[em and nate.]

It's not every day that your best-daughter-sister-kindred-soul-friend gets married to the love of her life.

[Em and Nate. Such a happy, happy day. 

Also. Side note. HOW DID I NOT NOTICE UNTIL THEIR WEDDING DAY THAT IF YOU SAY "EM AND NATE" REALLY FAST IT SOUNDS LIKE "EMANATE"? BECAUSE IT DOES. anyway. moving on.]

I met Em in Ukraine. I was her "trainer," which means that she came to me fresh out of the Missionary Training Center to the far corners of Kharkov, Ukraine, and I, well, tried to help her get adjusted to LDS missionary work in Ukraine. It was one of those very fast friendships, and a friendship that I needed so very, very much at the time (and a friendship that has grown and progressed--and one that I still need today). I am so grateful for all she taught me in Ukraine, but especially about the healing power of love. 

[In Kharkov.]

[In Donetsk.]

I'm also so grateful that she asked if we could be roommates when she got back from Ukraine. That transition back from a mission is never easy (and neither, shockingly enough, is the world of Provo, Utah), but again, I sure am grateful for all I have learned from this woman as we have navigated the radical uncertainty of our changing lives and trying to handle the complex world of adult relations. 

From brownie batter to Ukrainian pizza; bedrooms with fridges in them to cinder block walls; Provo Sunday walks and Oxford FaceTime chats; tears and hopes and GREs and grad school and heartbreak and lovers . . . just, thank you, Em. For being there. And for letting me be there for you. 

[Oh, happy day.]

Love you forever. Cчастья вам. Happiness to you and your love.

All Hallow's Eve

If you can choose to be anywhere on Halloween, might I recommend Oxford?

Halloween is not as big of a holiday in Britain as it is in the U.S. I prefer it that way, actually. I'm not a huge fan of Halloween. I think that it can be overblown and I don't like the emphasis on the scary.

But when you spend Halloween with friends and help throw fun Halloween parties for young families, then Halloween becomes what it should be--a holiday to help people draw closer together through good fun.

Here's what made this Halloween a weekend to remember:

1. Dead Friday at the Ashmolean.

We didn't know what to expect for this event, but it ended up being a conglomeration of ways cultures recognize death: from ghost stories, skeleton puppet shows, and a Roman funeral procession. The marvelous Mariana acted as a professional mourner for the funeral procession. She did a convincing job. 

2. Dressing up. 

I went as a Russian serf. Mary stole the show as Mary Poppins. 

And now some shots of me as a true Russian peasant (aka, get ready for some serious Russian faces): 

[my favorite picture of the night. jolly mary and sad serf.] 

3. Apple crisp and competitive card games. 

4. Corpus Christi Chapel at night. 

5. Family Halloween parties. 

6. Seeing darling children in their creative Halloween costumes. 

7. Yellow moons over misty fields. 

8. Oxford just feels so perfect for Halloween. I mean, look at these spiderwebs: 

[these aren't decorations. these are spiderwebs in morning dew. it's like the spiders were planning their own halloween party.]

9. Fireworks. On Halloween. 

10. These people (and others not pictured): 

I love the people I get to interact with here. Truly, I am surrounded by beautiful souls. And I am grateful our paths have crossed at Oxford. I had a moment on Saturday night, standing in a medieval alleyway close to Pembroke College, when I looked up at the stars and just felt happy. A kind of happiness that fills you up like apple cider and jelly-filled doughnuts; the kind where a place in your chest expands--relaxes--and you truly breathe in your surroundings and know that you are in the right place at the right time. 

A truly happy Halloween. 

Sunshine in My Soul

A few of my favorite things:

 Sunflowers in the kitchen. 

Girls in new dresses with blue satin sashes. 

Happy Saturday!

Out of the Mouth of Babes

I've been reorganizing my room before the mission--throwing things out, figuring out what I'll need when I get back, things like that.

It's a tad depressing, but also fun. Like when I find gems like this:

Yes folks, that is my autobiography. Written when I was in 4th grade. It's pretty comprehensive, surprisingly ingenious . . .

and down-right funny.

Take these lines for example:

"Pink is her [my five-year-old-sister's] favorite color because it 'makes her feel good when nobody's around.'" 

You know what? I can appreciate that.

"She [my three-year-old sister] says that her favorite food is ice cream because she's a little girl." 

I must still be a little girl, because ice cream's my favorite food, too.

On why I like to write: "I guess I love writing because I get to write it all by myself and other people get to read it." 

Mwahahahaha! You have to read my writing.

On why I am a great person to know: "In fact, I don't even brag (OK, maybe 5 times a year!)!" 

I'm glad it was only five times back then. Maybe that should be my new year's resolution. Only brag 5 times/year. Although I think that bragging about not bragging counts as one of my allowable boasts. Shoot. Down to 4 now.

