mom and dad in the MTC!

well i just got back from dropping off my parents at the MTC! we took the classic pictures by the Provo temple and then drove them in.  Turns out the people there are amazing and memorize all the mission presidents' faces. We pulled into the MTC and the man said "Welcome President and Sister Gibbons!" He then asked how they felt about the recent call change to Russia (by the way, I don't think I ever blogged about that. My parents' call was changed from the Arkansas Little Rock Mission to the Russia Novosibirsk Mission!! A big surprise that feels really right!).  Everyone was so kind.  Luckily we will still see them a few more times before they ship off to Siberia, so this morning was more fun than sad.  They will be there for 5 days, come home for a couple, then return for a few weeks to learn Russian while they wait for visas. Here are some pics from the day!

GRRRR it's not letting me add pictures...weird...i will have to try again later!

proof that i was the brunt of all the jokes in jr high and high school! haha

so i'm home this weekend, and i noticed my old yearbooks on the shelf so i pulled them out to take a look.  turns out, starting in 9th grade, 95% of people's notes include some kind of short joke...seriously. it made me laugh. here are some of my favs...some are nicer than others haha

9th grade:

"Liz, eat your spinach cause it makes you grow" - jeremy

"Liz is short" - andrew glenn (yup that's all it said haha)

"You are the coolest person that is of short stature that i know" - ryan haver

"sad to think how bad i could waste you any day any time" -justin turner (haha ok so that one doesn't reference my height but i thought it was hilarious) 

"liz, you're too tall" - christopher sirstins (again, that's all it said haha)

"get shorter liz, you're too tall" - josh s.

"you are so short" - archie (chris...do you remember..."why do you call him archie??" "CUZ THAT'S HIS NAME!!" haha)

"...I heard the high school guys go for the short gals . . ." - kenzie coburn (thanks kenz!! trying to make me feel better haha)

"liz, you have really small fingers hehehe" - jeff dawson

"liz, how did you get so short?" - caleb burrell

"hi liz, you're so tall! you need to shrink during the summer" - mitch cannon

"liz, you are small, so i shall write big!" - megan

"have fun this summer and grow up!" - dan reschke

10th grade:

"liz! we're going to hang out right? YOU'RE SHORT! jk" - jon hart

"hey liz, i think that you should grow a little over the summer" - jeff dawson

"liz - your short. grow some" - anonymous

"liz, life is short and so R U" - riley dehaan

"you and eric lee should date because you're the same height" - jordan

"liz, i won't make any short jokes . . ." - marianne cannon (thanks mari! haha)

". . . oh and i hope the summer isn't too SHORT for you . . ." - dan reschke

"hey liz, you would be cooler if you weren't so short . . ." - don ford

"liz . . . DON'T GROW!" - eric evans

" . . . don't forget to grow so u can see ova da steering wheel." - troy

"liz, maybe you could make it easier on yourself and just be tall next year!" - mitch cannon

"hey liz, hope you grown some more this summer. wait what am i saying? some more? you need to start growing to grow some more. Oh well, you're still the greatest" - matt mantyla

11th grade:

"liz, i would use a short joke, but i think i used them all. wait, except for the one about the wizard of oz calling about try-outs for the lollie-pop-guild. but thats ok." - dan reschke

i could go on and on, but i think you get the idea :) haha i just had to share the laughs with you all.

the news!

well i'm supposed to be sleeping right now, but i am just in a blogging mood! mostly for one big update...

 I AM OFFICIALLY ACCEPTED INTO THE PHD PROGRAM!

other than that, it's been a great summer so far! (if you can call it summer with all the rain...which i have secretly been loving...)

my dear friend/mission companion kayla got married!

 fun times with high school friends

 mother's day!

 kelly and i in our matchy rain jackets! (she is also in the lab full time this summer so we have plenty of adventures together)

 my roommate stephanie won a vacation off the radio!

 kelly and i again, this time with the awesome flask of cells i composed a limerick on . . . everyone likes a good limerick :)

yup, life is pretty great :) seriously . . . today was just fabulous. it was WARM, pops and i ran 12 miles with a gorgeous view of salt lake valley, i got to reunionize with some high school friends i hadn't seen for years (kenzie, dani, marianne, and amber to be exact), i got to go to the temple, we listened to elder lynn robbins at stake conference, i came home to my acceptance letter in the mail (and a letter from my first greenie who's coming home in 2 months!), AND i got to belt out country tunes with my windows rolled down quite a bit today. lovin' it.

