Mom and Kate Helping Phoebe's First Week

I was both too tired and overwhelmed when Phoebe was first born to write much about her first week home. There's a lot to remember from that first week, and something I want to make sure I don't forget is that my mom and my sister, Kate, came into town to help. It was fantastic to have them here--both so willing to hold Phoebe--so that I could have a chance to breathe between feedings and take everything in. Here are some of my favorite pictures of them while they were here!

Our Weekend with Emily

This past weekend was one of the best of the whole year! Emily came and spent Friday afternoon through Monday morning with us. We did a lot of really fun things...

We went on walks at Ruston Way, Point Definance Park, and Wapato Parks.
We played card games with Jon.
We picked blackberries to have on top of ice cream.
We got ice cream at Coldstone.
We colored in my adult coloring books.
We made yummy food.

Overall, we just spent a lot of time talking about life, playing with Phoebe, and enjoying each others' company. It was the most rejuvenating weekend I've had all year. Having sisters is the best!

Summer Bucket List 2015

A couple of days ago I did an impromptu interview with Jon about me to see what he knew. One of the questions was: "What does your wife like to do?" and one of his answers was: "Making lists." He was right! I love making lists! They help me infuse my life with purpose and give me things to do in my free time. So to make our summer more awesome, I of course suggested to Jessica that we make a summer bucket list. She agreed! And we made one! And we're already crossing tons of stuff off of it! And I'm ending way too many sentences in a row with exclamation marks!

We split our list into three categories: food, outdoor activities, and stuff we could do at home. Being us, of course the food category is the biggest of the tree. Naturally, this is also the category we have already started to tackle.

The first thing we made from this category was popsicles. This was Jessica's idea, and I think it's probably one of the best ideas she's ever had because the AC unit in our apartment doesn't work and I've become a chain popsicle sucker. The best part of all is that the popsicles we made aren't even bad for you! We just made up some Wyler's Light lemonade with a little less water than normal, mixed it with some fruit, and froze them in cups with spoons stickin' out. My favorite was the one with pineapple and strawberries.

The other thing we've made is tomato bisque. This is another one of Jessica's ideas, which was--once again--fabulous! We used this recipe. It was incredibly easy, and incredibly good. I'm definitely going to make it again!

Here are just a few of the other things on our list that I hope we cross off this summer:

• Make fruit pizza
• Make cauliflower potatoes
• Eat tatter tots!
• Go geocashing
• Go swimming
• Go to an outdoor movie
• Watch all the Star Wars films
• Paint postcards
• Grow basil plants
• Write and send Emily a poem

Rock Canyon Hike

Yesterday Jessica and I went on a hike up Rock Canyon. It was very beautiful and very fun!

I really, really, REALLY love having my sister here to share my summer with! Jessica--thanks for hangin' out with me so that I'm not some loner teacher-on-summer-vacation-with-a-husband-busy-with-school bum! This summer's gonna' be epic with you around!

SHE'S HERE!!!

Friday was the day I've been waiting for for a long time.

IT WAS THE DAY JESSICA MOVED TO UTAH!!!!

See--look! This is me picking her up from the airport!

I've been so super excited to have her come live in the same town as me so that we can play and so that when I have free time and I don't feel like being productive and Jon is gone and I have nothing to do I can hunt her down and be annoying to her and it won't even matter! Also, it's soooo nice to have a female family member back in my life in person. Jon just doesn't get it when I say "How 'bout we just sit and talk?"

We celebrated the night by taking her to one of our favorite restaurants--El Gallo Giro. I ordered a burrito and they brought me a tortilla stuffed to the size of a baby.

Trust me--this picture doesn't do it justice.

Of course by the time they brought it out, I was already so full of horchata that I barely had room to fit any of it inside my belly.

I ate most of it.

When we got home, we initiated Jessica into the house by playing several rounds of Monopoly Deal. I won the first three games and Jon won the last, though Jon will tell you I really only won two out of three because the first round was just a practice round and he wasn't really trying his hardest. Apparently, Mr. Pride couldn't face the truth.

It's going to be an awesome summer!

Sending Emily Off On Her Mission

Right before I dropped Ems off at the MTC!

Today I had the super huge blessing of dropping off my sister, Emily, at the MTC. It was good. So good. Her plane landed around 9 and I picked her up at 9:15, giving us about four hours before she had to be dropped off at 1:30. After driving back to Provo, we picked up Jon and went over to Kneaders to get some of their endless French toast! Then we dropped off Jon, went to my place for a bit, did some running around so that Ems could pick up some last minute things, then went to the temple parking lot to just talk and wait before I had to drop her off.

