hasta la pasta.

To the 5 people who might actually check this blog, remember when I announced this? Well, the time has come, and I am leaving the world behind for the next 18 months. However, my sister loves me (and you) enough that she will be keeping everyone up to date with my journey in Portugal over here,  sistersamanthabrooks.blogspot.com. So go ahead and check it out if you wish.

Or write me sweet nothings to the following addresses:

Or, pretend I actually did fall off the face of the earth, and I'll meet ya back here in a year and a half.

mormon.org/missionary

EU TE AMO!

sometimes you just decide it's going to be summer, even if it's winter.

Because I have the world's greatest parents, I have been lucky enough to (quite literally) chill at home for the last 6 weeks. Sometimes people ask me what I have been doing--like if I have a job, or if I have taken up some sort of hobby to keep me busy, or if I even know what the word responsibility means, but mostly, this is the answer I give: Well...I wake up (hopefully before noon), go for a run, shower and get ready (by three), go on an errand with Darla, and wait for Big Dave to come home so we can go to dinner. Then the three of us watch TV on the couch for about 12 hours straight. Okay, so maybe that's a bit dramatic, but it turns out that I fell into this laid back lifestyle quite easily. But I mean, that 6:30am wake up call is going to come soon enough right?

And fine, maybe that's not all I did. (Because well, I have the world's greatest parents.) Not only did I get to spend my 21st birthday in Ft. Lauderdale with Kelli and Kristan (#escapethecold2013), but I also have the greatest friends in the world and sweet Smelly pants flew down to go to the Justin Beiber concert with me. Because yes, we are 21, and yes, he is 18, but yes, I did fall even more in love with him during that performance. (I mean really, how can you not love him?) Then, I rode the Hogwarts Express to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter for some last minute Muggle training. And in the car ride down, I received the happiest surprise phone call from K8 the GR8 telling me she booked a flight and was coming on the midnight train to Georgia. And what a dream it has been to have her here. I didn't show her Honey Boo Boo's hometown (because well, maybe I'm a bit ashamed that she can claim Georgia as her own), but despite that, I think she got a small taste of Georgia's finest. Between the Ringling Brothers Circus, World of Coke, Georgia Aquarium, and some fried pickles, I think she might just be ready to call herself a Southern Belle (even if she wears vans and hipster necklaces).

And now, all the sisters are in town for one last hoorah. I could not be happier to have them all together again. So grateful I am for my perfectly, imperfect friends and family that have made this little "summer vaca" an unforgettable experience. I look forward to a weekend sure to be filled with lots of laughs, tears, and of course...Pitch Perfect.

the future is as bright as your faith.

"Even if you cannot always see that silver lining on your clouds, God can, for He is the very source of the light you seek. He does love you, and He knows your fears. He hears your prayers. He is your Heavenly Father, and surely He matches with His own the tears His children shed."

Jeffrey R. Holland

2012.

(This post is mostly for me, so I apologize if I bore you.)

Looking back on 2012, I kind of can't believe it was only one year. However, I honestly think it was the best year of my life so far. It's weird looking back and seeing how I've changed, what I thought was going to happen six months ago and where I am now. In a way, it's exciting. It's shown me that I can make whatever plans I want to, but the Lord's plan will always prevail. And, that amongst all the change, what's most important always stays the same--like my family and best friends (and Diet Coke. Jokes...kind of).

2012 was an unforgettable and life changing year. I started the year off traveling around Jerusalem, Turkey, Jordan, and Galilee. I made 80 new best friends (who still love me even though they probably know me a little too well), studied the Old and New Testament in depth, walked where Jesus walked, gained the slightest insight into Middle Eastern culture and the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, discovered the importance of faith among all religions, and developed a deeper relationship and greater love for our Savior, Jesus Christ. I celebrated Holy Week and spent Easter at the Garden Tomb. I came back to Provo for Spring term and road tripped to Vegas with my best friends to see Celine Dion live (life changing). I spent a weekend with my sisters in Connecticut and New York. I had the first of many reunions with my Jerusalem crew at Bear Lake. I moved in with my best friend. The 19's became the nuns. I decided to serve a mission, submitted my papers, and received a call to Lisbon, Portugal. I took a trip to LA to visit my best friend. I went through the Temple. I became an aunt. And another one of my sisters got married. Like I said, life changing.

2012 taught me a lot about myself and about who I want to become. It taught me about friendship and love and forgiveness and happiness and the eternal perspective. It taught me that I have a lot of growing up to do and a whole lot more to learn. But I think when I look back on 2012, I'll remember the amazing friendships that developed--the people I met and the friends I grew to love even more than I ever thought possible. Here's to 2013 and knowing that it is going to live up to 2012.

and then there were three.