PhD? or not to PhD?

today i officially turned in my application to switch from a master's student to a PhD student!!  i've been thinking a lot about it the past week and it just feels right. i'm so excited! after looking at all the requirements i think it will just take me one extra year than the master's would have. i'll graduate in April 2013 instead of April 2012.  Plus i figure if i really have to I could do one more summer and graduate August 2013 and it'd still be a pretty sweet deal :) it will be hard work but i think it will be the kind of nerdy hard work that i LOVE!! so cross your fingers the department gives me the OK!


PS - i have a new life motto.  you know the song by Lee Brice "Love like Crazy" ? (country of course!) well one of the choruses goes something like this:


Just ask him how he made it
He'll tell you faith and sweat
And the heart of a faithful woman
Who never let him forget

Be a best friend, tell the truth
And overuse I love you
Go to work, do your best
Don't outsmart your commonsense
Never let your prayin' knees get lazy
And love like crazy


well i decided my new life motto is FAITH AND SWEAT. it's kind of along the lines of "work like it all depends on you, pray like it all depends on the Lord" ... but i think FAITH AND SWEAT has a nice ring to it. i kind of like "never let your prayin' knees get lazy" too...but FAITH AND SWEAT still wins :)


sweet...this concludes another lame blog post! tune in next time and be wow'd once again.

all nighters...

this is what college is all about...an occasional all nighter because you procrastinated. i hadn't done this for a while (pulled an all nighter). however, i am a professional procrastinator with certain things. this is a picture of me looking fabulous during my all nighter last sunday. the good news? i finished my semester paper!! i felt very victorious afterward and ended up being quite proud of the paper.  later, i found this "how to" online that might have been helpful. my favorite steps? 2, 15, 16, 20, 24, 25. my biggest mistakes? my 20 minute naps turned into hour naps. so i guess it wasn't a true all nighter...more like write for 2 hours, sleep for 1. write for 2 hours, sleep for 1.  good times? i think so.

