Highlights of 2012

I realize it's been a while since I've posted anything here, and I figure now is a great time with the turn of the new year. I've decided to take a look back on 2012 and share some highlights from the year (in no particular order):

- Going to Six Flags with Chanelle to see iLuminate
- Getting awesome roommates for the Fall semester
- Hooking up with my amazing boyfriend
- Allen High School's football team winning the state championship
- BYU winning the Poinsettia Bowl

- Going to the beach in San Diego

- Watching the sunset and fireworks with an old companion

- Moving into a great ward with an awesome Bishop

- Living in the same complex as Trevin

- Going fishing with Chanelle and Poppy

- Visiting family in Missouri for Thanksgiving

- Going to an Owl City concert

- Seeing The Avengers

- Seeing The Hobbit

Here's to 2013!

Epic Proportions

On Friday, Mom and Dad came up to Provo for the weekend. They came (with Trevin) to the football game versus Hawaii, which, by the way, we STOMPED them. It was a really great game after the couple sad ones that we've had. And Mom and Dad of course spoiled Trevin and I while they were here. :) On Sunday we picked up my cousin Brianna and went to Tom and Carisa's place for church and dinner. Bridger's birthday was coming up, so we had his birthday dinner, which was (as usual) absolutely delicious. :) I love hanging out with family!

We took a few pictures during the weekend, but right now this is the only one that I have, from when we were at Tom and Carisa's:

(We have some attractive genes in this family. :)

The following Monday was also and awesome day for me because I went to an Owl City concert. It. Was. So. Awesome. He was on tour for his newest CD, The Midsummer Station.

I went with a couple of people that I met up with through a club on campus, and the three of us drove up to Salt Lake for the concert. I had never been to a concert before, and I really love Owl City, so I couldn't pass up this opportunity. And it was so worth it. Even if I day pay too much for a T-shirt at the concert on top of the ticket fees. :) I just had so much fun that night. Pure joy and awesomeness. Pictures and videos hardly do that actual experience any justice, but here's a couple of pics from the night:

 (Me and the guy we were with - the girl with us gradually got pushed up toward the front throughout the concert.)

(I feel like this picture makes him look like a giant.) 

(Rockin' my new shirt.)

Motherhood

Having Mother's Day yesterday, I couldn't help but think about how important mothers are. And how easily their role is brushed aside in society. I can't speak from experience, but motherhood is a hugely demanding job to take on, and it's all day every day. No weekends off, nothing. Every day is spent in quiet, selfless sacrifice. Of course moms have other things they would like to do if they had the time, but they make the needs of others a priority over their own. I'm amazing by the amount of dedication that takes.

We are shaped largely by the way we are raised. How much more important is it, then, to have a strong force of mothers in the world, as opposed to women filling other occupations? Don't get me wrong, I admire and respect women in the workplace, and I aspire to have a career of my own someday, but I recognize that the need for strong mothers is great. They shape the rising generation, and generations to come.

Some voices in the world might say that motherhood isn't admirable, but I submit that the opposite is true. Motherhood is the most admirable thing any woman can do, and that kind of influence can be found whether you're raising your own children, adopting, you're an aunt, a church leader, or in any other motherly role. I love my mom, and I can only hope to be like her when I am a mom someday.

Thanks for everything Mom.

No Title Comes To Mind

Well, I s'pose it's about time for another update. School is going well, for the most part, and that's the most important thing right now. Let's see...

I went to a bridal shower for my MTC companion. They call her Lora. But calling any of my mission companions by their first names still feels really weird to me. I don't know if that will ever change. It was really strange, knowing that she's about to get married. In fact, they're getting married this Saturday, St. Patrick's Day. It's crazy knowing that we got home from our missions at the same time, and she's already getting married. Because I'm nowhere close. Evidence that we all progress through life's phases at different rates. It was great to see her, since I hadn't seen her since the MTC. I'm way excited for her.

This semester I've also had the privilege of going to my aunt Carisa's and uncle Tom's house with Trevin a handful of times already. I haven't really had a lot of opportunities to visit very often in most other past semesters, so this has been a treat. We even spent the night once while our cousin Kelsey was there, which was a lot of fun. I have a pretty great family.

