some people have their own bowling ball, their own bowling shoes and no friends.

My sister started a bowling team. And she needed people to be on it for her first "game" tonight. However many people bowled and we took the top four scores and added it up for a collective score against our opponent.

Oh, what was my score you ask?

38.

That's right baby. Read 'em and weep.

I think I only scored on about five frames and I had 16 by the eighth frame. I made some pretty good catch up the last two frames. If you ask me.

So if you care to find me, look to the Western sky.

The Rexburg sky. To be exact.

I'm back at school. It's bittersweet. Like many things that have happened in my life lately.

I'm trying desperately not to be "that RM" that can't talk about anything but their mission to the point that it becomes annoying. I don't think I've hit that level yet, but I'm starting to have more sympathy for RM's. I understand why they talk about their missions SO much in any setting and at any chance.

First of all, it was what they were doing for the past 18-24 months. It's only to be expected that they talk about it. A lot. Doesn't everyone talk about what has been happening with them lately? Whether it was the birth of a child or their past year at school.

And secondly, it most likely changed them. I know my mission changed me. And when things change us, especially for the good, it's natural to talk about them.

Not to mention, missions usually make for some pretty good stories.

So I'm on to adjustment phase two. Being at home was a piece of cake in comparison. It still had it's rough moments, but I was mostly with my family and didn't have to get out of my comfort zone that much. But now I'm back at school. With thousands of people that I don't know. Thank goodness I'm living with my sister and the rest of my roommates are just as awesome. One is even a RM, so we can adjust together. Or rather, she can help me adjust since she's done a pretty good job herself.

I have classes again. I have to study and take tests. I have to make sure that all of my homework is done. And done on time.

I have to worry about myself instead of worrying about the progression of others in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I liked being on a mission because all of my worries and stresses got put on the back burner. There really is no other option. You serve others on a mission. Sure you grow and learn and progress and do a lot for yourself, but it comes in the process of doing things for others.

Not at school.

Sure, I can still serve others. Whether through a church calling or by choice. But I'm still here for me and my education and my future. Which is good for me. I need to face my downfalls head on and tackle them once and for all. And of course I can still be a member missionary. But at BYU-Idaho, it's a little different. I think there are only like 26 non members out of the 12,000 or more students on campus. And I don't even know a single one of them. Who knows, maybe I'll meet one of them on campus one day.

But at the end of the day, I'm excited to be back and I'm looking forward to a rocking semester.

Who knows when I'll graduate.

2011.

Happy New Year.

Here comes 2011.

What's my resolution?

To make it the BEST. ONE. EVER.

And this is how I'll do it.

2011 goals/bucket list

Become as close to fluent as I can in Spanish.

Read the Bible.

Run a half marathon.

Maybe a full marathon.

Go on a trip with my best friend.

GRADUATE COLLEGE.

Get in shape/live a healthy life.

Become a yogi.

Be a spin class master.

Get back into playing the piano and violin.

Excel in racquetball.

Visit Virginia and North Carolina.

Go to as many LDS temples as possible.

Be HAPPY.

happy christmas.

I could not have asked for a better time to come home from my mission. Right at Christmas time. So many friends and family to see and so much to be grateful for.

I love Christmas.

Serving a mission has changed my out look on Christmas.

I love my Savior.

I love His Gospel.

I am eternally grateful for the redemption that he brings me through his infinite sacrifice, the Atonement.

What greater reason to celebrate than the birth of our Savior?!

myth: busted.

Here it is. I'm about to bust every myth about sister missionaries. But I'll start with this disclaimer: I know that not everyone thinks these things about sister missionaries, but they are common myths that are out there. And I may or may not have thought these exact same things at one point.

1. Sister missionaries are frumpzillas.

Sister missionaries have ample space to express their personal style. Our mission president's wife told us to wear COLOR. Now, for those of you that have received that lovely mission prep pamphlet that came with your mission call, pictures would prove otherwise. But we're keeping up with the times. And rumor has it that they are even recreating that pamphlet that they send. Or it's already in circulation. I'm not sure. I haven't seen it, but I've heard about it and heard others talking about it.

