Kid history.

Oh Thanksgiving break. There is almost nothing better than spending six days with your best girlfriends IN THE WORLD.

So let me start the story of my adventures.

Once upon a time. Mayci and Emma traveled down from Idaho to Utah. {With a really annoying, awkward, spastic rando.} 

When they finally arrived... they were joyfully reunited with Madison. That Tuesday was spent in complete bliss and giddiness.

Wednesday afternoon rolled in and the friends traveled down to Cedar City, UT. They were welcomed warmly by the Pickett family {the twin's cousins}. Games and fun immediately commenced. But the night came to pause the fun. When the the sun rose on feast day...  They spent the whole day playing in the Turkey Bowl, munching on millions of clementines {while awaiting the feast}, indulging on two servings of Thanksgiving dinner, numerous slices of pie, and good ol' fashioned family time. Unfortunately all the fun had come to an end... the girlies had to return to Provo Thursday night.

But, may I say, that is when all the fun really began. The girls arrived back at around 9ish and decided to stay up and go Black Friday shopping. By "go"... I mean walk 3.4 miles to Old Navy {where they stood in line for 2 hours and 10 minutes}and Kohl's. At the time... this seemed like an AMAZING idea.

Tired and pooped {to the point of collapsing in massage chairs in the middle of Kohl's}, the girls dragged themselves home. Then another marvelous idea came into their minds...

 

Denny's. At 4:30 in the morning. Mmm mmm good. Did I mention that they got TWO grand slams?

A well deserved meal. The girls finally arrived back at the dorm at around 6 a.m.-ish. Soundly sleeping for a good 7 hours, the girlies woke up at 1 the next.... afternoon to have lunch. Sore and tired they were not very productive for the rest of the day. However they did manage to make a Christmas tree in Madison's room {much to her roommate's dismay. Scrooge.} Saturday came and was packed with fun. The friends woke up and went to see Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn p.1... win. And how did they get there you might ask.... walking. And then, on the walk back home, they decided to go shopping. Again. This time they went to Koh's {again} and Shopko/Payless. Coming home with their packages... Emma rushed off to party with yer cousins {who she hadn't seen in two years}. It was amazing fun... like no time had passed at all.
 

When Emma returned, the girls made their way to the basement of the dorm building to play and sing EVERY Christmas song in the hymn book. Cause of course it is "allowed" now.

 

 

Then Sunday, Emma and Mayci's last day, came around. They got all gussied for church and for a photo shoot. Of course.

 

I absolutely love these girls. They have always been there for me. They are my besties. We are the unstoppable trio... forever.

Ox.

 

Elder Joseph Bryant Oxborrow.

My best friend.

I miss you.

I got a letter today. It has been a month since my last letter from my dear friend... it would be an understatement to say that his letters bring the ultimate joy and happiness to my life. Whaaaaaa. I am so proud of him and his decision to go on a mission. It couldn't have been easy... I often say I wish he were here so we could talk on the phone or go rock climbing or make some awesome food together. But I know that he needs to be in South Dakota (and hopefully Brazil). I know that a mission is the best place for him... no matter how much fun we would be having here in Rexburg. I am grateful for his example. I treasure our friendship and "brotherhood". He was there for me from the beginning, from the time that I was sad because my family was moving to Pittsburgh to when there was "elephant drama" in my apartment. He has his obsessions: his last name, not getting fat, exercising, birds, outdoor activities, cooking, etc. He is turning into a good man who honors his duties and covenants. I love him.

"I hope you continue trying to feel the Spirit. More and more I realize how important it is to do things that invite the Spirit and NOT do things which push it away. There's a lot of interesting things I've been learning out here. There is still much to learn though."-letter 11/19/11

soul searching.

Have you ever looked at your self. Really looked at yourself?

I was taking off my ring last night and all I could think was how amazing it is that my hand moves when I want it to. {In all truthfulness, I sat there and kept moving my hand back and forth because it was so fascinating!}

The first thing we see is the outside. The shell that get baked by the summer sun, frozen by the winter wind, poked, pulled, jabbed.... morphed, changed, covered. Whether on purpose or by accident. It is this fleshy surface that so many of us get disgusted with, are ashamed of, base everything on. Our outward appearance helps create our personality, for sure, but that doesn't mean that when all is sad and done we will be judge like life was a beauty contest. For this one part of yourself. I am not saying I walk around think this about my self. Um, no. {Nonsense.} This is a pep-talk for myself as well.

The next part we consider about ourselves is the in-ards. The muscle that inflates, the organs that make us run fast and jump high, the bone structure that apparently makes some of prettier in comparison. These elements can also be altered.

You cannot manufacture a spirit. This part inside of you can't be physically designed or changed. It's the part of us that we can either strive to strengthen OR ignore completely to the point that is becomes dry and unresponsive. But thankfully it is never lost. When I was sitting there moving my hand back and forth.... My initial thoughts of how awesome the brain is moved to thoughts of how I can make this arm do good, make it serve, make it work for the better. That's what I want for myself {and what I hope for everyone}... that I will look beyond my face, my body type, my strength. That I will look into myself and make that part of myself, the part that really matters, good and pure.

a new beginning.

This is going to be a journal. An archive. I have thoughts, memories, and ideas that probably don't merit being shared or documented... oh well.

Today I want to talk about family.

I love  my family. I love being able to call up my mom and know that what I have to say, although it may be nonsense, she will listen with sincere interest. I love how we are constantly quoting movies, belting out songs, laughing hysterically, getting giddy, reminiscing memories based on the pictures that come up as our computer background, dancing around the living room, cooking together, creating and upholding traditions, working together.... {we have a lot of time on our hands}. I love that we are united. Eternally. I love that we can connect emotionally and spiritually. I love that we make up words and names for each other. I love that I can snafousel {sna-foo-sle} my dad.... for just about anything. I love being the middle child:

I love my older sister. She works so hard and accomplishes so much! She is an example to me of how to endure, overcome, and ultimately succeed. She has shown me everything. {Even if I learned how to ride a bike and do the monkey bars first.} She has set the way and saved me from making certain mistakes. She is so beautiful and she knows it {reflective surface?}. She has a way of making people feel welcome and knows exactly what to say in every situation. I love her.

I love my little sister. It is such a blessing to be her path maker, her guide, her friend. I love her for you pazazz, her creativity, and her imagination. She is 10 going on 23, which makes all the more fun! I respect her for her trials and disappointments. I can't imagine how hard it is for her to be the last... but she handles it with such grace. She is gorgeous and getting prettier everyday. Our "giddy" moments will forever be my favorite moments... of life. She is so friendly, she makes everyone her friend. She is so smart. She excels in all that she puts her mind to and is always at the top. She likes to try things, explore, discover. She is my little haha-lalala. I love her.

 My parents have been married for 25 years. "It's felt like 2 minutes.... under water." {oh mom.} I admire them so much. In my Family Foundations class, we discuss a lot of the issues that can hurt and ruin a marriage. My parents have stuck it out and I admire them for that. I have seen how much they love each other through service, communication, cooperation, support, work, compromise, and creating an eternal family. I am grateful for their worthiness and their willingness to sacrifice for the good of us {thems kids}. They are everything to me and I hope one day to have my own, successful marriage.

Family is eternal. It is through family that we find true happiness.

I love you guys.

{sorry for leaving you out mom.}