So Goodnight

I have tried to put this weekend into words, but my lovely sister put it so beautifully, I'm just going to share the link to her blog post. 

http://brockandkateweaver.blogspot.com/2012/06/familyisnt-it-about-time.html

I am so grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ. Without His sacrifice none of the blessings we now enjoy would be possible. He knows what we are going through. He has broken the bonds of death so that Brett can be whole and live again. So we all can do that. 

And I sure do love my family.

The cousins (minus two.)

"So goodnight, sleep tight. Tomorrow's another day till then sweet dreams, sweetheart. May angels up above watch over you and keep you safe little one, till the dawn breaks through."

 -Our Grandpa sang us this lullaby as children and has become a tradition of sorts. And according to my aunt Morena, who married into the Barnard family, we love our traditions. Yes, we do. 

Let's Live For Today

I realize that my post about leaving BYU was written while I was rather emotional (I'm a Wride girl), so for that I apologize. In the meantime, I've been home, adjusting to life in Virginny. In my spare time, I've been sleeping, ... yup. Working only takes 6 hours of my day, Monday through Friday. So I've had time to read, shop, eat, clean. It's been great. 

Speaking of work, I'm actually really enjoying my job. I'm a Personal Aid for a handicapped girl in my home ward, but basically I do whatever her mother needs me to do. It turns out to be a lot of cleaning and other little projects, in addition to feeding, bathing, and watching sweet Hallie. But I've also been helping her mom with dinner and her cake business (a little bit). She's an awesome cook and I've learned a lot already. 

I've been spending some good time with family, too. With Madeline Elena's baptism last weekend and John's birthday yesterday, I've had lots of time to catch up. 

Every one I've talked to asks how being home is. It's weird. I don't really know where I fit in in the scheme of Leesburg living. I'm no longer in high school, but I'm no where near my college friends. I'm a "young single adult" by definition, but I would rather find myself in the safety of Goose Creek family ward. Its just a little awkward for the time being, but it's my life so I'll figure it out as I go! Something I've been thinking about lately is living in the moment. I had an "aha moment" the other day. I typically live for tomorrow. In the literal sense. "Oh, I can't wait until I get through this day so that I can do _______ later..." What I need to start asking myself is "What good can I find right here, right now?" I think we spend so much time thinking about what we need to do/want to do and don't focus on what we are doing right then. I think that will make me so much happier, right now. 

As of right now, I can't get enough of this song. Enjoy. 

What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Stronger

Say some. Not me. NOPE. I've got the lowest pain tolerance ever. EVER. Blood freaks me out. In fact, it makes me a little hysterical. But that's another story. 

So I was going along my merry little pinning ways on Pinterest, when I came across a recipe for a homemade facial mask: 2 ingredients. Ok, I'm down. I'm bored and it's Saturday night. What else would I be doing? 

I make it, kind of awful smelling, but then it started coming together. I was feeling optimistic. 

It started hardening, like any face mask should. 

Then, it turned to stone. 

As I tried to take it off, the feeling was akin to ripping duct tape off my face. 

"It’s a good thing you can’t see the photo all that well.  Do this until you’re all peeled and your face will feel like a baby’s bottom." -talking about a picture of the author while taking the mask off (from the blog post.) 

1. It's a good thing you can't see her lava red face that burns for the next three days.  
2. It's a good thing you can't see all the hair that is pulled from her scalp/eyebrows unintentionally. (So if you see me within the next week and wonder what happened to my eyebrows... you'll know.) 
3. You're face WILL feel like a baby's bottom, however, after the burning sensation dissipates.
4. Baby's bottom= aka, the skin you had as a baby. AKA IT WILL RIP 18 YEARS OF SKIN OFF YOUR FACE. 
5. You WILL want to cry. 

Alright, enough of whining. MORAL IS: DON'T TRUST EVERYTHING YOU PIN. 

PLUS SIDE: this is a good song. 

At The Beginning

At the beginning of this school year, I was scared. I didn't know how my roommates would react to me. I didn't know how I would react to them. I didn't know how I was going to survive without my mom and dad by my side all the time. I didn't know how I was going to pass college level classes. BYU classes, at that. I didn't know what kind of friends I would make. 

