counting down the days...

 Tuesday, August 27, 2012

I will miss my sis and bro!

saying goodbye to my family at jwa

 Saturday, August 25, 2012

 

So I have exactly 4 days until I enter the MTC! Crazy. Completely crazy.

I am turning this blog into my mission blog. I have to give Susie Call some blogging lessons stat. Sooo to start out here is a list of some of the more superfluous things I will miss most on my mission (please note this is not at all inclusive). I hope you all enjoy them while I am gone... and write to me about how much you are enjoying them, pretty please.

1. In-N-Out: They might lose money while I'm away.

2. Music: Why does Taylor have to come out with a new album in October? Please start making an update playlist for me now.

3. Animals: Specifically my animals. I love Kwazi and Finley. And all other animals.  In honor of Maryn and my visit to the San Diego Zoo yesterday I wanted an excuse to post my favorite animal related videos. Enjoy.

You can't watch this video without being happy. Cutest EVER. 

4. Teaching: I am sad not to be starting another school year. I miss my students from last year lots! Not going to lie I am pretty jealous of all my teacher friends.

5. Jcrew: You can't online shop on a mission?

6. Swimming: I'll have to channel my inner mermaid in some other way.

7. Sleeping in

I'm sure I'm forgetting lots of other things, and please note this doesn't include any of my wonderful friends or family. I will miss them most of all!

Mostly I am super excited. I honestly can't wait to get out there. Awkward pre-MTC limbo is just about killing me.

it's been awhile... a long while.

So I am back to the blogging scene.

I typically begin blogging again when I travel half way across the world. I have always felt that my Provo life/non-study abroad life was much to boring to post about. That might not be completely honest. My Provo life has been quite eventful, too eventful even to provide time to make a complete blog overhaul and regularly post.

This past year I have been teaching second grade. Now I am done. I am a former second grade teacher. Part of me is surprised I survived. I survived 23 darling/dangerous second grade students, a three month stint of vertigo, a sprained ankle, and some life changing decisions. I have learned more of how to love in the past year than I ever thought possible and have adored being able to help influence the lives of the amazing young people in my class.

So... life changing decisions. Here's the next adventure:

I have been called to serve as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Independence, Missouri.

I honestly couldn't be more thrilled. I get to give tours! Yay!

I embark on this new chapter on August 29th. Until then I will literally be party rocking all summer... I plan to give new meaning to the term YOLO (I was once a hater, but now I embrace it).

So here's to new beginnings...

homesick.

Is it possible to be homesick for a place you haven't even left yet?


I think it is.


I go home in 3 days... three.


I am having a minor freak out about it.

july.

It's been quite the month. Here is a little recap.

We celebrated the fourth of July, J-ru style.

I spent ten glorious days in Galilee, walking where the Savior walked. We swam, studied, and spent lots of time on the shores of the sea.

We conquered mountains.

And disgusting fish...

I ripped open my toe at Nimrod's Castle.

We went to about a trillion tel's (and by a trillion I mean maybe 10... but 10 is a lot, trust me)

We got back from Galilee and explored the Old City. I love this place. I can't bear to leave it in three weeks. Sometimes its not fair how fast time flies.

The steps leading up to the temple... one of the few place that Christ certainly walked.

The Dome.

Old City fresh-squeezed O.J.

The rooftops of the Old City.

August is coming far too fast... I am already feeling the onset of homesickness for this place.

these past few weeks.

Since my last post I have done quite a few epic things... let me fill you in on my adventures.

1. I learned how to be as hardcore as David and I mastered the art of slinging... after a few minor mishaps.

2. I went snorkeling in the Red Sea. Prettier than Hawaii? Yes. It was beautiful. I got a major sunburn that I coated with aloe vera for a week, but it was well worth it.

3. I explored Hezekiah's tunnel... in the pitch black dark.

4. I had a water fight in a biblical pool.

5. I visited Bethlehem. We went to the oldest church in Christendom, which sits atop the sight of Christ's birthplace. It was an amazing experience to visit and reflect on the birth and life of my Savior in the very place that it happened.

This list is far from exhaustive... in fact it barely skims the surface. But it will have to suffice until I am able to finish my game of catch up... which probably won't happen, so don't hold your breath.

midterms.

These past few weeks we have had midterms, lots of midterms.

Studying for said midterms until all hours of the evening makes me feel like this.

And sometimes if things get really crazy I make masterpiece whiteboard works like this... that's right, be impressed.

So, sorry for being M.I.A. on the blogging scene... I can't allow my G.P.A. to fall into complete shambles by the end of the summer, although it may end up being pretty darn close.

sabbath.

I love the Sabbath.

The Garden of Gethsemane.

The Garden Tomb.

Me, Abbie, and Bekah at the Garden Tomb.

Especially in Jerusalem.


I joined the ward choir, and I feel like on the Sabbath I have every excuse I need to burst out in hymns. It's glorious. And, the view from the chapel at the Jerusalem Center is particularly perfect. It is hard to pay attention to the speakers when I locating my favorite buildings in the Old City.