Ciao, Ciao, Ciao

This will be my last post written and posted by me for quite some time. I will be a set apart missionary in approximately 4 hours... So I figured I should wrap this summer up and say a few parting notes.

These last few weeks have been a whirlwind! After finally feeling the strong conviction that this mission is what is right for my life I began my goodbyes. Goodbyes to Provo. Goodbyes to friends. Goodbyes to family. SO many goodbyes. It's been a bit overwhelming to someone who HATES goodbyes. But somehow I have made it through without too many tears. (Although I still have to say goodbye to my immediate family)

So my last little bit in Provo was spent just enjoying my friends. I was privileged to get to do a lot of fun things. I feel like I got to go out with a pretty epic bang. So here are a few pictures:

I went hiking one last time.

We rocked out at a rooftop concert. Actually it was 

rather boring...

And of course there was one last boating trip! 

I didn't get hurt this time. (Small victories, people)

I got to go to the Manti temple with my ward. 

It was so very, very beautiful.

We had a fancy dinner party at Sam's cabin.

Alex and I conquered the Kong Kone. 

They were a lot bigger than expected...

I hosted a going away bonfire.

To my Provo/BYU friends: I love you all. The last three years of my life have been the best years of my life. Thanks to each of you for being a part of that. It has truly been life changing. Try to have fun without me... I will sure miss you guys!

Then two weeks ago I came home to Washington. It's been SO nice to be back. To just relax and spend time with my family. The day after I got back we left on family vacation. We spent several days hiking and camping in the North Cascades. It was gorgeous. And the lightening storms and stories around the campfire were fantastic. After that we headed to a resort at Lake Chelan. Holy cow! I'm usually not Eastern Washington's biggest fan, but I have to say that Lake Chelan was spectacular. The water was clear and warm. Our hotel was literally right on the water. You could jump from the lawn to the lake. FANTASTIC. We spent our time swimming and relaxing. I suppose I should include some pictures of that trip as well...

Hiking in the North Cascades.

The gorgeous pass we hiked to.

Swimming in Chelan.

Out for a nighttime stroll.

It was SO gorgeous!!

So that's it. That's the end of my summer. 

But it's not that sad. It just means the beginning of a new chapter. A new chapter that I am so scared for. But also so excited. I know that I am about to embark on a very difficult 18 months. But I also know that I am doing so as a representative of my Savior. I know that with Him all things will work out. I know that the message I will be sharing is true. I look forward to watching it change people's lives. 

So peace out!

And know that you have a Heavenly Father who loves you!

Summer Is for Adventure

I have pretty much turned into the worst blogger of all time. So for those of you who are my "devoted" readers, I am sorry.

Anyways, it's summer!!!!! I love spring/summer in Provo. No classes. No obligations. Just fun.

I have moved apartments back into my old ward and I am loving it. It's so fun to be back in a ward where I feel familiar and comfortable. It also means that I am closer to my friends. That in turn means that I never sleep because I am always with them. Can you say emotional, sleepless zombie?

Despite my lack of sleep this summer has been filled with adventures. I've done crazy things that I never thought I would ever do. I've been to bonfires and pool parties. The smell of chlorinated smoke has permanently attached itself to my clothes and my hair. Basically there has been to much to EVER catch up on. So I am just going to let the pictures do the talking.

In no particular order here are the pictures:

Crazy night with my dearly beloved Hkrop!

Italy Sister Reunions

White water rafting in Moab. Pretty much everyone on this trip

thought Andrew and I were dating.... Awkward.

We dressed up as men to go on the Elder's Quorum 

boating activity.

The ward boating trip to Yuba Lake.

Reuniting with our favorite law student.

I repelled down a waterfall! I can't believe that actually happened!!

We even danced in the rain.

I went on a trip home to go to Matthew's graduation.

And I went through the temple. 

HANNAH GOT ENGAGED!

Strawberry Days carnival.

We said farewell to Andrew before he left for Europe.

I went to a rodeo/fireworks show with the Lindseys.

Temple Square with the cousins.

Pizza. Always Pizza.

Hiking trips!

Snow cone eating reunions.

PAINT FIGHT!

More hiking.

Bonfires.

Italy trip to Guru's to watch Libby perform.

She rocked it!

RSL game.

In case you can't tell, my life is pretty great. I am living it up in Provo. And starting to panic that summer is coming to a close. Summer, do you want to stay forever?

What Else Is There?

I feel that before I write this post I ought to explain that title. Kathryn and I have kind of maybe sort of become obsessed with "The Swan Princess" (stop that judging, right now). One of the best parts is when Odette asks Derek if he likes her for anything more than beauty. He of course responds, "What else is there?" And so that line has been stuck in my head forever!

