Tikki-Tikki-Tembo

My family has this obsession with baby names, I think.  I found this baby name book a few years ago at a garage sale and it's the best purchase I've ever made.  Maybe not the best but it was a pretty good purchase.  Anyways, I had Meredith bring the book to North Carolina for Thanksgiving so I could take it back to school with me because I missed it so much.  My uncle laughed at me for obsessing over a baby name book and then I told him to read it and he was sucked in for a good half hour.  I told you it was good!  It's not a normal baby name book, that's for sure.  Meredith was depressed that I took the book, so for Christmas she got another copy of it.  A newer edition but I'm not jealous.  Mine is the original!

The other night, Eli, Meredith and I sat in my room for an hour looking at names.  Please don't judge us.  It's quality time together.

Now I'm going to take some time to reflect upon my own name.  Abigail.  I haven't always gone by Abigail.  Through my senior year of high school I went by Abby.  For some odd reason in eighth grade I changed the spelling to "Abbi" but that only lasted a year.  Although one friend still calls me "A-B-B-I" and spells it out for me.  I decided that college was a new chapter in life and since no one knew me I could go by whatever the heck I wanted.  I could have gone by Fransisca and no one would really know the difference.  It took some time to get used to introducing myself as Abigail because the name was new to me too.  But I like it and I stuck with it.  When people asked if I preferred Abby or Abigail I would say Abigail, although for some reason I always felt a little guilty...like I was making them work more because it's an extra two syllables.  I'm over that now.

I really like my name and now it feels weird coming home and calling myself Abby.  It doesn't feel weird having people call me that because that's how everyone knows me.  But if I introduce myself to people it takes a second to make sure Abby comes out.  If I say Abigail, I get strange looks from my friends.  And I don't need more strange looks than I already get!

According to my trusted baby name book, Abigail is an old-fashioned and intelligent name.  I can live with that.

I think I'm going to call my kids their real names from the get-go so they don't have to do this whole "what should my name be?" crisis.  And I like long names.  Not Tikki tikki tembo-no sa rembo-chari bari ruchi-pip peri pembo long but they're going to be solid.  Not like Chang.  That's just wimpy.  No offense. (If you have no idea what I'm talking about you should wikipedia "Tikki tikki tembo" or just become better acquainted with Children's literature...it's one of my favorites).

Last Christmas Zach got me a book about preparing for marriage.  This year he got me "What to Expect When you're Expecting" (Next year I think I'll get him a book on retirement...).  I'm not going return it since someday it'll be useful, but I definitely won't be bringing it to school with me.  I don't think it would look good to have that sitting next to a baby name book in my room....

Moral of the blog post: If you're ever bored, try reading 1) 100,000 Baby Names and 2) Tikki tikki tembo-no sa rembo-chari bari ruchi-pip peri pembo.

Ode to a Dog

I regret to inform the rest of the world that our 15-passenger van, Clifford, will be with us no longer.  He died and we are choosing to not seek outside medical help to bring him back to life.  I'm not sure if he signed a DNR before he left us but my parents are just going to assume he did.

Clifford was a great van for us.  We got him back in 2001 (?) when our family expanded to five children.  My parents had the choice between a gray or red one and we obviously chose red.  We were the only large, red van in Green Bay so everyone that saw our van somewhere knew our business.

First picture I could find of him.

Clifford has caused us some problems in his life but I guess that's what happens when you become a member of a family.  On our way back from our big family vacation to Idaho and Utah, his transmission died in Idaho Falls, ID and we were towed to Blackfoot, ID.  Very long story short, we were stranded in Blackfoot for an entire week waiting for him to get fixed.

Getting Towed

Our family stranded in Blackfoot.  At least there's a park there....

 He's hauled us to Utah, Idaho, Wisconsin, Ohio, North Carolina, Niagara Falls, Georgia, and numerous other places.  He's been on high adventure, to girls camp, on a 50 mile bike ride (as the medic, of course), and to Seminary and back a hundred times.  Kings, Queens, Presidents and Prophets have ridden on his noble seats (well maybe future ones...).  When gas was enormously expensive a few years back, the pump wouldn't let us fill the whole tank because it cost over $100.

In Green Bay, about to move to Ohio.

Our family with a couple who's name was Clifford.  They wanted a picture with our license plate...duh.

I loved driving him because he made me feel powerful!  I was five heads above everyone else on the highway except the semi-truck drivers.  When the bigger car got the right-of-way it was always me.  We would turn heads, he and I, because we're just that cool.  Once I backed into a parking spot in Wal*Mart and the guy whose truck was next to me came back and inspected his truck because he thought I hit it.  Idiot.

I know I have been "changed for the better" and not just "for good."

Well this past weekend has been an emotional roller coaster for two major reasons.  I guess the best thing to do is start at the beginning...Friday morning.  

BYU-Idaho has been growing and changing for so many years now.  We celebrated our 10th anniversary of becoming a four-year university last spring.  I feel so blessed to be a part of this great work that is taking place!  I don't think you can truly appreciate it until you have experienced it for yourself.  On Friday, the new BYU-Idaho Center was dedicated and there aren't words to describe how awesome it was to be in that building during that sacred event.  The building seats 15,000 people and is modeled after the Conference Center in SLC.  

