Families are Forever

I get to to spend eternity with these guys. Lucky!

Reese Puffs, Reese Puffs

I love Reese Puffs. It has actually become a problem. I could eat them for breakfast every morning--in fact, I do. I know, how childish.

On the back of the Reese Puffs cereal box--like every children's cereal--has little activities to do. The first step on the Reese Puffs is create your own rapper name. To create your name you take the name of a movie villain and add your middle initial. That makes my rapper name "Ursula-A". Totally punk, huh?

Next, you fill in the blanks to create your own rap.

The embarrassing thing? I do the rap in my head every morning. I even do it like a rapper. I've almost got the whole thing memorized.

The best thing? I caught my dad doing the rap yesterday morning.

20 for 20

I'm 20 now. It sounds weird. Twen-ty. No more 'teen' suffixes. Seventeen, eighteen, nineteen--all gone. I had a great birthday. Nice and relaxed. The birthday wishes poured in. I feel blessed to have a great family and so many great friends.

I've been pondering a lot lately on how blessed I am. I decided to make a list of 20 things I am grateful for, because afterall--I'm 20 now! (Disclaimer: This list is not at all comprehensive. I am grateful for far more than 20 things.)

1. This could be broken down into six separate things, but I'll combine them into one for now. My family. I truly am blessed with the most wonderful family in the world. I hate to break it to everyone else--but your family probably isn't quite as cool as mine. I am lucky to have amazing parents who love and care for me. They do much more than I could ever expect, and they surprise me by doing more and more everyday. I have the best sisters, brother, and brother-in-law I could ask for. Don't get me wrong--they're totally weird, but that's what makes them so fun! We have such great times together and I learn so much from each of them. They too do so much for me and their friendship is greatly appreciated. Just laughing as a family, talking about nothing in particular, having deep discussions--whatever it is, I wouldn't want them any other way!

2. I am ever so grateful for my knowledge of The Gospel of Jesus Christ. How lucky I have been to grow up in a home with parents who love the Lord and who have taught me how to live a good life. The understanding I have of the gospel makes everything in life seem so much easier and totally worth it. The blessings that come from being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are innumerable. My testimony is strengthened time and time again as I learn more about my Savior.

3. Who would have thought that out of the billions of people in the world, I would be privileged enough to meet and be friends with the very best ones?! My friends are fantastic. I have too many memories to count of fun times I have had with friends. I learn many valuable lessons from them, and wouldn't trade any of them for anything.

4. Not only am I blessed to have a roof over my head, but I have an amazing home. My parents have worked hard to make our house a home. It keeps us warm in the winter, and cool in the summer. It is comfortable, peaceful, safe. It is the place I long to go to after a stressful day at work, or when things just aren't going right. The environment there is one you can't find everywhere--it's a place of love and acceptance. On top of all that, it is beautiful.

5. If you take the 7 people in my family and add about 100 more, you have my extended family. With grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc., I have the best family around. The time we spend together is special. Although it's rare to have us all in one location at one time, being together with any of my family is exciting. We laugh, we cry, we play. How lucky I am to be part of this family. The Hafen/Burton/Streuling combo is one of a kind!

6. We live in a world that is so colorful and vibrant! I am grateful for the happy colors that I get to see everyday. The world would be a boring place if it were colorless. Luckily, that is not the case. Although color is something I take for granted, I truly am thankful for the things that color my world.

7. Sometimes it's hard to convince myself, but I am also thankful for the opportunity I have had to go to school. Not everyone is as fortunate as I have been to attend nice schools and to get a good education. Also, I have been very blessed to be able to attend college--especially at BYU. The things I learn--not only in the classroom setting--have helped me, and will continue to help me throughout my life. I will have the great opportunity to make my career goals a reality because of the education I have received.

8. Another thing that is hard to be thankful for everyday is work. However, my job is such a blessing in my life. Especially in this hard economic time, I am lucky to have such a nice, comfortable, stable job. Working in the Advisement Center has taught me many valuable lessons. The people who I work with have not only been co-workers, but also friends and mentors. I'm not grateful everyday to go to work, but I am grateful to be able to go to work everyday.

