Raising My Ebenezer

Yesterday I finally finished a piece of art that I started in the middle of spring semester. Honestly, it was so detailed that it was hard to find the motivation to do it, but I am so glad I did. I feel accomplished. Then, last night Dani, Tyler, and I watched the first Harry Potter. We are going to watch all of them. It would have been interesting if you could have been a fly on the wall for our conversations during the movie. We talked about everything from memories of when it came out in theaters to picking who in our ward would be which characters. It was the best.
Today I went to devotional with them. I was kind of listening and kind of not, but I learned some amazing pieces of information. For instance, in the song Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing, when it says, "Here I raise my Ebenezer..." that is a real thing. Ebenezer means "stone of help." To raise your Ebenezer means to remember. It was a stone set up by the prophet Samuel in the Old Testament as a token of gratitude for deliverance from the Philistines. The people of Joshua also raised a sort of Ebenezer. They crossed the Jordan River on dry land much like when they were being led by Moses and he parted the Red Sea. When they crossed, the Lord commanded one member from each tribe of Isreal to get a stone and create a monument  to commemorate their crossing. This monument of twelve stones was their Ebenezer. It was in remembrance of what the Lord had done for them so they would not forget. The speaker said that we need to have our own Ebenezers to remind us of the hand of God working in our own lives. I have a few things, but I know that I need to start writing down spiritual experiences more thoroughly in my journal so if I ever come to doubt what I know, I will be able to look back and remember. This is going to be a new goal of mine so I will be able to raise my Ebenezer to help me, those around me, and my future family.

This. I Need This.

That Man Was a Fossil. He Was Born Ten Years After Moses!

"For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope." 

Romans 15:4

I just want everyone to know that the title of this post is a quote from my Bishop. I love that he has so much responsibility but can still have a little fun. It was another beautiful day at church. I guess before I was too caught up thinking about unimportant things, watching people, and thinking of how long I had to sit in the same room. I am so thankful I have changed my way of thinking. Sacrament is so much more meaningful, and I get so much more out of the lessons. 

Today was no exception. Our opening hymn was The Lord is My Light. Each verse was so beautiful. It was actually hard to sing because it was really taking my breath away. I would just tell you my favorite lyrics, but because all of the verses were so perfect, I have to put them all on here. 

"The Lord is my light; then why should I fear? By day and by night his presence is near. He is my salvation from sorrow and sin; This blesses assurance the Spirit doth bring. The Lord is my light; tho clouds may arise, Faith, stronger than sight, looks up thru the skies where Jesus forever in glory doth reign. Then how can I ever in darkness remain? The Lord is my light; the Lord is my strength. I know in his might I'll conquer at length. My weakness in mercy he covers with pow'r, and, walking by faith, I am blest ev'ry hour. The Lord is my light, my all and in all. There is in his sight no darkness at all. He is my Redeemer, my Savior, and King. With Saints and with angels his praises I'll sing."

The choir also did an outstanding job with the ten people there. I was beyond impressed by the talent in our ward, and I am so thankful to those for sharing their talents with us. Three amazing talks on testimony really got me thinking about mine. I thought about how I just finished the Book of Mormon, how much I learned, and all that I felt in the time it took me to read it. At the end of the book, Moroni gives the reader a challenge. 

He says, "Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts. And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things (Moroni 10: 3-5)."

Moroni has the faith in all of us to believe in the words written in the Book of Mormon. He said to ask if these things are not true. He knows that if we read them with sincere hearts, we will know of the truthfulness before we even get to this point in the book. I have always read that scripture but not with a sincere heart. Reading through the Book of Mormon this time, I caught on to so much more. That not still sticks in my head. I know that the Book of Mormon is true. I have a testimony of the importance of reading it and learning from its words. I know of the power of prayer, and I know my Heavenly Father hears all of my prayers whether uttered or unexpressed. I have a know that my family can truly be together forever, and I wait for the day in which I will have a husband and children that I can be sealed to for time and all eternity. I know the leaders of this church are called of God, and I am so thankful for their service. I know Christ suffered in the garden and died on the cross for my sins and the sins of all others. I know that my Heavenly Father and my Savior are always there to comfort me when I need it most. I know that my Redeemer lives! 

