A little perspective Helps

I started this blog Friday. (It is now Monday) It was going to be about how I was overwhelmed with school and how grateful I am that the lord steps in at those times to give me a little more perspecvie on my life. But because I had so much to do for school I didn't finnish it. Little did I know how grateful I would be for it today. Brother Hunt showed our Anatomy Class this video friday and it really hit me that I have so much to be grateful for.

Wow, what else can I say? I know that Heavenly Father loves his children. There are things in my life that happen that I don't expect. Some times I even wonder why they are happening. Then the scripture D&C 122:7-8 comes to my mind. "know thou my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good." I'm reminded of great men such as the man in this video and Joseph Smith and all they went through and I really have so much to be grateful for. On my Wall I have a poster I made that allows me to list the things I am grateful for. I has helped me remember what is important and I think it is great to remember. Here are a few things I have listed and a few things I haven't

I am grateful for My Best friend Catherine Loveland
I am grateful for my brother who puts up with me.
I am grateful for note cards on test
I am grateful for my AMAZING parents who support me and have taught me many wonderful things.
I am grateful for my sisters. A girl's life wouldn't be so great with out sisters.
I am grateful for My heavenly Father and his hand I see in my life daily.
I am grateful for the scriptures and the sacrifices that were made so I could have them in my life.
I am grateful for amazing roommates!

I feel like Heavenly Father has blessed me so much. I know that he has put people in my life to help lead and guide me and support me when I need support. My roommates are amazing and I am grateful for them listening t me this weekend even when I was repeating myself quite a bit. I am very blessed to have a body that is whole and able.

I finally picked one!

If you've heard the rumors yes they are true. My parents are very excited because I am engaged. I have had many request for details about me and Cam so here it goes. I'll start out with how we met and then work my way from there.

I wish I had a picture of the first time I saw Cameron Superstud Gardner because I remember it so vividly. It was the beginning of summer semester and the opening ward social. Catherine and I weren't going to go because I looked like I was homeless and Cat....well I don't really know why she wasn't feeling it. We debated for a few minutes and it seemed like sitting on our couch for a chick flick was winning. Then Something got us up and I found myself doing what I could to make myself look presentable without showering. (gross I know, but now we know Cameron REALLY loves me)

I walked into the cultural hall late, found the rest of my roommates, and they started to fill me in on the activity. It was a service auction and we were supposed to write one service we'd be willing to provide to the highest bidder. You earned money by going through a list they made of things you you may have done that day. ex: made your bed $5, Read your scriptures: $15, called home: $10. I had $1,000 and sat listening to the items for auction. Free Spanish tutor, a plate of cookies, dinner with an apartment of guys, etc. (Someone even offered to write your sacrament talk for you)

There actually were a few things I wanted to bid on but I was to nervous to raise my voice. I was brand new in the ward and knew no one, so I sat there letting pretty good things go by.

I'll be honest, I wasn't to worried about it cuz I was busy checking out the elders quorum of my ward. I was thinking about how there were only decent guys and then a guy in a red plad shirt at a table in front of me to my right turned around apparently enjoying watching the bidding going on around the room. And no joke, it was kind of like the slow motion in the movies where the boy turns around, smiles at what is going on and then turns back to his friends and continues talking while the girl takes notice. I was very intrigued by that guy and kept nonchalantly glancing in his direction.

"The next item up for bid is a Date with Cameron Gardner," said the auctioneer.

I had no idea who this Cameron guy was and there had been a few other dates auctioned off that I had passed on but then i thought, "well a girl needs a date and I can probably out bid most every one here." So I raised my hand and upped the bid to $300. I could feel my face getting red as the bidding went higher and higher and I still was in it. I was the highest bidder at $500 when all of a sudden the guy in the plaid shirt at the table in front of me turned around and said, "Please, some body else bid!"