I also heard some great kid quotes this Christmas with my family. (Family members, feel free to correct me if I got them wrong. Hearsay and time do wonderful things to my memory.)

My aunt: But what if Janae [another aunt] got all of the presents?
S: I would steal them!
My aunt: But what if they were things you didn't like?
S (in tears): Janae can't have all the presents!

Me (sitting down at the piano): I'm going to sing "Someone Like You."*
S: How about "Never Mind, I'll Find" instead?

A (saying a blessing on the food): And please bless the mean cat that he won't bite me, and the Chesire Cat, that he'll be able to find his way.

Oh, kids. Love them so much.

Speaking of kids and of the title of this post, do you guys remember watching this?

Such a great video.








*"Someone Like You" is my cousin's favorite song. But just the chorus.

I like my birthdays, every one . . .

Birthdays are just good things.

And this birthday was especially good. I'll tell you 21 reasons why:

1. It was just beautiful on my birthday. Clear skies, crisp fall air . . . mmm. I was born for October weather. So good thing I was born in October.

2. Birthday princess ribbon. It's pretty cool.

3. Birthday flowers from my family. :)

4. Birthday pie from my family. Swedish Apple Pie. Mmmm.

5. People saying "Happy Birthday" to me. I don't care how old you are, it is just fun to have people recognize you.

6. Michelle's super-long "Happy Birthday" song.

7. We got our disposal fixed.

8. Nice birthday notes and e-mails.

9. Phone calls from loved ones.

10. Hair that curls just right.

11. Being taken out to birthday ice cream by a good friend.

12. Birthday breakfast muffins.

13. Blowing out a candle. Because it wouldn't fit in the pie. But I still get to keep the wish, right?

14. Making new friends.

15. Getting to see my sister.

16. Getting to see my cousin.

17. Sticky-notes all over my room.

18. Getting "Happy Birthday" sung to me by my roommates and my roommates' home teachers.

19. Freaking out because Sharisa got her MISSION CALL!

20. Dancing on the balcony because Sharisa got her MISSION CALL!

21. Sharisa opened up her MISSION CALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ukraine Dnepropetrovsk Mission, speaking Russian! So exciting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was just a good day all around. Yay birthdays.

I wish I had real pictures for this blog post . . .

but I don't. I forgot my camera.

But this is my rendition of my dear, dear friend Emily and me:

Aren't we cute? 

Emily and I have been friends since 6th grade. It's amazingly awesome, actually, that we've been friends for so long. Here's another picture of us (this one's for you, Em):

(Pictures courtesy of squeetus.com)

But really, even though we've been friends for more than a dozen years, I still don't have any real pictures of us! What is this?! (Emily, you'd better fix that.)

But let's get to the important part.

On Saturday, Emily got married to her best friend, Chris!

And I am so happy that I got to be a part of her day.

Emily, I'm so happy for you! I truly wish you and Chris every happiness and blessing in life.

Let's be friends forever, yes?

Okay. :)

Do You Hear the People Sing?

My roommate showed this to me just the other day:




All Rights Reserved to Cameron Mackintosh Ltd 201




LES MISERABLES! THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY! I must have been in a cave for the last few months to not realize that the DVD was already out. (Okay, yes. I guess I was. The library DOES count as a cave.) 

Let's just say that my roommate and I wasted little time in finding our favorite songs. And singing along. And sometimes critiquing the director/the singers/the actors.

But always, always falling in love over and over again with the music and the story. (Which, by the way, I'm not even going to try to express how I feel about the musical and the book right now, because it would take pages. But if you ask me sometime, I'd be more than happy to talk your ear off.)

Then my roommate bought the DVD. It should be here Monday.

A good thing to have during Midterms Week?

Maybe not.

But maybe. :)

And yes, I know Nick Jonas is Marius in the 25th anniversary. And I don't know how much I like this new  Eponine.

But that doesn't detract from the story and the message.

And did I mention that Alfie Boe as Jean Valjean is incredible?

Listen for yourself. This is a quartet of "Bring Him Home" by four very famous Valjeans, including Colm  Wilkinson, who was the original Jean Valjean.

WARNING: THIS CLIP IS A TEAR-JERKER!

You have been warned.

All Rights Reserved to Cameron Mackintosh Ltd 201

Um, wasn't that incredible? I get chills every time I listen to it. 

So. You'll know where I'll be Monday: Plopped on the couch, tissues in hand, singing loud, singing strong, the beating of my heart echoing the beating of the drum. 

And thanks, Melissa, for showing this to me. It made my night. 

Eeeee!

That, my friends, is a squeal of excitement.

Like when Liesel screams after Rolf kisses her on "The Sound of Music."




But no . . . I wasn't kissed. Not tonight, anyway.

But, I applied for an internship with the Church Magazines last Friday. And tonight I got an e-mail saying that they want me to send in my portfolio!

