the most magical place on earth and other fun places

The last month or so has been so busy. Sarah, Jessica, and their kids came to visit us for a few weeks. We had so much fun playing with the kids. Lily is getting so big, and is such a sweetheart. LaMar and Rochelle are growing up so fast. LaMar slept on the floor in my room, and my favorite part of the day was bedtime when I got to put him in bed and read stories. He is a sweet boy. Rochelle played dress-up and house, and all kinds of things. Sophie is no longer a baby! She is still as friendly as can be, and she, too, is sweet and fun. She is full of mischief. Sierra is a beautiful girl, ready to go into young women's on Sunday. Her twelfth birthday is on Saturday. She started junior high yesterday. I can't believe how grown-up she is.

For Stephanie's and Sierra's birthdays, the three of us spent three days in Disneyland. It was so fun going with Sierra, who had never been before. We went on almost every ride, met several characters, and went to some shows. My favorite was Soarin', a ride/show about California. You sit in front of a huge screen, they move the seats up high so you feel like you're in a hang-glider, and you see, hear, and smell beautiful California landscapes. Next to that, my favorite ride was the good old Space Mountain. I love not knowing where the track is going to take you. It makes the ride so much more exciting. Sierra's favorite ride was the Hollywood Tower of Terror. They take you up into what is supposed to be an old hotel where the elevator stops working at the top of the building. Then you plummet, free falling down, shooting back up, then dropping again. It is by far the scariest thing I have ever done. Thank goodness for anxiety meds.

After coming home from Disneyland we drove to Washington for Brianne's wedding. She was a beautiful bride. I still have a hard time believing that she's married. While in Washington we were able to spend more time with family. Rochelle and LaMar were part of the wedding party, so they were all dressed up. It was so cute. At the reception we danced with the kids. Justin and Jessica danced, and Rochelle and LaMar were trying to copy everything their parents did. It was funny to watch Rochelle, who is quite a bit taller than LaMar, try to spin into LaMar's arms and dip like Justin does with Jessica. What funny kids.

I'm going back to Rexburg on Tuesday. I'm grateful for this break, but I'm kind of ready to get back into school. I'm starting to get what I can only guess is the beginnings of senior-itis. I changed my major to English education, and I am ready to finish school so that I can start working, making money, and moving on with my life. I think I'm done being the student. I want to be the teacher for a little while. Stephanie's going back to school has made me want to become a teacher even more. I know it will be difficult, but I think I'm up for the challenge. I guess we'll see how ready I am in a year or two!

calendar girl

Today I changed my calendar from January to February. Since Stephanie has been making family calendars, each month's end always presents a certain excitement. What will the new month look like? Which family pictures made it into this year's edition? I have looked through this calendar several times, but I am still excited when the pictures of the new month proudly overlook my occasionally-clean bedroom. As you may or may not know, I turn 22 on Sunday. I decided to give my own version of how my 22nd year of life has played out. I hope you enjoy:

FEBRUARY
~ A visit from Mom and Dad in Rexburg to take me shopping for new shoes (thank goodness!) and a meeting involving an assessment of the temporary living arrangements with the Samuelson family.
~ The sudden passing of President Hinckley and welcoming in of President Monson, just in time for the Rexburg Temple Celebration (I was one of seven from my ward to go) and the Dedication (a truly uplifting and enriching experience)
~ A lot of panic attacks and mixed emotions, counseling, medications--basically a nightmare.
~ Trip home for a weekend with Grammy and Sierra. The best part--shopping for a blessing dress for Sophie! Dad is right in Grammy's eyes.
~ The decision to medically withdraw from school. Again, a nightmare.
~ Acceptance into the NULC (National Undergraduate Literature Conference) at Weber State in April

MARCH
~ A tearful farewell to Rexburg and the move "home." For the first time, I actually live in Syracuse
~ A week of hell, followed by a two-week trip to Seattle to see newborn Sophie. Despite all the struggles, a definite highlight.

APRIL
~ General Conference in Rexburg
~ Opt out of the NULC for health reasons
~ Begin therapy in Utah--demanding and exhausting, but on the whole, a good experience.
~Another Rexburg trip

MAY
~ Fly to Utah for a flash-family reunion and the blessing of Sophie. Family pictures that turned out FABULOUS!
~ A week with Aaron's family in Utah. So, so fun! Oh how I love my Talmage and Anya!

JUNE
~ A bunch of stuff that I don't remember (or maybe nothing really happened, which is quite possible!)
~ I think another trip to Rexburg

JULY
~ Independence Day in Rexburg
~ Brent and Nancy and their family drive out and spend a week in Utah. Lots of pool time, a little bit of sunburn, and AMAZING Oreo milkshakes.