Using my excellent reasoning skills I figured out the boy who had captured my attention was Cameron Gardner. I lowered my hand and sank in my seat. If he wanted some one else to bid then I was done! They could have him!

"Deborah, chill out and don't take it personal. He didn't even know you were bidding on him. You were behind him the whole time." My reasonable side reminded myself.

"But if he didn't turn around to find out who was bidding on him that's his fault. If he wants some one else to bid they can have him! I'm not gonna fight for it. Deborah Allred doesn't fight," My pride and womanly impulse retorted.

The auction ended (he only went for $600. In your eye cam!) and we all mingled for a little while however I was so ready to go home. I rounded up my roommates and walked out of the Hinckley building. Cameron was walking with some one out to the parking lot and yelled "thanks for bidding on me!" across the parking lot.

"You're welcome! I should've bid more!" Came out of my mouth before I thought about it.

"That boy wants you" my roommate Cathryn teased and I shoke my head and talked myself out of it all the way home to our apartment.

So there you have it. That was the first time I ever saw and spoke with Cameron Gardner. I have to run to FHE but more to come soon!

"Good Morning, Good Morning!"

(this should say 10:41)


This morning has been a wonderful, very relaxing morning. Let me first tell you about yesterday morning. My alarm went off at 6 am and I was half awake and pretty groggy. I didn't have to be to work until 8 so I set my alarm for 7 and went back to bed. The next thing I knew Catherine's Alarm was going off and I looked at my clock. 8:05! I jumped out of bed got dressed as fast as I could and ran out the door. I didn't brush my hair or wipe the remnants of last night's mascara off from under my eyes. As I drove through the school's parking lot I knew I was missing something. There were NO cars in the parking lot and usually I have to drive all the way to the back to find a space. I thought to myself, "This is really weird. It's 8:15 on a Friday morning. I KNOW there's supposed to be classes. Is it a holiday?"
It was then that I looked down at my phone and saw the true time. 7:15! In my half awake, half asleep state I had reset my clock. Not the alarm. I was pretty annoyed and went home to pout.

I am not the happiest girl when I wake up. My sister's all knew it was death to anyone who tried to wake me before I wanted to get up. I distinctly remember threatening physical harm and death to those who would come in and turn on the light, tickle my feet, or steal my blanket. I still feel bad for the shoe that almost hit Rachel's head the morning she came in singing a song that frequented our house in the mornings, "It's time to get up! It's time to get up! It's time to get up in the morning!" (the tune is to I think some army morning bugle song my dad heard) My daddy used to recite this poem to me when I'd show my face in the morning and before he could get half way through it I would protest until he stopped. It goes like this:

Good morning Sally Sunshine,
Why'd you wake so soon?
You woke up all the flowers
and scared away the moon.

It's not a rude or bad poem at all but there were just those days I didn't want to be spoken to for at least 30 minutes after I emerged from my room and my dad would hear about it.

Last night I turned off my alarm and talked to Cat until 2 AM! She and I both took naps during the day and were wide awake. I finally fell asleep and woke up around 9 this morning feeling pretty good. Catherine was still asleep and I laid in bed until I was awake and pleasant. I spent the morning doing whatever I pleased and it was SO nice. I still have things I should have gotten done but this morning was a very nice change from the hectic mad dash out the door I go through every day of the week. I am really excited for the day too! Cameron and I are going kayaking today. I have never been but I LOVE cannoing, rafting, swimming, and Cameron so this should be a blast. I was supposed to be over at his house 10 minutes ago so I have to now make the ritual mad dash for the door. Happy Saturday!!!!


Oh. on a side note the funniest thing happened to me this morning. I was laying in bed and got a text message from non other then MY BISHOP! ha Well I thought it was funny.

Wow, This semester has flown by! I think it's because my mind has been occupied with so many thoughts. This semester I have had lots of things to think about and lots of great things happen. I really have nothing to complain about. I have been having the time of My life with Catherine, Cameron and Sarah! I think I've mentioned on previous blogs that my camera is no more so I've posted the two pictures I've taken with phones.

