Last Call

Hello family and friends! To all of you who expressed interest in donating to the service project we're doing for the people in Liverpool, I am sending it off on Wednesday. If you are still interested in helping, please get any and all donations to me by then. Thank you to all of those who have and will help with this. I think it's really going to help these wonderful people.

Thanks again!

Let It Snow

The last few weeks have been pretty heavy. We sent off Elder Ray, which just now is beginning to sink in. School has been brutal. Professors have been trying to shove a months' worth of work into two weeks to make up for the three days that we get off this week. I read a fabulous book that was really difficult to swallow about the Holocaust.

Altogether, I feel spent.

So, despite the groans of those who were with me last night, I couldn't help but smile in relief as the snow began to fall. I was at a Stake Relief Society dinner in Mapleton, right on the mountain, and we found ourselves in a sudden blizzard. The peace of the gentle snowfall seemed to fill me, washing away the stress and frustration of the last few weeks. I let the others run to the car, walking slowly behind them. Despite my usual frustration at snow that comes before Thanksgiving, this year I am ready. I have my wool coat in one hand and my winter gloves in the other, and I am standing with my arms open to the sky, ready for more of the gentle peace that comes in a snowstorm that silently blankets in the world.

Poorly Named Ritual

I hate goodbyes. I hate the leaving part. I hate the not seeing people for extended periods of time part. Goodbyes are not good. They are bad. Very bad-byes.

The only good thing about them is that sooner or later there is a reunion. Sooner or later the goodbye turns into a hello.

And that makes it better.

Grateful

Yesterday I attended the farewell of my dear friend, B. He's one of the last in a long list of our good friends to leave on his mission. As I sat on the bench in his chapel, surrounded by the other friends that have been left behind by those going to serve, it struck me just how amazing those boys are. I've always known that I had been particularly blessed with the young men that I associated with in high school, but it wasn't until I was no longer with them all day everyday that I realized just how blessed. One of those "you don't know what you've got until it's gone" type things.

These boys, who are now serving all around the world, are truly unique. Each of them has their own special attributes that make them who they are. But they all have a few things in common.

They are the boys who open doors for you without even thinking.
They are the boys who give up their chair for you when all the others are full.
They are the boys who will drop every thing to come get you when you're stranded.
They are the boys who put on a shirt and tie every Sunday, even when they don't want to get out of bed.
They are the boys who turn off the questionable movie.
They are the boys who always have a hug ready.
They are the boys that will just sit on the curb and prattle about nothing to distract you from the pain.
They are the boys who mothers should want their daughters to marry.
They are the boys that will one day change the world.

I am grateful to have known all of these boys who strive to be the very best they can be. They have changed me. And I can't wait to see where their goodness and service gets them in this world.

Unpredictable

I love Utah weather. It needs to be said. For the past few weeks I have been dreading the day when the snow would arrive. For some reason my usual excitement for the snow has been absent this year. But last night I had a dream. In my dream, I was looking out my front windows at a beautiful snow storm. The kind with the huge, fluffy flakes that are falling quickly and thickly but silently, blanketing the world in a wonderland of white. And then when I woke up, I could hardly wait.

We had a bit of those crappy white flecks that people from warmer climates like to call snow this morning. Then it was just wet everywhere. Then the sun came out, and it looked like the weather might be heating up again.

Then we were hit with a sudden snow storm. Not the one in my dream, but a snow storm nonetheless. And now, hours later, the skies are clear again.

I love the unpredictable weather of Utah. And I really am very excited for snow!!

Christmas Service

My friend, Elder Studly, is serving his mission in England. He was just transferred to Liverpool, and in his last letter he mentioned some families who are struggling financially. As a Christmas service project and a gift to Elder Studly, I'm trying to get together some money to send for him to help these people with this holiday season. Several people have agreed to help so far, but I thought I'd put it out there for other people to be able to be a part of. No pressure, but I thought that it'd a great service opportunity. And anyone is welcome to join in the giving, so pass the word along!

Oh, and I'm trying to get this out in the next week or two so that I can be sure it's there in time for Christmas. Thanks so much!!

Discovery

They say that college is all about finding yourself, learning who you truly are. Here's what I've discovered so far.

I am a daughter:



I am a sister:



I am an aunt:






I am a girl that likes to dress up:





I am a friend:







I'm still learning about myself and discovering who I am. But based on what I've seen so far...I'm okay with who I'm finding.

Ode to Early Morning

"Dear 3AM,

We've got to stop meeting like this.

I'd much rather sleep with you.

Love,
Me"

Happy Hats

One day mom and I were walking through the bookstore when we spied this:

Photo courtesy of patiencebrewster.com

"We Have Our Happy Hats On"

It had been a particularly long day, and we both needed a pick-me-up. This did the trick. When we got home, Mom stapled a ribbon to a paper plate and wore it on her head. Even after all this time, when we're having a bad day all it takes is a smile and a gentle reminder to each other to put on our happy hat.

