Brimming

In order to accurately describe this period in my life, I really need a post dedicated to how incredibly blessed I feel. Because it's oh so true!

My semester thus far has been so utterly fabulous. I LOVE my classes. Its so fun to get into classes that apply to my profession, and feel good about being in my profession! This has just been such a testament to me of God's timing. I'm a believer you might say. Its so fun to me to be taught about teaching! Not to mention when that teaching includes watching Matilda, eating candy, drawing pictures, and acting on a regular basis. Its all so interesting and all feels very applicable, which is kind of intimidating, because there's no way I'm going to remember it all, but I want to! I cannot WAIT to get into the classrooms!! That's my absolute favoritest part!

My roommates are also quite fabulous, as usual. I am so grateful that I have been blessed every year with roommates who are so great, and balance me out with what I need, and just support me in everything. Its also very fun that 3 of the 4 girls are from St. Louis. (Kaitlin, Clarissa, and Kate) You know that's a winning team! And then you through in our Wyoming girl, (Kelsey) and we're pretty much unstoppable, not to mention a mouthful!

our first and only entire roommate picture thus far, so it'll have to do :)

I haven't super connected with my ward yet, but that's ok. I have some great friends from years past that have kept me busy, including my beloved past roommate Chelsea Campbell and Alice Rumney, my old peeps from the Spanish house, and some random get togethers with roommates from Freshman year.
And to be honest, I don't mind staying home all the time. Especially since this is the view from our living room:

breath taking.

I was just brimming with gratitude this evening and felt like writing it down. Never a bad thing to be grateful, now is it? I dare say not. :)

Is this awesome or what??

We read this scripture in Relief Society and I loved it!!! (D&C 138)

30 But behold, from among the RIGHTEOUS, he ^aorganized his FORCES and appointed ^bmessengers, ^cclothed with POWER and AUTHORITY, and ^dcommissioned them to go forth and carry the LIGHT of the gospel to them that were in DARKNESS , even to ^fall the spirits of men."

Doesn't that just sound like the climax to a really epic movie, where it seems like all is lost and then this elite force comes and saves the day and brings light into all the darkness and everyone ends up better off????

Sound familiar?

Oh yeah. Its life. Go winning team!!!
I love the gospel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have you forgotten?

I remember 9/11/01.

I remember thinking I should remember the day because it would probably be a big deal later. I was in sixth grade and went to school like any other day. I sat in Mrs. Siesner's first period science class and was reading "Work and the Glory" and was pretty zoned to what was going on in class, I think because I had finished early. I was brought back to reality by a buzz of conversation about some tower falling down. I had never heard of the World Trade Centers but I didn't want to say so because everyone else seemed to know what they were, but I feigned concern because planes flying into buildings is never a good thing. I don't think any of my teachers were allowed to turn on the TV's and the principal told us to continue our day like a regular day. When I got home from school, my mom had a TV in our living room watching the footage of the planes crashing into the towers and the collapse of each playing over and over again. That's when I realized something major was happening; my mother was watching TV. In the living room. Something was not right. So different family members trickled home and we sat together and watched what was happening. I was only 12 and didn't really understand but I could feel the concern from my parents and teachers at school. That night when I went to bed, I asked my Mom if she thought they would try to bomb the arch next. She reassured me that we would be fine, but that was my little twelve year old heart worry!

Over the next couple days and years I realized what a monumental event it truly was in my lifetime! I thought how strange it would be that one day this would be just an event in a textbook, but it was very real to me and to so many people who lost loved ones in that tragic day! In many ways, that brought history alive for me. Reading about events from history wasn't just some words on a page anymore; real people had gone through those times of sadness just as I had done and experienced the tragedy and sadness that many events from our past carried.

And yet, ten years later, we look back to that day and remember for a moment what happened. But to what point do we remember? Do we go back to our normal lives and forget the sacrifices that happened that day? Or do we remember each day to be grateful for our loved ones and tell them how much we love them? Do we express our gratitude for our armed forces for their sacrifices in keeping our country safe? Do we live in tolerance of others so such destructive hate has no power to inflict such devastation again? Do we learn from our past so we don't repeat it?

