A Trip Down Memory Lane...

Last Friday night we had a Stake Enrichment Meeting centered around Faith, Family and Service. As a YSA branch we were asked to sing a song entitled "An Angel to Watch Over Me", about mothers. During the song they played a slideshow with pictures of mother and daughters in the Stake. My mom doesn't live in the Stake, but they asked for a picture none the less. All of my more recent pictures of my mom and I are in Virginia, but I found this one and I thought it was cute. I thought about it, and she's a few years younger than I am right now. I don't know how she did it. By the time she was my age she had three kids.

Over the years my mother and I have had our differences, more recent than long ago, but I do love her, no matter what happens. I don't want to get to personal with a bunch of strangers that may be reading this, but I've always been frightened of becoming my mother. It's something that I've sworn I'll never do. Looking at this picture makes me think though that I don't have to become the person she is now, but she looks so happy here, and I hope that one day I can be half the mother she was early in my life.

Girls Camp '08

Girl's Camp was June 9-14 and I had such a fun time. I had 10 girls from the stake and two JC's to help me out. The theme of the week was "Gentle Giants, Stand a Little Taller" so our group name was the Giant Peaches.

The week was crazy busy and hot, but it was definitely worth it on all levels. I didn't even have to get upset with my girls until Thursday night :) It was great to see the girls get to know eachother and become friends when they hadn't known eachother just days before. The best part though, was to hear each of them bear their testimonies Friday night. It reminded me of my first year at camp and how much life these girls have before them. I hope I can do it again next year!

Two un-spiritual highlights of the week: First, winning the Spirit Stick! Tara, Whitney and I all managed to win it and added our own group item to it.

Second, our little visitor that Whitney found Friday night! I must say, I was most excited right after Tara killed it, but I'd never seen one before so it was kinda cool in a weird way...

This Month Is Such A Special One

Happy Birthday to Me! I'm not usually one to go out and tell people it's my birthday, but today I am just so happy. I've already gotten to talk to my dad and my four youngest siblings, Seraph, my friends Michelle and Tyler, and my 11 year old cousin Brooklyn (she sang every birthday song she could think of) and I've gotten texts from a bunch of friends. Thanks to everyone so far, and to everyone still to come! You've made the first half of my day so great. Love you all!

What A Wonderful World

So turns out my previous writing was not totally erased and I just found it! So, here it is...I just got back from my weekend in Utah and I had a blast! I got to spend time with my sister Trish and see so many old friends. I must thank Mark for getting hitched so that I had a reason to go out to Utah in the first place! Now here's the recap for Julie :)

I flew in Saturday afternoon and then went shopping with Trish at the Orem mall, hit up Target, Smith's (saw Matt Allen, former BYU football player while we were there), got lunch/dinner at Noodles and Company (a new love), and then went to Color Me Mine. I have to say, that place is amazing and I wish we had one out here!

Sunday I went out to my friend Susie's for church and stayed with her for dinner and practically all day :) The highlight, besides seeing Susie!, was when her cousin Abi stopped by with her hubby Jacob and her two adorable kids! Abi is an old roommate of mine (that's how I met Susie) and I hadn't seen her since she and Jacob were married almost 4 years ago. They then called their other cousin Cassie (Practically a roommate. She would always come over and do homework and take naps!) and she came down to see me too! It was nice to see more people than I had planned on seeing.


Monday morning Trish and I went down to see Indiana Jones but it was sold out so we got tickets to a later showing. We then went shopping for a little bit at Provo Towne Center and again to the Orem mall before heading back to the theater. The movie was great! I grew up watching all of the Indiana Jones movies and was sooo excited when I hear this one was coming out. After the movie we went home and I then went over to see Seraph, one of my best friends since I was 12. We chatted for almost 4 hours! It was great to catch up and hear how things were going in her life, especially to find out that she is pregnant! She's practically a sister to me, so I feel like I'm going to be an aunt :) (Same goes for you Jules).

Tuesday was the big day! After an early (8 am) breakfast with some friends from California, I headed up to campus to do some studying (took my last final of the semester this morning) and squeeze in a little "Eclipse" here and there ;) I had a little visit with my BYU-Info boss Louise that I've known for almost 20 years (granted, I didn't really know her until I started the at Info in 2003, but my parents have known here that long). It was great to see her again as well. Had lunch with my cousin Jared in the Cougareat, and then went back to the apartment to take a nap before getting ready for the reception. Trish and Charles (her boyfriend) woke me up and asked if I wanted to go to dinner, but I was pretty out of it so I didn't go. I got ready for the reception and headed out about 6. It was held at "The Bungalow" in Pleasant Grove and was absolutely gorgeous. Mark looked so happy and his bride Kim is such a sweetheart. The slideshow that was running inside was hilarious as well. It reminded me of the good old days of bowl-cuts and eyeglasses, and the good times we had in high school. I got to see a number of people from Virginia as well! Daniel and Sam Lattin and their wives Hope and Anna, Seraph and Shawn, Alisa Chambers, her fiance and her parents, and even Kate formerly Rammell, but now Ball and her parents. I must say I was most excited to see the Rammells, as it has been forever, and Kate is soooo cute at 9 months pregnant. I wish I had gotten a picture with them, I totally spaced before I left.


It was sad to leave, but I was happy that I got to see everyone again! I sometimes find myself holding onto the past and hoping that I can be as close to everyone as I was in high school, but I know that that isn't really possible. People move on, and so will I, but it's kinda hard knowing that most of them are on a life path that I'm not on just yet. Don't get me wrong though, I'm extremely happy with where I am in life and I don't regret any choices I have made, but it's just not so fun looking at my old friends and realizing that I don't have much in common with them right now. I will eventually, but it's just not my time yet...I don't mean for this to be depressing, but that's the only way I can think to explain it right now :) Anyway, I'm so glad that I got to see everyone that I did and hope to see you all again soon! Love you all.

Stupid!

I totally just wrote this whole long recap on my trip and I hit the wrong button and it's now gone. Argh! You'll all just have to wait until tomorrow morning to get it I guess. I have to go throw a birthday party right after work...technology stinks sometimes!

Leavin' on a jet plane!

Finally! I'm off to Provo until Wednesday and I'm so excited. The reason for the visit is a wedding, but I get to see old friends and I can't wait!

A New Love

So, I decided the other day to try out a book that ALL of my friends have read (well, really I only know that Ser and Jules have read them, but that's not the point)...I started "Twilight" Friday and have been engrossed ever since...darn Edward. I can't seem to put the darn thing down and stayed up until almost 1am reading last night and brought it to read between classes today at school. I have a love/hate relationship with this book now, love reading it, but hate that it's all I think about! Haha. Anyway, can't wait to see you soon Ser! Wish you were going to be there too Jules! Love you both bunches :)