Did you wear yours today?

Tricks and Treats!

Ok, this post is long overdue. But I just got all the pictures up and such, and it's still good enough to talk about. Every Halloween, the Bookstore holds a competition to see which department can come up with the best costumes. This year we decided to be "Ganstas" and Flapper Girls from the 20's. It was awesome. Mom made me this AMAZING dress (which is hard to see fully in the pictures...it has red fringe on it that gets hidden in the pictures) and my friend who is graduating from Paul Mitchell next month did my hair. I also failed to get pictures of the whole effect. I also had black gloves and a headband with a red feather in it.





Pretty awesome, right? We came in second place. First place went to Gifts, who dressed up as the Willow Tree figurines. I didn't see them, but I heard they looked pretty cool.
And, just because I thought they were so uniquely fun, I'm putting up a couple of pictures of two of my friends. They wanted to be princesses. They have the dresses and the masquerade masks, but they needed that extra touch, so this is what they came up with:




Yes, those are sombreros. All in all, it was a fun Halloween.

Here To Stay

More and more lately I have found myself growing steadily more lonely. I have many wonderful friends, fabulous roommates, and an amazing family. But for some reason (and it could have something to do with the mass amounts of homework I find myself buried under so often) I find that my interaction with people has been diminishing recently. The good friends I used to see so often are around less. We all seem to be too busy to spend much time together.

There are, of course, those people whose presence always makes the loneliness ebb away. My mom's loving smile can chase away any invisible boogey-men I may be battling. My best friend (who I have fondly addressed as Elder Studly for the past fourteen months, and who is currently serving his mission in England) can make me forget myself for a few moments in the powerful letters and emails he sends when he has enough time. And my siblings always brighten my day when they call just because.

But my mother has a life outside of cheering up my lonely days, Elder Studly is a busy missionary who lives in a place that is currently experiencing a postal service strike (curses!) and my siblings have children and jobs that take up most of their time.

It is in these times when even the most dependable are too strung out in their own busy lives that I remember most clearly who is there for me whenever I need someone to turn to. I know that my Heavenly Father is listening whenever I need to ramble, even when I don't really have anything to say. As I was reminded of yesterday here, He knows me. He sees me. And He is never too busy to lend me His company when I need someone around. He isn't going anywhere; He is here to stay.

And for that I am grateful.

Today's Proof That God Loves Me

Oh, yeah. I'm loved.

Smile

We all have our moments of pathetic-ness. We can admit to them or deny them, share them with others or keep them to ourselves, but whether we want them or not, they come. I just experienced one myself. I walked into our living room where three of my roommates sat talking and listening to music. SJ put on a song and told us to be quiet and listen. The song is "Smile" by Uncle Kracker (who thought of that name?). It has a fairly upbeat tone and a hint of that contented "I'm completely in love with you and happy to admit it" feeling. The words of the chorus, though, made us all stop and "awww" appreciatively. They go like this:

You make me smile like the sun
Fall out of bed, sing like a bird
Dizzy in my head, spin like a record
Crazy on a Sunday night
You make me dance like a fool
Forget how to breathe
Shine like gold, buzz like a bee
Just the thought of you can drive me wild
Ohh, you make me smile

Now, I want it to be known that I am completely satisfied with my "single" status. I don't want or need anything more, and I love the independence that I have and continue to learn. But for just a moment, I felt the small twinge of "Ooh...wouldn't it be nice to have that?" The moment will pass - it's on it's way now - but sometimes it's nice to see the possibility for the future.

I know several people that feel this way about someone. My parents, siblings, neighbors, friends; examples of this kind of love and devotion surround me everyday. And while I know that I'm not ready to give up my wild freedom, it's nice to see that such relationships exist, and to know that someday, when the timing is right, I'll find that person who makes me smile.

That may be my pathetic moment for the day...but it was one I will willingly admit to having.

Nablopomo!

It is officially November (plus a few days) and it is National Blog Posting Month! Millions of bloggers are committing to post an entry on their blog once a day for the entire month. Though I am a few days late in starting, I have decided to join in the fun.

It's weird to me that November has come already. I spent so much time trying to pass all of my classes and get everything done that I slowly missed my favorite month slipping by. But the leaves are still beautiful, the air is still brisk and walking to campus in the morning underneath the blue sky while tucked warmly in a fleece jacket.

On the other hand, the semester is almost over, I have some amazing classes lined up for next semester, and I have some fabulous winter boots.



So it's ok that it's November, because let's face it: as long as you have fabulous shoes, any month is a good one!