President Monson once said:

"Now, I did not sail with the brother of Jared in crossing an ocean, settling in a new world. I did not hear King Benjamin speak his angelically delivered sermon. I did not proselyte with Alma and Amulek nor witness the fiery death of innocent believers. I was not among the Nephite crowd who touched the wounds of the resurrected Lord, nor did I weep with Mormon and Moroni over the destruction of an entire civilization. But my testimony of this record and the peace it brings to the human heart is as binding and unequivocal as was theirs. Like them, I give my name unto the world, to witness unto the world that which I have seen. And like them, I lie not, God bearing witness of it."

My testimony is not that of President Monson's, but it gives me strength and the will and determination to endure well to the end. If I have nothing else, I hope to always keep my testimony. I am so thankful to have this strong foundation in my life. I am given hope through patience and comfort of the scriptures.

I Am Going to Stand Outside So if Anyone Asks I'm Outstanding

So, on Saturday, one of the things Justin and I talked about was watching Top Gun. I have never watched it, and I promised him I would watch at least fifteen minutes of it. After those fifteen minutes, I was hooked. I talked to him all through Monday. That night he told me I am now Charlie. I asked him if that made him Maverick or Iceman. He said he was definitely Maverick. Fun times. I thought I couldn't pull off aviators. I wished I could be a cool kid. I thought that until Wednesday when I found the perfect pair of aviators at Dillard's. They were one of the only pairs of sunglasses that have ever fit my face. I loved them but didn't buy them. Maybe I can find a pair at Target that aren't as expensive. Then I can run with the cool kids. Monday, I was Charlie. 

Another thing we talked about on Saturday was Tiffany's. We were walking around the mall, and we passed it. I just smiled because of the memories of me and my roommates looking in the windows and dreaming. He asked me about it. I told him I love the store just because of the memories that come with it. Honestly, I don't want a ring from there. I don't like the rings. I want a box. A Tiffany blue box with a white ribbon tied in a bow. He laughed and said one day he would send me just a box. I would be the happiest girl around. I watched Sleepless in Seattle for the first time on Tuesday morning. It is beautiful. Meg Ryan is one of my favorite actresses, and paired with Tom Hanks, I am in love. Tuesday, I was Meg Ryan.

Wednesday was Pioneer Day. I love that this is a holiday. I have a special love for the pioneers that crossed the plains and went over the mountains I see out my window to be able to build up this wonderful church and spread the glorious gospel. Trek was part of the reason that I gained this love, Nauvoo is another part of it, but I think what gets me most of all is the movie Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration. I do not have pioneers in my family history that I know of, but they are a huge part of me. So, Wednesday I was a pioneer. 

Other things went on this week as well. On a quest for a beach towel for Dani, I came to the awful realization that summer is almost over. Back to school items cover the aisles of the stores. You would never know it was still a time to be in the sun, relax, and pretend school is over. We went to Seven Peaks of course and got sweet potato fries at Guru's afterwards. I realized I have a true addiction to Pinterest. I love decorating the house I don't have, making a dream closet, smiling at kids and animals, and most of all, planning my wedding. I not only had me Pinteresting Monday night, but I got Mallory, Maren, and Ryan pinning to their wedding boards, oohing and ahhing, and being filled with delight with the thought of dreams coming true. Such a fun night. Tuesday I finished reading the Book of Mormon. Such a rewarding, enlightening, and spiritual experience. Reading it with all of the promises of blessings to come made my day wonderful. The church is true! The scriptures are true. Joseph Smith was a modern-day prophet, and Thomas S. Monson is a living prophet today. That brings us to pioneer day. Tuesday afternoon Dani, Tyler, and I left for Ogden. After a drive that felt like forever, we got to Dani's. We ate delicious Chinese food, and then we decided to go bowling. We played three games. The first one, I got a score of 52. It was rough. But, guys, I won the next game with a score of 102. I broke 100! The third game went back to my usual "I suck at bowling" score, but I still had a ton of fun. We went back to play some Bang! and then we all went to bed. Dani and I just slept in the same room and talked for a little bit. She went to sleep, and I texted Justin until early in the morning. When it was time to get up for the parade it was a little rough. We got going and went to the parade. It was SO MORMON!!!!!! I loved it. We then went to the mall because Dani's dad needed to get something. We ended up eating there sitting at a very short table made for kids and then playing on a very small merry-go-round. We went back to Dani's, and we took naps. They were much needed. When we all felt more alive, awake, alert, and enthusiastic we played a couple more games of Bang!. And then, we headed back to good old Provo.

