My "Sister Shower"

The first of July Danielle and I had a conversation that lead to the idea

of throwing me a "Sister Shower"- She said that she would throw one for me

and I didn't think a thing of it again. . . 

Well until tonight.

My sister Shaylie had told my mom and I that she had to show us a surprise.

Thinking it was some sort of Mother and Daughter treat I wasn't curious at all.

Shaylie does little thoughtful things like this.

I was in gym shorts and a t-shirt and the fact that she made me change should have made

me assume that she was up to no good- but I didn't.

Shaylie blindfolded Mom and I and sat us in her car before driving all over town

until we finally pulled up a driveway- I guessed I was at my brother's new house.

But when Shaylie pulled off the blind fold I was delighted 

and a bit confused as to why everyone was shouting surprise. 

My "Sister Shower" was underway.

Oh, and Mom was in on the whole thing. . .

She had removed her blindfold once mine was on.

The "Sister Shower" was a blast.

We played games, ate scrumtious food, I opened wonderful gifts

and we laughed a lot.

I love these girls and I will miss them so much!

Toe Cleavage. . . Need I say more?

I think toe cleavage is funny

so when I wear shoes that give me said cleavage 

I laugh all day long.

I woke up and wondered what day it was-

It is summer and the day of the week isn't really relevant during these few months,

But when I realized it was Thursday I was astonished.

This week has come and gone so quickly.

And then it hit me. . . 

In less than a month I will know what my plans will be 

for the next six, 12, 18, 24 months of my life.

EXCITED MUCH.

Here's to a lovely Thursday you wonderful cusses.

Cheers!

Thoughtful of the Forgotten.

So I have a few thoughts. . . actually I have a lot of thoughts. 

ALL THE TIME. 

My head never slows down.

I wish I could capture all the thoughts that are swimming around in this brain of mine write them down. Because lets face it, I am a pretty witty, clever, creative person (well, at least I like to think so).

I have a lot of plans for my life, and starting at the top-

I want to change the world.

The previous statement is very cliche I know. It is just as cliche as pageant girls saying "world peace" as the answer to their onstage questionare. But I really want to change the world so deal with my cliche-ness.

I have a game-plan of sorts, it isn't like I am going into this whole superhero mode blind.

But because I don't have all the details quiet yet you will just have to stay tuned.

However I will say this:

Every person has a role. 

A place on this earth to grow and to influence others.

See, we are all in this earthly experience together. We are all on the same team.

I think that people often times don't realize or perhaps forget how important, talented, smart, special they are. 

And that is sad to me.

It isn't hard to love people.

Because people have so much greatness share.

Which leads me to this question: Why is it hard to show appreciation?

Appreciation. 

Gratitude. 

Love.

Compassion.

Sympathy.

Sincerity.

I think these attributes are often overshadowed.

Be thoughtful of the forgotten. 

Remember to love the quiet.

Listen for the silent tears that fall from dry eyes.

And always be ready to catch a dropped smile.

So these are my thoughts- 

Me. . . Cinderella?

Two words:

cleaning out

packing up

clogged drain

loading car

washing walls

sweeping floor

collecting cash

saying goodbyes

finding treasures

It has been a day of moving - and I am both excited for the change and sad to see this part of my life pass away. I said from the beginning that 2012 was going to be a big year for me.

The reality is starting to sink in that I will never have a moment like this again.

It is weird to think that I could never come back to Logan as a free-willed young adult doing whatever I please whenever I want and having no one to worry about but myself.

Last year the night I moved home I sat on my bedroom floor and cried.

My mom walked in kind of worried, "I thought you were excited to move home?"

and I was- I love my home, but I was sad to leave Logan.

I was sad to leave my life there and those I love.

I hope I don't cry this year.

However tomorrow I begin my summer vacation.

There will be sunshine, family, adventures and romance 

(there are always summer romances)

It is going to be a magical one too-

there is an excitement that I can't describe inside of me just waiting to burst.

Cheers!

I am leaving on a Sunday-

It is warm outside.

Beautifully warm. 

It makes me anxious for summer

and  working in the sunshine.

yep. . .

I am so ready for school to be over-

only four weeks left.

I can do this.

Love Story

The title maybe a bit of a disclaimer. 

I mean, this very well could be a love story, but who is to say one way or another.  

Maybe one day it will be written down, but for now this is all there is.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

I want to tell the world about love and how it makes your heart burn

. . . a heart burn that even TUMS can't cure.

I want to tell about the pounding in my chest and about the smile that I can't wipe off my face, 

even with post wisdom teeth cheeks.

I want to dance around in circles as fast as I can just lie on the grass and watch the sky spin around me

. . . and for a moment it will seem as if time has stopped.