President Eyring speaking in the new BYU-Idaho Center during the dedication

One of the reasons I love BYU-Idaho is the fact that living prophets and apostles of Jesus Christ come to speak to us so often!  President Henry B. Eyring, first counselor in the first presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was the one to dedicate the building (as well as the addition to our student center).  In addition, we heard from Elder David A. Bednar, a former president of BYU-Idaho and current member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and Elder Russell M. Nelson, also a member of the Twelve.  I know that these men are apostles of our Savior.  They lead by inspiration and they teach us the things that He would have us know.  How wonderful it is to know that Christ not only had prophets on the earth hundreds of years ago to lead his people, but they are on the earth today!  And I have been in the same room as them so many times and heard their words of comfort, peace, and joy, along with their words of warning and caution.  

The words spoken at the dedication made me even more grateful for the university and its mission.  I didn't cry but I sure came close to it a few times.  No offense to anyone who goes to BYU but sometimes I wonder why I ever even considered going there.  I can't comprehend the things that I would have missed had I not gone to Rexburg.  It is the best decision I have ever made and I have not regretted it once.  

The people here are great.  The students, the professors, the administrators, and the community.  There have been multiple times where I've walked into the testing center to take a test and there's a few students holding a large bag of Jolly Ranchers and wishing people good luck on their test.  Last spring, during national hot dog month, the librarians had a huge grill outside the library and were giving away free hot dogs. I randomly walked up to a girl that I did not know in the library and studied bones for anatomy with her for an hour. During midterms a few girls came by in the library and gave me a cookie while I was studying.  I can't walk to a class without seeing someone I know.  I only open doors for myself half the time...if there's a guy around he'll get it for you 95% of the time.  Most of my professors know my name.  My religion professor asks about my roommates by name (that may also have to do with the fact that I roomed with his daughter...).  My Biostatistics professor shares mini-devotionals with us before class.  All of my classes start with a prayer and a few have also started with a hymn.  The list goes on and on and on and on.  I love that I go to a school where we can combine secular knowledge with spiritual.  We can read talks from old sessions of General Conference for homework in ANY class, not just religious ones...biostats, general science, essentials of human nutrition, etc.  I love that professors trust the students to do what is right and to be honest.  I love everything and can't believe how blessed I am!

I know that it's because of the sacrifices of so many people that I am able to attend this university.  Everything here is funded by tithing money from members of the church all over the world.  Many of those members live in situations where they will never see a building as wondrous as the BYU-Idaho Center, they will never see a campus this beautiful, they will never receive the kind of education that we receive while we're here.  And yet, because of their willingness to keep the law of the tithe, I am part of a select few that has so many opportunities and blessings.  I will always be indebted to them and I hope that I can make them proud as I continue on through life striving to live it in Christ's footsteps.

Saturday I again got to go in the BYU-Idaho Center for Whitney's graduation.  HOLY CRAP!!  She graduated!!!  And I am so proud of her.  She's done what so many people in this country don't or can't do.  And even better, she's going to be a teacher and feed the minds of the coming generations.  It was a hurried goodbye but that's probably for the best because I just would have had longer to cry.  

A word to the wise- don't watch Toy Story 3 the night you say goodbye to one of the best friends you've ever had.  Tears will come.  I thought I was going to be fine but of course they came even without my permission!  I think I'll be okay in a bit but it really is going to be hard not having her around this winter.  We promised each other we'd go to our weddings so I'm trying to hurry her along so I have an excuse to come see her.  Sometimes I think we think a little too far ahead.  We've already planned that our kids will get married so that we can be grandma's together...it could happen.  

After our "Wicked" performance in the ward talent show.

I tell her I love her all the time so I don't think it's really necessary on a blog.  And whoever reads this is probably sick of hearing about our random adventures.  I'm sure we'll find ways to have fun even when we're hours apart!  Although I am quite excited that I can take showers in peace without worrying that a cup of sugar or ice cubes will be dumped on me...         

PS- sorry for the font on here...it changes and I can't figure out how the heck to fix it.... 

      

Smelly Pee??

My favorite part of college life is getting to buy my own groceries.  I can choose to eat WHATEVER I want.  A blessing and a curse at the same time.  I am pretty good about eating all my fruits and vegetables and come close to death when I don't have fresh, ripe, bananas in a bowl on the counter.  Ask my roommates.  I eat at least one a day.  Sometimes I eat one for breakfast and one for a late night snack with peanut butter.  Try it.  Love it.

(The only acceptable PB to use is JIF.  NO EXCEPTIONS.)

Well two days ago I went to the store and was going through the produce section when I saw some bright green, asparagus just calling my name.  I've had asparagus once...at band camp.  And it was delicious.  So when I saw that it was on sale I couldn't resist and bought a bunch.

(I have heard asparagus makes your pee smell funny...hence the title)

I had bought a bunch about a year ago but forgot about it and it went bad before I could cook it.  This time I was determined to cook my asparagus before it rotted!  So yesterday I got online to find a recipe.  I ended up coating them with olive oil, sprinkling on a little salt and pepper and baking them in the oven.  And for a finishing touch I added some lemon juice and parmesan cheese (not my idea, thank the internet).  My asparagus adventure was a success!