The one above was taken at a restaurant in Rexburg called Hard Hat. Cameron was trying to get me to put the hat he is wearing on my head but I was too worried about who's heads it had been on. So, he put the hard hat on his head instead.
For those of you who are wondering, Cameron is my boyfriend and the most amazing man. I know, I know, I am surprising even myself because I try really hard not to blog about men in my life. However, I think that this one is definitely worthy of mention. With that said let me tell you about the picture below.

The picture has a pretty cute story behind it. One day last month I was walking to my car after a very long day of work, algebra, and anatomy. I was ready to get in my car, go home, and take a nap. As I walked up to my car I found the longest long stemmed rose I had seen in my life (it went up to my thigh!!!) on my windshield from my "secret admirer". It smelled amazing and of course I knew exactly who it was from. It made my day and I wasn't tired or worn out any more! That rose is one of the many adorable things the man pictured above does for me. He really is such a sweetheart and has made this semester ten times better then it would have been with out him.


For memorial day weekend he and I went down to Utah and had so much fun visiting with our families and friends. I pretty much fell in love with his sweet grandparents. It brought me back to my days in Provo with my clients at aspen senior care. Cam's grandpa won me over by acting like I was one of the cutest people he had seen. What girl wouldn't love that? I really enjoyed spending time talking with him about his life on the farm, how he met his wife, and how he was lucky to be alive after a kamikaze in the war. (I don't remember which war it was) His grandma was also a doll as she took us around the house and showed us all of the amazing pictures she had painted. I was a little nervous that he would be scared off after seeing how I smother Eldon and can be pretty obnoxious around my fam, but he still talks to me so I think thats a good sign! (I did tone the obnoxiousness down a little)

To my Secret Admirer: Thanks for all you do for me! I am very grateful for you. Oh and don't tell anyone but I have a little bit of a crush on you!

A new semester and a new experiment!

Well the semester is already a month over and I can not believe where it went! I am so happy where I am right now. I have an amazing apartment full of amazing girls and an amazing ward and amazing FHE brothers......need I go on? My roommate Cathryn posted some pictures of our apartment on her blog and I am going to steal them so you can see then as well.


This is our living room and kitchen! So much fun. It's rare that it looks like this but when it does I think it looks great!

My best friend Catherine Loveland is home and it is so much fun!!! It's like a slumber party every night! For all who were skeptical about our living arrangement (I was too) it is working out very nicely!

Let's see, I have been trying an experiment on campus. I have noticed that in the time I have been away the spirit of Ricks has changed a bit. Unfortunately it is just a little less inviting. I think my coworkers and I have discovered the culprit. It is actually a tag team of Cell phones and I-pods. People pop in their earbuds and walk to class in their own little world not needing to acknowledge anyone around them. (I have always refused to get an ipod and now, I have even more incentive. I can just listen to the music in my head is what I tell people who ask what I will do on my way to class.)

Okay, So back to my experiment. I have been making an effort to catch people's eye and say, with a smile of course, "Hello!". It ends up being quite a fun game because 5 times out of ten when I am looking directly at a person they try even harder to nonchalantly avoid my gaze and walk on by. LOL I understand how they feel. I mean now a days some times you just feel awkward looking at other people in the eye with a friendly greeting. However, thus far the results of my experiment has shown that the people who have not completely ignored me when I catch their eye smile more as they walk away. And I end up feeling so much happier and cheerful. So thanks to those people who still let me say hello and brighten my day!

One more down, 6 more to go!

