Septiembre

Jet setting out west on a Nonstop flight to CALIFORNIA for a wedding of my 2 friends, Derrick and Hannah, from Utah State!! I think almost 5 years ago it all began with them, and now 2 babies later, they were tying the knot!! 

Derrick and Hannah with their little Sky after the ceremony

 Carl looking like a GQ model

 

I have always tried to make any wedding of a dear friend that I can, it's one of those events in life that you may not recall everyone there, but feeling the combined love and support will always be a memory. Life only comes once and it happens fast, so when Derrick had called me up to see why I hadn't RSVP'd, I couldn't resist making a trip out there!!

 On my flight there, I sat next to a lady who was visiting her son who was a new father. She kept telling me to "google" him during our flight because he is the setter for the US olympic mens volleyball team. She was so proud of him and quite the character. We chatted for most of the flight, she loved seeing my family pics (I was working on a blog post) and as we parted at baggage claim she gave me a big hug :) I always make friends on my flights, but they are not always in the form of sweet motherly ladies… usually in the form of a mid aged man :)

 So I got in late and had chicken wings with my favorite doctor-doctor Thaidra!!! She is doing her residency at UCLA in internal medicine and was able to meet up and see me for a little bit which started my trip out just perfectly! I then headed to my grandparents house, getting there after midnight, and tragically having to wake them up because of a miscommunication… poor Gramps. 

Friday was great, I went to the beach and relaxed for the first time alone in months, after about 30 minutes I didn't know what to do with myself ha I then went over to the house and met up with Derrick, Hannah, Carl, and finally meet his girlfriend Mallory! 

This is Mallory... she is awesome

I hadn't seen any of these people for 4.5 years, (I almost got emotional about it)  it was so so awesome to catch up and see them all!! Derrick and Carl were my boys when I lived up in Logan. 

Me and the fellas Carl and Derrick

Time flies too fast

They are big goofs and mostly came around for cookies lol It was so great to see them, too much time had passed for sure… that night I had dinner with the grandparents and then went out for the bachelorette night with the girls!! :)

New friend, Carrie, me, and Hannah

 The wedding was a DIY one so I went over Saturday and helped make food with Mallory and Hannah's mom. The wedding was beautiful!! 

I wish I had gotten more pictures of the decorations and food there, but I was dumb and didn't ha 

Mallory and I waiting for the ceremony

The boys and Hannah oh and sweet little Jaydan

Us ladies 

The Utah State group ... Cant recall all the names lol

GOOOO AGGIES!!

Boys goofing off

"U S U"

Guns too big for the show

Laughter, dancing, toasting, photo booth, cake, Ice cream cones, smiles, some great memories were made that night! 

Sunday was a lazy day where we made a big breakfast and then went and met the wedding party at the beach. The day flew by too quickly and before we knew it, I was dropping off Carl and Mallory and driving to the airport :(

 I took the trip to support the new couple and reunite with my friends, what a sweet treat it truly was. 

When I landed in Boston I was greeted with a familiar friendly face, Jacob at the airport. At this moment I had a overwhelming feeling of gratitude for how lucky I have been to find such great people in this world that care so much for me even when they don't have to anymore. Even though Jacob and I are no longer dating, its hard not to feel large amounts of love for him because he is constant and true. Such a great character with a kind and genuine soul. If Boston was important in my life just so I could meet this man, then it is all worth it. He is quality. After a quick bag change out at my house, he and I headed south to Cape Cod! 

We first made a stop at Plymouth rock so I can now say I have been there... slightly Underwhelming of a rock but non the less its a important place in history!!

Plymouth rock, 1620

There is a beautiful structure built around the rock,

 which makes it a little more exciting ;)

Posing as a new settler in the Americas...

Replica of the Mayflower

Pretty scenic view of the harbor 

He and his mother rent out the same cottage on a pond in the cape every year and they had invited me to be a guest for a few days :) The cape is charming and calm. Everyone moves at a slower pace than Boston which gives a lot more time to enjoying and appreciate all around. We went to the Audubon society park and saw hawks, herons, gulls, and others I can't remember. 

 Adolescent Blue Heron

From a viewing shack or something like that lol

Just looking

BOMBED!! 

Baby Turtle :) :)

Gorgeous scenery

We drove down to P-town or the tip of the cape to walk around and eat :)

View off the boardwalk in Providence-town

 We did a bike ride of 40 miles (my butt was so angry at me) along the trail, so so so beautiful. While riding along, I realized how unbelievably beautiful the Northeast is. There are ponds, rolling fields, creeks, forests etc it is breath taking! 

That night we filled our bellies with a big steak from Outback steakhouse, so good! We had ice-cream every night and when his friend John joined us, we made a fire in the fireplace :) Tennis was played and relaxation was had. I was able to do job searching while there which made me feel like I was working on things lol 

The last day we had breakfast at the Pancake Man

 and then mini-golfed before I hopped on a bus back to the city.

John and Jake at mini golf

 That night I went over to the North End to meet with Karina's parents Kathy and Russ, and Grandpa to eat at Al Dorno. 

