Between The Lines Of Life

Something so simple, yet simply profound. Follow your heart. I mean, how deliciously simple can it get?! All these years I've been agonizing over decisions I shouldn't have worried about. I worried because of remarks from friends and family which made me feel inferior, like I couldn't take care of myself. These decisions mostly involved affairs of the heart, college, and my future. Sure, some of the advice I received I kind of wish I'd listened to, but if I had I wouldn't have learned such a valuable lesson. The last two or three months have been one gigantic learning curve for me, and although it sometimes hurts to think about, I'm glad I had the experience. When my uncle said all that mattered is that I follow my heart, that's when I knew where things had gone wrong, and where things were going right. My college degree is right, because I'm following my heart. God wouldn't have given me a love of and a talent for writing if it weren't right...

For my International Studies class on Developing Worlds we had to write an essay at the end of the semester about our role in the Developing World. I thought I'd post it on here for my friends and family to read. I hope to one day make a difference in the world, especially in Mexico. Mexico is such a great place and it saddens me to think that there are still so many 3rd world problems there that are easily fixed. Maybe one day I'll find my place in the world and figure out how to make a difference in my own way. So, here is my essay. Not the best I've ever written, but certainly not the worst either. My Role in the Developing Worlds             Throughout the course of this class I have learned a great deal about the developing worlds. Before taking this class I didn’t think much about what other countries were like or what problems they faced. In fact, I didn’t think much about other countries at all. During the course of thi...

I decided I should post a goal each week for me to accomplish, as well as a monthly goal. I have no idea what this month's goal should be, but I've decided that my goal this week will involve studying Spanish. My goal is to get on my school library's website and using their language program in order to practice spanish for an hour every day this week. I will post how it is going throughout the week. Have an amazing day and keep an eye out for my post tomorrow on ANWA Founder and Friends about Regrets. <3Claire

I just noticed I haven't posted in a while. I thought I should write a post, and make up for it. Oh wait... I hope I didn't miss posting on ANWA Founder and Friends... *shrug* oh well, I'll check that one in a second. So, what I thought I'd write about today is.... Drum roll please! *drum roll* *Absolute Silence* Blogging! I noticed recently that a lot of my friends and family members have been asking me about it. They've been thinking about starting ones of their own. Well, I thought I'd write something up about it. However, I won't post it quite yet. I want to perfect a few things and... *ahem* write it... So! If you are wondering about blogging, I will be posting something about it pretty soon! Maybe I'll do a series on it... I haven't quite decided yet. So keep an eye out for that. But just so you know, it might not show up for a few weeks. Finals are in less than a month, so I'm really busy. Maybe once I'm home! Good luck! ...

Life has been really hectic lately. I barely manage to keep up with my homework, tests, quizzes, essays, and projects and still have a social life. However, yesterday I mostly finished an essay I've been putting off for weeks, went cycling for a little over half an hour, and finish all my other homework and mostly get it in on time. Today, I woke up late, and yet here I am in the library where I finished a late assignment and am currently waiting to meet up with my group so we can work on a presentation for monday. Life is a great and marvelous work and I love it! Tomorrow I'm doing a lot more homework, including an essay exam, and then helping a friend index. So I'll be done with one project! I'm so excited! Anyway, that was a quick update. Find a way to love life! Trust me, it's worth it. <3Claire

So, this semester I decided to take 4 English classes, which isn't all that amazing considering I'm an English Major. Every single last one of my classes requires writing, and I'm required to spend at least 2 hours on each class doing homework for every 1 hour spent in class. Obviously homework isn't going to take up all that time for the classes, so we're required to spend the rest of the time writing. This includes my Family History Research class, but at least for that one I can work on my final project instead. Since I'll be spending so much time writing, I probably won't be able to put as much thought into my blog posts as usual, but I will try. Some days I might decide to get off topic for that day, but for the most part I'll stick with my schedule. Hopefully you will all stick with me through that! I shall keep you updated. Love you all, <3Claire

Today in Fast and Testimony meeting my Bishop talked to us before he turned the mic over for testimonies. He read the lyrics to this song and replaced all the mentions of "home" with "in our apartment". I thought that was really awesome, so I decided to post it for all of you as well. Keep this thought in your hearts, and remember this when times get hard. Maybe the problem isn't that you suddenly have all these trials, but that you aren't being loving enough to your roommates and/or family members. I love you all! Have a great week! <3Claire

