RandomSauce

Welp... It's been a while. RandomSauce- I'm gonna dump and catch y'all up.
Last Thursday, I went to my old school's graduation, in Podunk.
Then Friday, I graduated in Myneton.
Saturday, Rle and I had our party- it was great fun, and a whole bunch of people came, Tak included.
Sunday, Rip got the Melchizedek priesthood (he leaves for a mission on July 8) and his eagles scout, which was a pretty cool day.
Monday, I started work out at one of the mines (there are SEVERAL. I'm not calling this Myneton for nothing.). I have a summer job there... and it's gonna be LONG hours, but it pays great. So, that's cool.

Then, and here's the real random story, I came home from work Monday, and our front door was open, because it's SO HOT, and through the screen door, I can hear my little brother and my sister talking, quite enthusiastically. I'm confused as to who they're talking to... I walk in, and I see them, with my mom, taking to... A lumberjack? Some random bearded guy, in a red flannel shirt? Double take, and it's Elder Hayes! He got home from his mission in December, and he's living here in Myneton for the summer, working a job that a family he met on the mission set up for him. So anyway, Hayes (which is what we ended up calling him because first name felt odd and Elder wasn't right either...) served in our ward for about five months, and he's totally best friends with our family (him and Elder Miller together), so he thought he'd stop in.
He was probably at our house for like three hours, including dinner. It was great. He's a funny guy, and it was fun to see him.

Although I was having a weird moment about it... Like, I thought he was rather attractive when he served in our ward, but missionaries exist in this bubble of untouchableness for me, so I never considered it. Well, Monday, when he was sitting in our living room, he was definitely attractive. WEIRD WEIRD WEIRD.
Although I did write a pretty poem about it... It's sort of true, and sort of dramatic:

The taste of your name
Is unfamiliar on my lips
But, darling, I think I like it
The smile on your face
That easy, cheerful grin
Is just how I remembered it
The gleam in your eyes
As we talk and tell jokes
I'm entranced by it
And your sure testimony
Of the Gospel we live
 I'm inspired by it
So... The taste of your name on my lips-
Darling, it's wonderful, and
I could get used to it

So Monday... It was weird.
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, I woke up between 3 and 3:30, caught the bus at 4:15, rode the bus to the mine, arrived at 5:50, began work at 6, got off at 4, got home about 5:45. And I went to sleep at 9 every night. Mine life is rough. But also VERY cool.

Thursday night, UncleRo, Cad, Kad, Rip, and Zap came through and spent the night, and we partied and played games. It was lovely! Although, this conversation happened.

We were telling them about Hayes visiting, and then--
Cad: Well, did he hit on you?
Me: What?? No!
Cad: Well, I'm just sayin, elders who go back to their missions...
And we laughed it off, and told Cad and everybody else about other missionaries who've served here and come back through...
But OHMYGOSH. I felt SO AWKWARD.
Awkward enough that I wrote another poem about it.

Ahaha AWKWARD
'Scuse me while I laugh
"Did he hit on you?"
Well, NO
But I sorta wish he would have?
And super really don't
Because, what even. WEIRD
But then, I don't know
I like him- and his beard
I think I'm just overromantic
And sort of desperate
I just want to find someone
To make a real connection
But it can wait
I don't need that now
Although that doesn't change
How
You caught me off guard, made me laugh
And PANIC
Ahaha AWKWARD
And I hope no one saw that

So that basically sums up my life in that area. Hayes really IS attractive, but it's ODD... I don't like it. It somehow just feels odd, but there's totally a part of me that's like, "Yeah, go for it! Summer fling before he goes back to college, before you go on a mission... DO IT." And the other part of me's like, "NO. BAD STUPID IDEA."  But nothing will happen anyway, so it's whatever.

Friday, I vegged out all day, and then we had a Youth Conference (my last one!) kick-off dinner/game time.

Today, we went to an amusement park.

Yay Youth Conference!

I'll try to post more next week... This week was weird.