9.  All throughout the world there are countless young men and women, senior couples, and families, serving missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. How thankful I am for missionary work. These people devote a year and a half to three years of their lives to serving our Heavenly Father and sharing the good news with our brothers and sisters. It's not an easy job, but one I am grateful is being done. How many of our brothers and sisters would be lost without missionaries. I have so many friends and family members who have and are currently serving missions. And to them, I am grateful. I look forward to the time when I may be able to serve a mission--whether it be as a young sister missionary, or as a couple with my husband.

10. Whenever I feel the twinge of hunger in my stomach, I feel grateful for the fact that I can go to the cupboard and grab something to eat. Yet another thing I take for granted: food. I have never, nor expect to ever feel what it really is like to be starving. I always have plenty to eat to keep me healthy and strong. Not only do I have lots of food--I have good food. I am thankful that I can eat something I actually enjoy, rather just eating something to survive.

11. Lately I've been watching the news more than usual. When I hear about countries where people are not safe, where evil men rule, where they aren't allowed to make their own decisions, I am reminded how blessed I am to live in such a country as the United States of America. This country is a place where I am free. I am free to do as I please, free to think what I want, free to worship how I want, free to be me. I am safe, healthy, happy. I know that not everyone is as fortunate as I, and because of that I am thankful for my country.

12. Everyday when I wake up I can see the beautiful world, hear the exciting sounds, smell the delicious smells, taste the wonderful tastes, and feel the things around me. How blessed I am for my 5 senses that are in great working condition. They make life fun, exciting, and pleasurable. 

13. Although I could definitely be living a healthier lifestyle, I am thankful for my health and strength. I have been clothed with a strong body. I am able to do the things I need to and want to do. I can run, jump, sing, go anywhere, do anything, because I am healthy.

14. Living in this time and place is such a blessing. The technology we have is amazing, and something I am grateful for everyday. I appreciate all the work that has been done as technology has advanced. Forgetting my cell phone for one hour while running an errand is quite dramatic--I can't imagine the days when they weren't even invented. We have so many great opportunities because of the advanced technology that we have. The internet, cars, cell phones, computers--and many things I don't even know about--are making our world exciting.

15. My favorite thing to do on a warm summer evening is to take a walk through the canyon. How beautiful our world is. I am so thankful for nature. The plants and animals, the sky, the water. There is nothing like walking through the canyon, feeling the breeze on my face, looking up at the huge mountains that surround me.

16.  Over the years I have been so blessed with great examples in my life. My family, friends, ward members, and complete strangers, have left great impressions on me as they do their best. There is one ward member in particular who is an outstanding example to me. He is the first to help do anything, the first to invite someone to play, the first to laugh at anything, the first to share his testimony. He doesn't care what others may think--he just does what he knows is right. I watch him everyday make someone feel like the most important person in the world. It is examples like this friend who help me to keep doing my best.

17. When I am cold, or spill on my shirt, or just hate what I am wearing--I am so grateful that I have warm, nice, clean, cute clothes to put on. There are so many people who do not have the beautiful things that I am blessed with. I am so fortunate to have clothing to keep my body safe.

18. Laughter is the best medicine. I am thankful to have people in my life to make me laugh. Laughing keeps me happy and keeps me going. What a boring place this world would be with out laughter. Being funny, making jokes, laughing about old memories. I could spend hours with the people I love just laughing--it truly does make you feel better.

19. I am thankful for lazy, warm, peaceful summer nights. It's great to feel the warmth on my skin, while knowing I don't have any homework to do. Although I usually end up staying up a little too late--it's always worth it to enjoy a nice summer evening.

20. All in all, the most important thing I have been blessed with is my life. I am so lucky to be on this earth at this time, in this place, with this body, with this family, with these friends, seeing the things I see, doing the things I do, and just being me. While sometimes there are things in my life that aren't going quite the way I want, I always know that my life is mine--and I wouldn't trade that for anything.

Blessings in my life are rich and are abundant. I thank my Heavenly Father everyday for the countless blessings I receive. 

PS--There are 5 new baby ducklings. You don't know how happy that makes me.

