texas.

I can't wait to be in this beautiful state in three weeks!

"I have said that Texas is a state of mind, but I think it is more than that. It is a mystique closely approximating a religion. And this is true to the extent that people either passionately love Texas or passionately hate it and, as in other religions, few people dare to inspect it for fear of losing their bearings in mystery or paradox. But I think there will be little quarrel with my feeling that Texas is one thing. For all its enormous range of space, climate, and physical appearance, and for all the internal squabbles, contentions, and strivings, Texas has a tight cohesiveness perhaps stronger than any other section of America. Rich, poor, Panhandle, Gulf, city, country, Texas is the obsession, the proper study, and the passionate possession of all Texans." 

-John Steinbeck

a little impromptu family photo.

and the cutest drooling baby you'll ever see.

That about sums up my last five days!

This year we were lucky enough to have the entire family home for Thanksgiving. 

I hope you had as wonderful of a holiday as we did!

merry christmas!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I hope you all had a wonderful day! I sure did.

It's funny when your favorite present is luggage, prepping you for adventures to come. But the true present is the gift of our Savior and His infinite love. How His birth changed our lives!

I thought I would grace you all with my favorite Christmas song:

Bahaha.

"Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childhood days, recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth, and transport the traveler back to his own fireside and quiet home!"

- Charles Dickens

merry christmas eve eve!!

Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love."
~ Hamilton Wright Mabie

(picture via Christmas 2008)

i get by with a little help from my friends.

I should tell you that I have THE best friends. Ever. Seriously.

I've been in Texas and out of the loop for nearly two months now, but they still find time in their busy lives to call. They still call to see how I am doing and how I am feeling. When I have an emotional crisis and need some help, four or five names automatically pop in my head. Oh how i miss them.

Today, I got a haircut. I cried.

I called a friend.

I love you, friends, and you know who you are!

is it summer yet?

splashtown with little brother.

teaching swimming lessons.

going to the lake TWICE.

all in 48 hours.

SUMMER.

i need to watch all three High School Musicals soon.

it's been too long. plus now i am singing "What Time Is It?" in my head.

yes, i went on this.

yes, i'm crazy.

yes, my 12 year old brother has twice as much respect for me now.

strangely, i am ready for fall.

this morning:

i was going to wake up at 7 and go for a run.

but i had a terrible headache.

so i woke up at 9 and ate a brownie.

fail.

i had like, the best dream ever during that two hours. it should hold me over.

{image via ffffound}

nine years ago from right now my house in Keller, TX was burning down. woah.

i can't believe it has been nine years.

i know this post has no real point or direction.

kind of like this morning.

19 days until utah!

July.

Goodbye, July.

You have been wonderful, and a little bit terrible, too.

But mostly wonderful.

This will be a bittersweet farewell.

{image via papertissue}

"Live in each season as it passes: breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit."

-Henry David Thoreau

Appeasement.

I am sitting in my family room.

Longing for EFY {of which I will blog later}.

When I realize I'm sitting in a room with both parents,

two younger siblings, and my dog.

Why do I become so ungrateful at times?

I pity myself for being bored, being friendless in Texas.

For not being as wonderful or talented as those five girls

that I miss more than they miss me.

Big whoop.

I have a fully functional, blessed family.

There are few times a year when I get to sit, unstressed, 

surrounded by those I am eternally, ecstatically, tied to.

Mom, always generous, asks if I want her credit card so I can rent a movie. I say no thanks, I am too lazy today. Still recovering. Dad brings up dating in Provo. This seems to be a more common topic than I wish it were. But he is home from a hard day of work, to support and feed me. To educate me. So he can talk to me about anything he wants. Sister can't pull her pupils from her iPod Touch.  She reads a cousins email out loud. Brother stares at the television, watching the Disney channel at a far too low volume. And doggie dearest sits at my feet, waiting for any invitation to accept a belly rub. Cat is most likely napping in the next room, and my two older brothers are always on my mind and in my heart. They forget I am an adult, but hopefully remember that I still look up to them they way I did when I was 11. Sister-in-law must feel tired. Nephew #1 is growing in her belly. I want to ask her how it feels. I am nervous about that experience. Watching her go through it successfully and happily is good for me.

What is more than this?

Nothing.

Nothing is more comforting than having a home, having a family.

Nothing can describe the excitement I feel when I remember I never have to say goodbye.

No words can express how undeserving I am of these blessings.

But I am trying. 

Twenty.

In pictures.

I was 90% kidding about that last thing on the list... hahahaha.

 

What an awesome memorial service, and then the music video marathon.

Cupcakes and Blue Bell. My favorite!

Feeling the Love.

True Love. What a way to end my day.

Not to mention:

Phone calls from my favorites (Kenj, Michelley, AD).

Phone calls from my related favorites (Kenny, Megan, Jacob, Grammie).

The absolute best presents I have ever gotten for a birthday, just ask if you want to know.

Constant love flowing in from texts/facebooks.

And my mom's amazing homemade chicken ceaser salad.