HEY SOMEONE FROM MY FAMILY

I'm just going to post this and hope beyond hope that someone from my family stalks my blog in the next half hour or so. My phone is broken and kind of ruining my life; I need to talk to Mom. Can you pretty pretty pretty please tell her to get on Gmail and answer me?? Because none of my current attempts are working. And I assure you I've attempted everything. 

Ok, go ahead now. Mattea, Mariah, Jenna, Bri, I'm talking to you. And--heaven forbid--if Mom sees this first, GO TO GMAIL. 

Kthanksloveyoubye.

Sad--happy--heartwarming post (in that order)

Today I got a bad test score and a broken car heater.
Tomorrow I am buying pity ice cream and hot chocolate.
And I just think things will be better after that. 




Can you believe that Thanksgiving is a week away?? I'm so darn excited! Here is how I see my life currently: 

:: sister, brother, nephew arrive next week
:: we all eat yummy food and play with extended family
:: back to school for three weeks
:: CHRISTMAS VACATION
:: talk to a missionary 
:: a semester with only one hard math class instead of two 
:: fun stuff in my free time since I'll maybe actually have free time next semester
:: that same missionary comes home
:: .......?

So, you know, if I can get through tomorrow and Friday, I am set for life/eternity/whatever.

On a different note, this is cool: 

These are LDS missionaries serving in New York currently. The one on the far right is who I got this picture from [pardon my awful English]; his family posted it as his new cover photo on Facebook. I know him because he's friends with my cousin Drew who I played with lots last fall semester. He's speaking Mandarin on his mission. The one second from the left is from my home ward and group of friends in high school. He's speaking Spanish on his mission. HOW DID THESE TWO LAND IN THE SAME PICTURE. We may never know. (But for reals, we might not.) But it made me really happy. 

And while we're talking about it, this is also cool:

Mormon Helping Hands :: Hurricane Sandy :: Rockaways, NY from Joshua Brown on Vimeo.

Hospital Branch

This Sunday I had the opportunity to volunteer in the LDS branch that meets at the hospital each week. Mostly this branch exists for two reasons: so those who must work on Sunday have an opportunity to worship, and so patients and staff can have the chance to take the sacrament. It's a pretty awesome idea, and those stuck in the hospital on Sundays really do take advantage of it.

We arrived at 8:55 AM for a combined Priesthood/Relief Society lesson with the regular volunteers, after which we split up into small groups to visit each floor. I was with the most adorable old couple to orthopedics/neuro on the 4th floor, where we went from room to room, visiting church members who expressed an interest in receiving the sacrament. The sweet Priesthood brother we had with us blessed and passed it to each member, after which I had the opportunity to read a quote and share a thought. The tenderness of those hospital patients was humbling and exemplary as they very gratefully took the opportunity to worship and receive the most important blessings of the week. 

I believe everyone can always stand to improve their relationship with God, but these folks really understood the weight of needing to communicate constantly with their Heavenly Father and the blessings from doing so. It's nice to be reminded that He really is our Father and we really are His children, even [especially] when things don't work out nice and pretty. We can and should call on Him during every sorrow and every joy; He will listen and answer. This I know to be true.

It happened on November 9

Yesterday, winter began. 

On Thursday, the news predicted 1-3" of snow for Utah valleys this weekend (Friday-Sunday).
On Friday [yesterday], the sky dropped a solid 5 inches over the course of the day. 
Saturday and Sunday are not yet come and gone.
So, like I said, winter is here!

I know I already blogged about the first time it snowed; that's different because it happens every year: it snows mucho one day, melts real quick, and then doesn't snow for a while longer. 
But I think this weekend might be the real deal, starting the cycle where the snow insists on sticking around just long enough for it to snow again. 

Yesterday I drank hot chocolate and ate soup for dinner and watched a movie with a blanket on the couch and listened to Christmas music (although this is old news) and wore boots.
So it's all rather exciting and downright romantic [in the way that old things and cozy things are romantic] at this point.
Ask me how I feel about it in February.

Proof of the events hereby discussed: 

Both of these were taken in the early afternoon, when less than half of yesterday's snow had fallen.

I rest my case.

This is not about America and elections

But I voted! And that's about as far as I have time to spare any thought for elections this week.

What I really want to talk about is this: 

I went on Pinterest for just a moment yesterday and they taught me how to repin. Because naturally, I have no clue how to work technology, which is why I have a blog and email and profiles on like 17 other websites. </sarcasm> I understand they're just trying to be helpful [they want me addicted], but really?? I will begin repinning whenever I have a wedding to plan. Or something.

And while we're mocking:
 Guys, you NEVER KNOW when a hipster wedding is gonna break out.





Ok but in the two minutes I was on there, I did find a few things I now want (no, I didn't repin them):

Aren't they lovely? 

The end.

Music to love a lot

OH MY GOSH I just fell in head-over-heels love with Imagine Dragons. 
I have absolutely no clue why the heck I waited until now to download this album. 
I think I'll be soon buying everything else they've ever made.
Seriously, this is good stuff.

Go. Listen. Fall in love.

And don't come back until you've done so. 




(Ok, that's a joke. You can come back anytime you like.)
(But I'm not kidding about how great these guys are.)

Ok but like, no really.

Let's all just stop and think about Halloween for a moment.

.....

Ok now, don't you think this holiday is utterly nutso? 
Seriously guys, it makes NO SENSE.
"Let's all dress up like crazy people, award those who are craziest, run around in the dark, and eat junk food til we pass out. Together."
Said no one, ever.

...oh wait. 
Correction: 
Says everyone, every year.


What?!
I don't get it.




That is all.