A Funny Story

Once upon a time two years ago, I dated this guy named Tak (which is still a weird sentence to say.). We broke up, incredibly amiably, since he had moved to college and I was still going to high school in Myneton. In the two years since, we've stopped talking and aren't really friends anymore. His loss. He decided it's "awkward" to talk to me. So hey, it's whate'er.

But! He's still friends with Rle, and they talk fairly often. So. Graduation comes up in one of their conversations, and Tak asks Rle if she's having a party. She tells him yes, and when it is, and he's committed to come... And THEN she mentions that it's a combined party with me, and that it's at my house.

Rle told me this story, laughing. She didn't do it on purpose, but it's a great setup anyhow. I think it's hilarious.

So I guess we'll see if he comes... Or if he thinks it's too "awkward." ;)

Life is funny sometimes.

Recognition

Every year, my school does Departmental Awards. What that means is, every teacher/department gets to choose one student (or a few, like one for each year of a language, or multiple from choir) who has excelled, and they get a neat little trophy and a nice little reception all together. I got one freshman year for German I Student of the Year (woot-woo!), but nothing since... And I wasn't expecting one this year, but I was really hoping for a band award. Our director always did four or five (two for jazz band, two for regular band, maybe one for marching...). HOWEVER, he retired last year, which was dramatic, and if I'd been blogging, y'all would've heard about it. So, with our new director this year, I wasn't sure if she was going to do any of these awards.

The reception for that was last Wednesday. I didn't get any awards, which is hey, whate'er, but our band director gave out five or six awards. Rle got one, along with several other really deserving members. And I'm thrilled about that. But I'm also kind of hurt. See, Rle and I were the drum majors this fall together, and we both worked SO hard, to do our best, and to not let the band down. It was a rough time... There were a lot of bumps and bruises this year, just problems with having a new director, and the band pushing limits, and whatnot. And I've spent this whole year backing our director in everything, shooting down negative comments, and saying as much good as I can. So it kinda hurt that Rle got recognised as an outstanding band student and I didn't, like my contributions didn't matter as much as hers or something. I was upset enough that I wrote a poem about it... It's written like I'm speaking to our director.

I'm just gonna take a diva moment

And be a total brat

I know I shouldn't be complaining

But right now, it's where I'm at

It's just, music means so much to me

And I've worked so hard this year

I couldn't help thinking you might

Have wanted me to be here

And I know it shouldn't matter

But there's a part of me that just HURTS

That I didn't get a 'Band Student of the Year'

Even with all my work

Maybe we didn't always agree

On what strategies to use

But I did my best, and every day

I pushed and pulled for you

I fought so many battles

That you didn't see

And I was always defending

Everything that you could be!

So, it just kinda kills me

That you didn't think I mattered

And it shouldn't even phase me

But know that I am shattered.

Yeah. I'm dramatic. But it's kinda how I felt.

So then, this weekend, I found out that I'd been selected as a recipient of an award called the Triple E, which is selected by senior class nomination and teacher deliberation, and is supposed to be based on leadership, academics, and extracurricular participation. I was really excited about it, honestly. I had no idea who else had gotten it, and then tonight was the reception/awards presentation for it. From our class of 350, only 31 people received the award... And I was one of them. It really means a lot to me to receive that.

Now here's the funny part. I have this teacher, Mr. G. I've had him this year for AP U.S. Government and AP Psychology, which were in back to back class periods. He tends to give the students a bad time, tease us a little, and we dish it right back. And I will admit that I haven't always been a stellar student in his classes... I missed school because of cross country in the fall (I got to run, hooray!), and band and choir throughout the whole year, and then from January until March I was dead on my feet because I got to be in Les Miserables (IT WAS AMAZING)... I didn't turn in any notes in either class for all of second semester. And I definitely slept in his class several times. We had a running joke about my sleep deprivation, and about how I've really gone downhill this year, and my work is just suffering. Yep. But I really like Mr. G, and I think he's a great teacher.

