I am looking forward to next Thursday. It will be one heck of a celebratory day for Kalynn Eve Petersen.

I am also looking forward to my birthday. I have to milk it for all its worth.

Tonight I rediscovered Muse and realized how much I have missed them.

Water for Elephants really IS such a good movie. Go see it, people.

I kind of feel like baking right now. 

It's wayyy past my bedtime. Not counting Thursday night when I stayed up until two, this is most definitely the latest I have been up in some time. I don't know why my sleeping patterns resemble those of grandparents.

I wish it were possible to get all test grades back instantly.

I keep thinking about how lucky I am to have a bed like mine.

I wish I had a baby. Which is a problem, cause I don't want a husband. haa.

I want cherries.

I misssssss Matthewwwwwwwww.

I need to stop complaining and focus on more positive things. Like cinnamon rolls and apple juice. but not together.

Hey, it's FRIDAY!

yay, it's finally Friday!

Today is officially the last Friday I will be spending in Cedar City. And I won't even be here the entire day! It is also the last Friday that I count as a Southern Utah University student. I have been looking forward to this Friday for some time now.

I am most excited to be able to see all my family this weekend. I know I just saw most of them last weekend, and I also know that I really shouldn't be going home the weekend before finals (hopefully my Spanish final doesn't reflect that..) but it's my newest nephew's baby blessing on Sunday, and family simply comes first. Besides, it's not the first time that I've done something stupid to make it to a nephew's baby blessing.

This afternoon will be spent relaxing. For the first time..like...ever.. I slept in until 10:00 today. (Just a disclaimer, this was only because we were up until two eating waffles at Denny's.) I got up and did my scripture study and e-mailed some prospective employers. Eventually I'll shower, but for now, I think I'll just inform the boyfriend that I'm hungry, and hopefully he will take care of that. :)

I also want to add that I am SO excited for school to be over for many reasons, but one of those definitely includes Matthew's baseball games. His first one is the day after we get back home for the summer. Yesterday, we hit up St. George and found him new cleats and some baseball pants...and I just want to say, that Matt is one of the guys that looks really, really good in baseball pants. yeeeeahh yeah. can't wait!

What do you all have planned for this weekend?

Wednesday.

"...and I think to myself...

What a wonderful world."

A letter to the world.

Dear World,

               Despite your shortcomings, your trials and obstacles, your rowdy conservatives

               that get their hair in a net over silly things like health care (sarcasm!),

               and your oriental-flavored Ramen Noodles,

               there lies a beauty much more wonderful and implicit. 

               Something unseen to the eye trained to simply view the temporal,
               There awaits life lessons.
               Alongside chicken-flavored Ramen, Creme Soda (the regular kind), and best friends that give you back massages in your sleep,
               I love you.

Love, Kalynn.

I couldn't just let it go by.

Easter, I mean. 

I couldn't just let it go by without bearing my simple testimony of its importance to me.

I love my Savior. I know he lived, died on the cross for my sins; for our sins, was resurrected, and now lives again. It was an act that is utterly incomprehensible for humankind. At the same time, however, our loving Heavenly Father grants us glimpses of understanding through beautiful, sacred experiences. I'm so entirely grateful that Jesus Christ, our brother, atoned for my sins so that I can make it back to my Father in Heaven, after all I can do. 

*"and the angel answered and said unto the woman, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said."

Happy Easter.

*Matthew 28: 5-6.

Just a few...

things I've loved about being home:

watching Tangled.

favorite princess movie. ever.

family game of "Nuts." 

It's about to get cra-zay in hurrr.

visiting the current chamber kiddos. I missss them allllll the time.

Shelb. Mikelle. Jared. Steeeeve. Mckay. Janene. 

Easter shopping with my mama.

 We bonded well. :]

playing [and winning!] the farming game.

Fruit. get's em every time.

He's ready.

Yesterday, I kicked my math test in the butt.

In 5 minutes, the boyfriend is coming over here to give me a back massage.

Tomorrow, I get to leave for home at noon-thirty.

It's Easter weekend.

**money-filled Easter eggs, and Easter bonding shopping**

life is good, my friends. Life is good.

Bring it on.

Recently, I have been indebted to a life of servitude - with the slave owner being SUU.

He (with violent force, mind you) manipulates me into giving away epic portions of my life to

textbooks, exams, and lectures on how mechanical pencils are forbidden on text day. 

