Being an English Major and Fireflies

So nothing huge lately. The biggest thing to talk about is New York. I've gotten used to the idea of being here. I like the area; it is beautiful. Right now things here are green, not yellow like in California; and not as hot, although it is more humid. Things for me have gotten into a routine. After waking up, I facebook and check my email (therefore that is the best time to inform me of things 48 hours in advance) and start "acting" like an English major, as Dr. Snyder of BYU's English department would say--basically meaning I read, write, and analyze, though I don't write analysis of what I read; I write novels (literally). Then it varies depending on the day.
So I have found some way to entertain me throughout the day. What I found really cool this week was on Monday night my parents led me and my siblings on a walk through a "forest" path near our house. It was dark, so we could only see dark shapes to tell where the trees were, but there were fireflies. It was fun to see. I have only seen fireflies when I was little and lived in Missouri, but even then, I don't remember them, my parents have only told me stories. But it got even cooler. For those of you who have seen the movie The Sorcerer's Apprentice you will have hear the song "Secrets" by OneRepublic during the scene with the plasma cage. As I walked back to the house, still along the path, the song came on my MP3 player, which was cool as the lightning bugs flickered across our path.
That's all that is new here. I do miss California--the people were wonderful and I miss the beach and the predictable weather. I also miss Utah--the people I met there were so much fun to be around and it was never boring; there was always an adventure waiting to happen. But Western New York is a good place to be too and I am glad that I could get an opportunity to see this coast of the country. Until next time.

Summer Reflections

I know I didn't post for a good six months, but blogging doesn't rank high on my list when compared with hanging out with my roommates. So here is what has happened: 
1) Spent another amazing semester with Kiley, Claire, and Charlotte doing crazy things--wars with our friends upstairs, more yelling out the window, and having Charlotte pretend to be engaged. We also did normal things (so that people don't think that we are totally crazy). We played frisbee, did homework, went on dates, and had rough times.

2) Moved out of the apartment--that was a semisad day. It meant saying good bye to three people who I had come to regard as sisters over the last nine/ten months. It was almost like we had the same personality at the end of the year; not quite because we were all different people, but we all were willing to do crazy things. But moving out also meant getting to go home to my family's "new" house in New York.

3) Entertaining myself in New York--First, I feel that I must dispell a question that many people have been asking me since I arrived in New York: "How do I like the state?" That question can't be answered easily. I do like the nature that is everywhere. Trees and forests are parts of the city and there is a swamp ten minutes away to the north and a waterfall ten minutes away to the south. I am close to the Sacred Grove and love that we can drive to Niagra Falls. But I miss the people I knew in California, the beaches, and the predictable weather. I also miss how the sun would come up through Provo Canyon in Utah and the way that everyone in the apartement complex in my area liked to do activities together. Anyways, enough sad comparisons. Mostly I entertain myself by watching TV and writing in one of the books that I always seem to be working on.

4) Saying good bye as guys leave for missions--this will be the last one because this is what is most pertinent today. I'm happy that the guys are willing and worthy to dedicate two years of their lives to the Lord. *Collin Morris: he grew up with me and was like my brother. He went to Brazil. *Hailame Fisi'iahi: he was one of my brother's best friends and super nice. He also went to Brazil. *Dallin McBride: he was in my apartment complex and super funny; he always knew how to make me smile. He's in Korea. *Connor Barham: he lived in my apartment complex and became one of my closest guy friends. He's going to Washington. *Owen Carroll: he was Connor's roommate and one of the nicest and most cultured guys I think I have ever met. He's going to Ukraine. *Ty Higley: he was one of the guys from building twelve in my apartment complex. He was super nice and kind of competitive. He's going to Brazil. *Brandon Sonnefeld: He's my cousin. He is always willing to listen and make things better. He's also going to Brazil. These are just a few of the guys who became really good friends of mine who are leaving. So go preach the gospel and help others feel the Spirit and maybe there will be a time when we will meet again, whether in this life or the life to come, and reminisce about the fun we have had.

That about wraps up the last six months. I should try to post more often, but we'll see what happens.

Bethanie