Things between Emily and I have been a little crazy over the past two years. Two years ago she was trying to figure out college while I was trying to figure out how to be a Relief Society president. Then the next year I was trying to figure out how to be in a relationship while Ems tried to figure out classes, jobs, and mission plans.

This past Sunday the two of us finally talked about it all. We both admitted that we were sad at how far apart the two of us have grown over the past two years. As Ems put it: “We were living together, but not being sisters.” But as we continued talking over things, the mood improved drastically. We were able to say: “I’m sorry,” and “How stupid of me,” and “Will you forgive me?” and “I love you.” It was one of the best conversations I’ve ever had in my life. It’s hard to ask for forgiveness and to admit that you might have done someone harm, but it’s so good to let the Atonement work between you and that person, healing you both.

When I dropped her off, there was nothing bitter or to regret. I was jealous of her for a moment as the sweet spirit of the MTC touched my heart and I thought how cool it would be if I were being dropped off here—a place full of people who love the Lord and are preparing together to dedicate over a year of their life to serving Him full-time. But as I gave her a hug and watched her walk away with a sweet Polynesian sister (“What’s your name?” and “Where are you serving?” she asked Emily) the Holy Ghost confirmed to me that everything was just as it should be. Though Emily is preparing in the MTC by learning Norwegian and studying “Preach My Gospel” and creating talks, and I’m preparing in my little house by reading my scriptures and searching for an apartment and spending time with Jon, we are together in both preparing for the biggest adventure life has had to offer either of us up to this point. She just happens to be doing hers wearing a nametag on her chest while I happen to be starting mine wearing a white dress. I hope that the two of us will learn to really lean on each other during what will be a new, exciting, terrifying, adventurous, wonderful, purifying, and happy next year and a half. Yes—God really is in the details of our lives.

Letters

Louisa, Ems & I at Guru's before the broadcast!

Dear Emily, I had so much fun with you this weekend! From going to the BYU choir concert to getting frozen yogurt to getting dinner at Guru's to watching the Relief Society broadcast to going to a Baptist church with me for a school assignment--it was so good to be with someone easy to talk to and have fun with. I'm glad we live so close to each other.

Dear Louisa, I'm super glad that you got to join Ems and I on Saturday night while we went to Guru's and then to watch the Relief Society broadcast. Those sweet potato fries are so good!!! It's good to live with family away from home, especially when that family is as awesome as you!

Dear Old FHE Family, I've run into so many of you over the past several days! It's fun to see those of you who have come back from your missions and to randomly run into you, Aubrey, at the baptist church because you were also doing an assignment (how random!) Let's get together and have a reunion soon. Deal?

Dear Beautiful Fall Weather, I'm so happy you've decided to come around. Please stay and keep the winter away!!!

Dear Miranda, It's been YEARS since we last ran into each other! It tickles me that I was able to find you on facebook and that you seem to be doing so well! Maybe when I come home for Christmas break we can get together--that would be a blast!

Dear Jon, Breakfast on Saturday morning was de. lic. ous. I haven't had french toast in such a long time and it's even one of my favorites! Thanks for giving me a fabulous beginning to a fabulous day!

Dear Ashley, As the boy's in N103's old FHE sister, it was fun to get to meet you and discover that we're in Mythology together (I can't believe you recognized me! You're so observant!) You seem super fun and are incredibly talented with singing and playing the guitar. Thank you for sharing your talents and your smiles. Hopefully, I'll see you in class today!

Dear Mythology Paper, Even though you were about Ella Enchanted, you took FOREVER to write, which made me slightly annoyed. My hand thanks you for finally being done!

Dear Sarah Armknecht, I'm so grateful for the chance I had to go hear your unofficial mission farewell yesterday. I learned so much about being converted unto the Lord, His love for us, and prayer. You are going to be such an amazing missionary because you live your life in such a way that the Spirit can be with you at all times. The people in Montana are very lucky to have you among them for the next year and a half.

Dear Testimony Bearers, Your words gave me a lot to contemplate about and gave me much comfort. Thank you.

Dear Mars, Thanks for sharing this

video yesterday in your Sunday School lesson. I think it touched us all.

Dear Hannah, I'm very grateful for the chance I have to get to serve with you. You seem really awesome and down to earth (which is so refreshing) and I hope we can become really good friends.