 

December 29th, my sister got married and became Mrs. Warcup. Oh, I was so happy I could cry. (Don't worry, I didn't. Neither did she, but he did. We Brooks are real emotional over here.) She flew us all out to San Diego for the wedding (and Kelli didn't stop complaining the entire 5 hour flight. "I don't fly more than 2 hours to go anywhere." "Are we there yet?" "Ugh, I could be in Europe by now." And she's the oldest.), because that guaranteed sunshine and warmth, but the jokes on her because it was cold and the rain started as soon as she walked out of the Temple. But, it didn't matter, because she and Dan were all smiles. I have never seen those two so happy. Afterward, we all jumped on a boat, and Cais put on the party of the year (Despite her informing the DJ that under no circumstances was "Party in the USA" allowed to be played at her reception...sorry Miley). Thanks you two--for listening to me gush about how in love I was after just about every date I went on, for eating all my cookie dough, for laughing at all my jokes (or just my life), for cuddling on the love sac so I could sprawl out on the couch, for letting me third wheel it all the time, and for constantly feeding my Diet Coke habit. I couldn't be happier for you two, and I couldn't be happier to have you in the fam, Dan. Now, I expect lots of letters and a mini you two by the time I get back, because ohemgee, I've never seen such adorable baby pictures side-by-side. You two really are mfeo. Ever happiness to you both :)

true love.

thank goodness for dance parties and boys and helaman halls for bringing us all together. we've come a long way the past few years--from stealing bananas from the cannon to no longer calling kena "the girl with the anklets," here's to the next 80 years with the world's best best friends.

i am grateful for.

warm coats and best friends. halloween parties and the jru crew. the lanai tanning deck and warm november days. election day and funny friends. mission calls. 

love list.

the sun rays dancing on my face . deep sleeps . sonic from 2-4 . diet coke in general . group text messages with my sisters . 2 hour phone conversations . skype dates with my parents .  darla's infamous sugar cookies . oatmeal chocolate chip cookies (for breakfast) . all baked goods . hot chocolate . fall boots . warm coats . heaters . blankets . computers in class . weekend get-aways . catching up on television . long chats with best friends . texting in the same room . inside jokes . butternut squash . best friends . family vacations . sister's weekends . jerusalem . music . homemade music videos . the smell of books .  online shopping . manicures . boys with an expansive vocabulary . boys in cardigans . boys . long hair . new pens . change . helaman halls . handwritten letters (or notes) . comfortable beds . helpful strangers . compliments . sales . memories . imagination . learning . paints . museums . art . movie premieres . shared passions . love .

sandy.

Mormon Helping Hands :: Hurricane Sandy :: Rockaways, NY from Joshua Brown on Vimeo.

i love my church.

sister, sister.

i love my sisters. and i love when my sisters come to visit me. and i love that my sisters love me enough to come visit me. there's just a lot of love when my sisters are involved. i've got the greatest sisters around. so much so that just about every one of my friends is vying for a spot in my family. the 6th daughter is a pretty coveted spot. the best thing about sisters weekends is that there is always lots of baking and diet coke--my two favorite things. combine that with people who think i'm hilarious, and how could it not be the best time of my life?

speaking of other sisters...after three years, amy and i are finally living in the same state again, and i've never been happier. we inaugurated the experience with a batch of sugar cookies. i think chase will be very happy to have us baking for him on a weekly basis.

quote, un-quote life changing.

Yesterday was one of those "this is a life changing moment" slash "I want to remember this day forever" kind of days. I know that sounds dramatic, but it actually was. I have been waiting and waiting and waiting for this day for the last month, and the letter finally came. I practically ran home from class, barged in my apartment, and Melissa and I raced down to the mailbox. I squealed as my fingers ran over the thick, white envelope. Luckily, I have an amazing best friend who jumped up and down and screamed and looked like an idiot right along side me for a solid fifteen minutes. But whatever, it was here--the letter stating where I would be spending eighteen months of my life, serving the Lord.

It is amazing how at peace I felt holding that envelope in my hands. The decision had been made, and a prophet of the Lord had signed his name on the decision. The feeling of being lost in the middle of the jungle that was drowning in the middle of my stomach the night before was replaced with the peace and calm of soft ocean waves lapping over my toes. Because in the words of Nick Hardy, "God never messes up." 

So, naturally, I did what I do in all emotional situations--bake. I had to pass the time somehow right? Anyways, 5 hours later, all of my very favorite people gathered together in my apartment (in person, via skype, and on the phone) to hear me open and read my call.

I have hereby been called to serve as a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the Lisbon, Portugal Mission. I report February 20, 2013 and will be serving for a period of 18 months. I will be teaching in the Portuguese language. 

As someone who never thought serving a mission was a part of my future, I could not be more excited for the knowledge that I now have that this is exactly what I am supposed to be doing right now at this time in my life. I know that I had to go through very specific experiences in order for me to come to this understanding, but ever since I made the decision, nothing has felt more right in my entire life. 

I am so blessed to have such amazing friends and family members who are so excited and supportive of me giving up my life (including spending time with them) in order to be a tool in the Lord's work. I am overwhelmed by the amount of love and encouragement I have received since I made the announcement. I could not be more grateful for the people that have made it possible for me to arrive at this point in my life, and I could not be more excited to be able to go teach and serve the people of Lisbon, Portugal.

october.