Oh, I also recently read The Hunger Games in anticipation of the upcoming movie. It was way good, and I'm stoked about the movie. I'm likely to see the midnight show with a friend, though now Cody isn't here to sit on the front row with me...

Shout out to David and Sammy in congratulations on their pregnancy, as well as to Jeffrey and Debbie on their pregnancy with a little girl! I'm so excited for you! :)

Well, life continues to roll on, and it's all we can do to keep up. But don't forget to enjoy the ride!

Good Life

Well, my life has really been moving since I've been home. It was so nice to have a semester off after getting back from my mission so that I could have a little extra time with my family and make some much needed money. I really loved working at Chick-fil-A, especially so that I was able to spend some additional time with Cody before he left on his mission in December. That time we had together, even if it WAS at work, is so appreciated.

Now that we're into 2012, I've been back in school at BYU for a month, and I love it. I miss having Jeffrey and Debbie here in Provo, but I continue to be grateful that Trevin is here and I love living close to him. <3 I have a pretty good workload class-wise, but overall I'm managing okay. I enjoy all of my classes, though some are harder than others. :P And though I didn't date at all during the time that I was at home after my mission, I've already been on a couple of dates since I've been back at the Y. So yes, I can say that my life is in full swing right now. :)

I feel like there's so much I could talk about here, yet I don't know what to say or where to start. I have a lot of rough days, but I can honestly say that I'm at a pretty good place in my life right now. And what else could a girl ask for?

Family Visits and State Fair

Well, I've been home for a few months now, and I'm back into the swing of things here in the 'real world'. I have a job at Chick-fil-A, so that's where I spend a lot of my time. It's a good job, I get to work with some great people, it's closed on Sundays so I don't have to worry about being scheduled then, and not to mention, I love the food (no, I haven't gotten tired of it yet. I'm sure it's only a matter of time.)

In other news, I have gotten to do a bit of traveling since I've been home. The beginning of August, Trevin and I went to Missouri to see David and Sammy and their adorable kids. When I saw them on the way home from my mission, Ashton and Hannah were really shy around me, maybe even a little afraid of me, so I was relieved to find that they warmed up to me pretty quickly while we stayed there. Unfortunately I didn't take any pictures while I was there, but I can assure you that I had a great time with them. We set up a trampoline in the basement, played with the kids, and otherwise just had fun together.

In September, I flew to Wisconsin specifically to babysit Knightley and Mason, but also to see Jeffrey and Debbie. It was a lot of fun. Knightley and Mason definitely didn't remember me, but they also warmed up to me not long after I got there. We did lots of fun things together-

We did puzzles...

...we played outside and drew with chalk on the sidewalk...

...built a fort...

...and their favorite thing was watching their new Cars movie: Mater's Tall Tales.

They're some adorable kids. Aside from that, I also had fun with Jeffrey and Debbie, talking with them and staying up late playing games. It was a fun trip.

In the beginning of October, David and Sammy also came here to visit, so we got to spend a few days with them again. And again, I didn't take any pictures while they were here. (I promise I'm not playing favorites!) But we had fun, and I loved having them here. I can't wait to see everyone at Thanksgiving.

In other news, we also went to the Texas State Fair last week - it was awesome! I haven't been in years. We looked around at some of the animals - horses, dogs, pigs... all so cute. We also watched an amazing dog show where the dogs would catch frisbees while doing back flips (no joke), and crazy cool stuff like that. It was incredible. We also had some chicken fried bacon, which tasted AMAZING. And finally - the highlight of the Fair - we got to see our favorite local band, the Killdares. They are awesome. All of us except Mom had Killdares T-shirts, and three of us had their new DVD/CD for them to sign. Yeah, we're fans.

Though my life seems mundane at times, it looks like I've had plenty going on. And I love it.

I'm Back!

I finished my missionary service and I am back at home! My mission went by so fast. I can't believe it's over and done. It was an amazing experience. It was super hard; the hardest thing I've done thus far. But I can say without hesitation that it was the best decision I ever made. I loved it.

I was really sad to leave, but I love being back home with my family. Now all I have to worry about is jobs, school, dating, money, and all that junk that comes with growing up. :) I'm going to be at home for a semester to hopefully work and figure out what I want to do with the rest of my life.

Now we'll just see where my life takes me!