i'm glenna and i like to party

So I suppose I should catch my blog up with what's been going down. I feel like this year has been the year of, let-me-catch-you-up's but there you have it.

I'm proud to say that I'm still registered in school, which believe it or not, is a huge success for me! Not because I'm one to start something and bail when it gets tough, but because I absolutely hate wasting my time on meaningless garbage. CC (City College) would be that meaningless garbage in this instance. Granted, I may be a tad older than the average student, I find myself being talked down to constantly, ideas and opinions being shoved down my throat by a good intending but not so philosophical professor, and the assumption that I am nothing but a raging sex fein with a double dose of girls gone wild alcoholic. I mean, who could blame her, I am pretty wild looking what with my skinny jeans and button up flannels...that was sarcasms incase you couldn't smell it. Me and my friend Noor are the only 2 humans in that class that cover more than they show. Yup, the muslim and the mormon, like 2 peas in a pod. 

story time: One day my professor presented the class with a scenario. In which case Girl A and Girl B are my roommates and we're headed to this huge party. Well, apparently I had a really bad week because my boyfriend broke up with me, and on top of that I was failing a class. So obviously, I was going to get wasted at this party and had 3 drinks right off the bat. Girl A and Girl B were mingling and didn't notice at first when I started dirty dancing (I'm using a nicer word that she did) with so-and-so's boyfriend. But luckily they noticed when I disappeared and came to my rescue when they discovered me with him off in one of the bedrooms (she went into detail but, I'll leave it at that) and took me home.

She ended the scenario there, adding that so-and-so's girlfriend found out and was pissed at me, and with the most intense and almost accusing look asked me, "Now what do you do, Glenna?" 

?...............uh............?.........???????..........?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! 

I have absolutely NO idea what I would do because I can't even begin to imagine or understand or even begin to pretend to imagine or understand that situation. So after the longest pause ever I said, "I...don't know." Because I honestly didn't know!! I can't relate to that situation. I've never experienced anything like that, nor will I ever.

She looked more than annoyed and said, "Sure you do! You'd make up excuses and apologize and then go right back to doing it again and again."

Oh right. You'r totally right. Sorry. Duh! That's exactly what I would do. Sorry, I forgot. Silly me.

Am I taking this too far?

 My point is this, this is a Women's Health class that is teaching me that women can't handle their emotions, that we act before thinking and are basically just a bunch of air headed bimpbo's. And that is why I'm so impressed with myself for still being in school.

The end.

twitterpated

"Sometimes I see you do something, or you say something, and I think: 'Man, I gotta get this girl.' and then I realize I already have. And I still can't believe it. You're perfect."

I just never wanted to forget what Matt said to me today.

a battle

Have you ever had someone assume something about you and then treat you accordingly, even if it's wrong? For example, you walk into a store and notice the manager eyeing you suspiciously like you're a skeevy little thief about to steal something. And you immediately feel uncomfortable and don't know how to act. Because suddenly, every move you make is a cover up for something mischievous. (Or that's how the managers glare's make you feel, anyway.)

I HATE THAT!!! Almost more than anything, I hate that. 

Matt and I had an experience like that recently. Not where a shop owner thought we were going to steal from them. But where someone said something to us that really stopped us in our tracks. By the end of the conversation it was clear exactly how poorly this person really knew and understood us. I would have been offended by the things said except for the fact that, well, none of them were true. This person is someone who was close to us, we loved and we had respected very much. So instead of taking offense I was saddened. We didn't even know how to respond. I just felt uncomfortable, suddenly unaware of how to act. Reading into every move I made and word I said, over analyzing everything as to not reinforce the allegations this person made about Matt and I. It was awful...

It wasn't until the morning after that I was thinking and praying about the situation that I realized what felt so wrong. One of the most common causes of contention is due to misunderstandings. I realized the critiques this person made about my husbands behavior were the very things I LOVED about him. They were some of the very reasons I married him and look up to him, not only as a man and my husband, but as a righteous member and priesthood holder. And if they twist our words and actions, misunderstanding us, than that's their choice. And to try and correct them would only make them more persistent and angry.

So we said nothing. Only a simple prayer. And guess what? We felt way better.

This life is a constant battle. Every day is a new fight and every day new and different limits are reached. Some might seem smaller than others but none unimportant. Matt and I live our lives so that we're constantly learning and growing. Educating our minds and spirits with "food" that is good and uplifting. Because of this, I see very clearly that we're not perfect. We have a long ways to go, I know. But we are on our way. Taking new steps every day to one day reach our final goal.

So it doesn't matter if one person disagrees. They're not the first, and they won't be the last. Matthew and I are accountable for our own lives. So we'll live the way we believe, and it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. At the end of the day, the only approval that matters to us, is our Father in Heaven's.

let me fill you in

So the summer is coming to an end. 

School has started. The days are getting shorter, the nights cooler (but still not cool enough.) And I have yet again, neglected my blog. This summer has been such a fun one!

- We went to Waikiki, Hawaii and I fell in love! We swam with the dolphins, we went to the polynesian cultural center, we swam in the ocean every day, we ate puka dogs almost every day...it ended too soon. I'd only been to Kauai before so it was a completely different experience to go to a more touristy spot like Waikiki. It was one of the most amazing and perfect vacations ever.

- After doing a lot of hiking in Hawaii we were determined to continue hiking in Santa Barbara. So we formed a sort of hiking gang, if you will. Really it's just Husband and I with his brother and wife. But if I may brag for a second, some of the funnest times exploring Santa Barbara's mountains with those 2.

- There was the 4th of July. We had a BBQ at the in laws which is always a good time and then we headed out to Goleta's small town firework show.

-My family came out to visit! We all went to Solvang and some of them even had appointments at Stanford. It's always so much fun having a full house with the Allen's.

- We celebrated Fiesta Days! I absolutely love Fiesta Days. There are carnivals and parades, fun music and food! Lots and lots of delicious food. Guess what else? They hollow out eggs, paint them and stuff them with confetti so that you can go around throwing them at people and it's totally legal. Or you can do what Husband did...and just slam that little sucker right on top of my head.

- After that Jessica came out to visit again. We showed her more of SB and I admit, it made me love this city a little bit more. I never thought I'd want to live here long term but the longer we're here the more I can see us staying here, raising a family here. I don't know, the possibility becomes more and more appealing.

- A couple days after she left we headed to Utah and Wyoming for Fort Bridger. It was so good to see family and meet my new little niece Moriah (who is almost a year old!!) and reunite with my favoritest little Lili bug!

remember that one time we went to hawaii (part 1)

Since we got back from Hawaii I've been trying to put together a post but always end up getting distracted looking through our pictures. They're not extra amazing or beautiful. They don't look like they belong on a postcard (although, all of Hawaii belongs on a postcard.) But they sure help bring me back to what was the most amazingly fun and incredible week.