When Summer Happens.

Today I am home. Home, as in Nampa, Idaho. I am sitting in the bed that I slept in for about 10 years growing up, in the freezing basement room I love, listening to "Life Goes On" by Noah and the Whale, and contemplating on the summer of 2012. Despite being a summer of many ups & downs, it was still one of the best summers of my life. So, in an effort to remember (being the sentimental fool that I am), I decided to create a list of summer 2012 "I did's". Not in the hope that the 5 people who actually read my blog will enjoy and comment on what I write, but rather for me to remember and count my blessings for all that happened this summer. After all, you're only have a summer when you're 20 once.

So, here it goes. This summer, I....

Went on several trips. To...

• Portland, Oregon (twice). Once for a friend's wedding, and once for helping a professor I work with with a workshop. I got to see the ever fabulous Holm family both times. That city is beautiful and full of weird quirks to keep it interesting. I'm glad that I have family there permanently (congrats to the bro on getting a GREAT job there) and thus a reason to visit frequently.

The nieces and me at Voodoo Donuts--a Portland legend. Also home to be best donuts I've ever had. 

• Excursioned with great friends to the deserts of Southern Utah for camping in Goblin Valley. I realized, or rather remembered, how much I despise excessive dry heat. 

• Went to Idaho Falls twice to see my beautiful sister's family. Unfortunately, I didn't take pictures either time. Just know that she has some of the cutest kids in the world. Each visit provided me with the love, support, and help I needed to face things happening in Provo. I couldn't ask for a better family! 
• Took the annual trip to the Nelson Family Farm for the ever great family reunion. It was great to see three of my siblings and their kids, along with our fantastic parents. I tried my hand at flower crown making for the first time, much to the delight of a very cute niece (see below.) 

• Enjoyed our immediate family reunion in Cascade, Idaho. I've said it a thousand times, but I have the best family ever. I love conversations with my siblings and their spouses because we all have the same humor and also share a strong testimony of the gospel. My nieces and nephews may be extremely loud when they're all together, but they remain my favorite kids on the planet. And, I have the best parents in the world too. I can't wait to one day add to the clan with my own husband and kids. 

So glad we've got each other for eternity.

• This summer I also went to California for the first time. This trip deserves a blog post in and of itself. It was nothing short of amazing. We went to Disneyland (my first time!), California Adventure, the Beach, Hollywood, and also made a stop in Vegas. I also got to see my wonderful Aunt Shanan and cousin Josh while we were there. The three days we spent there were a complete dream. I'll try to tell the story of our experience there through a few pictures:

A tight, but very fun car ride. Taryn, me, Jeff, and Troy. Chloe is the only one missing.

The ever-cliche Disneyland entrance picture.

Tower of Terror. My favorite ride of the trip. I look cheesy, but that is a look of pure joy on my face.

The beach. So perfect--I love the waves, the feeling of sand under my feet, even the smell. Remind me why I don't live near the ocean??

We ate at a Las Vegas buffet. I've never been so full, nor so torn between which desserts to eat in my entire life. I promise all those plates aren't ours...oh, wait, yes they are. 

This summer, I also:

• Grew (or rather, am growing) my hair out. The A-line is in my past for now, and I'm trying to see how long I can handle having long hair. So far, I'm mostly liking it, but I have a feeling I might go back to short soon.
• Changed my major. Between helping write our department's newsletter, talking to Spencer & Rachel, and a lot of prayer, I decided that I wanted to change my major back to Journalism. It will take me an extra year at BYU, but the decision to go back to writing, and specifically back to news writing, feels so right. And I am so excited to start back into Communications classes and to go back to doing something that I enjoy. 
• Went to a Bon Iver Concert. I've only been waiting to do that for years. Here's me and Emily enjoying our favorite indie artist live.

• Said goodbye to two of my very favorite friends ever. Kevin Garland and Merrilyn Johns. Counting them, I realized that I've said goodbye to seven of my very closest friends for missions in the last year. Good thing I'm getting good at holding down the fort in Provo...

• Had lots of good friends get married. I know this happens when you're my age, but it seemed like a lot of my friends got married this summer. And I couldn't be happier for each of them! 

Chloe, me, the beautiful bride Caitlin, Taryn, and Merrilyn

• Realized that I am a money-seeker. I jumped at every opportunity to earn money that I had this summer. I always tried to work 40 hours a week, but also found ways at both my jobs (Scrap-booking store and secretary) to earn extra money. This turned out to be a real blessing, as I was able to scrounge up exactly enough money to pay for my tuition, rent, and books, in addition to all of my living costs over the summer. That leads me to my next point about how I realized...
• That Heavenly Father's looking out for me. In so many areas of my life, from friends, to dating, to school, to work, to family, I can see the Lord's hand in directing me to where I need to go. This gives me confidence to face whatever's ahead of me in the future. And....speaking of the future....

This summer, I decided to go to LONDON next Spring. I've wanted to take this trip ever since I was a little girl and watched my sisters go to Europe during college. This is literally the trip that I've been waiting to take my entire life, and it's going to happen this year. I couldn't be more excited for the upcoming school year, and most especially for London. Here's to another adventure!