Hello Spring Break 2015...

Finally done with finals and on to my grandparents for a week!!! I seriously love them and hanging out with them.  Latest update:  I just introduced my grandma to the wonderful world of youtube.  She is sitting next to me watching quilting videos.  So cute!

SHE'S BACK!!!

My best friend Hayley finished her mission!  It was so good to see her!

One of my Favorite Mormon Messages!

I want to share one of my favorite Mormon Messages of all times.  It's one that I could watch over and over for a variety of reasons.  I love the power that Elder Holland speaks with and His testimony gives me chills every time I hear it.  It is also a message that causes me to think and put things into perspective.  When things aren't easy in life, this video helps remind me that I don't have to do things alone.  Christ knows how we feel when we pass through difficult times.  He will be there with us, and send others to help us.  I am a firm believer in angels, even if they are just people who are surrounding us and feel inspired to help us.  

I know that Jesus Christ lives and loves us which is why He gave His life and suffered so much.   

I miss my best friend! 

I want to learn Hebrew

If there is anywhere I could go to right now (besides Chile), it would definitely be Jerusalem/Israel, or I would go to New Zealand.  I've always had interest in Middle Eastern culture, especially in regards to the bible and history of that region.  Part of those interests is learning the ancient languages from that part of the world.  It is a goal of mine to learn Hebrew one day.  IT WOULD BE SO COOL.  I think of the different ways things are translated, and I want to learn Hebrew and then read ancient texts with that skill.

Unfortunately, right now, I only have so much time to do so many things.  This is one of those times when I look at the 50-60 more years I'll be alive and I think of all the things I have yet to learn.  Just take a walk through a single library and you'll know what I mean.  I also loving having intelligent conversations with people about cool stuff.  For example, I have a friend in my English class who is a physics major because he wants to be an astronomer.  Sometimes we talk about really cool stuff concerning the universe and space.  I find it fascinating!  Maybe I'm not a physics major, but I like to learn about cool stuff.  Learning is one of my favorite things in the world, and that is why I think it would be really neat to be able to read ancient texts in their original languages. 

The Beautiful Wall of Andrea Burton-isms

From left to right: Carrie, Lexi, Katherine, Me, Ashlee, Andrea

This semester, I had roommates who were awesome.  We like to laugh and have a good time.  To describe them further:  Katherine is my roommate who also served in Chile (not in my mission).  She's engaged to be married this April.  Then there's Carrie.  She is basically hilarious.  I say this because I will literally be getting ready in one room, or eating breakfast and all of the sudden I hear an outburst of giggling.  I don't really know how to describe it.  Its just funny.  She's an English major and a cowgirl.  Yes, there is a John Wayne calendar in our room (courtesy of Carrie).  Then there is Ashlee.  She is the food genius because she knows how to cook way good.  I would also never want to be in a debate with her.  I mean, ever.  Then, there's Lexi who got married halfway through the semester, and Kaitlin who lives here the other half of the semester.  And finally, (drum roll)......  Boom.  Andrea Burton.  She is awesome and one of the funniest people I've ever met.  She's a convert of 3 years in the church.  This semester, we've laughed at so many funny things she's said, and to sum it up, it is of common opinon she should write a book or a memoir.  Here are just a few of the quotes from her in honor of her great hilariousness:

(Side note: They may be 'you have to be there moments.' Sorry...) 

Anyways....

The Wall of Andrea:

-"Do you have a brother named Ham?" (The first day our home teachers came over to visit us, one introduced himself as 'Shem.'  This is the response of Andrea.)

-"Emily-Freaking-Hanks" (I'm not really sure how this came to be, but she just randomly started calling me it one day, and now it's kinda just the only way she says my name.)

-"Do you need any sage?" (Our home teachers came over to give a blessing on the house.  She asked them this question.  Lol.)

-"All two of you?" (Typically there are 4 boys in an FHE group here.  Only two came over to introduce themselves.  Therefore, yes...all two of them.)

-"So I dubbed him 'Nazi Joe'" (Referring to an old FHE brother)

-"This one time, at Awana-Camp..." (Andrea told us her many stories of a Awana camp as a child.  Pretty much every story she tells us starts with, "this one time, at...")

-"Oh. You're like the posterboy for Mormonism?" 

-"Release your inner-fish!" 

-"Spawn of Satan!" 

-"Sometimes I ask, wait, why did I join this church again?  Oh yeah, cuz it's TRUE!" (She was wondering if  skirt was necessary to wear because she was already comfortable in her pants.)

-"Can we help it if the food here is better than the men?"

-"I believe that Satanas had a hand in the creation of math 108." (Math vs. Andrea)

-"I hate to burst your bubble, but my dad grows bigger cabbages than that." (When we went to the grocery store, and Ashlee bought cabbages to make St. Patricks Day food)

-"Well if it isn't Mr. Big Deal himself." (Background story:  Our FHE brother said people should talk to him because he is a big deal in testimony meeting on fast sunday.  This occurred at the family home evening following that meeting). 

-"This cake is better than making out." (One way of saying that the cake was delicious).
-"He doesn't like Star Wars.  It's sacrelige." (in a southern accent.)
-"We could dress up as witches and go visit Jared." (brainstorming april fools day pranks)

hammocking

Who doesn't love reading in their hammock on a nice sunny day?