Winter and Camping DO NOT MIX!!!!

Sorry this is a LONG post, but has a good story and good moral of the story at the end! So if you are bored.. read away!

Wow. I can not believe that my birthday is in 8 days and I just realized that TODAY! I am usually start counting down my birthday at 100 days. I don't know if I am maturing and my birthday is just not a big deal anymore... but I am guess that is NOT it. I am pretty sure it is because I have been so busy lately I didn't even realize that January is almost over. WHERE HAS JANUARY GONE???? Well... let's see here. I came back to Rexburg. Got started with school. Got overwhelmed with school. Am still overwhelmed with school and preparing to start our business in about 2 weeks. Let me break this down even more now... I am in a class called "IBC" it stands for Integrated Business Core (honestly, I just had to look that up....) It is 12 credits with 4 different classes and a 3 hour block every day. Starting at 7:45am. The classes switch just depending on the day. We are divided into Companies and each company needs to create, start and operate a business on campus for 8 weeks. I am in Company A and there are 22 people in our company. 3 girls. Our classes are Organizational Effectiveness, Finances, Operations and Procedures and Marketing. The class is very ambiguous. VERY AMBIGUOUS! We started out being divided the first day into "Companies" and then inside our companies we were divided into "Teams" my team has 6 members. Me being the only girl. I knew of one of the guys before the class started and one of the other guys in my team, I met him on New Years Eve. Small world. Anyways, we all get along really well, which is good considering how much time we spend together. 3 out of the 6 are married... 3 are obviously not. We all know which of the 3 I fall into. We have a lot of group work and a LOT of reading. A LOT OF READING!!!!! 2 weeks ago we had the opportunity to be able to "bond" better with our team and company. We went to Badger Creek which is about an hour north of Rexburg. We were supposed to stay in tents, but by some miracle the tent broke and we couldn't (Prayer WORKS!). I knew before we went that there would be a ropes course and a lot of "awkward" things that would have to happen. I kept teasing with my roommates and said I was going to get "hurt" before I went so I couldn't go. Well the day before we were heading up to Badger Creek my roommates and I went

snowmobiling. Kandice is crazy and went over this

jump and I fell off of the back, and landed on my wrist. Now, in no way is or was my wrist broken. But it was sore. Luckily my other roommate, Madi had a brace and let me borrow it to milk this "owie" for all it's worth. Now my wrist really was sore, I wasn't lying at all! And my wrist is still sore.. sometimes. Anyways so I met up with my team after snowmobiling for a quick pre Badger Creek meeting and told them that I hurt my wrist. They still told me to come.. just be careful. Perfect. I can go. Just not do anything... so I thought. We woke up early the next day and had to be to Badger by 8 am. It was FREEZING!!!!!!!!!! I luckily got a brand new Omni-Shield Columbia winter Jacket for Christmas that kept me warm! We had some getting to know you lame games for a while with a short orientation and then headed to the ropes course. I of course couldn't do much with my hurt wrist. The first "obstacle" we had to overcome was the Giant Swing. It's where the rest of your company has to hoist you up to the top of the ropes course. Which is probably 10 stories up and then you let go of the rope and you free fall half way until your harness catches you. And then you proceed to swing back and forth. There were 12 people that were at this Giant Swing at one time. Every single one of them went, including the other girl in our company, except for me. We had time for one more. Who's a sucker for peer pressure? Oh that's right... ME! So I decided I was going to be brave! I could do this... so here it is... I did it...