My lately has consisted of: 1. Birthday celebrations for my beautiful roommate Jill. Also, I saw her in Thriller this weekend, and oh my that girl is AMAZING. 2. Baking and baking and baking some more. It is actually getting out of hand. I've been trying all these new recipes lately though, and they are just so good. The entire loaf of pumpkin chocolate chip bread was actually gone in one night and the funfetti cookies might just be my new favorite form of chocolate chip cookie. 3. BYU/SA and school and more school. 4. Drinking too much Diet Coke, but I mean it is Monopoly at McDonald's, and if there is anything I learned from my childhood, it is that Monopoly at McDonald's means you have to go everyday and you will win eventually. 5. Living the dream, living with my best friend. And life is about to get even more exciting real soon. 

happy monday.

just taking it back to middle school this morning.

love notes.

sometimes i leave my camera on the table, and i find these little love notes from my best friend. they make my day. #mybestfriendistheprettiest #justwhatineededtogetmethroughtheday

happy birthday mommy.

54 reasons why you really are the best mom in the entire world.

1. You are my best friend.
2. You always answer the phone when I call.
3. You answer my skype call, even when you're already skyping one of the other sisters.
4. You taught me how to bake (which my friends love you for too.)
5. And how to see the positive in everyone.
6. You made over 100 sugar cookies, carried them onto the plane, and dragged them through Israel for me.
7. You raised me on chocolate pancakes.
8. You love me so much that you take me shopping whenever we're together, even when you don't want to.
9. You let me eat cookie dough straight from the bowl.
10. You make the world's best chocolate chip cookies.
11. Actually, you make the world's best everything.
12. I can't ever once remember you yelling at me.
13. You play with my hair until I fall asleep.
14. You want to see me as badly as I want to see you.
15. You put Diet Coke in my sippy cup.
16. You worship the sun and you passed that love on to me. (Amman Ra)
17. You put chocolate chips in everything.
18. You watched every episode of Gilmore Girls with me, every monday night, for seven seasons.
19. That goes for Vampire Diaries as well (and you saved it on DVR after I left you, so we could watch it together over Thanksgiving and Christmas Break.)
20. You told me to go to QuikTrip after my run, so I could rehydrate with a 44oz DC.
21. You don't get mad at me when I come home and want to bake at midnight. Rather, you encourage it.
22. You gave me your great hair.
23. And blue eyes.
24. You are the most beautiful woman in the world.
25. You have taught me to be kind and caring and selfless.
26. You always do what will make me happy, even if it means you don't get what you need to do done.
27. You just told me you are going to bring me sugar cookies when you visit next week, (!!!) and I didn't even ask.
28. You always encourage me to be better and do more than I think I can.
29. You attended every single one of my 81987372 gymnastics meets growing up without ever complaining.
30. You empathize with me when I go on bad dates.
31. You taught me right from wrong.
32. And how to stick to what I believe.
33. You drove me back and forth to school everyday, so I didn't have to ride the bus.
34. You typed my papers for me when "I didn't have time." (seriously, I was like 10, what was I doing?)
35. You have always been supportive of every decision I make.
36. When I left for college, you couldn't walk past my room without crying.
37. You made my lunch every day for...my whole entire life.
38. You are the laundry fairy.
39. And Consuela.
40. You always helped me realize family is what's most important.
41. You have more patience than anyone I know.
42. And you are the most generous and loving person in the world.
43. Without fail, every time we come home, there is a nail appointment waiting for us the very next morning.
44. And cookies are sitting on the counter the moment we walk in the door.
45. You help me always look on the bright side.
46. You listen to everything I have to say (even the nonsense).
47. You think I'm funny and laugh at my ridiculousness.
48. You are loved by my friends almost as much as you are by me.
49. And on that note, you love my friends so much you named a type of cookies "Annalise cookies," and packed both one for me and one for her every single day.
50. You let me sleep in forever and ever.
51. You let me skip school every once in a while (or maybe more than that :)).
52. You have visited me every single semester since I have been at school.
53. You've made it so that I want to be exactly like you when I grow up.
54. You love me unconditionally, and you have made sure I know it.

This list doesn't even begin to really capture how great you really are, but I hope you know I love you. And I am so grateful you're my mom. Happy birthday! I hope it was the greatest.

junior year.

 

 

 

Turns out people aren't kidding when they say junior year consists of spending your weekends going to your friend's wedding receptions. I can't complain though. I mean, there's free cake. And we all know how I feel about cake.

After a fun and ridiculously relaxing summer, I'm back at it. School's in full swing--I'm trying to learn the Spanish language, and read American literature from the dark ages, and become a creative writer all at the same time. But I'm a nerd, so I love it. There's something about walking into the library everyday that just warms my heart. (Granted, I never really get anything done, because I have people ADD, and I swear I see someone I know every five seconds. But still, just walking in the library feels like an accomplishment.) It's exhilarating to be back on the bustling campus and embracing the cool fall air and changing leaves. I also got involved with BYU/SA this year, and it's opened me up to a whole new group of friends and experiences already. I'm really excited to continue to learn and grow and become a better leader. BYU is so great. I am so blessed. Seriously, I think I go to the best school in the world.

So between the weddings, Jerusalem Reunions, football games, church activities, and schoolwork, you have it all--that's my life.