"Umm hi...,mechanical pencils are my weapon-of-choice in brutal combat, such as my history final. Suck."

Anywho. Kalynn's leetle brain needed a big break.

Then Matthew and I went to the St. George Temple.

The baptismal font room enjoyed our reverent company for the perfect amount of minutes.

 

And suddenly, Kalynn's little brain feels like it can take on these final two and a half weeks of the semester.

I'm at this weird point in life.

I can make choices that won't have lasting consequences.

Yet at the same time, I am making some of the most important decisions that will very much affect my future.

I am young enough to skip town when annoyed with the pressures of people trying to conform me.

But old enough to be tied down by commitments and responsibilities.

I can blame my urges to live off of goldfish crackers on the carefree spirit of adolescence, 

However, those spirits must be muted in the maturity of this thing I hate to call "adulthood."

I can give my heart to those whom I know will simply break it.

Whilst still looking for the one that will guard it for eternity.

**No, Matt won't break my heart. And No, I'm not still looking.

I'm just saying.

------

I've been schizophrenic with my feelings lately.

One second I'm twitter-patted.

The next, I'm annoyed.

I'm happy.

Then I'm sad.

It makes sense,

then it's a mess.

-----

It's very paradoxical, this life.

But I count my blessings.

And when it comes down to it, the Lord gives me exactly what I ask for.

Sometimes I just find myself asking for the wrong things.

So I really can't complain.

For those of you who follow my scripture blog I'm sorry for neglecting it this weekend.

There was just so much to do.

I am dying for summertime.

 And now, As I confine myself to my room for the rest of the evening
with too much to do,

I bid thee adieu. 

For Friday.

"...as she looked at her friend's flowers, she noticed a beautiful golden Chrysanthemum, but was puzzled that it was growing in a dented old rusty bucket. Her friend explained, 'I ran short of pots, and knowing how beautiful this one would be, I thought it wouldn't mind starting in this old pail..just for a little while, until I can put it out in the garden.

    - Thomas S. Monson

"Appearances can be so deceiving; such a poor measure of a person"

      -Thomas S. Monson

While appearances may allude to factors of inequality,

we are in no position to judge.

As imperfect beings, we all need the atonement.

"Charity is having patience with someone who has let us down; it is resisting the impulse to become offended easily. It is accepting weaknesses and shortcomings. It is accepting people as they truly are. It is looking beyond physical appearances to attributes that will not dim through time. It is resisting the impulse to categorize others."

          -Thomas S. Monson

As that of the beautiful Chrysanthemum, we all have the eternal potential to become something great.

Our burdens, short-comings and limitations are but temporary.

click here and on the right side click the "listen" button to hear this beautiful and uplifting talk from the prophet of our church.

what's on the agenda.

Tomorrow:

8:00: wake up.

8:30: read scriptures.

9:00: get ready.

Classes until 12.

12:30-3:30: drive to Provo.

4:00-4:15: interview.

4:15-7:15: drive back to Cedar.

woo. hoo.

Tips to a happy life.

1. Don’t say “yes” when you mean “no.” It’ll make you resentful. Say what you mean and mean what you say.

2. When driving, if someone wants to get in front of you, let him in front of you. And do it with a smile. It’ll make his day better, and it’ll make you feel good. You just changed the world.

3. Try to make a mental gratitude list each day. Include big things and little things.

4. Don’t be a problem solver when a friend just wants you to be a listener.

5. Call your parents or grandparents. Sometimes, a five-minute phone call is all they need to feel loved.

6. Be a good neighbor: Be considerate inside and outside your home/apartment so your noise doesn’t bother those around you. 

7. Pee in the shower. If we each did this once a day, it would save an enormous amount of water and toilet paper (trees).

8. Write a letter. Tell someone you know, or someone you’ve never met, why you admire him or her. You’ll make someone’s day.

9. Curb your jealousy. Be happy for others.

10. Be willing to be wrong. If someone has a grievance with you, really try to see her point of view. If called for, apologize. It’s hard to do, but it feels really good. And even if it doesn't feel good, it makes life so much easier.

11. If you are in a room with someone you don’t know, introduce yourself right away. It takes away the social discomfort immediately.

12. Pick a cause close to your heart, and get involved. You don’t have to quit your job and dive in headfirst. Just get involved on some level and do what you can when you can. Go slightly beyond your comfort zone, but don’t overextend yourself.

