It was 1991. I was getting ready to go off to college. I was only 17 - wouldn't turn 18 until two months in to the fall semester. But I was SOOO ready to leave home.
As a good Mormon girl does, I applied to both Ricks College and BYU. I wanted to go to school out of state and church schools were my only option because of the cheaper tuition. I got accepted to both schools and had to decide where to go. My mom had gone to Ricks for a semester and loved it.... my dad had gone to BYU for a semester, too. I'm sure I could have gone either route and loved it. But in the end, Ricks won the contest, mostly because they offered me an academic scholarship and BYU did not. The lure of free tuition was more than I (or my dad) could turn down!
Here is me and my roommates: Amanda, Payslie, Julie and me!
Family Home Evening Groups... seriously, who let me leave the house with that **cough, cough** sweater on???
More FHE fun... I wish I could remember where this was... I really have no idea!
It wasn't until I went to college that I learned to eat many things I wouldn't eat at home. Mustard was one I remember very clearly... why mustard, who knows... I also learned to eat pringles on deli sandwiches and Julie taught me how to make the best cinnamon rolls ever. Amanda taught me to make Sweet and Sour Chicken and Payslie taught me how to fry things in ground up cornflakes! And one day, I'll tell Pays how I botched her Refrigerator Roll recipe...
First snow... AWESOME!!!! Us California girls loved the snow, while everyone else just put up with it. 
Me on my 18th birthday... mom and dad sent money, which I spent on new scriptures, a planner (daytimer, remember those????), and a Ricks sweatshirt. Check out all the snow... my roommates took me to Wendy's for dinner and we made snow angels out in the courtyard.
The focus of social life in the winter at Ricks was all about Dances. Here's a picture of Payslie with a brilliant idea she came up with to ask a FHE brother to a dance... 
And the next day, we woke up to this on our front porch... see, guys can be creative, too!
I decided to do this post, because just this week, I found Payslie and Julie on Facebook. Yeah, I know, I like FB a lot more now than I used to.... I haven't been in touch with really either of them since I got married and now, all these years later, I totally regret that!
So, here's to you ladies... in tribute of a fantastic, fun, silly and rewarding Freshman year at College! I'll never forget it!
