Tag Archives: BYU

I. Love. BYU. [Maurer Mania: Part 1b]

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Once we left the temple, we celebrated Kaycie (& mom’s birthday) with lunch at one of our favorite family spots and then it was straight to campus to get good seats for graduation. Or … at least get seats.

This translates to lots of waiting.

But it felt good to just sit there and take it all in. My own college graduation ceremony had been right there in the same arena seven years prior.

A lot has happened in seven years.

And while I’ve always had a soft spot for my alma mater, last week, my love grew ten-fold. I. really. love. that. place. I love how clean and bright and light it is. I love the memories and friendships I made there. I love the education, both secular and spiritual, I received there. And I love what it stands for.

“Enter to learn. Go forth to serve.” That’s the motto of BYU.

As I was reminded of that throughout the ceremony, I began thinking about where I’ve come from, what I’m doing now, and where I’m headed next. I never could have imagined that I’d be where I am now when I left BYU. I had no idea what was in store. Both the good. And the bad.

Elder Richard G. Scott, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, delivered the keynote address. In his remarks he outlined ten principles, a formula per say, for a life of happiness. While I realize he was speaking to the graduates, I think it applies to all of us. And it was good for me to compare my life to his list.

  • Establish a set of principles to guide your life … principles like faith, service, obedience, integrity, etc.
  • Don’t make exceptions to your standards
  • Be loyal
  • Live so that the Lord can guide you to where He wants you to serve
  • Serve others
  • Smile
  • Don’t complain
  • Always have a Church assignment
  • Go to the temple
  • Use the Savior, Jesus Christ, as your example for life and never make exceptions to this

Since graduation, I’ve thought quite a bit. And I’ve tried to pay attention to every minute wave of inspiration and revelation that has come. Most importantly, I need to figure out how my life, my current path, the talents I’m using, and the opportunities I’m pursuing are blessing others. Am I “doing good” or am I just cruising along and paying the bills? Am I using what I know and what I do to help another person in some way? I need want to take seriously the blessing and responsibility it is to be a graduate of Brigham Young University.

And … I’m wondering. If maybe. Possibly. I. Sort of. Want to go back to school? I have never–and I mean never–wanted to go back for graduate schooling. And I don’t know that I will. Or if I even had a good enough GPA in undergrad to get in. Or if I could pass the GRE. But. I wonder. Maybe?

Last week I felt a small inkling of maybe. Maybe that’s something I want to do. Or maybe it’s something I’m supposed to do. Maybe.

As we walked around campus, I could see myself there again. And part of me wanted to be there again. So. We’ll see.

Either way. I just really love that place.

(Isn’t she so beautiful? I’m so proud of her.)

Family Photo Shoot: Provo, Utah [The Ladies of Green Gables]

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And so it begins…

This is what I woke up to this morning.

And as with all first snows, I’m a little excited. A little cold, but excited none-the-less. Come February, I’ll be aching for blue skies, but for now I’m enjoying the freshness of this new season.

It reminds me of the first time I experienced a “first snow fall.” I was a freshman at BYU, living in Deseret Towers (T-Hall), and we dorm-dwelling ladies were on our way home from the Varsity Theater on campus. We had just watched Air Force One, I believe, back before the Varsity got in trouble for editing rated-R movies for the Mormon crowd. For some reason I think we were dressed up. Not fancy like, but in costumes, you see. It wasn’t Halloween, but that means nothing. We dressed up for everything we could … class registration, reading days before finals, birthdays, Wednesdays … you name it, we could find a costume. You couldn’t name it and we’d still find a costume.

Anyhow, we were walking back up the hill to DT and it started to snow. Little tiny flakes falling, for only a few minutes. It was so exciting and beautiful. I was thrilled.

Thinking back, BYU was a source of many a thrilling memory for me. I loved my time there and still adore Provo. I hate it when people bag on “the bubble” (so nicknamed due to its “Pleasantville” qualities–happy & neighborly Mormons abounding [although I'm sure there are some crotchety ones too], and 30,000 college kids who are never at a loss in their ability to make their own fun sans alcohol, drugs, & sex despite living in a city where everything closes at 10) I mean really … what’s so bad about that?

But whatever. Back to the memories … most of my dearest friends and fondest times happened there. Amazing classes, a beautiful school, majestic mountains, football games, teaching at the Missionary Training Center, dances, parties, dinners, new Church wards and new apartments full of new girls every year.

