Facebook is actually a pretty neat thing: I can keep in touch with people that I never see, and talk to others that I haven't seen in a LONG time! I am friends with my brother, Dave, my roommates, kids from Elementary school, Peter's sister Jami, my cousin Barbara, friends from Florida, etc, etc. It is really nice to be able to see what everyone is up to! But one of the downsides is all of the applications that I am requested to add. It would take a while to explain these, but you can add things like quizzes, games, etc. The one that is of interest to me right now is the Spark application. Anyone can look at someone's profile pic (not their information) and say if they would date that person. It can be anonymous or not, it is up to you.
Ok, well I haven't added this application, because really, I don't think anything would come of it. However, I do get emails from Spark telling me what OTHERS have said. I could disable these emails if I wanted...but to be honest, in a weird way, they make me feel good! They are really cheesy, but it is funny how something so dumb can make me smile!! :) Here are some examples of things these emails have said:
Jen, you are more desired than 96% of people.
Jen, David Allen is interested in you!
This is a summary of reasons that people gave when asked "Why would you date Jen Hinckley?"
1.cute
2.funny
3.hot
So, as lame as this application is, I'll admit it puts a smile on my face!!
I have been complaining a lot lately. I mean, a LOT. This week was going to be the hardest of any I have had in school thus far: Last Friday, I had a French listening comprehension exam, cultural input exam, and written exam. Monday, I had my Doctrine and Covenants 325 midterm and my French oral examination. Tuesday, a psychoanalysis reading response paper due in Art History 300 and my second Art History 202 midterm. Thursday, my huge research paper for Art History 300 is due. And Friday ANOTHER research paper is due in my Art History 202 class. And I work Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday nights. Oh, and white-glove cleaning checks are Thursday. So, in all honesty, I have reason to feel stressed. But tonight, I realized I have so many MORE reasons to feel BLESSED.
First of all, I think I have the best parents in the world. Mom and Dad are the most selfless, kind, intelligent, loving, dedicated, hard-working people I know. Earlier this week, I got a package from Dad. He is always so thoughtful, but my favorite part is always the note that he adds. Sometimes it is as simple as "the Gospel is true!" and other times he writes about how he is proud of what I am doing. It always lifts my spirits and makes me feel so loved. And I think I generally talk to Mom everyday, usually asking some dumb questions and for help with things I need. She is without a doubt my best friend. Sometimes we get so excited talking to each other, that we have to tell ourselves to get off the phone so we can get things done! I feel like that kind of relationship is so unique and special. I feel so bad for kids my age that don't have that kind of bond with their parents, because I swear, some days, it is the only thing that gets me through.
Second, I have amazing siblings. On Saturday, I talked to Scott for a little bit before I went to work. Sometimes it seems strange that we are 10 years apart, because I can talk to him so easily. We have always been "buddies". Missi, as my only sister, has always been one of my best role models. If my life goes the way hers is going, I know I will be so happy! She is the beautiful, smart, caring, fun, crazy woman that I hope I can be someday! And David is probably the best thing that could have happened to me this school year! We always bickered the most of all the siblings, and we still do occasionally, but he is my best friend here in Provo! We talk a few times a day, and hang out all the time. He comes to have dinner with me at work most nights, and I know he would do anything to keep me safe and happy. Others sometimes think I am weird for wanting to be with my family so much, but I think it is great! I want to be best friends with them for eternity! (Oh! I can't forget my studly nephew Dallin and gorgeous niece Claire! They are such smart, beautiful, talented, happy kids! And I am sure the new little guy will be just the same!)
BYU is another blessing. I love being at a school with standards. Yeah, of course no one here is perfect, but most of us are trying to make wise decisions, and help others do the same. I learn so much about the gospel, the world, and myself from my classes and the people I am able to associate with. And tonight, I got an email from my Art History 300 teacher, and she informed us that our research paper will not be due until Tuesday now, giving me 5 extra days to work on it! THAT is definitely a blessing! :)
I am just getting so excited right now thinking of all the things that are blessings in my life, but this post is getting too long!! I am so thankful for the gospel, my friends "my" missionaries, all my relationships, a good ward, basically good health, etc,etc.
I think that this week has been good for me. I almost broke down on Monday night from all the stress, but I decided that I could get through it if I worked hard. As I accomplished the things I needed to, I saw just how blessed I was to have help from a loving Father in Heaven, a great university, and an incredible family.
PANTS! Not leggings or tights or spandex. Please...just wear pants.
For anyone who reads this, I hope you will do all you can to encourage women to actually wear pants. There is this strange epidemic affecting thousands of women everywhere, and they seem to think that leggings are basically pants. THIS IS NOT TRUE! Please give them the facts.
Every Tuesday, BYU has a devotional or forum for students to attend with different speakers, like general authorities, international leaders, and professors. The first devotional I went to was in Summer 2006. A law professor from BYU was the speaker, and he talked about conflicts. It was a great address, but my favorite part was a quote that I THINK (so I am probably wrong) was from Brigham Young: "Living with Saints in heaven is bliss and glory; Living with Saints on earth is another story".
I work in a mall (so I basically watch people for my entire shift!) in Provo, Utah and I'll be honest, most of the people I see are LDS. And you can generally tell which people are NOT because they are really trying to LOOK that way. You know, covered in tattoos, strange piercings, revealing clothes (be careful with this category, because they might just go to UVSC!!), etc, etc. But, most of us here in Provo are LDS, and sometimes I find myself...disappointed with the way some of them act. No one is perfect, and I don't expect it, but I am surprised by the way so many people here treat others.
