They're back....!!

After a year of absence, I am back! Quick summary of life in the last 12 months: I rocked my senior year of high school, and I graduated! It is now summer, and I am working up at BYU in the Dean of Students' office, and I will be starting a second job on Monday I think...
Today is my coworker's birthday. Her name is Alexis, and she's pretty fantastic! Lauren, Lindsay Conrad, and I came up last night to decorate the cubicle. We were here for almost an hour and a half! In the process Lindsay almost died, we used a ton of staplers, Lauren and I wrestled with the balloons (getting them into and out of the trunk), and we multiplied our designer abilities by at least 10. Needless to say, Alexis was slightly surprised this morning... ;) She was also surprised when Dean Heperi came in, got on youtube, and sang to her this strange oldies song that was apparently super famous... Anyway. Happy Birthday, Alexis! :)
I love my job. Alexis and I got to design the t shirts for the BYU rugby team, and we had a lot of fun and frustration over that. But the designs turned out great! We are now working on ordering them.
Lately I've been in this DIY mood where I want to make everything myself! I'm going to try sewing a maxi skirt, and if that fails, this DIY thingy might dissipate. Quickly. But we'll see! I'll let you know how that one goes. Another thing that got started this summer is my determination to be as active as possible. Lauren and I have aspired to run at 6:15 each morning. The mornings we actually do it, we feel fantastic for the rest of the day! But... that requires actually getting out of bed. Who knew that would be so difficult?? But we're working on it. I have also biked to work a few times, and I love that! My bike is having some issues though... so until I get those resolved, I'll be using vehicular transportation.
Yep. Life is good, and things are looking up!  :)
Love-
Rachel :)

Su-su-su-summer, Say What?!

Yes! It is now summer! I have finished my junior year of high school, and I am now enjoying the fabulous sunshine that Utah has to offer! I actually got sunburned while walking to church on Sunday. . . Ha ha.I had a friend named Sarah who was a foreign exchange student from Switzerland. We became the best of friends, and she went back home on Monday. I'm not gonna lie, I cried. A lot. But we're going to set up times to skype each other and we're going to email!! :)So far this summer I have gone hiking, been on a super long bike ride, been to the zoo, and visited the sick and afflicted (namely Jared who got surgery). Thus far, I would say it's been pretty goo so far. I finally got a swimming suit today, and I believe I am going swimming on Saturday.I have also acquired two babysitting jobs. Every Tuesday I babysit for the Welch family, and every Friday I babysit for the Strauss family. This week I've also had two extra babysitting opportunities tossed into my lap. I'm hoping that this continues as babysitting is my main source of income, and I love babysitting and playing with little kids.
Mom is going to Texas tomorrow, so I will be left home alone while my dad is at work. But I won't be doing much playing. I will be cleaning, sleeping, and also studying for the ACT, which I am taking for a second time on Saturday. I'm kind of nervous, but I've taken it before so I'm not too worried about it.
Anyway, that's pretty much all that I have to share for now. I hope your day is merry and bright!
Love-
Rachel :)

Nerd. . .? Yes.

Yes, it has happened. I have officially become a nerd about something, and that would be. . .
CHOIR!!!!
I have been introduced to an AMAZING choral director/ music writer by the name of Eric Whitacre. He is so incredible. He did what's called a virtual choir where people submitted videos of themselves singing his song "Lux Aurumque," and he had them all put together into a choir. It was so cool! He's doing another one to his song "Sleep," which is a beautiful song. And guess what?? I'm going to do it! I'm going to record myself singing, and I'm going to submit it onto the thing, and I am going to be in Eric Whitacre's virtual choir. I'm am so excited! I'm going to put a link to his blog on my blog in case you're interested in checking him out.
Another thing that makes me a choir nerd: This year our school schedule has been changed to include an Intervention/Enrichment period, and almost everyday, I find myself in the choir room singing. It's so much fun, and it's such a stress reliever from school.
My newest ambition is actually to be in the choral program at BYU. I went to their choir showcase last week, and I was blown away by how amazing they are!
Well, my new found nerdiness was all I had to talk about. Love you all!
-Rachel :)