2. Sister missionaries are on their mission because they had "nothing better to do".

I had plenty of companions that were at a stable point in their life. Working, going to school, about to graduate, etc.

3. Sister missionaries are on missions because they couldn't get married.

Now, although I wasn't dating anybody before I left on my mission, it doesn't mean that other sisters weren't. I have known several sisters that were in perfectly happy, healthy, functioning relationships before they left on their mission.

I would say that those are the top three. If you've heard any others, send em my way. And I'll be more than happy to bust them.

pictures.

I thought I had more pictures than this on my computer. I am having a TIME trying to get my pictures to upload from my camera to computer. I'll figure it out one of these days. But for now...here are these.

Enjoy.

if she wants to rock she rocks if she wants to roll she rolls she can roll with the punches as long as she feels like she's in control.

My dad is in this thing called Rotary club.

Heard of it?

I'm not sure what exactly it is. Some group of business types. I think it helps get your name and your company out there. Or something.

Anyway.

He was in charge of arranging for the guest speaker today. He set up with a doctor that my mom works for to come talk about stress management.

Can I get an AMEN?

If you were to look up stressed in the dictionary you would see a picture of me and then a foot note that said "see Christine Leigh Fleming".

I tend to be stressed. A lot. And it stems from me being a perpetual worrier.

I know it's my own fault. But we all have things that we are working on, right?

Dr. Amit Sood talked about a lot of really interesting concepts.

How we can de-stress.

And it all starts with perception. And being in control of your life.

Afterall, we generally can't change what's happening around us, but we sure can change how we react to it.

Virginia is for LOVERS (and missionaries)

So.

After EIGHTEEN months, how do you even begin to update?!

I can start by saying this. That the past 18 months were the

hardest

saddest

happiest

most frustrating

most enjoyable

BEST

18 months of my LIFE.

Hands down.

More to follow. Including pictures.

ps. I mentioned in an earlier post that the mission boundaries included Maryland. And it sure didn't. I thought that the Eastern Shore, that little part under MD was part of MD.

Fun fact for ya: IT'S NOT. Shows how much I paid attention in Geography.

T-18 months.

Tomorrow I enter the MTC, and I'll be there for three weeks. And then I head to Virginia to finish the 18 months Which means no more blog posts.

So check out these in the meantime. They're some of my favorites.

http://taffrine.blogspot.com

http://jacobdivett.blogspot.com

http://beccaobsesses.blogspot.com/

http://www.benkeamy.blogspot.com/

Peace out.

DC = cool - lame crowds at museums.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. I. Hate. Crowds. Hate them, hate them, hate them. I took a psych class and the teacher said that the fear of crowds, enoclophobia, means "fear of the marketplace" and you don't like them because you're affraid that if something happens to you there would be too many people for someone to notice. Or something like that. Either way there are too many people in one small space.

Why do I hate crowds? For starters, I have a huge personal bubble. I don't like people getting that close to me. So you better keep your distance.

Secondly. When a person is in a crowd, it seems that all previous unwritten rules that every human being knows, go completely out the window. Like budging in line, being polite, and randomly singing while in public that's not at a performance, and everything like such as.

Example.

My family and I took a trip to Bethesda, Maryland this past week to be part of a medical study. After being poked and prodded at for a few days, we had a day off. We took the metro to DC to do some touristy things. It was raining that day. Of course. So the three Smithsonian museums that we went to were super crowded. Perfect. I'm guessing they're all usually pretty crowded, but since it was my first time going, I had nothing to measure it against. And there were about 50,000 screaming kids running around that were there on a school field trip. Double perfect.

The American History Museum holds the American Flag that Francis Scott Key saw that inspired him to write the Star Spangled Banner. Pretty cool. Of course there was a long line, but it was worth the wait. The line went outside of the room that it was in and people were lined up in single file fashion. But once you got into the room it was like a mad house of people trying to push their way up to the front.

Really?

Wait your turn. There are lines for a reason. And people will shove all up in your personal space as long as they get to look at whatever they've been waiting in line for. In this case, a flag.

And I won't even tell about the crowds when we saw Honest Abe's hat.

