Old Places, Friendly Faces

This last weekend I went on a day-trip with my church to Palmyra, NY, a place full of Mormon church history. It just so happens that I spent much time there as a missionary awhile ago, so it was exciting to be going there on multiple levels.

Two of my roommates went, too. It was fun! Me and Alina in the Joseph Smith Frame home (above). And me and Jess with the Palmyra Temple in the background.

Oh Boy

Ok, so I am finding it extremely difficult to concentrate on the last four week of this semester. First, the weather has turned!!! It is Spring, officially. I had to take my cardigan off while walking home tonight because I actually felt warm. Incredible. It makes me just want to be outside all the time.

Second, I don't want to face my final assignments; one 15-page paper, one 10-page paper, and another 10-page paper, plus studying for an multiple choice exam...all due in about 4 weeks. Yikes. Let's just say, I'm not promising all As this time around. I never promised those in the first place, but yeah, I'm totally OK with Bs. And third, there's just a lot goin' on around here. It's been three full months now that I have lived in my apartment in Manhattan. I think it's safe to say I feel settled in and am starting to really make friends and get to know people and be familiar to people. So, that's nice.

This past weekend was General Conference for the church and I watched all four sessions at the church. I really think I got a whole lot more out of it, because I was at the church, dressed up, sitting up, and watching a big screen. All these factors contributed to an inspiring weekend. In between sessions on Saturday I joined a small group of people in Central Park for a picnic. How's that for a New York moment?! I still sometimes can't believe I live here.

A few favorite notes from Conference:

-It is possible to feel bathed in help, even in turbulent times.

-There are those who have imagined a Jesus who wants people to work for social justice, but who makes no demands upon their personal life and behavior.

-There is no greater good than motherhood.

D-O-N-E, DONE!!!

Above: Me writing papers at the NYU library the other night, The little speck behind me that I am staring at is the Empire State Building, lit up blue and white. Too bad I don't have time to go out and actually enjoy NYC!

I just finished printing off my LAST final paper for my first semester of grad school. Yes, I feel pretty dang proud AND relieved at this moment. I was strugglin' quite a bit at the beginning of the semester...and the middle and end. Let me be real, here. I was miserable. BUT, because of the wise teachings of my parents and the gospel of Jesus Christ, I knew that with challenges come strengths and lessons learned. Most important lesson learned this time: I CAN get through it and even do well at it! Even when miserable! Haha..ha.

So, tomorrow I attend my last two classes, turn in my last two papers, and then get on a plane bound for HOME! :) I have never been more excited to return home after being away, except for maybe when I was coming home from my mission. And it's Christmas time! I love Christmas time, but I never really feel like it is until I am with my family. Therefore, starting December 16th, I will officially become aware of the holiday season.

Upon my return to New York, I will be moving into Manhattan! Things have worked out so well. I had hopes to move into this very apartment, because it contains some very dear friends of mine. Unfortunately, one of them is leaving and that's how I am able to move there. BUT! She won't be far. Life in the city, so I'm told, is a must-have experience (duh) and quite different than the Brooklyn experience. I'm grateful I get to experience both.

The photo below is the amazing, humble little branch I am leaving behind. I will once again be in a singles ward (heaven help me). But I guess I better take advantage (?), because before I know it, I'll be getting the "you're too old" boot!
I'm also leaving behind this little guy. He's kept me company through what felt like the toughest four months of my life! We totally bonded. Who woulda thought, I even get attached to animals?! Oh wait...I did. I knew that would happen. :(

A Bold Experiment

Fall has arrived! I love my windows in my bedroom, because I look out of them and see trees and leaves! Oh, and also an old skool fire escape, which reminds me I live in NYC. Not that I need that reminder...but sometimes I do. And I'm sure other places besides NYC have fire escapes, but this is a first for me.I am almost half way through midterm paper madness!! I turn in #2 (but kind like #3, since there are two parts to one particular midterm), tomorrow, then two more next week. Gaaaah. I'm not getting too excited, though, because right when the last midterm paper is handed in, I'm sure I'll be starting on final papers. Waaaah! But! On a lighter note...
At least I have things like the above to cheer me up! When I went to a church activity last week someone's daughter was there selling them for school! It was crazy, seeing the "World's Finest Chocolate" bars in their box, staring me in the face. I made sure to tell the girl that I used to sell those same exact candy bars when I was in elementary school!! And I went further to prove it, by stating that I bet they had a coupon on the backside of the wrapper. Sure enough, I was right! It was even a Pizza Hut coupon, which I'm pretty certain was the same coupon on the back of the ones I sold. I had no idea these candy bars were still in circulation, even at an elementary school on the opposite side of the country! I was quickly saddened by the fact that I didn't have any money with me to buy one. To my surprise, someone else overheard my elation upon seeing that nostalgic chocolate and bought me one! I made sure to make it last, enjoying every bite.=)