Dear Krista, I hope that you come over and hang out in the CP zone of the ward all the time so that we can have super fun with you and get to know you better because you just seem so super awesome and it would be so sad if we never really got to know you just because you live all the way over in the yellow house. In other words, I think you're really cool. Thanks for the chatting. I can't wait to chat again!

Dear Kylee, Please get feeling better soon. I love you!

Dear Grace, That cake was AMAZING! Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing!

Dear Jessica, I hope you get feeling better. I love you so super much and am wishing I could be with you right now!

Dear Kate and Abby, I'm so glad and happy that you guys called me last night so that we could talk! I love talking to you two. Thanks for being the awesomest Abby and Kate sisters in the world!

Dear Reading Assignments, Really? This is overkill. Way too much, guys. Way too much.

Dear Wonderful Coworkers, You guys are the best and everyone that doesn't work with you should be jealous (that's a lot of people and I really shouldn't be encouraging un-Christ-like behavior such as being jealous, but you guys are just that cool!) Thanks.

Dear Melissa, You seem like an awesome friend and I'm very grateful to have you as my Visiting Teacher and can't wait to get to know you more!

Dear Shonay, I'm so glad that you're my Visiting Teacher. You are just so cool and kind and fun. And your words last night...I really needed to hear them. Thank you so much for saying what the Spirit prompted you to say. I love you!

Dear General Conference Weekend, I'm going to work really hard this week so that I can enjoy you to your fullest on Saturday and Sunday. I'm so excited!!!

Dear Today, Smiles, quiet moments, laughter, friends, work, class, exercising, homework, scriptures, talking, joy--these are just a few of the things I hope to run into during you today.

Letters

Dear Alex, Logan and Jon, The rooftop concert on Friday evening was very enjoyable (even though the slanted seats weren't). Thanks for the fun evening!

Dear Jason, The food you made for us on Sunday was SO GOOD!!! You are a top-notch cook! Thank you so super very much for sharing your talents and your food.

Dear Jon, Hanging out at the pool after running 9 miles has to be one of my favoritest things you and I have done yet. It was absolutely divine. Thank you for humoring me by getting in the (not very, but I'll amuse you) "cold" (*cough, cough*) water. You're kinda' the best.

Dear Sunshine, Phew--you're sure staring to get hot! Bring it on!

Dear FHE Family, The hike on Monday night to Battle Creek Falls was fun, chill, and gorgeous. Thank you for the lovely evening.

Dear Ward Soccer Team, Watching you guys play Tuesday night was SO FUN! Thanks for playing a game that was worth cheering through and that got me to hold my breath more than once!

Dear New Car That Belongs to Me, Wait--what?! I own a car?!!! Oh. Yeah. Still getting used to that thought.

Dear Karianne, It made me so happy to see you Wednesday at work! Sounds like you're having quite the crazy adventure up in North Dakota. I'm sad that you have to leave and go back today, but hope you know that I've missed you like crazy and can't wait for you to come back in the Fall!

Dear Scott, You are such and absolutely AMAZING friend for taking me to pick-up my car and then for being willing to be late to work when things went slightly crazy. You are a top-notch guy and a superb friend.

Dear Rachel Smith, I loved talk with you on Tuesday while walking to my car. Let's talk more again soon, okay?

Dear Jon and Coworkers, I had so much fun joining you guys on Wednesday for lunch! It was quite the privilege to be able to sit with ya'll in your little shed and to participate in the vital conversation about Disney movie music. I'm glad that Jon has such happy, upbeat and awesome people to work with.

Dear Emily, Eating dinner with you on Wednesday and coloring with you last night was pretty much one of the bestest things I've done in a very long time! Please, please, please say you'll do it with me again!

Dear Jon, Sometimes I wonder why on earth you still want to spend so much time with me when, after a day like yesterday, I look back and realize how dramatic I can be. I mean, I was even starting to annoy myself! Whatever it is that keeps you around though--even with all my dramatics--I'm extremely grateful for because I really like being with you.

Dear Thursday Temple Visits, You're one of the best decisions I've made all summer. Thank you for the peace and clarity and calm which you bring into my life. I plan on keeping you up.

Dear General Conference Talks, Sometimes you hit it right on the spot. I love how easy you are to access and how wonderfully inspired you make me feel.

Dear Half-Marathon Training, You have not been the best of friends lately. Let's change that, yeah?

Dear Amelia, I really need to write you a letter. I promise, I'm working on it!

Dear Landan, WELCOME BACK HOME!!! I can't wait to hear your homecoming talk this coming Sunday!

