Tuesday, August 30, 2011

One Year Ago...

"though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not." - ralph waldo emerson

One year ago today I said goodbye to my home, my parents, sisters, half my closet, my comfort zone and my fears and embraced the most beautiful of all things-my dreams.

I remember being a mix of scared and excited as I got ready the night before. Excited to go where I'd only ever dreamed of, excited to call the greatest city in the world home; sad to leave the friends and family, scared to truly on my own.

But, through this experience I learned more than I can ever express, even with the most beautiful of words. When I think how much my life has changed in this past year, I realize how much of it I owe to London. My friends. My increased love of literature, arts, and culture. My strengthened confidence. My wonderful roommates. My improved testimony and relationship with my Savior.

I am who I am today because I had that experience of London.

So, although this year will be spent in Provo, going about a regular, ordinary every day life it will be extraordinary, because I've lived dreams, learned more about myself, and given a large piece of my heard to that other home of mine.

And so London lives on here, even in Provo.

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"Landed in London at 8:30 this morning. First thought-disbelief that I'm here. Then-wow it is very beautiful here! I'm in love with this city and I've only been here 8 hours! I can't believe I'm living here." -Aug. 31 2010

"Sister Seeley says that when you go home you should ask yourself 'How has this journey changed me?' I'm not sure I'll fully understand that until I get home and back into real life... This journey has brought many new people into my life-friends that have changed and influenced me for the better and have taught me so much. These people will always have a place in my heart and I feel honored to have them in my life... I hope that I can always remember the things I've felt and learned while in London and use them to better myself now and throughout my life."-December 15 2010

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Summer 2011...

was nothing like I expected it to be.

From where I lived to who I spent my free time with it was not what I'd originally expected, but it was what I needed. My days were spent working, and my evenings spent reading, hanging out with my friends, trips to Moon Lake, St. George and Las Vegas, parade of homes with my family, shopping, baking, relaxing, going to the movies and enjoying the rainy nights.

Jessica's wedding
Stacie's cabin
Moon Lake
Trying my luck at the slots
Disco Skating
Taggerts
H&M lovelies
Salt Lake temple
Diet Coke and a good book
my favorite book dedication (from Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.) Other summer reads: the Hunger Game series, Jane Eyre, One Day, and 34 Charles street
The "UP" house
With Russell and Carl
Laughing with the sisters

It was a beautiful, quiet, peaceful, comfortable summer.

But I'm more than ready to start my senior year of college tomorrow. I love having my friends back, and seeing Provo all a buzz again. I'm excited to get involved, with school and my ward and my friends. I'm ready for a change in schedule, to work hard, and to play hard too.

Sunday, August 21, 2011

So Blessed


Lately I've been overwhelmed with gratitude and love for the people I have in my life. Seriously, the past week especially I've just felt like the luckiest girl in the world and here is why:
-I have a cousin, who is also a masseuse (did I spell that right? who cares! however you spell it she rocks at it) and upon finding out that my back and right shoulder blade were all sorts of messed up she drove on over, set up her table and worked out all those nasty knots. And my back has felt much much better! But more than that I've felt much happier because being with her just does that to me.
-I have a friends who are currently scattered throughout the country but some days I spend hours on the phone just catching up. It's amazing to know that no matter how far away they are we are still good friends. (and they are all coming home to Utah so soon. I can not wait.)
-I have another friend took time away from the hubby and her home in Logan to go shopping with me, which was really just an excuse for girl time and Sbarro pizza. And I could not have been more excited.
-I have a boss who is so kind, and understanding and truly cares about me, my happiness, and my education. I've never worked for someone who really understood that education was number 1 before, and it's beautifully refreshing. At work I feel welcome, and cared for and I can honestly say I consider this job one of my very biggest blessings.
-I have a good, good friend who has looked past all my faults, past and present, and still likes hanging out with me even if all we do is get ice cream or grilled cheese at Sonic and browse the racks at Target.
-I have the greatest aunts, uncles and cousins in the world. I'm especially grateful for monthly meals, and the constant laughter and love that exists when we're all together.
-I have so many people who I consider to be friends. My high school buddies, my amazing roommates past and present, the London gang, and all those others who I feel honored to have in my life.
-And most importantly I have an amazing family. A father who loves and provides for us. Seriously I don't know what I'd do about cracked windshields, taxes, or planning for my future without him. I have a mother who spends endless amounts of time on the phone with me. She knows everything (don't tell her I admitted that) and I love that she is not only a great mother but a dear friend. And I have my two best of buds, my sisters who will drive to Provo on a whim just to visit.
See, I'm very, very blessed. But I'm guessing you all are too!