  Okay, how Mormon can the floats get?!

After getting back and making myself look presentable, Justin asked if I wanted to go help paint the name on his boat. I was down there for an hour "helping." I kind of sat and watched and made sure he didn't miss a spot. At one point, he even recited the poem "Invictus" to me. It is now one of my favorite poems. Also, one of the songs Nathan Pacheco sang at the pioneer day concert is about being unconquerable. Justin has made that the boat's theme song. His boat has a name, poem, and song. Then, along with a bunch of people from the ward and Janessa, we went to Spanish Fork to watch fireworks. Utah is the only place I know that they can play "Come, Come Ye Saints" followed by "Welcome to the Jungle" at the start of a fireworks show. That show was one of the best I have seen. It was really good. At the end I even had to curl up in a ball because I felt like my chest was going to explode. When we got home, we played with sparklers and ate ice cream. I had to pick Meghan up from the train station at one. By the time we got back, we were so exhausted that all four of us (Dani, Janessa, Meghan, and I) put in "August Rush" and went to bed. It had been a long, exciting, fun-filled, crazy day.

Thursday I was purely exhausted. I did not really want to move. It was a good thing I had nothing to do all day because there was no way it was going to happen. Not only did I live in my pajamas, but after I left Dani's, I put in Les Mis, watched the first 15 minutes of it, and fell back asleep until three in the afternoon. I felt a million times more alive after that. I even went for a long, hard run later that evening. Thursday, I was Jennifer Lawrence.

Friday I tried to keep it pretty low-key. I was pretty sad that Justin would be leaving the next day, but I tried to not let it get to me. I mean, he has been in my ward since fall semester. It is my fault for not getting to know him before. Heck, I should have become best friends with him when Ryan Greenburg introduced us. It was one of those be-careful-what-you-wish-for moments. We all have them. I feel like I have them more often than most though. A couple posts ago I said I wanted a guy I could be friends with. Too bad I wanted it to be more than just friends after a week. I just kept thinking about how I always fall for the guy that I can't have. We had cleaning checks in the morning, I got groceries, and then I watched Project Runway. Last season was terrible, but I wanted to give the new one a try. It is so funny, and by the commercial, it looks like it has more drama involved than ever before. Bring it on. I feel like I finally caught up on sleep, and although I was disappointed in the boy category, I kept smiling. Friday I was Julia Roberts with her award winning smile.          
                                                            Today it took me a long time to feel better. I mean, every time I get close to someone, I feel like they end up leaving. I don't like it. After I made strawberry chocolate chip muffins and a spinach smoothie and watched a certain movie that my roommate now refers to as my "going through emotional trauma" movie, I started looking at pictures I had on my phone of me. Today, I am me. I could sit and watch movies all day if you let me. I have so much sass that I don't even know how to handle myself sometimes. I am incapable of tearing toilet paper or paper towels along the perforated line. I often run into things. I want to be Megan the Mormon mom in a minivan. I have enough BYU shirts to go three weeks without doing laundry. My few talents include falling for guys I can't have and eating five times the suggested serving size. I love doing crazy, adventurous things which is something most people don't expect from me. I love being in water. If someone has my name it automatically becomes a competition between us. I can sleep in any position. I can be shy or extremely outgoing. I have an odd love for spoons. I love tight, lift me off the ground, and maybe even spin me hugs. My hair has moments when it falls perfectly into place, but it also has moments when it looks like a lion's mane. I love roller coasters even though they scare the living daylight out of me. If the doorbell rings and I'm not expecting anyone, I go into ninja mode. I just want everyone to know I sparkled first. I am the main source of entertainment for my roommate. Giraffes are my favorite animal. I had to shake a can of dehydrated water to figure out what it was. My most embarrassing moment was running into a large window in front of my BYUSA team. I think the hardest I have ever laughed (like the roll on the floor, snort, think you're going to die from not breathing kind of laugh) was after I took a picture of me chinning and snapchatted it to my old roommates who were in the room with me. I think way too much and often lose sleep because my brain won't turn off. I love driving my little VW bug with the top down. I love musicals. I still blow dandelions, wish on stars, make a wish when blowing out birthday candles, and wish on 11:11. I love inspirational quotes. Sunshine is my favorite. Popcorn and hot chocolate are my go-to foods. Reading cheesy LDS romance novels is a favorite pastime. I love to play frisbee. I have a weird obsession with people's eyes. I love going running. I am different. I am special. I am me.