I want to tell about Happy Wednesdays

I want to tell about rocks on my widow late at night 

and bouquets of self-picked garden flowers, wrapped in twine.

I know some of you would swoon over hikes up the canyon,

eating a candle-lit dinner in a corn field,

meetings that last for 30 seconds- 30 seconds of complete joy.

I tell about the significance of pillows- lots of them.

I would tell you why this song makes me happy and why Bryan Ragan makes me laugh.

I admit getting porch lights flashed at me and being late for curfew.

I want to tell how it feels to be vulnerable.

I want to share the fear and hope I have in each breath.

I want to admit that I tried my hardest to ignore my strongest desire

I want to tell about April snow storms at the park.

I would include forehead kisses, holding hands, and white jumpsuits.

I want to write about patterns cut into lawn,

and about tears on my face that don't belong to me.

I want to make mention that all hasn't been easy

or simple and marvelous, sometimes pain was felt.

Heart aches happen, healing takes time.

Sorry is a valuable word, and when used sincerely can change perspective.

Maybe someday I will write this love story. . .

BUT 

today I can't.

I am sorry, I physically just can't do it.

It will make me cry, again.

I am moving,

going back to Logan.

I love Logan and I love everyone in Logan.

However,

moving means I am leaving here.

My home.

My family, all those I love.

My summer- oh, how good it has been to me.

I don't like saying goodbye.

                      xoxo,

                         Kels

Mom, Dad, and the Non-marrieds

There is a five year gap between my parents' first three children and their last three.  Often times my the oldest three complain that we, the younger-non-married children are spoiled, which we kind of are. . . I admit it, so does my mom.  I don't mind, honestly!

In short:  My parents took us "non-marrieds" on vacation.  Check it out!

Tuesday I woke up sick.  Pineapple does awful things to my stomach.  I will spare you the details!

I even creeped on some people on the beach. . . is that illegal?

When we weren't exploring we were usually sleeping. . . I did most of my sleeping in the car.  Every time I got in and buckled up I zonked out!

I love my family.

(clearing of throat noises).

I don't have some elaborate excuse for not blogging, other than it is summer. . . that is enough.

These are a few of my dearest friends.  

Yes, we are at the fire house.

Yes, we are in our church clothes.

Yes, Taylor gave a marvelous farewell talk.

Yes, I am going to miss him dearly.

Yes, I am very tan (I work at a pool people, what do you expect?)

One day I will tell my children,  

"Oh, the summer of eleven was so grand! (insert adventurous story here)"

love me true.

I just fell in love with this song, because of this girl and the special thing she did for her soon-to-be.  

. . . This is me helping (the hand).  Check out her blog in the near future for all the details!

The line, "Love Me True" is a deep one.  Today I was talking to one of my married friends (yes, I have married friends) and she said, "Oh, it is so nice to be out of the dating game."  That comment intrigued me a little-  The rest of the conversation went as follows:

"Don't you ever miss just flirting and being crazy after you get married?"

"No, not at all.  It is like a complete mind change.  You have your one and only

 and that is all that matters. . . . Well, at least that is how it is for me."

 "I can't wait to find a guy like that."

This thought of "Loving someone True" is so real.  I mean once you marry someone they are all that matters.  Yep, I like this song.  I am not going to turn this post into a Dear Husband and I am definitely not going to go all mushy-gushy either.  I have decided that it will come, but until then I am free to learn and grow how I please.  AND I LOVE IT!

 On another note. . . 

Do you like my summer collection of bracelets thus far?  I am quite fond myself.

One month of my summer is over.  I am slightly distraught, only slightly because I still have two months left for adventure!  AND (insert drumroll here) MY POOL IS NOW OPEN!  Ladies and gentlemen Miss Dawn is now working full force, on duty to guard, provide and assist in anyway possible!  (well as much as a lifeguard can do!)

when it rains. . .

. . . it pours and it doesn't stop for a week and a half-  Well, that is how it has been lately.

Growing up we were always taught to pray for water. . . 

To all those Latter-day Saints: you know the routine prayer. . .

" We are thankful for this day, for our many blessings. . . . (other details)

. . . . please bless us with moisture, that we may water our crops. 

Also bless that we can get home safely. . "

The fact that we have gotten so much rain shows that prayers are answered.

