Andrea's Incredible Journey: Adulthood

Natalie going crazy after several hours of studying

When I was eighteen years old after working for a summer at my first official job I came to Brigham Young University-Idaho. My first job was at Ranch Market owned by Art Housley. Art was a rather gruff manager, and he really intimidated me. However, I worked very hard in the deli, as well as stocking shelves, and so he always appreciated my work. I remember how hectic it was every day during lunch hour when customers would come to order sandwiches. Every morning I would prepare by cutting meat, lettuce, tomatoes, etc. Then during the lunch rush I would pop out sandwiches like a professional. I should have recorded my fastest time in making a delicious deli sandwich.

I can still remember how frightened I was when I came up to BYU-Idaho. My first year I lived in a housing complex called Brookside Village. I enjoyed the luxury of my own room, and ate a lot of top ramen! I declared myself as an Architecture major and spent countless hours in the beloved Austin building on campus.

Yet, I recall that after buying my books, getting my I-card and groceries my dad and my sister Natalie left. I felt very lonely my first night in my apartment. It was difficult for me to say goodbye to my family and I was afraid of the fact that I didn't know a single soul at my school. With time the adjustment of college life became easier and I made friends. However, I came to depend a lot upon my own testimony of the Savior as I learned how to live away from home and establish my independence.

My roommates were fun and interesting girls, and I became an addict of a TV series that they would always watch called Alias. I still recall getting up early every morning to go work out at the gym, and run a few miles on the tread mill. I would then go to the cafeteria for each of my meals because I had a gold meal plan. Whenever I was too lazy to walk back to school for dinner I would live off of top ramen!

Honestly, because of how busy I had been in high school with seminary, school and after school sports my freshman year of college seemed like a breeze. I already had four years of experience in AutoCAD which we were learning from Brother Brunt in one of my classes. As a result, I would finish my assignments early and use my extra time to help students that were struggling with the program. From my first semester onward I became a teacher's assistant in the Architecture department.

During the Summer of 2005 I spent several months in Portland, Oregon with my dad. After my Freshman year in college my parents moved from Napa, California to Portland, Oregon because of my dad's job. The move was extremely difficult for my brother Chris who was the only one left living at home. He had just completed his Junior year of High School and was introduced to a new atmosphere during his Senior year.

While I was in Portland I spent three months straight re-painting the inside of my parents new home. Since my mom was still down in California with my brother Chris until he finished his Junior year, I had a lot of alone time. I spent many quality hours with our cat Fluffy, who would always entertain me while painting. One day while I was painting the upstairs master bedroom I could hear Fluffy meowing and a bird chirping. I put down my brush and went to see what was happening. Fluffy had brought a bird into the upstairs bathroom and was watching it fly around in amazement. I carefully locked Fluffy out of the bathroom, opened the window and took off the screen so that the bird could escape. When I let Fluffy back into the bathroom she was bewildered as to what had happened to the bird.

Chris in Portland, Oregon

Chris and Amy

After several months of painting every nook and cranny! I returned to BYU-Idaho to commence my sophmore year.

Age 19

My sophmore year of college I no longer lived at Brookside Apartments, but decided to live in Royal Crest which was directly across the street from a soccer field (this area is now the new BYU-Idaho Center). At this time my sister Natalie decided to come to BYU-Idaho and we were roommates with four amazing girls. Karissa Mendenhall, Clarissa Arrington, Brookelynn Bird and Carrie Ann Little. We had a lot of fun doing random things together and would stay up until early hours of the morning making videos of ourselves, and seeing how many times we could spin around with our heads to a tennis raquet before falling over.

During this time I was also involved in several arduous Architecture classes, and was so busy that I barely had time to eat or sleep. However, I remember going to the gym early every morning to run on the treadmill and stay in shape. Many nights I would come home around 12:00a.m. and sleep for a few hours and then leave for school at 5:00 a.m.

This year I took an Advanced AutoCAD class from Brother Huish who I remember many students didn't like because his class was so difficult. However, I became friends with Brother Huish and his son Jeff Huish my sophmore year. I have found that I've often most enjoyed the professors that require the most of me, which makes me put forth my best effort.

