Recent post-it notes to myself:

Our future is as bright as our faith.

Keep thou my feet
I do not ask to see
The distant scene
One step enough for me

My new LOVE: Great Harvest Bread Co.

Everybody else had something to show but I consumed that goodness rather speedily!

I love peanut butter and jelly sandwiches! In fact its surprising to me that I am not sick of them yet. I have to keep myself in check to make sure I am eating other things besides the divinely smooth yet crunchy peanut spread mixed with the simplest cheap and sweet raspberry jam! I could spend a bunch of nonexistent time to cook a bland meal, or I could whip out the classic, ever so convenient, peanut butter and jelly for any meal, all under 60 seconds!

Breakfast: Peanut Butter toast with some jam

Lunch: The Classic Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich

Dinner: Grilled Peanut Butter and Jelly in a tortilla!

I hope the genius creator of such a beautifully delicious sandwich is filthy rich.

Rexburg

Rexburg Updates:

• I've decided to play competitive soccer! Its been a really good thing for me to meet more people and have the regular exercise and a physical outlet.
• My apartment works... but lets just say I'm never living here again!
• Rooming with Heidi is always good for me. She's wonderful. Although things are definitely different now that she's engaged because we're just in different places in life. It was bound to happen and we're still good friends but its hard when we've been through the last 3 years side by side and now she's got somebody on her other side! Planning a wedding with her has been exciting though! December 29th! :)
• I think of Hawaii everyday! I'm glad to be here but the cold really is tough on me.
• I'm taking a course called Fundamentals of Scripture Study. I'm required to study 30 minutes everyday from the scriptures and its amazing what blessings can come from simple consistent study. I'm taking that class with Dustin which is fun!
• I miss my little girls that I took care of all summer. (Kate and Isabella Schei)
  
• I really miss having my cousin Travis in Rexburg! I always felt like Travis was taking care of me and provided that family love.
• LIFE IS GOOD. :) I'm one blessed little lady!
  

Summer's End...

This summer, I seemed to find every reason to get away. Its kind of ridiculous how much I love to just GO. Here's a recap in pictures of this summer:




I visited my friend who lives in Temecula and we went to Disneyland. It really is the happiest place on earth! (other than the San Diego temple, which really is as beautiful as everyone says!)

Kevin and Kimmie's Wedding! Road trip with Heidi to Portland to be there for it all! Here I am at the reception with Dustin and Sam , two of my all time favorite fellas.







Road trip with the family to Boise: Abi's baptism and baby Luke's blessing









Amanda and I took the kids we nanny to the Cougar Mountain Zoo.... kind of a wimpy zoo but it was fun. Santa's sleigh was set up by the live reindeer. I am holding the reigns to the sleigh while the girls are the reindeer and the 2 kids in the back are the presents.


We also took out kidlets to Fort Casey on Whidbey Island for the day. There are huge empty army bunkers at the state park that are fun to explore. The puget sound is also right there!











Visiting Grandma Savage in her new home

Monica and I reliving out childhood at Lagoon! This particular picture was taken on the music ride- oh so many memories!






Oquirrh Mountain Temple Open House

I met up with friends from Hawaii in Ogden

Cousins on the 4th of July!

Coldplay Concert @ the Gorge: SooOoOoo GOOD! It was David's first concert! He still managed to fulfill his duties as annoying little brother, but the show was amazing. Chris Martin is such an entertainer.

So there is Summer of 2009! It was a tough summer but these pictures remind me of it's blessings.

Little Kate Stories

The other day, Kate said "oh Hal-uh-moon-yuh!" (Her version of Halelujiah!)

She calls the wii, 'weed'. So she says "I wanna do weed!!!" HA! I probably should correct her... :)

These are just a few of the never ending, inescapable, questions asked by literally every person I associate with:

What have you been up to?
Are you still doing nursing?
So what are you doing in the fall?
Shouldn't you be graduating this year?

How much longer are you going to be in school?

Where do you want to go to nursing school?

Why don't you go on a mission?

I thought you applied to BYU-Idaho's Nursing program?

Wow its the middle of August and you don't know what you're doing in the fall?!