As much as I don't crowds it was still a pretty sweet museum. That museum had all sorts of cool crap. And I'm sure the other ones had just as much. We only made it to three of the who knows how many Smithsonian museums.

If you go to DC, I suggest not doing it on your one day off from medical tests. Spend a whole week there.

closing time.

This is the last weekend of school.  My last weekend in Rexburg for the next nineteen months.  I'm grateful that I get to spend one of those months in Minnesota before I leave for the next 18 where time will be spent in Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, and Maryland.  

I'm also grateful that I get to spend the last weekend in Rexburg listening to General Conference.  Seriously.  It's always a nice break from the chaos of life to sit back and listen to the words, counsel and advice of the leaders of the church.  

so long my favorite songs.

I know that so many of my posts have been about the mission I'm getting ready to serve, but since it's the next biggest thing in my life, I spend a lot of time thinking about it and preparing for it.  Sorry for all of the mission related posts, but here is another one.

Missionaries are supposed to lock their hearts and get lost in the work.  I'm not too worried about the things I'll be leaving behind, because I know the ones that are worthwhile will be right there when I get back.  But I do think now and then about the shows I won't be able to watch and especially the music I won't be able to listen to.

So, if one were to ask me, these are the best fifty songs.  Ever.  Or at least  the ones that I'll miss the most while I'm gone.  In no particular order.  

1.  Ants Marching by Dave Matthews Band.

2.  On The Radio by Regina Spektor.

3.    The World At Large by Modest Mouse.

4.  The Way I Am by Ingrid Michaelson.

5.   First Day Of My Life by Bright Eyes.  

6.  Mr. Pitiful by Matt Costa.

7.   Hide and Seek by Imogen Heap.  

8.  Chain Me Free by the Matches.  

9.  We Intertwine by the Hush Sound.

10.  Free Falling by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

11.  The Joker by Steve Miller Band.

12.  Shimmy Shimmy Quarter Turn by Hellogoodbye.

13.  Love Today by Mika.  

14.  Banana Pancakes by Jack Johnson.

15.  Pork and Beans by Weezer.  

16.  Super Massive Black Hole by Muse.

17.  Ain't No Sunshine by Bill Withers.  

18.  Wine Red by the Hush Sound.

19. We Used To Be Friends by the Dandy Warhols.  

20.  Gives You Hell by the All American Rejects.  

21.  You're My Best Friend by Queen.

22.  You Owe Me An I.O.U. by Hot Hot Heat.

23.  Do You Know by Enrique Iglesias.

24.  Mala Gente by Juanes.  

25.  My Doorbell by the White Stripes.  

26.  Taper Jean Girl by Kings of Leon.  

27.  Di Di My Doe by the Matches.

28.  Why Do You Let Me Stay Here by She & Him.

29.  Let My Love Open the Door by Sondre Leche.  

30.  Touchdown Turnaround by Hellogoodbye.  

31.  Foreign Language by Anberlin.

32.  Fidelity by Regina Spektor.  

33.  Mercy by Duffy.

34.  Scar Tissue by Red Hot Chili Peppers.  

35.  Campus by Vampire Weekend.

36.  Come Sail Away by STYX.

37.  I'm Shakin' by Rooney.

38.  Little Razorbalde by the Pink Spiders.

39.  Brat Pack by the Rocket Summer.

40.  Let Go by Frou Frou.

41.  Honestly by Cartel.

42.  New Soul by Yael Niam.

43.  Sway Your Head by We Shot The Moon

44.  Catch My Disease by Ben Lee.

45.  All The Young Dudes by Mott the Hoople.

46.  All I Want Is You by Barry Louis Polisar.

47.  Everyday by Dave Matthews Band.  

48.  Sea Of Love by Cat Power.  

49.  The Mating Game by Bitter:Sweet.  

50.  Superstar by Sonic Youth

This is harder than I thought, I had to change my original number about five times.  But this is it.  My top 50.  I think.  It was still a hard task.

peace, love, and racquetball.

I have recently discovered a new love in my life.  Racquetball.  If you ever have the chance, PLAY IT!  

