Monday, April 8, 2013

ancient chinese medicine really works!

Hi all! Thank you all for the birthday wishes! I had a wonderful birthday!
So, on Monday I had my very important, big presentation. It's for a class called Theory of Knowledge. Unfortunately I woke up 40 min. late that morning-that always happens on important days right?! I was very stressed and not very nice to mom and dad. I had been planning to practice more in the morning but that did not happen! After saying family prayer though, I felt so much better and more calm. My group's overall topic was whether foreign aid to Cambodia can be justified. I specifically focused on religious aid. It was an interesting topic. I felt really good about my presentation and I wasn't even nervous or anxious, which is a HUGE blessing! I ended up getting a B+ (one point away from an A!). I'm really happy though because there's only like one in twenty people who ever get an A. Needless to say I am thrilled to be done with that class.
Tuesday was of course, my birthday!! Shawn, I just want you to note that I am no longer a Young One. I have joined the ranks of the Big Ones! Just kidding!! I will forever be the Young One, and I am just fine with that! :)
I didn't have school on Tuesday so that in itself was a fantastic birthday present! I had the Khmer classic Rice & Pork for breakfast. Then mom gave me the wonderful gift of learning to make Vietnamese food. She had invited a returned Vietnamese sister missionary to come teach us how to make the infamous and delicious Vietnamese pancake. The sister took us to the market to buy ingredients first and then we headed home and got to work! In all it took about 4 or 5 hours. Unfortunately the pancakes didn't work because we didn't have the right flour. That was kind of disappointing, but it was still fun to learn how to make the filling and how it would have been made. I'm determined to try it again before i leave!
After that mom and I went shopping. We decided to go to some really poche clothes stores that are WAY to expensive just for fun! It was fun to just be in some American-smelling clothes stores. I found some really nice business slacks at a less expensive store.
When we got home, I relaxed for a little bit and just read a book ("Emma" for those interested :). Mom made a wonderful dinner of homemade chicken noodle soup. I definitely ate way too much! We opened some presents after and then had cake. Mom made a yummy sugar free chocolate chip cookie pie that was amazing!! Once again, I ate way too much (I payed serious consequences for that later in the week). Then we watched a movie. It was a very wonderful birthday. Thanks again for the letters and notes you sent!
Just some other quick 'blah' news of the week. My stomach was very bad the rest of the week as mentioned before. I got pretty discouraged and depressed because it is just so frustrating. I woke up in the middle of the night on Wednesday with really bad pain. Mom came down and rubbed my stomach with oil-that is the ancient Chinese medical practice that is definitely no myth! Seriously! Whenever your stomach hurts just rub it with a little olive oil. It's amazing how well it works! Dad also gave me a blessing on Sunday night which was really neat. At one point he blessed my that I would sleep well and wake up refreshed (I've been extremely tired and have been going to bed at 9:00 or 9:30). Well, this morning I woke up wide awake and not tired at all. It was just a small tender mercy and testimony builder to me of the power of the Priesthood.
That's all I got for this week! Sorry it's kind of long! I love you and am jealous that you've all seen conference already ! :)
Love,
Kenzie

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