post-holiday update

Well, I apologize for how many there are, but these pictures pretty much sum up my holidays.

We went to California the week before Christmas and had an absolute blast! We went to Disneyland... The beach... A couple temples... It was great fun! We got home the 22nd, then launched right into Christmas festivities. Some of our extended family came to visit - it was lots of fun to see everyone! New Year's Eve was spent at home... It was nice. We watched fireworks off the balcony at midnight and called it good.

As much fun as it all was, it's nice to not have so many things to stress over at once... Now I just have to worry about mission things! 

remembering

So this is my 100th post. That's pretty cool.

But that's not what's important.

Yesterday marked the five-year anniversary of my Grandma McMullin's passing after several years of battling with cancer.

What a horrible disease. Not only does it slowly and painfully take its toll on the afflicted, but it slowly and painful affects the people that love that person.

It was hard to watch her go. I remember going to visit her one day near the end of her life. We walked into the living room, where she lay in her hospice bed, and said hello to her. She returned the greeting, but then said, "I should probably be saying goodbye, shouldn't I?"

Needless to say, all of the Anjewierden women commenced sobbing uncontrollably.

My Grandma Florence was an incredible woman. She loved and served everyone that she knew as best she could, and it was hard for her when the tables were turned and we were serving her. I think that she felt out of her element. 

She always knew just what to say to make bruises or hurt feelings feel better. You could feel her love for you in the way she treated you and spoke to you. She was selfless in every way.

It's not great quality, but I love it nonetheless! One of the last family pictures with her.

I think about her often. She was an important part of my life, and I miss her.

However.

I know that I will see her again.

Like I talked about in this post, I am so grateful for my knowledge of forever families.

I am beyond thankful to know that, though she's not physically with me now, she can be with me spiritually, and, one day, I will be able to see and talk to her once more.

I love you, Grandma!

reminder that i am super blessed

Last night I discovered Lisa King's blog - NieNie posted a link to it here, saying that it made her heart ache.

I clicked, not thinking much of it.

Dear people, the Kings' story is one of the saddest that I have ever heard.

I spent an hour and a half last night reading Lisa's posts and crying.

Her son, Noah, was born with hydranencephaly, meaning that parts of his brain were replaced by fluid, possibly from having a stroke in the womb.

The doctors gave him two to four years to live, as well as telling Lisa and her husband, Aaron, that Noah would never be able to walk or talk, was probably deaf and blind, and would never be able to do most things on his own. 

Against all odds, Noah lived until last October. He was 10 years and 3 months old when he passed. Doctors told the Kings that he lived so long due to the love and care that he had been shown - that his family had kept him alive.

Noah King - via

Losing Noah was horrendously difficult for his family, as is to be expected. I am sure that they will always miss him, until they are reunited with him after this life.

To make matters even more tragic, however, Aaron King passed away last week, on the 26th of January, from suspected heart problems. He was only 39.

Aaron King and his youngest son, Kobe - via

His death was completely unexpected, and I am sure that, especially with the recent passing of Noah, losing him was heartbreaking and awful for all who knew him, but especially for Lisa.

Even with the hardship that they are going through, Lisa is being strong. It is incredible.

She is an inspiration to me.

Lisa still has three young sons, Jalen (12), Harrison (7), and Kobe (3).

I am so glad that they know about forever families.

I am so blessed to have my family.

I am blessed to be so close to them, both emotionally and physically. I love that I can call them up anytime and talk to them. I love that I can get home basically any week that I want to see them.

An old picture (2008), but the only one I have on my computer of all of us

Most of all,  I am grateful for the knowledge I have of forever families.

Nothing fills me with more joy than remembering that I will get to live with my family for eternity, and that, though some of them may leave for a while, it's only temporary.

I can't imagine how people go throughout their lives believing that death is the end.

I can't imagine how I would bear losing any of my family members without what I know about the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I am so thankful to know what I know.

If you don't know what I'm talking about, click here to learn about my beliefs.

To help the Kings, go here.

Marvelous Monday X Thanksgiving = yay!

It's a Monday!

It was a pretty good day - Maybe this Marvelous Monday deal is actually working? ;)

Anyhow, as it's Thanksgiving, I'm going to make this a little broader than just today!

Things that I love about life:

-My family

Disclaimer: This picture was taken in 2008. It is the most recent picture of all of us, but none of us look like that anymore. :)

-My beliefs

-This book

-Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior

-Temples

-My roommates and friends

This was actually a bucket list item... Done! :)

This was Turban Thursday! No racism intended. 

-It's so materialistic of me, but my cell phone.

-...And my netbook.

-Snow! And rain and sun and kinda most everything. Except wind.

 

-School! As much as I complain... I love it.

-Music. Really, couldn't survive without it...

-Food! 'Specially grateful for momma's cooking now that I don't get it very often...

-Utah State University. :)

-Breaks from school, as much as I love it.

-Technology! Seriously. Electric blanket... Digital music... The internet... Yeah. So much.

