number 200

For my 200th post, please enjoy this video that I have titled "Parent Trap Style" courtesy of Brittany.
(Not gonna lie, my squealing is a little embarrassing.)

So yup, that happened :)

Oh, and did I mention I'm dating someone? I didn't want to date anyone before my mission... but wow is he amazing. I'll call him Glen. And yes, I'm still going on a mission.

a shorty

This picture is from my two week long stay at Capitol Reef.

We're all overlooking a beautiful scene right before sunset. 

My photo professor is in the middle... he was the only one shooting and it was on his iphone. 

Hahahaha, I find it so ironic :)

some news. kinda somethin' I guess.

So it's been a while...

I went to the Subway in Zion National Park with my family on Monday.
Yes, you've heard correctly, it was amazing.
At the end of the hike, there's a pretty steep trail out and a decently long path to the parking lot. My two brothers were leading the way like warriors who were in frustratingly stupid, good shape so obviously, I was falling pretty far behind them. At the same time, I was ahead of everyone else and so I happened to end up all by myself. If you've never been to Subway, there are a lot of places where there really isn't a trail, there's a kind of trail with occasional trail markers and then a kind of trail again... but basically, it can just be a guessing game where you're going. The trail out was kind of like that and since I was by myself, I was just trying to play smart. I followed the trail markers and a couple sets of tennis shoe prints in the dirt. As I was walking along I thought about how if I didn't have those tennis shoe prints, I would be completely lost. What a great analogy to how we need to follow Christ's footsteps and the example He left us so that we won't get lost.
I was feeling all fuzzy and happy inside about my awesome life lesson that I was learning when I came to the end of the trail and guys... there was no parking lot.
Dumb footprints took me nowhere. I was at the edge of a road.
I figured I'd park it for a bit until someone found me because I was most certainly lost.
Ya, no one came.
So I started hiking up the road to try and find this elusive parking lot. Well guys, long story short... after much hiking, knocking on a strangers door for directions, getting a ride from a different stranger because they didn't look like they were going to murder me and abandon my body in the desert, my mother almost crying in relief to see me and a just in time return to my group to prevent an almost made call to search and rescue.... I was okay.
It made me think though...
dang is it easy to follow the wrong set of footprints and get lost.

So guys, here is my news. After a long, hard, full of so many incredible blessings, amazing period of time, I have received permission to serve an LDS mission. Something I have wanted for so long. I am beyond grateful for this opportunity and that I even get to go. I am beyond grateful for those people who have helped me to be in a place where I am even emotionally, physically and spiritually able to serve. And I am beyond grateful for all the support that I've received over the past couple years.
I am serving a mission because I want to help people find the right set of footprints to follow because guys, there are a lot of lost people out there and being lost sucks.


Photo by me shot of my papa in the Subway.

If you'd like, I'm reading my mission call at my parents house tomorrow night (7/11/2013). Shoot me a message if you'd like to be there and I'll give you the deets.

I can do hard things

While hiking with my dad today, we saw a closed flower and he mentioned that it only blooms in the moonlight.
What a lovely thought, a flower that only blooms in darkness...
Sometimes I feel that I reach my most beautiful moments when I am surrounded by darkness. It's in those moments that I realize I am strong and that I can do all hard things in the Lord.


Quick and dirty fuji instant film scans by me from today.

an unfortunate request

This is probably one of the hardest, most heartbreaking choices I've had to make. It's been coming for a while now and I may have already even wrote about it but I've never really had commitment to it like I do now. So here it goes...

Many of you know how much I adore my dogs. Marley is my baby girl, she's my family and I love her with all of my heart. She's one of the sweetest, most loving dogs I've met. She will love you the second she meets you and not even think twice about it. Coming home everyday to someone who loves me unconditionally is the best thing I could ever ask for. She owns my heart and she always will.
My life is taking an interesting turn as of late and because of the choices that I've made and the circumstances that these choices have created.... I can no longer provide a loving home for my sweet Marley. And so my friends, here is my request.... I've been working with an adoption agency to find Marley a new home and so far nothing has worked out. I'm not going to lie, I'm pretty picky about who is going to take Marley. She's definitely an indoor dog but loves having access to the outside and she needs a lot of attention and exercise. So if you know of anyone who would be interested in her under those circumstances and would love her with all their heart, send them my way.
Thank you friends.

Here is her information...

American Eskimo
2.5-3 years old
18 lbs
Spayed
House trained
If you'd like more information on her personality, energy, behavior, etc... contact me.

a joyful find

Here's the deal.
I can never find clothes at clothing stores that I actually like or are modest enough for me to wear. I would much rather sew my clothes how I like them.... but... there is no good apparel fabric anywhere. I have internet searched and fabric store searched and everything searched and I can never find anything worth buying (well, besides Anthropologie fabric... but $88/yard? ya right.)
Well.
I just found this website and my heart is so joyful it could dance. Actually, it is dancing. All over the place like a maniac. And the pricing isn't half bad.

Okay but seriously... today is the best day.
You're welcome sewing peeps.

ahem.

*Cough cough*
...

*Cough*
...

Listening? Great. I have an announcement to make.
...

I am still alive.
That is all.
....
....
....

Haha, just kidding!
I'll post a little more for you Nes ;)
I saw this video on KSL and I really liked it. It's definitely worth your time to watch. Agency is a beautiful gift that we fought for and this a great example of how we can use it.