Come What May & Love It

The way we react to adversity can be a major factor in how happy and successful we can be in life.

I have learned that life takes you places you never think you will go.

In whatever happens, learning to love what comes is key.

Allred 11

This is my life...

Serious Distraction

I am seriously distracted right now.

I have just about one million things to do this week and there is only one thing on my mind.

You see my mom sent me a little Easter package.

I get a package once a year from my parents. It comes around the time I need new contacts. Last year Valentines Day. This year Easter.

I received a couple of treats to accompany my contacts.

Among the treats were two boxes of fresh Peeps. Peeps are a classic Easter treat. But I do not like them fresh. So upon arrival three days ago I immediately opened the plastic that covered the Peeps in a desperate attempt to let those little guys harden up. Well it takes longer than you think folks. Or maybe just longer than you want. I have checked time and time again, still soft as ever.

So the serious distraction comes as I sit here wondering how long it will take until I can enjoy those Peeps in all their glory?

If you know, let me know.

Then I can get back to my million things I have to do.

Happy Spring.

What Matters Most

Happy Sunday Afternoon.

This is probably my favorite mormon message of all time.

I love it so much. Probably because I get so caught up in life so easily. There are always a million things I could do, should do, want to do, ect. Finding a balance can be so hard. And learning what matters most can also prove difficult. I feel like these college years of my life are a particularly selfish time. I am in college, in my own classes, figuring out what I want to major in. I love my friends but in the end what I do is a lot about me. It has been a transition point where I am taking charge of my own life. It is a starting point of a new direction, figuring out what I want for the rest of my life. I feel selfish at college sometimes, because in the end I have to figure out what is best for me. With that background this mormon message has taught me a lot about not getting caught up in myself. Each time I watch it I realize that this time in my life is not what I had previously considered it to be. I did not make this journey to this point in my life alone. Countless people have helped me to reach where I am today. Countless people help me everyday to continue to pursue a path that I want make this journey on. What I do is a result of their love, because they have learned what matters most. They have learned service, they have learned love, and they have been able to show that to me.

Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved.

I believe that. I love that idea. And this day and everyday I am trying to learn to incorporate that lesson into my life.

Manuel Andres Zamora

Manuel Andres is NOT a roommate. I repeat Manuel Andres is NOT a roommate.

Roommate week is over.

Luckily my roommate Vivian Danella has an amazing brother who we see often.

Manuel. He has kind of become an adoptive brother to Allred 11. Thus deserves full recognition on my humble blog.

Manuel Andres is attending the University of Utah. Which I totally approve of. He is pretty much a genius to has high expectations and ambitions for his life.

When he first came home from his mission a little over a year ago he was probably the most awkward person I had ever met. Luckily one day when he came to visit Viv in room #316 she wasn't home, thus he was forced to become friends with Ash and I. Ever since the awkwardness level has dropped significantly, I would even say we are great friends with Manuel Andres.

He is really a go to guy when Allred 11 needs help. He is full of wisdom and knowledge. He also knows how to make stuff up for us.

Like a good brother he also finds a way to tease us all.

His style is probably better than mine. His hair looks good long. Sometimes I tell him it looks great when I haven't even looked at it. He is musical. And a little nerdy maybe.

Manuel, you are a great friend and older adoptive brother to Allred 11. Come anytime. Come all the time.

(Adoptive Brother)

(For Real Brother)

And I like your hair right now :)

Cassandra Teresa Rindlisbacher

Cassandra Teresa is the fifth and final roommate.

Her initials are CTR. Which is awesome.

Except her middle name really isn't Teresa. You see she doesn't have one, and I just can't do that. So we made one up. Teresa. Yes please. Someday when the luckiest man in the world finds this girl and drops to his knee her middle name will be Rindlisbacher. Then we can drop the Teresa. But until that day the made up middle name will stay.

Speaking of marriage and men, if you know a man who wants an incredibly talented, creative, crafty, strong, musical, compassionate woman to stand by his side for time and all eternity, let me know and we can set him up with Cassi. She is all of the above and more. I am continuously amazed by her.

She is also a wise wise woman. If I ever need real life advice for real life situations and I want depth and truth, I go straight to Mama Cass. She has a wealth of knowledge.

If you are ever sick, her chicken noodle soup works miracles. I have never tasted something so delicious in the midst of dying.

Cassi is an incredible piano player. Sometimes she comes to allred 11 and plays for hours and I love listening to and singing along to her vast selection of songs. Cassi plays super mario brothers (I think that is what it is called), and she helps Katie overcome every level (I don't have video game vocabulary). Also Cassi has the best laugh. For real.

In the end Cassi and I do not have a picture together. Not alright. But true. I am sure that will change soon enough.

Wait a minute. I found this treat, did a little cropping job. Yep Cassi is looking good. I on the other hand... well not so much. I am at least giving the thumbs up.

I have five incredibly wonderful roommates.

Allred 11 is a place where we gather as roommates and live our lives as best friends.

Ashley Marie Burgess

I was never too nervous about meeting Ashley Marie.

Before we moved into Wyview for our freshman year of college I emailed her and asked her to send a picture of herself. She also told me a few things about herself. I saw her, read through it, and had confidence that we would get along. And we do.

I feel like we are very similar in our thinking.

Her and Viv combined is like the ultimate interrogation. She has a knowledge of what I am thinking so she knows what to ask, and Viv knows how to phrase it. That is when all the real secrets come out.

Ash loves math, and is really good at it, but that does not define her. There is so much more to her. She follows her dreams and writes messages to missionaries with cups on fences. She had the idea of the Visible Light Spectrum for a halloween costume. She love soccer. I enjoy watching her games. I love to play racquetball with her. We eat ice cream together. We just have a great time.

She is my room roommate. We have matching bedspreads. Which was definitely not on purpose. I think we knew we definitely needed to be room roommates the first day we met. Mostly because we have matching bedspreads and it would be cute to have matching bedspreads in the same room. And let me tell you it is.

I love ash. She is one of my best friends, for life, forever.