Achievement.

Hallelujah! Hooray! WOOHOO! I'm free!
Finals are over! Yah! I LOVE LIFE!

What a wonderful, liberating feeling. I don't even want to think about how I am starting a new semester on Tuesday. As far as I'm concerned, I have nothing to be concerned about! I turned in my final portfolio and did my final presentation for MathEd today. My first semester in the Elementary Education program at Brigham Young University is complete. I may have gotten a few B+'s, but I'm ready to accept that. I have had the best semester of my life. As you have seen in previous posts, I have grown in so many ways. I have gained the best friends this semester, I have gained confidence in my teaching skills, and I have a sure knowledge that teaching is what I'm supposed to be doing!! Last week I had to turn in four huge projects; this week I had seven finals.

The next five days, nothing.

Nothing but the sweet sound and shudder of the airplane landing on the concrete in Houston, Texas. Nothing but feeling the humidity on my face as I step into the portal. Nothing but the rush of excitement that runs through my veins when I realize my family is only a three-minute-walk-to-baggage away. Nothing but the musty smell of the leather seats in my family's 2001 suburban. Nothing but seeing the faces of the people that I miss the most. Nothing but stopping to reexperience the chips and salsa at the best mexican restaurant on the planet. Nothing but pulling into the driveway that brings so many memories, good and bad, of relationships passed. Nothing but seeing the black blur of my puppy running out the back door to jump and greet me for the first time since Christmas.

Nothing but pure bliss.



Peace out Provo, see you in five. Boomshakalaka.



Breanna Has No Words of Wisdom: Her brain is on a break.

Blossoming.

Happiness (n) : a state of mind or feeling such as contentment, satisfaction, pleasure, or joy; feeling or showing pleasure or contentment.

A couple weeks ago, I decided to study the concept of blessings in the Gospel. While coming across many wonderful scriptures about how blessed I truly am, I slowly started making a list of the things that bring me so much joy. I decided to extend that list to atleast 100, and here is the work in progress. I know it is a lot, and I know that nobody will read it all. It's simply more for personal reminders than anything. There are books, documentaries, articles, journals, and thousands of research essays about how people become happy. It isn't anything too scientific at all that creates happiness in my life. The secret is the gospel, the glorious good news of our Savior.

-the gospel, the Atonement of Christ

-my family and parents

-the wonderful friends i have been blessed with. new and old.

-teaching children and seeing them grasp a new concept through my assistance

-baking & cupcakes & the smell of cookies

-soccer in the rain

-when the sun decides to stay for good

-feeling the warm wind on my face while riding in the boat/wakeboarding

-wedding announcements and when friends get engaged

-the beautiful state of Texas, its greenery, its pride, and the home sweet home feeling that comes with the mexican food

-remembering that i am a college student at BYU in Provo, UT

-my calling in the relief society presidency and the amount of service opportunities it provides me with

-planning parties and being the hostess

-letters from missionaries

-meeting new people and clicking instantly as friends

-when my room is completely clean and organized

-trying new things

-nights when i actually don't have tons of homework to worry about

-when i am a blog slacker but when i do blog after 2 months, people are still kind enough to comment and say they missed my blogs

-good pictures that bring back so many memories

-my puppy Penny, when she lovingly attacks me everytime i come home

-riding in my car with the windows down, sunglasses on, and the Format blasting from my stereo

-watching really lame movies all the time (HSM, HP, and anything amanda bynes)

-reconnecting with friends from high school

-mission prep class

-thinking about the excitement of my future and the fact that ANYTHING could happen. anything.

-reading conference talks that remind us of the joy this life brings

-dancing like a fool with a group of people that are also dancing like fools

-spending time with close friends; having gospel related discussions and not being upset that you missed out on a huge social activity instead

-any themed party where you get to dress up as anything other than your daily self

-the feeling i get after facing my fear of being in front of a crowd

-getting my car washed

-sledding and snowboarding a couple of times a year to get the snows worth

-hearing stories about my litte brother Braden (via my family or himself)

-going to the temple

-the happiness you can give to others through kind words or a cupcake

-one-on-one interviews with the stake president or bishop

-reading my patriarchal blessing

-sitting at home listening to my parents and big brothers have discussions about life (i usually become the listener rather than participating)

-winning second row tickets to an amazing concert on accident

-watching my siblings succeed at things they work hard at

-when my days are really busy and i dont get the chance to call my mom so she calls and asks if i am even alive anymore

-reunions in which queso is involved

-first hugs

-family vacations

-side walk chalk
-discovering really great quotes

-compliments

-learning about myself and stretching my personality

-unexpected phone calls that start out annoying me because i have so much to do but end up becoming amazing and hilarious conversations

-hiking and camping

-not having cable in my apartment

-getting ready for church on Sundays

-my music class. 30 college aged girls dancing and singing to elementary songs.

