Sunday, December 27, 2009

Spirit of Christmas

I love Christmas time. I love the lights. I love the music. I love the time that you have to spend with your family. I love the hot chocolate. I love the scarves and the boots. I love watching the snow fall, while I am warm inside. I love the Spirit of Christmas time.
"What is the spirit we feel at Christmastime? It is His spirit—the Spirit of Christ."
-President Thomas S. Monson-

I'm thankful for this time of year so I can grow closer to the Savior. I'm grateful for the life he lived and the example he gave and continues to give. I know that He lives and I know that I can become like Him through the beautiful gift of repentance. I am so grateful for the Atonement and the power that it has in my life. I love my Savior and His gospel!

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Christmas Break.

It is Christmas Time, which is pretty awesome. It's been a crrrazy semester so I'm spending this break wisely.
It started with an amazing day of skiing at The Canyons (my favorite resort), followed by an awesome sleepover with my institute buddies whom I love; then a relaxing day at home with a few different crafts and a Christmas party with the Ross family, including an incredible football game with an outstanding score. GO BYU!
I'm planning on going snowboarding/skiing 3 more times before school starts again. AND I need book ideas. I want to read a book while it is snowing and I have a cup of hot chocolate. Hmmm... Sounds soo relaxing. What book should I read?

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Oh, Sweet Justice.

The end of the semester has come. FINALLY! I have been waiting and waiting for Teacher Evaluations. There is one primary reason for this... Professor Wahlquist. (Even her name drips with malice). At the end of the short evaluation, it asks for any suggestions for the instructor. Here is my suggestion:
"This course is a beginning course. I did not know more than half of the authors and poets at the beginning of the class. I took this class to learn about these authors from a professor. Due to the "organization" of the class, Mrs. Wahlquist barely spoke at all. Each student had the unfortunate opportunity to lecture the class. I paid tutition to hear from a trained professor, not a learning student.
Class participation was not highly praised because most students prefer to just lecture. On the few occasions that Professor Wahlquist did teach, she lectured and lectured. I highly suggest having a discussion on the actual writings and not on Native American culture.
The requirements for this class are too high. As a full time student, involved in extra curricular activities and working, it was impossible to please Mrs. Wahlquist and focus only on her class. I would highly recommend evaluating and reorganizing the entire class structure."
I had to stop there because of word count, but I could have kept going... Can I just tell you how great it feels??
IT FEELS GREAT!!!

Monday, November 16, 2009

Meah: expression of not caring

Meah...
That's my new motto.
Let me tell you why. I was talking to my roomie, Laura R, and telling her about the fact that I have a 8 pages left of a 10 page research paper due in 3 days and that I'm kinda stressing out about. Her reply?
"Meah..."
I love it.
Meah

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

What is this thing called Relief?

So... UVU dropped my classes last week. They thought that I hadn't paid my tuition. Luckily, I printed off a receipt and all the stuffed that I agreed to close to my heart. My classes were reinstated about as fast as they were dropped, with one exception. My math class. I had piled on so many classes and responsibilities I thought I would die. I just didn't reinstate my math class. Now I have five extra hours per week, plus that time I would be using for math homework. Wow... It feels good. :)
AND...
I just registered for my last semester at UVU. 13 more credits and I will be out the door!
Life is awesome!

Sunday, October 11, 2009

...word.

Wow... Isn't it crazy how life just keeps going and before you know it, it's been a month since you posted a blog??
School is stressful. Midterms are coming up and I've caught a cold that attacks all brain cells that specialize in holding attention span and encourage motivation. I haven't been studying enough. I have a plan though. With all that I have on my plate, I've decided to just not focus on math. :) See... it's brilliant. I'll focus on Creative Writing, AM Lit, and Spanish and just retake math next semester. There is simply too much homework and not enough time to study. Well, not enough time to study and socialize which is a necessary part of being Lindsay.
For AM Lit, I am doing a presentation on Walden, by Henry Thoreaux. I went up the canyon yesterday to collect leaves to pass out, but then I actually did the reading. The chapters I am covering are more about winter than fall (blegh...). Now I have to come up with ideas on what I can do to bring winter into the classroom in a transcendental kinda way. I was thinking just sparkles...(don't judge me) like snow. I dunno...
It has been a really fun week. :) I went to a ball with Aaron on Wednesday and wore my prom dress from high school, which was actually to big (how cool is that?? I've lost weight since high school!). It's pink and sparkly. I had bling jewelry and a crown. It was awesome. There was an institute dance on Friday. That was a blast. The music was great and I looked very... bad. lol.