I have a few theories to the rain answered prayers:

1. There was a bad signal, and our prayers weren't getting through until recently.  Heavenly Father knows of our dryness and is doing all he can to prepare us for dusty days to come. . . 
2. He doesn't want us to stop praying.  So, either we need to pray for more water or pray for less- beggars can't be choosers right? Besides, this way we stay humble.
3. He knows what He is doing.  He has a larger perspective of the matter.  AND have you seen how beautiful and clean all this water makes my little Central Utah town and the towns surrounding?  Simply breath taking! (don't worry more pictures to come!) 
4. OR- maybe this rain is suppose to give us opportunities to serve others
5. It could also be that the weather is suppose to keep us inside- practically making us FIND time to read or scriptures and build up our gospel doctrine.
6. Maybe the rain was sent to us in such large quantities to try our patience and to give us an opportunity show our gratitude for what we are blessed with.

Yep, it is decided, I like the rain.  I also really like my rainy-day theories.  

My niece, Halee, is being baptized on Saturday.  I am so proud of her, (as mention before) but the rain reminds me of this song and it makes me beam!  Clean, beautiful and pure- like the earth after rain!  Simply Marvelous!  IT IS TRUE! can you feel it in your heart? It makes all my heart expand and my breathing shallow- Heavenly Father loves us so much that we have been given the opportunity to be baptized.  Through Jesus Christ's atonement we can repent of our sins and once again return to live with our Heavenly Father one day.  Pray for guidance and strength- because through Him anything is possible.  I know this.  

Lake Powell Pow-wow

BEWARE: PICTURE OVERLOAD

To kick-off my summer vacation my friend, Tyson, took me to Lake Powell with his family.  See, Tyson and I had made a deal at the end of last semester that if I took him snow catting with my family that he would take me to Lake Powell with his.  Both of us stuck to our side of the agreement and went on marvelous adventures! 

I had never been to Lake Powell before this trip, so every little thing was a new marvel in my eyes.  Tyson would ask me what I wanted to do and every time I would answer with the same bewildered "I don't know".  The truth was I didn't know what one could do in Lake Powell so I was at the will of Tyson and his family- I was just fine with that too!

As soon as I got home from the trip I wrote it all down in my journal- taking up eighteen pages, and my journal isn't small.  So if you want an extremely detailed version of my trip you will have to come over and I will read it to you. 

Is it weird that I like reading my journal to people?  And yes, I am the one who gets to read it, then I can edit it as I go!

If you can't tell from the pictures I had a MARVELOUS TIME!  In fact living on the boat for three days only strengthened the desire I have to live close to water!  . . . Maybe one day.

In no particular order these are a few of the things that we did:

• Rainbow Bridge
• Climb to the top of Hole in the Rock
• Jumped into freezing cold water (I beat Tyson in a race)
• Ate tons of great food
• Got a tan
• Made hemp Bracelets 
• Went fishing (caught one, line broke, fish got away)
• Star Gazed
• Played in the sand
• Went hiking
• Cut up my legs
• Made new friends
• Learned how to tie new knots
• Laughed lots
• Deep Conversations
• Crazy hair and no make-up!
• Indian Ruins
• Long lovely boat rides
• Breathtaking views
• Crickets
• LPRs 

Thanks Tyson and Family!

Lake Powell Theme Song

Location: D4 Kitchen
Date: Sometime during finals week
Occupation Title: Professional Self-entertainers

I have been home for a little over a week.  My summer thus far has been busy, fun and full of catching up with the times.  It is weird being home, sometimes the moments are just like they were before I moved away, and then others I feel completely out of place and uncertain as to what my place is here.
I don't miss school, or the cool Logan climate what I miss the most are all the friends I had made over those eight months of living on my own.

I have a feeling there maybe a few more Logan trips than I had planned on over the summer months-  I should be used to that trip by now.

BIG NEWS:  Miss LuLu turned eight (8) today!  She is going to be baptized on Saturday!  I am so proud of her and I can't believe that she is that old already!!!  I am going with her and her mom to get her ears pierced this afternoon- she is so brave and so big!  Goodness gracious where has the time gone!  

When Halee was born I was eleven years old- yet I still remember it like it wasn't that long ago.  I remember everything about the day-  What I was wearing, how slow Grandma drove Shay and I to the hospital, waiting in the hall until Jon said we could come in.  I remember holding her for the first time, and having an instant love for her.  I was in fifth grade when she was born, and my mama let me print off a picture to show everyone at school.  It seems so long ago when I think of all that has happened since then, but on that same note I still don't believe she is so old.

Mail Came!

via

My book came in the mail!  

I ordered it on Amazon before I moved home and it is finally here!

I was hoping that it would come before I went to Powell- 

BUT it didn't, and that is okay, because I wouldn't have had time to read it anyway!

. . . . . . . . . .

I am hoping to read a bunch of books this summer

and to kick-off the "bunch"

I am going to start with this book.

I am building on my list so if you have any suggestions please share!

via

 I also watched this movie tonight with the family-

(well we started it as a family, but I am the only one who made it through)

I hadn't seen it yet, everyone else had, and well I loved it!