Giddy as a Jellybean

This week started in one of the most amazing ways. I went to church. Now, sometimes I do not have the right mindset and three hours seems like twice as many of torture, but this week was different. This was three divine hours with the Spirit there the whole time. I started off reading the quote on last week's program. President Thomas S. Monson said, "Times change, but truth persists. When we fail to profit from the experiences of the past, we are doomed to repeat them with all their heartache, suffering, and anguish. Haven't we the wisdom to obey Him who knows the beginning from the end-- our Lord, who designed the plan of salvation." I absolutely loved that quote. Truth persists. Being so excited about that quote, I read the one for this week. Elder Richard G. Scott said, "When faith is properly understood and used, it has dramatically far-reaching effects. Such faith can transform an individual's life from maudlin, common everyday activities to a symphony of joy and happiness." Wow. He almost one-upped President Monson. A symphony of joy and happiness. Beautiful, let me tell you. Sacrament was extra special. In thinking of Christ, I read through some of the hymns, and I came to one I had never noticed before. Prayer is the Soul's Sincere Desire is a beautiful hymn that we never sing. "Prayer is the soul's sincere desire, uttered or unexpressed, the motion of a hidden fire that trembles in the breast. Prayer is the burden of a sigh, the falling of a tear, the upward glancing of an eye when none but God is near." Holy moley. Why do we not sing this song? Then, we got to the speakers. I loved the talks. I actually learned something from each one. One speaker pointed out a scripture. It was 2 Timothy 1:7. It says, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." God gives us the spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. I am so thankful for that. I actually enjoyed Sunday School which is an odd thing for me. At one point I felt my glow, a huge, dazzling smile broke across my face, and I had to share it with some friends. True happiness that comes from the warmth of the Spirit in that all too cold room is the best happiness. Then, Relief Society was just something special. A good talk with Bishop just made the day complete, but movies, ward prayer, and a game of Bang! just made it better. 

Monday was odd. I still wanted that glow, but I was so worried about seeing Andrew again I let it fade away. I went to Seven Peaks with Dani. My worn out beach towel and a swim suit hanging to dry are becoming constant companions of my towel in the bathroom. The coconut scent of my sunscreen never fades from my room, my hamper still smells like the lake, my cheeks are always sun-kissed, and my muscles were still sore from rowing a boat. We just laid in the sun. Best idea ever. It was lovely. I loved the way the sun glinted off my hair as we walked back to the car. That is my favorite thing about summer. Once we were back, I got ready for my night with Andrew and waited... and waited. He never said anything. So, we didn't go. I am done. That kind of pushed me over the edge. Monday night I went to FHE to see if I would feel better. No such luck. I did have fun, but the weird numb feeling never quite went away. I came home with the smell of campfire stuck in my hair and ooey gooey marshmallow all over my shirt from the one s'more I had. Oh well. 

