Ignite the Light and Let it SHINE.

So it's New Years Eve and this year's definitely not been what I expected at all. I tend to think of my years relative to the school year. So in thinking about the actual year...I've gotta go WAYYY back to last semester. So far!! I know. I'm getting old. Blah.

Sparing the boring and drawn out details...I'll just recap the year really (and I mean really) quickly. Ideally 12 sentences or less.
January: Second semester of college, I've got the hang of things a little better, and a new roommate.
February: New roommate (Brinlee) turns out to be just the perfect fit, Valentines day--absolutely hate it...okay "hate" is a little strong, but you get the idea...not my favorite holiday.
March: SPRING BREAK!! California and Disneyland=LOVE. Met Dan at the library (see what good little students we are...we met at the library!)
April: Hmm...not too much to say here. Pretty sure this was the first official date with Dan watching planet earth eating popcorn and drinking hawaiian punch, spent lots (and I mean lots) of time floating down the river, which conveniently worked out to always be on Tuesdays so Hannah and I frequently went to nutrition smelling like delicious river mud nastiness.
May: Some things literally went to hell and I never planned on them coming back, finished my first year of college, and headed home, more relieved than anything to be leaving Thatcher and parting ways with some people.
June: Work work work all week long, and I can't complain too much. It kept me busy and from thinking about a lot of things. Enjoyed soaking up the summer sun every chance I got. ALSO: Everyone left on their missions!! And so the mass letter writing begins...
July: Work work work...visit Utah and see all the cousins, family, explore Provo Canyon, and visit the Clarks.
August: Work, back to school. I learned a lot about forgiveness and gave up my vices. Started talking to a few people again. Went to FRY MESA the first weekend back in Thatcher.
September: Peppersauce Caves in Tuscon, Rees and Tracee's wedding, going on a second "first date" with Dan to see the Last Exorcism....which I'm pretty sure I swore under my breath the entire time and then laughed as soon as it was over.
October: GF status. Yeahhh...still adjusting to that one. Halloween block party :]
November: Thanksgiving break...much much much needed and I can't exactly say I was excited to go back to school, except to see Dan. ONE
December: Meeting the fam...went MUCH better than I had planned. Missing him entirely too much it's honestly quite ridiculous, but I guess that's what happens. Christmas in Utah, seeing all the cousins, mass insanity. Oh and snow in Arizona...right in my backyard. Got into the nursing program...and then deciding not to do it at EA. Probably one of the hardest decisions I've had to make in a long time. Relying on the Lord that He knows what's best and has the best intentions for me.

So now I'm sitting here looking at where I've been and where I'm going, and honestly if there's one thing I've learned this last year, NOTHING goes according to plan. It's quite frustrating but I'm managing. Let's see what next year brings. :]

Here's to 2010 and all the ups and downs. As for 2011: Bring it on!

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger....right?

Let's just lay this out straight: today has been a day from Hell. (I even capitalized it so it's not swearing--see Abbie I'm working on it!!) There's honestly no other way to put it without using any explitives--note: I haven't used ANY today. And yes I am patting myself on the back for it. You'll see why.

So I get up this morning knowing that I've got a crap ton of stuff to do today so that I can start nursing school in two weeks. First blow of the morning: processing my background check takes 4-6 weeks!! (WHY HELLO BLOW FROM WAY THE HECK OUT IN LEFT FIELD!) I only just found out I got into nursing school a week ago. Someone please tell me how I'm supposed to get all this done in that time frame. After much crying (yes I rediscovered my tear ducts today. They still work--no surprise), I put myself together as best I could and raced across the valley with my mother in tow to get all this stuff done.

Second blow of the morning: after talking to the nursing director (finally!) she informed me that I have to have the above mentioned fingerprints processed because that's a part of passing your cna. Apparently it's not enough to have a fingerprint clearance card, have passed my cna test, and have just found out that I got in so all of this crap does in fact HAVE to be done. Great.

Third blow of the morning: well the lady at the board of nursing said there's no way to make it go any faster. Screwed into the ground. Oh well, it still has to be done so at least I can get a job at a hospital and work as a cna.

So after much more crying and frustration--I tell you I'm such a girl. Abbie knows this...she has to suffer through it on a pretty regular basis--I came to the conclusion that it's probably not gonna happen for me this semester. It's just not lining up in a way that it's even plausible that it's gonna happen. I mean after all, 4 weeks doesn't shrink into 2. Talking to my mom in the car on the way home, it just is making a little more sense. She brought up an interesting point though. Maybe the test isn't actually getting in, maybe the test is saying no and having faith in the Lord that even though it's gonna take a little longer, I'll be a nurse one day. It's gonna happen.

Whew. So that puts a lot on my mind to think about for tonight. I've got a nice long list of all the things I've got to ask when I say my prayers. I hope He doesn't tire from hearing me. I feel like I've talked his ear off quite a lot lately. Maybe that's the other problem...I'm talking too much and not listening enough. It wouldn't be the first time.

So I'm doing it. I'm gonna let it go, and trust the Lord. He knows what's best and He's got the best perspective from way up there I'm sure.

Now it's just off to order books and figure out where I'm going to school next year. Any suggestions? Except Idaho...sorry Kendra--it's just too stinkin cold up there! :]

And this is why I will now begin training for a marathon

So I've got a pretty good looking boyfriend, and this fact was made pretty apparent to me today.

[Insert Picture of Sexy Rock Hard Body]

I also realized I'm at double F status--fat and frumpy. So to do away with the double F, I've decided that I am going to start training for a marathon. Yes I know that this has been an endeavor in the past, but I'd really like to just have a flat tummy. We'll work on the 6 pack eventually. But flat would be just WONDERFUL!

Then I could just appreciate the curves a little bit more. Don't get me wrong, I love my curves...but let's face it, a flat tummy would be nice. And that doesn't necessarily mean getting rid of curves, just accentuating them a little more, right?

Anyway, just some food for thought :]

Boys...They burp and they like to moon ya!! --Little Rascals
so then Abbie adds: And all I could think about was Arielle burping and Megan mooning!

FEAR THE FORK! Babies and HD TV, and Ugly Sweater Parties...hmm sounds like a week in Thatcher.

This blog has been in the works for a couple of days because, let's just face it, this week was intense!! We'll just start with by far one of the most epic games I've ever been to! (Okay I've only been to one other D1 game...so I don't know how I'm ever gonna sit through another one, but that's alright).

THURSDAY: So let's just say that holy cow...fear the fork. Yeahhhh buddy. If you'd like to read about the game, well Hannah Gunderson was so kind to write down the proceedings of the game. Read here :] While we were driving down there, Dan was on the po po watch (aka the cop watch) and I'm flying down the highway, going like almost 85--it's 75 out there. So I'm just cruising along, out of no where:
Dan: COP!
Arielle: Oh shit!
[Nervous laughter]
Yes, that's exactly how it went down. Excuse the language, but seriously I saw my insurance bill flash before my eyes. It was awesome. But the whole trip down there was super fun! We hung out at Raegan's house and ate some delish dinner and headed out to the game! ASU of course won!! Thanks so much to U of A's kicker. It's alright buddy...maybe next year you'll learn how to kick a little higher. Then the drive home, so cute. Dan just held my hand the whole time. :] Okay so the boy doesn't take losing too well, but it's okay, because at the end of the day he still likes me...even if I'm a sun devil. We played the make it or break it game with every one in the car--you know the one where it's a scenario of pretty much the perfect person, except one thing. It was super funny to hear the things that people came up with. Haha.

