Best friends, books, and fireworks.

               Oh my sweet goodness gracious. It’s almost like my poor blog has been neglected (which it has) and for that I apologize. I feel like all of my complaining about not being busy really caught up with me and I suddenly was so busy that I could barely breathe. So brace yourself for a long post, that maybe will be split up into two posts because of length. ALSO PICTURES! On 3 let’s all give a big hooray…1, 2, 3, HOORAY! If you did this…thanks for humoring me. :)) OK! Let’s get down to business! ….to defeat the Huns.

               11 Weeks down from knee surgery! Time flies when you’re having as much as humanly possible with a hardly functioning knee! But I honestly can’t complain. Let me rephrase that, I shouldn’t complain, I have no reason to complain, but I still do. I haven’t had that miraculous of a change guys, let be real. Physical Therapy is going as well as it could I guess, it hurts and I hate it so I would definitely say it’s going as it should. I no longer wear my brace, which is FABULOUS, and it is starting to look like a somewhat normal knee! Kinda… The scars are also becoming less and less gross, relatively speaking! I still have one that looks like a butterfly, so at least it has a feminine touch. I guess I am just grateful I can walk around and will be completely healed in the not too far future. There are some people that can’t say that, so a blessed girl I am.

SICK GROSS. but healing!

              Next order of business: Let me tell you about somebody who is very important to me. This person is somebody I absolutely love to be around basically all the time, and that is probably my other half. The best friend I have ever had…I guess I will just come out and say it…IM ENGAGED! Kidding, boys are gross. The person I am really talking about here is my best friend in the whole world, Melanie Wescott. I sometimes like to sit and ponder what life was like before we were friends and I honestly can’t remember. We often discuss how it is no coincidence she moved into my ward, and that we became friends, because we are friend soul mates. Kindred spirits, if you will. ANYWAY, the reason I tell you about beloved Mellybelly is because WE TOTALLY HAVE A BUCKET LIST FOR SUMMER 2013. I am not meaning to brag here, but we are basically crushing it. I mean, tons of people make bucket lists for their summers and…well they just don’t accomplish much. But not us! We have done a good portion of our list already :) I am proud of us. So prepare yourself for updates about the BL. Cause it’s going to happen.

This is Mel. She is insane, and my best friend. Whom I love.

Mel, Channy, and myself on our way to St. George. A check off of the bucket list!

          So I absolutely love to read, and I have been doing a lot of reading lately! So I thought that every time I finished a good book, or even started a good book or heard about one in passing I would blog about it! I know sometimes it is so hard to find good books to read, so I thought I would help those of you looking for a good read out! Right now I am in the middle of reading the Matched series. If you have read it, DON’T TELL ME ANYTHING. But if you haven’t I strongly advise you to go pick it up, or even borrow it from me, because it is a truly intriguing plot. If you enjoyed the Hunger Games, my money would be on you enjoying this series too. The style of writing is truly spot on for a really quick pull in and the plot keeps you interested. I have nothing but good things to say thus far! If you have read it, or end up reading it, let me know your thoughts on it too! We can have book club via blog. Genius idea.

               So I know I am about 3 weeks late, but the 4^th of july is definitely something worth mentioning. Growing up in a military family, I love this country. Having grandparents, siblings and a dad who has sacrificed their life for the freedom of this beautiful nation is something so touching and inspiring it can’t be explained. It touches my heart that my brother and dad can’t make it through the national anthem without a tear being shed. I see the love, passion, and respect they have for our country, and I am so grateful they passed that love and respect down to me. So I really do love the 4^th of July. A whole nation celebrating together the birth of the greatest country on Earth. The land of the free and home of the brave. My family had an absolutely incredible 4^th last year, if you remember, my older brother Josh came home from Afghanistan and surprised his little girl Paula at the Salt Lake Bees baseball game before the fireworks. Even though I knew it was happening, and saw him before, I still cried like a baby. Needless to say it was an absolutely magical day for my family, and a day none of us will forget. With that being said, it was impossible to top that day, but this year I had an absolutely grand time with my mom and dad. My mom and I accidentally matched, for the 2^nd year in a row, so I guess that is becoming a tradition, along with going to the Bees game! I love America, and I love Baseball. So what better way to say Happy birthday to the US of A than to watch her favorite pastime? NONE I TELL YOU. There was baseball, pretzels, family and fireworks. A grand day indeed.

Matchy  matchy, baseball, and cute parents. God bless.

               I also want to give a quick shout out to one of my favorite people on the planet who has been on his mission a whole year now! I honestly can’t tell you how blessed and lucky I feel to have so many righteous and worthy friends sacrificing their time to the Lord. It gives me chills to think about how many generations of lives they are changing, on this side and the other side of the veil. One of my dad’s cousins is the MTC Presidency 1^st counselor and it was so fun to sit down by him and hear about the missionaries that are truly changing the world, thousands upon thousands strong. I don’t know how you can see that and hear about the amazing force for good and not know this church is true. It blows my mind. I LOVE belonging to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints!

The story of my life.

This guy has been out one whole year! Yay Elder Turner!!

               With all of that being said, I also just returned back home from being a counselor at Retreat for Girls…but that was an experience to have its own post! So look for it in the near future, because it was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had. But until I post about it, and if you have more questions about it, please go check out a blog one of the other counselors has started! Her vision is truly inspired, and in her words, “I have this vision of the blog being a place where girls can turn for strength, support, and encouragement. I hope it will be a reminder of the things they learned at Retreat and a place where they can continue to learn and develop their testimonies about LIVING IT!” So PLEASE go check it out, and be truly blessed and inspired by not only the lovely M&M, but all of the other counselors who will contribute to this. The URL is Retreatfromtheworld.blogspot.com you won’t regret it!

               Sorry for the long post, and sorry for not posting as much as I should…I feel truly blessed that you all bless me by being a part of my life and I love sharing my life with you. Keep on being amazing, and inspiring me to be better.