To Abby

To a girl who is beautiful inside and out.

To a girl who is as sweet as can be.

To a girl who can make me smile.

To a girl who glows.

To a girl who is strong.

To a girl who just underwent her second heart surgery.

To a girl who is a survivor.

To Abby.

Someday

Letters, photos, and music

Maybe.

Maybe it is because I went to bed too late last night.

Maybe it is because I had to get up early. 

Maybe it is because I had a really stressful day at school. 

Maybe it is because I'm not going to have a life this semester. 

Maybe it is because I'm nervous.

Maybe it is because my apartment is 95 degrees.

Maybe it is because my ward consists of almost all freshmen....girls.

Maybe it is because of that phone call. 

Maybe it is because I miss you. 

Maybe it is because sometimes you feel alone even when people are around you. 

Maybe.

I know that this is our second year of college but last year we had meal plans so we didn't have to cook. So today Jer and I made our first real meal! What was on the menu? Chicken, potatoes, and corn. It was really delicious and we were very proud so we took pictures!

Reflections of a nineteen-year-old redhead.

Don't dwell on things you don't have. Embrace what you do have. Look at things in a new perspective. Treat yourself every once in a while. Color outside the lines. Love with all your heart. Have a little fun sometimes. Eat a whole tub of ice cream. Stick your tongue out. Take risks. Put yourself out there. Give flowers to someone special. Skip down the street. Do something spontaneous. Cry when your heart gets broken. Laugh often. Go to church regularly. Dance in the rain. Tell your family and friends "I love you."  Smile when you make a mistake. Make the seconds count. Live every moment like it is your last. You never know when it will be your last. Thank your Heavenly Father for everything you have been given. Every breath. Every moment.  Your life is yours. It is a gift. Make the most of it. You have a choice. Choose happiness. Choose joy. Choose.

A New Beginning

Yesterday I moved in. I'm mostly unpacked. I still need to make the room "mine." 

That is Jer. I love her.

I miss my missionaries. A lot. 

I miss my family already. They need me there but I need to be here. 

Prayers for my daddy are much appreciated.

Classes start on Monday. This is going to be a crazy semester.

I'm excited to make new memories.

This is a start of something new. New classes. New people. New apartment. 

New experiences.

It's about time.

Yes, I know that it is 10:45 the night before I move,

 but I finally finished it.

31 things i love about you

She is tall.

She is beautiful.

She goes to BYU.

We met in high school. Alta.

She makes me want to be better.

She is going to be a nurse.

I admire her strength and courage.

She is my sister.

She doesn't care what other people think about her.

She is there when I need someone to talk to.

I love her laugh.

I miss her when I am in Logan and she is in Provo.

She is going to do my hair for my wedding.

Her hugs make me feel so loved.

She loves it when I make her cookies.

When I go to her house, I feel at home. 

She has the strongest testimony of almost anyone I know.
She asked me to help her move down to Provo.

She loves her mom. So do I.

We laugh more than you can imagine and tell each other everything.

She accepts me exactly how I am. The way a friend should.
When I needed her, she was there to cry with me.

She understands what I'm going through.

She loves helping people.

When we both sigh at the same time, you know we are on the same wavelength.

We tell each other about boys. 

She is an example to me.

One time, she let me take her picture for a photography assignment.

She knows what she wants out of life.

She is worth more than rubies.

We both love missionaries.

I love her.

Forever.

Last day...bittersweet

So Friday was my last day. I didn't think I would ever say this but I might kind of miss work. I am definitely going to miss the income but I also like the people I was working with.They are all older, mostly married, and definitely not the kind of people I would usually associate with but we had fun.

My boss absolutely loved me and I managed to convince him to buy us pizza on my last day (it wasn't hard). We had delicious pizzas from the Pie.

Also, on my last day I did it. I climbed the 200 foot tall tower crane. It was crazy. Ladders all the way up. It was so cool! The view of the valley was absolutely incredible! I got to work some of the controls in the crane and actually picked up a 5,000 lb piece of concrete! It was fun.