I pray that the terrible events that occurred that day did not happen in vain. As the country begins to degrade morally, become more corrupt with hate, greed, and envy, and become more divided even among ourselves, I pray we do remember. Remember why those people died. Remember that hate caused such sadness. Remember the liberty that founded the ideals of our society and the God that made it happen. Remember those that continue to fight for our freedom. It is my hope that we can rise above ourselves and take part in something greater, something worth fighting for; rise up and protect our freedom.

We're gonna do it!

Tonight my roommates Clarissa and Kaitlin and I decided to run a half marathon on October 29th. I've never run more than 5 miles, but running a half has always been on my bucket list and the other girls want to do it too, so here we go! Wish us luck!

"I just love it so much!"

So Elizabeth and I watched Anne of Green Gables tonight.

I LOVE Anne of Green Gables, because I was raised on it and have many fond memories watching it with my fam-bam. Tonight though as we watched, we got REALLY involved. We commented every five seconds "I LOVE Mathew!!" "I LOVE Marilla!" "awww! I just LOVE Matthew!!!" repeat. Then Matthew died. Elizabeth and I bawled. Like seriously. And neither of us are the kind of people that cry on a drop of a hat. Then we started laughing at how hard we were crying, which sent us into hysterics. I think Elizabeth almost threw up. Matthew was just so cute and tender and we just love him so much! It was hard to see him go!

So now my eyes are hurting from crying. And that's the worst time to go to bed. And everyone knows you blog when you don't want to do something else. So here I am :)

And now I'm feeling extra sentimental. Maybe this isn't a good time to blog. But I just love people so much! I get that from my mom. She gets attached to people really easily. And I can't help it! I just meet all the coolest people where ever I go and then I miss them when I go somewhere else!

I obviously miss my sisters who weren't here to join in our little cry fest, but I'm sure they would have participated. They're cool like that. :)

I also miss my dear darlingest roommates. I have seriously had phenomenal luck with roommates! And I can't wait to see these girls in a few weeks- Chelsea, Alice, Meghan, Lindsey, Lindsay, and Kaitlin!!!! Top notch, I do say. (I'm way excited to have some new ones in the fall too! Woot!)

A special shout out to my missionaries. I've got a collection. And I miss them all. If missions weren't so awesome, they would stink. I'm especially missing my girls serving their hearts away!!! Brittany and Emily- come back to me!!!

I've also been missing my Spanish house/ FLSRites a whole heap the last couple weeks! I think because I could have potentially been out there with them right now I just ache to play with them! Spring term was seriously a blast and a half! I'm so grateful for the friendships I made there!! I would list them all, but I would have to write all 22 of them plus people from the other houses because they were all amazing! And I MISS THEM!

I just recently stopped missing my parents. They left me. Yes, their youngest college bound daughter. They fled the country to abide in the Italian countryside. Which is actually oceanside. details. But I can't blame them. I LOVE Europe and my Dad had never been before, so I was excited for him to fall in love with it! But I missed them. But I don't anymore. Because they're back. I suppose I could practice missing them for when I leave in a couple weeks (like my Mom does whenever she goes somewhere) but I'll just enjoy them instead and miss all the other fabulous people in my life!

Sooo what this mess of words stew boils down to, is Elizabeth and I are sensitive souls. And I am so grateful for my rockin awesome friends. I wouldn't trade 'em for anything. Wait, yeah, no. Wouldn't trade 'em. :)

If you're reading this, chances are I'm missing you. Even if you don't fit into an above mentioned category. Probably more actually....because I don't want to insult you.... by labeling you. ?

And now I'm tired and don't want to put up pictures. Maybe later. peace and blessins.

We are Family!

Look, I said I would make another post and I'm doing it! Look at that follow through......so. Where was I? Ah yes. ROAD TRIP!

This is the second road trip I've done with my little nieces and nephews. Two years ago I drove to Utah with Greg and Lisa and their 3 little kids. So only a 13 hour drive with 2 kids was nothing to the 24 hour drive with 3 ;) We split the drive up over 2 days so that helped too!

The first day was just a lot of driving, but the girls were both so good! I got to sit next to my Paisl-kins! :) She was SO tired at the end of the day she was being such a cheeser!!! I loved it!!
The second day of driving we stopped in my place of birth, my old Kentucky home, Louisville Kentucky. We went to Churchill Downs- where they have the Kentucky Derby!

