Second Semester

WELLLLL I am a terrible person and suck at updating things/ writing. YAY. Anyways. I digress. So anyways, there is exactly 3 weeks until I come home and am away from BYUI for a little short of 2 years! Its super crazy. Well actually I won' t be coming home just yet, I'll be taking a trip to New York and other church history cites first. But thats besides the point. This semester has gone by crazy fast and has been so different. It is so insane to think how much my life has changed not only since December/January with all my school friends changing or leaving on missions or whatnot, but also how my life has COMPLETELY 180'd since last August. It is crazy and kinda scary, I'll admit. I sort of feel like I'm in this, I don't know, twilight zone I guess you could call it? Its weird. Just like this dream state where nothing stays the same for more than a few days. I'm constantly doing things but at the same time feels like I'm doing nothing at all and the world is just passing me by. It's confusing to think about haha.

So yeah this is super late news but yeah the seahawks won the Super Bowl which made all of my friends happy but before the game there was this in the local Albertsons

Oh you know just a casual trip to Albersons. Lets just say I miss driving. haha

So earlier in the semester, my friends and I decided to play a game of assassin. As I was being attacked in my apartment I ran toward the closest safe spot but ran into the threshold of a door and it resulted in this cut and bruise.

My roommate and I were trying to hide from my other roommate in the laundry room and I was like hmm I wonder if I could fit in the dryer. Apparently I can. Yeah I know its kinda dangerous but it was a one time thing. I promise haha

My work load seems to have been a lot easier this semester. I don't know, maybe its because I am not taking "Dramatic Structure and Analysis" for a class. (Yes the class is as nasty as it sounds... but I would like to point out that I did [surprisingly] finish the class with a 'B'). Nevertheless my days seem long and boring sometimes and would rather sit at home in my apartment and do nothing (for the record I don't... most of the time). Maybe its because its winter and I'm not motivated or maybe its because all my friends that motivated me to do things (or in some cases dragged me to) all left on missions or just aren't around as much. Somehow everything seems so distant. Ah well. Who knows. But speaking of the weather... I SWEAR. This must have been the weirdest, most mild winter Rexburg has EVER had. Seriously. Everyone was like "oh... You are going to FREEEEEEZE! I pity your soul. Have fun in the cold!" But uhhhh PLOT TWIST! The snow literally all melted like the second week we were all up here again. You're tellin' me thats weird. It sometimes has snowed maybe once or twice a week tops but doesn't stick either. And sometimes we have cold days (like the other day it was frapping windy and cold) but its not THAT bad. Of course I'm saying this because I went without a jacket and thats probably a contributing factor to why I've been sick this week. Go Susan. Anyways thats besides the point. But heaven forbid there is green grass growing all around campus and even flowers planted in some places! Hallelujah! I'm going to take this chance to knock on wood because naturally its going to be a blizzard tomorrow if I don't...


Anyways, moving on. One of my favorite parts of this semester has been my snowboarding "class". Its way fun cause every saturday we get to go up to Grand Targhee (a ski resort in Wyoming) to go snowboarding for the day. It is so much fun cause the snow here is SOOO AMAZING. It is light and fluffy and makes you feel like you're floating on a cloud. Its crazy. Way different than sticky slushy california snow. Also, on a clear day you can hike up a certain part of the resort called Mary's and there is the most unbelievably gorgeous view of the Tetons. Oh man. It is so worth the hike up with a snowboard. It is way to beautiful and words and pictures do not do it justice. 

Me at the top of Mary's

The Tetons

The view from the top of Mary's

Another fun, but maybe not so fun about this semester has been getting everything in line and straightened out for my mission. The clothes shopping was a blast, don't get me wrong. But the whole getting a passport and visa by myself by walking around town to get the things i need is A PAIN AND A HALF. I swear. But its all good. It will all work out. It's super crazy to think that I will report to the MTC in a little over 70 days. It is so exciting but a little scary. But mostly exciting. 

The day I got a package from my cousin Carrie complete with a name tag and a letter from Matt. It was a good day :)

What I'm going to look like in a little more than 70 days.

ARGENTINAAAA

And heres a few just misc. pictures:

We made Sarah a wedding dress (made out of Toilet paper)

For FHE one week our "sisters" didn't show up cause they were in Idaho Falls so we TP'd their room and stole all of their left shoes. 

I have been Called to Serve

Dear Sister Ostler, You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the Argentina Buenos Aires North Mission. You should report to the Provo Missionary Training Center on Wednesday, June 4, 2014. You will prepare to preach the gospel in the Spanish language.

OH MY GOSH! I am beside myself! I cannot wait to serve the Lord for 18 months of my life in Argentina! I cannot wait!

