Oldies

If you know me, you are well aware of my love for old movies. Not only do I love old movies, I love old TV shows. Especially any made in the '50s or '60s (Bewitched, I Love Lucy). I grew up watching them, because mom loves them and whenever we would go on vacation in the summer, "Nick at Nite" always had the best shows.

Anyhow. After watching Mary Poppins on Saturday afternoon, I started watching "The Dick Van Dyke Show". It is so refreshing to watch TV shows from years ago as opposed to all the garbage that is on these days. Plus, I love Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore. I mean, who wouldn't? Thank you, dad for downloading all of the seasons!

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Matter of Time

Okay, just one more post for the day. I have to.
Notice the date above? It's August 30th. We know what that means, right? It has been officially eleven months since my wonderful missionary entered the MTC. Yep. Eleven months. That means that in thirteen months, I get to see that sweet, sweet face again and steal as many kisses and hugs as I want because he will be home!!! If you have been around me in the past month, you will know how excited I am that we are coming so close to a year! Excited is not a strong enough word to capture what is going on in my head and heart when I think about being that much closer to my dear Justin, but it works for now.

How could I be anything but ecstatic to see this face in thirteen months?!

Happy Monday, friends.

 I just had to share my news!

xo

Week Two: Friday

Once again, just as week one, most of my picture taking happened on Friday during the service activity and before the dance. So, how about my pictures do the talking?

With my co-counselor, Mo. (He's making his lisp face)

Vanessa, Catherine, myself and Talia.

Me and Heather. I love this picture for a few reasons. But mainly because we are just SO excited! 

All of the counselors

Posing with my girls before the dance Friday night.

Clearly, we are model material!

My girls showing off their muscles.

And lastly, me and my boys!

Week Two: Pizza Night

Pizza night. Week two. Yeah, I love pizza night. So much!
Really. Especially this week, because my girls were super giddy talking about their cows, and we had a major dance party.

All of my girls (minus two that went home sick). 

Week Two

Are you ready for this? EFY week two. Finally!
So, week two. After one week of the craziness, I was ready for more -- though the fifteen or so hours I slept on Saturday didn't seem to be enough. But, despite that I was ready for another amazing week. And of course, I was not disappointed.
For the second week, I was just in a two-some, but with twelve girls and twelve boys, my group was nearly as large as the first week. So, once again I was blessed with an amazing group of girls (two of which are in my stake), and group of really sweet boys (though they did try to push my buttons now and then). And even though Vanessa and I couldn't be roommates again, I got to be roommates with Kelsey, which was fab. We had some good nights in the hall, waiting for the girls to go to sleep. Fifteen year-olds make funny noises at night.
So, again all in all, I had such a great time. I learned so much, felt the spirit, and loved (almost) every minute!

Playing some games on Monday night. Thankfully no rain this time!

Inspiration

Before I head for dreamland tonight, I just wanted to do a quick post to share one of my new favourite quotes. I heard this at EFY (second week, I believe) and found it to be the exact words I needed to push me through. I hope it can do the same for you.

"Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising which tempt you to believe that your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires courage."

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Week One: Friday

Just one last post about my first week at EFY. It was an amazing week and I loved (mostly) every minute of it! My first week was kind of my 'practice' week almost. I learned a lot, and figured out some things to work on and do better the next week. I just felt so privileged to have the opportunity to work as a counselor this summer. It was really amazing!
Most of my picture taking happened on Friday while the kiddos did their service project and before the dance, so I felt the need to dedicate a post to that. Enjoy!

Posing while the kids work on their blankets. 

All of the counselors.

Me and my girls. Oh, I had SO much fun with these ladies! I will always have a special place in my heart for these girls. 

We attempted a very large dog pile. It kind of failed. 

Had enough? Come back for a few posts about week two. 

xo

Week One: Pizza Night

So, apparently I am really bad at the "I'll post that tomorrow" thing. I apologize!
EFY week one. One of the most important nights of EFY is definitely Wednesday's Pizza Night. I love it! I feel like that was the time that I really got to connect with my girls. Pizza, music, dance parties, talking about each girl's cow ("crush of the week").

Having two groups of girls made for a super fun party. I love being a fifteen year old again. It's definitely more fun when you're really twenty-one. 

