Fall walk

Spencer and I ventured out on a fall walk the other night.  He had the camera half the time, and me the other half.  It's so fun to see how he shoots.

80

I took this print a few years ago.  And recently added the words.  I think I am going to hang it in my house.

My two thoughts on life.

I feel like I have to come to a point in my life where evaluation is key.  At most times you know what your life holds in the next few months and you focus on the daily tasks at hand.  Now that I am graduated with a career, I know what a few days of the week will be filled with for the rest of my life but I have really been thinking about how I want to fill in the days I am home.  How I want the direction of my life to go. What I want to be doing, making, serving.  Want I want to accomplish in the times I can simply do what I want.  Even though I am only the ripe age of twenty four, I feel like it is so important for me at this time to really stick with my goals, aspirations, so that when I am at the the not-so-ripe age of 80, regrets are not in store.

Here are some things I have learned, appreciate in others, or want to be like.  Luckily, I have friends and family that have taught me these things through example, and most definitely are optimal examples.

1.  I so appreciate people who are not caught up in non-important things.  I have this friend who is one of the most amazing people I know.  I love being around her because she is so in tune with her little family and her family only.  She never knows what is "going on around town", which I think is totally awesome.  I love how simple she is and how simple things make her so dang happy.

2.  I am learning that there is so much comfort in familiarity.  I used to think I wanted to go out on the next greatest adventure at the very second it presents itself.  Luckily I was able to when I was younger and still do to some degree.  But I am learning that there is so much comfort to be felt in familiar things. For example, where I live, who I live by, being able to stop by friends houses at ten on a Sunday night, driving past my favorite field, Grandpa's backyard, and a million more things.  These things are nostalgic and really make my heart happy.

3.  One of the most admirable qualities I find in people are those who are not constantly "plugged in" to the world.  Whether through computers or smart phones.  As I recently got a smart phone, I am learning that this is going to be a good personal test for self control and limitations.  I always used to say that it bothered me when people were constantly on their phones, and I am realizing how quickly this can happen.  I love people who don't know everything about the latest everything, it is refreshing and rare.

4.  My sister is such a great example of filling her life with meaningful things.  She always has a great perspective on EVERYTHING, I don't know how she does it.  I love that everything in her house, on her walls, she says, or does has meaning.  She doesn't hang something up on her wall because it's cute, well it is most likely cute, but it also has to have meaning.  That is what is so neat about her, she really cherishes the things and people in her life and makes them feel they have meaning, too.

5.  The last thing I have thought about is how I want to be productive.  I remember as a little girl, my mom was constantly doing something for someone. Whether it be taking someone apple pies (we used to make millions of these I swear), offering to watch children, working in Grandpa's woodshop, taking us skiing, cleaning people's homes because of their disabilities, or whatever, she was so productive with her time.  My sister Carrie is the same way.  If she has five minutes, she'll make drapes.  If she has ten minutes, she'll make a dress.  If she has fifteen minutes, she'll can foods from her garden or writing a sweet note to a friend.  I think the ability to make yourself be continuously productive is so neat.

I have so so far to go but  I really need to be in tune with when my life needs a little evaluation of where it has gone, where it is going, and where I want it to progress to.  I feel like I have been incredibly blessed in my life, and I want my actions to reflect my appreciation to my God, my family, my friends, and to myself.

The best kind of presents.

Spencer came home from work the other day and said he had a present for me.  He said he found these heart shaped rocks for me while at work.  Spence knows I love things like this.  He is seriously the best, I love him so.

Zander.

My sister's sweet little Z made his debut on the 13th at 8 minutes after midnight.  It was so special and I was lucky enough to go on the delivery.  This little man is such a doll and he already has a million nicknames: 'Z' being the most popular and closely following- ZZ, Zan Zan, Zoolander, and Baby Z.  I'm sure there are plenty more to come.  He is perfect and I am so happy the little nugget is here.

Uplift.