Was it fun? NOPE! Did I enjoy any second of it? NOPE! I hated EVERY SINGE SECOND! It was so scary. Am I proud of myself for doing it? HECK YES I AM!!!!!! It was pretty much the craziest thing I have ever done. I have done slack lines before... not as scary as free falling. I felt like the free fall was 18 minutes long. So after finally stopping and near tears I had to get out of the harness, and to do so you have to stand on this ladder. As I was getting off of the ladder I was shaking... horribly. I was shaking so bad that the rest of the group that was 100 feet away could see me shaking. So as I was trying to step down (please remember there is about 3 feet of snow on the ground and incredibly icey) I took a step down and my right knee buckled. It hurt. REAL BAD. One of the guys in my team, Cody was right behind me and caught me as I fell back. He saw my knee go and I immediately felt the pain. He got me off of the ladder and helped me safely to the ground. He helped me out to the main road. Now, everyone was very proud of me that I went, so I wanted people to still think I was pretty cool. The guys on my team were the one right there and knew I hurt my knee. I just didn't really tell them how bad, however Cody somehow knew. So I just "was a man... and walked it off" as my dad would have said and pretended nothing was wrong. Was that a good idea? No. So that was our first event of the day. We had 4 more. I decided to sit the rest out and the rest of the company thought it was because I was too scared... I was not. I was in pain. When we got back to the lodge that night I took off all of my snow gear to discover that it looked and felt like I did not have a knee cap any longer. My knee was so swollen it looked more like my thigh... I however could not deal with it as I had 40 guys to feed. I made them all dinner and "manned up". That night at we sat around playing games Cody asked how my knee was. I laughed and showed him my knee. He felt bad but reminded me how accomplished I should feel. The rest of Badger Creek only got worse... The next morning I woke up and fed 60 people breakfast. With the help of my team... that are really good listeners! :) Everyone said how good breakfast was and I am proud that I can cook for that many people and know how much food to buy and fill so many hungry guys! So after breakfast we walked down and did some more "obstacle" of course I sat and watched the guys do it. That night we were cooking outside and decided to do tin foil dinners. However, we thought there would be a fire... and there was not... so we had to use the propane grills to heat up our dinners. Since I had been basically sitting in the snow all day I was freezing. My knee hurt. I was tired. I was cold, and practically lost in the woods. Not a good mix. So I was heating our dinners up. Standing in my coat... I NEVER leaned up against the grill. Nor did I even lean up against the table it was on. I was a good couple inches away the entire time. But somehow I managed to melt 3 giant holes in my BRAND NEW (from Christmas) Omni-Shield Columbia Jacket (that wasn't cheap, might I add). When Kevin pointed out the holes in my coat I had to walked away into the dark and I just started crying. I had wanted this coat so bad, my parents were so kind and spent a pretty penny on this beloved coat and now after this stupid camp that I didn't even want to go to it was ruined. My knee hurt, my coat was ruined, I am tired, I am freezing and I wanted to go home! One of the guys tried to comfort me, but I was done. When my dinner was finally ready I had one bite and then tried to stab a carrot when my fork broke and MELTED. And that is when I laughed. Seriously? How could one week go so wrong? I tried to eat but was in so much pain I ate what was necissary to take some pain medication. After the drugs kicked in I was ready to hike up back to the lodge. We weren't supposed to go back for another hour, but my team decided to make an exception for me. When we got back up there I went to the bathroom and just mourned over the loss of my coat. I was so upset. After realizing it was just a temporal thing and it could be replaced, I don't know how and I don't know when, but it will be, I decided to try and make the most out of this horrible week. I went to the kitchen made myself a real dinner and ate that and then went and played phase 10 into the night. The next day we met as a company and finalized our decision on what our business should be (that announcement to come later) and divided up our projects. We finally got to leave. As I left I realized that I am a baby and that my knee probably was only hurting because of the cold. I finally got home and took a nap... for 6 hours... I woke up worked a little then went back to sleep. I woke up the next day and decided I should probably go to the doctor just to see. I went and he said he thinks I tore my meniscus (which usually doesn't heal on it's own and will most likely require surgery... awesome... ) He also referred me to a specialist. So on Monday I went and saw the specialist and discovered that I actually tore my MCL and sprained my meniscus. He is hoping this will heal on it's own but I am not supposed to really walk on it much. He told me to ice it and not to do anything real physical for 6 weeks. I am supposed to go back to him in 2 weeks to make sure it is healing properly. If he discovers it is not healing like it should, surgery will be neccissary. Awesome. So I went to school the next day and as I walked in I had a limp. The guys on my team all asked me if my knee was still bothering me, I laughed and responded with..

Me: Ya.. turns out I tore my MCL

Chase: Wait, Michelle you REALLY hurt your knee? I thought you were just faking so you didn't have to do anymore obstacles.

Me: Nope. I really hurt my knee.

Kevin: Oh man. I feel bad. Were you in pain?

Me: Yep. That's why I kept that bottle of extra strength tylenol with me... and polished off that bottle...

Chase: Man. I feel so bad now.

Ha. I look back at my whole experience at Badger and know that it was horrible. My knee is still hurting today. I still limp everywhere I go and in Rexburg, on the ice is NOT easy. I can't bend my knee all the way yet either. But I did realize that in life, sometimes you have obstacles that you have to overcome, and they can be scary and you can even get hurt, but in the end when you look back on life if you decide to overcome it you will be pleased with yourself.

Sorry this post was sooo long, but I just needed to tell everyone my story. I will be posting about the business we will be starting very soon. As soon as it gets approved, which should be Tuesday. So be ready for another post!