Well SO much has happened since the last time I really wrote about anything besides my mission call. Like a ton. I haven't done a life update since February. That's half a semester to catch up on! Not sure it's possible, but I'll try to do a quick review.

So of course I am still going through a lot of Italy withdrawals. Although they might be fits of anticipation now... Luckily, all of the girls from my study abroad have been going through the same thing so we have had a LOT of Italy reunions. From pilgrimages to Terra Mia to Yogurtland to Bridal Showers to eating pizza at the incredible Settebello we've had some great times. I love those girls!! I am so sad that a lot of them are either graduating or leaving for the summer, but I am so glad for the time we have had.

Those who stayed late at our big reunion

At Jenna's bridal shower

Libby threw a Jane Austen party. Yep, my friends are awesome!

I have also learned to make homemade artisan bread. It is SO easy and wonderfully tasty. Did I really need an excuse to eat more carbs? My waistline would say no...

Can you say yum?

Beyond those few things this semester has passed in a blur of school, work, STRESS, and singleness. It has honestly been one of the most roller coaster-y semesters of my life! There's been some low lows and high highs. Some crazy adventures and some boring study sessions. I suppose that's college. I am just so grateful to have great friends to get me through it and listen to my endless complaints.

So this past week was finals and of course by Saturday I was in need of a study break. Fortunately, my friends were feeling the same need and we headed down to Moab to enjoy National Parks Week at Arches. Can I just say that I LOVE Southern Utah? On this trip we hiked through the Devil's Garden. Despite the name the scenery is actually quite lovely. I also discovered my future life. I would like to inform you that in my next life I will be reincarnated as a big horned sheep. I mean, COME ON! It would be so sweet. I could nimbly climb rocks, I wouldn't fear heights, and it would be socially acceptable for me to hit people with my heard. I'll let you know how it goes...

See! I said it was gorgeous.

My hiking buddies.

Doesn't look very devilish to me. Just sayin...

Double O Arch

So maybe we were too lazy to hike to Delicate Arch, 

but it is there in the background.

Well I am done with finals!!!! Wahoo! That means no school until April 2015! What, what?! I am psyched. However, the end of school also means the beginning of goodbyes. For some strange reason my friends all decided to live exciting lives this summer. They are going on internships, missions, and study abroads all over the world. WHAT AM I GOING TO WITHOUT THEM?!?! If you don't know this I'll be a little shocked, but I am horrible with goodbyes. I just feel like they end everything and that life will not go on. Although it always does. But this time I am saying goodbye for a LONG time and most of my friends are going to be graduated when I get back. Alas, I'll miss them. If any of you read this, I LOVE YOU. Y'all are seriously great (am I allowed to say y'all?). Ahhh change stinks.

That's all for now! Bring on summer!

But It Works

So I am back in good ol' Provo. Well actually I've been back for a couple of weeks, but nothing that exciting had happened so I didn't blog. Life is life.

For those of you interested my weeks are CRAZY! I have started having classes in high schools so I have to get up at high school time. Except this time around I have to look professional. Hello early mornings! Then there are classes and work, but alas that's the life of a college students.

Now don't start worrying that I have no social life. I'm posting this to prove that I do. It's just a little more limited than in years past.

The first weekend back in Provo we had an Italy reunion, because let's be honest we missed each other. A lot. It was fun to see everyone and eat the closest thing we could find to Italian food in Provo. I love those girls!

Italian buddies! Just missing Anne.

This weekend I got to go down to St. George with some of my friends. Can I just say that I love St. George? It was SO nice to be in warm 50 degree weather after the last few weeks of 5 degree cold. We got to go hiking in Snow Canyon. I LOVE that place. The red rocks are just so beautiful and fun to climb on. I even managed to climb up a huge one. My friends were really patient with my fear of height and coached me up and down one.

So beautiful.

I wasn't excited or anything.

We love St. George!

Ryan loves his bottom. Why else would he put in the picture?

It was so fun to go back to St. George together.

Hannah was convinced she was a rocket ship.

After hiking we headed over to a wedding reception. Andrew and Ryan got to be bartenders while the rest of us played rhyming games. I rock at the rhyming game! Not to brag or anything... Of course a large part of the evening was spent discussing Andrew's new TV show. Ever wonder if you could date without asking anyone? Well this is the show for you. You may not ask, you may not have experience, but it works. Sorry for the promotional plug! I'm not even getting paid for this advertising!

That's life back at BYU.