That is the building that I have been working on (mostly sweeping) for the past 3 months.

That's me on top of the 200 foot tall tower crane with a beautiful view of the Salt Lake valley.
*you can't really tell but I'm wearing a USU shirt. Go Aggies!

Looking down the middle of the crane.

That's me while I was climbing down the crane. Also, another beautiful view of the valley.

p.s. Don't judge my wonderful work outfit.

So....no more work. No more dust. No more driving to the U of U everyday. No more large scale sweeping. No more 90 degree building. No more getting up at 4:15 in the morning. No more income.

Now, I need to find a new job.....in Logan.

21 years ago....

....my beautiful parents were married in the Salt Lake Temple for time and eternity. I cannot thank them enough for that. 

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad.

August 17

Listener

Advice giver

Secret keeper

Cook

Entertainer

Maid

Friend

Professional

Example

Doctor

Teacher

Hard worker

Hero

Mother

Happy Birthday to the best mother in the whole wide world.

Today Was A Fairytale*

*title taken from a taylor swift song. not an accurate description of my day. 

First day of freshman year.

Last day of freshman year.

In the last year I changed in a million ways. It was easily the hardest year of my life. I was so blessed to have friends and family standing with me throughout the entire year. I'm stronger now. I've learned many lessons. Most of them the hard way. I moved away from home. I loved. I made tons of memories. I went to the hot springs. My heart got broken. I came the closest I ever have to failing a class. I survived 18 credits. I made a trillion new friends. I learned independence. I messed up a whole bunch of times. I had my first real calling. I said "see you later" as a whole bunch of boys left on missions. I ate hundreds of fortune cookies. I became closer to my Savior. 

In eight days I will move back up to Logan. Back to school. Back to independence. 

I can't wait to see how much I grow this year!

Here's to the 2011-2012 school year!

official-catch-up-on-writing-missionaries-day

Seven. That is how many missionary letters I wrote tonight. Oh it feels good to be caught up. I love writing letters.

This weekend was so much fun! After work on Friday I decided to go on a spontaneous trip to Logan to see my best friend Molly! She worked until 11 so in the meantime I hung out with Andrew Munguia. We got Aggie Ice Cream, walked around campus (oh gosh, I miss that place), visited Molly at work, watched YouTube videos, and talked a whole bunch!

When Molly got off work we went driving. We ended up in a field somewhere in North Logan. We got out a blanket and star gazed (yes, I can check that off my list). It was so much fun because we saw a whole bunch of shooting stars due to the Perseid Meteor Shower. We talked about....everything and I got 10 mosquito bites. Then we went to 7-eleven to get a red box DVD and some treats. We watched the Justin Bieber movie (well, we watched the beginning. we both fell asleep about ten minutes into the movie.)

When we woke up in the morning we got ready and then went to the Logan Farmer's Market. I LOVE farmer's markets! We each purchased a mini cheese cake for breakfast. :)

Then we got in our swimsuits and went to Hyrum Lake with her boyfriend and Kylee. It was so much fun! We jumped off a cliff a couple times and SWAM in the water (check) and played on the beach. Yes, I got sunburned. Then we went and had lunch at Pounders. Yum.

Then I drove home to Sandy where I took a nap until dinner. Then my dad taught me how to fix a bike tire. Boys, if you ever need help, let me know. ;) Then I showered and got ready. I love feeling like a girl on the weekends!

Then I went to my best friend Jerrica's house. A whole bunch of people were there and we watched Tangled. Oh goodness, I love that movie. Watching it made me miss my Logan boys. Especially Richie (aka Flynn Ryder). After the movie everyone left except me. I talked to Jer and Dallin for a while. It was so much fun. Can I just say that I love their whole entire family?

