Name the Bugs Bob

Before I delve into the individual days of my freshman year at USU, I want to share a quote I feel succinctly sums up my experience:

"All gardeners live in beautiful places because they make them so."-Joseph Joubert.

These words are printed across the bottom of my cheap, Walmart planner beneath the month of May. I felt it so fitting that these are the words that would accompany my last week at USU. It didn't take me long to discover that college brings with it unforeseen challenges. There were so many trivial adjustments to make, weird people to explore and new schedules to embrace. My first few weeks presented no major challenges or confrontations, but rather a million little annoyances that seemed to have a synergistic effect in dampening my mood. I remember just feeling uncomfortable. Nothing dramatic, but just a tingling sense of unsettledness that persisted for weeks. Here are just a few of the bugs that were making me fidget:

• Literal bugs. Our apartment had lots of little box elder bug visitors. Nothing crazy or out of control, but they were always scurrying around if you looked for them.
• Loud music. The people in and surrounding my apartment loved to listen to loud, hard rap. All the time. It wasn't something I couldn't escape by plugging in my own earbuds (something I believe Heavenly Father prompted me to buy just the day before), but it certainly wasn't creating the atmosphere I had imagined.
• It was SO HOT. Our apartment building had no air conditioning. That made for sweaty days and restless nights.
• Adjusting to five roommates and their way of life: language, movies, hairy showers, cleaning schedules, sleeping schedules, boyfriends, dishes, fridge space, buying toilet paper and a handful of other weird tendencies to accommodate for.
• Navigating campus
• Developing a new work-out schedule and eating habits.
• Bunk Beds. Ugh. 

It would have been so easy to succumb to the feelings of frustration provided by the items on this list, but I was determined to be happy. Even before I moved to Logan I remember telling people I already loved it, because I was so set on this being a good experience. These phrases from my journal sum up the attitude I was working to foster, "I have many complaints, but nothing worth complaining about," and "If it's not one thing, it's always something else." I quickly learned that in order to be happy I was going to have to learn to love the annoying. To just roll with the punches living with five teenage girls is bound to throw at you. To just smile at the artwork of long, dark hair on the shower walls. To just own up to and laugh along with all the molly Mormon jokes. To ignore the smell of bacon early on a fast Sunday. To laugh when you hit your head on the same spot every single morning. To push aside the faults and muster up a sincere compliment to the roommate who needs it. To recognize that I don't know, so I can't judge.

Once I realized all that, my teeny tiny, old (my Grandma lived here forty years ago people), out dated apartment became a beautiful place! By the end of the year I sincerely loved Greaves Hall and the people inside. Warts and all! My own room especially became a holy place. The white washed walls became my canvas for a design that I loved looking at. I surrounded myself with pictures of the Savior and his temples, beautiful postcards, pictures of family, and lots of glittery things! Your dorm can become a home. Not just a place to be inbetween trips home as I first thought.

I learned to love my roommate despite what at first seemed to be drastic, insurmountable differences. It took real effort and sincere prayers, but I discovered we had a lot in common in after all. Every awkward conversation was worth it. She taught me lessons of humility and unconditional love I hope to carry into every detail of the rest of my life. She was, and is, a beautiful person with big plans, hopes and dreams for the future. I hope you find the life you dreamt of as a freshman my friend.

So when you move into your freshman dorm and wake up the next morning to box elder bugs who are getting just a little too friendly, remember: All gardeners live in beautiful places because they make them so. There will ALWAYS be something to complain about in your life. The worries never quite disappear and problems always wiggle their way in. So I suggest you learn to love it, the faster the better. Name those bugs Bob, throw some glitter on your walls, ask for Heaven's help, and make a beautiful place.

I covered miniature clothes pins with cute craft paper to hold up those pictures. Still don't know if that was worth it haha :) I bought my necklace rack thing for 2$ at the DI and then painted it. Having all those sparkles on display was definitely worth it ;). The two signs on the shelf say, 'Come what may and love it' and 'She believed she should so she did.'

My beautiful quilt made by MY MOTHER! She is so, so talented. It turned better than I had hoped.

Color coding your closet is always a good idea.

Grandma Abel came to help me move in, she was our door holder/greeter for everyone else that was moving in haha:) She lived in Greaves Hall about 40 years ago!

See, beautiful place! You just have to look at the right angle.

See. Sad to leave. Even if I did run back in at least three times for forgotten items after this we took this picture ;)