Tuesday it was cloudy all day, so I decided it was best to sit, read, and watch Body of Proof. Good plan. Mallory dyed the tips of my hair a deep, auburn red. You only notice it if you are looking for it, but I love it. Really. I love it. It was a surprise that afternoon when Justin asked me to go sailing with him. I had nothing to do, and he is a fun guy, so I went. It was starting to get stormy, and we decided to go to Guru's instead. Good choice. I had never been there, but the food is AH-mazing. Sweet potato fries and cilantro-lime quesadillas left me insanely full and content. Wednesday, Justin asked if I wanted to go to the pioneer day concert with him. I had tickets, and I wanted to go with Dani and Tyler. But, I decided I did want to go with Justin. It all worked out though. Jake and Anna used my other two tickets so Dani and Tyler had another couple to go with instead of just me.
Friday came sooner than I thought it would. It was the day I had been waiting for all week. I got Dani, Tyler, and Melissa (another girl from the ward) in my bug, put the top down, and we made our way to the lake. We had a lot of fun kayaking and just playing in the water. There is something about the way the mud squishes between your toes that just makes it an interesting, to say the least, adventure. Dinner was grilled hamburgers, chips, fresh pineapple, and cookies. I love summer food! After we ate, we went back to the lake for more fun. As the activity was winding down, I got to go sailing with Justin. He taught me how to steer the boat and work the sail. We sat and talked for the 40 minutes we were out there (I kind of lost track of time because I was so excited/happy, and I was terrified that I was going to kill his boat). We watched the sunset on the lake and finally decided to go back in. I was in a dreamlike trance all the way home. We got back and watched "The Prestige" with some friends. Between popcorn, Calypso strawberry lemonade, and peanut butter M&Ms I managed to stay awake. The movie was really good, and I just had a fun night. Dani and I went back to our apartments and had a sleepover. We watched "Emma." Well, we talked while it was playing. When we stopped talking, we both fell asleep. There is no telling what time that was at. We didn't start the movie until one in the morning.
Waking up this morning was rough. I just did not want to move or think or move. Dani and I did finally get up and we had a good breakfast of pancakes, buttermilk syrup, and vitamin waters. Dani, Tyler, Anna, Jake, and one of their friends were all present. After breakfast I went to take a nap (which didn't happen) and get ready. Going to the pioneer day concert in the conference center was beautiful. First off, the lighting and the stage design were beautiful. I loved it. Then, Nathan Pacheco is absolutely amazing, with his voice that is like butter because it's so smooooth (that was just a joke for my little brother). Lindsey Sterling was... interesting. Her outfit was atrocious, and her violin squeaked a few times. I just had to like her because watching her all I could think about was my cousin, Aleah who is on her mission because she adores her. Justin and I had some really good conversations, learning about each other, making each other laugh, teasing, and just having fun. There was never a dull moment. After the concert we were hungry, so we went to Sammy's for dinner. I love pie shakes. So much. The food was good too though. Justin was a real gentleman. Bryon is the only other guy that has told me to wait so he could open my door for me every time. I appreciate when the door is opened for me. I had so much fun last night!!
That brings us to Sunday once again. Nine o'clock came way too soon after getting home around midnight. Church was once again better than usual. I mean, I liked the speakers until our high councilman spoke for way too long with his monotone voice. It made me want to go to sleep. Then, marriage prep and I have a love/hate relationship. We always have, and we probably always will. Relief Society was remarkable. We talked about having the faith to not be healed once again. We all go through different things in life, but sometimes we have to say our prayers with the faith that things are not always going to turn out the way we would like. With God, all things are possible but not necessarily easy. I also actually opened the manual (well, pulled it up on my phone) and read the lesson. At the very end it says, "This having been so in the past, we can well believe that our future progress will depend upon our determination to do the will of God under all circumstances and the aid which He shall give to us." We all just have to keep the determination to do all God asks of us enduring it well rather than just enduring, and we must remember that without his help, we can do nothing. After church I had dinner with Dani, Tyler, Drew, Jake, and Braden. It was really good, and it is always nice to be surrounded by friends.
It was a wonderful, marvelous, exciting week. I learned a lot and had fun. I did decide that it is time to get going on my summer bucket list. I may just have to do some things alone, but I will start crossing things off. I want to be able to say, "Box checked. Nailed it." I found more things to do in Utah. Look at this or this or even this. I won't do them all this summer, but at least I know they are options for the future! After this week, I am seriously just as giddy as a jellybean, and it is because of things I didn't plan on happening. I'm just going with the flow.