13. Be a good friend to your friends. Tell them what’s good about them, that you appreciate them, and make the effort to spend time with them.

14. Enjoy everything in moderation.

15. Do your best to think good thoughts. They affect your health, happiness, and the people around you.

16. Do something frivolous for someone you love. (It doesn’t have to be extravagant.) It feels so good to do nice things for other people, it’s almost selfish!

17. Practice accepting compliments. The person complimenting you is giving you a gift. Receive it graciously, even if it is difficult.

18. Be generous with your compliments. Say nice things when they occur to you.

19. Forgive those who have wronged you. Holding onto anger and resentment poisons your body and your life. There are no benefits in staying mad. Let go. It’s okay.

20. Forgive yourself. It’s okay to be imperfect and to have made mistakes. Try to do better, that’s all.

Tips to a happy life, by Rory Freedman.

Love, Kalynn.

love, Kalynn.

Dear Brielle,

You are my BSFF.

You are trying just as hard as I am

to get me a job. 

Therefore, I love your guts.

<3, Kalynn. 

Dear Next Week,

I can't wait to go to the temple

and have a slumber party with my sister.

I'm not looking forward to losing a quarter of a tank of gas...

but at least I don't have to walk.

<3, excited Kalynn.

,

Dear Satan,

You are a douchebag.

I want to kick you where it counts

and throw gummy bears at your head.

Good thing I already know some people who 

are taking care of that.

no <3, Kalynn.

Dear Cell Phone,

If you dare allow the stupid back thing of you

to fall off ONE more time, so help you.

<3, Not happy Kalynn.

Dear Tad R. Callister,

Thank you for writing such a beautifulbook.

"The Infinite Atonement" makes me happy.

everday.

<3, Kalynn.

Dear Mama,

It's weird that I'm not home this weekend, isn't it?

<3, Kalynn.

Dear BYU computers,

please accept the transcripts that I sent you

in January, so that I don't sign up for credits

that I have already received. 

much <3, Kalynn.

Cheating isn't cool, guys.

For some reason, every time my brother Adam and I go some place together, the world thinks we are a couple. Adam came down to Cedar City today, and he took me out to lunch at Cafe Rio! Which was, as always, very delicious. After we were done eating, we walk out of the restaurant and Adam says "wait..I have to pee." So we walk back in and I wait by the door while he uses the little boys' room. As I'm patiently waiting by the door, a girl I recognize from a class, but don't know her name, walks up to me. Our conversation went a little bit like this:

Girl: I'm just voicing my opinion here, but cheating ISN'T cool.

Kalynn: ....huh?

Girl: I see you walking around campus every day holding hands with some cute guy, and now you're here with ANOTHER guy. I'm positive that your boyfriend would NOT appreciate this. It seriously IS NOT cool to cheat on nice guys.

Kalynn:....this guy is my brother....?...

Girl: oh...

yeah. lesson learned.

A Scripture a day.

I've started a second blog called "A Scripture a Day." 


Sometimes, all we need is a perfect scripture to help us realize something important or make us feel better. So each morning I'm going to post a good scripture on that blog. You can follow it here if you want. :)


--Kalynn Eve.

Thank-full.

