Life is Weird... But So Are Vegetables, and I like to Eat Those...

Since moving home, I have been a little spoiled... I must have reverted back to like 3rd grade since my mom makes me a sandwich everyday and when she has to work I whine about having to do it myself. What happened to the capable independent woman who bought classy beef and lived on the edge?! Yikes! Somebody needs a swift kick in the pants (my mom for turning me soft. duh!)... Anyways, it is warm and sunny as I sit outside eating my self packed lunch of clementine cuties and a granola bar (mom was teaching kindergarten today, I embarrass myself!) and reflect on all of the lovely days I enjoy here. I am learning that life is a journey and to never sit still for too long. Have you ever watched "That 70's Show"? If not, you should because it is hilarious. Also, I just saw Hyde's twin strolling across MCC campus. My school is awesome. Life makes me smile sometimes!

Grapes Should Only Be Sweet

My heart is full of gratitude. Gratitude for my family, my friends, and for my Savior. My best friend/older sister is getting married this week and it is with much emotion (too many to express them all) that I will give her to her new best friend. With pure excitement and anticipation, the house is slowly filling with family members (old and new) and lots of joy and even more noise! I am so blessed to be here for this beautiful occasion. I am even more blessed to know that Meredith is marrying the most amazing man. I could not have picked someone better for her myself. The Lord knows what He is doing, I'm telling you! And they look great together!

It was wonderful to spend the day together with the bridesmaids! Memories of "girls nights" and high school (and college) get-togethers filled the day with smiles. I could not help but feel that change was in the air. Mer getting married first, and I am sure we will all follow suit in our own time. Just as surely as we all hung up our "VL" club sweaters, each of us will move on in life to marriage or missions (or both!) as we make our way as confident women. I love these ladies and am so glad for the time that we have together as friends!

Life is not always peaches and cream--in fact, it is usually the exact opposite. But even through the all of the craziness and the trials and hash that goes on around me, I cannot deny that I am extremely blessed. I am blessed by the righteous example of my beautiful sister. I am blessed to have a loving and supportive family. I am blessed to have amazing parents here on earth. I am more blessed than anything in the world to have Heavenly Parents who know and love me more than I can ever know. I am blessed that They sent their son just for ME. I know that no matter what Jesus Christ loves me. I am so glad that he knows me and knows what I need and when I need it. I have no doubt that my prayers are heard and answered. This does not mean that I am not given trials (believe me, I am) but that I am given trials to become stronger, to learn myself and my limits. He is shaping me to become the woman I need to be to best serve Him.

So in all of the madness of life, I can be nothing if I do not have gratitude!

Please No More Freezer Meals!

Sometimes I feel like people have good intentions but are focused on the wrong ideas. I am sure I have this problem all too often and I wish someone would smack me in the side of the head when I do. I suppose understanding and perspective come with time and emotional maturity, but pettiness just rubs me the wrong way no matter how mature one may be.

 I feel like women innately need to be all up in each others business all of the time for no apparent reason. We act like it is okay by saying things like "I really just care about you" or "I am not judging you" but always turn to tell the next female with ears all about "the craziest thing I just heard, but you can't tell anyone because I promised not to tell"... I don't know why we as women tell other ladies about things we really don't want/need other people to know about. Obviously a need for attention is involved; any secret willingly shared is a secret that will not remain so for much longer once voiced (no matter how soft the whisper). We use excuses like the need for a second opinion or maybe we tell ourselves--or the girl we are spilling our guts to-- that we will understand our own thoughts better if we voice them. We trust not so blindly other women with our innermost hearts only for them to be hung from the flagpole in the middle of campus.

Can we please just worry about our own lives for a minute? If you genuinely care about someone and are concerned about an issue that they shared with you in confidence, talk to that person about it. Leave everyone else out. It is not mean to leave someone "out of the loop" if it is really not their concern. If the issue that was shared is something that may become public, use discretion in informing and seek to diffuse curiosity. Use integrity. Have some class. Seriously, ladies!