It was a good time, of course! Let me tell you, I got some real photographic gems! But I won't put them on here to protect certain individuals potential embarrassment. Just use your imagination :)



Good fun was had by all. Except Clara. Who felt barfy. And Emily. But Emily got a new hat and Clara got a horse, so e'rybody left happy!

So fast forward a few more hours of driving, arriving home, seeing the last harry potter movie!!! ( i might need to talk more about that.....) a great church meeting, yadda yadda.....we took family pictures! Hooray! Every couple of months whether we need it or not I guess.....I gotta say, I've got a pretty cute family. They're worth documenting regularly :)

Here's proof that we are a family- we have pictures! :

The married familial units
My cute parents and the ones who started it all :)

Andrew and Elizabeth

All the single ladies, say wha??

Michael was MIA (Missionary In Action you might say...)
here is his honorary blank spot where a picture would be.....















classic grandkid shot

Paisley, Caroline, Clara, Rock, Julia, and William
I have THE cutest nieces and nephews. It's just a fact.

My beautiful sisters


And the grand finale- the group picture (s)




Man alive, I love my family! I'm so glad I get to be with them forever!!!
I'm looking forward to more (and bigger) family pictures!
Bring on the babies!!!! (and the spouses, we still have a few left) :)

I should blog....

Last post from mother's day eh? Negligent blogger much? Yes. I own up completely. I don't know why I keep coming back.....recording for posterity? That sounds like a justifiable reason. Though I don't know how keen they'll be on checking out my old, and probably out dated technological life documentation. Oh well. I'll make 'em like it. And in the mean time, I'll document it more. Maybe even on my blog :)

So since May, I took finals and left the Spanish House, which was very sad- I LOVED living there!! I want to go back if at all possible. I have fallen in love with Spanish! I wish I could still speak it everyday! I need to go back to South America....or even Southern America.....or just the Spanish branch. I need some espanol en mi vida!!! So anyways, loved the Spanish, the people we're first class and I was tempted to stay for summer. But not enough to actually want to take classes.

La Casa Espanola Ladies and Gentlemen.

So I flew myself on home to the beautiful St. Louis. I love coming home!! Even though you can't go back to a time, I love seeing the places I grew up and seeing old friends and my fabulous family! Such a wonderful life I lead!

So after being home for a week or two and celebrating my Asian birthday (22! woot!) I was emergency flighted (not literally...) to Baltimore to visit my sister Kristen. We took a road trip to Gaffney, South Carolina. It was a great 8 hour drive with lots of singing, sleeping, talking, sister bonding, and general over all k sis awesomeness. ( kristen and I are the k-sisters (: ) We found Gaffney to be charming and quaint and everything you would expect of a town in South Carolina that the world forgot to bring with it when it started growing. Kristen got the job, but she couldn't handle the small town scene this town was offering, and I don't blame her. Though the peach water tower was awfully tempting! Who wouldn't want to claim this as part of their home town??
A mighty fine looking peach water tower, little nubby and all!
who knew SC produces more peaches than Georgia!

Peachy peaches!

So after our road trip south, we headed up to Hershey to visit Emily and Mike! (and Clara and Paisley of course!) We celebrated the 4th of July Hershey style and had a fun picnic with some friends and went to a concert outside the hospital and watched fireworks outside and on TV. I am so grateful for this wonderful country we live in!

Kristen hung out for a few days, but she had to go back down to Balitmore to work. Those workin women...;) So I stuck around and hung out with the Dears for the next 2 weeks. We did all sorts of awesomeness. When you live in Hershey, and you hang out with the Deardeuffs, the fun is endless! :)
We went to Hershey Pantry, Hershey gardens, Hershey Park, Hershey Library, Hershey post office, Hershey hospital (putting Hershey in front of it automatically makes it more fun.) We also went to Missy's Ugly Cookies , we went for walks, I got my hair cut, watched How the States got their shape (my new favorite TV show) and lots more fun!

I loved playing with the girls every day!! They are so cute and now they like me better! (Granted that wasn't hard since they very rarely see me so they don't warm up very quickly) But Clara is so sweet and Paisley is turning into such a fun little munchkin!

SO after 2+ weeks on the East coast we drove home again home again. jiggety jog. :) That might need to be another post. This is getting a little lengthy. Hate to bore my readers. That may or may not read it. What can I say, I'm a crowd pleaser. :)

Peace out readies.