Dear Wonderful and Amazing Coworkers, I'm so grateful and blessed to work with people as amazing as you guys. Thank you for providing me with a workplace where I know my needs are just as important as the needs of the office. Thank you for your kindness and for lifting me up when I feel down. I'm so lucky to get to work at such an amazing place.

Dear Heavenly Father, Only two more days until Father's Day! I hope that the way I live my life over those two days can be, in the smallest way, a gift to You. Thank you for giving me the most wonderfully blessed life in the whole world. I love you so very much.

Dear Friday, I'm so super very extremely much excited to make you the best day that I've lived of my life so far! Here's to productivity, living with purpose, looking out for and lifting-up others, feeling the Spirit, choosing to be happy, using my agency wisely and responsibly, keeping a prayer in my heart, loving unconditionally and being just plain all-around awesome!

Letters

Dear Bed, I really do very sincerely miss you. We have not been spending enough quality time together lately! As much as I miss you, however, I do have to admit that the things taking your place have been quite worth it. Maybe in a couple of years (or probably in the next life) I'll actually have enough time for you. For now though, hope you enjoy the little time that you do have with me!

Dear Hook (the movie), I haven't seen you in FOREVER! I forgot how fun/silly/good of a movie you are! I'm glad that I got to watch you on Saturday night with my friends.

Dear Lori, Thank you so much for letting us come over to your place to plant flowers! I miss having a yard and being able to work outside in the dirt. The black beneath my fingernails was a happy sight. Thank you even more for taking us out to eat afterwards at the Trolley Cafe. That salad was so good!

Dear Latino Ward Members (and their white friends/roommates), Sunday's break the fast was one of the best break the fasts I've ever been to! Thank you so, so much for spending all of Saturday evening and Sunday morning slaving over delicious enchiladas, rice, beans and horchata. My stomach and taste buds were quite appreciative!

Dear Kate, I'm sorry it took me so long to call you back! I'm super glad that we FINALLY got to talk on Sunday and that you got to tell me all about the awesome girls camp and school and life stuff you have going on and that I got to tell you all about the crazy stuff going on in my life. I love you super tons!!!

Dear Half-Marathon Training, I'm surprised--besides the waking up super early to go running (which sometimes makes me feel like I'm gonna DIE) you're actually not that bad! After running 9 miles on Thursday evening, running 13.1 isn't feeling quite as intimidating. I might actually be able to do this!

Dear Activities Committee, I love being part of a group of people as amazing as you. Every single one of you is so kind, loving, serving, outgoing and all-around stupendous! Thank you for being who you are--it inspires me to be a better person and to love and serve those around me more perfectly.

Dear Ems, I'm glad that we FINALLY decided on a time to hang out. It's been forever! Tomorrow evening is going to be the best.

Dear Day of Rest, You really are my favorite day of the week. Thanks for always getting me ready for the other six.

Dear Tale of Two Cities, Lets see if I can get you read in two weeks. That's the goal, at least!

Dear Jon, Water coloring and coloring outside the lines and endless french toast at Kneaders and planting flowers at Lori's and going to Jamie's wedding reception and running and shopping and making yummy pesto-based food and painting my nails and watching Hook and making banana bread and reading general conference talks and talking and talking and talking all with you at my side are, I think, some of my most favorite things ever. Thank you for being so good and for always leaving me with a desire to be a better person. You're quite the top-notch best friend, and we make quite the fantastic team.

Dear Heavenly Father, I would be selfish if I didn't acknowledge and thank you for all the good that is in my life right now. Thank you for answering my prayers and for knowing exactly what I need and when I need it, and then for giving it all to me even though I don't deserve more than (maybe) 0.9% of it. You are the best part of my life.

Letters

Dear FHE Family, Though I was tired and it might have appeared otherwise, I really did have fun with you guys last night. It's so good to be a part of an FHE group who participates and has fun when they're together, rather than one where it's a struggle to get people to even show-up. I look forward to the Mondays ahead!

Dear Emily, The dinner on Sunday night was quite wonderful. As are you. I'm so glad that we've figured out a schedule where we can cook and eat together twice a week. Time with you is always time well-spent.

Dear Eric and Jared, I had so very much fun going up to Idaho with you two this past weekend! It was so fun talking with you guy on the ride up and so refreshing knowing that I was with people who were comfortable with silence on the way home. I hope to be seeing you guys again soon (and we WILL manage to fit in a hike sometime!!!)