 I know that no one ever shares a secret with the intention of "spreading rumors" or heaven forbid "gossiping", but somehow rumors get started and gossip is spread. It is amazing how quickly a speck of dust can turn into a haboob. Information is power, and what we as individuals do with it can have a greater impact than ever intended or imagined. We must realize that there are more people in the world than just "me" and that something that may seem harmless to "me" could devastate one of the other "me's" that just happens to be occupying the same planet. So please, please, please be kind. Be sensitive. Be loving. Be caring. Be concerned. But please don't be petty. Don't share information that is not yours to share. Don't pass along negative judgements. Don't be hurtful--even if you think you are being harmless. Live the golden rule.

Fried Pickles

Love is a lovely thing. Mmmmmmm...

Thai Before Turkey

Yes, I am aware that Thanksgiving was like a week ago... Yes, I am still going to do a post about it...

Thanksgiving is my favorite Holiday. It is a day dedicated to all of my favorite things -- family, friends, cooking, eating, yelling, laughing, and gratitude. This Thanksgiving I was most thankful to be able to actually go home and eat with my family. When I started working in the wonderful world of retail I was forced to prepare for the worst (eating a turkey sandwich in my apartment by myself) which I reluctantly accepted and tried to move on. As I am sure you know, I do not move on easily. I knew if I played my cards correctly at work I would be able to sneak out for a few days to spend the most wonderful day of the year with the people I love most. I am so sneaky. I worked until 3pm on Tuesday and bolted to Salt Lake to make my 5pm flight praying the whole way it would be delayed. It was!!! It is glorious how the Lord can bless us in such small ways! I arrived in Phoenix just a few short hours later, spent a couple of fantastic days with all of my loves (old and new), ate some amazing food (not just turkey), did lots of fun things, met some wonderful new people, got next to no sleep, boarded a plane, went back to work and back to real life. I left my heart in Phoenix, Arizona with the warm and the sun. 24 days!!

All of the Eggs are in the Basket

It is official. I have wussed out on Utah and will be moving back to the warm welcoming arms of Phoenix. Living here in Provo has been one of the most important experiences of my entire life and I would not trade that for anything, but I know it is time to head home where I belong. My semester here has taught me more about myself and about life than I ever could have imagined. Spending this time with my older sister/best friend has been priceless and learning how to function without my mom buying my groceries has been new and exciting. However, I am ready for a new adventure and can't wait to see what is in store for me in AZ! It is crazy how quickly life moves forward and how fun it is to keep up! I just can't wait to get home to the sunshine... Wish me luck in the cold and snow for 37 more days!

Just a Steak and Potatos Kind of Weekend

This weekend was a whirlwind of excitement as I had not seen my family in 2+ months. I spent quite possibly one of the best weekends of my life with good family, good food, and good friends. Lets just say I was not quite ready to head back to P-town this afternoon... I missed all of the people that I love in Utah while I was gone, but I am sure missing everyone that I love in Arizona now! How come I can't be in two places at once?! At least my mom sent me home with a suitcase full of homemade bread and oreos...

Phoenix in the fall is a magical place. There is something so peaceful about the desert when you can actually stand to be outside in it. Cool air in Phoenix is a welcome novelty and I enjoyed the "warmer" temperatures while everyone else froze... I only donned a coat once; I guess after a few days I readjusted and thought it was cold too.

I suppose I am back in good ole Provo for the long haul. School and work are calling my name and I just can't pretend like I don't hear them anymore. So here's to holding chickens, lunch with my mom, pouring rain, sweater shopping with Jare Bear, Painting my nails with Marisa Maurice, Singing with Jason, and Snuggling with Jake the Bake. To hockey games with my dad (eh?), and lists, and farms, and sweeping at the temple, learning new things, and making apple crisp. To seeing old friends, and making new ones, eating burritos(mmmm burritos) and chicken pot pie. But untill Christmas eve, here's to going to school, and Deseret Book, and bachelorette parties, calls from the AZ, and spending time with Meredith. To doing crazy things late at night, and falling asleep to parties outside my window. And above all, no matter where or when--to loving life to the fullest and loving every minute of it!