2011 in Photos Pt1 (January-June)

Better late than never, eh!? 

Gaze upon the first 6 months of 2011:

Said goodbye to my best friend and boyfriend, Seth, as he left on a 2 year mission for our church. 

(He's serving in Argentina and has now been out for a little over 10 months.)

Raised 5 baby raccoon over the summer

Went to Washington D.C. over Memorial weekend and played with our band

Went to a branding with Seth's family. 

I. Loved. It.

Shylo

Continuing on with my Christmas gifts...this poem was written for my second youngest sister, Shylo.

I Know You

Like the book

In which you

Are absorbed,

You’re easy to read

I know that

You care for us,

Your siblings,

Enough to

Defend us

Against all odds

I know that

You act as though

You are untouchable

In order to protect

Your fragile emotions

And soft heart

I know that

Your mound of books

Has gifted you

With intelligence and

In a world

All your own

Your imagination

Often runs wild

I wish I could

Escape with you

Because I know

How enchanting

It must be

I know because

I have been there

In my own mind

I know that

People say

You look like me

But I was

Much more awkward

At your age

I know how

Excited you can get

Over the same things

That I am passionate about

I know that

When I look at you

I see

A younger version

A smarter version

A kinder version

A better version

Of myself

What are you doing for the rest of eternity?

Wanna know what I love? How, no matter where you go, the church  is always the same. Therefore, it's easy to make friends anywhere you go! Which reminds me, last night I went to a movie night with a bunch of people from my new singles ward. It was grand.
My favorite part of the night, though, was listening to the cheesy pick up lines that were being thrown around. The best was, and I quote, "Oh I like your name. That's a nice name. What are you doing for the rest of eternity?" That guy was just joking but another guy started up a conversation with the girl sitting next to me and right off the bat he said something about how she had such a gorgeous face. Then he told her when she walked in the room just lit up like *BAM!* And he topped it off by telling her that he noticed her beautiful silky hair during church that morning. I think I about busted a gut. She really was a very pretty girl so I don't blame the guy for hitting on her and she loved the cheesy lines so I guess it worked for him. But I still couldn't help it, I definitely started laughing. Luckily, I played it off like I was laughing at something that just happened in the movie and the day was saved.

Sequoia

I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm a terrible blogger. Getting into the groove of things here in good ol' AZ has really thrown off my blogging. I'll work on that.

Anyway, as promised, here's the first  of the seven poems I wrote for my family members for Christmas. I'm going to start at the youngest and work my way up to the oldest so this one is about my 10 year old sister, Sequoia.

Baby Sister

Following ten years

Behind me in age,

My youngest sister

Doesn’t follow at all

With a mind all her own,

She is

Lively, Spirited,

And too often headstrong

But she is also

Gentle and kind

And eager to help

That fact becomes clear

When she realizes that

I’m a poor college student

And offers

All of the money

She has collected in

That little pink purse

I cannot take

 Her dollar bills

And pennies,

Though she’s pushing them

Into my hands

Like the mite

Of the widow,

My sister is willing to give

All that she has

She’s the first

To greet me

When I return

And always the

Most excited to hear

My voice on the phone

Her handwritten letters

Let me know she

Wants me home

And emotion-filled hugs

Tell me

It’s here I belong

The Flight annd...The. Best. Christmas. Ever.

Hey, girls, hey!!! I'm back! Sorry it's taken so long but I'm finally settled in here in Arizona. Saying goodbye to my family was hard and we all cried as if one of us had just died...luckily that's not the case. I just won't see them until May. Anyway, once I flew into Mesa I was greeted by Misty, James, and the girls. They were excited that I was there and that made everything so much better! It makes such a tremendous difference when people can't wait to see you. And I've skyped people every night so that has made things easier too! (My awesome old roommate Stephanie...cried saying goodbye to her too, my sister Sapphire and the rest of my family, and Candice!) So, long story short, the move went well and now I'm just chillin down here enjoying the 80 degree weather.
Now, I'm ready to tell you all about the Best. Christmas. Ever.
Are you ready?
Here goes...
So, as you know, Christmas was on a Sunday this year. We decided that we weren't going to open any presents before church that day and so off we went on our merry way. Our church Christmas program was awesome and the spirit was super strong! There were some really beautiful musical numbers that just about made me cry. Then we came home and opened gifts and I received a beautiful Canon T3 for my birthday/Christmas present! (Thanks, Mom!!..er....Santa) After everyone was done opening their gifts I told them to hang on, I had something to give them all. So I went and grabbed what I have been working on for awhile...poems I had written for each one of my family members. I handed them all out and, as they read them, my family began to cry. Omygoodness. Can I just say how much I love my family? It was one of those things that you will never forget and, though it sounds cheesy, now it's definitely the most special Christmas memory that I have. After a few more hours of just spending time with my family I received an amazing surprise, a phone call!!!  That was the cherry on top of my awesome Christmas.
It was just a really incredible day filled with all things good.
I can't even express what a great Christmas I had.
I love my family.
And I'm going to be sharing the poems I wrote for each one of them so that you can get to know them a little better and love them too. Keep your eyes open for them and enjoy!