Dear Ellen, You enter the MTC tomorrow! I'm so glad that I went up to Pocatello with Eric and Jared so that we could attend your farewell and see you off. The talk you gave on happiness was sincerely one of the best sacrament talks I have heard in a very long time. Thank you so much for preparing--both for the talk and for the upcoming months you have as a missionary in North Carolina. You are going to be a wonderful missionary!

Dear Ethan, Clancy and Christy, I'm so very glad that I got to see you three during my short time in Idaho. Even though it wasn't very long, it was just a joy to get to see you. Thank you for being family that I know I can always rely on and whom I know would do anything for me. I love you!!!

Dear Ryan, Thank you for letting the ward join you in your efforts to create a healing garden at the hospital. I haven't played around in the dirt for such a long time, and it was (surprisingly) super refreshing! I just might head over with you again sometime to play around in the dirt some more!

Dear Jon, The run on Saturday morning, though slightly more uphill than we were expecting, was absolutely beautiful! I'm so glad that you served your mission in Washington so that you can understand my love for the green and the rain--both of which made our run so enjoyable. Thanks also for the fun last Friday night. I had a very good time!

Dear Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun--please shine down on me!!! And please stay! I love it when you're around!

Dear Custodian, Thank you for coming and cleaning out our recycling today. It was super appreciated.

Dear Kate, I'm so glad that we got to talk on the phone last night. Hearing about all the awesome art you're working on, you're crazy school day and everything else going on in your life is always a pleasure. Can we pretty super please keep in touch?!!

Dear Abby, I like it when you steal Mom's phone and text me. Thanks for keeping me company on my car ride home from Idaho. Thanks also for talking to me on the phone on my walk home from the temple last week. You are so easy to talk to!

Dear Jessica, You so got all this crazy girlscamp/school/band/sleep/eating/seminary/homework/doinghairforweddings/busyallthetime/alwaysbeingawesome stuff. I'm so grateful that you took the time in the middle of it all to sit and chat to me about all my crazy/exciting/lifeness stuff last Saturday. I hope you know that I'm always just as open and free to talk to you, even when my life is crazy/busy/stressful/alwaysbeingbusy. Family is definitely always a priority.

Dear Rachel, Betsy and Lyndy, I'm so glad that we could have our girls night last Thursday and watch "What a Girl Wants." It was super nice to be able to just sit and chill with friends and a good (and cheesy) chick flick. Good luck with all your school work and tests this week! You can do it!!!

Dear Institute-Going Friends, I'm so grateful that I have you guys to motivate me to get to institute every week. Last week it was exactly what I needed and gave me some of the direction I've been seeking in my life. Let's keep this up!

Dear Softball Buddies, It was fun to watch your game last Tuesday (nice win!) and I'm looking forward to watching your game tonight! Go team!

Letters

Dear Drew, The dance party on Friday night was AWESOME! Super fun, and I hope you do it again in the future!

Dear Brett, It was so fun to see you at the dance party on Friday night! I think it's fantastic that we live in the same apartment complex and hope that last night was just the first of many fun nights to come!

Dear BYU Rugby Team, Way to pull through there at the end in overtime when we were tied! Thanks for a great game and a lot of fun.

Dear Emily, I had so much fun going to the rugby game yesterday with you! You and I make a pretty awesome cheering team.

Dear Eric and Jared, It was such an awesomely pleasant surprise to be sitting next to you at the game on Saturday! I'm so glad that we got to share in the amazing victory with you two. Plus, catching-up with old friends is always awesome. In fact, seeing you two was just as good as watching the game. Thanks for being awesome.

Dear Mr. BYU Library Old Spice Commercial Guy, It was...interesting (?) sitting next to you at the rugby game. You had quite a few interesting comments to throw out at the other team.

Dear Scott, Thanks for chatting for a few yesterday. You're a pretty awesome guy.

Dear Ryan, As always, thanks for listening.

Dear Rylin, "Hiking the Y to watch the sunset" date planning? Success. Hope you had as much fun as I did.

Dear Jon, I had so super very extremely much fun last night hiking the Y and chatting with you last night. I appreciate the spirit I can feel when I'm with you. I appreciate the open-mindedness and conviction you have when we discuss things. Thank you for inspiring me to be a better person and for helping me have a fun time last night.

Dear Gentry, Making faces at me through your window when I'm finishing up a date? Really?! You did make me laugh really hard, though, I'll give you that.

