December 13th

Christmas tree

Silly me. In my prancing about in celebration of the end of the semester, I totes forgot to take a picture of my SERIOUSLY awesome decked out apartment, complete with the most awesome glittery Christmas tree and snowflakes. But, luckily for me, my Grandma has a pretty rockin' Christmas ensemble going on. And she won a poinsettia at her ward Christmas dinner tonight, courtesy of her fabulous granddaughter. ;) Also, old people are hilarious. I know I'm a broken record, but man, Grams has some seriously funny friends.

December 12th

Jesus is the reason 

"Jesus is the reason for the season."

He is also the reason that about 95% of my friends (A LOT more of whom aren't pictured here--not enough squares on those darn photo collage apps.) are spread across the world (USA, Brazil, Africa, Iceland, Philippines, Japan, Peru, Chile...I think you get my picture). Knowing what they are doing and why they are gone, but mostly for WHOM they are away, is the only thing that makes it alright to be separated for a few short (siiiiiiike) months. In fact, I'm incredibly proud of every single one of them. They are teaching of our Savior Jesus Christ. The incredible good news that 

we are not alone.

Christ was utterly alone and suffered more so that not one of his brothers and sisters had to. I love Him. I don't know a lot of things, but I know He's there.

Merry Christmas.

December 11th

Stockings 

My roommates totally love Christmas too. Love it. 

December 10th

Gay apparel 

I'm not sure what qualifies as gay apparel, but I love these sweats. Happy finals week! 

December 9th

A wreath

Michaels might be one of my favorite stores-- just because I like to admire and imagine all the things I could do if I had time and money. But at Christmastime, everything smells like glitter and cinnamon. I love it. 

December 8th

Not an ornament 

But now we have a fresh-from-the-forest Christmas tree! 

December 7th

Calendar 

I don't know where this Christmas tradition of eating crappy chocolate every day from a cardboard box came from, but I kinda like it. 

December 5th

A Quiet Moment 

"Having fun isn't hard, when you've got a library card!" 

-Arthur. The Aardvark. 

(I don't think the kids here got the memo...)

December 4th

Wish List

My beautiful niece Maddie is battling cancer, and she and my sister have inspired me to write my own letter to Santa this year. Macy's donates $1 per letter received at special mailboxes located at Macy's stores throughout the country, through December 24, up to 1 million dollars to the fabulous Make a Wish Foundation. But on December 6th (National Believe Day), they will donate $1 per letter received in addition to the million dollars collectively donated. Get writing! 

What's your Christmas wish? 

December 3rd

Outgoing mail

"The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear (and also sending dollar store cheesy Christmas cards)" --True story. 

December 2nd

To do list

>2 weeks to go until then end of the semester. Then I go home. Then it's Christmas.

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can! 

December 1st

Secret Angel

I just love having great friends who lift my spirits, too. 

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

I did one of these last year, and I really had a good experience with it. This has been a hard year, (it seems to me that everyone has had a rough one!) so I'm ready set to embrace this Christmas season! Last year it really helped me notice the things big and small around me that I was grateful for or just enjoyed. I like this particular cut of photo-a-day challenges because it's kind of different and creative, so I'm looking forward to having some fun with it. Join in the fun! Merry Christmas y'all! 

Follow me on instagram @lbwride

Begin Again

Whew. I almost missed the entire month of October.

Also, I've been totally ignoring my blog. Ha. Who reads these anyway?

I just wanted to write a lil something real quick.

So the beginning of the semester, at a new school, I was told that I was going to learn to sing a different way- a better way (link to a page that describes the breathing technique). I was all for it. Cool! And then I tried it-- it is completely opposite of how I was taught to sing for the past 6+ years (I was a loins-girded singer, all the way). So the way my body and mind was used to singing, has been completely challenged. All the muscle memory I've built in the past 6+ years--challenged. And it was incredibly frustrating. (It still is!!) I had been on the verge of tears a few times in lessons, just because I felt like my teacher thought I wasn't trying because I just wasn't getting it. Don't get me wrong, I adore my teacher. She's great. I leave lessons feeling inspired and motivated (signs of a great teacher, in my opinion) it was just the application was bringin' me down!

And then my lesson came this week. She said things like:

"I think you're getting it. You just had a breakthrough didn't you?"
"That's the best you've ever sung that."
"Sometimes we stumble for a long time, and then we make giant strides. And then we take a step back. And then another giant step. And it goes on like that. I think you're making a giant step."
"I know I've turned your world upside down. Majorly. But I can tell you've been working hard."