TUESDAY: So I let Dan read the last post on Tuesday night when he was over, and well needless to say, it was one of the most nerve racking moments of my life. I just climbed in my bed and faced the wall and was focusing on breathing. Not even joking. I didn't know what to do!! And he was just sitting on the end of my bed. I swear it was like a freaking half an hour to read it! Not really, but it felt like forever. So then, he gets up really quietly because he thought I was asleep or something, he kissed my cheek, and whispered really quietly, really softly: I love you. Oh dang I was awake. So he walks out, and then I was waiting for a second or two. I rolled over and looked at Abbie, thinking the whole time that Dan had already left, and we just started busting up laughing. And it wasn't exactly quiet laughter either. It was LOUD!!

Then we heard it...the door creaking open. Oh shiz. Yes we had just been caught laughing at him...and he hadn't even left yet! That was the worst! Okay I guess I should clear that up, we weren't laughing at him, more that the previous event had just transpired. I was NEVER, and I mean EVER, gonna let him read my blog, and then Abbie was like Arielle you have to let him read that post at least, and then I just gave it up, so yeah he's probably reading this right now...HI Dan!

WEDNESDAY: I was walking back from the institute with Jacquelyn Wolfe, Nicole Baldwin, and Tiffany Brimhall. We had just been watching Nicole's brother, Brian, basketball game. So we're walking home and we were talking about four letter words, and out of no where,
Nicole said: I bet when it happens, there's gonna be other four letter words associated with it. Dan's gonna say, Damn I love you.
[Then Jacquelyn pipes in]
Jacq: Yeah and Arielle's gonna say, Oh shit.
To make things even funnier, we all agreed that that would probably happen, or at least it was very very likely that it would come out like that!

FRIDAY: Okay this is what happens in the wee hours of the morning. Abbie and I end up talking about everything and anything...and lately, I end up balling my eyes out. (Honestly, I've realized lately that I'm such a ball baby! It's absolutely ridiculous.) The conversation spanned everything you could think of. Really. We talked about babies and HD tvs--which I think we've both decided that you can't tell the difference between HD and regular. We ended up being awake until 6!! I think I decided about 430 that it was pointless to even count on going to sleep!

So a few hours later, I wake up to go to class...yeah I made it through about 10 minutes of it. I couldn't even convince myself to stay. So Dan picked me up, and I hung out at his house for a couple hours...never quite getting to sleep. Ugh it was ridiculous. Let's just be nice and say I looked like a zombie. And that's putting it nicely. To finish off my day, I studied and went to bed around 1030, because I had to take my CNA test in the morning.

SATURDAY: Driving at 430 in the am. Highly recommend it. There is absolutely no one on the road! Except coyotes...which like to hide around corners and lay dead in the road. I'm pretty sure I just took off the head of the coyote and kept driving. But dang, I was awake!! Holy crap I was awake. The adrenaline was pumping and there was no way I was falling asleep after that.

So I'm sitting in the hallway and reading over my skills before I went to go take the skills test, and I just really missed Dan. I had just seen him, no joke 6 hours ago, and I would see him later in the day. I totally missed him though and I wanted to see him!! Ugh...the only bad thing about boyfriends, I find that I miss him in the most random times. Like at times when I should be stressing over a huge test...I missed him. And it was all I could do on the drive home not to speed like a crazy person just so I could get home faster and see him.

Then Saturday night, Monica got baptized!! I've gone to a few baptisms this year, and this one was so special. The talks were so amazing and the missionaries had everyone write down their testimony and put it in a book for her. Writing it down was so special to me. I hope she always remembers it, and honestly I think it was the best thing for me to just think about what I believe in and what I know to be true. It made me remember and realize what my institute teacher tells us every time we leave class...The Lord loves you and the Church is true.

Later, there was an ugly sweater party at my house! Haha super fun! We had a white elephant gift exchange. Dan picked first. Well Dan's gift was handcuffs and a stick horse. Okay, I don't think I've turned so many shades of red all at once. Everyone was like OHHHHHH!! Then a couple of gifts later, someone opened a pregnancy test. Then they asked if Dan and I wanted it...because apparently we were gonna need it for later. WHAT-E-VER!!! It gets better though, my number to pick was 24, so I picked my gift and it was fake money and police badges. Once again, I almost died. Haha then everyone really gave us crap for the gifts! When it came time for Brian to pick his gift, he asked this: If I trade with Dan, does Arielle come in handcuffs? Greattttt. Haha.

Well it's been a great couple of days...and honestly Matt Pellegrini right now wants me to leave my blog and go look at Christmas lights THAT AREN'T EVEN UP YET!! Hahah. Oh well, anyway it's been fun!! Seriously so much fun. Last night was by far one of the funnest nights in Thatcher thus far!

Quotes of the day:
hi my name is abbie colyar. i just took a shower and now I'm freezing. and I'm a mormon.

she didn't hear the wedding bells...she heard the wedding night.

What are you guys...50 and married?!

Okay so this blog title has absolutely nothing to do with what I wanted to blog about, but Abbie and I were talking about blogging and Rustin made the comment: What are you guys...50 and married?! That's like what my mom and all her friends do! Hahaha it was hilarious!


So really this blog is to fulfill a "prophesy" if you can call it that without being sacrilegious, but this is honestly so cute that it has to be shared.


A very cold morning i wake up and shes not there, 
So i look straight up and i start to stare. 
I wonder in my mind, "is she still asleep?"
Thinking about the next time we'd be able to meet. 

A fell asleep thinking about her as a friend, 
First thing in the morning is me thinking, "wow i hope this never ends"

Everyday we've seen each other for a little over two months, 
Except of course when i have to leave for my hunts. 
I've definitely savored every moment that we spend, 
And then it comes to my mind, "Is she now my best friend?"

Every laugh, every sigh, every single goodbye, 
Has been the moments where i can see our relationship fly!
I hate it sometimes when with her i act so sappy, 
I just don't know how to express that when I'm with her I'm happy!

I'll probably give her this dream, 
and she'll probably share it on her blog. 
Kendra and Abbie will probably think I'm in love. 

But she's different then what i initially thought. 
She has a lot more for me, and i guess that's why i fought. 
So here's to my sweetheart, even if it last or it doesn't. 
To my Arielle, You are so beautiful! Thanks for giving me a lot of things that i haven't. 


