Fishy Mishy Update

Mission papers have been in for 7 days. The poor Stake Executive Secretary has gotten to know me real well. I've made it a point to text him and call him and email him. Seriously people! You'd be surprised at what happens when you make a righteous decision and little things just go all haywire. Oh well. Story of good vs. evil. The papes finally have moved from, "With Church Headquarters" and "Received" to "Ready for Assignment". I'm not freaking out. At all. I just want to be able to go to the temple with the fam when they come next week. I already scheduled my appointment too! Woot woot! I hope it's grand.

Anyway, I need a mission call to get a recommend. And I need a mission call to know where I'm going. Which I'm curious about. The Lord knows, although every few days I've been sending up some suggestions his way. Lately, I've been on a Nauvoo, Illinois kick. It would just be sooooooooooooooooo cool! I could dress up as a Pioneer. AND they have 300 couple misisonaries...which would be like having 300 grandparents all within a block of me! But ya never know at these things. I know I'll have the same enthusiasm for just about anywhere. Except for getting called to the Spirit World. That may be tad unfortunate.

Along with the mission drama. I've been overwhelmed with a horrible, nasty cold. Luckily, its just about passed. Except that last night I could barely keep my eyes open and I just kept talking and mumbling on and on to my poor visiting teachers (that's what I get for letting them come at 9:15pm!). Add Rocky Mountain to all of this! I'll be so excited when THATs passed. I have a great committee, they pretty much do all the work. Except that I see how it all comes together and what they're forgetting and what needs to happen. So it stresses me out.

So naturally, I decided to NOT study. And play on my blog for a bit. Talk about how excited I was to get my papers, see my family, and go through the temple. I'm dreading my next two weeks of school work load. It's really intense. I really don't know how it's all going to get done. With Rocky Mountain. And the Rhoden clan. And General Conference. And mission excitement.

But as history has proven, time ALWAYS moves forward. A blessing and curse. Hopefully this time, I'll make it with the blessing part---lots of time working hard and on the knees. And knowing that one day. I'll be all caught up! And prepared for life. Ha! I hope.

Band Bonfire

 There's nothing more that I love then being with band kids at a bonfire. Playing music...ahem, making music. Uke's, guitars, beatboxing, humming, harmonizing, and naturally--improvising. Dumb dumb lyrics as we sing about Band people and jokes. Oh, and I love the s'mores. Not surprised to see sacrificing "marshmallow men" either!

How Utahns Pull Off A Ward Activity

Last Saturday, my roommate Carolyn invited us to her Home Ward's (in Provo) Annual Neighborhood Picnic. I had a blast! And enjoyed smirking at how well everything turned out. Definitely not the type of activities I grew up with in my Washington and Georgia wards. Nevertheless, the people are the same. So we enjoyed "family ward people watching" and laughing at similar personalities that we all have in every Ward of the Church.

RIP Big Red :(

 

I begged my roommates to come with me for a ride....but they denied. That's what I get for being the youngest in the apartment.

This is for our children and our grandchildren. I'm sure we'll marry them off to each other.

The pink cotton candy was disgusting! Don't like bubblegum.

Did you see the fox?

IF only you could see this guys cheeks! I've been on an "old man" streak recently. I think all old guys are soooooo cute.

A star for an "angel child" (as Dad would say).

That's all folks!

Les Miserables

I love this book.

I love the music.

Like true, heart-wrenching, soul swelling, 

heart-strings-a-pullin', tear ducts on hypersensitivity

 LOVE LOVE LOVE.

From the first time I remember coming into contact with the magnificent works of Victor Hugo (thank you Curtis Senior High School) 

I was, oh--a 5thy.

And young and dreamy and had a HUGE heart. 

So naturally, I became a fan. 

 When I'm ________, 

I'll curl up inside a corner, hide, and listen to songs on repeat.

Needless to say, Christmas Day?!

GAH! I think I found my Christmas presents for the family.

Advice from Elder Busche

Advice from Elder Busche

Amazing. I just started Yearning for the Living God by Busche. Apparently, it's amazing as well.

The Heavens Smiling Down

"He who knows the why of his existence, will be able to bear almost any how."

-Viktor Frankl

Believe In America: Romney & Ryan

As mentioned before, John came into town to pull off a Finance Event in Provo for the Campaign. I got to meet his other co-workers (entertain them, feed them, flirt with them, go see Obama 2016 with them). And as I talked to them, I got more of an idea of just how hard of a worker John is--I always had suspected as much. But really, I've had multiple conversations this weekend and have been able to observe and analyze what things John does over and beyond what other people do (including his co-workers). The event was great! My friend asked me if I wanted to go with him, so I had a lot of fun talking his ear off. Poor kid, he saw the best and worst of me because of some unexpected disappointments. But after the event we walked Center Street and ended up at Sammy's for some food and I got over my...anger, before the tears could hit my tear ducts. It was a close one, or Brian would've had no clue what to do with a sobbing Becky. I took lots of pictures (mainly for my Mom). I think I have become much more photo-friendly now with an iPhone. John flew out last night on a Red Eye, but he stopped and gave me lots of hugs. Which always, always helps me forgive and forget instantaneously.

So naturally. I got persuaded into doing John's laundry. Guess what I found while I was snooping around! Yeah, that's right, John's got himself a Romney first-class Sharpie! Coolest.Thing.Ever.

Jordan Betteridge volunteered to drive in the Secret Service Motorcade when Ryan flew in.

Ice ice baby!

The room of the general reception ($1,000 for public and $20 for students). As you can see, the students dominated the front. We enjoyed being all squished up next to each other.

Where the older, more dignified, richer population socialized while we waited for Ryan.

My favorite people! They helped out the campaign quite a bit by letting John stay and eat at their home.

Fancy shmancy food.

One of Romney's sons.

The man.

Check out his ear piece. And his microphone on his cuff.

Political speaking posture cracks me up.

Love

Brigham City Temple Open House

I had a great labor day weekend. Very enjoyable, spent with family and friends and did very little homework. Thursday I got a phone call from John. He told me he was flying in the next night to do an event for Paul Ryan in Provo. I was stoked to see him! It'd been a few months. And then Katherine and I talked about going to Brigham City to see the Temple Open House. I've never been through a temple open house before and to say that I loooooovvvvveee temples is an understatement. So we got the bright idea to beg, plead, bribe, snuggle up to Johnny-boy to use his rental car to take me and some friends up to Brigham City. We may have forgotten to tell him how far away Brigham City was from Provo....so most of the night, this is what he was doing!

Sending emails, texts, and phone calls working on the event for Paul Ryan. Oh, how I love this boy! He wins brownie points for being so great (and for buying us all pizza). And I realized just how similar we are--yet again. Siblings have the same humor; like when someone mentioned how a teenager died because of an unfortunate air vent on a bus ride--John and I were uncontrollably laughing. Or how we both listen to music, really really really loud in the car. And that we both love the same type of songs. And dance the same way. Etc. Etc. Here are some pictures of our awesome time:

The mountains right South of Brigham City were SO BEAUTIFUL.

The group!

Katherine & I

This collage was at the very end of the tour (outside of the temple).

Sorry about the picture not turning. Funny story: when we first arrived some 12 year old boys were sizing up Alex and then we heard them whisper, "Look! Jesus decided to show up"

This is for you Mom.

"That's my Father's House" -Shawn