Steps

1. 1
   Do your work. Plenty of times, you get sidetracked. Avoid this by setting a constant pace for yourself: 50 minutes of work, and a 10 minute break. Besides, keeping your mind occupied will make it easier to stay awake.
2. 2
   Move! Dance! Stretch! Not so often that it becomes a distraction; just while taking that hourly 10 minute break.
3. 3
   Avoid caffeine, if possible. See warnings for reasons why. Drink two brimming glasses of ice cold water every 30 minutes. Not only will the cold keep you awake, but you'll need to urinate very often. It's difficult to sleep on the toilet.
4. 4
   Play (softly, if you have a roommate) hardcore metal music. You may enjoy it, but it must be, at all costs, harsh and a bit arrhythmic. Try to stick to instrumental music, which is less distracting. This will keep you from being lulled to sleep.
5. 5
   Work with windows open: cold air will keep you awake. Warm air knocks you out. If you find the cold air is effective in keeping you awake, you can even go to the bathroom and wash your face with cold water. Only wash your face if you are getting tired, you don't want to waste studying time.
6. 6
   Set your computer screen to a lower setting, (duller and darker) so as not to strain your eyes. See warnings for why not to.
7. 7
   Turn off instant messengers, your cellphone, the TV, and do not surf the internet, edit wikiHow, read, draw, etc. In fact, pinch yourself if you do. This can distract you very easily.
8. 8
   Do not work in bed, on a couch, or on the floor. If you work in any other place than a cold, hard table and chair, you will feel very tempted to sleep. If possible, work somewhere far away from your room/bed, so it's a pain to go back and sleep. Try to be around some other people, too, so you do not feel comfortable sleeping in your chair.
9. 9
   Set a timer, if you're going to nap. Don't nap for more than 20 minutes, and stay half-awake. Avoid napping at all costs, though. "Just 20 minutes of relaxation" will more likely involve you waking up past your class the next day.
10. 10
    Rotate subjects every hour, if applicable. You'll quickly mentally wear out on one topic.
11. 11
    Work through it all. If you have time at the end, pack up your stuff, lay out your clothes, then set your alarm as late as possible, to achieve the most possible sleep.
12. 12
    Try sitting in different places around the room.
13. 13
    Remember: if you are tired and are completely slumping over your work, sit up straight. It could immediately make you feel more awake. Yes, it sounds stupid, but try it.
14. 14
    Eat protein-rich foods like sandwiches, cheese, and other dairy products. Sugary foods may make you feel awake for a little while, but can eventually make you feel drowsy. Apples or apple juice also help, especially if you eat cheese with it. Apples keep your blood sugar stable so you're able to stay awake longer, some say they're better than caffeine!
15. 15
    Think positively. Thoughts such as: "I am almost done," "This is actually not too bad," "I will get to see the sunrise," "I will get a good grade" can definitely help.
16. 16
    Get scared. Sure, it sounds silly, but do it. Watch a horror movie or read something frightening. You'll be too scared to fall asleep. This is best used when you're at the end of the night and need to get through that last little bit, and make sure the movie goes straight to the action, it's easy to fall asleep in dull moments. Do not do this if there is work to be finished, though!
17. 17
    Note: if you are tired and bored of studying the same thing over and over again, remain positive. You can even try to make a game out of it so studying won't be so strenuous and dull. (It sometimes helps to time how fast you get math problems done, and try to beat that time.)
18. 18
    Tap your feet! It may seem weird, but it helps for some people to consistently tap their feet. If it becomes a habit, it might just save you from falling asleep at those final dire moments.
19. 19
    Chew gum. Like tapping your feet, it keeps you awake without being distracting!
20. 20
    Squeeze and massage your ears. There are acupoints on your ears, and when stimulated, send electrical signals into your brain. You'll feel buzzed immediately.
21. 21
    Don't eat granola, milk, lemons, or turkey. These are all foods that will make you tired and sleepy.
22. 22
    Always have the light on. It's hard to stay awake when you're in a nice, dark room.
23. 23
    Don't think about anything luxurious, such as being in a mansion or in a hot tub, you will feel relaxed.
24. 24
    Don't write poetry or quietly sing songs, draw, or even play with your hair while day dreaming. This will calm you.
25. 25
    Don't yawn. You're yawning because you are taking in less oxygen, and that means your breathing is steady, light, and slow. You don't want that.

WE DID IT!!

13.1 miles!!

I officially loved it :)  

Running has really taught me a lot..

*I can do hard things

*You can do anything if you set goals and work hard!

*It's all in your desire...you have to decide you're not going to give up

It was really cool to have something where I could actually see my progress. And it's actually true, there is such a thing as a runner's high! I know, I didn't use to believe it either. My first 7 mile run though, I experienced it. I felt like I could run forever.  That was the coolest run by the way...i called it the tour of my life! I ran past every apartment i've lived in in provo (i'm up to 8), the temple, the MTC, and my lab on campus.  i'm such a dweeb but i actually got kind of emotional haha! it gave me a lot of time to reflect on my life (running is great for that by the way). i hadn't been back to some of those apartments since i moved and there were a LOT of good memories. if you're reading this, i may have thought of YOU at some point on that run. lucky you. lucky me.  anyway, i officially love running! in fact, pops and i are going to run a half marathon together on may 30th! stay tuned. we're thinking matching lime green shirts. we'll see :)

what happened to me?

i don't know what has happened to me...i used to be able to study for hours on end without getting very distracted. now here i sit in the good ol' harold b lee library trying to write a paper....3 hours in....i've had about 45 minutes worth of really good writing time...the rest i keep getting distracted! i see someone i know and get really excited, i get a phone call and talk to a friend for 30 minutes, i check for the dance class i really wanted to get in for spring semester (there was an opening!!) and register for it, i rework my spring/summer schedules to make sure i have time for everything, i change my availability online for my part time job, i check out all the photos of me from the half marathon (a post full of details coming in the near future) that the professionals took and want to charge me $40 for, i write my little brother a letter on dearelder.com, and pathetically...i've checked facebook 3 times.  THIS ISN'T OK. i'm running out of time! ok now that this is out of my system, i am promising myself i won't get distracted again for one hour. for one hour i will be focused. for one hour i will dominate this paper. i can do it...