AUGUST
~ Sarah's family in Utah, which slightly overlaps with Brent and Nancy's stay. Sophie is a doll. Sierra is a wonderful big sister.
~ Camping trip in Vernal. I'll admit now that I was a definite party-pooper.
~ My half-birthday (more important than the actual birthday, I think), Steph's birthday
~ Visit from Grammy over her birthday. Dad's right again! Who would have thought?
~ I'm sure another trip to Rexburg, but I have no idea.

SEPTEMBER
~ Back to school. Glad to be back, freaking out. Thank you, Brother Stoddard and Dr. Zohner!
~ Visit from Mom and Dad to help me buy a laptop. Most unsuccessful. Thank you, Brent, for helping me get a great deal through Boeing! Welcome to the Lindsey Kay Family, Benjamin Franklin Pierce!
~ A lot of homework, 27th Ward activities ("Are we a family? Yes! We're a family! Name of the family? 27th Ward!")

OCTOBER
~ Sick with a bad cold, the worst medication side effects, and a lot of missed class. Oh brother, here we go again...
~ A trip back to Utah for the release of HSM3. Good, but I'm just not as big of a fan as I once was.
~ More homework, FHE, and 27th Ward Activities. Visits from Liz and Kathryn Moore, the RSP and my VT. Both wonderful girls who definitely looked out for me.

NOVEMBER
~ Unsalvageable semester. Attempt to medically withdraw, major backfire, and back to Utah we go...This time without a spot saved for next semester. Tearful farewell.
~ Andra is home from her mission! It's about time! Eighteen months is just too long!
~ Fabulous Thanksgiving with Jason, Paul, and Heather. Rockband, a little Hokey 6, Brian Regan, and a newfound favorite--ventrilaquist Jeff-fa-fa Dun-ham (dot com).

DECEMBER
~ Initiation into the Meadow Park Branch. Such a blessing.
~ Santa gigs as "security officer" (see Paul Blart: Mall Cop). At last I can speak Elf! Problem: I can't stop!
~ Weekend trip to Rexburg to surprise Elisabeth at the end of the semester. Scary roads, but it was still worth it.
~ FHE with the Branch, Linger-longers, and various activities, as well as some Syracuse Junior High concerts and their production of It's a Wonderful Life with Stephanie.
~ Christmas Eve--visit to the Barnes' house to give the kids gifts and to see baby Kate, followed by our fancy dinner, and finished off with a nativity reinactment, treats, and matching jammies with the Palmers. By far the best Christmas Eve in Utah.
~ 5:00 Christmas Morning. Opening gifts, calling family, and an episode of the original Get Smart show before a dash to the airport, a long wait, and then a flight to Washington.
~ Santa appearances at Brent's and at Grammy's. Finally we get to see Sierra, Sophie, Rochelle, and LaMar. Oh...and their parents.
~ Sleeping at Grandma's house, Zoo Lights at Point Defiance, cabbage rolls with Grandma, sleepover with the grandkids, Olive Garden and party at Brent and Nancy's for New Years Eve...All so fun! Definitely the best Christmas season I've ever experienced. Perhaps the same next year only with Aaron and Brandon as well? ;-)

JANUARY
~ Day trip to Rexburg with some of Brianne's things.
~ Our hunt for kittens, and at last we have success! Welcome, Pip and Scrat! I didn't realize how much work they are, and how much trouble they can get into!
~ A week-long trip to Rexburg, compliments of Elisabeth. Such a great trip full of all my favorites: Jack-in-the-Box, MST3K, RocketMan, AFV, Whose Line, Champagne Thursday, Sims, late nights, laughing hysterically, Sunday dinner, cuddling with Isaac (a Samuelson grandson), playing with Ethan (another grandson), long conversations with Mom and Dad Sam and Paula, Applebee's, American Idol...I know I'm forgetting things, but this is all that comes to mind. And of course a few new favorites too, such as Sleepless in Seattle and dinner at The Backyard with Brianne, as well as a much-needed visit with Andra.

If you are still reading this, apparently you have nothing better to do with your time, and you are probably bored out of your mind. What I see as I look back over this exhausting year is a lot of the unexpected, some disappointment, attempts to feel even a little better...but I see so many good times with good people. I have made some amazing friends (Elisabeth, Mom Sam, Paula, Ben, the Moore sisters, Michael), developed new interests (watercolors, pastels, guitar, a great love of M*A*S*H), created memories that will forever remain among the best (time with the my siblings and their children, trips to Washington and Rexburg, church activities), and found help in some of the most unexpected places (Brother Stoddard, Samuelsons, Paula, Ben, Kim, Jane and Gerry, Liz, Bishop Mickelsen, President Moyes, the ever-talented Yoko). Family relationships have strengthened (Paul, Jason, Brianne, Nicole, Gary and Kina, Pamela, my grandparents) and passions have grown (writing, reading, painting, music-making). I have loved (new and old family and friends), lost (pride, self-worth, difficult goodbyes), and made up (strengthened relationships with my immediate family, reapplied to BYU-I, therapy). It has been awful, wonderful, difficult, exhausting, mind-boggling, crazy, fun, exciting, excruciating, and enchanting. I've experienced the my lowest moments, as well as some of my highest moments.

