This is my SECOND time writing this month. Proud, much? Thank you, thank you.

Right now I'm listening to Carrie Underwood's "The More Boys I Meet" and I'm agreeing with the song 100%. Now that we have a puppy, I can legitimately say that "the more boys I meet, the more I love my dog"... oh, how true that statement is. I'm really ok with having my own Cassie time right now. Not Cassie + boy time, just me and myself figuring life out one day at a time.

This morning Mom and Marci and I attended the Mapleton Stake Women's Conference. It was so good! Sister Lant was the guest speaker, and she talked about appreciating ourselves more and focusing on what really matters most. It is so easy to lose perspective, isn't it? I don't know about you, but sometimes I definitely fall into the traps of self guilt trips and self-criticism. I never do enough, I'm not pretty enough, I can't I can't I can't... why is it that we're always beating ourselves up and not giving ourselves the credit that we deserve? "We're doing better than we think we are." (Sis. Beck) I always try to pack SO MUCH into one little day and add unnecessary extras to my to do lists; I'm going to make it a point to convince myself that more is not always better.

I'm starting to get really excited about my future career. Not necessarily my major, because it's only a stepping stone to my master's degree (Although Communication Disorders is VERY interesting as well!). But the other day in my Acoustics of Music and Speech class, we were learning about the vocal tract and potential problems with vocal cords, and I think my neighbors were about ready to duct tape my mouth shut. We were watching videos of Vocal Specialists doing their thing in the medical field, and I was telling the people next to me lots of obnoxious facts about vocal cords and ENT doctors and how vocal nodules affect singing and how I have a "granuloma" on my vocal cord... you get the idea. Anyway, I'm feeling confident that I've chosen the right field. :) Even though some days go by oh so slow and the homework load is often overbearing, I really do love school. I love to learn!

Mom and I are completely redoing my room. I'm going to post pictures very soon. It's black and white and red... all over, like the newspaper. (I'm really hoping you've heard that one before.) But I'm getting really excited about it. We just bought the magnet board yesterday that will hang above my new desk, and we ordered the bedding today! We've been shopping everywhere for bedding and finally found a good deal. Hooray!

I should REALLY be doing homework. But before I go, I wanted to share a great thought that I heard today, especially because the darn snow tends to dampen our days around this time of year: "Those who bring sunshine to others cannot keep it from themselves." Isn't this so true? It's short and simple, and I love it. There isn't a better time for us to be happy than right now. We don't have to wait for a new stage of life, a new day, a new hour, or even a new minute to be happy. :) It's a simple choice. Have a great one, friends!