I never knew that BYU-Idaho had legit racquetball courts.  I figured they somehow set up some makeshift ones in the field house because everything from volleyball games to track meets have been held there.  But oh no.  BYU-I has five of their own actual racquetball courts.  So after many, many, many weeks of saying to my roommate, Christina "Hey, we need to reserve a racquetball court sometime and try and play" we FINALLY did.  We played for the first time on Tuesday.  Then we played Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.  

The first couple days we just hit the ball around.  Then Christina and I played the game how we thought it made sense.  

Then, today, today we played with my other roommate Alli and her fiance Jacob (whose uncle is ranked third in the WORLD, by the way) and we were pretty far off.  

The point is, is that racquetball is great.  Tons of fun.  And you don't even realize that you're getting a fabulous workout because it's that fun.

Injuries sustained from racquetball:

Getting pelted in....

the arm

the knee

the hand

the back

the calf

and the face.  It's a good thing you are required to wear goggles in the courts.  

happy make up your own holiday day.

I couldn't be more serious.  Today is actually national make up your own holiday day.  I mean, I found it on the internet so it must be true.  So what is my holiday that I am going to make up and celebrate?

National Sonic Strawberry Limeade Day.  

Why wouldn't you want to dedicate an entire day to the most delicious drink known to the human race?  Strawberry Limeade is amazing.  Why?  Let me count the ways.

1.  The ice.  I love ice, and I love chewing ice.  A bad habit I got from my mom.  But the ice from sonic is the best.  It's the perfect crunchiness.

Perfect.

2.  The REAL strawberries and limes.  Even if you suck down the strawberry limeade in record time, like I may or may not, the deliciousness does not end there.  Oh no.  Once you have drank all of the limeade substance, you are left with a delicious pile of perfectly chewy strawberries.  Sometimes you even suck one up the straw.  Double Perfect.

3.  Strawberry Limeade is the best when your roommate has the sonic sticker and you get the biggest size, the Route 44 size for only ONE DOLLAR!

Triple Perfect.

So what do you say?  Let's celebrate National Sonic Strawberry Limeade day and treat ourselves to a delicious strawberry limeade.  

Call me and we'll go together.  

mission wish list.

Missionaries have pretty strict rules about what they're allowed to wear.  Guys look good in suits no matter what, and although I know the goal of a missionary shouldn't be to make sure they look good while they are serving, I still want to make sure that I don't look like a frump while in the process.  

Missionaries spend a lot of time on their feet (or bikes) thus begins the nearly impossible task of finding cute and comfortable shoes.  Yet again, something only Sisters seem to have to worry about.  Do Elders worry about cute shoes?  Negative.  Although, my guess would be that dress shoes are also fairly uncomfortable.  So they still have the shoe task at hand.  

So I've been scouring the internet and different stores to get an idea of some clothes I could buy when I get home to wear while I'm in Virginia.  I've also been looking at non clothes items that will be fun to buy, like bedding, a backpack, pens/paper, etc. 

RSVP pens are hands down, the best pens.  Ever.

I think that  Camelbak's are the coolest backpacks in the world, and I am TOTALLY getting one.  OK, so I might already have one, but it's not big enough to be a missionary backpack!  I even told myself that if I went stateside I was definitely getting one because I would be able to trust the water to fill it up with water from the sink.  If you ask me, it's fate.  

I imagine that these shoes are fairly comfortable.  And they aren't too frumpy either.  Right?

Dear Sister Fleming.

You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  You are assigned to labor in the Virginia Richmond Mission.  It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 18 months.

You should report to the Missionary Training Center at Provo, Utah on Wednesday, 13 May 2009.  You will prepare to preach the gospel in the English language.  

it's the final countdown.

The end is in sight.  Five school weeks left of the semester.  It's crazy, let me tell you.

This semester has been....eventful?

Mission papers are FINALLY in.  After stuff getting lost, things not getting submitted, the stake presidency calling me numerous times because they didn't have sufficient information.  Like my height.  Pretty sure that's on my medical papers.  The point is, they are in.  IN!  Now I'm waiting on a call.  My stake president, President Packard said that he was going to submit them on Sunday, they would be at church headquarters on Monday (YESTERDAY) and that I would receive a call in TEN days.  The quorum of the 12 makes all of the assignments and then President Monson confirms them on Thursdays.  They make 600 in four hours.  Amazing?  I'd say so.