This doesn't mean that I'll get the internship (I still have to send in my portfolio and then, if they still like me, I'll be interviewed. And if they still like me after that, I'll get the job).

But for the moment it means that . . .

They like me! They really like me!

And it feels so good.

Eeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (too many for an English major, I know. But that's okay.)

Cookie Palooza(s)

Our apartment likes cookies.

As one of my roommates says, some people have 72-hour kits. We have 72-cookies kits. 

You'd be surprised by the amount of comfort and sanity a cookie can bring. 

The past few weeks before Christmas break, our apartment literally went on a baking spree. We made real gingerbread to make gingerbread houses during the First Presidency Christmas Devotional. We also made sugar cookies while watching Elf, and there were cake balls and candy to boot, making Finals Week a lot more bearable (and tastier). 

Here are some pictures from our Cookie Paloozas: 

Making Gingerbread Houses: 

Cute roommate shot

Silly roommate shot

Did you know that you can create stained-glass windows for your gingerbread houses? First, cut out a "window" in your gingerbread. Then, crush some Jolly Ranchers. 

Next, fill your "window" with the crushed Jolly Ranchers. Melt the Jolly Ranchers by baking the gingerbread. 

Ta-da! The finished product!

It's a Gingerbread Tanner Building! 

Close-up of the Tanner Building. Pretty good, eh? 

Making my gingerbread house

Making a Gingerbread Guggenheim

The finished product! Isn't it lovely? 

A fallen gingerbread teepee, and two gingerbread houses. 

The Gingerbread Teepee

What kind of insurance should these gingerbread structures have?
Fire? No. Flood? Nein. Earthquake? Nope.
Answer: Cookie Monster Insurance!

No, not this one. 

                      THIS one. So innocent looking. Those poor cookies never knew what hit them. 

Sugar Cookie Night: 

We also made and frosted sugar cookies one night. I love sugar cookies . . . although I think I like the dough more than the actual cookies! Still, making and frosting sugar cookies brings back fond memories of listening to Mannheim Steamroller, watching the Christmas tree lights dance on the ceiling, and preparing a plate of homemade, frosting-sticky cookies for Santa. 

You know it's beginning to smell a lot like Christmas when you have gingerbread and sugar cookies baking in the oven. :) 

The Last Fifteen Minutes

. . . before I left for the library epitomized the wonderful spontaneity that is my apartment this year.

TRISH*: Do you think that we could talk to each other through the vents?
BLYTHE: Let's try it. I'll be inside the bathroom and you try to hear my voice in the living room.

(Various NOISES** ensue as they try to hear each other.)

CLARA: I had a weird dream last night. I think I had a baby.
CHRISTINE: Oh really? Who was the father?
CLARA: I don't remember. I think  . . . (screams as BLYTHE hits her from behind with a SNOWBALL)

(Laughter. BLYTHE, CLARA, and CHRISTINE start hitting each other with SNOWBALLS with SNOW that BLYTHE brought in from OUTSIDE.)

TRISH: Hit my computer and you will die.

(SNOWBALL FIGHT in the KITCHEN. SNOW flies around the KITCHEN until it's all melted.)

BLYTHE (to TRISH): You know that was fun.

General chit-chat as I prepare to go to the library. As I leave the apartment one of my roommates says, as she's laying on the living room floor in front of her computer:

"Sometimes I feel like a beached whale . . ."

That, my friends, is the spontaneity of our apartment. But part of the wonder of it all is, that it doesn't feel spontaneous. It feels normal, like home. My apartment has literally been a home away from home this semester. And I love it.

You have no idea how wonderful this semester has been with all of my roommates. They are all such fun, sweet, independent, wonderful women and I've enjoyed sharing an apartment with them, having deep discussions late into the night, baking cookies, singing songs, and laughing. I am truly blessed to have lived, grown, and learned along with them this semester.

There are more posts to come about the fun times with roommates this semester . . . I just have to get through finals. Two more to go!

*Names have been changed . . . :)
** I don't know what I decided to capitalize and block all of the nouns. You'd think I was studying for my German final or something.

Three Reasons Why This Weekend Was So Great

1) Service Project at Temple Square. Our stake dug out summer flowers and planted bulbs for the spring. I'm excited to see Temple Square in bloom come April General Conference. "Look, look! I planted those tulips!"

2) Mozart's The Magic Flute, playing at the BYU de Jong Concert Hall. I went to the dress rehearsal, so I was a little nervous that they'd have a problem and have to stop. But they didn't have to stop once; I was able to see it uninterrupted. It was a beautiful production, and it's such an interesting opera. I really enjoyed watching it.

3) Cambridge get-together! Need I say more? I love hanging out with them; it makes me so happy to see them and find out how their lives are going. I love these people. You couldn't ask for a better bunch.

Life is good.