-Clothing. Number one, it keeps me warm and covered. Number two, it's so fun. :)

-Aggie Basketball! Actually just Aggie sports in general, but here are some pictures of basketball. :) 

-My major. Music therapy is so incredible, and I'm so excited to help people through it!

-Running water and electricity. 'Nuff said.

-Forgiveness, mercy, and understanding.

-Wintertime! Icicles... Snowy trees... Visible breath...Warm clothes... Love it. :) 

There are plenty of other things, but there are some for ya!

I'm going home tomorrow, which will be fun. :) Hoping to see this over the weekend:

For anyone who doesn't live in Utah, this is Temple Square, and they put up gorgeous Christmas lights every year. :)

I'll post some pictures if I do, and if not I'll just post pictures of other things. :)

Goodbye, my almost Summer...

I'll have to post some pictures of my room later... It's super atrocious right now. Why, you ask?

I got the job!

I will be taking customer support calls from Comcast customers for 6 hours, 5 days a week.
It's a little bit much... But I will survive it! $9.25/hr, with paid training... Can't turn that down.

I am officially moving on Monday. It's incredibly terrifying. I'm nowhere near ready, as my room will tell you... But I'm not ready emotionally or mentally yet either.
My brain still thinks that I have a bunch of summer left. Maybe it'll finally hit next week, after I've already lived there for a few days...

Anyhow, there are about 7 boxes chillin' in my room, half-full of a myriad of possessions... I didn't realize how much junk I had until last week. It's ridiculous.

Wanna know a secret?
I'm really going to miss being home.
Two weeks ago, I thought I had a month and a half to get ready to leave... I'm just not ready to pick up and go. I haven't had the time to prepare myself to leave my family, my house, my friends...

Farewell, half summer of 2011. You were awesome.


Psst... My title was inspired by this lovely song.

Marvelous ON A MONDAY!

Yes, you're shocked, I know. It's a Monday, and I'm posting... There's a first time for everything. ;)

Today has been an especially horrible Monday, so it's a good thing that I have so much to be thankful for, too. Otherwise I might be upset, and then where would we be?

Anyhow, I shall leave my words for the list. :)

Things I loved about today:

-Random texts from EFY buddies! Especially with inside jokes.

-Totes. Haha. Hahaha.

-The fact that graduation is so very near! 

-The prospect of working three jobs... College will happen!

-Cheesecake cupcakes

- Awesome prospective college friends

- This song. And just this woman in general.

-Water! It saves me from coughing up a lung!

- Talking to my uncle Russ, whom I have not seen for ages because he lives in North Carolina (in the town where my best friend is moving to... Go figure.)

- Boiled eggs

- Random tuna cravings...

- Meeting new people. :)

- Renaming new friends (who are boys) with woman names. You know who you are.

- Being renamed George

- I got to work on time!

- Facebook

- Discovering that my Psych project is actually just a presentation of information that I already have

- This video. The title itself is lovely. :)

- The fact that even though I woke up super late, I was still fairly well groomed.

- Kleenex. Oh man.

- Pain killers and cold/cough meds! I am not a zombie because of them!

- The fact that I could still sort of sing in Chorale today, even though my voice is rather shot.

- I don't feel like I failed my math test! Which is good, because I need to pass the class.

- Repainting nails

- Having time to blog

- Being able to listen to music because my homework didn't require too much rational thought... :)

- My mother's reaction to Death Cab for Cutie's name. You'd think with band names like Oingo Boingo, Men Without Hats, and Twisted Sister from her generation she wouldn't bat an eye. :)

So all in all, it was TOTES not that bad of a day! ;) 

Peace, homes.

Maaaarvelous... Tuesday?

Yes, yes, yes. I missed three Mondays in a row. I am well aware. Soo... It's Tuesday again. :) That's okay. I'll be better!
Things I loved about today this week the last three weeks:
-Spirit week dress ups
-Being reminded of my childhood! Like:
     *How much I disliked Aaron Carter (For good reason, too! Look at him! He was a weirdo!)
     *How bangle bracelets were all the rage, as well as
     *Scrunchies
     *Overalls
     *Pokemon
     *SO much more. Those were the days.
     *Full House and other lovely TV shows that didn't stink.
-Finding legitimate cowboy boots at the DI for $10, and wearing them way too often
-Tutus
-Spirit Bowl
-Spirit Bowl being OVER
-Los Angeles... Just in general
-Our amazing bus driver for the A'Capella trip, Dan! He approved of my boots. :)
-What humidity does to my hair! It looks better in California! Look! Here and here. See?
-Being asked to Senior Ball at Disneyland by Nicholas Shrum! :) He wins. So much.
-Disneyland, the Happiest Place on Earth!
-Tower of Terror at California Adventure
-All the rest of the rides I went on!
-World of Color show at Disney!
-The buddy system
-Kyle/Randy references
-My friends!
-Spring break
-My family
-Easter
-Cake
-Life
There is so much more that I want to list, but I'd better stop. :) 'Night!
Peace OUT.