Ya... all those questions make me feel real cool when I don't know the answer to any of them! Oh the freedoms of being young.... :/ But I am proud to announce that I am starting to figure out a few of those answers! Here's the background explanation of whats been up with me and school and life the past few years...

I started BYU-Idaho as an art major. Eventually I realized I did not want to pursue art as a career. I love it as a hobby and outlet for myself, but life as an artist has little promise of money or job security. Halfway through my Sophomore year I made the decision to pursue nursing. It had always been in the back of my mind, but had finally made its way to the front. I was scared but felt it was right and started the pre-reqs.

I applied to BYU-Idaho's nursing program for Winter '09: REJECTED. I was fine with that though because I went to BYU-Hawaii instead and that was AMAZING! However, the day before I start classes in Hawaii, I wake up to 4 voicemails from the BYU-I nursing department. I called them back and they said that a girl dropped out. 80 applicants, 10 spots, I was #11. I had to be in Rexburg for orientation at 8am the next morning to start the program. I realized there was just no way for everything to change that fast and I knew Hawaii was where I was supposed to be. I couldn't defer or anything, just reapply. With high hopes, I stayed in Hawaii and I applied again: REJECTED. That was ok because I had zero money and needed to go home and work. So I apply for Fall '09, thinking this is it, 3rd times the charm: REJECTED. That one was not OK!!!! So at this point, I've missed all the deadlines for other schools until Fall 2010 because I was banking on being in Idaho's program for fall 09, (Stupid of me, I know) and wasnt informed of my REJECTION until last month.
During all that, I turned 21 and had always wanted to serve a mission. After lots of thought and indecision, I started my papers, but eventually received my answer that now is not my time to be a full-time missionary.

So thats why all the questions this summer have been haunting me. I thought of a million different plans of what to do for the next year, but everything felt wrong. One day while figuring out what credits transfer to other schools, I realized I need Chemistry 105, not 101 to be able to apply to Weber and some other schools. So....

I'm headed back to BYU-Idaho in the fall!!! I'll be taking some extra pre-reqs that apply toward other nursing programs.I was actually really excited that I have to take the dreadful chemistry course, because that gives me a good reason to go back to Rexburg this fall. (And the math course that is the Chem Pre-req YIKES!) And I actually got into Darren's photo class, which will be fun. All summer I have been trying to figure out what to do with myself while dreading another few months of living at home, doing the singles ward thing... It will be good to go back!

Reasons I LOVE Idaho:

Devotionals - Waking up Tuesday morning knowing I will see ALL my friends at 2:00 in the usual seating area. Whatever is on my mind seems to be powerfully addressed by that week's speaker. (The speaker's quick intro given by President Clark always makes me laugh. The speakers seem to have accomplished more than anyone could in 79 lives! I feel like what he's really saying is "Brother SoAndSo will probably be translated tomorrow because he is so amazing, so listen up")

Roommates - I have had some roommates who were anti-hygiene, socially awkward or drama-driven, but they just make for good stories! The crazy ones come and go but the good ones have stuck. Strong bonds were forged with girls I probably would not have initially sought to be friends with. Time has produced some unreal memories!

The Rexburg Temple!

Meeting up with friends for lunch

Being a disco ball for Halloween! Although I'm sad to say that Sam, (Chubaka) won't be with me this fall.

The classic boy drama: awkward dates, creepo stalkers, major crushes, hook ups and break ups.

Helping each other out: the inevitable overwhelming stress that comes from so little time and much to do, personal insecurities, struggling siblings, separated parents, poor health, scarring events etc. Oddly enough, its strengthened my friendships.

Feeling like I'm learning SO MUCH everyday

Competitive Soccer last year was awesome - Titans

The regular occurrences with roommates and friends that I've come to love, and laugh about: playing cards and talkin trash, smothering whatever is left in the cupboard in BBQ sauce and calling it a meal, Heidi's utter disgust for hair, and her over usage of the word "ew", all 6 girls getting ready at the same time, biffing it on the ice, fighting for the shower's hot water on Sunday mornings, trying to go to bed earlier (0% success rate if Kelsey is around, her gangsta motto is "I run the streets all day, I can sleep when I die" - she literally jumps on me and wakes me up to ask me what I'm doing!), our intense annual spelling bee- competing for the coveted trophy, the injuries the boys inevitably acquire while pulling pranks... I could go on forever.