It's Hard Being Normal

Right now I'm reading a great book. It's called Daniel Isn't Talking by Marti Leimbach. This book is about a young family who is devastated to learn that their son is autistic. The fear, the pain, the trials all seem to tear this little family apart.

After being told by countless doctors that her son would never be normal and could not be helped, Daniel's mother decided to take things into her own hands. She would work with Daniel every day to help him learn and develop. Through her patience and determination, Daniel became more and more like what the world would call "normal".

As I think about how difficult it would be to have a child with a disability, I am amazed at this woman's strength. Although this is only a story, it has been inspiring.

Another thought that I have had while reading this book is how "normal" is all relative. What is "normal" really? Who decides what is normal and what is abnormal? Everyone is different, and everyone is valuable. It doesn't matter what disabilities we have, because we all have them. What a boring place this world would be if we were all the same. How lucky we are to have different strengths and weaknesses than those around us. We are able to work together to lift one another up. We all need each other, and none should be left behind. 

Even being considered "normal" is hard. There are certain expectations to live up to, certain do's and don'ts. But what really matters is that I am me. We should not try to fit the "normal" mold, or be someone who we are not. Being who we really are is what is important. 

I love the people that I love not because they are normal, but because they are them. And more often than not--they are weirder than heck! And that's what makes me love them the most. My "different" family, and "different" friends, are the best "different" I know!

Moving On

Goodbye teenage years. I will miss you.  Some of you...

Conversation Recall

Have you ever had one of those days where you wish you could take back everything you said? Not because it was rude or bad or anything--just because it was pure stupid. 

Yesterday was one of those days. Every joke I said, every whitty comment I made, even every potentially "normal" thing I said I wanted to recall. I don't know why. I guess it was just an off day.

I swear it happens especially bad with boys--boys I like. I have a conversation with them, and then I'm laying in bed that night replaying over and over again in my head just how dumb I sounded. And there's nothing I can do about it.

It happens over text too. 

I wish there was a "delete my last comment" button. I would have used it a lot yesterday.

You Can Call Me Master

The college that I work in is working on updating our website. My office, the advisement center, has a part of the website that we are supposed to design and maintain (update information, add new things, etc.). The other day my boss asked me if I would be in charge of our portion of the site. Of course, I couldn't say no to my boss, so I agreed. 

I had a little training session with a girl from another office. It was helpful, but when she left, it was like she never came. Designing a website is a lot harder than I thought. There is so much trial and error, it's insane. It literally takes me like 3 hours to figure out how to make one link look right. Seriously. 

After a few days of working on the website I feel like I'm getting a little better. A little. Not much. I actually feel pretty cool that hundreds of students are going to be using my website. Although I'm getting the hang of it, I have to admit--I'm not cut out for a computer programmer. :) 

However, that makes me the new web-master. You can go ahead and start referring to me as Master Rebekah. That'd be fine. 

Laughing and Loving

I was surfing the internet yesterday and I came upon this little gem...

“Laugh as much as you breathe and love as long as you live.”

Honestly I have nothing profound to say about it. But I love this quote. 

On My Mind

What's on my mind today? A lot of things. A lot of random things. And I'm just going to compile them all.

 First bit of news. My baby ducklings are gone. I miss them. I'm sad everyday when I come to work that they aren't there to greet me. It really makes me sad, which is weird, because I don't like ducks--only my babies. 

Second, Janet Lindsay's homemade raspberry-peach jam? Heaven on Earth.

Next, school's out for the summer! I just had my very last class of the term. It truly is a beautiful thing. One final to go and freedom is mine! I can't wait. Like I've mentioned before, this summer is the first I have taken off since graduating high school. Pure bliss (with work thrown in there too--bleh). Bring on the Summer sun!
 

I have a bracelet from American Eagle. I wear it practically every day. Today is the first time I've really noticed a little motto they have etched onto the clasp. It says "Live Your Life". Great advice American Eagle. Seriously. Sometimes I get so caught up in other people's lives, or what my life should be or could be like, and I forget to just live my life. It sounds so simple--but it really is profound. Don't let the little things pass you by. Don't go throughout life without actually living. I wear this little reminder around my wrist everyday. Hopefully I'll be a little better at living my life to the fullest.

