Last Friday Night

Ok so last night technically wasn't my "Last Friday Night" in Rexburg seeing as I'll be here next Friday as well, but next Friday night will be filled to the brim with work, packing and cleaning.

Can I please just say that I love the people of Rexburg so much, and I love BYU-Idaho more than I ever thought possible.

Here's what went down.

Wake up, circuit train at the gym, go to class, ace my Law and Ethics final.

Here's where it gets good:

I worked from 2-5 with Lyndi and Timber. In case you haven't heard, I love my job. I love everyone I get to work with. I never want to leave.

Ask BYU-I: Fall 2011

At six we had a Student Support work party catered by Texas Roadhouse. MMmmmm MMMMmmm Good! All my co-workers were there and let me tell you, we had a blast. We probably should have behaved a bit more maturely...but when we get together, it's a party. I kid you not. I walked out thinking, "Gosh I love these people, why am I leaving them??"

They loaded our plates up!

Then I went to the Best Of Show on campus with some of my favorite people. It made me fall in love with country music all over again and made me wish with every fiber of my being that I had an ounce of dancer's blood in me.

Speaking of which... I went to the Hart dance with even MORE of my favorite people. Every single time I turned around, I saw someone that I knew and loved. Again, I kid you not. That place was hoppin' (literally) with the Greats.

Despite the need I feel to be THEE most awkward dancer on the dance floor, I had so much fun and was able to see sooo many people that I'd been missing. And they didn't even judge me for my total lack of rhythm and grace.

I then stopped at a friends house where I randomly met a boy we'll call... Tim. He explained lots of things to me about a different boy that I had been oh so curious about. It was fantastic.

Just as I had walked into my own apartment to get ready for the bed, my ears were filled with the melodious tunes of bass and tenor voices serenading me outside my window with none other than, The First Noelle. A group of boys chancing the cold to come carol to me on their way home...? Yeah I'll take that!

Right after that, I headed down to 212 and watched Never Say Never, aka the Justine Bieber movie projected big screen onto the wall with some classy ladies. I'm by no means obsessed with the Biebs, but I dare you to not watch that movie and fall in love with him for the time that your watching the movie.

Oh what a glorious night. Thanks Rexburg. You've been grand.

Love, Noelle

Birthday Wishes

I will be twenty-one next week. Woooooo! I've been planning what I want to do for my birthday for the past.... ohhh 365 days or so.

Want to hear what my immpecable plan consists of? Ok :)

5:00 pm-  Roommates and I go out to eat. Costa Vida perhaps?

6:00 pm- Meet up with everyone I know at the Homestead for an hour or so of pure bliss.

Who wouldn't want to spend their birthday here??

7:30 pm- Go to the sled hill with even more people and sled the night away. Followed by hot cocoa and apple cider... and maybe a fireplace, if we can find one.

Oh how I love the snow!!

All of my most favorite things with all of my favorite people!!

I can't even tell you how fantastic this sounds to me!

Unfortunately 'tis just birthday wish-ful thinking.

Here's why:


1. Unfortunately Rexburg doesn't seem to believe in snow this semester. There is no snow on the ground. I can't believe it and have never been so distraught about the weather in my entire life! Where oh where is my beloved snow?? I've been itching to go sledding since our last sledding extravaganza last year, but something tells me that won't be happening. That "something" could possibly be this:

Note the fact that there is NO SNOW in our forecast

2. It's like pulling teeth trying to get people (except dear LeeAnn :) to go to the Homestead (although they always have a lovely time while there). The fact that my birthday is during finals week will not help my plight much I'm afraid. Everyone is very busy, which is understandable, but while going to the Homestead alone is still fun, it's 1000 times funner when I can bring friends... and when I have a ride :)

Sooo while my plan won't work for this year, I had to document it here so as to not forget it. Next year I'll start praying for snow in June. Then perhaps by December we'll have some sled-worthy snow.

Also, it's Friday. Wahoo!

Have a good one,

The Ship Has Sailed

Today was interview day for potential EFY counselors.

I didn't interview.

I think my heart is breaking.

Ouch. Ouch. Ouch.

What I wouldn't give to be an EFY counselor again.

I want a second chance.

Why can't I do it?

My internship dates coincide with EFY dates.

I shall probably never have a chance to do it again.

Have fun without me EFY, how I will miss you!

Love, Noelle

The First Noelle

'Tis the season of sleigh-bells, Christmas carols, mistletoe and "Noel" jokes :)

One day I'll write a whole post about my name and how my thoughts about it have changed over the years... but for today, just know that come November/December I LOVE being named Noelle.

Trav (7) and I (5) in our Christmas attire December 1995 

• I LOVE walking down the aisles of Broulim's or Walmart and hearing Josh Groban belting out a chorus of "Nooooellllllle, Noellllllllllllleee" (Seriously, I love that. Josh Groban singing right to me.)

• I love sitting in the I-Center, watching the Christmas Devotional only to find out that I'd be enjoying MOTAB beautifully serenade me with "The First Noel"

• I love walking down the halls of the Taylor building right as religion classes are starting and hearing "The First Noel" being sung in various classrooms.

• I love being at work with my "Noelle" name tag and getting asked "Do you like being named Noelle? Do people sing to you all the time?"