My sisters and I have been talking much about the impact of actions and how small actions can have huge impacts.  How they can change the course of so many things, relationships, path of life, outlooks, view points, et cetera.  One thing I love about my mom and sisters is they always remind me about small christlike acts that will make my life better.  Whether it be suggesting reading an uplifting article, handling a situation, being kind to others, with hopes of having nothing to look back on and regretting when I'm 80.  One thing my mom has told us from day one to have a fulfilling life is to daily: 1. Serve someone else, 2. Do something active, 3. Pray.  I feel so lucky to have amazing people around me where these things are brought up on frequent occasions to strive to be better, be kinder, live life more fully.  I love them so.  I am so so lucky.  I saw this quote and immediately thought of these beautiful people I have been influenced and loved by. 

Baby Boy.

My hermana (sister) is having a baby boy in t minus five weeks.  I am ecstatic.  This last weekend my mom and sisters and I all rode in an all women's bike race.  Hailey rode 50 miles!  At 8.5 months prego, she rocked it.  In a couple weeks we are throwing her a shower and I am lucky enough to be planning it with my mom.  I love any reason to throw a party, especially for babies.  We are doing it at Grandpa Leonard's house.  We do everything there, it's just plain fun.  Both sisters had their wedding celebrations there, and my graduation party, and my sister's super fun bridal shower, and bimonthly sunday barbeques.  Want to know how sweet Grandpa Leonard is, I asked him if we could do Hailey's shower there, and the next day I stopped by to find seven planters potted and filled with beautiful flowers for my sister's shower.  He really is that cool.

They have a name pretty much decided which is to die for and I can not wait to love on that little nugget.  And then in August, Spencer's sister is having a baby girl, Amelia.  I am in heaven with all these babies coming my way.

These Two.

I love watching these two play.  Not only is it hilarious.  But it makes my heart happy.  And they do things that I will never quite understand.  Like smell each other's feet or pretend they are angry bulls or whatever.  I love times like these.  Spencer said we are getting a trampoline soon.  I am holding him to it.

Some awesome things.

A few awesome things have been happening in my life these past couple of weeks.  Turning 24 was kind of awesome I guess, but the things listed below were much cooler.

For instance, graduating.... that was awesome.  Studying, not so much.

Oh, and picking handmade leather shoes up for 4 dollah from the D.I. ---- Awesome.

Another awesome thing was being given this camera from this sweet old lady in my ward.

My sister making me this little wall hanging from a picture I bought at D.I.  ---- $1 = double awesome.

And then this onetime, a good friend gave me a rad necklace for birthday and graduation ---- so sweet AND awesome!

Being written sweet notes of love and encourage from family in a journal.  Awesome.

Spencer's aunt teaching me how to sew my favorite dishtowels.  My skills - not awesome.  Spencer's aunt - awesome.

Wearing my new favorite article of clothing due to comfort and awesomeness.

My stepdad bringing me the prettiest roses for graduation.  Awesome.

Do you want to know what is most awesome?  Having such wonderful friends and family.  I feel SOOO darn lucky.  And by the way, how come no one has ever told me how large my head is?

My favorite things that happened.

(Image 2009)

I ran down to Utah with my mom to see my sisters for 36 hours instead of studying for my last final ever of college.  I am officially Captain Loser.  But it was two hoots and a holler nonetheless.

My favorite things that happened in the past two days:

Texting my mom: 

(Me):  When do you want to go? 

(Mom):  Yr mom goes to college.  

Jamming out to John Lennon and Crosby, Stills, & Nash with my mom.  And her knowing every word.  

Buying Sixlets.  At three different stores in one day.  We were addicted. 

My sister doing the baby belly dance, funniest thing I have EVER seen. 

Curling my sister's hair for 25 minutes and her then putting it in a bun saying she hates her hair curled. 

Trying to push a cart through Ikea while almost knocking over a huge tower of glass vases. 

Running around the cemetery a billion times to just get a three mile run in.

Leni's italian voice.  "OOoooh my baby frappucinoooo".

Jumping on the trampoline with three little neighborhood friends, only to get a pounding headache.  Worth it. 

Having a chocolate chip melt on the back pocket of my pants.  Leni didn't think it was a chocolate chip.

Now I swear I WILL study all weekend for my final on Monday.  Unless something cooler comes up.  In which it probably will.