Okay, in reading this again, I could honestly cry, and I realized how emotionally retarded I am. Seriously, why can't I just say what I feel? I think it's a defect in myself. Oh well, I guess it'll just have to come out in different ways. I guess I never paid attention to showing it, because I've always known how I've felt (obviously) but I never thought that he didn't know. It's so dumb that I just can't say it straight up and out loud.


Like we were talking the other night, and he asked me what I looked for in a guy. Not a big deal at all. But I froze. It's like I know exactly what I want, but actually voicing it to someone, especially someone that I care about a lot, it's just hard. I shut down. Completely. Well it gets better, the next question was What do you see in me? Umm...can I chew this one over with a Twix please? I know this sounds incredibly dumb and stupid, but how do I put it into words and say it out loud how I feel? I've never been that person that can just come up with stuff like poems and sweet nothings to say. I just can't. I don't know what's wrong with me. Hmm...one day I'll figure this out.


But in the meantime...here's to you :]


I love the way you make me laugh...all the time about anything. I love that you care so much about me and you always want to know how I'm doing. I love that I can be myself around you and say whatever comes to mind (which happens quite frequently and not always in the most tactful way) and know that you won't judge me for it. I love the way you hold my hand. It's so secure and safe (if that's the proper word for it). I love the way you talk about your family, especially your brother. I know that it can't be easy for you to talk about someone that was close to you like that, but I'm glad that you do. I love the questions that you ask me (mostly because I suck at asking questions and I'm better at answering...most of them). I absolutely love that you take your priesthood and callings so seriously. I always swore up and down I'd never marry someone like my dad, but you have so many of the things that I absolutely love about him, like the way you honor your priesthood. With my dad, I know I never have to worry about whether or not he can give me a blessing because I know he always makes sure every single day that he is worthy, and I love that I feel that way about you too. I love feeling safe around you, because I know that you would never let anything happen to me or hurt me. I love that you are always making sure we're doing what is right and that we're not getting ourselves into situations that would get us into trouble. I love that look in your eyes that you get when you first see me in the morning. I love the way that you always let me know how grateful you are for me or how much I mean to you.


So this is to tell you what you mean to me. I'm so grateful for you. I know how far we've come and I honestly hope we get to go farther. I look back on it all, and I wouldn't change it for the world. All of that, that got me here. That experience helped me grow and learn. I think it did that for you too. I am so grateful that you decided to fight just when I had almost given up. I will always be grateful for the things that I've learned from you. I've never gone coyote calling...so that was new. As embarrassing as it was, it was so much fun to just be out there with you, getting eaten alive by mosquitoes, and scaring away anything that might possibly be coming in because I was laughing so hard. I've never had so much fun hiding from you, like when we were down in Sierra Vista for Jared's homecoming. It was so exciting to show up at church and surprise you! I will never forget that look on your face. It was a smile that I could never put into words. With you, I feel so happy and so safe. At the risk of sounding totally sappy, I never knew how much I was missing and how much someone else can make you realized what you're missing in yourself. 


I've had the time of my life fighting dragons with you...and I hope we get to fight many many more. 


So now the whole world...well really just Abbie and Kendra (but we'll go with the whole world--it sounds cooler) knows. And I feel like shouting it at the top of my lungs and writing it across every billboard. :]
Loveyou. <3

He's worth keepin around

Okay so I know it's ridiculously lame to blog about my boyfriend, but as of late, he's been pretty funny. And these funnies (okay there's really only one funny) are definitely blog worthy.

1. It's a boy!!!
Yes. You read that right. Dan decided he wanted to make a fleece blanket--probably because I talk about how much I love mine and how warm it is. Anyway, so we went to WalMart and he told me to pick out a side and he'd pick out the other side. Alright...well I guess this blanket could mismatch horribly, but since it's not mine it really doesn't matter does it? So we perusing the aisles of fleece and there was this Winnie the pooh print and it looked like baby fabric! So I pointed that out, and never again will I ever say what comes to my head without thinking about it first...because it set up the entire evening.

I said: It looks like baby fabric! No big deal right? Wrong. Dan gave me the weirdest look like OH MY GOSH I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU JUST SAID THAT. So I just laughed and kept walking, obviously hiding the embarrassment. So we finally picked out the sides: I picked the little mermaid and he picked cars. It's a very mature college blanket. Then out of no where, Dan says: You know what we can call this?! The BABY MAKER!! Now for those of you who haven't seen the proposal, the blanket that's on the bed is called the baby maker.

We are getting the fabric cut and Dan so kindly tells the WalMart employee (her name is Erin) that it's going to be our baby's blanket. The conversation goes as follows.

Erin: Oh are you expecting?! (With a cute grin on her face)
Me: (Complete and utter shock with a look that could've stopped Dan dead in his tracks) No. No I'm not.
Erin: Are you two engaged?
Me: Nope, just dating.

So as we were leaving, Dan offers to carry the fabric and I quickly informed him that the blanket was for MY baby so I could carry it. When I came home and told Abbie about it, she was telling me about a blog we both read and how the lady is pregnant and according to a Chinese calendar, she's having a boy! So Abbie and I looked it up, and according to the Chinese calendar, Dan and I would have to be having a boy. See for yourself! Click yourself :]

2. I'm thankful for...
I'm just gonna paste this text word for word. Not gonna lie, I almost cried. Almost...
Things I'm thankful for: Someone who allows me to be myself, someone who makes time just for me and spends that time making me feel like the biggest man on campus (small joke lol), someone who makes me want to be smarter every time I open a book, someone who allows me to be faithful to my priesthood, someone who takes my breath away every moment I'm with her, someone who I believe to be the prettiest girl alive. What am I grateful for? I'm grateful for you!

How do you even respond to that?! All I know is I'm one lucky girl...

I guess to finish this off, after this weekend, he's worth keeping around. Everyone's been asking me about him, and honestly I've never felt so shy in my whole life. I just want to hide behind my mom! It's really weird. I talk about just about everything else in my life, but get that personal and apparently I shut down and close off. Didn't know that about myself until a couple of days ago. Back to Dan, he is such a great guy, and I would be so happy with him...so so happy. So we'll just have to see. He makes me so happy. I guess you never realize how much you're lacking sometimes. Weird.



Going on the quote board as soon as I get home!!
"Probably not cause he's so buff and I'm so boobish."

Can I...uhhhh....get a jump?

So NEVER HAVE I EVER...and I mean EVER...

...been caught making out! Seriously I don't know if I'm just super careful or what but that one happened last night. AWKWARD!! So I was over at Dan's studying...yes I was actually studying...for anatomy. Well it got to be around 11 and I was exhausted and not getting anything out of reading my notes. Sad day. So I decided that it was high time I headed home. I walked out to my car and turned it on--it's FREEZING outside that late! You've gotta get the heater fired up so you don't freeze on the drive home! Well Dan runs and jumps into my car on the passenger side and climbs right in, shuts the door, and then just smiles at me. 

So we talked a little, laughed...because lets face it, everything is funny at 1130 at night. Listening to T Swift.

30 minutes later.... 

*knock on my driver side window* 

A: [awkward, startling moment] *roll down window* 

T: Can I uhhh get a jump? 