People keep asking me where I want to go.  And I can honestly say "I don't care."  I am just so excited to go and I know that wherever I am called to is where I am supposed to be and that it came from the prophet who is inspired by God.

Pretty cool.  

The only thing that I am really hoping for is that I'll have the chance to learn a language, especially Spanish.

take two.

I find it incredibly therapeutic to write things about myself in bullet form. In a non selfish or stuck up way.  If that's possible.  I think while doing it I even learned some more things about myself.  So here I go for another round.  Continue on if you like.

some more things you may or may not know about me.

1.  I absolutely cannot stand rollie backpacks.  At all.  Not one little bit.  When I see them, I want to kick them.  Before my back surgery my mom said "You know Christine, your doctor might want you to use a rollie backpack so it doesn't put pressure on your back".  False.  I will risk the health of my back to avoid using a rollie backpack.  At all causes.  Some people on campus have even moved on to using suitcases.  I'm sorry, I didn't realize we were at an airport.

2.  I find it incredibly satisfying to download songs.  Whether from itunes or limewire (which of course I don't do, it's illegal....) or wherever.  

3.  I have neurofibromatosis.  It's a genetic disorder.  My sister and I both got it from our dad's, and I have a 50% chance of passing it on to my kids.  It scares me half to death to think about having kids, knowing that I could very well inflict them with something, especially since my sister and I both have it slightly worse than our dad, which could possibly mean that my kids could be worse.   Maybe. 

I have light brown spots all over my body from it.  And the lymph nodes on my neck are swollen.  

4.  I cringe when I hear the word coagulate.  I think it sounds disgusting.  

5.  I usually don't enjoy group work, which poses a problem since a majority of my major is group work.  I wold rather do an entire project on my own than have to delegate, be delegated to, or risk the chance of someone else dropping the ball.  At least if I drop the ball on my own project I have nobody else to get mad at but myself and my grade isn't dependent on the work of others.  Not that I'm saying my work is better, I'd just prefer to know exactly what I'm turning in and be responsible for all of it.  

6.  I only drink skim milk.  Even 1% makes me gag.  I'm OK with it though, it's healthier for you anyway.  Once you're done growing at least.  Which I've have been for about the past seven years or so.

7.  I don't really like the word hot to describe people.  I'd rather say attractive, cute, so good looking, etc.  I'd prefer not to be called it either.  Not that it's something I have to worry about.

8.  I'm a nerd at heart.  I love, love, LOVE Harry Potter, the X-Files, Heroes.  And many many more nerdy things.  Like playing text twist or scrabble for hours on end.  

9. Although, I'm not a fan of Star Wars.  I've never been able to get into it.

10.  I love photography.  I don't really know all of the technical terms, but I'm OK with that.  If you enjoy something, the technicalities shouldn't really matter, right?

real pretty thangs and crap.

My roommate Alli has started this website.  It's an online thrift store of sorts.  She sells slightly used clothes.  She has a pretty great selection for some very reasonable prices.  Check it out, and if you like something, contact her and buy it!

www.realprettythangsandcrap.blogspot.com

twenty five.

Recently a lot of people have been making notes on their Facebook accounts about 25 things about themselves that people may or may not know. I decided to do the same, but here on Blogger instead.

So here it goes.

1. I have lived with 37 different girls while attending BYU-Idaho. That's a lot of girls. A lot of personalities to love, get along with perfectly and clash with.

2. I have played the violin for about 14 years. My teacher dropped me when I was in 6th grade because I wasn't progressing fast enough. And that's a straight quote. Sometimes I still get it out and play every now and then. I know I'm not near as good as I should be, but I'm good enough. At least I think so.

3. I must marry someone who likes dogs. And that's that. I need to have dogs in my life, and I miss mine that are at home terribly when I'm away at school.