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Busy Busy Busy

I'm really really enjoying this semester. I'm keeping myself incredibly busy, which is good and bad. I'm taking 15 credits, working 20 hours a week, 2 institute classes, and I have Institute Council on top of that which takes between 5 and 10 hours of work every week.
My favorite class is Creative Writing. I can't tell you how much my writing has improved in just two weeks. I absolutely love it. I'll have to post my finalized stories. I've written a poem about Play Dough and a short story about an artist and her attractive model and a 20 page autobiography about myself. It keeps me busy, but writing is so much fun! I couldn't have asked for a better professor. I hope I can take a lot more classes from her. She is great (Julie Nichols).
Spanish is a fun class too. I've got a lot of friends who are able to help me on that. Thank goodness for RMs! I got a 96% on my first Spanish test, so I'm feeling pretty confident. "Que Hora Es?" That's about all I know and thats because of my little sister Nikki. haha.
Math is actually my next favorite class. Crazy, I know. It's not at the bottom of the list. It's a hard class, especially for my attention span, but I am learning quite a bit. My professor isn't too bad. I had to switch my schedule around though, because the first professor I had was very strict and not very good. I'm glad I switched because Professor Fearnley makes more sense.
American Lit is at the bottom of the list. :( My professor isn't very good. She's cool, but she has an interesting form of teaching that is proving more beneficial for her than the students. We have to read about 100 pages a week. It's awesome, but throw that in with daily math and spanish homework and big projects in creative writing and you get... a lot of stuff to keep me busy.
Institute Council is probably the best thing that ever happened to me. The people that I've met through it have become a little family (True fact... Arguing occurs on occasion). I absolutely love it and spend a good amount of time in the institute building.
My roommates are awesome, and to prove it....

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Homework Blues.

I would love to write something in my blog, but I have too much homework.

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Update.

Wowzers!

I went on the LDSSA council retreat this week. Wahootie Wooty! It was amazazing!! We started the trip off at a ropes course where we ran across fast-flowing rivers of peanut butter disaster on giant raisins and celery sticks. The girls beat the boys at an intense game of extreme lava relay race adventure. It was awesome.
Lindsay is deathly afraid of heights bytheway. Seriously afraid. Ugh!! I hate heights. I remember when I was 17 (that's right) I got the opportunity to go repelling down a 50 foot cliff. I tried going over the edge, but couldn't make it. I was crying sooo hard!
Anyway, I am proud to say that I went on a giant swing (54 feet) to be exact. YAY!!! And I jumped off a platform that was 23 feet off the ground. I almost cried, but kept it together :) Pretty much, I feel like $100 bucks!
After this awesome adventure we heading up Sundance Canyon to the cabin we stayed at. We just spent the rest of the trip preparing ourselves mentally and spiritually for the callings we have ahead of us. This is going to be intense. Apparently, the iTV girl gets a stalker every year. Lucky me! I'm hoping to somehow avoid that and break the tradition.
I moved into my new apartment. It's really nice. My roommates are hilarious and fun. I am sure we will get along great. Although, I miss Madison, Katie, and Alejandra so much already!
PS. I lost my camera...again. So no pictures for a while. Sorry peeps!

Thursday, July 30, 2009

EFY!

So sorry I haven't written in a really long time. EFY is my excuse.
My first group was "Dispute Not". They were great. My co-counselors were Casey and Robyn. Here is a picture of just my girls, whom I love very very much. They all had so much patience with me while I figured out the whole EFY thing. They all had great comments and attitudes. I hope that they were able to get a lot out of their week. Thanks girls!

Front row: Amy, Kelsey, Charlotte, Emilee, Sami, and Hannah.
Back row: Deone, McCall, Lindsey, Lindsay (me), Jordi, Di, and Tamara.