My Other Half

I have two small drawers full of things I am keeping from the time I have spent at college. I went through and read every letter, looked at every picture, and reminisced about times that seem so long ago. I was looking at the quotes from room 3217 freshman year. They were making me laugh so hard (which wasn't the best considering how sore my abs are). Then, I came to some of the quotes from last summer when I was rooming with Meghan. These were never shared, and I feel the need to share them now. These are sadly just my quotes. I don't have hers since we split them. I just want everyone to know how much fun I have with this girl. All of the time we have spent together adds up to way too much fun. My mom once said that we were such good friends because no one mom could handle the two of us together as sisters. She's probably right. Judging by the following quotes, it is hard to argue her point. Prepare yourself for an overload of the cheesiness and pure happiness we had last summer.
Look at his BUTT!!! (about a goat-dog from Pink)
Thursdays are my Fridays... Fridays are my Saturdays... and Saturdays are my Saturdays!
Adventure is out there! (said every time I drove)
It looks like a beached whale! 
I was so tired... I picked up the phone and hung up.
We're going to be black.-Meghan Maybe we can get scholarships!-Megan
Oh, it's you two screaming in here. Meg(h)ans reunited! -Michelle
Psst! Mom! There's a guy in my bed! He won't go away! I'm falling off!!! -us when we're married
Sun Stare!!!
They [fireworks] sound like I can hear them!
If you were a guy, I think I would have found my soulmate. 
It'll keep you coming back for MORE! -Me as I stuck my head through the tube hole at Seven Peaks
We are DOMESTIC GODDESSES. (because we are)
One... Two... Three... Four... FIFTH of them! -Glozell
You yawn when you're asleep?! 
My second CTR ring was green and it glew in the dark.
I want him to grab my face (talking about a kiss).-Megan Yeah, cause then I don't have to steer!-Han
It's like the letters at Harry Potter's house! It's like the howler!! (talking about our hungry tummies)
I don't like watching movies wearing clothes.-Meghan Me either! Wait...-Me
Sometimes you just have to throw your hair in a ponytail and say: Bring it on, World!

My Week in Review

A lot has gone on this week. It all started on Monday... Monday I went to Seven Peaks in the morning, came home and did not feel well (I think it was from being in the heat for so long) and took a nap. My nap with a warm pillow and blanket did not make me feel any better. When it was time for FHE, I was really not feeling well. I went to the opening part of it, but when they left for the park to play capture the flag with a greased watermelon, I went home. Mallory and I decided to watch "Mama." This movie does make you jump and worry somewhat about what in hidden in the darkness of your closet or the other side of the room. We were both jumpy throughout the movie and ended up curled up on the couch each with a blanket. All through the movie, I kept hearing a rustling in the blinds, but I thought I was just scared because of the movie. I told Mallory about it, and she thought I was making things up. When the movie ended, I heard it again, and so did Mallory. We turned on the light, and what popped out from behind the blinds? The king kong of all moths... Moths were a key part of the movie so when he emerged, we both frantically grabbed all of our things, screamed every time it moved, and ran like the wind to our room where we safely stayed until morning. 

Tuesday I went to Seven Peaks with Dani and Tyler. We had a blast! I loved getting to spend my afternoon with those two. Wednesday I was exhausted and did not wake up until 11:30. I groggily got up and went to Seven Peaks once again. I was fine until I got a text from Andrew. Brain overload. After talking to my mom and watching a movie, I realized that I had to be a grown up. As much as I hate it, I take too much pride in people thinking I am older than I am. I have to keep that up. Thursday I got to have some fun. I got all dressed up with my hair and makeup done and went to the Hinckley Center. Then, I had to get ready for our ward activity. Dani and I should be on a professional rowing team. We swam, rafted, played games, ate pizza, sang Pocahontas songs, and had fun with the ward. We stayed out until the water got too choppy and we were sore and tired. I love being at the lake. It reminds me at home. It reminds me of when I was little and we went to the duck pond, the times we went to the park near Lake Arlington, and the stake lake activities. I went home, took a shower, and went to bed. I was so tired. I woke up this morning with more sore muscles not just from rowing but also from laughing. It was raining outside, but Dani and I decided we were going to have an adventure to the Mona rope swings anyways. By the time we got there, it was no longer raining, but it took us forever to find the swings. We finally did and I braved the cold water to swing it. As scary as it was at the top, it was a blast. This summer bucket list item has been crossed off, but I will be returning on a warmer day. Dani and I left wrapped in towels and jackets. On the way home, we stopped by the San Francisco Sourdough Eatery and then the Red Barn. I want everyone to know that chocolate chip ice cream is my absolute favorite. Simple and delicious. It was a fun week. My tan is coming along nicely, I had some fun with friends, and I spent most of the week in the water. There's nothing better. 