A semester through pictures!

This semester has been a blur or stress, fun, snow, papers, snow, fun and some other stuff. I will tell you what... I can NOT wait for break to be here. One more week and I will be home for Christmas! This past semester has been one of the hardest semester academically, however we have had our share of fun this semester! Let me introduce you to my roomies... aka P.I.C. (partners in crime)!

First there is Kleen (her real name is Kolleen)

I love Kleen. She is the type of person that will love you no matter what. She puts up with a lot from me and I love her so much and am happy to see her future

adventures she will be going on shortly....

Then there is Scandilous... I mean Kandice.. She looks like Kleen. It's cause they were born on the same day. But Kandice was born first...

Kandice takes care of me. If she notices I have too much dirty laundry and not enough clean ones... she will do them for me. She also cooks for me... A LOT. She is so good to me. I am glad she isn't into boys right now so we can be friends!

Then there is the new roommie. Her name is Ta-Ta-Ta-Tia.

She is like me. Only prettier and younger. But seriously... we have a lot in common. We often do and say the same thing. We are pretty sure we were destined to meet. She cracks me up and I love spending time with her. She is a real good listener and has great advice!

So the question is... what have we done.. well....

We threw a party...

We went to a BYU game...

We take crazy pictures...

We dress up for Halloween...

I do Kandice's hairs... really nicely...

We go to dinner....

We go bowling...

We play in the snow...

We have chocolate fights...

We bundle Kleen up so she can take out our trash...

We kiss Kleen... and she REALLY likes it..

All in all I would say it has been a great semester!

I also really enjoyed Thanksgiving... so here are some pictures from that.... (ignore all dates... my camera is messed up!)

FOOD!

Grandma!

CUTE SISTERS!!!! HAHA

Auntie Marilyn!!!

I know that is a LOT of pictures, but let's be honest... I NEVER update my blog... nor do I put up pictures! But it is only because we are having too much fun! I am grateful for great friends, a wonderful family and for the opportunity I have to be furthering my education, even though it is challenging at times! I hope you all take time this season to take a big look at your life and realize how loved and lucky you are! Merry Christmas!!!

Hmmm... What a day.....

So today has been very interesting... Maybe because I had WEIRD dreams last night... may have been the Nyquil... but today was just weird too. I have been super sick since last Thursday. Every morning I wake up feeling like CRAP and tell myself. Oh... I think I am feeling better. By 2pm my body has convinced me otherwise. So today was no different. I woke up... I felt horrible. I looked in the mirror and almost cried because I LOOKED like DEEEAATTHHH!!!!!!!! I hoped a shower would help. Nope. So I went to school. Tried to learn, but after my first class started I realized I had an empty backpack. Cool. So I asked the kid next to me in my man voice for a piece of paper. He was very confused and I just held open my backpack and said to him. I forgot my binder. I know, I am a genius. He laughed asked me if I was sick. I seriously wanted to say to him... No. I always look like I just woke up from the DEAD and I always sound like I have a whole swarm of frogs in my throat. But instead I just nodded my head and he gave me the paper. So the rest of school I had to ask someone to borrow a piece of paper. I felt special. So after school I had to study for a test. I went to the library. WHAT??? Yes... I, Michelle Emily Chapin, after being at BYU-Idaho for 3 years found the Library. Who knew it was in the middle of campus. Anywho, I went to the Library to study and was on facebook, amazon and ebay for approximately 1 hour. Then I tried to study. After being on the mentioned above websites for another 15 minutes I decided I had "studied" enough and knew I was probably going to do horrible on my accounting test. I was sick. I couldn't think straight and I wasted my study time. So I went to take the test. Forgot to answer the last two... had to go back and retry and ended up getting a B on my test. I was pretty stoked! Since the girl sitting next to me in class this morning told me she failed it! Bad news for her, good news for me! So the rest of my day consisted of me complaining on how bad my head hurt. I knew my eyes were being strained and I needed to wear my glasses. (side note: I hate wearing my glasses. They don't fit my eyes. My eyelashes are too long and hit my glasses every time I blink and it is just super annoying. But nonetheless, my head starts to hurt, and I know I either need a diet coke... or my glasses. Sometimes both. ) I tried to find my glasses the other day, but failed. So I tried again this afternoon. Failed again. I decided I needed to rely on a higher source. Ya know, like Heavenly Father. So I did. I got down on my knees and said the most simpliest prayer. I was afraid I left them at home (aka Bellingham) and forgot to pack them. In my prayer I told him of this fear. I also told Him that I knew, HE knew and that I needed them. My head hurt so bad and I needed these glasses and asked for His help to find them. I finished my prayer and got up. I picked up my cell phone to call to see if they were at home. As it was ringing (approx. 45 seconds after finishing my prayer) I felt this strong feeling that I need to look in the box under my bed. After I started getting it out I thought to myself, hmmm why would I look here, this is weird.... oh well... I guess it won't hurt! As soon as I got the box out, I found my glasses. It was less than a minute after saying Amen. Amazing huh? Yes. Yes it is. I love getting immediate answers to prayers. Then a little while later I knew I needed a blessing, so I texted my friend and asked him if he could give me a blessing... and to bring his roommate. So they came over and gave me a blessing. How grateful I am to have the Gospel in my life. Especially the Priesthood power. I also love that I can text my guy friends and not have to worry about them being worthy or not. I know that they are. I know that they respect the Priesthood and I am so grateful for that. So, by the sounds of it, I should be better in no time. Thank goodnesss. This sickness was really starting to get annoying. Anyways, this was just a lot of random blogging, but I just want everyone to know that the sun will rise tomorrow. There is a God and that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has some amazing doctrines. And I am grateful I know of them. If you wish you did... go here. It will change your life! Ok, that is all. ... Oh remember how Accounting and I are friends now? Ya me too....