My next group was "Rejoiceth Not In Iniquity" with Brett Waters and Jeri Thompson. This group was a lot of fun and slightly crazy at time. :) My cousin Zach was in this group too. How cool is that!? They were all ready to learn and I hope that their first experience (and Amy's second) brought them closer to each other and closer to God. Were are #3 girls!!

Front Row: Lindsay (me), Natalie, and Beth.
Back Row; Shaelie, Ashley, Marti, Amy, McCall, and Alyssa

My last group, "Might Be", was incredible. My co-counselors were Ted and Natalie. I love them both so much! We started off the week right with a goal not to judge others and it made a huge impact on my week and hopefully the week of the girls too. All the youth participated in the activities. The dances, the musical program, the variety show "Yeah Toast!". :) They were awesome. I love you all!

With me at the bottom, really out of the place, here are the other girls. Natalie (counselor), Carley, Elizabeth, Jo, Hayley, Laura, Megan, Alice, Kennedy, and Julie. Abbie is missing in this picture. :( She is an awesome girl.

My experiences at EFY were phenomenal. I saw miracles occur. I saw the Lord bless these girls in different ways that brought them closer to our Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Their fabulous spirits are so strong and they are all "Examples of the Believers". I love you girls!!!

Monday, June 22, 2009

Life of Recently.


Ellie and I had a Princess Day a few weeks ago. We had such a blast! We painted our nails, wore tiaras, ate lunch in a beautiful park, walked around the castle (the Mt. Timpanogos Temple) and watched Anastasia... which is a really scary bytheway. I had forgotten about Rasputen. EEE!
All and all, I think it was a hit. For my birthday, she gave me a colored coloring book (so cute!) and a little handwritten note which I can't figure out how to turn the right way...

It says:
To Lindsay,
Did you like the Princess Day?
I sure did. It was very very very fun dressing up and being "fancy".

My birthday was this week. It was very relaxing and enjoyable. I went to work, got a free massage, took a looong nap, went swimming, had a dance party and watched Singin' in the Rain(Hmmm... Gene Kelly). I am legal to do almost everything, except rent a car and run for President. Wow... I'm 21. It's weird, cause I still feel like I'm 17. Haha!

BTW. 13ish days til EFY!

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Thats right.

Okay. My life is at an ultimate boring high or low, depending on how you look at it.
But... I bought four pairs of shoes!!






All in preparation to be an EFY Counselor. 30 days!

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Nailed It



Mom and I got our nails done today. She was brave and got acrylics. I was not as brave and just got a manicure. Hmmm.... I love getting manicures. It feels so good. Aren't my nails cute?

Also, I survived my first week of full-time work since last summer. Yay! Only 7 more to go. I can totally do this.

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Speed Away!

Oh the joys of Traffic School! I was completely ready to be bored out of my mind, tired, and worthy of a giant ice cream shake for surviving my first, and hopefully last, traffic school. It wasn't half bad though.
1) It was only 1.5 hours long. Not bad!
2) We watched a ton of hilarious/intense videos. Including...

and...


These have very little relevance to Traffic School, but I'm not complainin!

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Phew!

It's been a pretty stressful week. It's not over yet, but look at what I will accomplish by the end of this week. I have had to move out, take 4 finals, perform 4 times, work 20 hours, go to Traffic School, make a deposit on my new apartment, and a lot of other small details, including asking my boss for a month off of work so that I can be an EFY Counselor. *cross your fingers!!* I am so excited for next Monday, when the real summer semester will begin. Hopefully, I will be able to entertain myself.
Oh... So remember how I have been studying my little brain near to death with math homework. It is officially over and I have scored a brilliant 97% on my math final!
APPLAUSE!
Thank you, thank you. You are too kind.
I have fooled a few people into thinking that I am actually good at math. Hah! It's been a good semester. I have worked harder than ever, and it shows. My GPA is much higher than it has been in years. I didn't get quite the 4.0 that I was expecting, but that's okay. I have plenty of semesters left. I CAN DO IT!!

