Sometimes this happens when I go to the eye doctor

Gotta love having my eyes dialated.

a happy, happy day.

Yesterday was fantastic. I woke up at a reasonably early time and went to my Barney family reunion--which brings the decendents of my mom's Grandparents, Frank and Naomi Rae Barney togeher. We had a little 5K, which I thought would be a joke for me since I have not run for one full month and it has been 6 months since I've been able to run three miles. But, I decided to buck up and run the whole time--very slowly. And I may have been behind a 6 year old and her dad the whole time, but I did finish and never walked, despite my wretched IT band giving me problems.


I had to leave the family reunion a little early so I could go to Park City with my best friend and do some intense back to school shopping! It's true that Whitney and I have had some ups and downs, but we always end up being friends again, and I know it's because Heavenly Father wants us in each other's lives. So we got to have a fabulous talk as we drove (and got a little lost) to Park City. We had a delcious (and enormous lunch) at Cafe Rio which was so fun. Kudos Whit on that one. :) The shopping was very kind to both of us, and we each found some fabulous deals on the things we needed. I bought three pairs of very nice jeans, which was a HUGE deal. I have always struggled seriously with buying jeans that fit my awkward body type, but I'm getting really good at it lately, and I scored that is for sure.


Unfortunately we had to cut our shopping a little short so I could go babysit. It was a really good babysitting job. In about a week I'm going to stay with these four kids for 6 days while their parents are in France. I'm really excited to get to take a week off of my job and make more money than I would make there, and stay with these CUTE kids. The job last night was my first time babysitting them, and they were so good for me. They are adorable. So I'm even more excited about this job.



I feel so contented and happy right now. Having such a great day can make a HUGE difference. I'm so excited to wear my new skirt to church today, plus I got a letter from my wonderful friend Spencer who has been in the MTC for almost two weeks. I'm getting closer and closer to moving out, and my birthday is in three weeks from today (for anyone interested, I desperately want a new camera for my birthday...since I washed mine. I need a camera to document college).

a time for work, a time for play

Keeping with my new attitude of "I don't have to work ALL the time and do nothing fun", I spent the $37 and went to Lagoon yesterday with two of my best friends, Whitney and Trent. We didn't get up there til about 4:00 because Trent and I both work, but it still was such a blast. The three of us had a great time going on the rides, messing around, and I got to eat my very own bag of cotton candy. Lucky for me, both Whit and Trent don't like cotton candy so I had it all to myself. Happy, happy day.

It was so great to get out and do something after I worked, and not care that I got home late and had to get up early the next morning. Sometimes it is worth it to do things like that, even if it's expensive and you don't get a lot of sleep. There's been far too many things that I have said "No" to this summer, and it makes me very sad. I think I'll say "Yes" for the last three weeks that I am here.

Yes, in three short weeks from today I am moving out, my family is going to Idaho and I will no longer call this city my place of residence. That's amazing to me. For those who are wondering, yes I am still excited, ready and desperate for that time to come.

getting ready, more every day

This entire summer I have been working, working, working, I know, you are so sick of hearing about it. So I've been getting these incredible paychecks, and 80% of it has been going straight to my different savings accounts. I've been carefully (well, mostly) budgeting, and only going over my budget a little bit here and there...(hehe). And I kept thinking about all of the things that I was going to need for school, especially with regards to a winter wardrobe (which, mine is sadly lacking) and I quickly realized that the little bit I was giving myself just wasn't going to be enough to get all that I need.

So a few days ago I said "you know what? I have saved SO MUCH MONEY this summer, I am fine to blow some of it." And I have. And it's been fantastic. The amount of sweaters I now own is greatly increased, skirts, bras, shirts and shoes have also been purchased. I have been a shopping maniac. I HATE shopping, a trait I inherited from my mother (thanks so much). But I went shopping on Friday, then again today. And I even went back to Old Navy to fight for my 10$ argyle sweater that I was forced to pay $26.50 for. And no worries, I got my 17 odd dollars back. Huzzah. Also, I found a copy of JANE EYRE at Deseret Book for 6$. I about died on the spot. They had a bunch of classics and I wanted most of them, but I did hold myself back in this instance. Oh dearest Jane, how I can't to delve into your pages again. You have no idea how happy this makes me.