Letters

Dearest Amelia, Going expensive perfume shopping with you was the bestest fun I've had in the longest time. For reals. From playing with the sells man to trying on the most ridiculous shoes EVER to buying ice cream even though you're not supposed to be eating dairy--you're a top-notch friend. I'm going to miss you when you leave in less than 22 days!!!

Dear Emily, I'm so glad that you came with me to visit with my boyfriend (I mean the library--don't get excited....) so much this past weekend and even more happy that we got to watch the bestest movie EVER on Friday night ("Ever After," peoples--what else would it be?) Enjoying the simple day to day pleasures of life with you is quite fantastic. Thanks.

Dear Sarah, I'm glad you could join us on Friday night!

Dear Elora, Rachel, Betsy, Ryan and Emily, I'm glad we got to all share yummy french toast on Sunday morning before Conference. The company was just as tasteful as the meal!

Dear Pisters, I'm so grateful to have friends as wonderfully selfless as you guys. Thanks for sharing your amazing Conference tickets with me, even though it meant that you guys couldn't go because you gave away your other tickets to members who had traveled here from Columbia and Slovakia. Each one of you is a champ.

Dear Amy, Being able to sit next to you in Conference was the best. I'm so glad that you were there to share in all the fun and goofiness. I'm 'cited to go running with you this week!

Dear Katt and Carson, You two make me smile.

Dear Ryan and Betsy, Thanks for listening to me last night while I vented. Thanks even more for understanding. You two are superbly awesome.

Letters

Dear Kaka, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! You are one of my most favoritest people in the whole entire pool of existing peoples!!! Have the happiest and bestest day ever being awesome and turning 17 and doing crazy things and eating yummy food. I LOVE YOU!!!

Dear Abby, We are being AWESOME at doing this whole scripture reading goal thing! only 11 days into the new year and we've read about 80 pages of scripture!!! Let's keep this up!

Dear Kate, I miss doing awesome things together like we did over break. Can we be bestest phone friends and talk this weekend?

Dear Facebook World, Thank you so super duper much for all the birthday wishes! I love you all and appreciate the time you took to think of me!

Dear FHE Family, Thank you muchly for the fantabulous surprise birthday bash. You are all fantastic!

Dear Emily, What the heck! Because our schedules don't coincide  we NEVER see each other!!! This = super lame. We must make up for all this lameness by having super extra much fun this weekend, okay?

Dear Work, I'm so glad things have calmed down so that I don't leave every day with a headache. I hope it will stay this way for a while.

Dear Homework Load, How on any green or brown or blue earth am I ever going to stay on top of you? Sleep may no longer be an option.

Dear Self, For help with above, see: "Trust in the Lord" or "Pray" or "Study your Scriptures Daily".

Dear Heavenly Father, I haven't been relying on you as much lately as I should. I'm sorry. I pray that You will help me learn how to rely more fully upon you during this crazy, pull-your-hair-out semester. I also pray that You will help me learn how to rely more fully upon those around me.

Dear Mom, Thanks for always being willing to talk to me on the phone, especially when I'm being ornery.

Dear Weekend, I'm ready to have awesome fun, do productive things, and be super happy!

Reading the Standard Works in a Year

About a month ago in Sunday School, we were talking about the importance of knowing the Bible because we're Christian and knowing it helps us relate to Christians of different denominations better. By the end of class, I thought to myself, I've never read the Bible all the way through. I think I want to. I did the math. If I wanted to read it in a year, it would only be about 5 pages a day. I could do that. And then I walked to Relief Society.

Serene gave the lesson that day. Somehow, we started talking about scripture reading. Serene mentioned that when she was in 8th grade, she read the entire standard works with her dad. I did the math again. If I added The Book of Mormon, The Doctrine and Covenants, and The Pearl of Great Price to the reading schedule; it would only be an additional 2 pages a day--a total of 6.5 pages a day. I could do that. 

And so I am. 6.5 pages of scripture a day! I'm lucky enough to have my sisters Abby and Emily joining me in the project as well! I know that it will be hard at times, but it will be so worth it. Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price--here we come!

Letters For a Special Night on Temple Square

Dear Amelia, Morgan, Rachel, Lauren, Emily, Sarah, Quaelii, Jeremy, and Ryan, Last night I got to go to Temple Square with you to hear Rachel play in the Tabernacle and to look around at the lights. I could not have spent my evening any better way. You are all some of the best people Heavenly Father has ever blessed me with. Thank you again and again for your friendship.

