The List

Here is this weeks list of gratitude:

1. I am SO glad to finally be finished with the first draft of my research paper!! It's the longest paper I've ever written, and the most involved research I've ever done, and it has been an overwhelming and daunting task.  Now that I've cranked out the first draft, all that's left is editing!  I feel like there might be light at the end of this hideous 'Intro to Music Research' tunnel.  

2. I was grateful for the opportunity to perform at the stake fireside tonight.  It was the first time that many of my Michigan friends have heard me play cello, and it was lots of fun.  It's because of nights like these that I do what I do.  :) I love cello!

3.  I'm grateful for all the bundling and layering skillz that I learned while living in frigid Logan Utah.  Michigan suddenly got REALLY REALLY cold this week!  I fear I'm going to need these skills plus more to make it through the winter here!

4. I am grateful for PetSmart's veterinary service that is free within the first two weeks of purchasing a pet from them.  Unfortunately my sweet Gloria has contracted an upper respiratory infection, so she's hanging out at PetSmart receiving antibiotics and extra love from the vet crew until she's well enough to live with me again.  I miss her.

5. I'm infinitely grateful to the WMU computer help desk for taking my hard drive, that was proclaimed unreadable by the micro-computer lab, and salvaging every single one of my precious files.  Including my music, my pictures, Nathan's mission pictures, my programs, and my research project.  Ten billion sighs of relief!

It's been a crazy week.  I'm grateful for the weekend!!  It's about time!

Another picture post... newest to oldest

This is a sneak peek into my new room!  I built this computer desk all by my self, and I felt like Rosie Rooter!!  Who needs men??  lol.
This is my little bed and the quilt that my grandma made for me as a highschool graduation present.  I still love it! 
This is my awesome dresser that my roommate Allison saved for me.  Her parents were going to chuck it, but it's still good, and I'm extremely grateful for it! 
This is my calendar and countdown and to do list.  To the left of these things is my closet that is nothing special.  Just sliding doors with mirrors on them.  Now do you feel like you've been to my room in person?  :) 
These are some of my new friends from the 'kub" that showed me around Kalamazoo today.  This is us at the fountain in front of the music building.  Obviously I missed the memo about wearing sunglasses... it looked overcast to me today.  
This is a blurry picture of the Western Michigan University sign taken through my bug splattered windshield, but I was so excited to have finally reached my destination that I had to take a picture!  
Unfortunately this is the only picture I took of my 22 hour road trip.  But it's a water tower that says Morris on it.  That's pretty cool, right?  
Talking to Lynsie on speaker phone so that all 4 of us could be there at Einstein's for breakfast.  Yay for modern technology that makes Oklahoma not seem so far away!  Lyns, we miss you!!
Breakfast on the morning of the great departure.  Favorite quote... "I thought we were all going to LOOK at our drinks!" -Katie
One last trip to Sconecutter the night before I left for Michigan.  Mmmmm, onion straws and a bite of Katie's strawberry shake.  How in the world did they mess up Mountain Dew for raspberry lemonade?

Karlie got married and is now Mrs. Ady.  The wedding was beautiful!  
I bought new glasses and they look like this...  I feel very "geek sheik" when I wear them! 

Nathan and I discovered this jem of a couch at D.I. (for $10) summer of 2006 and drove it home bungee chorded to the top of my little Ford Escort.  Probably the best $10 I ever spent! I was really sad to leave it in Logan.  It simply wasn't safe to bungee chord it all the way to Kalamazoo!  

I sent Nathan the best birthday present ever... 22 gifts for 22 days until 22!  He's been having fun opening a gift each day, right down to August 31!  

Getting Settled

I went to church today... at the "kub", which stands for Kalamazoo university branch.  I made some new friends who are like me! -which is an exciting thing to find when you're 1500 miles from home.  The branch is small, but everyone is extremely tight with each other, and I feel like I have 22 new best friends.  And they already asked me to speak in church next week.  I think that's funny cause in my 4 years of USU student wards, I never once spoke in sacrament meeting.  

I also unpacked most of my stuff.  It feels nice to have a place that feels like my own here.  Tomorrow will be even better when I get pictures and stuff up on the walls.  Yay.  

I'm still looking for an internet connection in my house that is strong enough to let my upload more pictures and videos.  So far no such luck.