Thank you for helping me through the year. On to the next...

"home" for the holidays

This weekend I made a quick trip back to "the greatest place on Earth!" No, not DisneyLand (though that would have been really cool). I went to Rexburg. I drove up on Friday evening to surprise Elisabeth. She was very surprised! I had a great time up there. I watched two great Christmas movies--A Matter of Principle and the original Miracle on 34th Street. I had not seen either of them. I also watched several episodes of Whose Line is It Anyway?, Time Warp, and Destroyed in Seconds.

On Sunday, the Rexburg 15th Ward had their Christmas program. Elisabeth and Mom & Dad S were in the choir. Mom S also played the piano for the Primary kids, and Elisabeth played her cello for one of the choir pieces. It was a wonderful meeting. On Monday night I went to a REAL Family Home Evening! We went to Andrea (the oldest Samuelson) and Kevin's house for a lesson and activity. They have five boys between 13 and 1 years old--Adam, Nathan, Daniel, Seth, and Isaac. Also, the two younger Samuelson boys were there, Ian and Richard, with their wives and son's--Isaac (Ian's) and Ethan (Richard's). Andrea taught a lesson about gifts from Christ. Then Mom S and Elisabeth played "Sleigh Ride" on the piano. After that the kids went downstairs to watch "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," while the adults and Adam had a "white elephant" exchange. I got four stress-reliever lego pieces. They're fun. We had treats and watched some cute videos of Andrea's boys.

I painted three pictures to give to Dad & Mom S and Elisabeth. They will be up on Blackbird eventually, when I find a way to get the pictures from my camera to my computer. In return, Elisabeth gave me two of her drawings, both very beautiful, and Mom & Dad S gave me a framed picture of the four of us that was taken on Sunday before church. I had a hard time leaving them to come back to Utah, and they are already planning another time for me to come back.

Although I miss Idaho, I'm glad to be back in Utah. Mom & Dad, Stephanie, and I are going to see "Savior of the World" tonight at the Conference Center. On Christmas day we are flying to Washington to be with Sarah and Justin and their families. I'm so excited to be there. After being around so many little kids this weekend, I can't wait to see Sierra, Sophie, Rochelle, and LaMar!

To Idaho and Back Again

I know it's been a while since I updated this blog. At last I have something to write about. I just spent almost two weeks in Rexburg with the Samuelsons. I had such a wonderful time there. While I was there I saw both Wall E and Kung Fu Panda (for the second time), and they were absolutely fabulous. I know I say this about every movie, but they are two of my favorites. Seriously. I also introduced the worlds of Brian Regan, "Human Tetris," and "fainting goats" to Elisabeth, and watched them all for endless hours on YouTube. Elisabeth and I spent some time painting, and both Saturdays I was there I watched Scott paint. He is an amazing artist. I love watching him work. I helped with cleaning while I was there, which definitely makes me feel right at home. I played a little too much with the three Samuelson cats--Milo, Asher, and Badger. My hands and feet are practically in pieces because I teased them and then got what I deserved. We watched a lot of Whose Line is It Anyway?, a favorite show in the Samuelson house. We also watched quite a bit on the Food Network, which is quickly becoming one of my favorite channels, and a little Mystery Science Theater 3000. Elisabeth and I both did quite a bit of writing, which was so good for me. It had been a long time since I'd written. Most of the time we spoke to each other in movie quotes. Elisabeth is the first person I've met that has been able to out-quote me! I still have her beat in Disney movies and Brian Regan, but she is quickly learning the best Regan phrases.

I spent Independence Day with the Samuelsons. We didn't make a big deal out of the holiday, which I prefer. Scott made a Dutch oven lunch, and Shauna made vanilla ice cream. It was so good! We spent the rest of the afternoon napping and playing Wii. That night, rather than watching fireworks, we watched a movie called Miss Firecracker, starring Holly Hunter. It was a pretty good movie, but a little depressing.

While I was there, I secured a job at the Reading Center in the McKay Library on campus. Julie Engstrom, the head of the Reading Center, is a good friend of mine. She gave me a job as a tutor that I will begin in the fall. I'm a little nervous about it, but I'm also excited. I finally get to say goodbye to Scroll (I've been waiting for that day!) and now have a job that hopefully won't give me ulcers like being a copy editor. I'm looking forward to the experience.

I am looking forward to getting back to Rexburg for school. In the meantime, I am going to enjoy the rest of my summer as family and friends come to visit. Today Elisabeth is arriving to stay for the week. Later in the month Sarah and her family will be here, and next month I have some extended family coming to stay.

I hope everyone is doing well and had a fun and safe July 4th!