Oh Econ....

So I am taking an Macroeconomics class and this class just makes me laugh.... here is a few of the sample conversations that have been held... thus far this semester...

Teacher: So let's think of this, and use this as an example... who does the U.S. buy their weapons from?

Student: Tony Stark

Teacher: Uh... No.... no that is completely wrong, and made up.

______________________________________________________________________

Teacher: So if you need to dig a ditch, who do you hire?

Student (Male): Invest in some machinery?

Teacher: No, you fire the lazy idiots you have working and hire 100 Lamanite women. They are the hardest workers ever.

Student (Lamanite Female): Uh.... Brother Webb. I will NOT work for you!

Teacher: See, there is the trick... getting them to work for you! If you can do that... you can do anything!

Creative Title Here

I know I have slacked. Don't judge me. Sometimes you just need to take a break from technology. And by technology I mean blogging, youtube, facebook, etc. I kind of did that this summer. But don't worry, I am back! I check my facebook out of habit now. It is ridiculous. I will update later on how my semester is going and all of that stuff that no one really cares about. I just want everyone to know that I am alive. I am in school. And I am stressed out. But most importantly, I am happy!

Just think before you Speak... PLEASE!!!

I was sitting in my Legislative Class today and we are doing a simulation of Congress. So we were discussing a bill that was trying to be passed. It was making English the native language of the US and would make it law to know English.... This is what was said...

Student 1: I think making English the native language of the US would be beneficial in a number of ways. I think everyone should know English!

Student 2: Ya most people would like to know English even if they don't live in America. Maybe we need to do more to support that cause.

Student 1: Ya! I say we pass this bill!!

Teacher (Acting as President): No way! If we pass this bill then how am I supposed to talk to the little Hispanic girls in line at Wal-Mart??? That's like my highlight of my trip!

Me: Creepy McCreepster... Why do you talk to little Hispanic girls in Wal-Mart???

Teacher: I think they're cute! So I use my Spanish and talk to them!

Student 1: *cough* Petafile! *cough*

Student 3: I vote to investigate the President's relationships with little Hispanic girls.

Me: I second that!

Teacher: (Hits his forehead) I just got what you guys were saying! NO! I AM NOT A PETAFILE!!!!

Hahaha gotta love BYU-I!!!!!!

It's MY BLOG and I'll Cry if I want to!!!!!!!!!

So the other day I came across someone's status update that said something along the lines of... "Seriously if you are having a bad day, or you are upset don't post it on your blog... no one wants to read that!" But seriously... it's their blog. They can put whatever the H-E-Double Hockey sticks they want! No one is forcing you to read it!!! Come on now! Anyways... that just made me angry. I wanted to comment on HER status and say... then don't read it you witch! But I didn't... I decided to write an angry blog about her instead.. hahaha I will get you!

Anyways... on to better things....

And by better I mean I get to go home soon!!!! I am sooo excited! It will be semi cramped in our house... but worth it. Then come back and 2 more semesters of school!!!!!

Ok, I promise pictures soon. Not that anyone actually cares...

Oh. And also, my roommates and I bought a pool... we will show you soon... it's HUGE. And FUN! And right now is in our living room.... bahahaha. I love college! :D