 Dear Rachel, You are an AMAZING violinist! You got to play in the Tabernacle! You blow my mind! I admire how you work so hard to develop your talents in so many areas. You are always going and learning and growing and serving. You are so genuine. I love you and love having you as a roommate.

Dear Amelia, I'm glad that your mission call isn't until May 1st so that there's a possibility that you could stay with us a little longer. Regardless of whether you do or not, I hope you know that there have been times when I have felt like there was no one else I could go to in the world but you. Thank you for your example of striving to follow the Lord, even when it's hard. I love you!

Dear Lauren, I am so excited for you and for the chance you have to go to Disneyland, but I am sad that you will be leaving us! You are such a fun, happy, energetic girl. I miss our mornings laughing while cleaning bathrooms in the Tanner Building. Know that no matter where your life may lead you, that you have been a defining part of mine. Thank you.

Dear Morgan, It was good to have your company with us last night. We miss you in the apartment. Everything always cheers up when you're around. You bring the best out of people and you're not afraid to be yourself, which is why I admire you so much. Keep being the amazing person that you are.

Dear Sarah, One of the things I'm most excited about for next semester is having you live here. I am so glad that you have made the effort to come over to our apartment and to include yourself in our lives. It has blessed me so much, knowing that I have a friend that loves me no matter what and whom I can go to for anything and whom I can talk to about anything, no matter how silly or serious it is. I have you to lean on when the days get hard. Thank you so much for the example you set, but even more for this friendship which you have given me. I love you sooo much, and am so grateful that Heavenly Father has placed you in my life. You are amazing.

Dear Quaelii, Over the past few weeks, I have observed you being one of the strongest people I know. I realize that life is not going how you planned it to, but I know that it is going the way it is for a reason, and I am amazed watching you take it all in and accept it with humility and a willingness to do what the Lord would have you do. I am excited to see the amazing things you accomplish over the next six months. You are going to work miracles for the Lord; I know it. Thank you for sharing your life with me so that I have had the opportunity to watch you struggle and shine. I love you.

Dear Jeremy, You are so smart, kind, thoughtful, willing to serve, and generous. I am flabbergasted that Heavenly Father placed someone as amazing as you in my path here at BYU. I know that if I were to ever need anything at all, that you would help me without hesitation. You are just so purely good and I am so grateful for your friendship, support, and love. Please don't be a stranger. I love you!

Dear Ryan, You are literally one of the most amazing people I know that I will ever associate with. You have such a genuine, deep love for the gospel and for those around you. You are the most brotherly brother I have or will ever have (I mean, you've even seen me walk out of the shower in nothing but a towel--how much more "brotherly" can one get?). I feel absolutely safe and myself around you and know that I can trust you with anything. I love you so much an am so glad that we're family. Thank you for all you do.

Dear Emily, Last night when we were driving home in the snow, the only thing I could think of the whole first half of the ride was you, in the other car. I didn't know if you were safe, but was praying so hard that you would be. I didn't care what happened to me at that moment--all I cared about was you. Then I had the bright idea to actually text you guys to see if you guys were okay. You were, and I began to feel okay because the roads became less snowy. You, Jessica, Abby, and Kate are the best friends I have in this whole world, and I'm so grateful that we can be together for eternity. I am so, so, so grateful for the chance to live with you here at school. You are so amazing. When you and I were walking around temple square in the snowy cold underneath my umbrella I felt so amazingly blessed to be there with you and to feel so much like myself. I loved looking at the temple with you and thinking about how awesome it's going to be when the day comes for us to be in there, or another temple like it, together. If you ever feel discouraged or that you haven't made a difference in the world, I hope you know that you have made a significant difference in my life and that I love you so much. Thank you for being so amazing and for being willing to be stuck with me for eternity. Best friends forever. Literally.

Tuesday Night at 11:44pm

Dear Ems, I'm so glad you were willing to go to the library to study with me today. It gave me the motivation to go when I really didn't want to. Plus, I got to draw this awesome picture of us. We make a pretty good team.

Dear Sarah, Eric, Will, Jordan, and Ethan and Cory, Watching Wait Until Dark helped me fill my Halloween ness quota for the week. It's about the only scary movie I'll ever watch, and it's been a long time since I last/first saw it, so I'm glad we made it happen. Yea for projectors and amazon instant videos and goldfish and awesome friends!

Dear Jessica and Brynnley, You're visit tonight was exactly what I needed. Thank you for the spirit you brought into my apartment and for you genuine kindness and care. I mean it. I'm glad that you're my visiting teachers and I hope that I get to know you more over the rest of the semester!

