...Infected with the "Cambridge Disease"?!

At the beginning of my studies, the Senior Tutor of St. Edmund's college gave a stellar address. I have reflected on it often over the past few days. 

She said, "Most, possibly all of you will suffer from this disease during your studies at Cambridge. It can potentially be deadly. It's called the imposter syndrome. 

You'll look around and realise you're not suppose to be here. You'll start to worry that you don't belong with this brilliant, disciplined and refined lot.  Maybe somehow after the cumbersome application there was a mistake-- and you got in. There is no cure for a fictitious disease. You got here because we wanted you. So be you. In the end, what makes Cambridge renowned is the students who attend." 

My attempted "secret" deliveries!

Yup, I'm a sufferer of this fictitious disease...not everyday, but sometimes. The people around me are grappling with the world's biggest problems. They come from every country...(almost!). We are all under a (inhumane) amount of stress. ...This Valentine's day was full of moments of gratitude for all the people who love me (in Cambridge, Canada, Utah, Idaho...). Here's the highlights:

Valentine's Tea Party!

Most adorable Valentine from my sister!

Valentine's Bop (aka DANCE)

Mail from Daddy, Josie and both sets of grandparents!!!

Institute with Rebecca and Sister Balderson

Okay not on Valentines exactly but close! Special delivery....

Carly Exclusive: Love Valentine's...inspite of your relationship status!

LOVE! 

 I have come to ADORE St. Valentine's Day. It combines all of my favourite things:

1) Based on a beautiful story about a martyr for Christianity (full story of my first ever blog entry) 

2) LOVE notes, letters, mail, parcels, etc. 

 3) Flowers from my Dad!

  4) DATES and DANCES Parties!

5) Secret deliveries! 

 

6) Heart-shaped pancakes with raspberries, strawberries and cream! 

7) Raspberry jello hearts!

8) A reminder that I am a child of an Eternal God who loves me. 

 So I love Valentine's day....with only 1 exception. Last year, I was a middle school teacher. That was the most trying, horrendous, and wild day of the entire year. Next time....I'm finding a way to get out of it! 

I realize that many people hate, loath, curse and try ignore this holiday. And are probably thinking (if you know me) "Um Carly, you're just trying to get around addressing that Valentine's day has become about romantic LOVE!!" I admit it....so briefly this is what I have to say about "THAT"....

Become the type of person you want to love. In my observation...and experience love is when the best parts of who you are become accentuated when your with that person (and hopefully vise versa).  Or as Regina put it....

"This is how it works
You peer inside yourself
You take the things you like
And try to love the things you took
And then you take that love you made
And stick it into some
Someone else's heart
Pumping someone else's blood
And walking arm in arm
You hope it don't get harmed
But even if it does
You'll just do it all again"

Love is like cliff jumping. It's scary and exiciting and risky and unknown.

But happens when you finally decide that

 all the fears aside...what's at the bottom is worth it-

You jump! 

And then you look back up at that cliff and wonder why you almost didn't jump.

Fear almost made you miss out

So for all those on the peering over the edge--go for it.

And for all of those treading in the water--become/prove you're worth the jump! 

Cheers, 

Happy Valentine's Day

Sorry for the looooooong sabbatical!!!

Here are the highlights of the past... 2 months! 

(I promise I'll keep up better starting now)

1. I went to IDAHO! My sister Josie graduated from Brigham  Young University--Idaho. She sang at the graduation! Plus, I got to visit my Blackfoot family! And I saw a few dear friends in Salt Lake City.

My sister, Clara and I headed out on the ice!

2. I was back in the motherland! Oh, Canada I LOVE you! It was incredible. I was very very very busy. First of all I needed to sleep from the horror of Cambridge Essay 1. Once I was over that it was New Years....

That's the view from my house!

3. It was extremely snowy and cold at home. It was a magical Christmas! 

Lilo loves presents

Poppy and I

4. New Years was spent dancing at wedding receptions we "crashed." But since we don't drink or eat their food...I figure that we're doing them a favor. We dance!

All of the cousin's on Christmas Eve at Grandma's House

5. I came back to Cambridge and it snowed. That was horrible. They don't have anything to deal with snow. So it froze!!!

6. My dear friend, Kira Davis, came to Cambridge. I had my first ever visitor! It was perfect timing because I was a tad homesick. I actually got to see a few of the "sights". Kira reminded me of how much of blessing it is that I'm here and that I can make it to the end!  Then I went back with her to London!

7. Kira's brother just finished his mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in France. So the family was in Europe vacationing and picking him up. So then I got invited to Paris for a few days to stay with them!!! It was marvelous! Kira and I came to Europe for our first time together like 5 years ago... So it was nostalgic to be back. However, on our first trip we vowed that the next time we came to the Eiffel Tower we would be married...

8. And last, but not least I PASSED term 1. My results just came back....so that means I'm still studying at Cambridge.

Passing is a good thing...right?!