On a healthier note, I finally went grocery shopping last week and actually bought food with a meal plan in mind...kind of. I just knew I didn't want frozen meals for dinner. I didn't want to eat out either, because that is pricey. So, the other night I cooked some whole wheat pasta noodles with Alfredo sauce, sauteed some mushrooms and peas.
Wah-la! The result! It didn't have much flavor to it, but that's pretty typical for Alfredo sauce dishes, right? I'm no cook, but I was pretty proud of myself for stepping up from where I have been (aka: frozen pizzas or frozen veggie burgers).
And this one above is a new one for me, introduced by my roommate. Beans and hard boiled eggs, with a little hot sauce to give it kick. When I first saw her eating it I thought, that's a weird combination. And then I tried it, and it's delicious! It takes more patience than I am used to (a whole 20 minutes or so just to boil two eggs!), but I'm learning. Ha. One of these days, I'll actually try and get past cooking the things that just require heating up in water, straight from a can or bag, and they're ready to eat. But baby steps, people. Baby steps.

Small in Number, Great in Spirit

I attended church today where I am zoned, and really enjoyed it. It's called the Bushwick Branch and is held in a non-traditional church building, but they've converted the portion that the church rents into what every other Mormon church looks like inside. The plaques next to the doors labeling what room is what, the pulpit and the cushioned chairs that interlock with each other (that was the main difference, no standard church benches), etc. And of course, the doctrine and teachings were the same. Duh. I think the fact that you can go literally ANYWHERE in the world and find the EXACT same teachings and doctrine and lessons and books, etc. is so amazing and wonderful. And more than anything else, if someone wants proof that this church is true, enough said. Talk about being unified! I don't know of any other religion, church, belief system, that can claim the same. I've been to my church in California, Costa Rica, New York, Spain and more. What did I get at each one? The same lessons, the same warm welcome, the same spirit, testifying to me that this gospel of Jesus Christ, in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is true. And the greatest part is everyone can experience that for themselves. A person MUST find out for himself. No one can force him to believe or to know.

The missionaries had two investigators at church today, a 19-year old girl and her 13-year old brother. I went to the Gospel Principles class with them, and the lesson was on agency and the purpose for it. It was a great class and the investigators joined in on discussion. It reminded me of being a missionary, and I know those two elders from Utah were beaming. :)

Never, Never on a Sunday

The weekend was fun! I party crashed as a tag-a-long friend to birthday parties Friday and Saturday night and met some nice, new people. These two shin-digs took place in one area of Manhattan I had never been before and one that I hadn't been to that much before; Inwood (which is north of Central Park) and an area known as the "Financial District." I'll give you two guesses of where the latter one is located...yes, you guessed it. Near Wall St. and all those other financial buildings. I only took pictures at the Saturday night party. It was held outdoors on this huge courtyard in the back of this super nice and very new (this was rare, because nothing is new in NYC) apartment building. Oh, and it's SUPER tall.

The party was adorable...and, as usual, so was Abby
BUT!...so was I.......because I hang out with Abby.

Sunday was interesting. I took the subway to church, so it didn't feel much like a Sunday at all.
I went into Manhattan to see about attending a ward where I heard they allow NYU students to go to, but it turns out you still have to live in the boundaries...and I definitely do not. So, I visited Abby's ward and called it good for now (see below. also, the temple).I will be attending a branch instead, from here on out. I hear it's small, hence the branch status (to be a ward I think you need at least 100 people). I'm actually really looking forward to it. It will be a neat experience, to say the least. It's called the Bushwick Branch and takes place in Brooklyn. More details on it to follow next Sunday, after I have gone for my first time.

My roommate made grilled hot dogs with potato chips and pork beans on the side for dinner. It totally hit the spot! I have fantastic roommates. :)