Week One

EFY. Week one. Are you ready?

So, on the 2nd of August, I began my adventure (this seems to be my new word, eh?). The day began with early morning breakfast (no eggs for me!), a short business meeting with all of the counselors, and going over the ever popular EFY dances. After that, I had some issues with my room, so I had to run over and get my new room key and I had more issues with that -- let's just say I was not very smart that morning.
I was so excited to finally meet my girls that afternoon! I had the privilege of spending the week with nine wonderful girls who made my week so awesome. Plus, I had two co-counselors, so with Dana's nine girls and Devin's eight (then nine) boys, we were quite the group.
It was definitely an eye-opening experience and I feel so blessed and privileged to be able to spend the week with those kids and helping them to build their testimonies.
Oh, and a bonus: I had an AWESOME roommate! We may have spent a few too many hours talking at night, but it was more than worth it. Talks about everything (and I mean everything!), YouTube videos, sleeping noises. The best.
The week flew by and when it came to Saturday morning, I couldn't believe that a week had already passed!
So, to sum it up, I loved my week, I loved my girls, I loved my co-counselors, I loved my boys -- I even loved them on Saturday morning when they crowded around me proceeded to do the cheer that I had grown to loathe that week.

Devin, Dana, myself. We're pretty tough. 

The whole group. "Greatest of All". 

That's all for now. I don't want to overload you with pictures, so I will do that later. 

xo

Countdown!

Just a quick little countdown of my future adventures:

Hope Classic 5K - 10 days
Gaslight Anthem - 22 days
Fall semester - 27 days
Justin's one year mark - 43 days

And as always, I am lacking in the patience department. Just a smidgen though! (or more)

Missionary update

I realized yesterday that it has been quite a while since the last update on the adventures of our favourite missionary. So, here it is.
As of last Monday (transfers), Justin is still serving in Hemet, but he has a new companion, Elder Shaw. And, he's training! I am so excited for him! I had a feeling that he would be training this transfer and I am definitely excited for this new adventure. He says that he and Elder Shaw are getting along really well and working well together -- which is definitely music to my ears.
Oh, and other news! In just over a month, we will be at one year! That's right. One year! I can't wait!

Summer Nights

I know that I promised a full report on my adventures from the last two weeks of efy, but I am going to share my wonderful night instead.
Tonight, I spent the evening with my mom, sister, brother-in-law, Granny, Papa, cousin Sarah, cousin Tracy and their adorable little munchkins. It was fabulous.
When I was little, we would spend a lot of time at that park having picnics, wading in the chlorine saturated pool and chasing the seagulls. I loved it. And I still love it fifteen years later -- especially when I got to share the time with some of the best people in the world.

Oh, Jakey. There's no way your heart isn't melting right now for this boy. 

Tyler. Always smiling. Always posing. He's a ninja -- just ask him. 

Bailey. There used to be a time when she would run from the camera. Apparently those days are passed. 

Riley. Oh, I could spend hours taking pictures of this beauty. Love her!

Cammy. This girl is a treat. And you can't see it here, but she is also missing two teeth! 

So, yeah. It was a good day. 

Quick update

Yep, I am still alive. Somewhat. I don't have time (or the proper thought processes) to really share any details from my life from the last few weeks. But, I will tell you that I have absolutely LOVED my time at EFY and wish I didn't have to go back to my real job on Monday.

Here I am on my first day last Monday. Oh, how young and naive I was back then!

Come back sometime this weekend or next week for a full report.

xo. 

"Alright, alright, alright-alright-alright-alright. Hey!"

It's finally here. The event that I have been talking about for... nine months now? EFY. I guess I officially started today since I had my training this afternoon, and got my shirt (who picked the colours this year? Burnt orange?), my name tag, and lots of nerves. I get to meet my co-counselor tomorrow night and then the fun truly begins on Monday afternoon when I meet my group of girls. Even though the nerves are taking over right now, I'm pretty excited. I hope I remembered everything, and am prepared. We'll see.
So, since I will have my hands full for the next week or so, I will be taking a short hiatus. But, I promise to share everything when it's over.

xo

Sounds of Summer

I think the fact that I love music is well established. So, today, I have decided to share a few of my favourites this summer. These are the songs I have had playing in my head before I go to sleep, the ones I sing in the shower, the ones I have rediscovered, the ones that make my legs run.