Intramural Sports! - Photo: Last winter, our flag football team "Snaggletooth"

I'm kind of nervous that things won't be as great as they were in the past cuz I haven't been in Idaho for a year so things/people have changed. You can't try and repeat memories ya know? But hopefully I can make some new ones. There's my plan. At least for the next 3 months... Then, who knows!

All summer I have been nannying for the Schei family. They are a cute family with 2 little girls who I adore! Isabella is 6 and Kate is 4. I've decided I need to write down some of the funny everyday occurrences. Here are a few... I'll post more later :)

Kate has an awesome imagination and is very expressive. She came running to me one day while playing at my house. She sticks one hand on her hip with the other hand in the air and says "Um Excuse me have you seen my cat go by???" (We don't have a cat...) I tried not to burst out laughing and said "Hmmm... check the piano room!" She threw her hands up and before running off she said "Ohhh Thank you soo much!"

Kate and I made sugar cookies. I took the 2nd photo as she bit into her well decorated cookie. I love her expressions!

Isabella: Kerri is the one with a earring on her foot! (toe ring)

When Kate doesn't know the exact word for something, she just makes up her own version of it, or a completely new word.

Our fridge is not magnetic so my mom has all her magnets on the magnetic door of the dryer. Kate was rearranging them to make them all pretty. When she was done, she said "Robin look! Your mom is gonna be so fallassated! This is the best fridgenator she ever had!"

The girls and I were taking in the Costco groceries and Kate found some air fresheners. She said, "Oh look! Marreeners!"

Photo: Kate was dancing and I told her to strike a pose. She sunk into this dramatic pose with her shoulders forward and her eyes fluttering!

Playing with stuffed animals:

Kate: here you be this one! (handing me a dog)

Me: oh what is his name?

Kate: Jums Sherpped!

Me: huh?

Kate: You know, James Sherpopod!

Me: What's his name again?

Kate: Jims Sherpod!

(I look down at the dog...)

Me: Ooooooh!!! German Shepard!

4th of July's in Utah are my favorite! It acts as the family reunion for my mom's side of the family and I LOVE IT!
Everyone meets in the same spot in the Blacksmith Fork Canyon for a big breakfast, followed by the Hyrum Parade on Main Street, (which was started by my great Grandpa Savage!) and lunch at Aunt Jill's. These are a few things that come to mind when I think of the beloved fourth of July and all my family:

Uncle Todd wearing his striped apron he made in high school, flipping pancakes

Hugging Uncle Corey, trying to get him to say "I love you." (He said it to me once!)

Taking the group picture on the picnic tables- making sure any significant others who's permanency is questionable are stuck on the end so we can easily cut them out of the picture if/when necessary!

Mylan's 7 daughters - The last few years have been especially fun as some start their families! The mini-mini Savages waddling by the new newborns, while prego pregger moms capture the moment! (This year 3 of them were pregnant!) The traditions really will continue forever.

Jill's funny trucker husband from Arkansas
Playing in the river as much as you can get away with
Climbing the trees
Mylan's HUGE fruit salad - Mmmm
Someone always sets their drink down right in the crack of the picnic table, (covered by the table cloth), inevitably pouring a full cup of OJ or Milk on innocent victims. :) It happened 3 different times this year!
Catching salt-water taffy, (a tootsie-roll is a big thrill!) and being sprayed by the fireman's hose in the parade
Counting and recounting my taffy (Now it consists of me just stealing from the kids when there's actually something good!)
Feeling loved, blessed and grateful for such fun family!

All the pictures are actually from the past 5 years. I scanned some older pictures i found from previous 4th of July's that I thought were pretty classic!
My awkward stages, being a foot taller and top heavy as a kid are not exactly fond memories, but this is a good one of Brett, Taylor, Amber, Adrian, Monica and I in 96.
Daxton sitting next to Grandma. I think that is Kellen she's holding (2003?)
My mom with Grandma, lookin so cute! (1996?)

Recently I have extra appreciation for:

HOT WEATHER, SUNSHINE and time at the LAKE!

The peace and quiet that comes AFTER the creepers working on our roof go home at night

My best friends under 8 and over 80