A: [what the HECK?!] Umm yeah, I don't have jumper cables

T: I do *walks away*

A&D: [COMPULSIVE LAUGHTER]

note: the kind of laughter when you realize this has just become a killer embarrassing moment, and I don't have very many of those, so this was big.

So I'm sitting in my car, still listening to T. Swift, and honestly shocked at the previous 2 minutes of my life. Hahaha. What makes it even better is that I'm pressing my face into the steering wheel because it's cold and facial hair hurts. 'Nuff said. So Dan tells me later that Taylor made a comment while getting the cables all hooked up, all the while with a HUGE grin on his face: Sorry for interrupting. 

AHHHHHH. I could die of embarrassment right then and there. Kill me now please so I don't ever have to see him again! Oh okay, enough with the dramatics. But really, I could've died I was so embarrassed. And all I could do was laugh. Oh and to make this story even better, EVERYONE KNOWS!! Naturally, Abbie knew right after it happened, because like a good roommate, I came home and woke her up and told her immediately. All of Dan's roommates know, and Olivia's whole apartment knows. Not that it's a crime or anything to kiss your boyfriend, but I seriously considered becoming Anne Frank for a week or so to let this one blow over. 

One last thing, totally unrelated topic. At church on Sunday, Debbie--yuck nasty--was point at me and laughing. I really came dang close to walking over and asking what in the heck her problem was. It was slightly ridiculous and quite comical because Abbie and I were just laughing that they were being so obvious, because she'd point over at me and then her friend would look over and they talk a little more and do it again. Oh man. Girls girls girls! Learn the art of keeping secrets and being quiet about them. It was so funny though because it dragged on for a good 5 minutes. So I guess in all reality I should be thanking her for providing me with some entertainment prior to taking the sacrament. 

Side note: the only reason this is so funny is because Debbie texted Dan the other day and said something along the lines of "why does everyone keep asking if we're dating?" VOMIT. I for one am insulted by this, and yes I realize I'm being rude and shallow, but if you knew Debbie, you would understand completely what I'm feeling. 

Funniest moment at probably 2 in the morning, and only Abbie can appreciate it:

"He probably thinks I'm after them!"

I had the time of my life fighting dragons with you

Yes Taylor Swift was the inspiration for this title. And yes 1003 in the AM on Monday November 15. And yes, this post probably won't find blogger for another week or so. Oh and yes I am using the toaster to provide a source of heat for my frigid apartment...we've really gotta find a space heater. 

So last night after the fireside, my roommates and I came home with an ABUNDANCE of energy. Anyone that's spent any amount of time with us knows that this is not necessarily the best thing to have on a Sunday evening. After hopping around our apartment (Abbie), it was settled that we were going to wrap Raegan up like a baby and deliver her to someone's house. While Abbie went out to the car to get some rope, we all hid and LOCKED HER OUT! Haha sneaky sneaky.

Right after we found Raegan under Brinlee's bed with the dust bunnies, Kelton walked in and willingly volunteered to let us wrap him up, tie him up, and deliver him to someone's house. Poor soul, he's such a good sport and trusts us entirely too much. Well, we started out just putting him outside the apartment across the way. Then we got the notion to go downstairs. Yes, Kelton hopped down the stairs while tied up into a blanket like a body back. It was a scary sight to say the least.

Long story short, we ended up doing this same thing to 7 apartments. Don't worry, we got a rolly chair so Kelton didn't have to hop everywhere. It was so funny because people kept shutting the door in his face and then he'd scoot up to the door and kick it with his foot to get them to open the door. We had a note attached to him and it said "Found Baby. Needs Home. Thanks :D" Bahaha we're so funny. But the best reaction by far was down at the firehouse and Myreel started to untie him and we all ran out to stop her. Oh man haha it was hilarious the look on her face, it was that sort of shell-shocked and seriously freaked out look all at once. 

Then we came back and decided to make masks and be ninjas! Wa-cha!! At this point, Dan decided he was a little pooped out--but hey I would be too if I didn't go to bed till 4 in the morning....oh wait I did. But no worries, I was home with Abbie and Raegan and Rustin and Kendall. THAT is a whole other story in itself. So we ran--yes ran--to his car (it was just at the institute), and when I got home, you're never going to believe what happened to me! I got LOCKED OUT!!! I was gone for a whole 3 minutes and they locked me out. So I spent the rest of my evening with Tiffany and Jacquelyn, waiting for my roommates to return from pillaging Howards. 

Great night. Awesome night. One for the books. Now it's time to make today a FANFREAKINTASTIC day. I can't wait. :]

I got this quote in institute this morning...and I really like it.

"No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. All that we suffer...especially when we endure it patiently builds up our characters, purifies...[and] expands our souls." --President Kimball

Four letter words

From SUNDAY night:

Honestly not quite sure how I feel about this. So abbie and I had a good conversation the other night--mind you all our good conversations tend to happen in the wee hours of the morning, typically four or five in the AM. This conversation was no exception.

So there's a couple down here that just got engaged like a week ago and they haven't been dating that much longer than Dan and I, and honestly it freaked me the heck out. I mean it's not a big deal at all, but seriously holy crap! It's MARRIAGE! That's forever, and forever is a freakin long time. I don't want to rush into it or be rushed and I want to be absolutely certain that it's the right thing to do. 

The conversation ended up with me deciding that I don't have to know right now if this is the forever I'm looking for. That maybe this is just right for right now, that I'm where I'm supposed to be and I'm who I'm supposed to be with for right now, because I'm supposed to learn something from this experience, something that will help me grow and learn for the future. 

Some food for thought. Okay really just my thoughts. Goodnight. 

THE BEST THING EVER

From TUESDAY November 9th:

So last night...and THIS TIME it really was just last night, I was over at Dan's and I had the utmost intentions for starting my pharmacology homework. Well as anyone who has ever taken pharmacology from Mary Peters, it's a skanky little assignment which proves only to vex me to no end and to further my knowledge such an insignificant amount that's it's not even worth the effort it takes to complete the assignment for 25 measly points!!! So as you can probably guess, I didn't get much homework done.

Instead, we watched Gifted Hands. Super good movie. But before we watched it, Dan made a tuna fish sandwich and some hot chocolate. While he was making it, I made the comment that grilled tuna fish sandwiches are the best thing ever (hence, the inspiration for this post title). Seriously, one thing I miss the most at home is making grilled tuna fish sandwiches with the grated cheese, and you cook it just long enough that the tuna fish is hot and the cheese is all melted and deliciousness. 

Well, after making the comment about how it's the best thing ever, we just kept going back and forth about things that we love and are pretty much amazing. Hot chocolate, tuna fish sandwiches, hot apple crisp pie with a scoop of ice cream, cute little notes left and found randomly, laughing pictures--I don't know why, but I absolutely love pictures of people laughing. It's amazing. It's like capturing true happiness in a moment and holding onto it forever. 