This weekend the ladies of the Green Gables house in Provo hired me to take their “roommate pictures” and I haven’t been this excited about a photo shoot in a long time. I loved spending the morning with these gorgeous girls, taking pictures, and remembering what it was like to be 23 and at the tail end of my college experience. And I know I’m biased, but I think the pictures turned out pretty great too. :) But really, how much hotter can a group of BYU co-eds get?!

Here are just a few of my favorites from the day, but you can see more in the Facebook album here.

And if you have a group (family, roommate, or otherwise) or event you’d like photographed, please email me. I would really love to take your pictures.

Thanks for looking! Have a lovely Tuesday. And if it’s snowing where you are … stay warm! xo

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For Catie

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[You and your Mary, right after a kiss]

It’s sunny today. I reminds me of that morning when we first met–you and Alison walking on the sidewalk by the dorms. And it reminds me of you. If I had to pick a color that said, “Catie,” it would be  yellow.

I’m still in my pajamas, my hair in a big knotted ball on top of my head. It reminds me of those Friday nights junior year that we’d go to the dollar theater wearing our pajama bottoms and BYU sweatshirts for the midnight movie.

[Me, Alison, You, Mandy, Emily]

Beside me sits my scrapbook from freshman year. I’ve been thumbing through it all morning. Remember the Halloween dance we went to? I went as a mom with curlers, bathrobe, and green mask on my face. Yeah the fellas were all over me, let me tell you. And you went as my baby? You had pigtails, wore an adult onesie, sucked on a pacifier and everything.

[You, Alison, Me, Kassie, Camille]

Oh and remember white trash registration night? :) Why did we do that again? And lyrcra leg fights? Mandy and Em were the champs. And then there was that time we had a Chinese party in my room. Our little group ate $80 worth of Chinese food. And afterwards we lined up the mattresses and did tumbling passes. We definitely came up with the weirdest things to do to pass the time when we were 18. It was so fun though. :) Oh! And our Christmas picture for our families:

[Top to bottom, left to right: Em, Lizzie, Me, Mand, You, Kassie, Camille, Alison]

That was also the Christmas we all put out “barf bags” just outside our dorm room doors. Remember? So we could leave each other love notes and goodies? I still have my note from you. It says: Krista, Hi! You are way too cute and always make me smile! Good luck on all your finals. You’ll do GREAT!! I’m taking you up on that visit to Hilton Head!! [heart], Catie.

Catie, did you know that you always make me smile? Even through the tears and mascara that have stained my face this morning. I’m still smiling … because I’m thinking of you. Thinking of how you were my first friend at college. Thinking of Tuesday devotionals and Tunnel Singing. Thinking of our long talks and walks to campus. Thinking of all the letters we wrote on our missions and phone calls exchanged while you were dating Steve. Thinking of your perpetual smile and beautiful face. Thinking of the freshman girl reunion we organized at your house in California. Thinking of how grateful I am that we got to visit one last time last summer. Thinking of the way our friendship, and your life, has changed me.

[Katie, Me, You (and your Mary), Em, Mand (and her Maddie). I love that we're holding hands.]

I can’t help but think about how all of us girls were “randomly” assigned to Deseret Towers T-hall 2nd floor. And how it wasn’t really random. How we’ve all been through finals and first apartments and pans of brownies and learning Em’s dance routines in the living room and misunderstandings and boys and missions and men and marriages and babies and careers together, and now this. How could we have known at 18 what life would bring twelve years later? Would we have done anything differently? I think I would’ve tried harder to get everyone together more often. I think I would’ve said, “I love you” more.

[Our last ward prayer before Sophomore year]

I’m pretty sure you know how much we all love you. Actually, I’m certain you do. And I hope you know how much we miss you. Already. Mandy called this morning to tell me. And we cried. Sobbed together really. I could hear her little George through the phone say, “Mommy I don’t want you to cry anymore.” And we laughed, but we couldn’t stop. Neither of us said much. We just cried.

[Just one more of you and your Mary.]

Catie, I don’t really know what to say. I just want you to know. To know that those of us who knew you before the cancer, will never forget the vibrant, bright, life-filled woman you were and now get to be again. And we’ll make sure your babies know who you were. We’ll make sure they know how funny you were. We’ll make sure they know how good and kind you were to everyone. We’ll make sure they know what a great missionary you were and how much you loved Steve. And we’ll make sure they knew the little things too, like how you’d pull your eye-brows out when you were studying hard, how much you loved your momma’s red-eye gravy, and how you’d talk incessantly during movies. We’ll make sure they know that you played a mean fiddle, that you were full of life and laughter. And we’ll make sure they know how much you loved them. We’ll wrap ‘em up as if they were our own and make sure. Promise.

Oh and Catie? I love you.

… I’ll be seeing you.

[You and me]