Valentine's Day

Today is Valentine's day.
I LOVE Valentine's day.
I always have.
I love getting Valentine's.
I love giving Valentine's. When I was in elementary school my mom (who I love) helped me create a real mailbox from cardboard to hold all my Valentine's from kids in my class.
I love that the day is all about love.
I don't have a significant other right now.
I'm not dating anyone, but I've never really thought that is what this day is about.
Sometimes I think it is a day that Hallmark invented to sell cards, but you can read all about the historical aspects of Valentine's day.
I think it's a nice reminder of all that I love...

my family
my friends
my favorite restaurants
my iPod
my Converse shoes
candy
smiles
sunny days
music
a relaxing Saturday evening
my beliefs
my knowledge
school
a roof over my head
and many other things that I'm not going to list because I think you get the idea.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

My sister Kelli called me out for not posting that often, but I've been doing pretty much weekly posts since the 2010 started...however, I will respond to her throw down...

1. I am hoping my Valentine's day this year includes, wearing a red tie

2. My biggest guilty pleasure is too inappropriate to say on my blog ;)

3. I am most proud of being a member of the Russell family.

4. If I could choose one outfit to live in it would be brown corduroys, gray, laceless Converse and my green Ireland t-shirt.

5. People are the reason that I enjoy my life so much.

6. I would rather go to school than work.

7. I love my iPod more than my phone . (This was Kelli's but I would have to agree...I'm not a very materialistic person, but I do love my iPod and my red Camelbak water bottle).

BEST. STORY. EVER

So below is my sister Kerri's most recent blog post. I would just give you the link to check out her blog but it is private and this story MUST be shared. I have been laughing about it since I first read it and am still wiping away tears. I love my sister so much...and not just for this story but because she is one of the kindest most genuine people I know.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

funniest thing that has happened to me in a long time

So i was telling my mom this story and i didn't realize how funny it was until i actually was telling somebody. the story had me in tears, and i don't usually cry when i laugh. my mom was also in tears however, she does cry when she laughs.

THE STORY:

on Monday we had a ward FHE. the activity was roller skating. ya totally sweet. me and my roommate dressed up in tight spandex pants and were able to stretch them over our skates, we looked awesome. anyway so we are just having a grand only time skating around the track, but I'm really not so good at skating. we crash a few times trying to go under each others legs, we definitely supplied the entertainment for the night. then i see my roommate talking to a boy she likes but they weren't skating so i decided to go get them to skate. i skated over and as i was nearing the step up that goes off the track i decided to jump. FAIL. i jumped and when i landed i fell flat on my butt. they thought it was so funny and so did i. but it gets better. later i saw a boy from my fhe group who I've known all year, he's a cool kid. DISCLAIMER: he is paralyzed from the waist down. anyway i decided to go get him to skate with me. he is sitting by the bishop and counselor. i skate toward him, and as i am nearing the step up i decide to try and jump again. he sees me coming so he puts his hand out to help me. That's perfect now i wont fall. wrong. i grabbed his hand as i jumped, then as i fell i didn't let go of his hand and i pulled him right out of his chair. yes that is right. the poor helpless kid couldn't really do much since i had a hold of his working limbs. so helplessly he just fell onto the floor with me. i couldn't stop laughing and neither could he. the bishop on the other hand looked at me like i had just caused WWIII or something.

well folks that's my story, hope you enjoyed

your friend

Kerri

Help Wanted...and perhaps a box of conversation hearts as well

Well, I'm now in week something or other of school...three or four...it's been almost a month. I still love it. I never want to nod off during class...I can't say the same for my days at SUU...and I am fascinated by all the information that I'm learning...except for the math. I am STILL horrible at it and have the hardest time grasping concepts. For example...the concept of conversion factors...I don't get it and I don't understand why we do it. I think it is just to deter the masses from becoming scientists! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH...incidentally, I'm looking for a tutor for chemistry...specifically the numbers side of things...if you know of ANYONE that would be willing to help, who is qualified to help...PLEASE LET ME KNOW. I'm thinking about two hours a week. That would be awesome. Thank you. Moving on.

I'm not sure what exactly to move on to, however, as school is my life right now. I continue to learn in school. And I have not lost my motivation for my end goal. I will be known as nurse Brooke in about three years from now. I don't want to skip chemistry all together...what I really want is to actually understand the concepts that I'm struggling with. I want to be able to explain them to others in a way that others can understand. I want to not feel as if my head is going to explode while I'm working out equations on my test. I know it's possible...I still have plenty of room in my brain...I just need make some more of those synaptic connections...forget a love connection, in spite of the looming "day of love". I need knowledge...and perhaps a small box of conversation hearts. Because who doesn't love a good box of conversation hearts. But also, who doesn't love being intelligent and smart?! HELLO! I want to be the next Einstein. Or have a head the size of BF Skinner! So for all you intelligent, math/science oriented folks out there...give me a shout...ring me, or leave a comment. I need help!

An Education

School continues to kick my trash, but I'm loving it. Well, it's more like working 40 hours a week and going to school is kicking my trash...I've even been forced to give up a large portion of my social life...how will I ever make it?!

Seriously folks...I feel like I'm going to just fall asleep where I stand, or rather sit at this moment...but I've learned that when we do give up certain things, especially things we love and cherish, we are often granted other...blessings, in their stead. Today I realized one of the great blessings that I have been given since going back to school.

Each day as I sit in my chemistry class and the universe is deconstructed before my eyes at a molecular level...whether I am actually grasping what the professor is saying about anions and cations, (I really am, I promise...well I think...Monday's test will tell) I find continual, inarguable and solid reaffirmation of the existence of God; that He is truly the "Master of the Universe". My testimony of His omniscience, his intricate knowledge of each of his creations, His intimate knowledge of me, of each of us...is solidified. Learning about the structure of table salt, and the breakdown of an atom and it's electron shells, subshells, and orbitals are just a handful of examples that God is intelligent...that He is truly ALL knowing. He does know us. He knows His universe. He created all His worlds without end through natural law. I'm so grateful for this reaffirmation. It is something that I've always believed, but to see it at it's most basic level is truly awe-inspiring. I'm so grateful for the knowledge I have of this gospel and for a brain that works and for professors who are teaching me exactly how my brain works.