Christmas Time is Here and a Happy New Year

Well I had a pretty great break. It was really nice to get away for Rexburg for 2 weeks, although one of them was spent back in the cold. I ended up flying home to California on Saturday for less than 48 hours then went back to the cold in Utah. Yeah that sounds kind of crazy and you may think that I should have just stayed in Utah (and I would have), but it was for a good reason, I promise. I came home so that I could finish my mission papers so they could get submitted 2 days after Christmas! That being said, my papers are in, my call has been issued and I should be getting it either tomorrow or friday (crossing my fingers), so I will keep you all posted on where I am going! (and if you have any guesses let me know! I'd love to hear them!) So yeah thats why I came home. I also had a little Christmas miracle happen on my journey home. Basically the Salt Lake Express got really behind schedule and I wouldn't be able to board my flight if I was checking any bags. Obviously I couldn't just abandon my bag, so I asked if there was any other flights. The next one available to John Wayne Airport would be in an hour but was about $1000 because it was a first class ticket. Obviously that was also a no go. I asked for any other planes going somewhere in Southern California and the first one that came up was one into LAX leaving at 10 pm, 8 hours from the current time. As I was on the phone seeing if that was ok with my mom, the agent said there was also one into Long Beach leaving at 8 pm. After talking to my mom and the agent for a while, discussing our options, I finally decided to just take the one into Long Beach and wait the 6 hours in the airport. When she gave me my boarding pass, it said for Long Beach leaving at 4. I was so happy that I could get home sooner than I had thought I would be able to, it was such a blessing. After getting home I went straight to Bruxie (I deeply missed my California food), then went home to drop off my things and finish some homework and take some finals that were due that night. After that I went to see Frozen with my family! I absolutely LOVED IT (although it was not better than Tangled, because nothing will ever be better than Tangled :P). But it is still really up there with my favorite Disney movies. The next day I was so glad to be back in my home ward and got to perform with the ward choir! (yay sight reading). That was really fun. So yeah then later that night I had dinner at a friend's house with a lot of friends which was so nice and it was great to catch up a with people.

Dinner with a bunch of my friends

The next day (monday) I was back to the cold! But I guess it wasn't as bad as Rexburg. Anyways, so the day that we flew into Utah, we went to temple square with my extended family. I forgot how beautiful it is with all the Christmas lights up. 

 Dolly and I. And some awkward person photo bombing us

 Dolly and I again, with no one behind us

 She was snap chatting and I really didn't know what she was doing until after... excuse my awkward face...

 I love the reflection and nativity

After that Christmas was really great. I got to see a lot of family, eat lots and lots of food, and even go sledding with my cousins (who were all hitting on these girls also sledding on the hill). And for those of you who are wondering, no I did not Skype Elder Kupferer (aka Matt) on christmas, due to the fact that I was in Utah, but even if I wasn't and I was invited to, I wouldn't take the opportunity. I really don't think it would have been good for either of us in the long run. But its alright :) I still get to write and email him :)

 While talking about Rexburg, we got on the subject of this lamp, which my grandparents used to keep out on a shelf in their basement where all the kids play. It used to mesmerize me as a kid but I hadn't seen it since they moved to their new house. 

 Justin, Braden, and I. We are cool kids.

 Nick loves sledding....

 And is also a crazy maniac....

Who I like to take pictures with :P

After returning to California and its BEAUTIFUL WARM WEATHER, I had the opportunity to go to one of my good friends from college farewell down in San Diego. He left today for the Provo MTC, and after 6 weeks will go to the Tuxtla Gutierrez Mexico mission. Although I didn't get to be in my home ward, it was great to be with friends to see him talk. 

 We like to laugh :D

 Chipmunk faces to match Jennifer's

New Years was also fun! I got to see a lot of old friends and have fun with them!

New Years Eve

For the last 3 days that I was home I got to go to Disneyland before my pass expired. I had a great time and was able to go with many different friends. It was a great end to a break.

 On Silly Symphony Swings

 Philippa and I on California Screamin'

 OLAF!

 A castle view from the carousel.

 Exhibit A of why I LOVE Tangled.

 Rapunzel and Eugene are so cute!

 Ahhhh! I can't take it!

 Oh Jennifer...

 Some people are really afraid of Tower of Terror.... and I like to laugh at them for it.

 One of the more interesting ride pictures I have taken on a Disneyland ride.

 We like sunglasses, they make us look cool :P

 On the carousel

 Last day! You can also see my recent obsession/ hobby of pin trading

 These cute little girls were dressed up as Anna and Elsa from Frozen and were walking around holding hands. One of the most adorable things I have ever seen!

Final picture in front of the tree!

All in all, break was great, and of course WAY too short. But oh well. It's kind of weird being back with new classes and friends. Although quite a few of my friends from last semester are still here, a lot of them are leaving for missions or doing other great things. I'm so excited to finish this semester and leave on my mission! Keep checking back to see where I am called! Until then!