Trying Hard

After the first few weeks I finally got used to my new home. I didn't like it, but I was used to it. I got made fun of for clothes and other things. I was used to that too. I eventually made friends who lived near by. Jaisi and Catie were my first best friends in Alpine. We walked home from school together everyday, and got to play almost everyday. I remember making up games like "Mystical Creatures", and other things that 7 year olds like. After second grade I mostly just played with the girls in my ward. They were always close, and easiest to play with. That summer all we did was live the best lives we could. Next thing I knew I was going into third grade. I got Miss. Hadfield as my teacher. Not that I cared, I didn't have any idea who she was... That year was great. I have limited memories from third grade, but I remember meeting one of my best friends Mikkia. She was in my ward, but I never got to know her until we were in the same class. We then walked home together everyday. I also met Aimee in Miss. Hadfield's class. She also became one of my best friends. We both liked the same boy, so we related to each other alot. Fourth grade was an amazing year. I had two teachers, Mrs. Pendleton and Mrs. Olsen. I will never forget the impact they had on my life. These two teacher helped me gain more self confidence than I had ever had. I was one of the most shy girls in the school at this time. I never talked, and when I did, no one could hear me. Mrs. Pendleton always called me "Quiet Mandy". I knew I was quiet, and I didn't care. Once I met some of my friends in this class, I didn't want to be shy anymore. They were all really pretty and really outgoing. People seemed to like them. I tried to be myself, but I couldn't get myself to do it for a long time. I eventually got a hold on how to do it, but not for a long time. This year was a struggle for me, because my dear brother left on a two year mission to Rome, Italy. I wasnt used to not having my oldest brother around. At the end of fourth grade I found out that most of my good friends were switching schools. I was really sad because I had just recently become good friends with all of these girls. Even the girls in my ward were going to a new charter school. I was upset, but there's nothing I could do. Life goes on. My 10th birthday was that summer, so I got to see all of my friends again at my party. It was only one day, but I felt so popular. I was still shy, so at my own party people didn't notice me much. Unless the spotlight was on me, someone else was always getting the attention, which was fine with me. The rest of that summer I don't remember, but I know lots of things stayed the same. Starting fifth grade was a huge deal to me. I had Mrs. Largie for my teacher. She was new at our school. The first day I met her, I liked her. She was super nice to all of the kids in my class, and was good at teaching. I didn't like my class alot, but I still had a few friends that I could always talk to. To be honest, fifth grade wasnt a very significant year of my life, and I barely remember any of it. So I'll move on to the next chapter of my life. That summer was the best and the worst. Here's why it was the worst. A week before my 11th birthday my Grandma and Grandpa Hymas went to visit my uncle in Alambama. The Sunday before they left my grandma told me they would be back on that next Monday to celebrate my birthday with me. The next thing I knew I was sick in bed with strep throat. This isn't the bad part yet... I was used to getting strep. I got it almost every year, and it was normally around Christmas and my birthday. It wasnt a big deal. While lying on my parents bed I got the worst news I had gotten in my life up to that point. My mom came in and told me to pray for my grandma. She to me that she was in the hospital and they didn't know what was wrong. Me, being a ten year old girl, freaked out. My grandma was one of my best friends, what if something happened to her? I don't remember much else, but my mom coming in again later telling me that my uncle called and said that the doctors didn't think my grandma would make it. She had a brain hemirage, and was in a coma. I immediately started crying, and I don't think I stopped for a few days. Next thing I knew, it was my birthday. My grandma said she would be here, but she wasnt. She couldn't come that year. But my parents announced to me that they were also leaving. They had to drive with my bishop to Alabama, and get my grandparents. Wow, great birthday for me. The good part is that I got to go sleep at Josh and Sarah's house until my parents got home. To most people, it would seem like my birthday was ruined, but it wasnt. It was Josh and Sarah's little brother Jake's birthday too. Their mom came and picked me up, and off we went. I still got my party. It wasnt what I would have expected, but it was still a great birthday. Plus I got to live with my best friends for 4 days! Later that week my parents were home. I was at my clarinet lesson when my mom rushed in and told me that my grandma had stopped breathing. I got dropped off at my neighbors while my mom and grandpa worked things out. My grandma ended up dying on June 22nd. Although this was the hardest thing my family had been through, we knew that God could help us through. And He did.