Victim of My Imagination AND a New Addiction

I read through my old journals the other day. Looking back, I realize that I am a victim of my own imagination. I think way too much. I think of how things were, how they are, and the way I want them to be in my perfect world. The problem is, the world isn't perfect. Things do not go the way you plan all of the time. While my brain is trying to make sense of why things are not the way I wanted them to be, I listen to my music. On my way to Arizona I listened to music the whole way. My driving playlist consisted of a fun mix of music from The Beach Boys to 80s to boy bands to the Beatles to musicals to country to Disney to love songs. All of the 14 hours worth of songs had special meaning to me, and I loved having old memories pop up on my drive. As I said before, nothing is going the way I had planned. Some things are better, and others are just irritating. I think that has brought out a little rebel streak in me. They come out sometimes in little ways not many people notice such as me not going to Young Women for a few weeks, wearing crackle nail polish, not getting my Patriarchal Blessing just because everyone kept telling me I needed to, and so on. None of them have been a huge deal. This isn't either, but sometimes I wonder what it would be like to have a tattoo, have my hair dyed ombre, and wear a bikini. Dani is the same way so it isn't just me! I would never go out in public wearing a bikini, and I am too scared of needles to even truly consider getting a tattoo. I will live vicariously through Pinterest, but it is weird for me. I'm not usually the rebel with my all too modest clothes/swimsuits and my conservative views.

Maybe I just need a boy not necessarily to date but to spend time with. That way there won't be more drama I have to deal with. I need a boy like Eric to be my best friend. Eric is in Texas now... Where's my pinata? Anyways, through all of this rebellious stage and before when things first started going wrong, I prayed asking what I needed to do. I got my answer yesterday and after a lot of prayer and fasting today, I know it is the right thing to do. I'm excited! And... I am dangerously addicted to Downton Abbey. I went through three seasons of it in a week (the seasons are only 9 episodes). I love the drama, the romance, the plot twists, and the hilarious quotes. That show brought me to tears more than once, made me laugh, and made me squeal in delight. I even quoted it in church today in response to something Bishop said. Sadly, I found out the new season won't air in the U.S. until January. I cannot wait until then!

The One About Freedom

I am going a little stir crazy. I am the only one home right now. I have run errands, actually cooked, cleaned the apartment, and watched Downton Abbey and Castle. I am just not used to not having classes. I have gone four semesters straight, and even before that I always got bored when I was home for summer vacation. When I was at home for the summer when I was younger, my dad would count the days until I would say, "Dad, I'm bored!" It usually did not take long. Sometimes it was only a day. When I was younger, I also watcher "Full House." Here is a little video to start off the holiday post. With liberty and puppies for all! 

Yesterday Meghan and I started off the festivities. We went to see the Utah Symphony in front of the waterfalls at Thanksgiving Point. There really wasn't a bad seat. The music was beautiful complete with Music Man, West Side Story, and patriotic music. They also played the song Chicken Reel which was apparently for all of the Texans in the audience. What is that supposed to mean? Anyways, after they played all of the songs on the program they played Stars and Stripes Forever. At the end of the song, the fireworks went off. I almost peed my pants. Wasn't ready for that one! The fireworks show was beautiful, and I am so glad I got to share this fun night with Meghan. I went home and because I was alone and kind of scared I watched Music Man in the living room until I fell asleep. That brings us to the Fourth. I would like to begin by saying that you know you are a BYU student when you look in your closet for something red so you can be patriotic, and you find absolutely nothing. The only thing red I own is red socks. So, I went with a Texas Rangers shirt. I am showing love for my country by showing pride for my state. Yeah... This fourth of July was extremely different than last year. Last year I was in the parade with all of my friends. This year I sat on the sidelines by myself taking pictures of it. It made me a little nostalgic once again. I am still waiting for the reason why I was not meant to get that BYUSA position... The parade was good even though it made me a little sad. That night I went to save a spot for Meghan and me to watch the fireworks. I found a good one, and without having to pay I got to watch Cirque du Soleil and hear Carly Rae Jepsen and Kelly Clarkson in concert. So good! When Meghan met up with me, we happily watched the fireworks together oohing and ahing, picking which ones were our favorites, and figuring out what to name each of them. The feeling you get in your chest when the sound hits you still amazes me, and these fireworks were HUGE. One would fill the whole sky. They were beautiful. It was a wonderful end to the holiday. Then again, it wasn't the end. I got up early this morning to go to another Provo Freedom Festival event. I went to the Balloon Fest. It was extremely early starting at 6:30 in the morning, but it was worth it!

 

 

You know you live in Provo when Spiderman has garmet lines.