Now that I'm at the end, pretty much heartbroken that my freshman year has come to a close, I am so grateful that I had such amazing roommates. They made me laugh, cry, smile, ...food. I learned so much from each of them. Paige is the most tender-hearted gal ever. I don't know that I ever heard her say a negative thing about another person. Sarah is so determined and so hard-working; I wish I had half of her gusto. Raquel is so sweet. Exhibit A: just two nights ago, she kept me company and tried to cheer me up by putting Tangled on while I was having an emotional meltdown. Tabitha is a sweetheart. She really does cares about everyone. Cassie. I learned so much from her, it'd be hard to list it all. She never hesitates to compliment or to extend her hand to someone in need. I love these girls. Paige, Sarah, Raquel, Tabitha, Cassie. Ladies, I miss you. You are all off to do bigger and better things already. 

At the end, I am so grateful to have had family nearby to help me through the harder times (including the quarter droughts so I could have clean clothing and Sunday dinners) and the fun times. 

 

At the end, I'm grateful for not only the study groups, test reviews, tutors, and curves, but for the life lessons learned, too. 

At the end, I realize that I have befriended some of the best people I have ever met. I've made a family. Okay, we were placed together, but still. That was most definitely Heavenly Father's doing. He knew who I needed and what I needed to learn to grow the most these past two semester. 

 

While I know this isn't goodbye, it will be different from now on. Change is scary. But just reflecting on this year, I went from being scared of what was to come to scared to lose what I had gained. So I know that the Lord has things in store for us all. Great things. Fantastic things. He's been preparing us all throughout our lives. For things we've already experienced and things we still have ahead of us. And He will continue to make us change and grow. Even though it's scary and hard. I know I will always look back on this time in my life with the utmost joy that I was able to meet the people I did and create the relationships I did. I love you all. God be with you till we meet again. 

Always Something There to Remind Me...

... Or is there? 

NOPE. BECAUSE I GOT ALL THE NAIL POLISH OUT OF THE CARPET THAT I SPILLED EARLIER TODAY. HEYO. Look at me, I'm domestic-like. 

My secret? Oodles of nail polish remover, warm water w/ a wee bit of dishwashing soap, and a lot of scrubbing. Thank goodness for nasty, old Heritage carpets that conceal most things. 

Rumor Has It

Today was just an Adele kind of day. It was kind of cold and rainy all day, so I think her warm voice and style offset that just a little. Anywho, just some updates.

Fact #1: I signed a contract. Finally. In Glenwood. I can take a big sigh of relief. I am no longer homeless for Fall/Winter semester.

Fact #2: I have declared my major as Recreational Management and Youth Leadership with an emphasis in Therapeutic Recreation. (That just sounds more important than Therapeutic Recreation) But I am very excited for next semester when I get to find out more about it!

Fact #3: I am done with my freshman year classes. Finals are here. Doom/relief/sadness/excitement are all settling in.

Fact #4: I have pretty great friends. But that's another story.

Fact #5: I don't actually have a plane ticket home yet . . . PLEASE LET ME COME HOME MOMMY. <3

Best Day of My Life

Okay, maybe a slight exaggeration. But it was a pretty dang good day.

It started off with a fantastic morning watching Music and the Spoken Word, followed by the most amazing session of conference. With my parents. That was more than I could have asked for.

Then, we went to lunch. My parents had been telling me for the past two days that United had lost their luggage, so after they got a phone call saying their luggage had arrived, we went to the airport to pick it up.

I had noticed my parents speaking in hushed tones on a few different occasions during the past few days, so I knew something was up. My mom made me come into the airport to avoid staying in the "creepy parking lot." Um, ok. So I went along with it all. I had no idea what was really coming.

As my dad took care of the luggage, my mom and I sat down in the baggage claim. I was settling into a quick game of Draw Something when a lady tapped me on my shoulder asking where the...

It was my sister. Kate and Sadie were standing behind me in the Salt Lake City airport. It took me a good 5 seconds of staring at her to fully comprehend that my sister, who had moved to San Francisco two months ago, was in Utah.

Good one, parents. So I spent the day with family. Happy April Fools!