Lately my mind has been filled up with schemes of how to get myself on a trip to California. I've been wanting to take a road trip for quite some time now. Hopefully now that school is out, I can make those dreams a reality! 

I created a list of random things I want to do before this summer is over. The list is quite short--I don't require a lot. Here is my Summer To-Do List: 1) Go to Lagoon. Not the coolest amusement park ever, but it's definitely something you have to do once a summer. 2) Road trip. See above. 3) Visit the zoo. I know, it sounds totally childish, but I've done it with a friend before and it really is fun. 4) Ride the lift at Sundance at dusk. Beautiful. And quite romantic. I guess I'll need a boyfriend before this. 5) Tube down the Provo River. One of the funnest Summer activities. Quite the adventure, and something you've gotta be able to say you've done. 6) Go boating. I haven't been for a few years. And that's it! That's all I need to make my Summer complete (well, including lots of 7-Peaks trips, countless snow cones, and many yummy BBQ's)!

Was whoever invented sports terminology hungry? We have different football bowls, soccer cups, baseball players run to plates, volleyball players serve, ping-pong (is that a sport?!) is played on a table. That's why you should eat before you go to work. (This thought is a product of the Fifa World Cup that is going on right now. Go USA!)
 

My teenage days are quickly coming to an end. There are only 7 of them left. I'm not sure if I'm more sad or excited to be ending this era. Right now, I'm sad. I never thought I would actually be sad to have a birthday. But for some reason, knowing that I will never again be a teenager kinda makes me sad. I could blame all of my immaturities and silly childish behaviors on the fact that I was just a teenager. Next week, I'll have to grow up. I don't know if I like that.

Nevertheless, my birthday is in one week.

Another thing on my mind is how big of a nerd I am. Right now I'm in this "read everything you can get your hands on" phase. Nerd alert! I've been reading a lot of great books, and even keeping a list of all the books I want to read this summer. If I don't have plans one night, I'm very content cracking open a good book. 

(I told you...there are a lot of things on my mind today.)

Being in the Relief Society Presidency, I hear about a lot of things. Many of them are sad or hard things. But hearing these things make me so grateful for my life. While sometimes I think I have rough patches in my life, when I put them into perspective and think about all of the hardships I could have, I realize I've got it good. I wouldn't trade my life, my trials, my happinesses, my family, my anything--for anyone else's. 

There are many other things flying around in my mind, sometimes it's hard to just sort them all out. 

Over and Out.

I'm Only 20(ish)!

So, when I was like 12, I tried to act like I was 18. I honestly thought some people believed that I was actually 18. Of course, as I now know, obviously people knew I was only 12(ish). Even as a freshman in college, I tried to give off the vibe that I wasn't an underclassman. I mean, I knew what I was doing, I didn't act like a freshman, and I tried to carry myself like a senior. I loved that I had so many people fooled.

Now here I am, 20(ish) years old, and people think I am 25. I hate it. I hate it so bad. That means that the only guys that will date me are like 30. I don't want to date 30 year olds...yet. 

We got a new girl at work this week, and when I told her that I was a student, 20(ish) years old, a Junior at BYU, etc. she was shocked. She thought I was either graduated or a graduate student and 25 years old. How embarrassing! Do I really look that old? That means I'll look like I'm 60 when I'm only 40! Nooooo! I want to be young, hip, cool.

After all that pretending to be older business, I'm so ready to be my young 20(ish) self!

Actually....I'm really only 19. 

Not 25.

As if they were my own...

During the Spring and Summer terms, since I am not taking any classes, I like to park in the Heritage parking lot which is much closer to work. When walking through the parking lot I pass by a cute little river. That river is always occupied with ducks. Lots of ducks. About the second week of Spring I saw the storybook mother duck and her ducklings waddling together in a straight line. Now, I'm not such an animal lover, but this, this was a precious sight. The ducklings were tiny. There were six of them, and they were so obedient and followed their mother anywhere she went. For the next few weeks I watched those babies. I looked forward to seeing them when I went to work each day. I feel a smile spread across my face every time I see them.