Can I just tell you HOW GREAT IT WAS TO HEAR THAT? It was great.

Somebody Loves You

I just love 80's music. Even wanna-be Aussy 80's music. 

In The Summertime

...when the weather is hot

you can stretch right up to the sky...

Lots of travel and lots of family. It was awesome. 

San Fran was first, but that's already been blogged. 

Then Palmyra. For like, the 4th year in a row. Can't get enough of it.

          

Then came New Jersey. Or before that. I'm not quite sure. Or both. Yes, both. Lots of driving gets muddled after a while. :) My dear sweet niece Madeline was diagnosed with lymphoma cancer in early May. She's been going through chemo for the past couple of months. It's been so hard, and especially at the beginning, there was a lot of worry. A lot of unknown, and a lot of fear. But as time has gone on, our family, especially my sister and her sweet family, has seen the Lord's tender mercies left and right. So far the cancer has been responding well to the chemo (aka it's doing its job), thank heavens. Mighty Maddie. 

        

In between was lots of good workin' days with the fabulous five. 

          

[I'm getting tired. Let's speed this up a little]

H-dawg is a missionary. Who also happens to almost be my sister. 

Park city. 

                       

the most magical days at Disneyland ever. 

But we missed the Pascuals every second of it. 

Check out these hilarious roller coaster pics. 

Teacups were a hit. 

My nieces and nephews stole my heart every 3 seconds. 

World of Color. Coolest. Thing. EVER. 

Grandparent lovin.

We tri-ed. Legit. 

My parents rock. A whole lot. Love you!!!!!!

And finally, I ended up at Utah State University to study music therapy. EEEEKS!

[Photo not taken this summer, but whatevs.]

I have a hard time with change. I do. But I crave it. Sometimes. I wasn't feeling that this summer. If anything, this summer was harder to leave behind than any other. There were bonds strengthened and grown this summer that I needed so much. I can't believe that I almost ignored the promptings of the Spirit back in December of 2012 that told me that I should be at home this summer. This summer was harder to say goodbye to because there is so much unknown in this coming year. So much unchartered territory.

And it's all going to work out in the Lord's time. I NEED TO LEARN TO BE PATIENT. Sheesh, you'd think I would learn a lesson once, eh? Nope. :) 

It's Been a Long Time Coming

Well long time no talk, interwebs. I've been most slacker-like in my blogging this summer. Bummer. Rhymes. All the times. 

But sometime I'll have time to tell the vast internet and people in it what exactly I've been doing with my life and more or less how I feel about it. 

Here's a teaser. 

Okay, so that was way more than a teaser. But let's just say I had a great/busy/precious-time-spent-with-family kind of summer. And I have a crazy year ahead of me. More on that later. 

San Francisco Saved Me

WHEW. WHAT A MONTH, WHAT A MONTH. I TELL YA WHAT. 

Man. Well, First things first, San Fran needs to be documented fo sho. 

My fabulous sister and hubby graciously let me hang out with them for a week of fun and sun in one of the coolest cities in this land of ours. 

Day One 

We kicked things off with a tour of Oakland Zoo. Great times. 

Day Two

Then the Bug, Kate and I made like tourists in the city. 

Wait, what pier? 

Golden Gate was consistently covered in fog each time I saw it. Still pretty neato!

Sweet Bay Bridge

Food choices? Glad you asked. 

Lunch at Boudins. 

deeeeeeelightful 

And a quick tour of Ghiradelli Square. 

Day Three

 took it easy and had a fun day hanging out followed by my very first Zumba class. That was a nice slice of humble pie. HA. Kate's a total pro at Zumba. Meanwhile, I took this awesome video exhibiting Sadie's killer dance moves, complete with bum shaking, bum scratching, and galloping. Check it. 

Day Four

 a fantastic day at Muir Beach. Check out these fantabulous pictures from the sista that show off this gorgeous beach much better than my dinky phone did. 

Day Five

Lastly, we checked out the flora that northern CA had to offer at the Botanical Gardens.

Such a great week. Seriously. I love my family to pieces. I wished we all lived closer, but hey, if you're going to live far away, it might as well be in a super cool place to visit! Thanks, Weavers! And thank you, thank you Mom and Dad for facilitating this great trip!