my life.
Logan is freezing. We're still trying to see how long we can go without turning on the heat because we're cheap tough. Therefore, I'm still wearing my boots and winter coat in my room.
And our room looks like this:


I must be getting prepared for something good.


I'm Randi and having a stuffy nose irritates the heck out of me.

Time For a Story...

I love Friday. I think I've mentioned it before, but I love it. And what makes it better than a fall Friday? Because I love fall. The past two weeks have been crazy busy but I'm loving it. Everyday I'm here is just another day that solidifies my belief that I was meant to be at Utah State. I love my apartment. I love my roommates. I love my ward. I love my FHE family and home teachers. I love my friends. I love..well like most my classes. I love Logan. I'm just in a really good mood today! Time to play some catch-up on what's happening so those of you who are reading this actually get something out of this post.

Story #1: Halloween Weekend
My friends came up for Halloween last weekend so we could go to a We The Kings concert. I love We The Kings, really. Although, not a huge fan of moshing. I tend to get squished quite a bit.







Story #2: Dance Party in the Kitchen

All these dishes were in our sink...
We have a really funny apartment in our ward. They're the A1 apartment. They had a dance party last weekend and they taught us a very funny dance that we in O4 have become pretty pro at. So pro that we did it at the Halloween dance party in the G-Lounge. So pro that after Ward Prayer on Sunday, we were dancing around in our kitchen, emptying the dishwasher and doing that dance. When I say dancing around in our kitchen I really mean, dancing around in the kitchen. Like a bunch of crazy people dancing around. Then some of our neighbors came into our apartment telling us that they saw us dancing around because, we left our blinds open. That's right, our entire ward probably saw us dancing around like a bunch of dorks after Ward Prayer because everyone has to walk past our apartment and kitchen window. Yes, indeed.

This week has been great though. Church, great neighbors, hilarious FHE, playing guitar, sliding down the stairs on mattresses, pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, laughing at dumb movies, chats with the roommates, dancing around to good tunes, and I get to see my mom and my grandma today. Kyle gets home in twelve days!

I'm Randi and I love to dance around like an idiot.