Anyway, so the conversation continues and then we end up at a comment that Dan made: Farting after a date. Yeah, those words came out of his mouth. Seriously though, everyone has had it at one point or another, date stomach. It sucks a big one and it's the most uncomfortable/awkward pain ever. And you know that you can't just let the fart out! That's just embarrassing, so you hold it...and hold it...and hold it, which I'm sure in the long road is doing some sort of internal damage to your colon...that or seriously providing a work out for your anal sphincter. (Okay I'm an anatomy freak, I'll admit it).

Long story short, everyone agreed that farting after a date is seriously the best thing ever. Disgusting, but unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it) the truth. 

Just love her.

So last night, Dan took me to the Nashville Tribute to the Prophet concert. Yeah, that band that has the AMAZING cd about Joseph Smith and the pioneers...them. Hands down, amazing, and if I wasn't with Dan, I'm sure I would've been balling my eyes out during a couple of the songs. Of course, the song about Emma, then the one about sleeping under a wagon on the frozen ground on the plains, and then the one about a mother praying for her missionary son. Granted, all of these were song by Catherine Nelson (I think that's her name) and she's got a voice to die for, but they were amazing.

So before she sang Emma, Catherine was telling us about when she got the role to play Emma in the movies made by the Church, that the one of the very few things the director told her was just to love her. After she said that, I have seen Emma in a little bit different of a light. Honestly, who I am to judge her? Can anyone honestly blame her for not wanting to go any further? She lost everything, and paid the highest price for everything and everyone she loved. I have nothing but the highest respect and admiration for her, and I think it's all I can do is just to love her, instead of judge her.

The missionary son song...tear jerker, and it made me realize how that will be my mom in 10 years or so with my little brother. It made me realize how close that is, and how much I'm going to miss him. Granted, I'll be much further along in my life that I am right now, but I don't want to waste any of the time that I have with him, especially while he's still so young and growing up. I want to always be a part of his life, and I want to be one of his best friends. There's nothing I wouldn't give to spend every single day with him and just laugh and play all day long. I want to remember these days, well I guess the days that I'm home, as the times that I spent with him and my sisters, making memories that I'll always cherish.

The song talks about a mother's prayer to protect her son, to keep him safe, and to allow him to grow. It's on the new CD that the Nashville tribute people are coming out with, which I would HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend! I'm totally getting it when it comes out. Just saying.

Then the other song about the pioneers...I think I'm dying, but I'm not crying. So amazing. I could feel that warmth inside my chest, an impressing admiration and love for their strength and sacrifice. I couldn't have done that...honestly could not have done it. But they could, and they did. That was their refiners fire, their trial, and I'm so grateful that they took it head on and persevered. As I told me mom, I would have sat in the snow and died. I wouldn't have gone. I'm glad they could though. I wouldn't be here if they didn't.

So anyway, the whole time I'm listening to the concert, out of nowhere I get this feeling, and it was slightly unnerving. I realized I'm starting to fall for him, opening myself to the possibility. I've never been so afraid in my entire life. But it's a good afraid, one that makes you want to keep going though. Definitely not one that's going to make me run the other direction.

Now don't take this the wrong way. I'm a long, LONG, LONG ways off from four letter words, but I realized the possibility this last week. I love being around him and hanging out with him. My friend Liz pointed out something that I didn't realize at all. She said when she saw me at the concert that I looked different. Well, I haven't changed haha. But then she said, You look happy. And I am happy. I can honestly say that I am. It's unnerving  because I've been happy just  being on my own and being with my friends, but maybe this is a different kind of happy. A kind of happy that makes you realize you belong and you're amazing just the way you are (bruno mars was a genius for thinking up that one). 

"Never steal, lie, or cheat. But if you must steal, steal away my sorrows. If you must lie, lie with me all the days of my life. And if you must cheat, cheat death, because I could not live a day without you."

A cuss word cause it's Monday.

It's been one of those days. You know. The days where nothing really goes wrong, it's just all irritating. And yes...I'm blaming Mother Nature again. What a little pest sometimes. Honestly, why can't she just take it all out in one blow? Instead, she insists upon draggin the little bugger out. Oh well, life goes on.

Okay, I'm listening to Alanis Morissette, and she pretty much knows just what to say and exactly how to say it. I'm feeling that it fits my mood perfectly. Slightly melancholy and a little irritated. You live, you learn, you laugh, you learns, you cry, you learn, you lose, you learn, you bleed, you learn, you scream, you learn. I guess all this irritation is for me to learn patience. Ugh...trials: why do you have to be so blatently honest and in front of my face. I ALREADY KNOW I NEED TO WORK ON IT!!

Enough with the dramatics. Today's been a day. Just one of them that's not terrible, but not great. I feel like I just repeated myself...oh wait...I did. Great. And to take it back from earlier, this attitude is probably my fault. Crap. So if I just admitted that, that means I have to own up to it and change it. Seriously this sucks.

So two hours later...much happier. Well sort of. Actually, I'm pretty exhausted, but I guess that's what I get for it being 1145 at night! All of my homework for this week so far is done though, and THAT never happens! Wahoo go team.

Dan brought up an interesting idea tonight to me, and I thought I'd share. He asked if I could wish for anything, what would it be? Not anything ridiculous like super powers, but something real. I still haven't thought of what I would wish for. I guess I kind of feel like in wishing for something, I'm not happy with where I'm at, but it is nice to wonder sometimes. If I had one wish though, it wouldn't be to take anything back or undo any decisions, because every single one of them got me here, and I'm happy. Honestly happy. Life is crazy, and that's never going to change. But I am happy. And that is something I hope never changes.

Thrift Store Shopping, Surprises, Fun Dates, Apple Orchards, Ladybug Hikes, and Fugitive

Wow...let's just say it's been an insane weekend. But, a good insane. A great insane. A fantastic insane. So let's just start from the beginning shall we?

FRIDAY: After I got done with classes and Raegan got home from work, Hannah Gunderson, Abbie, Raegan and I went thrift store shopping! The end goal for this adventure was to get our halloween costumes!! Right before we went shopping though, Raegan and I went to WalMart to go grocery shopping, because I was OUT of food. I got a question of the day text from Hannah: What is your favorite kind of flower? Well let's see...tulips and sunflowers. So we get home, and go thrift store shopping. This grand adventure was successful! Hannah, Abbie and I all got our moo-moos to wear on halloween!! SHHHH!It's a secret! Don't tell anyone...KENDRA. :] We even tried on antique wedding dresses, and let's just say that we all look absolutely fabulous in white. Haha.

We got home from thrift store shopping and started watching a movie. There's a knock on our door and I peaked my head over to see who it was, and it was Dan!!!!!! He was supposed to be in Texas still with the football team and they'd actually gotten home earlier that day and he didn't tell me! So I saw him, and then leaned back into the couch and stared forward for what probably seemed like forever. Then I've got Nicole Baldwin yelling at me to get up and give him a hug! DUH! But I yelled back at her (she's sitting right next to me): I can't! I'm in shock! Which honestly, I had no idea how to react to that. I was gonna leave him a note on his truck and everything and I just hadn't planned on him being home early. So thoughts aside, I got up and gave him a hug and he had FLOWERS!!! Sneaky sneaky Hannah! Haha they were so pretty! Then he asked if I wanted to go on a date tonight, and OF COURSE I DID!

