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I gave a talk at church today about missionary work with the full time missionaries. It's so weird to think that I used to look at missionaries and swoon because they seemed so old and mature. Now I look at them and think, "AW! How cute!" When did I become so old? The other day Anne was singing the song from The Sound of Music and she sang, "you are 21 going on 22" it really caught me off guard. WHEN DID I TURN 21? Where did all the time go. I still remember the time when I was so excited to get my license! I've been driving for five years now. I have friends that are married and having children! Guy friends from high school are coming home from missions and girl friends are leaving. I don't think I ever prepared myself for this time of life. In Young Womens we just talked about getting through high school and then we get married. What about when you're single and still trying to find out who you really are?
This seriously is the craziest time of life There are so many directions that I can go it can become very overwhelming. But I also love it for that reason. There are so many things that I can do and want to do.
Some of the things I really want to do . . .

• To travel!!! I want to fill my back pack with necessary items, fill my pockets with money, and see how far I can get.

• Go on a mission! To teach people about what I know that makes life so much more worth it!

• Get a degree. Right now I'm thinking I want to major in Horticulture with the emphasis on floral design management.
• Learn how to become a great cook!
• Read 100 books in a year
• Type 100 wpm
• Hike to the top of Timp and watch the sunrise.
• and other things that I have never done . . .

Doesn't that sound nice?

If I could go anywhere . . .

Today I would like to go to Italy!
Why? First of all because my dad went to Italy on his mission. Second is because pizza is my favorite pizza! (HA HA HA HA HA! I meant to say pizza is my favorite food.) Did you know that Pizza was first made in Naples? AND! I just found out that Ice Cream is an Italian creation as well! What other excuse do I need?!?!?

Wouldn't it be great to eat some real Italian pasta while overlooking a vineyard in Tuscany, or to eat ice cream on one of their many beautiful Mediterranean beaches? Or to see all of the great architecture, history, and culture of a different country?

And doesn't it just look beautiful?











Whenever I think of Italy I always think of little old ladies, like this one, in the kitchen cooking up a storm for her family and friends. I imagine them giving each family member a big fat kiss on the cheek. Someday I want to be fed meatballs by a little Italian grandma. (well, I'll feed myself, but I'll eat the meatballs she cooks.)
Doesn't it seem like Italians are a very hospitable people? In all the movies I watch they always seem to welcome people into their home and they always seem to be having some sort of party. Maybe I watch to many movies. My dad says that they love to feed people and, I guess to me that means you're hospitable.

The Bad Hair Years

I have been known to color my hair frequently and even let my roommates cut it in the kitchen. I know my old roommate Megan would NEVER stand for that. She gets her hair cut at a high end salon and pays like 60 + bucks!
I've never been one to do my hair or be picky about what hair cut I got. Growing up, my mom was lucky to even enough to brush it! Here are a few examples.
I think this is the time I cut my own hair, or Jared cut it for me . . .

(business in the front, party in the back)

This little freak accident happened when I was in kindergarten. My mom was cutting my hair and I think I moved. She had to keep cutting it to make it even and it got shorter and shorter.
I cried and cried and cried. "MOM! I LOOK LIKE A BOY! NO ONE WILL KNOW I'M A GIRL!"So, she told me that I could get my ears pierced so that people would know I was a girl. (but this was the 90's and a lot of boys had pierced ears. It's a good thing I didn't know that at the time.)

My planning curse (random ramblings)

Its that time of year again. New years resolutions. Gag me. Every year I get so excited and make this huge list of all the things I would like to accomplish or become better at. Some typical examples are: begin running, read so many books, write in my journal everyday, become better at reading the scriptures, get a boyfriend, get straight A's, become a morning person, keep a clean room . . . They're pretty common and fairly attainable aspirations, but sadly, I usually never make it past January.

Its kind of a running joke with me and my cousins about how none of my plans seem to work out. There have been many sleepovers, lunch dates, and vacation plans that have been left as blue prints on my desk.

That is why I am asking the question, "Why?"

What is this unnatural phenomenon that seems to prevent my dreams to come true? Why is it that I always have to resort to last minute jumps into the dark for things to happen in my life? For example, when I went to California for spring break. That was a total last minute thing! I had casually talked about getting a plane ticket to California, but in the back of my mind I wasn't really planning on it. One afternoon my friend called and asked if I got it yet. When I told him I hadn't he said that he was going to stay on the phone with me until I bought it. Thirty minutes later I had a plane ticket to California.

Maybe its because I think things through way too much. Kind of like how I always end up over packing (there's nothing wrong with being too prepared . . . except when you have to carry your over stuffed bags around with you everywhere.) I spend way too much time thinking about a pool party that its already November.


Maybe its because I never really map out the whole plan. I always just jump to conclusions. I think of how fun a sleepover would be, what movies we'll watch, where we'll sleep, what clothes I'll wear, who I'll invite, but I won't think about how people will get there, if the weather will permit, or any of those necessary questions that logical people usually think about asking.

Maybe its because my eyes are brown.
Maybe my plans are just ridiculous and should never have come into existence.

Maybe its because my parents are secretly plotting against me.


Maybe its because I was exposed to high doses of alien radiation at a young age.

(This picture is supposed to be alien radiation)

Maybe its because I don't like to wear shoes.
Maybe its because I bite my fingernails.

Anyway, I think the whole purpose of this blog was to warn all you readers out there to be aware of *old, scary movie music, playing in the background* THE PLANNING CURSE