My baby ducklings are not babies anymore. They're getting so big, I can't even believe it. It's like one day they were babies, and the next day they were--teenagers! They're getting big and starting to not obey their mother as much anymore. They don't really care to stay in their single file line, nor follow her when she starts to leave. What rebellious little punks. 

Because I have watched them grow, I feel like a proud mother who is ready to send her babies off to college. I keep waiting for the day when I walk passed and they're all gone, and I am not looking forward to it. I know this experience is nothing like the experience of being a parent, but somehow it's made me so excited to start a family of my own. To have my little babies with me all the time, to nurture them and to love them. Then, when I have taught them all that I know, to send them on their way. 

It's these experiences that I love. 

Bye, bye my baby ducklings.

Growing Up Stinks

So this summer, I won't grow up. Nope, I refuse. 

I will be taking off school for the first time since I graduated high school, and I'm planning on living it up! So far, after only one week of Summer (I count my Summers according to when my family is out of school--so mine officially started this week), I have had some pretty fun adventures. 

Monday was memorial day, and my family rented tandem bikes to take a little ride around Provo. We rode our bikes to get some dinner, and then rode through some neighborhoods and a little on the river trail. It was a good workout and a lot of fun! 

Rebekah, Emily, and Lauren 5/31/2010

The next night I went and played racket ball with my friend Peter and his roommates. I haven't played racket ball in ages, so I was quite rusty. Peter was patient with me, and we had a good time.

After work yesterday Lauren and I decided that we needed to go to Seven Peaks. We got season passes this year, and it was a great day to take advantage of the cooperating weather. We mostly just laid out hoping to get some sun. By the time we left we both thought we were leaving just as white as we came. However, today we are both feeling the effects of major burn.

Last night I decided I needed to practice rollerblading in preparation for my blind date tonight. Good thing I practiced, because I am terrible! Karissa was kind enough to attempt this with me. We looked like complete fools, laughed more than we bladed, and I took a good spill about 4 seconds after we started. It was an interesting night. We'll see how the date goes tonight. My legs are terribly sunburned, and now I have blisters from where the blades rubbed last night, so this may be an uncomfortable date. Hopefully he's cute. :)

Well Summer, bring on the sun!

Love is Blind

Or at least dating is. Blind dating.

I'm the queen of blind dates. I've been on more blind dates than many people go on in a lifetime. I am only 19-years-old. And I've been on more than most people. That is wrong.

But so fun.

I love when people set me up on blind dates. Why? Because I think it's a great way to meet someone that you wouldn't have met otherwise. A great way to make a new friend. A great way to have a fun time. A great way to meet your date's roommate if necessary.  A great way to broaden your horizons. A great way to have a funny story to tell.

I'm that girl that everyone thinks would be perfect with their friend/brother/cousin/neighbor. But sometimes when I meet the guy, I wonder just what they were thinking. Really? Me and him? Nevertheless, if the date is a complete disaster, at least I have a fun story to tell.

As the blog continues, I'll slowly tell the story of each of the blind dates. The good, the bad, and the ugly.

I am going on my seventh blind date tomorrow. Seventh.

Wish me luck.

For Interest's Sake

You know on the first day of the semester when the teacher says, "Stand up and tell us your name, where you are from, your major, and something interesting about yourself"? We've all heard it a billion times, and we're actually quite good at answering the first three questions. But when it's our turn, we can't think of a single interesting fact about ourselves. Nothing comes to mind. We suddenly feel like the most uninteresting people on the planet.

So, I have decided to make a list. What is interesting about Rebekah? Welp, here you go:

1. I cannot stay awake for an entire movie for the life of me. I can be so excited to see it, and I still can't even manage to keep my eyes open. I swear it's a disease. I don't remember the last time I saw an entire movie all the way through in one sitting. 

2. Almonds make my life a little happier. I love just about any nut, but almonds are seriously delicious.

3. I can't stand wearing two different socks. Even if no one can see them--it drives me crazy. On the same note, I can't stand wearing socks that don't match my outfit. Ridiculous, I know. I'm trying to overcome. 

