friday night loneliness

So this is my oh please gag me post...
But I couldn't help myself.
Austin is gone for 4 days.
I miss him a lot. a lot a lot.
He's in Arkansas. I should have flown out.
I'm ready for him to come home.
They say that, 'distance makes the heart grow fonder,'
well my heart was fond enough without him leaving... ha.
On memorial day we hiked to Stewart Falls,
It was way fun.
He carried me across the creek so my shoes wouldn't get wet.
What would I do without this boy?
Probably read my book, and prepare a Relief Society lesson.
Yes, that's what I'll be doing this Friday night.
I hope your weekend is filled with more excitement than mine, ha.

Memorial Day

Tomorrow is Memorial Day.
Thank goodness for PTO. woot.
I wish that I could go and visit my grandparents graves.
So this is in honor of them and what little bit I know about them.
Phyllis Summers, an amazing mother, wife, and grandmother.
Although I don't remember her well, I do know one thing... that she raised the best mom in the entire world.
What a daunting task, right?
She was very funny, extremely spunky, and energetic.
She'd prance around the house and call it exercise. Now that's my kind of Grandma.
She was a crazy canner from beets and beans to raspberries and unidentifiable foods. ha
I'm glad she taught my mother this amazing skill and I hope my mother will teach me so that I can teach my daughters.
She was always a very hard worker, after Grandpa had a heart attack at a very young age she was required to work and provide. What amazing strength and diligence.
Elmer Summers, I never knew. But I'm extremely honored to be named after him.
I know that he was a wonderful husband and father. My mom loved her dad and still talks about him to this day. He was very generous and would give the shirt off his back to help another. He loved his wife and made sure that she was respected by their children. I'm excited to be able to meet him again one day. I feel like we are already best friends.

Yesterday Austin and I went to Ikea and Gardner Village.
I forgot how huge Ikea is, and how long it takes to get out once you are in.
and as always I heart Gardner Village, it's the cutest place.
I bought a couple embroidery things that I'm going to work on.
My hours at work got cut a little, so now I have time to do stuff in the morning.
I think I'll run another marathon. (most people don't make that decision on a whim, but why not right?! ha)
Austin is going to Arkansas this weekend. I was going to fly out for the weekend but I can't really afford to take work off.
This weekend will most definitely be filled with chick flicks (Dear John, P.S I love you, The Notebook, Bride Wars, Sleepless in Seattle, 27 dresses, Princess Diaries...) and shopping, with my favorite little sister (and best friend).

Happy Sunday and Memorial Day

summer lovin'

it's been so long.
Life is so wonderful.
I love this boy an awful awful lot.
I'm officially a math education major. woot.
talk about nerdy. i'm cool with it though, no worries.
I get to meet Austin's mom this week, she's coming from Japan.
Yikes, let's hope she likes me...

Finally Finals

Finals are here.
I hate them.
I have neglected school work hard core.
yikes.
I can't wait until it's over.
Please pray for me.
That's all---

oh and I still love this boy.
in case you were wondering.
we're going fishing this summer,
and on bike rides, and indexing,
and hiking, and more fishing,
and picnicking, and a little more fishing.
just 3 more days. 4 more finals.
can't wait.

twenty one.

I am freaking 21 years old in 2 minutes.
Yikes. ha- I am so old
I thought for sure I would go on a mission-
but that idea has been put on hold...
Life is so so wonderful I can't complain about a thing.
(other than my toenail fell off today)- sorry TMI.
I'm training for another marathon and they don't like that idea---
so they just fall off as they please.
We celebrated my birthday on Sunday with the whole fam.

Austin and I went to General Conference in Salt Lake it was super fun-
then came home and he met the whole fam- even Tif, Josh, Madeline and Moira (over skype).
I'm sure he was overwhelmed- even though he said he wasn't.
He's taking me out for my birthday because mom's going to Indiana and dad has bishopric stuff. woot.

I totally wear dresses at least 4 or 5/7 days a week. So guess what I got 4 new dresses! whoo whoo. I was super excited. and I got the NOTEBOOK! best movie evah.

I am so glad Steph and the Cobster could come over!
I have the best best mom ever. Isn't she the cutest thing you have ever seen?! I hope I grow up to be just like her.

