A Couple of Good Farm Hands

After Austin's birthday party these two cousins were just playing around on the four wheelers and barn. It was such a good photo opportunity! My favorite was when Spencer stopped walking to remove a large rock from the ground. After pulling it out he started to dig in the dirt where it had been. I asked him what he was doing and he said, "working!"



If you're going to visit Vale(and I only do because my amazing sister lives there,) you need to visit during the spring. This visit I was there to witness the first signs of spring and it was beautiful. The temperatures reached 70 degrees and the cool wind was blowing strong. Trees started to show buds of green instead of the dry brown that characterized them all winter long. The farms started to turn a lime color reminding me of the neon green rice fields in Vietnam. Upclose they're a wet mess but from the road the fields look like you could lay in them. It really is beautiful around this time of year when the sun comes out and everything starts to grow! It makes me just want to write all the time!

A Visit in Vale

Vale is to desolate as pumkin is to dead.
Austin is to reading as Rachel is to clogging.
Emma is to princesses as Karen is to facebook.
Ruth is to sleeping as the Romans are to car trips.
Rachel is to scrapbooking as Karen is to boys.
Spencer is to pot belly as Karen is to weak arms.
Emma's hair is to static as Karen's clothes are to pajamas.
Rachel is to amazing mom as Karen is to aunt-who-lets-them-get-away-with-too-much. ha ha
Karen is to journal writing as Rachel is to laundry.
Rachel is to popcorn as Spencer, Emma and Austy are to popcorn too.

Fiji Water and French Bread

Before the semester ended Jen called me one night and asked if she could come over. Of course the answer was an emphatic YES! And in true Jen fashion she came with a thoughtful gift and creative scrap booked card. Last summer, 2006, I had the happy opportunity to be her roommate in Carriage House #305. From the very beginning I was impressed with her discipline. Going to bed at 10:30pm so that she could get up early and run impressed me. I soon learned that her discipline carried over to every area of her life. As I got to know her another quality impressed me: her thoughtfulness. Jen takes the time to remember people and visit them. She is always giving people gifts and when talking to her she is always interested in you. As I’ve continued to get to know her there have been so many things that I love about her. I love Jen and the testimony she has that is seen because she applies what she knows to her life. I love the way we talk to each other and how easy it is, how ridiculous we get and how understanding she is. I love how comfortable and happy I am around her. I love how excited she gets. I love her for the true friends she is as she is honest and always encourages me to be my best self. I love her down to earth personality and her beautiful eyes. I know it’s cliché but, she is so beautiful inside and out. I love Jen Shiess! This girl is fabulous.

Islands in My Mission

My mission includes the islands of Fiji, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and Wallis and Futuna.

Release Your Inner Hippie

As I sat down to write about Brynn I thought of a scene that has happened several times over the past two semesters. It’s me, leaving the Reading Center in the David O. McKay library. I have on all my winter gear: my warm green coat with the fur lining on the hood, my orange hairy scarf that envelops my chin and my white rabbit fur hat that only lets strands of dark brown hair to poke out. I'm already getting hot with all the winter clothes on as I grab my backpack and head out the door. As I pass by the glass windows of the Reading Center Brynn is sitting on the red couches. She sits with her legs crossed and a student folder in her lap. You can't help but notice her Swedish-blond hair that is straight and gently layered around her chin. She raises her eye brows so that her blue eyes grow large and gives me an enthusiastic wave. My mouth automatically stretches into a teethy grin and then I have to keep walking to my next class. Making my way through the walls of books I think on the past couple of minutes and I smile. As usual, Brynn and I had talked between tutoring and had caught up on each others lives. As I walk away I feel calm. I feel understood. I feel like I can handle life.

This is Brynn. Throughout these past two semesters we’ve been involved in much of the same things: Student Ambassadors, the Reading Center, Relief Society presidencies, school, elementary education, strange boys, making decisions and some more strange boys. When I first met her I felt like I already knew her and that we’d been friends for a long time. From there we’ve had many good talks were I always come away feeling good. Brynn possesses the talent of listening and has been my refuge many times as I’ve dumped my feelings on her. She’s calmed me down when I feel frazzled and given an understanding heart. She’s been the much needed support as I’ve made my decision to serve a mission. She is fun and has a great laugh but I know I can also share things of my heart with her. She is spiritually minded. She has been an example to me of how to handle all the demands of life.

Now as I’m leaving for Fiji and she’s on her way to become the rich stellar teacher she was meant to be, my heart aches that I’ll have to leave her. But I realize that the Lord has taken care of her before I entered her life and He will continue to. It was my privilege to know her. I’ve realized she has been my gift from Heavenly Father these past two semesters.

Like the song, For Good says,
You'll be with me
Like a handprint on my heart
And now whatever way our stories end
I know you have re-written mine
By being my friend

I love you Brynn!

Rachel

You can’t do anything but laugh really hard when you’re about to leave the apartment and Rachel starts whimpering. Making her big brown eyes look sad she lets out a “NOOO!!!!” and latches herself on to you, trying to make you stop. With her arms suctioned to you and her thick brown hair all around it’s the only thing you can do to try not to fall down. And don’t bother trying to answer through her wailing because you’ll be laughing so stinkin’ hard.


This reminds me of Rachel. It reminds me of all the crazy random things we’ve done together. It reminds me of our late night talks. It reminds me of our Taco Bell visits where we laugh hysterically. It reminds me of the many sleepovers. One of our friends said when we're together it's like watching a show because it's so funny and entertaining.


As we have experienced the things that come with life, she has always been there for me. As we both have changed and grown I’ve appreciated her friendship. Growing up I didn’t always feel comfortable being myself around others but with Rachel I did. Her acceptance and personality gave me the confidence to be myself and in turn be able to help others. She has helped me so many times. She has always listened and laughed when I needed someone. She is really one of the most generous people I know. You are my blessing Rachee! Love you!




From Rachel:

Favorite Memory of Us: Staying up late and laughing super hard

Favorite Food on the Taco Bell Menu: Burrito Supreme


Person You Would Least Like to Disappoint: Not counting God- Karen or my mom


Perfect Time to Wake Up: 10am


Favorite Song Right Now: Hands Down by Dashboard Confessionals

If You Had a Free Afternoon What Would You Do?
Go to a warm beach and be in the sun all day…with you…except you don’t like water.

Tutoring

It's easy to write about superficial things. It doesn’t require any risk on the author’s part. It can meet the requirements for a good grade and be completed in a short amount of time. Despite this every semester I have one or two students who take a chance and share themselves through their papers. These students choose to put a part of themselves into their writing. As I read these student’s papers I realize the courage it takes to sift through their pain and relive these memories. I feel honored that I'm allowed to read their feelings.

One student I worked with wrote about his mom. I've never heard a boy talk about his mother the way he did. His feelings were so deep and his appreciation and respect evident.

Another wrote about growing up and being teased. She found herself amid the hatred of others.

Another wrote about the death of a best friend and how it was the start of a testimony.

Another wrote about struggling and living with a problem that has to be dealt with everyday. These are just some of the papers that I’ve read.

After reading their papers, I look at these students differently. I have more respect for them. I understand a little more about who they are because of what they have gone through. I’m impressed with how they handle their challenges…and it inspires me.