New post on A Snapshot of my Life! Here Update: I am now in Rexburg up at college. Thursday consisted of travelling; Taco Time and Nielsen's Custard with Hannah, and Forever Strong. Today consisted of shopping; unpacking; Crime of Fashion; Hello Sister, Goodbye Life; and Sorority Wars. Tomorrow I will be finding my classes and maybe looking at textbooks. Sunday Megan gets here! And Monday classes start!!!! SO excited!! <3Claire

This year, I'm doing things a little differently. I'm not going to measure myself on how well I do each individual thing on my list, I'll measure myself based on how much improvement I'm making. Mom talked me through making my resolutions more effective, so here goes: Healthier Lifestyle Physical Exercise Go to at least one dance (Swing or Latin) each week Try a yoga class Healthy Eating Plan meals ahead of time Cut out most of my sugar and soda Better Spirituality Study my scriptures for at least 5 minutes a day Pray morning and night Pray over meals Pray and Fast about a mission Attend all church meetings unless I can't get out of bed, and spend more time magnifying my calling Focus on Me Self-Esteem Don't worry about what others think Grades No C's or D's Grades are important, focus on school work and get it all done Grades come first, the rest comes after Writing Get a full manuscript written down Spend half...

For a class I'm taking up at school, I was supposed to give a presentation on something from a list of topics. One was Family Reading: Learning Through Books. I decided to slightly tweak the topic and go with: Teaching Children a Love of Reading. They aren't all that different but I really want to focus on children within the family especially. I found several articles (which I'll post links to below) that talk about teaching a love of reading. I'll talk about ten of my favorite tips found in these articles. Read aloud to your kids  from a young age. The sooner you get them hooked on books the better. My mom used to read aloud to me when I was younger. She'd even do different voices and practically act out the whole story to me. This got me interested in the books and eventually I decided to learn to read all on my own so that I wouldn't just be able to read when she was available to read to me. I still enjoy listening to her read aloud to me but not as o...

So, I haven't written since August. I have done lots of fun stuff though, so I'll be spending the next couple weeks updating my blog to the present day! Will definitely be posting lots of pictures! So keep watch!!! Love you all!!! Claire

So I was reading this section of the New Era online called "What's Up?" One of the things in this section was a list of five ways you can share the gospel online. Since I'm online so often I figured I might as well do this. Here is the list: 5 Ways to Use the Internet to Share the Gospel • Post a Mormon Message video on your social media profile. Just click Share at the Mormon Channel on YouTube. • Write about faith-building experiences on your blog. • Share links to Mormon.org or your favorite conference talk on your blog, website, or social media profile. • Post pictures from missions, weddings, baptisms, Mutual activities, etc. • Create a profile on Mormon.org. So I'm going to start posting some good articles about different aspects of the church on my blog as well as talking about important things that happen in my life. Stay tuned for more article goodness! I figure I might as well start now, so here goes: I have this problem with spending all my...

So I got accepted to BYU-Idaho which is like everything I could have wanted in my wildest dreams! My biggest dream has always been to go to BYU-I like both of my parents! What’s awesome is that my friend Katie and my best friend’s sister Linds have both been accepted too! I really hope we all at least get Fall Term together so we can hang out at Orientation! Anyway I’ll be sharing an apartment with Linds’ older sister and other girls who are assigned to the same apartment! I can’t wait!!!! Eeeeeeekkk!!!! *Squeal!!!* Just gotta wait patiently for the Track information which should come in the mail sometime in the next 3-5 weeks! I’m not patient but there’s nothing I can do anyway so I might as well wait. I’m also waiting to hear back about a scholarship for school as well. I’m hoping I get it and that it pays everything my pell won’t be able to cover because otherwise I won’t be able to afford college without a loan or two. Anyway I should go just needed to let you all know! Tons excit...

So school is back in session for me, and I'm loving my new classes! I'm taking Astronomy, Math, English, and American History Pt. 2 this semester. I have great teachers so far and my books are all really interesting. I need to read chapter 1 in both my textbooks (history, and astronomy), my other two classes are online. Anyway I thought I'd just get on really fast and update anyone who might be reading this on my life. So yeah I turned in my byu-i and byu applications and I'm expected an email from both within the next 3-5 weeks now. I'm looking forward to being able to let people know if I'm definitely going to byu-i or byu! I've also been working on a story which my best friend and I came up with when we were in high school. We tried to work on it before but since it starts with my character and I was having writer's block for a long time I'm just barely starting it. We've been doing a lot of brainstorming together though so maybe we'll f...