i love reunions :)

Well this past weekend was AMAZING. i got to reunionize with so many people i love. 1st stop: SISTER IRELAND!! my mtc companion :) She had driven down from Canada for conference weekend, so we got to have dinner together at Zupas.  just hearing her laugh again made me so happy.  i couldn't have asked for a better first companion on my mission.  she taught me SO much about humility and diligence.  she also taught me how to look at things from an investigator's point of view.  I admire her so much and will love her forever!

next stop, WASHINGTON SEATTLE MISSION REUNION!! I wish i'd taken more pictures, but here are the ones i DID get.  Me and Diane (aka sister bush) . . . 

me and sister burch!

me with three of my companions: lacey (sister burch), diane, and kayla (sister sawyer)

and finally, i got to meet the Lee Family! Sister Lee was one of my last companions on the mission. She is still on her mission, but i got to meet her family! They came from korea to see General Conference.  It was such a sweet experience to meet them, hug them, and talk with them.  Now I know why sister lee is so amazing.  Now i need to save up so i can go visit them in Korea :) They brought be that beautiful scarf as a gift from Korea!!

I think this is what heaven will be like, just reunionizing with all the people we love :)

my little bro is all grown up :)

Last Wednesday was a very special day! We dropped Josh off at the MTC :) I am so proud of the man that he has become. It's kind of crazy that he's this old! I remember when he learned how to walk.  He is so ready and excited to be a missionary.  Seeing him prepare and thinking about his first few days in the MTC has brought back a lot of memories for me.  Half of me was sad to say goodbye, and the other half was very jealous :) I'm going to miss Josh's humor, piano playing/singing, teasing, peace-making, and overall goodness. Good luck, ELDER GIBBONS!!  

tender mercies

so i was actually really surprised how easy it was to get back to real life after my mission. people would always ask me how i was doing, and i would always say " . . . great!" So i don't know if this is normal, but it seems to be getting HARDER the more time goes by haha. at least so far. the last few weeks i've been missing the mission a lot. maybe it's because my brother and parents are all preparing for theirs. secret confession...rain has the power to make me cry every time :) however! i've found that the times when i'm missing the mission the most, the Lord just drops in these tender mercies. Examples:

*one day, i was randomly missing being a missionary. oh i remember why now! i was walking up the hill to campus, and i saw two cute korean girls speaking in korean. then i started missing sister lee, sister kim, H mart, bul-go-gi, and just seeing koreans everywhere. i was about to get emotional (yeah i know i'm pathetic). then i looked up and saw this guy staring at me, but then he quickly looked away. i played the whole walk-faster-so-you-can-catch-up-to-someone-and-get-a-look-at-their-face game. as i got closer i realized it was a guy that was in one of the wards i served in! he'd just gotten off his mission while i was there and he'd come to a few lessons with us. i said his name, and he was like "it IS you! i didn't think you were home so i was really freaked out!" so we walked and chatted for a minute when we ran into this OTHER guy from the same ward!! so we started reminiscing, and THEN a girl from one of my OTHER areas came walking up. Then a fourth person from maple valley! i didn't actually know him, but still....crazy reunion huh? it made me so happy. the lord is so aware

*then yesterday, i was at the provo temple. the past few days i'd really been missing the mission. i was waiting on the benches and started accidentally eavesdropping on the temple workers' conversation. "is your son getting excited to go to seattle?" i, of course, butted right in. "is he going on a mission there??" "yes! in May." "I just got back from there!!! it's the most amazing mission . . . etc etc etc . . . blah blah blah" so this cute korean woman came over to me and i got to tell her everything that her son should expect. he's going to be speaking korean and english! i told her all about the korean branch and i told her about the korean market and i told her all about President and Sister Larkin and the korean sisters and elders he would meet. it was so fun. i loved it. SAY HELLO TO SEATTLE FOR ME ELDER SONG!!!

*THEN last night, i ran across my friend (and first companion) Diane's blog... expressing the same feelings about the mission. and it just made me happy to read it. so i'm a total copycat but i'm going to post a few pics... just humor my nostalgia :) bring on the mission reunion!!!!

I had to stop with my companions... there are way too many other people i adore that i'd be up way too late. another day, another post :)