Silver Linings

I am a strong believer in that every cloud has its silver lining. Even if I don't know what that silver lining is right now. This past week has had its fair share of storm clouds. More than its fair share, as a matter of fact. And I can't yet see the positive repercussions of what these trials will bring.

Yet.

BUT, I know that some day I'm going to look back on this difficult time in my life and think of all of the important life lessons I learned from it. And when it comes right down to it, even though life is throwing some curve balls at me right now, I feel OVERWHELMING blessed. I am convinced that some of the best people God has ever created are apart of my life. I kid you not, I have some dang awesome best friends. I also am incredibly blessed to have the gospel in my life and the knowledge that I can get through absolutely any trial with the help of the Lord. So really...yeah, life is kinda tough right now and I'm facing some challenges I never thought I would have to face, but holy cow am I blessed or what?

I think it's super-duper important to learn how to be happy even when things are hard. Everything is going to be okay if I am relying on the Lord for guidance. I learned that lesson from my sweet momma. She is such a strength in my life and she has taught me how to constantly have an attitude of gratitude and I couldn't be more thankful to her for that and for countless other things.

So, yes. Every storm cloud has its silver lining. But you know what? I quite like rainstorms.

One year down. One to go.

On July 24, 2013 my very best friend left on an LDS mission to serve the Lord in Romania for two years. And here we are now, 365 days later and lemme tell ya, he is rocking it out there. Many of the European missions are so difficult but James really knows how to take a challenge and make the absolute best of it, which is truly one of my most favorite things about him. He is workin' hard out there and I couldn't be more proud of him! James says finding investigators to listen to their message can be tough so they think of super unique ways to contact which can go from drawing out the plan of salvation in chalk on the sidewalk to putting on a musical concert with a bunch of different instruments, which is what they are working really hard on right now. If you know James Brundage, you're pretty dang lucky, because he's one of the most fun-loving, spiritually minded, and genuine guys I've ever known and has a way of making anyone laugh right off the bat. I miss him lots but I wouldn't want him anywhere other than where he is right now, working as the Lord's hands and doing His work. He's changing lives, just like he changed mine.

I'm counting down the days until July 24, 2015. One year down. One year to go until I get to see my bestfriend again.

La revedere.

Beautiful Trip with Beautiful Company

I spent this past week with some of my favorite people in this world in one of my very favorite places in this world-- The Golden State that is California. We started off our week away from home in the breathtakingly beautiful town of Big Bear in the most home-y cabin right on Big Bear Lake. We then spent a couple of days in Anaheim to go to Knotts Berry Farm and the beach. Needless to say, it was a vacation for the books!

 

SOME HIGHLIGHTS



-I was able to cross jet-skiing, kayaking, and pontoon boating off my bucketlist... the dare devil in me deemed jet-skiing to be my favorite part of the whole trip!

-Went to quite possible the largest antique thrift shop on the west coast. Seriously, I wish I took more pictures because it was something that needed to be documented! I fell in love with the shop and could have spent hours longer exploring all of the crazy cool antique treasures I found.

-I GOT A TAN. If you know me, you know this is seemly impossible on account of me being the stereotypical redhead (or ginger, if you must). Ha! And although I will never have the skin of a beach goddess, I can now say that I've gotten a little more color and now I have something to work off of when I move to Hawaii in t-minus 40 days!

-Getting completely DRENCHED on Big Foot Rapids at Knott's. A huge wave pretty much did it for me (might I add that my two cousins Sydney and Cabram did not get even a tiny bit wet) and all of the people waiting in line for the ride pointed and laughed at me when the aforementioned wave crashed down soaking me from head to toe. Although being freezing cold wasn't super fantastic, it was a blast and made for a great laugh.

 

-There are PLENTY more fun highlights but the best part of the whole trip was spending time with beautiful people that I love so much. Specifically, my cousin/best friend since birth, Sydney. Man, that girl is a dork. But that is why we are so dang close. Because heaven knows I am the dorkiest of the dorks. We laugh over the silliest things until our stomachs hurt and we are gasping for breath and our cheeks are sore. I feel so blessed to have had this girl by my side since day one...literally. We have pictures of us naked in laundry baskets at the age of one. Above all, Sydney is just a sweetheart who I can depend on for absolutely anything at any time. She is strong and won't compromise her standards for anything and is overall one of the best examples to me in my life. I love ya, Syd. Thanks for the unforgettable trip, luvah. 



 

 *dramatically looking off into the distance*