Im Leaving on a Jet Plane

Center at night (from BYU.edu)

September 1, 2009 I leave on a jet plain headed for Jerusalem and my return will be December 17, 2009. That means I get to experience Thanksgiving, my birthday, and Christmas celebrations in Jerusalem!

Dorms (BYU.edu)

I will be there a full semester and I am ridiculously excited! The BYU center is located on Mount Scopus overlooking Mount of Olives and the Kidron Valley. Each room houses four girls and has a personal balcony with a spectacular view. While the dress code is very strict (only pants or skirts that go to mid-calf, and sleeves that almost go to your elbows) it will all be worth it in the end.

BYU Jerusalem Center (BYU.edu)

Places I will be seeing. Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Mt. Sinai, Ein Gev in Gelilee, Hezekiah’s Tunnel, Red Sea, Dead Sea, archaeological sites, Mt. Scopus (where center is built), Mount of Olives, and many more places!

Classes I will be taking.  Hebrew, New and Old Testament, Ancient Near Eastern Studies, Modern Near Eastern Studies, and I will be taking a travel studies class (we basically go on field trips).

Feel free to write me letters! 

P.O. BOX 19604

Jerusalem, 91196 ISRAEL

p.s. I will blog with updates. :)

"The tragedy of life is not that it ends so soon, but that we wait so long to begin it." W. M. Lewis

October 2, 2002 I started my bucket list in my journal. Some of them I grew out of considering I made the list when I was 14. This is the updated list and I am publishing it as a sort of contract. Now that people know the list I am obligated to work on it. I have accomplished only a hand-full of the following and I’m going to get on it! Red- Done Blue- Work in progress

Ride in a hot air balloon

Get 4.0 on a semester grade

Go see the Grand Canyon

Go to Yellowstone
Go to Lake Powell
See the Statue of Liberty

Go to the top of the Empire State building
Swim with dolphins

Sell a photo I took
Visit every state (over half-way done)
See the Eiffel Tower

Plant and grow a garden of my own

Learn to surf
Go to a drive-inn movie theater

Go cliff jumping
Ride on a Snowmobile
Go camping for real. This includes a backpack, a hike, great foil dinner, and a tent.
Go Skydiving
Live overseas by myself -- Jerusalem
Learn to love reading

Learn to love to run (run a half marathon)
Teach English in a foreign country
Go to China to see the Great Wall

Ride in a helicopter
Go to a mavs game during the playoffs
Sing a solo on stage
Ride on an elephant
Be in a movie (an extra will do)
Visit all the temples in the US

Rexburg Temple

Go on an African Safari
Learn to snowboard
Sew something I can use (blanket, apron…)
Volunteer for habitat for humanity
Own a Chocolate Lab
Cook a thanksgiving dinner

See the pyramids in Egypt

It is definitely a work in progress, but it will happen! Let me know if there are any other additions that need to be made to my bucket list.

William Joseph or Joseph Williams?

The fact that he has two first names will no longer bother you once you hear his music. I had the amazing opportunity to see William Joseph in concert. We embraced, and then I asked for his signature. Proof below. 

My favorites include: Within (located on my playlist to the right), Piano Fantasy, and Butterflies and Hurricanes (Yes this is the amazing Muse song which William Joseph wrote).

Internal conflict resolved

Over the past several years I was faced with a serious decision that had to be made. Should I A) live my life without the wonderful world of blogging or B) live in the shadow of my eloquent sister. The decision has obviously been made, considering my new presents on blogspot.com. You will all now have the opportunity to read about pointless experiences in my life, and be forced to love it! Before I close this first, and rather short entry, there are a few things that must be known about me. 1. I don't write. As a result my spelling and grammar have and probably will always have issues. For your benefit and mine, ignore them. :) 2. I currently live in Idaho and my idea of fun has drastically changed. Enjoy the frequent entries about shooting, climbing, bike riding, and swimming in questionable sources of water. 

Until next time.