The daunting list of necessary items is slowly being chipped away at, and I am surely enjoying myself as I chip. :) Dear Rexburg, by the time I get up there, you won't be able to bother me with your frigid weather, for I will be very appropriately dressed.

I am on a shopping/Zumba/cleaning high.

reflecting

Yesterday I went to a funeral for my Grandpa's twin brother's wife. I haven't been to a funeral since my great-grandpa's when I was ten years old, and this was a little bit of an ordeal for me. I won't pretend that I knew this woman well, but I've known her and loved her my whole life. The whole experience was entirely upsetting simply because I kept having two thoughts:
1) This is my grandpa's twin brother's wife. They are in the same stage of life. Are my grandparents next? I love them so much. I love the grandparents on both sides, although these on my dad's side are older. I kept thinking about how much I can't stand to not have Grandma Sue and Grandpa Leon in my life. I want so badly for them to be at my wedding, I want my Grandpa to give me my eidelweiss necklace, and I want to see my Grandma get all teary eyed and know that they are proud of me, I want them to hug me and be there in person. I want them to be around when I have my babies and love them for as long as they can. It was devastating to me to think about them being gone because I am a selfish person and I want them here for me.
2) I kept thinking about Uncle Leonard and how his wife isn't here for him anymore. And I felt it so deeply that it hurt me too. It made me scared to be alone, to have my spouse leave me, and I don't even have a spouse yet.
There are so many things I have been reflecting on lately because of my situation in life right now, and growing up and moving on, and the events happening in the lives of others. So much to think about, so much is changing, life is moving forward at full speed ahead. There is no going back. In one month my life will change forever, I will never more call this city my home, but my hometown, where I grew up. My growing up is approaching an end, although I know I'll continue to grow.
Apparently funerals invoke some intense feelings and thought processes.

coming to an end

Everyone around me is wrapping up their summers, they have two weeks until they move out and start school. I have one month still. One month still to be working, doing what I've been doing which is not a whole lot.
Last night I got to hang out with almost my whole group of girlfriends that have been my friends since Jr. High. I really haven't seen most of them this entire summer. We had a total blast, we played games and made cake (then ate it), watched a movie, had a sleepover outside. It was so much fun, but it made me really sad. Because I haven't seen these girls all summer and now they are leaving and I feel left behind. I'm going to be stuck here for another month while they are starting their next adventures.
It was painful to hear about all of the fun things they have done this summer, and how they don't want this summer to end and they don't want to move out and start college, because I have not done much these past two months besides working. I desperately want summer to end because it has not been a good time. I cannot wait to start college because I feel like I will actually have something fulfilling in my life again.
I know I can try to make this last month of summer fun, but let's be honest. I work stupid hours which means that I just get left out. Yeah I am making a ton of money but is that really worth it? I don't know. I haven't done a ton of fun things up to this point, and now everyone is leaving so there's a pretty good chance that I will continue to be best friends with my laptop and Gilmore Girls until I leave for school the first weekend in September.

food thoughts

On this day of fasting, I will admit that I thought about food ALL day long. The cravings of today include but are not limited to:
Cheeseburger
Guacamole Bacon Swiss Burger
Guacamole and Chips
Snickers Bars
Beef
Steak (I HATE steak)
Lasagna
Green Beans
Avacados
Cheeseburger
French Fries
Fry Sauce
Milkshake
Smoothie
Tootsie Rolls
Ice Cream
Peaches
Cereal
Pretzels
Strawberries
This list could go on and on. The cravings I experience are honestly ridiculous sometimes. Thankfully, I somehow made it through church without passing out and satiated my craving for Lasagna and green beans. Let me tell you. Cold green beans have never tasted so incredible before.