• I love walking to class and hearing, "Noelle, Noelleeeee, Nooooeeeeellllle, Noelle" being sung from friends all around trying to get my attention. 

• I love being in a church meeting singing The First Noel and feeling like everyone is looking at me as soon as we hit the chorus of "Noel"'s (When I look around, I found that indeed there are tons of sets of eyes watching me as if to say, "I wonder if she knows we're singing her name over and over again?")

Noelle and Papa Noel

So in case you were wondering.. I love being sung to. I love hearing "You're MY first Noelle" jokes. I love hymn 213. I love Christmas.

So next time you're singing "The First Noel" don't be surprised if you find yourself thinking of me :)

Love, Noelle

P.S. I'm pretty sure that my life would be complete if the bells on campus played "The First Noel" on my birthday as I walked to class. Lets make this happen.

He is We is She is Me is ...whaaat?

That's exactly how I felt when I first heard about the band He is We. But now I'm addicted. Thank goodness for beloved Pandora who lets me listen to them often. In case you haven't hopped on the bandwagon yet, let me introduce you to some of my favorites.

1. All About Us

2. And Run
3. Happily Ever After

4. Fall
5. Kiss It All Better
6. Blame it on the Rain

Ok, who am I kidding, I love them all.
My go-to Pandora station is a lovely mix of  He is We, Adele and Josh Turner. Love.

Check them out. Let me know what you think.
Love, Noelle

P.S. I'm looking for other songs/bands to fall in love with. I'm taking suggestions :)

Awkward and Awesome: Asking the Dad

I was walking through the i-center on Tuesday about an hour after devo when I saw/heard the following. 

Picture this: 

There was a gruff looking older man sitting next to a timid looking young man. I caught onto the conversation at this point:

Awkward
Young Man: "No, I'm not trying to steal your daughter away from your family." (frantic expression, short, anxious breaths) "What I really want is to become a part of your family."

At this point, I was captivated. I had to find out what the older gentleman was going to say!

Super Awkward
The old man took a deep breath and then paused for what felt like an eternity... no expression on his face.

Awesome
He then leaned over, patted the boys leg and said, "We want you to be apart of our family too."

I had no idea who this boy was, but it took every ounce of my will-power to refrain from cheering and jumping for joy. I was just so happy that he said yes!

After recounting this story to my roommates and various others who joined in my excitement for the young man, we had some meaningful conversation about the idea of asking permission from the dad.

Perhaps if my father had been consulted beforehand, this proposal would have never taken place :)

Some said it was old fashioned and that the dad didn't really have a say in who their daughter married, others found it romantic and adorable. Some said that they felt bad for whoever they married cause their dad would be tough to please. What are your thoughts?

Old fashioned? Adorable?
Awkward? Awesome?

Stories are more than welcome :)

Love, Noelle

Smiling With Teeth

I make it a practice to smile and make eye contact with people as I walk past them.  And if I happen to know their name, I always try and use it.

Oh and when I say that I smile at people when I pass them. It's usually a closed lip smile. Nothing grandiose, but hey, it's still a smile right?

Wrong!

Story time:
One day I was walking down the street on my way home from a very busy day of interviewing, work and school. Did I mention that I was exhausted?  I was on the sidewalk in front of my house doing my usual "smile and make eye-contact with people" routine when a blonde-haired boy passed me. I made eye-contact and gave him my weak, closed lip smile.

Guess what he did?

He smiled back at me.
Wait there's more.
He smiled with his teeth! He gave me the most fantastic full-blown smile I had ever seen! I had no idea who this boy was, but I couldn't help but return it with a full-blown, tooth-filled grin of my own. I grinned the whole rest of my walk home.

From that very second onward, I decided that I was ridding myself of that quaint, pathetic,closed-lip smile I'd been giving out like candy. If I was going to smile at someone I passed, I was going to really smile at them.

December 2009: Ok so these are awful picture examples (in more ways than one) but we're going for it anyway :)

I've been doing that for over three months now. I love the reaction to it. It's usually a quick look of surprise followed by an extraordinary smile (with teeth) right back at me.

However, now that it's gotten quite chilly outside, this practice of mine has gotten a bit difficult. You see, If I'm outside with less than 4 jackets on, my teeth chatter uncontrollably (really, I've tried to control it, but it just doesn't happen) So giving a full-blown smile while my teeth are chattering a million miles an hour is quite the feat, and I'm sure it looks pretty ridiculous, but that's ok :)

Now, I know what you're all wondering, "Wait, what happened to the mystery blond-haired boy who caused Noelle to change her ways??" Don't worry, I've gotcha covered.

Follow-Up Story Time
I was at my friend's birthday party when I saw this boy sitting on the couch. Sometimes I don't think before I speak... so as soon as I recognized him, I rushed over to the couch and said, "You're the boy who smiles with teeth!" Hahaha just thinking about it makes me laugh. How ridiculous am I?

Luckily, he is a very nice boy and didn't make things awkward. I recounted the aforementioned story to him and he enjoyed it. We even went out on a date and became good friends. All because of  a very non-pathetic smile.

What I hope you gained from this story: A new-found desire to smile at people with your teeth. You never know where it'll get you, and how it'll influence the receiver of your smile.

Also, if you happen to pass me one day and I give you my pathetic smile, feel free to reprimand me... but do so kindly :)

Love, Noelle