Dear Blog.

I am sorry that I have left you alone for quite some time now.  I have definitely put you on the back burner lately.  And I am going to continue to do so for the next two weeks.  

Tomorrow morning I will fly out of beautiful San Diego to FLORIDA. I can hardly wait to meet up with my family there and just to be there.  It has been too long.  From there it will go something like this.

Birmingham England for a few days

Take the train to LONDON

Fly to Telaviv, Jerusalem

Visit Galilee

Off to Poland

Visit Auschwitz

come home.

I can't WAIT!!

I am taking two weeks off of school and it will be the greatest decision of my life up to this point.  I am in need of a MAJOR break. I have senoritas if you will.  Everyday it is harder and harder to get up in the morning.  There are a lot of factors that could be causing this struggle of mine.  But we won't get into those. This is going to be a trip of a lifetime and I am going to soak it all up!! 

Feelings I want to feel on this trip.

HAPPY

Grateful

Pain from laughter

Humbled

Excitement 

Feel closer to the Savior

Missing someone

Peace

Amazed

Relaxed

I can't wait to share my experiences where I feel all of these feelings. I can already check off a couple of them. But we will start at 6am tomorrow when I get on my flight! ttfn. (ta ta for now, mom)

xoxo

your european traveler.

Life is good. no complaints!

Life has been the opposite of boring the last little while. I haven't had time to upload pictures for all of it yet- but they will come soon.  These are just a few of the adventures that I have had lately!

Driving an hour to the new CAFE RIO in CALIFORNIA. yes. an hour for Cafe Rio. and yes it was worth it!

Ditching school isn't usually an option... but I do make exceptions for a few people.  Ali is definitely on that list! Her and her friend Eric decided to come to California for her 21st birthday- Disneyland was where we celebrated! It was such a great day!! SUCH a great weekend.  Came and went way too quick! 

Road trips have always been my favorite.  Especially when you have good company and a great final destination! 

company: 2 crazy boys.

destination: HOME to see family + go to conference! 

trip: success.

It is always good to hear from the leaders of the church and to hear the advice and council they have for us.  I love conference weekend and it was so neat to be able to go to a session of it at the conference center! I am so grateful for the gospel.  I love it.  Everything about it.  It has blessed my life so much and continues to.  I am reminded every single day how real it is and how fortunate I am.  Conference was amazing and it was such a good Easter sunday as well.  It gave me a chance to center my thoughts on the Savior and his sacrifice for me and to be reminded of his unconditional love for me.

I am more than 2/3 of the way done with school.  crazy crazy crazy.  I am just enjoying my time here! I am having a blast and being taken very good care of.  California has treated me very well- thoughts of staying here are very tempting. But thats for a different day.  As for today:  I drove an hour to school and due to rain and the 100+ accidents on the freeway,  I was locked out by 1 minute.  1 minute?? I got there 1 minute late and that is not acceptable...... I laughed at myself and drove back home.  

So monday off= nap time!

xoxo.

young-wild-&free

Casey James- you are the exception to my rule. although- I would wait for you.

All joking aside though- 

Dating in high school.

Let's hang out.

cuddle maybe? or run through the sprinklers.

lets run away- nothing matters besides us.

Do you think I look cute in this color? 

Butterflies.

No worries.

Let's dream together-name our kids-plan our lives.

Love songs.

Football games.

Hating goodbyes. 

VS. 

dating after.

It is real.

serious.

Marriage is always in the back of your mind.

Can I see myself with him? Do I like his family? Does he do this or does he do that..

Is he going to be a good daddy?

Is he going to always honor his priesthood and love the Lord?

Does he love me more than anything?

Is he someone I could possibly see myself ending up with?

Is he a hard worker?

blah blah blah.

the list goes on.

I am not too picky- I have set one rule for you boys.

:

If you want to date me- you need to be filling out your mission papers.

maybe it(we) will work out

 in 2 years.

The photo says it all

Long day....

Happy Sunday

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend . I did . I feel very blessed right now, my life is happy.

I love those moments in life where you stop to realize how blessed you are.

I am having one of those today.

thats all.

enjoy!

Update

Last weekend I went home! It was so good to be home.  It was just mom and I because the rest of the family left us behind and went to Japan. But we definitely didn't let that stop us from having a good weekend.  

here's how my trip went.

Friday mom picked me up and we went to Iggy's and had lunch.  We ended up sitting there for a few hours and catching up.  I loved it.  We spent the rest of the day together until the girls came over! 

Confession: after this picture was taken, we were off to find a dance to go to.  It is tradition. but.....we went to a uvu dance.  I hope you didn't catch that.  It was my very first one and very last one.  I guess it is something that everyone has to experience once in their life? I think I could have done without it though.... speaking of... girls have you checked any of the websites to see if you can find us in the 28 pictures we snuck in? we were good! we definitely got the speed dating going too.  no, I haven't called back to two guys you gave my number to... but don't be surprised if they call you soon! : )

we have a blast.

Saturday mom and I woke up and went and got massages.  it was so nice.  we got a nice breakfast too.  It was a good morning! I just love you mom and even though sometimes I act like I don't want to hear the motherly advice, I guess I really like it because I find myself giving that same advice to my friends when they ask for some.

For lunch Julianne and I met up with Mark and his friend Ryan at chillis. mmm : )

Saturday night Mark and I went up to temple square to see the Joseph Smith movie.  I always love seeing this movie and I always love being at temple square.  And I always love being with Mark! so it was a good night for me : )

Sunday was Marks farewell . crazy how fast time flies! He did SUCH an amazing job.  It was seriously one of the best farewell talks I have ever heard.  The spirit was so strong in the room as he bore his testimony of the Savior.  I know I have said this before, but Mark is amazing! He is going to be such an incredible missionary.  He leaves in two days .  March 11th! I am so excited for him to get out there, he is so ready! good luck Marke! I will be missing you, and I will be praying for you! much love!

 special thanks to mom, jul, kenz, kell .

love you all.

SO it was a great weekend being home! Then Monday I was back to cali! I do have to admit that it was nice to get off the plane into 75 degree weather.  Not trying to rub it in or anything.  I like it here.

ps. some sweet person gave me a cold.  It's not fun.  my nose is bright red and my ears are buzzing.  just call me rudolph, but say it loud cause I can't hear.

until next time, xoxo.

For Julianne.

Once upon a time I lived with you.

one word: hilarious.