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Beautiful Day

So, there was this one time that I thought to myself. Hmm... I should check my email before I go to bed. I read through an email with a Professor. I check out the comments made on my facebook status, and then I see that efyhiring sent me an email.... dun. dun. dun.
Slowly, very uncertainly, I clicked on the email. Didn't know email could be this intense did ya? Slowly reading left to right because that's the way we do it in English. I wouldn't know how to read English any other way I read:
" Hello Lindsay Kindlespire, <----That's my name

Thank you for applying to work for EFY this summer. Your application has been processed, and we are interested in hiring you."

Haha! They are interested in hiring me... That's all I know. I just have to fill out some paperwork and then they tell me for how long they want to hire me. Sorry to build it up so much, but Hey! Look on the bright side! I am going to be an EFY Counselor!

Ok... Ready for another??
It is approaching approximately 6:27 PM. I am sitting at my desk at work, anxiously logging out of the phone and staring at my cell phone every few seconds. My adorable pink phone rings once. I do not recognize the number. I answer it nonetheless. "Hello?" I say nervously. "Hi Lindsay. This is Britney with ILP. Would you be able to pay a lot of money to us so you can live outside the country again for only a few weeks?" Okay, fine. She didn't quite say that. "Hi Lindsay. This is Britney with ILP. We are looking for ILP Alumni to help with the summer camp. Would you be available?" Disappointed that this was not the call I was expecting I told Britney with ILP that I have a full summer planned.
I clocked back into work, impatiently waiting. My work phone rings.
"Billing Department. This is Lindsay. May I have your main domain name?"
"Yadda-yadda-blah-blah-blah."
"I'm sorry sir. Can you repeat that?" I reply, glancing at my cell phone.
It rings. This time, I recognize the number. Jenessa Simmons was calling.
"Okay, let me transfer you to Tech Support." Luckily, thats really where he needed to go.
"Nessa! Read it! Read it!"
"Dear Sister Simmons, You have been called by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to serve in the Greece Athens mission!"
The best girl-friend that anyone on this earth has ever been blessed to have will be leaving for her mission on August 19, 2009. Love ya Nessa!

WARNING: ABRUPT CHANGE OF SUBJECT.

I will officially be a member of the Institute Council on Saturday. I have a meeting from 8am to 1pm. Phew! It'll be so much fun though.

On top of all this... My Professor let me turn in my paper late. How awesome is that?? Woo! I'm feeling good.

*P.S. Please note that I decided to get my Associates Degree in English. I really really enjoy writing if you cannot tell by my blog entry.

Monday, April 13, 2009

Procrastin...ation.

Well, Here I am. Stuffed full of Easter Candy, watching a musical, and talking to the roommates. When I realize...This School semester is over in 10 days...Maybe I should start working on homework.

I have a five page paper due this Friday on John Donne's poetry (which is amazing, bytheway, I highly recommend it), a social observational project to start and finish, a presentation to do on Wednesday, finals for 5 classes, and about 5 performances in my music class. It's going to be a busy 10 days!

Oh! I made Institute Council (Shh! I still haven't been set apart so it's still a secret).

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Read All About It!

It's about time that I updated ya'll on my life. It's going great bytheway.
I have my second interview to join LDSSA (Orem Institute of Religion Student Council) for next year. It's with my Stake President. At this point, I kinda wish I was back to the Grovecreek 3rd Ward. A meeting with President Atkinson doesn't sound as scary as an interview with the President of my new ward. I don't even know his name. President Atkinson has known me for years though. I am really hoping to make student council. It would be a great experience and I know that I would make a ton of new friends.
I still haven't heard back from EFY. I am not planning on being a counselor there at all. I've pretty much ruled it out. Wouldn't it be hilarious if I made it?
I have had a cough for two weeks. I also picked up my roommates cold on top of that. Ugh.. It's been fun. Coughing so hard, that you have to sneeze; sneezing so hard that you have to laugh; and laughing so hard that you have to cough. It's a never ending circle! I just hope that it calms down by Sunday.
I am singing "I Stand All Amazed" on Sunday for the Easter Program. It's the one that my sisters all know. The one we sang at both Nikki's and David's baptism. It's a beautiful arrangement. I'm soo glad that my Mom was able to find the arrangement. The ward choir is also singing two numbers and I will be leading the choir for those two pieces. Beautiful Savior and Come Unto Christ (both can be found online for free at www.defordmusic.com).
General Conference this last week was amazing. I learned a lot. As President Thomas S. Monson said:
"May we long remember that which we have heard during this conference. . . . I urge you to study the messages and to ponder their teachings and then to apply them in your life." What a great man and Prophet of God!
To all those that read to the end of this post. Thanks! I love you all! Life is such a wonderful gift. Live everyday with no regrets. That is my new goal. I've come to realize that mistakes are made, trails occur, but that is the journey of life. Simply enjoy it.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Wap Bam Boom!