Example 1: Like I said, I work at a kiosk in the mall (Yea, Miche Bag!), so I am in contact with people all day. I am constantly amazed at the way women refuse to look me in the eye. We are not one of those kiosks that tries to pull you in by talking to you; if you come look, we will say hello and offer to help you. Nothing wrong with that, in my opinion. But women will be looking at the purses, and as I greet them, they look away, sometimes mumble "I'm just looking", or just completely ignore me. I understand the desire to "just look" without someone trying to sell you something you don't need; but there is no need to be so rude.
Example 2: Our kiosk used to be in between two kiosks owned and run by people from Israel. Most were in their twenties, and they were all really kind, genuine people. Their wages were based solely on commission, however, so they had to be fairly aggressive with customers. I remember talking to one guy named Sean (actually, that isn't his real name, it is just what he told me to call him since his name was too hard for me to pronounce), and he had worked in other places, other states before, and he said Provo was the worst place he had ever been. He had heard that it was full of people who were faithful churchgoers, and so he expected more kindness than he had seen in other malls. Sean told me that people here didn't treat him like he was worth anything. I felt awful, and I tried my hardest to leave them with a good impression of LDS people. Their kiosks have been out of the mall for a couple of months now, and I only hope that maybe Sean saw some better examples of Christ-like love before he left.
I think Brigham was so right! At least I can take comfort in knowing it will be better in heaven! :)
Please don't judge me.
Ok, now I can start. So, about a month ago, I went to my brother, Dave's, ward prayer over at Raintree. I go there a lot, seeing as I seem to know more people there than in my own ward! My new roommate, Courtney, was also with me. Well, they announced that they would be taking pictures for their Winter 2008 Ward Directory, since there would be new people and all. So, I joked with one of Dave's roommates about getting MY picture taken to see if I could get in the ward directory. Things escalated quickly. So, I thought it could not happen, seeing as I am not in the ward, and therefore have no apartment that I could say I lived in. Well, Mike(Dave's roommate) informed me that they have "residential" people in their ward, and that I could just put that. So, I gathered some courage, walked to the front of the room, took the clipboard, wrote "Jen Hinckley" and "residential", had my picture taken, and all I could do was wait. Well, about two weeks ago, the ward directory was delivered to Dave's apartment. That day, I received some text messages and facebook wall posts telling me either:
A. Jen, got the ward directory today, you are awesome.
OR
B. Hey Jen! Did you know you are in our ward directory listed as residential? (Noooo! how did THAT happen?)
So, maybe it was a little dishonest. But mostly, it was funny. (Oh, and my sweet, innocent roommate got her picture taken as well. I don't MEAN to corrupt people, it just happens! :). )
O.k, so I swear I am not going to use this blog to complain! But I have to admit...I'm exhausted! I have always been so excited for college, but sometimes it becomes...just too much! First, there is class, the REASON I am here! I love my classes this semester (I will describe them in another post perhaps!), so I can't say that I hate going to class! But the homework is kind of killer! And, on Tuesdays and Thursdays I climb up that nasty hill three times in one day! Ok, so that is the first cause for my exhaustion. Next, there is work. I think a lot of my stress from this actually comes from the fact that my schedule is never consistent, and that I am asked to come fill in for other people. I have been lucky to have some time off to go home for Christmas and to California for Thanksgiving, but they knew at least a month in advance. When I am lucky I get a full 24 hours of notice for when they need me to come work. (I am actually at work right now, and I wasn't scheduled for this shift, so this is my way of sticking it to the man!) But I only work about 20-25 hours a week(unless I am filling in), so it isn't too bad right? Ok, well the thing that makes my life different from other people who work full-time, and moms(ok, actually, they probably have WAY more reason to be tired!) is that I need a social life too! I wouldn't be so tired if I could come home from work or school and sleep, but I get home and have roommates or friends who are going to a party or to a movie. For my health, I should say no, but I feel like I am also at BYU to meet new people and make friends! So I go, and I always have fun. But I usually regret it the next morning (I don't know how college students who DRINK do it! I find it impossible WITHOUT any alcohol!).
You know, I am totally exhausted most of the time, but I wouldn't want it to be any other way! I feel kind of sorry for those people I know who don't go to school, the ones who don't work (I've seen how much those people just do not appreciate all the things they have!), and especially the ones who don't have friends and family to go see Dollar Movies with! :) So all in all, I think I'd choose exhaustion over ease!
Last night President Gordon B. Hinckley passed away. I was with my brother, Dave, when I heard, and as I watched the news report on the T.V, I was so sad to lose such an incredible man. He was the prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints for the majority of my life. But as I began to really think about him and the gospel that I love so much, I realized that I shouldn't be sad! I thought about the kind of reunion President Hinckley is having, and I was so happy! I know he is with people he loves, and his sweet wife who he absolutely adores! And it was comforting to know that it truly was his time to leave us, and that there is going to be another prophet, another amazing, inspired man who will have his own contributions to our church. I will truly miss Gordon B. Hinckley, but I feel so blessed to have seen all the things that he has done, the way he loves all people, and his great sense of humor.
