Friday, August 29, 2014

Birthday celebrations

august was full of birthday celebrations for some of my favorite people! 
my darling friend dresden turned 16, in honor we spent a night up in salt lake city, ate german pastries in bed for breakfast, and then shopped at city creek all afternoon.






I also got to celebrate my cute little "granny bird's" 88th birthday with chocolate waffles, presents, and great grand babies in my uncles back yard.
i'm hoping she and her rockin "duck face" are around for lots longer, no one makes me laugh quite as hard as she does.






p.s.^^we're totally missing our cute sister missionary. one month down and 17 left to go.

Sunday, August 24, 2014

goodbye's.

these past two weeks i've realized just how crazy and sad growing up is.
my junior year of high school all of my closets friends were seniors, and as hard as I thought graduation was... i had no idea what i'd be experiencing just 3 months later.




my first goodbye was to ms. kinzie taylor (she will be attending Utah state) let's just say at 1 a.m. when I didn't want to be home, I'd go to the Taylor home and cuddle her in her bed while she slept and I sat on my phone, that's pretty much true friendship right?! not only was her door always open for me, she was a better listener then anyone else ever could be, i could never repay her for that.






my next set of goodbyes were to amber (who will be attending Dixie) and carrie (who will be attending Utah state) --and thankfully i get to keep kels here with me as she's going to UVU.
 
dance company will these girls? there's nothing better, (our coach thinks strongly otherwise) i mean who else would sit in the corner and draw centaurs and narwalls on the white board with me instead of dancing?!
 i have a special place in my heart for these ladies, we just "fit" together, it was an instant connection. i like to look at it like soul mates (but the best friend kind of mates) 
 
 







lastly (but not least) elder zack  Johnson. saying my goodbye for the next two years as he heads out to serve in fort Collins Colorado was a lot harder then expected.
i'm going to miss his dumb jokes and his awesome advice when I was sad or upset, and i'll miss going on rides in "camo" but I'm absolutely so thrilled for him. (and I promised to be his missionary GF, so i'm also excited to send cute packages. i already had a piece of cake from the chocolate delivered to the MTC so i'd say i'm doing pretty good with that one so far)

most of all, it's going to suck not seeing these people in the hallways everyday, and it's going to suck not spending half the time I use to with them, but holla at senior year, i'm we're ready for you, (I still know some pretty cool 'non-graduated' people.)


bring it on.

Saturday, August 16, 2014

courtesy to my iPhone.



























swimming, sisters, the niece, baptisms for the dead selfie, dolphin dress, red converse, and some best friends. That about sums it up. 

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

vulnerability

you know how sometimes traumatizing or scary or sad things occur? and you instantly think to yourself "i'm putting this in the back closet and leaving it there. this story is never to be spoken of" ?
(I know we can all think of at least one thing that causes us a lot of shame and guilt)
but guess what surprisingly enough actually feels really good? talking about these things and events.
 
at first it's hard, getting these thoughts and memories out of that back closet and talking about them almost makes them worse. it's like re-doing a house, or organizing a messy room -sometimes it gets worse before it gets better... but eventually you get to a point where you've dug deep, you've broken down your walls, and you're vulnerable. you talk (openly) about what once was the un-speakable.
and strangely... it feels really good.
 
 
today I give 5 gold stars to being vulnerable.
 


 
 

Friday, August 8, 2014

farewell sister hill

3 weeks ago my dear sister alexis was set apart as a missionary for the church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints if my family had to choose one word to describe her I think it would be sunshine, she always has this contagious smile on her face, she spreads light everywhere she goes, one reason I know she'll be the greatest missionary is because she's so loving and accepting of everyone, she has a true gift to see the very best in people, this girl is going to touch so many lives, although i've sincerely missed our harry potter discussions and watching toy story together, I know she's exactly where she's suppose to be, and she's accomplishing amazing things. I love you sister hill. Birmingham Alabama better take good care of you.