1: I am thankful that my mother cared enough about me to take care of herself, so that i can be here. I love living. so much. & I owe most of it to her.
2: I'm so thankful that I got to hear the prophet speak yesterday. & that he once said, "If you want to live a happy, successful life, you must learn to love people and use things. Never love things and use people."
3: I'm thankful that I get to hear him speak again today.
4: I am thankful for advil.
5: I guess I'm thankful that I never got a job in Cedar City. Things don't work out when they're not supposed to. It would have prevented me from being able to visit home so much. And my loving parents help make things work anyway. for now.
6: I'm thankful for the babysitting jobs I was fortunate to acquire sometimes. They always came/come at the exact right moments.
7: I am thankful that I lived it Cedar City once. I won't ever do it again..but I'm thankful for the experience. I learned how much my parents do for me. and how much I can do on my own. I realized what true friends are. and that you really only need a few. and I also learned that my sister Julie and her husband Jon, my 6-year old niece, and my adorable 1-year old nephew are some of the best friends I will ever have.
8: I'm so thankful for my sister Julie. I don't know anybody like her. She never gives up on anybody, and she'll tell you do to the same.
9: And I'm thankful for all my nieces and nephews. I love being an Aunti. Good work with the reproduction, brothers and sisters!
10: I am thankful for Mrs. Van from Santa Clara Elementary. It's because of her that I want to teach 2nd grade.
11: I am thankful for Brielle Porter; my BSFF.
12: I am thankful for my cousin DJ and that he's going on a mission. He's such a good example to me. I'm so proud of him.
13: I am thankful that Matthew John Meyers loves me enough to come visit me EVEN when I bail on our plans because I'm too obsessed with my family..
14: I am thankful that I get to pray. any day. any time. and that I know I will get an answer, whether I like the answer I get or not.
15: I am thankful that BYU exists. And that I get to go there this fall. And that I will be SO much closer to my family. 
16: I am thankful that I got to go to Europe last years.
17: I am thankful that I am one of the lucky ones who get to get educated and go to college. cool-lege.
18: I am thankful for my family. I don't even think they know how thankful I am. But. I am.
19: I'm thankful for the "relationships" I've had with boys. They taught me what I do and do not want in a husband. And they taught me a lot, a LOT about myself.
20: I'm so thankful for my bed at home. If you've seen it, you know why.
21: I'm thankful for water. mmm. i love it. I feel like it's never going to stop coming. But someday, it probably will. and I'm thankful that day is not today. at least I hope it's not today..
22: I'm tankful for good music. And that there's still good people out there who make it.
23: I'm thankful for technology. I love typing and texting so much. And I'm thankful for Skype. And that when I'm away from the boyfriend, I can skype him, for free, for as long as I want.
24: I'm thankful that he loves me so much.
25: I'm just so thankful for Matthew David Ludlow. period.
26: I am thankful for swings and trampolines.
27: I am thankful for running. and that my body allows me to do so.
28: I am thankful for my car. He listens to me sing and he puts up with my everyday. And he's kept me safe thus far. knock on wood.
29: I am thankful for friendships that last a lifetime.
30: I'm thankful that I graduated from high school.
31: I'm thankful for missionaries.
32: I'm thankful that Abby was in my ward when I first moved here so that I could have a friend. And I'm thankful that she put up with me for 4 years. Even though I'm pretty sure that's all we get.
33: I'm thankful for Lauren Jones. We don't talk often, but I'm very inspired by her. And i really can't wait to be able to see her more often when I come to BYU.
34: I am thankful for early mornings.
35: I am thankful for sunny summer days with the kind of sun you can feel soaking through your skin.
36: I am thankful that I sometimes get zits on my face. Maybe it's supposed to keep me from being prideful.
37: I am thankful for churches and the smell in them. One of my favorite smells is that old wood/crayons smell that you inhale when you walk into old stake centers.
38: I'm so thankful for babies and how their freshness reminds me how pure Heavenly Father's love is.
39: I'm thankful I get to be a mother someday.
40: I am thankful for my dad and that he's such a good guy and that I can trust him. I know some girls don't get daddies like that, and it breaks my heart.
41: I am thankful for my brother Adam. Even though I still don't think he's learned how important I am to him yet.
42: I am thankful for my oldest sister. And that she is always the one to call me. I love knowing she loves me.
43: I am thankful for my brother Derek and that he always used to write me notes and leave them on my bed. That's when I learned how much more love family is capable of having than anybody else.
44: I am thankful for my brother Nathan. I owe him everything. everything.
45: I am SO thankful for photographs.
46: I am thankful that my mom called me when she was worried last night when it took me 40 minutes just to get gas.
47: I'm thankful that I was okay.
48: I am thankful that Berkley Sumner goes to the temple so much, because it always reminds me to go and makes me want to go more.
49: I am thankful for this scrapbooked quote Alexa Call made me in the 8th grade. I still have it on my magnet board, and it always reminds me to rely on Christ.
50: I'm thankful for Mormon Ads. And that there are enough to cover my entire wall.
51: I am thankful that I get to see the world in color. I love colors. Especially yellow.
52: I'm thankful for the clothes I have. I complain about them a lot, but I really am thankful for them.
53: I am so thankful for the people that are happy even when they have next to nothing. I want to give them most of my clothes, in exchange for a smile like theirs.
54: I am thankful that there is a fridge full of food upstairs, all waiting to be cooked into Conference Breakfast.
55: I am thankful for the face Matthew is making in his sleep right now over Skype. He is the absolute cutest.
56: I am thankful for love. I feel like everything that happens, both good and bad, is because of LOVE.

Your turn!!

--Kay.