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.

my best friend is actually perfect.

I feel like this is shameless promoting, except that I actually have no reason to be putting this up here. I just watched this past week's episode of So You Think You Can Dance and was blown away by how amazing she is. Seriously, every. time. She's going places. In middle school, we used to talk about how she was going to be on tv, and now, it's real. But actually. She is so talented. And driven. And she works hard. She deserves every thing she has received. And more. Love you shmi smel. 

charity never faileth.

"Rather than being judgmental and critical of each other, may we have the pure love of Christ for our fellow travelers in this journey through life."

-President Thomas S. Monson

GSBL.

You know that missing piece of my heart I was just complaining about? Yeah, well, it's been filled. Last week, just about everyone from Jerusalem went to Bear Lake, and thanks to SJ and Stuart, we were all able to stay together on one little resort. Oh, I could not have been happier. Hugging and screaming and dancing and incessant chatter filled the entire week. Seriously, every time someone new walked in the door, the entire group ran up and attacked them. It was heavenly. I actually felt like I was being reunited with my family. I wish I could describe it better, but I just can't. These people really are like family. We all know each other so well, and yet, we love each other, regardless of all those little quirks we have. I could not have asked for a better last week of summer. As we were leaving, there was talk of building a "Jerusalem house", so we could all just live together forever. (Seriously, mortgage and rent payments were calculated. I still don't see the downside.) I love these people. Most of all, I love that no matter where we are together, we all have a little piece of home.

And yes, we did hold our very own Olympics--synchronized swimming, volleyball, medal ceremony, and all.

late night nostalgia.

I miss that feeling of love--that overwhelming, wrapped in a warm blanket type of love. I miss that togetherness--doing everything, with everyone, every day. I miss the city--how alive it is and the friendly smiles always coming our way. I miss the nights we stayed up on the balcony looking out onto the city, and the early mornings spent in class feeling the verity of the teachings our professors shared with us. I miss the dance parties and the clearly identifiable giggles heard throughout the hallways at any and all times of the day, both appropriate and not (like during church...oops). I miss having inside jokes that we actually thought we came up with all on our own (yolo, anyone?). I miss waking up to the sound of the Call to Prayer, rushing through the city engulfed by the smell of freshly baked pita (and smelly men), and being overly excited for banana bread muffins or ice cream in the Oasis during dinner.

It is crazy how I became so attached to a place I lived in for only four months. How it feels more like home than my actual home. How I am jealous of other groups having similar experiences, because I feel like it was mine and mine only, and as if I am the only person and my group is the only one that can truly appreciate it for all it is worth.

I guess they call it the Holy Land for that reason. It really is holy. It holds a special place in my heart. A section that can never be replaced. A place that some boy, a boy who is smart and wants to win my whole heart, will bring me back to one day and allow me to show him why it truly is the greatest place on earth.

I know I am not alone in my love for Jerusalem. Hello, there is kind of a war being fought over it. Well, that, and other things. And in a way, I understand. I am possessive over the city. And the people. And the history. I want it to be preserved forever. I want the world to see and understand what the people of Israel already know--Israel is the Land of God. God, the Holy One of Israel. And Jerusalem is where Jesus lived and taught and suffered and died and rose again. Jesus Christ, our Savior. Could a more important place exist?

I think sometimes it is easy, too easy, to get caught up in this lifestyle--this lifestyle of nice cars and big houses and fancy clothes. But I also think that is part of what I love most about Jerusalem. No one cares what you are wearing, or rather, they care that what you are wearing is so mute and covers so much of you that you forget about what you are wearing and focus on what is truly important--your faith. Everyone wants to be your friend. Everyone wants to see you happy.

It is funny looking back on it like this, because I remember times feelings of such hostility between Palestinians and Jews. But I also felt so welcomed everywhere I went--synagogues, mosques, the Dome of the Rock, the Western Wall, the Old City, everywhere.

I cannot remember passing an unfriendly face. I cannot remember a day spent without a stupid smile plastered on. I cannot remember a night that I did not reflect back on my day and think, "I am so blessed. God is so good. Life is so great." And that could not be more true. I am so blessed. God is so good. And life is so great.

I never expected to feel this way about a place, or to have this endless amount of love for a group of people. But I could not be more grateful that I do now--that I have had that experience. I feel blessed to be able to hold this place in my heart. I wish everyone could go and feel the love that I felt there. I want everyone to know what it is like to love something so much that you can't imagine your life without it. People say that is what it is like when you fall in love. So maybe I haven't fallen in love with that one special person yet, but I have with this city. And that has got to be a start right?

Here's an interesting article that caught my eye, and got this ramble going.

my cousin is rad.

My cousin, Josh, is producing a CD of all the music he has written over the last few years. Seriously, all the musical talent obviously went to his part of the family, because...I mean, just listen. He is absolutely incredible. I'm a strong believer in saving the arts, so help me help him. And music. Pre-order a CD and be one of the first to witness the next...great pianist. All I can think of is Taylor Swift, but she plays the guitar. Anyhow, you get what I'm trying to say. http://www.indiegogo.com/joshmenden?c=home