Thanksgiving time in Moab

This time of year always makes me so excited. I love being with my family and everything we do. We spent our Holiday in Moab. We went hiking, shooting, and played loads of games. I think the best part about it all however is eating Thanksgiving dinner on Paper plates with plastic silverware in a Condo somewhere outside of town. It's not the traditional dinner you hear everyone talk about. But it's tradition in our family and I LOVE IT! Here are some pictures.

FINALLY GOT AN "A" IN CHEMISTY!

These past few weeks have been so weird. I have been praying for time to move faster because I'm getting so anxious for school to be over this semester. There's only 2 more weeks left of school and I'm done. The reason I say the past few weeks have been so weird is because I've been getting what I've prayed for. Two weeks have already gone by.... and I have been staying way busy. This week especially since it's now Friday and I swear the week just started. However, I have been working my little butt off this past week because I had a Chemistry exam on Wednesday and I spent over 17 hours studying for it. (Yuck! I know right?!) Well, praying for help and all the study time paid off! LOOK FOR YOURSELF!

Detail file for chem1210-1118ensign

Name : Nicole Pond                 Id: A00789093
Test : chem1210-1118ensign       Date: November 18, 2009
You scored:   23 out of   25 for    92%
 You ranked:   44 out of  227 who took this test
Average score:  19.5 +/-    4.6 (std.dev)

Question    Response    Question    Response    Question    Response
 #      Your   Instr |   #      Your   Instr |   #      Your   Instr |
---     ----   ----- |  ---     ----   ----- |  ---     ----   ----- |
 1       D           |  10       D           |  19       C           |
 2       B           |  11       A           |  20       A           |
 3       A           |  12       E           |  21       C      D    |
 4       C           |  13       D           |  22       B      E    |
 5       E           |  14       A           |  23       B           |
 6       A           |  15       B           |  24       B           |
 7       D           |  16       D           |  25       C           |
 8       B           |  17       C           |
 9       B           |  18       B           |

I ONLY MISSED 2 QUESTIONS! Totally awesome. I know the Lord answers prayers! By the way Thanks Cody for all your help! You're the best!

Not much to report :

Life has not been the most exciting lately. I feel like there isn't much I can report on to keep you all interested for very long but nonetheless I have the urge to blog right now. So to keep you updated on what has happened over the past couple months.

• I got a calling in church. I'm once again helping with the compassionate service committee. I swear I always get called to help with that and it's great because I love it!
• I'm doing really well in school. I have been caught up in all my classes for a little while now and I can't believe I would procrastinate my homework before. It's totally stressful! So school is going well.
• The boys in my life are basically my nephews and Cam Woodbury (my really close friend). I haven't dated much since I got to school whether it be because I'm too busy with homework and studies or the real reason....because the boys are lame up here.
• I love FHE! I have a crush on my FHE dad which is probably why I love to go, but not only that it's that we have something different we do every week! We hiked to the wind caves once, played games as a family, made skookies one night while playing wii, and to tie it all together we share spiritual thoughts. I love, love it.
• Lastly, I have been donating plasma for the past month and a half now. It's the coolest experience you could do for yourself. You help save a life and get money for it. WIN WIN situation people! Awesome! And just to add a note to those who aren't interested really, I heard it helps lower your cholesterol, so go check it out!
  

Other then these things listed here, there really isn't much going on in the life of me. I'll continue to update now that I have more time considering I'm ahead in all my work. I'll be in touch.

The Power of The Temple

A few weeks ago I attended the temple dedication with my family. While in the meeting house I had an experience I will never forget. I had a "flash forward" if you so will about something I desire with all my heart. For all of you who know me, I have been talking seriously about serving a mission ever since I have been home from China. That is still my desire. Anyway, the experience that I had while with my family leads highly into attending the temple. I saw myself walking within those sacred walls, and felt as if I were walking on clouds. After the shock of realizing where I was and looking at the incredible structure of the building.... It came time for me to walk through the vale and when I looked through to the other side, I immediately burst into tears. On the other side I saw my Father standing there waiting for me, smiling as bright as the sun. He motioned for me to come and accompany him so we could finish out the rest of the session. As I walked across the vale with tears still in my eyes, he grabbed my hand and then embraced me. I had never been so happy in my entire life! I felt completed, I felt real joy, I felt my Savior. My father stepped back and looked me in the eyes and said, "Nicole, this is it. You did it! I'm so proud of you. This is what life is all about. Remember and ALWAYS Remember." After those last couple words of "always remember" I flashed back to reality while sitting in the meeting house. I then had tears well up in my eyes for real. I then thought, that's exactly how it's going to be and I wouldn't have it any other way. Therefore, my feelings of serving a mission got stronger. I know my Father loves me. I want him to be the one that pulls me through. This brought me to have a strong testimony of the gospel and why the temple is so important! I cannot wait for my time to go through the temple. What an incredible opportunity.
This site below is an awesome article about why these temples are so important. I love this gospel so much. It's totally Epic!
http://www.lds.org/temples/purpose/why/0,11581,1953-1,00.html

SCHOOL... School... school

Poof!!! I'm back from my fantasy world. Sorry it's been over a month since I last updated. There are no excuses other then my fantasy world ROCKS! Well, it's crazy to think summer has come and gone already and now it's time to go back to school. I have been running around like a mad women trying to get everything ready to move back up to Logan. I can't tell you how "EXCITED" I am to live there again. It's probably the best place ever. Plus the whole school scene isn't that bad either! I'm serious. I love it. Life has been good and it will only get that much better when I'm back in Logan. See ya up there guys! I know you've been waiting for me!

July already...... julying to me? Julyer!

I can't believe it's already July! It's crazy to me how much time has flown since I have been back from China, gone to school for a semester, and it be almost half way through the summer! I'm excited for the upcoming events in my life though which will be exciting in the weeks and months to come. Especially this weekend for the fireworks! Just a little preview of what it will look like!

Olive Garden Eatin'!!

One of Heather's roommates, Lora, had never been to the Olive Garden to eat. I know it's a "catastrophe" right? (inside joke) Well, that all changed on the 21st of March, 2009. We ventured down the street, just a hop, skip, and a jump away to have a delectable meal. It was quite the adventure. Maybe it's just one of those things you just have to be there for but nonetheless it was rather entertaining! We had a good ol' time!

Me and Lora: Aren't we just so beautiful?













Heather and Samantha: They could practically be twins right? Maybe.... Almost....??


























They had these amazing drinks that were so good. We each had our own little passion for them after we got them. And yes I'm drinking water.... Cause in case you didn't know..... water's always better! (Famous words from the movie - Waterboy)

Can you be 2 places at once?

Oh the boredom days up at USU. They really do go well. A few of my friends had on their kick list (Bucket List) to be in 2 places at once. (Is that even possible?) Oh by Zeuz, you better believe it is. We were trying to think of ways to make it happen.....and well thanks to the movie "A Walk to Remember" things happened! Thank goodness Idaho is only about 15 minutes away. HEHE!

Year 2009!!

Year 2009 started off with a bang! My friend Sammy invited a group of friends over to watch the Utah vs. Alabama Bowl game. And let me tell you it was the night of a life time! We had so much fun with the intensity of the game, the amazing camel/chocolate fondu, and the enjoyment of each others company that we had to document our joy. And look the whole crew decided to show up. Oh and for those that don't know.....Utah beat Bama! BOOYAH!!!! 13-0. Perfection looks so much better in RED.