The gang... I just love that my fam is totally out of control- I was a little nervous to bring Austin over but he survived. He got the warning on the way out though ha.

Alayna helped me open all of my presents- what would I do without her? Isn't she is the cutest thing ever!
21 wow. another year older. hopefully wiser too. this has been a very rewarding year. I've loved being 20. i hope 21 is even better!

amazed

tonight I am sick.
and can't sleep.
I'm at the parent's house in my amazing, comfortable bed.
Because they are the only people I want when I am sick.
As I lay here thinking- I realized how blessed I truly am.
and how ungrateful I tend to be.
I'm forever grateful for the Savior.
Easter is one of my favorite times of the year.
and my birthday is next week too! whoo whoo. I have the best bday ever--- april 6. (beat that!) ha.
I am so grateful that conference is coming!
I am beyond excited, my spirit feels a little homesick-
during conference the veil seems so thin and the Savior so near.
As I lay here thinking about how sick I feel and how miserable I am I decided to look up Elder Holland's Easter talk from April 09 conference. "None Were with Him."
Tears came to my eyes as I watched the mormon messages video on this talk.
Seriously take 4 minutes to watch it! It will get you in the Easter season way quick.

"None Were with Him"

As I thought about the struggles and trials that I have gone through in my life (as each of us have) these words struck me

"The Father briefly withdrew from Jesus the comfort of His Spirit, the support of His personal presence. It was required; indeed it was central to the significance of the Atonement, that this perfect Son who had never spoken ill nor done wrong nor touched an unclean thing had to know how the rest of humankind—us, all of us—would feel when we did commit such sins."

Elder Holland continues, "Brothers and sisters, one of the great consolations of this Easter season is that because Jesus walked such a long, lonely path utterly alone, we do not have to do so. His solitary journey brought great company for our little version of that path—the merciful care of our Father in Heaven, the unfailing companionship of this Beloved Son, the consummate gift of the Holy Ghost, angels in heaven, family members on both sides of the veil, prophets and apostles, teachers, leaders, friends. All of these and more have been given as companions for our mortal journey because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the Restoration of His gospel. Trumpeted from the summit of Calvary is the truth that we will never be left alone nor unaided, even if sometimes we may feel that we are. Truly the Redeemer of us all said, “I will not leave you comfortless. [My Father and] I will come to you [and abide with you]."

I am so grateful. I know that the Savior loves me. cares about me. He knows me- even though the world doesn't. and that is all that matters. He is truly and honestly my very best friend.

Austin got us tickets for conference from his bishop in Arkansas. I am so glad- I love going to conference!

spring break

First of all I just love this pic.
Kalster is really my bff and this pic shows it all.

We had so much fun in NY.
So many stories and memories.
Missing flight. Forgetting Cell phone.
Getting pulled over. Neon Trees.
Neck Pillows and tray tables.
Crazy taxi driver--- literally "taken".
Subways. China Town. Crazy bag ladies.
Little Italy. H&M. Gap. Macys. The Miracle Worker.
Wicked Lottery. Bargaining. Pictures.
Naked men in Central Park. The Met.
Strand bookstore. Pickpocketers and more...

Here is a pic of the boy... Megs and I had a pancake night when we first moved in (I totally had a crush on him then too, as you can tell). He came into the kitchen and talked to me as I made pancakes and that's where it all began- well kinda (we'd gone out before this).
Anyway- probably still like him a lot.
He makes me sincerely smile. and laugh. a lot.
I love how his arm fits perfectly around me.
or his hand in mine.
- side note. I have always been totally anti PDA. generally it makes me sick. Anyway we were sitting talking to his roommates and he just grabbed my hand. whoa. big move for me. but it was good. now i like when he does that. Anyway
I love walking with this kid and just talking about whatever comes to mind.
and how he listens. and how he cares.
I'm grateful for what he has taught me about men.
and that he honors his priesthood.
we are going to the festival of colors this weekend. woot.
we are going to conference together. i love conference.
I got a new calling this week.
1st counselor in R.S.
humbled? yes.
nervous? more than you'll know.
excited? yeah. now I have an excuse to make new friends!
more updates to come. but as for now I must write a paper that's due tomorrow...
I don't want to go back to school- summer please come quick!