. . . . . . . . . . . 

My family started watching church movies every Sunday while I was at school.

And since I have been home they have continued the tradition.

It is kind of fun to get together on Sundays and watch 

the cheesy church videos!

4 school days left, then finals.

I am blogging even though I don't have the time really. . . O well, what is time anyway?

One week of classes and then finals week and I am home free!
I can't wait- I am ready to be done with school for a while.

This next part of my blog will be a bit journal-isk.

This last week has been a bit eye opening for me.  If you are new or haven't picked up on this already I am very much a planner.  I like knowing the who, what, when and wheres.  This past week I was fixing my schedule to get caught up in the four year program for my major!  (yeah me! I finally found a major!)  While I was looking over that I came to the realization that next year at this time I will either be preparing my mission papers or i will be getting close to marriage.  Well, atlas that is how I have always had it planned.  This realization hit me like a kick ball right in the gut.  The shock isn't really overwhelming, but there is defiantly some shock.
I have always wanted to go on a mission, and the desire to actually getting there is stronger now than it has been ever before.  However, I know that my first calling in life is to become a wife and mother. . . taking marriage prep this last semester in institute might not have been the smartest idea.  Now I evaluate every small little potential relationship, and I wish it would stop!  Don't get me wrong I have loved the class, but I blame it (and all my engaged friends) for filling my mind with crazy fantasies (not in a bad way necessarily).  But it has caused me confusion.
My dang planning-self just needs to stop. . .

I am interested to see how my readers, mainly my family, reacts to this post.

On a different note:  I can't wait next semester!  I have been called as Historian in my IWA (Institute Women's Association) Chapter and I am so excited to get started with that.  As soon as I was called I could feel my heart swell with love for the girls in my chapter.  Such a weird but powerful feeling.

guess what!?

In need of work.

I need to get a job. . . 

so that one day I can have a beach bike like this one

 AND

so I can wear a hat like this . . 

WITH

a flowin' summer skirt similar this. . .

 AND

one can't forget "creamsicle" TOMS to finish off the look!

. . . Who would have known 

that a bike could lead to an entire outfit.

 oh well. . . one can always dream.

As for a job- 

I do really need to find one. . . 

I'm suppose to be doing my homework. . .

I know it is still summer, who does homework?

I do. . . 

Well at least I'm supposed to-

Today I finished a MARVELOUS book! It is called The Traveler's Gift, and if you haven't read it I highly recommend it.  This book has definitely gone down in my top ten list!

I have read two books this whole summer. . .

Not great, but not too bad either I guess.

What should I read next?  any ideas?

I worked more hours this paycheck then I have ever worked in all my hours at the pool!  Oh how I'm looking forward to payday! (:

I have realized this a lot lately, but I have the greatest friends- Friends who care about me, take care about me, wonder how I'm doing, how I'm feeling.  I have friends that bring me yummy treats at work, and that give me hugs, friends who just want to talk- just to talk!  

I'm a hopeless romantic-  'nuff said.

I have blisters on the backs of both of my ankles I guess you would say. . . from running in Shay's shoes.  And then I got a ginormous one on the bottom of my right foot from running in my old volleyball shoes. . . 

 O I have started running.

I run about five miles or until everything feels better.

Is it bad to literally run away from my problems?

I do enjoy it though. . . Never thought I would say that in all my life.

Shane comes home Wednesday!!!

I move in a week and three days!  

I should find out who my roommates are next week! 

drum roll please. . . 

I'm praying for good ones!

cross your fingers for me!

I only have four more days of work-

I already crave the smell of chlorine.

I hate when the pool closes.

I love teaching swim lessons!  It use to scare me and make me really nervous, but I really do enjoy it!  I especially love when I get little gifts from my students, or when I am just working, or walking around town and I get a "HELLO TEACHER!"  "hey mom that's my teacher!"- I really do love that!

Guess I should try to do my homework again!

The word "homework" makes my heart sink.

Summers are too short.

One more side note. . . Is it weird to anyone else that there are only four more months left in 2010?

It's a love/hate relationship.

Sunflowers and I have a love/hate relationship.
I once heard that sunflowers are weeds, is that true?
I love how sunflowers pop up all over the place and remind of us how miraculous the earth is.
This flower is bold and powerful- It is a "happy flower".

A sunflower, to me, also symbolizes the end of summer.  When I was little I asked my mom why the sunflowers hadn't come out yet (it was probably the first of June).  My mom told me that sunflowers don't bloom until the end of summer. . . from then on when the sunflowers start blooming it brings me to the realization that school is coming and my favorite season is drawing to an end.