Everything in this area is Italian and the food did not disappoint! Afterwards, we walked over to Paul Reveres house and made the natural stop at Mike's Pastry's to get our fill of treats :) They were doing a trip from Maine to DC, making it through 11 states +DC in 10 days… insane I know but they were on a mission! Their main focus was Newtown, Ct to bring the city Noah's arks that Grandpa had handmade for each of the families from the shooting less than a year ago. 

This beautiful Noah’s ark was lovingly made to give away with the purpose of bringing a reminder of hope and joy to those who receive it.  We all know the story of how it rained for 40 days and nights before the rainbow was given as a promise of relief from a loving Heavenly Father.

Rainbows have a special meaning to our family.  A few years ago our beloved mother was close to death when a grandchild presented her with an invitation to a special party that she was planning.   A promise was made that if the child let balloons go that her grandmother would catch them from heaven.  At her gravesite a few days later that little girl came with her bundle of pink balloons.  As the balloons were let loose into a perfectly clear and cloudless February sky, suddenly a beautiful rainbow appeared directly where the balloons had flown.  Wonder and surprise filled everyone there except for a little girl who had no reason to doubt that her grandma would keep her promise.

May this child’s toy be kept as a reminder to have the faith of a child that even as the rain will fall, the rainbows will come and all of our Heavenly Father’s promises will surely be kept.

Kathy is a natural mom to everyone she comes in contact with and makes you feel at home when she hugs you. It was so nice :) 

Saturday morning I headed up to New Hampshire with my roommate to the Tri-ward campout for church. I don't feel like I do well in large groups of people and like to keep numbers small for comfort, so a weekend like this where I only know a few people was not all that exciting to me, however it was good for me to branch out and connect with new people. I was the butt end of a skit joke which I was fine with and by the end of the night we had a dance party then spent the night sleeping in cabins. The set up of the camp was much like the setting of Parent trap (the origin one with Hailey Mills), it was so ideal and picture perfect there with a lake and all!!

The past 2 weeks of September have been filled with applications, resumes, interviews, and lots of Netflix lol Lucky for me the weather has been BEAUTIFUL here and so I have been out walking lots,

Pianos placed around Boston for the past 2 weeks, 

it's a music/art share where these pianos travel

to different cities throughout the country :)

Had a German meal at Bronwyn on German Unity day

10/3/2013

 going on hikes with my friend Gina and trying to appreciate unemployment ha I have always thought about how nice it would be to have time off, however when you're unsure of when that time off is going to end, it's not as fun or exciting 

Made some s'mores on the stove top :)

Luckily I think I have a new position as a hospice nurse starting in a few weeks. I do have other part time options, however the full time position would really be ideal…. Just hoping my background check and references clear…

 On a more productive note, I am in a competition at the gym where we do different exercises and drills and last time I checked, I was in 1st place in 3 events: Rowing, jump roping, and running :) I am sure I won't be forever, but for now its exciting lol Anyway that mostly sums up the excitement in my life. I have now found a job, I just have to wait for it to start in 2 weeks. **Like always these posts take me a good 2 weeks to post up and I start my new job now in 2 days lol can I go back to unemployment times??** I am going to do some per diem work for a few weeks with my old job here in Boston then hopefully get going with the new gig shortly! 

This weekend has been a time I have been able to sit back and really think about what is important to me in life. I know that the center of my life is my family. Over the years however my family has extended far beyond blood lines and I can't help but have an even larger family than I had 10 years ago. Along the way I have done some collecting of people. 

There is a myth that red heads "steal souls." (South Park) I am not sure where that stems from but I want to clarify, I don't steal, I collect :) I have come in contact with so many amazing and inspiring people and can't help but to take them into my life and keep them dear to my heart. Two of my dear friends are extremely close to my heart and mind this weekend and while I am sad I can't be with them, I hope they have felt the love from myself and know I am with them in heart and mind.  I realize the collection of great friends can never have a price tag on it, and so I will try my hardest to acknowledge my love and verbalize how important my own personal collection of family is to me. My blood family is very important and dear to me as well and I would not be around if it were not for them. For those who believe that we are all just here on earth as happenstance, how sad. I can't deny that I have been lead into the life of so many people and they into mine. I know there is a greater plan for us, and we are continually fulfilling that. There are so many friends I have in this life that I know my soul has a connection with that goes back much further than 10 years of friendships. 

Madison

In a moments time, all things change.

They say change is needed for growth.

Oh how I can't wait to get to earth. 

Now my wait is just 10 months, but only 9 of them count.

No more movement. That was the change. 

I decided to come down a little early.

Is there anything wrong with a change of plans?

They always say change is for the better, but not this time.

For months they had watched me.

change-grow-develop.

 fast-stronge-well.

So now that I'm here, help me understand:

Change in your pocket is a sign of wealth, 

A change in weather can make a day bright,

Change of plans can lead one to fate,

A change of heart can be glorious,

Now I am here.

Your wealth has now increased ten fold. 

Each day is a little brighter.

His plan made me your baby girl, call it fate. 

Now let your heart be glad for my life on earth is glorious. 

Now you can 

watch-hold-love 

enjoy-embrace-hope