Life is life

Sometimes, when I have a lot to say, I don't really feel like taking the time to write a nice post about everything- because there is too much. So I combine that with my obsession with lists and I make a BIG LIST

Things I have learned/noticed/thought over the past few weeks:

1. I adore fall. I would marry it if I could. When talking to a friend about this, I told him that if I could have it my way,the trees would always look yellow, orange, or red and there would always be a plethora of crunchy leaves on the ground for me to step on. Then he said it wouldn't be special anymore. This was very wise, and I agree. Thanks Sam.
2. Speaking of Sam, I decided that I love the name Sam. It is one of the only boy names I really like. Sam, Nathan, and Ben. Those will be my sons names. And my daughters names will be Jane, Mary, and Betsy. Jane is a must, Mary and Betsy are new loves which I may or may not still be attached to by the time I have children.
3. I want a mac book
4. Life is precious. I stumbled upon a blog that I probably should have stumbled upon before now. Stephanie Clark is a young mother who got in a plane crash and suffered severe burns all over her body. She was in a coma for months. Her face was completely reconstructed and she looks totally different. Despite all this she is just so grateful to be alive and keeps continuing on in faith. She has hard days when she looks in the mirror and cries because she misses her old self. But she just keeps on living, and living beautifully. The day after I started reading her blog, Robi got in to a bad longboarding accident. In the time between hearing about the accident and hearing the actual details, I just kept thinking "He will be ok, he has to be ok. Even if he is paralyzed or something, he will still be happy Robi and it will be ok." Robi ended up passing away on Friday October 23, 2009. Life is precious. We can't take it for granted.
5.When things like the above happen, it really makes you realize what is most important in life and all the silly things we worry about daily. A lot of things become very insignificant.
6.ALWAYS wear a helmet, especially when doing dangerous things.
7. Being surrounded by good people is the way to go. I love my friends and the people I am with daily. I cannot put in to words the difference it has made in my life.
8. Laughing is so fun.
9. People are usually smarter and cooler than they think they really are. Of course if cool people knew they were cool, that would definitely make them un-cool.
10. I love the Book of Mormon
11. I have been telling people that I am not excited to graduate because I still don't really know what I want to do. But I do know what I want to do, I am just not ready to leave Provo yet. I love Provo. A lot. I have only lived here for a little over a year and despite the cold and snow, I don't want to leave yet. I want to find a job (LDS Philanthropies?) in this area and stick around, at least for a little bit.
12. This weekend marked a year since my boyfriend and I broke up. A year ago at this time I thought I was going to die, I wanted to run away and get away from everything and everyone. It is amazing how much things can change in a year. I am SO happy. I am so much stronger, and closer to where I want to be.
13. If I don't make specific times to go to the temple, I don't go. Common Alison, get it together!
14. I love my Dad and I am so proud of the things he is doing/ sacrificing for my family.
15. When I am bored at work, I can think of lots of things to say!!

Just sayin....

I have come to the realization lately that I think I should have been born on a farm or in the country. This might have something to do with the fact that I have lived in Idaho and Utah for the past (almost) six years of my life. I grew up in a very urban area- the houses on either side of mine were probably only 15 feet away.

Exhibit A:

Don't get me wrong, I love Southern California and I LOVE where I grew up, but sometimes I just really wish I lived in the middle of nowhere.

Exhibit B:

This picture makes me feel a variety of different feelings:

1. It makes me really happy
2. It brings out a deep sense of longing
3. It makes me jealous of whoever's farm that is
4. and it makes me want to marry a rancher or a farmer so I can live somewhere like that ( Ok, I know it is silly, but at least I know that it is silly, right?!)

Ok though, in all seriousness, I have really come to love and value the beauty of the earth. I am having a hard time coming up with a way to accurately describe my feelings on this subject..... so I will spare you from the rambling that comes from not knowing what I am trying to say.....There is actually a Dixie Chicks song that kind of describes what I am trying to say so here are a few lines from that song:

I wanna touch the earth
I wanna break it in my hands
I wanna grow something wild and unruly

I wanna sleep on the hard ground
In the comfort of your arms
On a pillow of bluebonnets
In a blanket made of stars

I wanna walk and not run
I wanna skip and not fall
I wanna look at the horizon
And not see a building standing tall

I wanna be the only one
For miles and miles
Except for maybe you
And your simple smile

FIN

It's Been Awhile.....

Well, school has been going for about a month now and I have managed not to go too crazy yet. The biggest thing that has changed in the last month is that I changed my emphasis in the MPA program to Nonprofit Management. So this was kind of a surprising decision (even for me) because I have always wanted to do local government- as in I decided to go to grad school so I could do local government. But when school started, I just was not happy with my classes and I just didn't feel good about where I was going. (Those that know me really well know that I have to feel good and be happy with what I am doing or I wont be able to do it) So I started thinking about nonprofit and maybe switching my emphasis but I kept thinking "No, it's too late, you would be way too behind." or "Hey, wait! You have always loved local government, you can't just switch up the whole course of your career with only eight months till graduation!"

So it was the last day to add or drop classes and I got an email from Catherine (the assistant director of the program) asking if anyone wanted to switch into the nonprofit classes because it was the last day and they needed more people. So with about 2 hours to think about it and meet with Catherine, I took a few minutes and tried to think about it rationally ( I am kind of known to make major decisions without thinking them through all of the way) but then I realized that I don't really have time to think about it rationally and to do all the things you are supposed to do when making a huge decision (e.g. pro/con lists) so I decided to resort to my favorite way of making decisions- How does it make me feel? Switching my emphasis to nonprofit felt right and I knew I would be very happy doing it. So I did. And it worked out beautifully. The classes I had to add fit perfectly into my schedule and I didn't have to change my work schedule at all or anything! A fellow student still had the books so I could just buy them from him and Dr. Witesman was so excited and very willing to work with me on getting me caught up. The biggest way I know that it was the right decision is the fact that I actually enjoy reading my textbooks! I don't fall asleep!

This experience has taught me a few things, but the biggest thing is that you just need to do what makes you happy. We are blessed with the Spirit of discernment and that means we should be able to rely on the way we feel about things to help us in the decisions we make. If we feel uneasy about something, we shouldn't do it. If we don't feel at peace about something, it may not be the best decision.

On a lighter less serious note, I LOVE FOOTBALL!!!! I have been having so much fun going to the games with my friends, it has been a blast! ( I am sure having 40 yard line, front row seats helps a little :)

Also, despite the fact that I miss Summer desperately, the Fall IS beautiful!! Just wish it didn't get so cold so fast!

Sorry for the long, rambling post- I will try to stay more updated :)