On the date was Brian Baldwin, Brenna Bell, Cody Elmer, Becca Streeter, and Dan and I. The boys made dinner for us, biscuits and gravy...MY FAVORITE!! Then we went to WalMart to pick out a pumpkin to carve at a later date, and we had to pick out stuff to make a costume for two people for under $15. Dan and I were walking around and seriously had no ideas of what to be, so we ended up in the fabric section. Then out of no where, Dan had the idea to be a giant lovesac. Now the dilemma was just what fabric to get. Well no worries, we settled...and I mean settled...for BRIGHT ORANGE FLEECE fabric. Yeah, it was awesome. Brenna saw us getting it and was like, are you guys gonna be traffic cones?! Close, but good idea. Haha. We went back to the boys apartment and got dressed. Becca and Cody were Raggedy Anne and Andy. Brenna and Brian were a cowgirl and a prego Indian (Brenna was the Indian). It was pretty funny, and by far one of the funnest dates I've been on in a long time!

SATURDAY: Museum clean up. Easily one of the most disgusting things I've done in a long time. Okay it wasn't that bad, but one of the rooms I couldn't even go into and poor Raegan and Seth Anderson were major troupers and cleaned it. There was bat poop and pee all over the floor and two dead bats. SICK!! Doing service though, which was the entire goal, that was good. We had a fun time looking at all the little exhibits and rooms too!

After the museum clean up, we went to R&R for lunch. We came home, took quick power naps, and then were on our way up  Mount Graham to go pick apples from Angle Orchard. It was so much fun and it smelled soooo delicious. It would honestly be such a cool place to take pictures, or to just sit down and read. It was so peaceful up there. So we picked some apples to make this apple crisp pie that Raegan makes. HOLY COW...DELICIOUS! Then we started on the ladybug hike.

Well halfway up the hike, Nicole and I decided that we didn't want to keep walking. Okay, it was more like we were just enjoying the view from this huge rock that over looked the valley. It was absolutely beautiful. I can't even begin to describe the peace and wonder and sheer awe at the majesty of it all. I don't know how people can see the beauty in the earth and not believe there is a higher power, someone who is watching over us, someone who has our best interests in mind, someone who always has an eternal perspective and wants what is absolutely best for us. It was so amazing. Nicole and I had a nice talk too, which is always good. I love good talks with great friends in the middle of nowhere, when everything's quiet and you can just think.

When we got back, we went to Denny's for dinner and then Dan came and picked me up. We went over to Taylor Stevens' house to watch the UFC fight. Dan's friend, Bryson Bendall was there with his girlfriend, so we hung out with them. It was definitely an interesting experience. I've never watched a fight in my life so that was different, not gross, but different. I wouldn't say I'd never watch one again, but it's not something that I'll go out of my way to see. Later that night, we played fugitive and pretty much, Dan and I dominated. The first round, Dan, Seth and I ran along the canal and jumped a fence to get to Dennys. We were the first ones there! WAHOO!! Then on the second round, Dan and I were one group of cops. So we parked across the street from Darrin and Cord's house, where base was. We hid in the trees and then when everyone came up to get to base, we tagged them all! It was awesome!!

SUNDAY: Went to church, then halfway through Relief Society, Dan texted me and said his family was eating dinner. So long story short, I ended up church hopping. I left right after the lesson in relief society was over, and then took the sacrament in third ward. Dan picked me up and we had dinner at Matt and Rhianna's house. I met Dan's parents. It was not as bad as I thought it was going to be. His parents are hilarious and super nice. Hopefully they liked me! The fireside was awesome tonight. It was about who you take along with you in this ride of life and how these people are the ones you lean on during bumps in the road: your family, good friends, and ultimately the Savior. I really liked it. It put perspective on my life, and also scared me a little bit.

Up till now, my life has been pretty easy. There's not been anything that's honestly rocked my world, and that terrifies me for what's ahead. I know that I don't need to fear anything as long as I'm doing what's right and what has been asked of me, but it's just one of those things you think about, hopefully not for too long or else you'll live in fear your whole life, and I for one do NOT intend to do that by any means of the imagination. Anyway, let's just say it's been a great weekend. One for the books. And Abbie and Kendra: if you read this whole thing, major props...because it's a longgggg sucker. Haha.

I found this quote written on a post it in my scriptures: Be where the Lord can find you.
Just some food for thought.

Random and Sporadic

Yes...this is me. Random every second of every day of my life. I don't know how to be normal. I'm pretty sure it's not within my capacity to be normal. There's several thoughts on my mind today though.

First of all, it's raining outside!! Ahh I'm so excited about it. I love, love, LOVE the rain! It's the best smell in the entire world. Honestly, if I could bottle up a smell in a candle, it would be the rain. Seriously, there's nothing in the world that smells that great. Okay, so maybe there are a few things...I mean some boys do smell pretty good. But that aside, rain is amazing.

Second of all, in seminar today, the song that was played for the musical number was a rendition of the army of helaman. It was done on the piano and it sounded so amazing. One of those songs that just inspires you and gives you just enough strength to brave the world (or the rest of the day). Lately, it's just been the rest of the day. But after hearing that song, I just felt like I could conquer the world. A little cheesy I know, but hey you can't help how you feel...especially when it's cheesy.

Speaking of cheesy, (and this is the third of all) I'm so fetchin twitterpated--as my roommates have so graciously informed me today. As Abbie puts it, "I've never seen this side of Arielle before." GREAT. Oh well, this too shall pass. Secretly, I hope it doesn't. I love being this happy. It's the best feeling in the entire world. I have the best boyfriend!! Hmm...never said that before. Baby steps, baby steps.

He's so good to me. We actually were having a conversation last night just about it. I'm so grateful for second chances and for the strength that I found to give one more chance. I'm so glad I did. In more ways than one, I'm very grateful that I did.

Which brings me to the fourth of all, I'm so grateful for my uncle. He's taught me so much in my life. He's the older brother I never had, and sometimes wished I didn't have. I credit him so much for thinking the way I do now, and for seeing things in a little different light than I did when summer began. He is the reason I believe in second chances and that no matter what, love unconditionally, especially your family. You never know what people are going through and what their internal struggles are.

He's hit a bump in the road--okay, it's a freakin gaping hole, and this summer seriously tested my capacity to love him. I guess, to make the long story short, I was tired of getting let down and the empty promises that were never kept. Then I had the most enlightening conversation with my mom, which pretty much opened my eyes to how little I knew, and how little I still know. Anyway, point being, I was really angry with him and honestly wanted nothing to do with him because I couldn't understand. My little 18 year old mind could not wrap my head around it. Not that my 19 year old mind can either, but I hope I'm just a little wiser now. I went to church and all the lessons and talks were on forgiveness and having the pure love of Christ and allowing the atonement to work in your life.