4. I'm not really attracted to blonde guys.

5. I love shoes. Especially sneakers. I have four pairs of chucks and about six pairs of vans. And I'll keep getting more. I love a good pair of dress shoes too.

6. I really enjoy baking and cooking. It is my dream to own my own bakery one day. I can't stand it when I'm cooking or baking and people come in the room, look at it, and either tell me why it looks gross or what I did wrong and how I should fix it. Or that I'm currently doing it wrong and I should do it this way instead. I've had quite a few encounters with this exact experience already this semester.

7. I'm glad my parents taught me to read early and the importance of it.

8. Geocaching is the coolest thing ever. I heard about it a while ago, and finally tried it out last weekend. See my last post to learn more.

9. I'm not the type of girl that has to change her outfit 15 times before going somewhere. The most I've changed it is twice for church. I just put on what I feel like wearing and go on my way.

10. I don't care what anyone says but I love Dave Matthews Band, The Jonas Brothers, Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus, etc. I could listen to pop music all day long. I can't stand when people judge you or pride themselves based on their music likings. Nobody cares about how many obscure grunge emo bands that aren't signed to a legit label because they don't like the mainstream music business you listen to. If you like it, listen to it. If you don't, then don't.

11. My sophomore year up at school my GPA was suffering. So I took a bunch of easy classes to boost it. Including a college reading one. I had to get a tutor and everything. It was a nightmare and incredibly embarrassing, and I had to reassure my tutor that I indeed knew how to read at 19 years old and I usually just ended up doing my homework during my tutor time. Thankfully I got an A and said GPA was boosted.

12. I like playing sports, but I'm not any good. And I don't get competitive. So people don't like playing with me.

13. I have a metal rod in my back from a spinal fusion surgery. And a 13 inch long scar to go along with it. I had scoliosis that was found in fifth grade. I had to wear a brace all through middle school and part of high school. As if those times aren't awkward enough. Some kid even called me scoliosis girl in seventh or eighth grade one time. Awesome.

14. My favorite animal is a dolphin and it was my DREAM to swim with one for as long as I can remember. It finally came true last Christmas when my family and I went to Hawaii for vacation.

15. I'm trying to let go of the past. I can't change it. So I'm learning to either enjoy the time and realize that it was fun while it lasted, or be grateful that it is in the past and not going to be in my present or future.

16. I can't stand Twilight. It's not even because that they're about vampires, and I even tried to get into them. I read the first one and couldn't stand it. Bella complains just a little bit too much and I thought they were incredibly boring.

17. No matter how old a CD is, I just can't bring my self to throw it away. Ever. So, yes, that does mean I still have CDs from artists such as the Spice Girls, 98 degrees, Backstreet Boys, Hanson, B*Witched, and everything like such as.

18. I rarely stick up for myself. I don't tell people when things are bothering me. I just tell myself that it's only me thinking it and to get over it.

19. I have easily spent $300 on beanie babies. I used to be obsessed with those suckers. Now they're all boxed away at home in Minnesota. I guess if anything my kids can play with them someday.

20. One of my biggest pet peeves is when people shorten words in texting or on the computer. As in ur, 2nite, u, and so forth. It doesn't take that much effort to spell out the rest of the word.

21. I love it when I say or do something and someone laughs. Especially if they laugh really hard. I think being told you're funny is one of the best compliments.

22. I have a secret addiction to post-it notes. And almost any office supply for that matter.

23. One time I got pulled over because my tags were expired on my license plate. I chose to appeal the ticket and went to traffic court. The judge was my friend's dad and he gave me ten hours of community service. The only option available for community service was working at a cat shelter. It was awful. And he let me off easy. He gave his son, his own flesh and blood, 30 hours of community service for a similar offense.

24. I rarely, in fact next to never, wear jewelry. For various reasons. I especially don't wear rings because I think I have funny looking hands/fingers and don't like how rings look on them. I notice people's hands, and pay very close attention to them. Sometimes I even think whose hands I would and would not like to have. If I lined up a group of people I knew, I could identify them just from their hands.

25. I'm trying my best to really budget my money, because it's a skill you'll need for your whole life. I'm getting better, but there is still plenty of room for improvement.