I basically lived in the Austin building on campus where all of the Architecture classes are held. I became good friends with several architecture and construction students and found that although most of the guys in my major were married they were a lot more fun to be around than single guys. Jessie Mattson was also a good friend of mine, and we often competed in classes and Horticulture Competitions. Amber Gugeler and Bryoni Southwick who were both Construction Management students also became good friends of mine.

My second semester of my Sophmore year many of my roommates moved away. Natalie and I changed apartments to a corner apartment next door and we got to know some amazing girls.

Age 20

During the Summer of 2006 I stayed in Rexburg, Idaho rather than returning to Portland, Oregon. One of the requirements for the Architecture program at BYU-Idaho is to serve an internship. I was referred to a company located in Driggs, Idaho called Strout Architects by my friend Amber Guegeler.

Every morning I would carpool to work out in Driggs, which is about an hour from Rexburg, Idaho. I would wake up very early and we would leave at 6:00a.m. I worked with several students from BYU-Idaho. We had some very interesting conversations on our drives to and from work. I worked with Amber Guegeler, Miles Johnson, and Catherine Kraning. My boss was Jason Letham, who was a great person.

I enjoyed drafting architecture plans for a set of cabins that were to be built in Victor, Idaho. Some days it was difficult to be indoors, however, when it was absolutely beautiful outside with The Tetons so close. I learned a lot about redlining and improving my AutoCAD skills during the summer.

Amber Guegeler

I also recall that after watching the move The Emperor's New Groove, I was slightly obsessed with llamas. Every day on our way to work we would pass a house that had a few llamas out front. I would stare at them enviously and announce to everyone that we were passing the llama house! One day Amber pulled over, and made me get out of the car to take a picture of the llamas.

After an amazing summer with beautiful weather I started school again to begin my third year at BYU-Idaho. I was called as the Relief Society President at this time, and was very nervous about my new calling. However, I had two amazing counsellors who supported and helped me.

My Junior year of college I was extremely busy! My architecture classes were very time consuming and I spent many long days at school. I remember that with all of the activities going on in my life sometimes I would change into a skirt in the morning, because I knew that I wouldn't have time to change later. This happened when I had church meetings immediately after my classes or Devotional. Several times I would go to the Wood Shop and work on one of my construction projects in a skirt. This seems somewhat comical now, because it's not every day someone is using power tools in a skirt.

Doug, Natalie, Amy and Joey at Mesa Falls

Joey, Doug, Me, Amy and Natalie

At this time I also started dating a great guy named Joey. We had a lot of fun together, and he would often come to school to study with me while I worked on my architecture projects. Joey was always very understanding of how busy I was, and was very respectful.

Mesa Falls

Amy and I

Before Mission

Later on during the Fall semester I was selected to be on one of the two teams of BYU-Idaho students for an Architecture Competition. Brother Huish oversaw our project as a team, and I believe that I grew tremendously in my drafting abilities at this time. I spent countless hours in the Austin Building...and owned a permanent late pass. Every night I would leave the Austin Building at 12:00 a.m. and then return again the next morning at 5:00a.m. to continue with competition and various school projects.

At this time I had a great desire to serve a mission, it had always been something that I felt I would like to do. I prayed a lot to know what I should do with my life, as I was getting close to turning twenty-one. Due to this Joey and I ended our relationship at the end of Fall semester, however, we continued to be friends.

In February 2007, I went with several other students to Orlando, Florida to participate in the National Association of Home Builders Competition. Many months had been spent preparing a set of architectural plans, a schedule, and bid for our presentation. I remember that I was extremely nervous for our presentation. Our group presented our change order in front of a board of judges...I still recall how relieved I was after we finished our presentation! My parents came to Orlando, Florida to watch my competition and the following day we went to Disney World with my roommate Carrie Ann Little who was from the area.

EPCOT with Carrie Ann Little

The night before we celebrated by eating at Sizzlers with about 20 BYU-Idaho students. I woke up in the middle of the night and felt extremely ill...I won't go into a lot of detail, but I thought that I was going to die, and spent several hours in the bathroom from food poisoning. The next day EPCOT just wasn't the same, because although I went, I felt completely miserable the entire time.

Our team placed second in the Architecture competition, and the other team which represented our school took first place. It was a great experience, and incredible to see all of the companies which were in the National Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.