Good News!
I got 100% on my Math Quiz! I guess the third time really is the charm, so it would seem with this class.

Monday, March 9, 2009

Today...

Ever doubted my Nerdiness?? You won't anymore...
I got 6th place in the Sudoku Tournament at Utah Valley University.

Please note that I also got pulled over for the first time today. *sniff sniff* I will be making my first, and hopefully only, appearance to Traffic School in a few days time.

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Would You Hire Me??

I just had my group interview to be a counselor for EFY.
They were 7 interviewees (6 girls, 1 boy). We all piled in the room and introduced ourselves to the two ladies interviewing us (I have already forgotten their names). First we introduced ourselves.
"My name is Lindsay Kindlespire, from Pleasant Grove UT. I am currently a student at UVU. I haven't decided on a major yet. I'm working on my generals right now. I would love to be an EFY Counselor for a lot of different reasons. I love the Gospel, and I love working with people. I've taught English in China to 68 kids, I've worked with elderly ladies in a group home, and I would love the opportunity to teach teenagers."
Then we discussed the EFY Theme this year, which is: A Climate of Revelation. I mentioned how when I immediately thought of somewhere you go to relax and ponder. Somewhere peaceful and uplifting, like the Temple.
Next, I was personally asked how I would create "A Climate of Revelation" in a lunchroom setting. I said that I would go on a picnic and talk and think and read with my girls.
Then we were asked to give a short lesson, just two minutes, about the scripture we were handed. I chose Mark 10:27 -
"And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible."
I talked about David and Goliath. How he would not have been able to beat Goliath had God not been with him. David showed faith, hope, courage, and a willingness to do as God commanded. If we also develop these characteristics, we will have God with us, and we too can do impossible things.
The last question asked was:
"You are sending your child to EFY. What is one quality that you would like their counselor to possess?"
I replied that I would hope that their counselor had charity. I would hope that my child would be able to feel the Savior's love through their EFY Counselor.
With that, I shook the ladies hands, gave them each a hug and left the room.
What do you think?? Would you hire me??

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Midterms

Good News! I have survived Midterms.
I got 92% on my Oceanography Test, 91% on my Math Test, and 80% on my Sociology Test.
Yay! I am very happy about these scores.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

AlLaKhAzAm!!

100% on my British Literature Test.
Go Me!

Friday, January 30, 2009

Victorious: The Sequel

Final score for my Oceanography Test just came in.
96%!!
Wow. It's a good testing week for me.
:D

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Victorious!!

I studied and studied and studied. I had a dream about linear equations last night. I went to class everyday (Yes. That is an accomplishment) I took notes. I went to the Math Lab. I had helpers (Thanks Ryan and Ale!). In the end, it was all worth it.
I got 90% on my first math test!!!

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Plestactamas

A new fish was added to my fish tank recently. When I got back from the Christmas Break, my fish tank was covered in nasty algae and stinky stuff. Then I realized I would have to clean it. Yuck! I decided to by a sucker fish, or a plecostomus. Plecostomus is a really hard word to say. I think it sounds like a dinosaur. Therefore, my new fishy's name is Dino. Welcome to the Family Dino!!

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Hardest Things

#1 hardest thing I have ever done in my life:
Leaving my precious children in China. I have never cried harder, I have never been so heart-broken. I knew that my chances of seeing those children again were very slim.
#2 hardest thing I have ever done in my life:
Following through with an answer I have received through prayer. I have been praying a lot about dating Ryan as our relationship has gotten quite serious. The answer was not right now. So there you go... I know that we've done the right thing, no matter how hard it is. No matter how heart-broken I am. I know it was right.
So... Lindsay is available (again).