Well it is finally over. The semester that I began wanting to be over as fast as possible is done and I am wishing it hadn't gone by so fast. The last week was the worst week as far as stress goes. It was mostly my fault. If only I hadn't waited until the last day of the semester to do my time management class maybe I wouldn't have been so stressed and bogged down with studying, papers, and reading. Yesterday I had 4, yes 4, finals to take in between studying and work. My boss and coworkers were trying to be encouraging by telling me I am done after my last test. When I walked into my apartment at 10pm after my last final Sarah said "you're done!" Even though I keep hearing it I really don't feel done. Not until my grades come out. Today at work things have been dead. Rexburg really is a ghost town during the break. I have been checking my grades about every ten minutes even though I KNOW they wont be posted until Wednesday! WHAT?! I wont be able to sleep until Wednesday? Oh well. Even though I don't know the results I am done with this semester. Not more Walking out of Econ worried that I am going to be broke in the next year, no more looking at dirty flash cards to cram for my anatomy test on the reproductive system, and no more telling myself to stop procrastinating my time management class!

My close call with drinking

Today I surprised myself big time! I found myself looking down at the dixie cup filled with a forbidden liquid in front of me and seriously considering giving into the pressure to just take a swig. There wasn't very much in my cup and I figured if I really pushed myself I could throw my head back and get it all down in one try. That is when I realized I was at a point of desperation. How could I be considering this? I was going against everything my mother had taught me my whole life. And for what? Ten measly extra credit points in my Anatomy and Physiology class? I looked at my cup and thought about my struggling grade. I thought about the 10 point quiz I just bombed and how I put hours in the library, with tutors and study groups just to pull between a 64-78% on my last three tests. Now all I had to do was over come my instincts and take a drink. I mean I am going to BYU-Idaho and my teacher just told the class he was giving ten extra points to the guy in the back who chugged it. My teacher was promoting it. It couldn't be that bad or that unhealthy. At first I thought that we might get in some trouble if the university knew what was going on but then again it was for learning purposes and I needed the points. Bottoms up!
"It not bad! Just kinda salty", a girl in the lab station over from me yelled out right before I took a deep breath to down the contents of my cup.
"What?! You actually tried it? That's disgusting" Brother hunt, my lab and anatomy/physiology instructor asked VERY surprised. All the boys were tasting it and so of course us girls, although grossed out beyond belief, were eager to suck it up and earn some bonus points. But because Brother Hunt hadn't directly promised 10 bonus points to any one who drank their urine other then the kid in the back, we were all hesitant and yelling out "I'll do it if you really are going to give me points" or "can I just barely taste it and still get the points?"
Yes, you read it right. The yellow contents of my cup was real live urine. GROSS. When I walked into lab this morning and brother Hunt brought out the cups i remembered the lab was on the urinary system and I cringed. He couldn't possibly make us go....you know.....in that! But yes. He excused the ladies to the bathrooms down the hall and the gentleman(there were only three of them) were to use the "special" bathroom in the back room of the lab. We laughed in embarrassment and like women always do headed to the bathroom in groups. We sheepishly brought our test products back into the lab room and sat down waiting for instructions. That brings me to the beginning of my blog where I was looking into my cup wondering what this vile act was worth to me.
Brother hunt was explaining that a sure sign of diabetes was glucose in the urine. He went on to explain that to test for it they used to have to taste it. He then proceeded to stick his finger in his own cup and taste it's contents. The girls cringed and he laughed. He offered ten points to some one if they would do it as well. There were no takers until a guy in the back began to chug his half full cup! It was the most disgusting thing I had seen in my life! And I've seen a lot! Well after brother hunt offered this guy ten points and we all decided that it must not be that bad I began to think about it. When the girl at the lab station over really did the finger test and tried it, brother hunt put a stop to it all. Through his laugher he explained that all the guys in the room were taken to the back and they put apple juice in their cups. The amber juice they were tasting was not what we thought it was and all meant for him to get a good laugh. LOL It was pretty funny and I laughed that I was that desperate for a measly 10 points to consider turning to drinking!
Boy the things peer pressure, apple juice, and a low grade can get you to do.

(I do want to clarify that I have a "B" in the class. The class average on his tests are 66%)