1. "At Or With Me", Jack Johnson
2. "Miles Davis & The Cool", The Gaslight Anthem
3. "If It Kills Me", Jason Mraz
4. "Brooklyn Boy", Kevin Devine
5. "Piazza, New York Catcher", Belle & Sebastian
6. "All You Ever Wanted", The Black Keys
7. "Going Away to College", blink-182
8. "Against the Grain", City and Colour
9. "The Way You Look Tonight", Ella Fitzgerald (AMAZING!)
10. "There is a Light That Never Goes Out", The Smiths
11. "I Woke Up in a Car", Something Corporate
12. "Ten Ton Shoes", Straylight Run
13. "Hanging On the Telephone", Blondie
14. "The Boy Who Blocked His Own Shot", Brand New
15. "Blueside", Rooney
16. "Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?", She & Him
17. "Cue the Sun!", Daphne Loves Derby
18. "Fireflies", Owl City
19. "The Window's Peak", Dashboard Confessional
20. "Faithfully", Glee Cast (Journey cover)
21. "Cath...", Death Cab for Cutie
22. "So Says I", The Shins
23. "This is For Real", Motion City Soundtrack
24. "Addicted to Love", Florence + The Machine (Robert Palmer cover)
25. "Suffragette City", David Bowie

Happy listening, friends.

ps. EFY starts in FOUR days! Eek!

Summer Skin

I love lotion. A lot. My skin tends to be dry most of the time, so I always have loads of lotion to combat. Over the past year, I decided not to purchase any more however, because I needed to lighten my stash before I added to it. So, now with only a tinsy bit left, I decided this week that it was time to stock up again. Luckily, Marni was willing to take me to Market Mall tonight so we could have a little sister time while I purchased a few of my favourites at Bath and Body Works. I am so glad mom got me hooked on this stuff a few years ago. 

I love, love, love the "Summer Vanilla" line. So wonderful. Vanilla plus lemon. Two of my very favourite scents. I will most likely be smelling my hands all day for the next month. 

300

Guess what, friends? Today, I have officially reached 300 days since my missionary entered the MTC way back when in September! Sometimes it feels like it has been that long (and longer!) and others it feels like it has actually gone by quite quickly. I am pretty excited that in two months, we will reach one year! I have been waiting for that moment for... well, a year! I can't wait! I feel like every day I am realizing more and more how much I love Justin, and that it is completely possible for me to still be here at the end of these two years. It has not been easy, but as evidenced in the letter I got from my extremely mature and sweet missionary today, it is worth it!

The next 430 days, I hereby give you permission to go at lightning speed, if you so wish. 

Twenty

Since I was in Magrath all weekend with no internet, I was unable to post a happy birthday to Justin on his birthday. So, here it is a little belated.

Justin's birthday was the 24th (Saturday). He is now twenty! I always tend to forget that he's a year younger than me. Most of the time I just think we're the same age, or that he's older than me (because he is definitely more mature than me). I am really sad that I couldn't be with him on his birthday, but I told him that I will make up for that on his twenty-second birthday (I think the summer of 2012 will be our best yet!).

Happy birthday, Justin! I love you!

ps: we will reach ten months on Friday! Wahoo!

The '59 Sound

I love, love, love going to concerts. There is something about standing there, listening to a band play live that just warms my soul. Maybe it's the collective experience of it, or the true sincerity of a live show. Whatever it is, I love it. But, due to a lack of funds, and my concert buddy being in California, I haven't been able to go to a show since last summer.

But, last night when I found out that a new favourite band of mine, The Gaslight Anthem, will be in town in September, I knew that I had to go! So, I immediately told my good friend, Chantelle, and we are going! I can't wait!

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Ideas, please!

I start EFY in just less than two weeks! Eek! I am pretty excited, but really nervous too! I will be working both weeks (first and second weeks of August). Oh boy! I know that it's a lot, but I am way excited!
So, friends, I need advice! Whether you have been a counselor or just a participant, I want your ideas. What can I do to make this a good experience for me and for my groups that I will be looking after?

Part of my group my last year of EFY (as a participant). Three years ago.