the next chapter

Can you even still consider yourself a blogger when you haven't posted an inkling of anything in a whopping nine months? Oooooops. In my defense though, those nine months have been some of the craziest of my whole life. It's gonna take me awhile to get everyone up to speed, but I mean, I've got to start somewhere, right?

As of yesterday, Draper is now considered home. On Monday I start work as a nanny for two cute kids. The following Monday I start my second-to-last semester at BYU-Idaho. This move was unexpected and spontaneous, but it's part of what's next for me. 

Bonnie L. Oscarson recently said, "May I point out something obvious? Life rarely goes exactly according to plan for anyone. We should remember that a loving Heavenly Father is aware of our righteous desires and will honor His promises that nothing will be withheld from those who faithfully keep their covenants. Heavenly Father has a mission and plan for each of us, but He also has His own timetable. One of the hardest challenges in this life is to have faith in the Lord's timing."

Oh, how true that is. I'm struggling working to accept that as I figure out my "Plan B."

The next several months are going to be about me--about healing, about finding happiness again, about getting back on my feet, and about becoming the best version of  myself. 

Here's to my next chapter.

um, HIIIIII!

The whole point of having Candace redesign was my blog was to actually start blogging again. Turns out I completely failed at that goal (facepalm). Life caught up with me. It's been approximately four and a half months since I have even looked at this blog, let alone documented any of my life. It's sad. Howeeeever, as of tonight I am officially done with school for the next 7 weeks. I could not be more thrilled about this. I have free time! I forgot what this stuff is! 

Let me catch you up to speed real quick... All I've done the last few months is struggle through 50 hour work weeks, fight off summer brain during online classes, and try to squeeze in some dates with my guy. Ta-da! You haven't missed a thing. Now I just need to get through five more weeks of work and then we're headed back to the West!

Speaking of the West, remember that time I went to Utah for a magical weekend of shenanigans? There will definitely be more of that later...

back in action

My goodness it's been a very long time since I've blogged over here... about a year and a half, if we're getting specific! Now that I'm home from my mission I decided I wanted to get back to documenting my comings and goings. So with a blog makeover from the lovely Miss Candace, I'm ready to go.

It's been a busy, unexpected, bittersweet, ridiculous six months since I got home, but I'm facing forward and looking forward to the next six months until I move back to Idaho, starting with tomorrow... In the morning I have a job interview that I'm super excited about (good vibes please) so while I'm picking out the perfect outfit to woo my potential soon-to-be employer, I'm crossing my fingers that it goes well! And then Chris and I will maybe be able to squeeze in a day date before I have to be at work (I build bears for little cuties).

So here's to a resurrected blog, new jobs, and hoping the rest of the week zooms by. I've got an exciting weekend planned :)

hasta luego, mis amores

well lovelies, i'm off to do bigger and better things. i won't post over here anymore until march of 2014 when i get home. buuuuuuut, for those of you who would like to keep up with what's going on in my life, you're welcome to follow my missionary adventures right over here, where my mom will be posting my weekly emails home. i'm so excited about this work i'm headed to do. i appreciate all the love, support, and encouragement i've felt from my family and friends in the weeks/months/years leading up to this big time in my life. i'm going to miss you all! until we meet again. xoxo.

last instagram dump until 2014

from left to right, top to bottom

[1] i wish growing out my bangs wasn't such a dang process, its taking forevs

[2] on my last night of work my mum came in and gave me basically a million dollars

[3] i've dropped this phone a thousand times and this was the time it chose to shatter the screen. i'd like to thank it for its thoughtful timing though. i don't need a phone for too much longer!

[4] one of the last few kentucky sunsets i'll see, and so preeeeetty

[5] boyfriend took me to shogun last week and it was so tasty

[6] jimmy johns has thee funniest signs, i could stay in there and look at them all day

[7] the fam went to roadhouse the other night and just got appetizers and desserts (the cheesecake is my fave)

[8] hadley and me on her last "first day of school" dinner

[9] eight hours in a car with four other people will do somethin to you...

[10] "raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens" is all that comes to mind

[11] encouraging texts from idaho cory

[12] it isn't a trip to kansas without a walk down memory lane

[13] sister black sent me the sweetest note after i gave my farewell talk

[14] orange leaf date with our favorite couple

[15] we spend our days with bubbles and coloring books, so what?

[16] hotel beds >

one week

today i enter my last week as a non-missionary. on sunday my stake president will set me apart as a  full-time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. from then on there will be no phone, twitter, facebook, blogger, instagram, skype, movies, music, dating, swimming, working, or life as i know it for the next year and a half. on monday i will fly to utah, with my mom as my first companion, to spend some time with family and friends before i report to the mtc on wednesday. it's so strange that the day is finally coming, and it's coming this week! i can't believe it's been eight long months since i decided i was going to move home and prepare to serve a mission. i cannot accurately describe to you how badly i want to get out of here and go to work. it's literally all i can think about and i'm so unbelievably ready to begin this next chapter of my life.

in other news, we spent the weekend in kansas city for my stepdad's stepdad's (don't get confused) funeral. it was a nice service with lots of family on his side and my stepdad's mom's side as well. i was just happy we got to be there to support her. she's an incredible woman and took such great care of him. it was also nice to be able to spend a few unexpected days with my little family of 5.

well loves, i'm off to enjoy labor day festivities, which include, but are not limited to: laundry, packing, cleaning, swimming (if the weather will allow) and hopefully some downtown louisville.

kiss your loved ones - you don't know how long you have them!

winding down

it's so strange to think that in less than a month i'll be a missionary. a real live name badge wearing, book of mormon carrying, spanish speaking, investigator loving missionary. i have been waiting on this for what seems like sooooooo loooooong. but it's getting more and more real with every day. last sunday i gave my farewell talk, and then a week from this next sunday i get set apart. i'll fly to utah on monday, spend tuesday with my family, and then wednesday i'm off! my last days at both jobs were this weekend, so i'm dedicating the next two weeks to final preparations and getting in missionary mode. i plan on spending lots of time at the temple, time reading and studying the scriptures and preach my gospel, and cherishing every moment with my family. i'm so so thankful it's almost here! i don't think i could wait any longer. and as sad/nervous/anxious/ as i sometimes feel, the excitement/certainty/eagerness i'm feeling is a thousand times more.