Sometimes you... Nov 14-20

Sometimes Will brings you home Sheep Socks from Iceland and they are perfect to wear when its cold outside.

Sometimes you take naps. Naps save lives. It makes me laugh when my kids at work complain about taking naps. TRUST ME! You are going to wish you could take naps everyday.

Sometimes you have awesome Institute Lessons about managing your life and finances. 

Sometimes you cringe at the thought of it being only 19 degrees in Utah and you are grateful for your beautiful weather here.

Sometimes you go to the Orchestra concert and Shenanigans show which never ceases to make you smile.

Sometimes you miss all your friends that aren't here with you. I miss Annie, Rylee, Emma, Kadee, Jessica, and Jordan like CRAZY! I am so grateful for the texts, letters, and phone calls though. Jessica calls me on her way home from school in Florida and we talk for 2 or 3 hours. It basically makes my whole day.

Sometimes you decide to drive to Waynesboro to see a 1pm showing of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find them. I loved it! Like.. I REALLY liked it!

And Sometimes you get to eat Chick-fi-la :)

Sometimes you watch Glimore Girls and skype your brother.

And..Sometimes, Emma randomly skypes you Sunday and it completely melts your heart, makes you smile from ear to ear, and gives you energy to survive the week!

Puddle-Wonderful Nov 7- 13

I never understand how life just gets busier and busier as the semester goes on.

Tuesday Heidi, Kaylee and I were invited over to the Krites house for dinner and to celebrate Jeremiah's birthday. We had homemade Barbecued pizza. It was so yummy! And then Alison made a delicious chocolate birthday cake!

I think the highlight was when Alison gave us those birthday whistle things. We went CRAZY!

In Institute we were talking about homes and the story of the Prodigal son. There was a quote shared by Robert D. Hales and the end of it said, "I can also imagine his son knowing he could come home because he knew the kind of home that was awaiting him." I am very grateful that my parents, and our family have establish a safe place. A home that I love to come home to! I am very grateful!

When I am home, please ask me to show you pictures of my adorable children. 

That moment when you only have 50 minutes of free time to see your friend, so you hurry and pick her up, go to Sheetz for hot chocolate, talk, and race back for my RA meeting!

Love you Alayna!

In American Literature we were reading E.E. Cummings. Shannon drew a delightful picture representing the balloon man in one of his poems.

But wait. Here is my favorite E.E. Cummings lines, 

"When the World is Puddle-Wonderful."

Yes. 

Puddle-Wonderful you may ask?

If you understand, please let me know.

But it called for an Instagram caption and a funny photo of myself and the delightful Shannon Maynes.

Sometimes I just lie on my bed and enjoy my view. 

I'm definitely not complaining.

Sarah and I took a trip to Walmart and we were greeted with a great surprise.

CHRISTMAS!

Whoever decided to turn these pillars into candy canes should win an award. 

Are you ever faced with those major life decisions? You think you make up your mind but then you go back and think about it for 40 minutes. Then you ask people their opinion.

I experienced one of these major decisions at Walmart.

The answer was Yes.

Yes. Buy the Sheep Pajamas.

It was definitely the right decision.

 Look at the Moon! It looks like one of the street lights!

Happy Broken Pieces Oct 31-Nov 6

No matter what I seem to do, Halloween still manages to come. Every year. Its like clock work! ;) 

But I discovered the key to surviving and maybe even liking Halloween...

Work with 1-3 year olds. 

I had a Dory, Dinosaur, Supergirl, Superhero's, and more. 

They were adorable.

Our ward had a Halloween carnival. I sat at the craft table and made things out of pipe cleaners. I was completely satisfied. If you haven't discovered the joy of pipe cleaners, you'd better drop everything and find yourself some pipe cleaners. 

Seeing SVU in the fall at sunset should be on everyone's Bucket list. 

I got a letter from Kadee!!! AHHH! It made me so happy and tears were definitely shed. I just feel so blessed all the time to know her and call her one of my best friends. She is one killer missionary!

Not as bright as last year, but always beautiful.

I think I have this picture from every year. I just love seeing SO many leaves!

We always have great conversations on our way to work. Its so fun working with my friends everyday! And sometimes the simple things are the things that make our day. One of those was this dog. 

Friday I went to the Institute Talent Show. I just love people. Some of the couple missionaries were telling dumb jokes and those are my favorite! It was great.

I then found myself at Alex's house, venting about life eating Oreo's and milk. Which then led us to coming to my room and starting to watch The Crown. 

It was delightful.

Remember last post when I was talking about escaping?

I went a little farther than the parkway this time, and Kaylee and I went to Roanoke. We decided we wanted to go Shopping because I got an extra discount at Old Navy. It was so much fun! We went to the mall and than ate at Olive Garden. I got a flatbread (pictured below) and I highly recommend it. It was amazing!

Something that I have been thinking a lot about is feeling broken. 

Things happen sometimes that leave us feeling broken. It can be little cracks or tons of pieces. This is part of life. Those cracks are how the light gets in. Its how we learn to use the Atonement. Without those cracks we wouldn't be able to return to our Heavenly Father. 

"What will it matter, dear sisters, what we suffered here if, in the end, those trials are the very things which qualify us for eternal life and exaltation in the kingdom of God with our Father and Savior?"

-Linda S. Reeves

Embrace those cracks. Embrace the pieces. Its a chance to find yourself again and more importantly work on becoming who God wants and plans for you to be. 

Perspective Oct 24-30

This is my happy face when I go to work.

Don't get me wrong. Somedays at work are incredibly hard. But I am so grateful for the experience and lessons the children teach me everyday.

For FHE we played Sorry. Now if you know me, I am very competitive when it comes to Sorry. If I don't win, I get a little upset. Nothing big. Just lots of kicking and screaming. 
It was crazy to me that some of the people I was with had never played this glorious game!

For my scripture study I have been using the Institute manual. Its amazing!! I was in Mosiah 4-8 and it talked a lot about how we are nothing without the Lord. We need to always remember the Atonement and that "The key to our greatness is to remember our nothingness without Christ and His Atonement." 

Sometimes all you need is a giant T-Rex to walk around campus.

One of my favorite things about Virginia are the Cardinals! There is one at work that is fascinated by car mirrors. It flies up and down and up and down. 

I love the fall. 

Yes. I really am posting more pictures of the sun and beautiful VA.

Seriously. Every night is beautiful. 

I think sometimes you just have to escape. And when you escape you need to do something crazy and fun. So I called up Catherine and Alex and we grabbed my camera and went on an adventure.

 

We mastered placing the camera on the car and using the timer to capture pictures of all three of us. 

This adventure was all on the parkway. I adore the parkway. There is something about looking out at the view that honestly does add perspective. It takes you out of your head for a minute.

I love these girls!

Something that has been a constant discussion with my friends as we drive to work is discouragement. Life never happens the way you plan. Things happen and sometimes they are really sad and kind of upsetting. Its part of life though. Its part of the test. But a quote form the Institute Manuel reminded me that "Discouragement is part of that test. Do not give up. That brilliant morning will come." 
We just have to stop. We need to pause and reflect. 

"Because when you stop and look around. life is pretty amazing."