Friday Nights

This is what I do on Friday nights:

...Along with reading Macbeth and getting frozen yogurt with Ems and watching the TV show Merlin. Life's pretty good.

Letters

Dear Stephanie, It was such an awesome surprise to get to see you yesterday! And I finally got to meet Shaun! (and I like him!) Even though it was only 20 minutes, it meant a whole lot to me. I hope that we will be able to hang out over Christmas break and that, this time, it will be more than 20 minutes. I love you!

Dear Jeremy, Thanks so much for inviting me to the football game last night! Even though I only stayed for 1 1/2 quarters, I still had tons of fun. The best part was getting to spend time with you! I'm so super glad that we're friends, Jeremy, and hope that we can be for a very long time.

A picture of Emily over the summer when she went to do a field study in Africa!

Dear Emily Christensen, Yea for getting your mission call and yea for serving a mission in Texas and for doing it in Spanish!!! I'm so glad that you invited me to be there with you when you opened your call; I felt blessed to share in one of your life's special moments. You are going to be an AMAZING missionary. I know that the Lord is grateful to have daughters like you who are willing to go out and do His work. You continue to be an inspiration to me, and I hope that one day I can grow up to be like you!

Dear Nicole, I really, really enjoyed talking to you last night when Emily opened her mission call AND your facebook post on my wall made. My. Day. (and it's been kind of a rough one!) I hope that you and I can make opportunities to do fun things and become better friends. Thanks for being awesome.

Charlotte's finger after our trip to the ER!

Dear Charlotte, Well. A 3 hour trip to the ER last night wasn't exactly what I had planned, but it made for quite the adventure! Thank you so much for thinking to call me so that Rachel and I could help you out. It meant so much to us. I hope that your finger heals fast, and that next time you try to cut butternut squash, you  watch that finger of yours!

Dear Self, Try not to be shamefully embarrassed by the fact that you turned bleach white and practically passed out and had to leave the room last night when the nurse was numbing Charlotte's finger with a needle that was nearly twelve feet long. I mean, since the nurse couldn't even walk you twenty feet away without having you begin to blackout you got to sit in the hallway where you were treated with a Kit Kat bar and some yummy grape juice that had crushed ice in it like the kind they have at Sonic that your mom really likes. It just made the whole night a lot more exciting. And Charlotte didn't even get yummy grape juice and she was the one with the sliced finger, so you should feel pretty lucky.

All because of this guy...

Dear caveman who would faint at the sight of blood in order to stay alive, Thanks for passing the trait along. I appreciate feeling like a  prima donna every time I staple my finger with a staple gun or scrape the skin off my palms or see someone get stabbed at the doctor's with a needle--and then black out. The sensation that your about to lose it is great, and so is the whole "feeling self-conscious and like a wuss" thing. Really.

Dear Abby and Jessica, I hope you had so much super fun today at your first competition! I'm sad I can't be there to see you every time to perform, but I hope you know that I'm routing for you every dot and note of the show!

Dear Rachel and Emily and Amelia (and partly Spencer), Watching The Avengers with you guys tonight was more than exactly what I needed. Thanks for the laughing and the fun. I love you guys!!!

Dear Heavenly Father, Thanks for trying me and for making things not easy. Even though it's hard to appreciate it all right now, I know that it's what I need and that it will help me to become more like Thee. With You at my side, I can do this!

Letters

Emily and I at Evidance

 

Dear Emily, I loved being able to go to the Evidance performance last Saturday. Spending weekends with you is the best. I also love having weight-lifting class with you twice a week. Not only do I get to get super strong, but I get to spend time with you. Good luck with school this week! You can do it!

Dear Lauren, You can do it. All of it. End of story.

Dear Gideon, WELCOME HOME!!!! Has it really been two years?! Good job for serving faithfully. It's so good to have you back.

Dear School Week, Please, have a little mercy. Don't kill me.

Dear School Week, Please keep pushing me hard so that I become even more super awesome and learn so many super awesome things!

Dear Self, Think you might be feeling a little conflicted about the school week?

Dear Hymn Book, I really like studying a song from you every night before I read my scriptures. You bring so much comfort and enthusiasm and love to my study. Thank you.

Dear Me, Heavenly Father knows how crazy your life is because He's the one who has given you so many things to get done each day. The responsibilities you have come from Him. Why? He trusts that you can do it. He knows that you can do it. Conclusion? You can most definitely do it.