The joys of being home

This morning I woke up and met up with a highschool friend, my "sister", if you will. Her name is Kayla Fadenrecht and I LOVE her. To death. She has the biggest heart and always knows what to say to me to make me happy and feel great about life. She just finished up her first year of college. She works harder than most people I know, and has earned about $20,000 in scholarships for school from multiple different sources for this next year. Too bad that doesn't quite cover the cost of tuition for a year... She is also madly in love with this guy she met here at home this summer. He sounds like he treats her like the angel she is. My little sis is all grown up and falling in love! I love it.

After catching up with Kade I met up with Kathleen for breakfast and then we both went back to my house to hang out some more. She brought her 10 month old baby boy, Joshua, along. He is a doll- so chubby and has red hair! Kathleen and I have been good friends for years. We even considered each other our best friend for a long time, still kinda do, and I got to be her bridesmaid three years ago this month!

Good day so far, but now I must be diligent and do as much of my homework right now that I can before the wedding reception in my back yard tonight! My best friend Hannah's brother got married last weekend, and they decided to have their Oregon reception here. So convenient, I just have to walk out my door! K gotta go... homework. Blah.

Oh and my dad, having no idea about my last blog post, randomly decided last night to mention how he strongly dislikes Muslims... "religion of peace, yeah right"... "how are we expected to have respect for people that do things like this" (we were watching a news story). Pretty sure the news also focuses on all bad things, Dad. Please don't overgeneralize.... it breaks my heart.

Does that mean Provo is my home if that's where my heart is?

For the first time, home feels weird. I'm restless. As far as my plans go: Finished one book. Check. Well on my way into re-reading The Half-Blood Prince. Hung out with Lauren, Ricky, and Cassie twice. Check. Going to the beautiful Oregon Coast tomorrow. Check.

My home ward felt so weird. None of my friends were there except Hannah. And Trent and my old Young Women's president. I'll have more in the future weeks when they're back from Idaho, Montana, Virginia, etc.... but today felt pretty depressing. I couldn't even sit through Gospel Doctrine and Relief Society with Hannah because she got the cool calling of being a Primary Teacher. My mom refuses to cook ever so my whole weekend of being home has consisted of eating pizza. Literally. I still haven't unpacked my things yet so my room is a disaster area, but at least it's my lovely, familiar room.

I just watched the A102 intro video that they made for ward prayer back in November. Those were the good old days when everyone was in Provo and we could hang out whenever, all the time.

I get to babysit Tuesday! And then Tuesday night hopefully I will be with Matt and Jon. That will definitely make me feel more at home. Then in the next week or so Matt, Hannah, and I will drive up to the Cascade Locks and do a gorgeous day hike starting at Eagle Creek. Can't wait :)

Anyways, I love all of you, my Provo friends! Don't forget about me while I'm so far away!

Summer Plans!

I've been thinking alot lately about the things I want to do while I'm home in Oregon. My thoughts are so jumbled that I figured it would be easier just to write them down on this.


-At least 10 hours of yardwork a week. That equals $90(having already taken out tithing) and will go to my Jerusalem fund.

-Call Rachel BEFORE I get home and tell her I want to babysit for her the rest of the summer. If she doesn't need me for some reason, I'll call her friend Angela who I originally babysat for during Junior and Senior years of highschool. They both have boy twins. Each set is the same age, and all four are good friends. It's fun! Sometimes I get to watch them all at once.... it can be a pain but they're better at minding me than you'd expect :)

-Play either the piano or my violin each day. If I feel like doing both, then great.

-Read: Jesus the Christ. Jerusalem, the Eternal City. Dune. Finish the Belgariad. Finish Tales from the 1001 Nights. Finish the Book of Mormon. Re-read The Half-Blood Prince before the movie comes out. Sounds like a lot, but if you know me, you know I can do it :)

-Don't put off playing with my highschool friends until the last few weeks I'm home. I did that last year. I will play at least 3 times a week. I have a car there, it shouldn't be too hard.