-walking to and from campus with my best friends
-singing loudly in the courtyard of the enclave
-changing and cutting my hair

-the process that goes along with making big decisions.
-sharing the joy of high school musical with others
-following the honor code, no matter how lame the curfew is
-the one time about every month that i get to sleep in until 9:30
-holding hands
-earning A's at a seriously hard college
-sundresses and spring skirts
-painting
-my daily planner
-making progress and succeeding at work
-when people update their blogs
-best friends getting their mission calls, leaving on missions, and coming home from missions
-newly discovered nicknames that i actually like and that actually stick (the latest is b)
-saturday mornings
-the Holi festival
-running into old family friends
-home made chocolate covered strawberries
-the fact that my wild friends gave random boys their phone number through car windows on the highway, and then ACTUALLY hung out with them.
-really impressive guy friends that know when to help and when to leave you be

-skirts with pockets
-seeing best friends again after it has been a while
-making food for other people and knowing they appreciate it
-playing games with people that are fun to play games with
-when my family comes to Utah

-finishing up a huge project and actually being proud of it

-staying up until 4am with a best friend while she works on the same project

-piano renditions of songs i already know
-eating out for friends birthdays and laughing so hard when you are so full
-the blossoming trees in the spring
-songs that are full of personal nostalgia
-bonfire and movie nights
-when my phone dies, i really do love it because i can be all alone and have an excuse
-sleeping during Texan thunderstorms
-reading days in which i am completely unproductive
-the feeling that comes when i get off the plane in Houston, TX after being away for four months
-good hair days
-zac efron (i couldn't help it).
-the first and last days of school
-making running a hobby again
-making lists about things that i'm happy about.
-making lists about what i need to get done.
-figuring out peoples quirks and what they are motivated by
- #100:

I wish I had wise, artistic sounding words to finish this post, but I have none. So I will steal some from Buddha: Happiness comes when your work and words are of benefit to others.

Breanna's Words of Wisdom: HSM3 WILL change your life.

Extension.

I know, it's nearly been two months. Don't complain, rejoice in the fact that I decided to blog once again.



Lately, I have been reaching far out of my comfort zone, more than I ever thought I could. Most things do not make me uncomfortable. I am loud and outgoing, open and probably too honest. But somehow, I have been finding ways to step out of myself and continue to "build character." For instance, the other night, on a mini-friend-date (no need for an explanation), I went ring shopping. That's right. Acting as if I was engaged to my friend (or planning to be soon) and looking at rings and convincing the sales lady that I indeed was getting married in August. It was not that it was an awkward circumstance at all. I CAN NOT decieve people! I am awful at it. I can be read like a book so I was completely going crazy beforehand, but when I had done it and it was over.. it was so exhilarating! I was proud of myself. Minus the fact that I am not your average girl, I don't know a thing about engagement rings. Also, I have been speaking up more and more in classes, and talking more and more to strangers and new acquaintances. I've born testimony more often than usual, and I've sang and danced in front of crowds.
Tonight for a ward family home evening, the activity was lip syncing. No, I did not plan to go up there and entertain, but somehow I ended up in front of the microphone, singing to Kristen Chenoweth's high, childish voice. Yes, I made a COMPLETE fool of myself, it was not as funny as intended, and people probably are thinking "Ok, Breanna is not as cool as I thought." But those times are so necessary! Sometimes you have to make a fool of yourself, you have to get embarrassed. How will we grow if we never go through awkward and humiliating situations? Of course, we can avoid them at all costs, but they will happen. And we will learn. And love ourselves more for our weaknesses.

As a side note, I am writing a children's book. And illustrating another. And I made the best cake of my life ever. And I am going to be an EFY counselor this summer. And I pulled off a huge enrichment and freshman reunion in the same weekend. I am proud of my recent accomplishments! And I get to see the male half of my family in two weeks, how great!

Breanna's Words of Wisdom: One Halloween, be the last trick-or-treater out in your neighborhood. You get all the leftover candy.