Okay, HINT TAKEN. I realized how much I needed to forgive and to accept him for who he is, a child of God that's struggling just as much as everyone else, maybe just in a little bit different ways. I absolutely love him to death and I can't wait to see him again, because despite being a little pill, he's the best person to talk to. Not even joking, the older brother I never had.

The whole point in bringing him up though was because I've been thinking about him for the last couple of days. His sergeant was murdered a couple of nights ago and he was really good friends with him. I know he's taking it hard, and I can't possibly imagine anything like that. I've had the great blessing of not losing someone close to me. I honestly hope I don't ever have to, but no one is making out of this life alive, so it can't be too far off.

Alright I wasn't joking, random and sporatic. I guess to sum this up, I am grateful for the people in my life that I love with all my heart. They are such a light and inspiration. I'm grateful for the school I go to and the town I live in, although at times it feels so small it's sufficating. I'm grateful for the experiences that I've been able to have here that would have never happened anywhere else, and more than anything I'm grateful for the things I've been able to learn from them. I'm grateful for second chances, and the things I've learned from giving them and being able to receive them. I'm grateful for the rain and the cleansing feeling it brings after it hits your face.

Holy cow, to think this entire blog started out with me talking about the rain. RANDOM.

Swish it around in your mouth. Think about it a little bit.

LIFE IS AN AWFUL, BEAUTIFUL THING.

WHY?! Honestly, are we having this conversation?!

Ughhhh...severe irritation. PMS doesn't help...at all. So curtains and I were at a party, and we're walking back to his apartment and then he out of nowhere decides to go upstairs to his apartment and tells everyone except me to follow him up there. okay...so I take the hint, give the boys their space, and walk on my merry way back home, all the while getting progressively more irritated. No goodnight or goodbye or anything!

Halfway home--and I don't want to make it out like it was a far walk, it's not--I get this text. Conversation goes as follows:

C: Where are you?
M: Walking home.
C: What?!?!?!?!? Why :[
M: Because you guys went upstairs and I didn't know if I was supposed to follow you or not.
C: Wait :[ Dang it I was supposed to take you home
M: It's fine you're with [name]
C:I don't care! I wanna be with you!! (which at this point in the conversation if I wasn't so irritated--THANK YOU MOTHER NATURE--would have been an "aweeee" moment followed by and irreplaceable smile)

Anyway, I know it's completely dumb, but I'm just so bugged and I shouldn't be. I mean curtains didn't do anything wrong, but seriously? Am I that easily forgotten? Okay enough with the selfish questions. Obviously he didn't forget about me or else he wouldn't have texted me at all, right?

Another point of irritation this evening, why can't we ever say what we mean?! When someone knows you're obviously bugged about something and yet they STILL ask what's wrong. Ahhhhh!! But you can't just outright say exactly how you feel or what's wrong, especially over text. That's super dumb, but I'm so guilty of it. Sometimes, it just has to come out right then and there and you can't wait for the time when you're talking to them face to face.

One last thing before I quit this habit, funniest/awkward moment of my life today! So I was talking to peach about pharmacology on my way to the library to study. We're talking about the midterm we just took--EPIC FAILURE to say the least--and out of nowhere: So are you and [name] dating?! HOLY AWKWARD! Especially since peach is the jealous other...yes we've all experienced that. Seriously suckedddd. I practically choked on the answer!! It was so unexpected and I honestly have to hand it to her for having a pair to ask that to my face! Wowahhh. Anyway, such is life, full of awkward and irritating moments that at the end of the day (most days) I can laugh at. Today is one of them. Goodnight.

I love my Mom.

Let's just start off by saying she's pretty much the most amazing person in the entire world. Me being the ridiculous girl that I am, was having a day...you know, the days that everything falls apart and you just can't take life anymore. For me, I get them once a month, and have since recognized that the perfect remedy is to cry, let it all out, and then I can move on with life again.

So today was that day. Of all things, I got a calling AND had a pharmacology midterm. Great. Well, I called my mom right before devotional and was talking to her about it and that I knew I was having a day. I told her I'd call her after devotional before she had to get back to teaching. Well, I made it through the opening song and the musical number before I started crying. I made an abrupt exit and ran home, changed, and drove down to the cotton field to run.

I called my mom and was talking to her about all the questions and decisions I have to make and the things that have been weighing on my mind lately. Then, she asked me if I'd said my prayers that morning. Immediately, I realized that I hadn't and that I probably should. My mom is seriously so amazing. She knows exactly what to say and I am forever grateful that she was chosen to be my mom. I need her in more ways that I know and she always knows what to say, whether or not I want to hear it.

I went for a run, got about 2 miles into it, and just stopped and looked around at the place that I've been blessed with to live in for the last year and a half. It's absolutely amazing. I knelt down right there and just prayed to find that peace and comfort and to know that He is mindful of me, that He knows what I'm going through and how I'm feeling. I also wanted to know if dating Dan is the right thing for me to do right now. Lately, I've just been feeling a little unsure, that feeling in the back of my mind that just wouldn't go away. I thought it was just the beginning of a relationship and the uneasiness of it, but I wasn't sure.

As soon as I stood up, there was this overwhelming feeling of peace and assurity that I'm doing the right thing, I'm where I'm supposed to be, and that things will be taken care of in their own time and place. I felt so much love and happiness and I knew that I am a daughter of a Heavenly Father that loves me, knows me, and has blessed me with such a wonderful mother that knows and listens to promptings so that I can find answers.

I took my pharmacology test at 4 and it took me a freaking hour to take the dang thing!! Ugh I was so drained by the end of it. I came home and was about to head back to the library to do some anatomy homework that's due on Thursday because, let's face it, I love anatomy and anatomy loves me. It always makes sense. Not like this pharmacology crap.

When I walked into my apartment, there was a flower arrangement on the counter with a card. I looked at it and it was for me!! I was so excited, I had no idea who it was from. I read the card, and it said: Have faith. I know how hard things can get. I love you! Mom. As soon as I read it, I started crying. I walked into my room, and just fell on my bed crying. I couldn't even control it.

I've been so blessed with an amazing mom and I will never be able to thank her enough for everything she's given me. I hope one day I can be a mom like she is, and listen to my children and listen to the Spirit to know what to say to them and to make them feel my love. She's the most incredible person I know. She is so strong and always has good advice for me, but I love that she tells me to turn to my Heavenly Father.

Needless to say, the flowers were the perfect end to the crapiest day. In fact, it completely turned my day around. Mom, I love you. I'll never be able to say it enough, but I do. You're the best!!



"Mama you taught me to do the right things, so now you have to let your baby fly. You've given me everything that I will need to make it through this crazy thing called life."

The fox is flying! THE FOX IS FLYING!! THE FOX HAS...flown.