4. If I had to choose a favorite chore I would have to say dishes are the best. (Well, I'd first say no chores at all....but if I HAD to choose one...I'd say dishes) 

5. In high school I ran for and became the Student Body Spirit Chair (with the slogan "Check Rebek"--the inspiration for my URL).  

6. When I grow up and become rich I would love to start some kind of foundation. I don't know what for yet, but there are plenty of great causes I would be more than happy to help with. 

7. I love to eat frozen peas and corn. I'm not sure why. I know it's weird.

8. Fruit snacks are the most desirable thing in my life. I could honestly eat an entire box if no one was there to stop me. I may or may not have done it before.

9. I have a terrible phobia of mice and rats. Seriously they disturb me. If I have any thought that there might be a mouse around, my feet will not touch the ground if I can help it. 

10. I think worms are disgusting. I know I'm 20 years old (almost), and I still cannot bring myself to touch one. So gross.

11. People who wear headphones in public make me angry. It's like they are too cool for everything that is going on around them. The only exception is when someone is exercising or doing homework or something. But someone who is just walking on campus or shopping at the store wearing headphones need to be smacked.

12. I am terribly claustrophobic. It's almost comical. Just thinking about, hearing about, or talking about the word claustrophobia makes me super uncomfortable.

13. I like to read. I know--that's not interesting, nor unique, but I still like it.

14. I have broken both of my collarbones. Once on a tricycle, and the other on a slip-'n-slide. 

15. I hate being in elevators alone. I don't know why, but it terrifies me. I think the thought of either the elevator getting stuck, or some creepy man getting in with me just doesn't sound very appealing.  

16. I have a weird orange peeling and eating routine. I have to wash my hands after I peel an orange, but before I eat it. I don't know why I can't just wash my hands after I eat it. But no, it must be in the order: peel, wash, eat. 

17.  Cheesecake is by far my favorite dessert. I absolutely hated it as a child, but have now matured into a complete cheesecake lover.

18. I have been in 2 movies. So what if I was only an extra? I was in an LDS film that is shown at the visitor's center in New York, and another called "Handcart" that was shown in theaters. I know, you've probably never heard of it--but still, I'm a movie star! (Even if I tried to watch it, I'd probably fall asleep.)
 
19. I was a cheerleader at Provo High School for two years. 

20. I love music. In my lifetime I have taken piano lessons for many many years, violin lessons for a few years, played in my school orchestra, sang with the school choirs in elementary, middle, and high school, and have also taken guitar lessons. Unfortunately, I'm terrible at every single one.

There you have it. Twenty random facts about me!

.

Today is June. What happened to May? And April?

Ok, I did not even realize it was June until I just saw the date on my last post. 

Where is my life going?!

I Should Give Myself Pep Talks

The history portion of this blog is put on hold. It's too boring for me to write about right now. Not that I'm a boring person--because I am most certainly not. Now is just not the time.

Right now I work at the Academic Advisement Center for the College of Fine Arts and Communications at BYU. Each day I meet with a number of students about academic questions. I help them make graduations plans, talk with them about admission criteria, and help them understand the different requirements for each major.

But my favorite part of my job is meeting with students on academic warning or probation. I enjoy helping them think through the past semester and deciding on new goals to become more successful in the future. We talk about their concerns and the things that were hard for them. As their academic advisor, I get to help them see the importance of education and to find new ways to improve. I follow up with some of them weekly, monthly, or by the semester to keep tabs on how they are doing. I gotta say...I give some good pep talks!

Students leave my office with a new sense of confidence about education. They gain a feeling of "I can do this!" I help them recognize that they have many strengths, and how to use those strengths. After they're gone I keep record of what we talked about, so in case they come back in I can recall our discussion. As I am writing the notes from our appointment I have to chuckle. Most of the students that meet with me don't know that I am a student like them. I make it sound like I am so experienced and say things like, "Back when I was trying to decide my major...". Haha, you guys, that was like yesterday! But I come to a realization that I could benefit from my own pep talks. If I could just follow my own advise, I could be a lot better student!