Heavenly Father Gained A Friend

     On Tuesday I called my Dad to ask him a simple question. To be honest I can't even remember what I wanted to talk to him about. He told me he wanted to talk to me about two things. The first thing he told me was a silly story about my little sister's dog and how he ran away. Then he got really serious and told me we needed to talk to about my dog, Nome. I tried to shut him down, which is my usual response when my parents bring him up because they are always just telling me how old he is. My dad wouldn't let it go like normal though. He told me that Nomie had not eaten or drank in two days. He said that his end is near. I started crying and didn't really stop the rest of the day. My dad asked me if I wanted them to wait until I got home, in three days, before they put him down, but they weren't really even sure he would make it that long. I asked them to try.
     Wednesday I woke up and tried to not think. It didn't work. I started crying again so I called my best friend Abby. I told her about how I felt like I was being so selfish trying to keep my dog alive for me, but at the same time I wasn't sure I could even handle being there. She gave me the idea to skype with him and say my goodbyes so that he could go and not be in anymore pain. I called my Dad and told him that I needed to skype with Nome and after I did that he could help Nome pass away. I then skyped with Nomie Boy for almost 2 hours. I told him how much I love him and that if he was ready then I wanted him to go. I told him lots of funny stories from our 19 years together. I asked him to find my future children and keep them company and to find Grandma McKean and play tug of war with her again. At one point in my one-sided conversation, Nome looked right at me through the camera and wagged his tail. That doesn't seem like a huge thing, but to me it was so much comfort. Nomie hasn't wagged his tail for a really long time. I knew that this was his way of telling me that he loves me and not to be sad anymore.
     The rest of the day I didn't want to answer my phone every time I saw my parents name come up on my caller i.d.
     Today, Thursday, I woke up to a post on my FB wall from my little sister. She told me that she saw Nome outside and he had the goofiest smile on his face. He smiles just like the dog Rigby from the book. I went about my day cleaning for about 7 hours (we had to white glove our apartment for checkout). I went out for cupcakes with one of my best friends for her birthday. When I got home my friend Julia came over and we chatted for a little bit because I'm headed home tomorrow and won't see her for a really long time. When she left I was getting ready to go to another friends apartment when my mom called. She told me that while she was at play practice Nomie went to sleep and didn't wake up. He went so peacefully. Tomorrow he will be cremated.
     Nome has been my best friend since I was one year old. He has been a huge part of my life for 19 years. I have known and loved him longer than any of my siblings. He helped me through huge changes in my life. He was afraid of fireworks. When I was little and would cry he would sit with me and howl. He hates broccoli. He once risked his life to protect us from two rottweilers. He would sit under, beside or in the car while we were packing it for a trip, terrified that we were going to leave him. He loves tug of war. He would bark and run all over the house when someone came to visit.
It's hard to believe that after so many years my puppy has gone to live with Heavenly Father. I'm not sure that a day will go by when I don't think of him. I love him so much. If you don't mind, and you're the praying sort, I could really use some prayers of comfort and strength.

Still Not Married!!! :)

      I did it! I got to the end of my Sophomore year at BYU-Ido and am still a happily single college student! Ha! I have officially lasted longer than half the campus I swear. lol Well, I guess there are five days left of the semester, but I'm gonna go ahead and say it's a safe bet that I won't be engaged in the next five days. 

     This semester has been weird. It started out exactly like I wanted it to and ended in a way I didn't see coming. I don't want to put specifics on here just in case certain people read, but just know that I didn't expect the semester to be ending the way it has. Here's the thing about the way it's ending, I am so glad that it has gone the way it has and not the way I wanted it to. 

     This semester I only had one roommate, which was super strange. We knew each other from last semester, her name is Jallyn. I guess the management called her on the last day of Winter Semester and told her they opened up a two-person apartment and asked her if we wanted it. She said yes and then came to the apartment I had been living in and told me. So it's just been the two of us all semester. That definitely has it's ups and downs and I don't think I'd do it again. I miss having lots of roommates. 

     About a month into the semester I went on two dates with a guy from church and after the second date he thought we were boyfriend/girlfriend and came over everyday, see how fast things move here? Obviously I had to break that one off. He was really nice about it though and we are friendly when we see each other around. 

     My best friend in the whole wide world and her mom came to visit me! Eryn drove out here from WA to spend a few days with me and that was fabulous to see her. It's crazy how we are still so close after 12 years of friendship, more than half of which we have been states away from each other. 

The week after she came my Mom and Dad came to visit me for the weekend. I took them around campus and to the Cocoa Bean and they took my roommate and I out for Big Jud's and to the movies to see Hunger Games. 

     Now it's the last week of the semester and I am so ready to get out of here. I've been trying to make myself sad about leaving, but it's not working. I keep telling myself to remember that this is the last time I will see almost everyone I've met up here because I'm not coming back for 2 years, but that just makes me excited. I am ready to leave and happy that when I come back I will be able to start over.

     This has been a really long post, sorry! I'll add some pictures at the bottom for comic relief! My semester in photographs! 

Top Left: Me and Eryn at the Cocoa Bean. 

Top Right: My Mom and Dad after walking around campus

Middle: Bill Cosby! I saw him perform!

Bottom Left: I attempted to work out everyday...that didn't last long. 

Bottom Right: My birthday! It was the first day of the semester.