Things like these

First of all, click here.

Did you click it? Yes?

If you just watched a crappily recorded video of a few kids dressed in purple doing the Harlem Shake, you just watched something I'm very proud of.
I wasn't a part of it, I didn't witness it, and I wasn't there. But when I saw it I was touched.

Those are kids at my high school - Clear Lake High School.

They're supporting Relay for Life, an event that raises money for cancer research and funding for cancer patients through the American Cancer Society.

And they got involved. Two years in a row, CLHS has been the host of the event. And participation has skyrocketed, funds increase every year, and I am continually amazed.

I'm so grateful to have come from such a wonderful place where people are so giving and teach their children to be giving. They recognize needs in the community and seek to fill them. That's something I have yet to find here at BYU and I feel few people could ever truly understand the impact of that small town.

I'm loving my new life here in Provo, but there isn't a day that goes by where I'm not thankful for my little lakeside town in Northern California that taught me some of the most important values in my life.

CLHS IN THE NEWS

Operation Tango Mike
Photo Credit: Ginny Craven

CLHS Grads Helping at OTM
Photo Credit: Ginny Craven

Credit: CLHS Newsletter

Credit: CLHS Newsletter

Paint the Stands Pink - Breast Cancer Awareness
Credit: CLHS Website

Reflection

For every paper I've written in my Writing 150 class, we had to complete a reflection on the process of writing our paper and the challenges and successes that came because of it.
Well, seeing as it's the end of my first semester of college (!), I thought it might be appropriate to reflect on my challenges and successes in this latest chapter of my life.

First, I have now lived on my own for four months. HATE IT. There is nothing better than going home, eating something homemade, having someone do your laundry, and not having to plan everything on your own. But, there are positives. I don't have to have someone plan my every minute (Mom, if you only knew how I spent my time here...), and I'm learning to be independent. Baby steps, for sure, but I'm doing it.

Second, I have a new family. I did the impossible and made new friends. Seeing my brothers/bulldogs over break was one of the highlights of my life, no joke. But there was a part of me that couldn't wait to get back to P-town to see Kenzi and Amber - my sisters - and all the other wonderful/not-so-wonderful people here. What a relief to know that, yes, it can be done! I can live outside of Lake County!

Third, I'm not engaged, dating someone, or planning on dating someone. Take that all you people who said I'd come to BYU and be engaged after a semester because
    a. That's what Mormons do
    b. That's what BYU is for.
    c. It didn't matter where I went to school because I really was only going to meet my future husband (MRS degree, obviously)
And that's all I'm going to say about that.

Fourth, I have cried more in the last four months than anytime I can remember. There were the times when I missed my boys. There were the times when I was so stressed about classes I couldn't see straight. There were the times when all I wanted was to be home where I didn't have to worry about money anymore! There were the times when I couldn't make up my mind about the future (a scary place by the way). And there were the times when I just wanted familiarity. BUT I LIVED. I succeeded. I made it through. And all those worries seem a lot sillier from this point of view.

Fifth, I'm okay with the fact that I haven't gotten all As this semester and that that is pretty much out of the realm of possibility. Did it suck of course? Well yeah! This girl's had straight As since the 4th grade! But then I remembered I'm at BYU. And every student here came from a highly successful academic background. And not everyone can be on top. AND I AM OKAY WITH IT.

Sixth, getting out of the Lake County bubble has opened my eyes in so many ways. I sure appreciate home a lot more. I wouldn't change growing up in hicktown Lakeport for anything in my life. I love having to explain where I live in California to people who think that they know the area so well. And then the looks on people's faces when I tell them I graduated with 100 kids. The stories that I have, the memories, make it all worth it in the end.

I guess what I'm trying to get across is that I'm happy for where I've been, and excited for where I'm going. I kinda surprised myself with sitting down and writing this with how many things I'm thankful for in my life. It may mean nothing to you. But it means everything to me!

EDIT: Oren wanted me to let you all know how miserable I was that I didn't get to see him over break. That is all.

For Anyone Wondering What It's Like To Go To BYU

Men of the 106th,

Tomorrow night is a BYU Dance. Finals are here, the semester is nigh unto an end, and the Women of the 106th have spoken thusly:

"Thou (you, my brethren) hast turned for me (a 106th Ward sister that you should ask to the dance) my mourning (finals) intodancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness" (Psalms 30:11)

Gird up your loins guys! Gladness awaits! Ask and ye shall receive! Have a blast at the dance!