-Go to the beautiful Portland Temple at least twice.

-Go on at least one overnight backpacking trip with Hannah and Callie. With Hannah's dad. The three of us have learned to never go very far without a priesthood holder.

-Run at LEAST three times a week. I'm on a running high lately so I think I can do more than that. Jared told me everyone will gain around 10-15 lbs in Jerusalem... so if that happens, I'm going to make sure I'm not coming back weighing more than I do right now.

-Go on a bike ride with Hannah, Callie, Ricky, Jon, or Matt. Or all 5. We love each other :)

-Watch Scrubs season 8

-Go to the midnight showing of Harry Potter with aforementioned people... plus many others.

-Take a long weekend to visit Laura!

-Take a trip to the Oregon Coast to see my usual sights that I've been craving.

-Come back to Utah for Travis and Shannon's wedding??? You have no idea how serious I am about wanting to come...

-Make sure a weekend will work out for Laura to come visit me!

-Practice dance somehow, somewhere.

-Finish Zelda, Ocarina of Time

-Learn how to use my new, good, photography camera well. Have Hannah show me how to be artistic with it :)


That's all I can remember for right now. There are probably a few other things. Sorry this is so long and probably boring for everyone but me to read. I have two months starting this time next week. I probably won't have time to sleep, but it will be worth it! Ready, Set, GO!

Oh ye of little faith!

I was given a challenge a matter of minutes ago- The wonderful, fun, amazingly unforgettable men of Avenues apartment 123 think that since I won't be in the ward next year, even though I'll still be in the Elms, I won't ever come visit them. They told me to prove them wrong, and so I will!! Well, I will starting in January when I'm back. Laura, you're part of this challenge too :) Have a lovely Sunday all!

I don't say it enough

Thanks everyone for your efforts in my day of birth. I really appreciate all of you and for your friendship :) I have a really hard time accepting love from people these days, hence my unwillingness to let you do anything for me this weekend, but I appreciate it nontheless and I love all of you.

I have really good friends.

John's and my Cinco De Mayo party turned out great! A LOT of people from the ward showed up, more than I thought would come. My brothers also came, my friend Sarah and her (kind of) boyfriend, and my friends Rafe and Andre. I made tres leches, John made guacamole and a 7 layer dip-type-thing, we had good drinks, and lots of quesadillas. Not to mention the pinata which always sets up a good time!
After everyone left I stayed at Ave 123 with John, Tyler, and Bob, and we watched the first episode of Planet Earth. I love that documentary. Just about every second of footage is something incredibly beautiful, whether it's the most barren of deserts or the greenest of forests. Nature takes my breath away.

My friend Matt that I mentioned previously called me yesterday. I knew that he was in Barcelona, but not that he was all alone. He called me at 3:30 am his time and he was walking back to his hostel. I was a little nervous when he said he wasn't walking with anybody and that he had just gotten out of a dangerous section of the city... but he made it back ok :) I was SO happy to talk to him and hear his voice for the first time in 8 1/2 months. It totally made my week. Matt has a way of making you feel special. Maybe that's why he's my favorite guy in the world!

Yay!

So despite the fact that I was not able to find a guy to add 382 with me, Curt still added me. He's so nice! Totally made my day. That also means I have 6 credits now and I can workout in the Fieldhouse for free! Woohoo! I can't decide what I want to do tonight. Hang out at A102 like usual and play with Josh's iTouch or my N64? Watch Son of Rambow with Ave 123? Catch up on the last month and a half of Lost? So many options...
I have training tomorrow afternoon for BYU Catering. I can't wait to start working and earning money!
One of my closest friends from home, Matt, gets back next Monday from almost a year in Europe. Well, since the beginning of September. I can't WAIT to see him when I get back to Salem. He's one of those people that immediately brightens my day. I can't be sad around him. Maybe that's why I miss him so much right now?