Today I went to Sacrament meeting in my ward. I substituted as the chorister. It was pretty sweet. Then I went to Jaron Steven's missionary farewell. I love that kid! He is going to be a great  missionary in Argentina!

When I got home and after a delicious dinner with my family I wrote missionary letters. After about the third or fourth one in a row it gets pretty easy. I miss all of them.

Then I went for dessert at Jeff and Jodie's house. I love my crazy family.

Now, I am going to go to bed.

Tomorrow is the first day of my last week of work.

Two weeks until school starts.

Nine days until I move to Logan.

So excited.

p.s. I LOVE MOLLY PAGE

Oh goodness!

Only two weeks left of summer. There are so many things I wanted to do this summer and I haven't done most of them. So.....I'm going to live up these last two weeks! Here is a list of things I wanna do:

Go swimming

Get ice cream with my daddy

Get a pedicure and/or manicure
Go on a hike and watch the sunset
Go stargazing
Go boating-I'm CRAVING it :)
Go to Lagoon-this one probably won't happen
Take my brother to breakfast
Finish my quilt
Finish the trek movie
Pack for school

I know this looks like a lot but I'm going to try my HARDEST to accomplish everything on this list.

a goal not written down is only a wish.

it is good to have goals. something to work towards. my sister just made a goal to not buy any shoes for four months. on january first the whole world makes goals to better themselves. a new school year is a time for goals. goals help you to have something that you are working for so that you can become a better person. there are long term goals and short term goals. people make goals to exercise, to quit smoking, to get straight As. a lot of times the goals we make are forgotten or given up on. a goal not written down is only a wish.

i am setting a goal. i am not very good at taking criticism. i want to be right. all the time. that needs to change. i shouldn't take advice and criticism so seriously. if someone tells me that i'm doing something wrong, i should honestly take that criticism and use it to become better. i shouldn't be so defensive. sometimes i need to admit that i'm wrong. that is my goal.

Taylor Benjamin Dolbin

He is an incredible friend.

He is always there when I need him. 

(Even though he never answers his phone.)

When I'm having problems with boys, friends, or life he knows what to say.

He is so strong. So solid.

He is quite good looking.

He loves the Gospel.

He is funny.

He tells me that I give the best hugs.

He is a great example of a disciple of Christ.

He is going on a mission to El Salvador.

He leaves tomorrow.

I'm going to miss him.

Fer real  :)

Dreams....

I think that sometimes dreams you dream can come true.

One time I had a dream that came true. I dreamed that there were fireworks, and a kiss, on a special day.

Another dream: I was in my bed and bugs were eating the insides of my elbows.....it hasn't come true.

Last night I had a dream.....that I fell in love. Love at first sight.

I wonder if it one will come true.

Pots, Pans, and Measuring Cups :)

Don't you love those days when you get ready. Feel cute. Look cute. And have no plans?

Really? Another one?

I swear two million people are leaving on their mission today.

Francisco Arrieta

I love his hugs.
I love it when he sings.
I love his strength.
I love his smile.
I love his swing dancing moves.
I love his laugh.
I love his guitar playing.
I love that he taught me to solve a rubix cube.
I love him!

You're going to be incredible in Mexico! Thanks for being such a great friend! I will see you in two years and talk to you soon! Love you :)

Elder Harrison

We became awesome friends at Utah State.

Meeting there was obviously fate.

A connection from long ago,

Why did it take so long to show?

Now you are a missionary,

And at Utah State I will tarry.

When around you no one is glum.

Thanks for being so awesome.

Sorry this poem is so lame.

The Gospel go proclaim!

I love you and will miss you Ben Harrison! Have an incredible mission! I look forward to your letters :)

Joshua Daniel Gathro

J  ubilant spirit

O utstanding poetry

S incere smile

H andsome appearance

U nique personality

A mazing friend

One year. Millions of memories. Tons of laughs.

An incredible friend.

Always there.

You're going to be an amazing missionary. Many thoughts and prayers to you!