Wow what a weekend! Okay let's just start at the beginning, shall we? Well Saturday, Abbie and I woke up, she started writing her English paper, and I cleaned the apartment. Then I get a text from Dan asking if I wanted to go to lunch with him and Matt and Rhianna. He then told me it was gonna be a "pajama run" lunch, which means he'd pick me up without telling me when he's coming and I'd have a minute to get ready and go. Not about to go out to lunch looking like a bum, I hurried and got ready. He picked me up, and then we went and got lunch at a sandwich place in Pima, and then went to the picnic tables by the temple and ate lunch.

It was really funny listening to Dan and Matt tell stories about them growing up and all the trouble and messes they got into. When we got back to Matt's house, Dan and I played with the little puppy that ended up on their doorstep earlier that day. We came back to my apartment and Dan fell asleep on my couch. So I ran over to Kacey's to tell her that I had decided to go to Sierra Vista with them that night. She and Megan had asked me about it on Friday and I didn't know if I wanted to, or if it would be weird--asking all those stupid questions that girls do and being completely irrational. After much debate, I decided to go.

Kacey told me that Megan was getting out of clinicals around 7 so we'd leave as soon as she got home, but the whole plan was to keep it a secret from Dan so I could surprise him on Sunday. Dan and I went to a baptism and Kacey texted me around 6 that Megan was home. So I hurried home, packed my stuff, threw it in Megan's car, and ran over to Dan's to say goodbye so he wouldn't stop by my house and we could meet them somewhere and drive down to Sierra Vista together. We met them at a gas station in town, and I hid between the bench and the seat in front of me. They covered me in pillows so that Dan and Brian wouldn't know I was in the car.

We got to Megan's house and played kick the can with her cousins and just messed around in the backyard. When Dan and Brian and Bryson got there to talk to Jared, we were all in the backyard and they went into the game room to talk and look at pictures from Jared's mission. Kacey kept watch on the door when we went into the kitchen to talk to Megan's mom. The code was "the fox is flying." Luckily, we didn't have to use it. Megan, Kacey and I slept on the trampoline. The whole time I was texting Dan acting like I was still in Thatcher.

At church, we got there before Dan and Brian did and they sat behind us. Well, I severely underestimated Dan's knowledge of the back of my head. I guess I figured that the backs of people's head all looked the same. I guess when you stare at one all semester, you get pretty familiar with it. Hahah oh man poor kid. Good thing he doesn't know I'm writing this. Anyway, moving on with the story, he was texting Kacey and totally knew it was me. He found me before priesthood and relief society and it was sooo cute. He had the biggest smile on his face and was like I'm so happy to see you and I can't believe you're here! Good surprise huh?!

We had lunch at Megan's after church and took a million and a half pictures! Before we left, Marsha, Megan's mom, pulled me aside in the kitchen and asked me how much I liked this boy (Dan). Then she was telling me about his mom and how amazing she is. Holy crap, from what Marsha said, I'm pretty sure I'm absolutely terrified to meet her! She's amazing!! Never has a cross word to say about anyone. Pretty much the kind of person we're all supposed to be like, and I fall miserably short. Ugh. Great. If I wasn't nervous to meet his parents before, I totally am now!!

Fears aside, hopefully I'll have PLENTY of time to psych myself up to meet them. Oh dear. This could be interesting. Good thing it's not any time soon. Okay, back to Marsha: So she asked me if Dan and I were dating and I kinda laughed--nervously--and fumbled with through a yeah we are. Kacey piped in and said Yeah you guys are! He's telling people you're his girlfriend. Great. Well there you go, we're dating. Haha oh well. It was bound to happen sooner or later.

The drive back was fairly uneventful, except when we pulled off the 10 to get onto the 191 to come back. Out of nowhere, we see lights behind us. Yeah, Megan got pulled over, apparently for speeding. Being the adorable blonde she is, and lucky for us that Jared had just gotten home, she got off with a warning and the cop ended up talking to her for what seemed like FOREVER about his mission and where he went. Then, the cop gave us all permission to be back seat drivers so that Megan wouldn't speed anymore. Talk about a great day! I actually get PERMISSION to be a back seat driver!! Wahoo! Okay so it wasn't that exciting. It was honestly more weird and awkward than anything.

We made it home safe and sound. Thank goodness. I hung out with Dan and we just laughed about the entire weekend and how I was at Megan's the entire time and he had no idea. Such a good girlfriend--yuck. I don't know if I'll get used to that anytime soon. Haha. But he did like the surprise. Mission accomplished. Now that it's ridiculously late and I have a midterm on Tuesday in pharmacology--kill my life--I think we'll call this one quits. It's pretty ridiculously long. But hey, I want to remember this some day, and it's the details that count!!



"Family: the one's you live with, laugh with, and love." :]

...but I'm an open book.

Okay so when Abbie and I were making my blog yesterday, I couldn't think of anything to call it. At a loss for words, I decided upon this...They have curtains, and just to explain it's an inside joke. But as I've been thinking about it a little more, and don't think I'm trying to be all deep and thoughtful about it, because that's definitely not where I was ever intending on going with this, but I was just thinking how much of an open book my life is. Honestly, if anybody wanted to know anything about me, all they'd have to do is ask and I would tell them. So I was just thinking about how curtains sometimes keep creepers and people from looking into your home and blocking out things. Well I don't have any.

I'm having some serious self-consciousness issues writing to this invisible audience that does not exist...except for Kendra and Abbie. But, issues aside, I will continue to write in the hopes that one day I can copy and paste this into a journal--an idea I totally stole from Abbie--and listen to the counsel of the prophets to keep a journal. The whole pen and paper thing...not really my style. So I suppose this will have to suffice. It's only taken me till college to get here, but better late than never right?

Today I saw this post on facebook about sisters and it made me very grateful for mine. It says SISTERS ARE A PROMISE FROM GOD THAT YOU WILL HAVE A FRIEND FOREVER. I'm so grateful for mine. We don't always get along and we're all at different stages in our lives, making it a little difficult to relate to each other, but this post made me realize how much of a blessing each of them are. I've been blessed with three of them that are each different and unique and bring something more to our collective relationship as sisters. I hope that one day, we can all be the best of friends and lean on each other for everything.

On a less serious note, the breast cancer awareness volleyball game was last night...pictures will come later...much later. This blogging thing is entirely difficult to get used to. Anyway, back to the volleyball game. So everyone is wearing pink and there was a guy that walked in with a shirt that said: Protect them! Cause we love them! So awesome! Haha I loved it!!

Anyway, to end this nice lovely little freaking RANDOM post, geez I feel like a schizophrenic, let's just say I take life not nearly seriously enough. My friends and I have no grip on reality whatsoever. We laugh entirely too much. Say way too many random things--that all end up on post it notes on our board in the kitchen. Stay up till the wee hours of the morning and watch the sunrise--which we never remember what gets talked about. But in the end, we're happy. And it's these memories that we'll remember. The ones that we look back on years from now. This is the part of college we'll remember. And I intend to make the most of it. So here's my little disclaimer: forgive the carelessness and out-of-touch-with-reality-ness that I experience and will write about on a (hopefully) regular basis. After all, they say the more you laugh the longer you live. :]