Age 21

April of 2007 I graduated from the Architecture department with my Associates in Architectural Technology. It was sad to see many of my friends who I'd spent countless hours with leave. I wasn't sure if I'd ever see them again. My good friends Jessie Mattson and Catherine Kraning both graduated with me. It was fun to have my family come and support me at this time in my academic endeavors.

Graduation

Me at graduation with Natalie, Dad and Mom

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Jessie Mattson and I at graduation

At the convocation Elder Eyring came to speak to us, because he has a special spot in his heart for Architecture and Engineering. I had the opportunity to shake his hand...and never washed it again...just kidding. However, it was an amazing experience to have him congratulating me.

After graduation I spent the Summer living in a little house in Rexburg, Idaho with my friends Bryoni and Amber. We had a lot of fun living together in this nicely furnished house. Amber and I carpooled to work out in Driggs every day together. Once again I worked for Strout Architects so that I could save money for my mission.

At the end of May I received my mission call and was called to serve in the Argentina Buenos Aires West Mission! I was so excited to receive my mission call, I had always wanted to serve a mission in South America and my dream had come true. Previously, I wondered if I would be called to serve in a foreign country because of some health problems I'd been having. Although I participated in many sports in High School, my sophmore year of college I developed an allergy to exercise.

Amber's motorcycle

Doug and I making Natalie's cake

Carrie Hahn

Bryoni Southwick

Hiking in the Tetons

Joey Saccomanno

When I was working out the previous summer with my roommate Carrie Hahn my hands suddenly started itching, and my eyes started swelling up, I was having a difficult time breathing so we left and headed home. I was confused as to what was happening and hopped in the shower to discover that I had hives all over my body. I started crying, because I was scared and my sister Natalie tried to comfort me. We applied Benadryl to my hives, and I received a Priesthood Blessing. With time my hives went away and I was fine. However, since that time I had several similar occurrences and my condition worsened. On January 1st, 2007 while I was home on Christmas Break I went to the Emergency Room after working out. I was transferred in an ambulance from one hospital to another. My family was very worried, because I could barely breathe and my heart rate dropped way down. After several allergy tests it was concluded that I had Exercise-induced anaphylaxsis. This means that as a result of exercise I would go into an anaphylactic state where I couldn't breathe and my organs would begin to shut down.

On my mission I believe that the Lord protected me from having any anaphylactic reactions, because several times my companions and I would run home at night so that we could be obedient and arrive home on time.

At the end of my summer internship I headed home to Portland, Oregon for a month to prepare for my mission. It was a lot of work to find missionary appropriate clothing! I finished up all of my medical requirements while I was in Portland, Oregon.

We also took a trip as a family to the beach right before my mission. My Aunt and Uncle Dyring came to visit us and we had a lot of fun staying in a beach house for a few days. Although our entire family wasn't able to come; Natalie and I had a lot of fun together.

Natalie and I at the beach

Dad, Mom, Aunt Charolette, Uncle Dave

On August 7th, 2007 I received my endowments in the Portland, Oregon Temple. Terry and Kathy Medlar drove from Montana to be their for this occasion. It was a very special experience and I was happy to be able to share this moment with my parents, my sister Natalie and Terry and Kathy. Although I didn't completely understand the endowment ceremony at this time I have come to appreciate it a lot more since this time. I still continue to learn things today from regularly attending the temple.


Receiving my endowments at the Portland Temple


Mom, Dad and I

Before reporting to the MTC I was set apart as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by President Baird. I had never met my new Stake President before because I grew up in California. However, after being set apart we drove out to Utah. I was able to attend a live endowment session at the Manti Temple with a few of my Uncles, which was a great experience.

Manti Temple

Also, one of my good friends Brandon Rose who had just gotten back from his mission to Guatemala was in Utah at the time. Although we couldn't give each other a hug we went out to dinner with our families and caught up on old times. It was great to be able to see such a good friend again.

Brandon Rose and I

Mr. Brown and Cheryl

Natalie, Grandpa Vern and I

Aunt Pattie and I

Steve Hansen and I

I reported to the Provo MTC on August 29th, 2007. I still recall after being placed in a room with our parents and watching a video I said farewell to everyone and headed out a door on the other side of the room without looking back. Walking through that door was the beginning of a change in my life. Over the next year and a half I grew closer to the Lord than I'd ever been before.