So, last week, after all the senior nominations were in, and the teachers had met to discuss who should get the awards... The day after the teacher meeting, Mr. G was talking to me, Rag, and Lah about it, giving us a hard time. He teased Rag about her involvement in Student Council and dance, teased Lah about his grades or something, and then turns to me and says, "I tried to defend you, I really did, but you've just gone so far downhill this year..."
And I said, "Oh, I know, it's awful..."
He said, "But I did my best."
I just laughed, "Okay, Mr. G," and went back to working on my project.
So I thought I didn't get the Triple E.

And then I did!

So, after the presentation, I went to talk to Mr. G.
He puts his hand out for a handshake: "Congratulations!"
Me: "Mr. G! You made me think I didn't get one!"
Mr. G, laughing: "I know. I did that on purpose."
Me, also laughing: "Mr G! That is so mean! You are the worst!"
Mr. G: "The worst? Really?"
Me: "Well, not the worst, but mean..."
Mr. G: "And who do you think nominated you?"
Me: "What?"
Mr. G: "You deserve it."
So then I made him take a picture with me, and then after the picture...
Me: "Thank you so much!"
Mr. G: "Congratulations. You deserve it."

Okay. I seriously almost cried. It really means a lot to me that
1- at least some members of my class think I'm a decent person
2- I have a teacher who would pull that hard for me

I don't know what I did in Mr. G's class, but I am so grateful that he felt like I was worthy of the Triple E. Maybe it doesn't seem like a huge deal, but to be recognised for leadership and academics and extracurriculars... Wow. It honestly means the world to me right now.

Monday?

So, it was my last Monday of high school today.

Weird.

This is the last week.

And then I get to do real life.

It's odd to think about.

And that is my contribution for today.

Class of 2015

Here we are. The class of 2015!

Okay, not what you think. This is the graduating class from seminary from the two stakes in my area. We're missing a few people who were out of town tonight, and one who's already on his mission (whoa!), but that's us. Aren't we cute?

So, we graduated seminary. And ten of us, five from each stake, graduated with four years of honors, meaning that each year we:

• read the book,
• memorised all 25 scripture masteries,
• passed a scripture mastery test, and
• had at least 75% attendance

And I graduated with honors, which was cool. But what's even cooler is that in the next three years, the honors award is going to be phased out entirely. With the changes in the seminary program, the drive to #elevate our learning, all of those things are now REQUIRED to pass seminary, along with passing a basic doctrine test. It's AMAZING to see how we are living during the hastening of the Lord's work!

But anyhow... Honestly, I just have to talk about seminary. Seminary is the single greatest thing EVER. We do early morning here in Myneton, and it's the BEST way to start the day! Waking up early to make it by 6:15 isn't easy, but it is definitely worth it. Feeling the Spirit so strongly first thing is AWESOME.

Seminary has been such a blessing to me over the last four years of my life, and I am so sad that it's over. When I went through hard times with my faith, and I doubted and wondered, the answers I needed often came at seminary, in the lesson, or the devotional, or the hymns we sang. And that is incredible. Seminary did so much to strengthen my testimony of this gospel, of Christ and His atonement.

My freshman year we studied the Old Testament, sophomore year we studied the New Testament, last year we studied the Book of Mormon, and this year we did Doctrine and Covenants/Church History. And what a year it was!

I put a lot of effort into seminary this year, and what I got out was incredible. I journalled a whole bunch too, so later, I'll remember it all. And I just want to talk about it.

I know Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God, and that he was chosen to restore Christ's church in modern times.
I know that the priesthood, the power and authority to act for God, has been restored to the earth, and that our priesthood holders can exercise this power for the benefit of everyone.
I know that families can be together forever, and that is why temples and family history work are so important!
I know that trials will make you stronger, and that the Lord knows what He is doing when He asks you to do hard things.
I know that Christ lived and died for each one of us, and that through His atoning sacrifice, we can make it back to live with our Father in Heaven.
I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is Christ's true church upon the earth today, and that it is the only church with 100% of the Gospel.
And I know that God knows me personally.

And I didn't learn all of this for the first time this year in seminary. But seminary strengthened my testimony immensely. And I am so grateful for it.