watermelon in winter

The end of the year generally brings a reflection of it. What did I do that was noteworthy? Who did I meet? How did my life change? Who helped change my life? So many questions, answered now on December 31. I rode a train across the continent. I went to the lowest point in this hemisphere. I walked on a glacier. I made lots of new friends. I saw a glacier calve into a lake. I was an EFY counselor and loved every second of it. I received my mission call. I danced in the rain at midnight with people I'd never met. I pulled my first all-nighter. I made a few movies. I made decisions not knowing what the future held for me. I said goodbyes and seeya-laters...too many for my liking. And so much more. I met so many people who have touched and affected my life. My amazing co-counselors each taught me something. My EFY youth were amazing examples of strength. Some of my HP friends have taught me to love people in a new way. I met people on the way to Alaska with who

We all know the verse. Row, Row, Row your boat gently down the stream. Merrily, Merrily, Merrily; life is but a dream. What a metaphor for life! Life IS but a dream. Sometimes I wake up and think that life is so short, especially when measured in small increments. Yesterday I woke up and realized that I've only got two months left in NH before I head to Brazil. I can hardly believe it's already been 2 1/2 months. Sometimes we have bad dreams, sometimes we have good dreams. Life is a dream in the sense that we don't always know what will happen next, it does not always seem to make sense, and yet it just keeps going. It ends abruptly for some people, and for others it just tapers off, as in some dreams. So let's keep rowing our boats gently down the stream of life. How? Think about it...you'll figure it out. As for Christmas...here are some pictures! Tiff and Sky came out for a week, and it was basically the best Christmas ever! Although sprinkled with go

That's about how I'm feeling now! Tiff Tiff and Skylar get in tonight! This is going to be basically the best Christmas vacation EVER! I've got 8 billion things to do today before they get in, but I wanted to take a moment and write just how excited I am! I'm going to meet them in South Station, in Boston, because they took the train here from Provo. I'm so excited!!!!!!!

Sometimes I am inspired by my friend's posts. Some of my friends are amazing writers, and update their blogs frequently. It makes me want to be better about this, and become a better writer. But maybe my expression comes through piano or through photography. Because no matter how hard I try, I'm just average when it comes to writing. So at least I can enjoy others' talents in that area. :) One of my EFY counselor friends, Caitlin, is home from her mission for medical reasons for a little while. I've been talking with her a lot lately, and today she took the time to put together a huge list of things I should bring with me on the mish (small things, but important nonetheless). As I was reading it, I realized how blessed I am to have so many who care about me and will take the time to do things for me like that. It was a simple thing, but it will help me so much! So. Skylar is with Tiff today, and they leave Provo on Saturday morning! James is on his way hom

Hey all. It's been forever since I've posted anything on here, and even longer since it was something artsy and different and interesting. So basically... I like lists. Lists help me organize my life. At this very moment in time, I have a to-do list written out for today, and a longer one in my head for this week. I also have a bucket list that keeps getting added to, though I haven't actually put pen to paper on that one. Maybe I should get working on that. I have about 2 1/2 months until I report to the MTC for my mission in Brazil. I'll be going through lots of lists before then. Clothes to buy, books to read, movies to see, shots to get, letters to write, people to talk with, etc. Look, that's a list in itself. Already, I can feel the organization. Dreams. I have weird dreams. Sometimes more than others. For the past couple weeks, I've been on a roll. I remember my dreams the next day, so I remember what I just dreamed about. I have lots of d