Your esteemed brother of-the-clerk,

Tony

aka Brother Anderson

p.s. Please refer to Van Halen II, Side 1, Track 2 for further instruction ;)



OH DEAR ME.

Cuppy is My Man

You've all seen this movie, right?

If you haven't you should just leave now.

Growing up, okay to this day, I've had an obsession with anything that had to do with a red head. Madeline, Little Mermaid, Enchanted, the Peanuts, and yes, obviously, The Parent Trap. In fact, it was one of my favorite movies.

So it shouldn't come to you as a surprise that I brought Charlie Brown with me to school.

Or that I have this bad boy on my bed:

(Although I must say, mine is WAY cuter.)

Now, if you're looking at this and wondering, "Why does Brittani have a scary stuffed rabbit?" again, you can leave. I've had Cuppy longer than I can remember. And I love that I have to explain it to everyone who comes in my room and sees it.

Wanna see him in action? He's a star.

Anyway, I figured I'd blog about my love because, well he's the best. And yes, I talk to my stuffed animal like it's real. Quit judging.

Reason number two for this blog post: Amber thinks he's the worst. Little does she a know that a mint condition Cuppy is selling on ebay at a high of $129.95. 

Not only is he a star, he's rare. And he's all mine.

Gingers, ftw. 

Genetic Blog {One}

Okay, this is my first blog post for my Writing class. And I decided to post it here first before I have it get torn apart by the teacher. PLEASE tell me what to fix to make it better or if its confusing or anything. It's a grade! Thanks :)

One of the major components of our Heavenly Father’s plan for us on this earth is knowledge.

In Proverbs 8:10-12, it says “Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.”

We are taught in Doctrine and Covenants 130 that knowledge is that which rises with us in the resurrection, and in Doctrine and Covenants 88, the Lord encourages to gain knowledge “That ye may be prepared in all things when I shall send you again to magnify the calling whereunto I have called you, and the mission with which I have commissioned you,” (v. 80).

Just as it is vital to our eternal salvation to gain knowledge of the spiritual ideas of life, it is equally important to gain a secular knowledge of the workings of this Earth so that we, as a human population, may better our surroundings.

In Human Development 210 (SFL 210), we learned about the state of Romania orphanages through the 1990s. Because of the turmoil of the state and increased poverty, large numbers of children were abandoned. This led to overcrowded, understaffed facilities in a very short amount of time. Those that were deemed ‘normal’ around age three were sent away to specialize in a trade. The other children were labeled as irrecoverable and were separated from the outside world. These children were malnourished and neglected, simply from lack of knowledge.

Many of the children had developmental disabilities.  Many of the children who were severely neglected suffered from Reactive Detachment Disorder (inability to bond securely or otherwise, even with caregivers who have secure working models of attachment relationships), Nonorganic Failure to Thrive (A growth disorder usually present by 18 months of age that is caused by lack of affection and simulation), and Deprivation Dwarfism (A growth disorder observed between 2 and 15 years of age caused by severe emotional deprivation).

This institutional care is a concept almost incomprehensible; but, the serious state of these orphanages grew from a lack of knowledge. It was not until the last 20 years when research proved that developmental damages from lack of interaction in the early years of a child’s life are critical to their foundation of growth for life.

The same idea of knowledge being essential can be applied to nutritional problems in America. There are two types of scientific approaches: the traditional way which requires the use of the scientific method to come up with hypotheses and eventually and theories, and the modern idea that does away with the trial period and hopes to produce effective results as soon as possible. The problems with this second method are a lack of surety and an increase in skewed information. In Nutrition 100, the professor asked us what knowledge we wanted to gain from this class – the answers had a wide range, the reason being a lack of knowledge. Every student had gained their own perspective on what was healthy based on what they had been taught growing up. Often these ‘facts’ are drawn from bad information on the news or tradition, or even religious beliefs. If one does not take the time to seek out the real answer from research done by those educated in nutrition, the opportunities to be misinformed are endless.

Both of these instances showed me the importance of education. In a world that is constantly pulling you in a million directions, the only way to know the truth is if you seek after it yourself, whether that be in the Gospel, Nutrition, Human Development, or any other part of life, learning is imperative to success.