People places and things

We went to the panaderia for breakfast this morning again. I got this raspberry stuffed bread thing that was covered in raspberry sauce and powdered sugar. It was actually good and not dry! So the day started off good! We were also able to sleep in. 

We went to a diego riveras museum and then some other musuem. I'm getting kind of sick of art. Then we went to this place called chupetic park. Its this huge park..kind of like golden gate park. There were vendors everywhere selling all these wonderful things. I thought about getting you all some gifts but then I remembered what you all did with the gifts from Chile. 

Anyways, we walked around this big palace thing and then went to the museum of anthropology which was huge and super cool! I'll send lots of pictures of that. Oh, we ate lunch at this outdoors patio that was super good! I got some awesome flautas (basically taquitos but softer). 

We got back to the hotel around 9 but I was still hungry so we roamed the streets looking for tacos. We found this heavenly taco place. I only got 3 tacos but I should have gotten 20. They were these tacos made with lamb amd pineapple and were just out of this world! You know when you eat something and its just so amazing that you cry a little? Well I took a bite of that glorious taco and almost had a meltdown. It was like a little piece of heaven. I'm really hoping that they are open for breakfast tomorrow. The place was very interesting as well..you almost couldnt breath it was so crammed. They also were frying the tacos like 8 inches behind me and it was all pretty hot and steamy. You dont care about those things though when you are eating dewdrops of perfect love. 

I'm doing well (obviously..all I do is eat tacos). I look similar to a lobster but I'm going to buy a hat tomorrow to help with that. 

When we were walking down this super busy street I saw a vendor lady. Backstory: lots of vendors dont have permits to sell so they just lay their merchendise out on blankets on the side of the street and if they see a police man they just roll it up in their blankets really quick. So they are some of the poorer people. Anyways, I looked down and saw this lady changing her babies diaper on the blanket where she sells her merchandise. It made me feel bad that neither this lady nor her baby get any privacy. 

They are out in that street all day trying to make some money and who knows if they have any sort of home to go back to after. Its a really hard life. I was thinking about the desperation that must come from having to change your baby's diaper on the place you work with hundreds of people almost stepping on you. Then I noticed that this lady didnt have any hands. It was one of those kind of startling images that really stays with you. We are all really blessed for everything we have. The people here work sunup to sundown (literally) 7 days a week without any breaks or vacations.

I hope you all have a great day!

So yesterday was another musuem day. We went to Frida Kaulo and Diego Rivera's house and toured around there. That wasnt super impressive but someone was selling bowls of fresh mangoes outside that were amazing!! The mangoes were creamy and just melted in your mouth. It was incredible. 

After the mangoes we went to this little historic church in this cute town and to a hippie market. 

We passed a bunch of teenagers in the back of a truck and they were kind of laughing at us at yelled out "where are you from?". My professor yelled back "del infierno!" (from hell). It was really funny. He's a funny guy. 

Today we got up really early to take 3 different metros to get to church. I really dislike the metros but I'm getting more used to them. It was so fun to be back in a latino ward. I felt so at home. Its interesting to see how much more they focus on the basics of the gospel here (and in chile) and they dont get caught up in far off doctrine things. It feels much more like a "everyone is learning together" experience and not a show off show that happens so much in the US. Its just a different feeling that I like a lot more. I wish our US wards could be more like these latino wards. They are so sincere. 

After church we went to the famous basilica where the virgin guadalupe has her cape or something. We attended this huge mass with incense flying everywhere. It was interesting to see people crawling about. A lot of people put a towel under their knees and crawl all the way to the cathedral from outside the gate (thats like a 1/4 mile!). It was fun to see everyone with roses to lay at the alter and kissing everything. I think the whole city was at mass. Its nice to see a whole country so religious. 

I got to eat more of those amazing tacos today. People in my group have become amazed at the amount that I can eat. I dont know why they are surprised..this is what I have been training my whole life for. 

I am continually amazed at how hard everyone works here. Most of it is hard physical labor in the sun for 15+ hours a day. And yet they are still mostly happy and kind. We walked by this huge fountain in front of a musuem and saw about 20 kids playing and swimming inside it. Some of the adults were in it too and everyone was splashing everything. They have their priorities straight here. They work hard for their family and any extra time they spend devoted to them. Social appearances and any sort of competition hardly exsists. I think that is a great example to follow. 

I love Mexico City. I love more than just the food (although that is a huge thing for me). I love all the cathedrals and the street dancing and how at any moment you can count at least 15 police in sight. We are leaving tomorrow..and I am sad. I love these streets. 

First week in TacoLand

So today has been pretty great. I forgot how much I love it here..it is going to be hard going back. I had myself convinced that America was great and that I liked it but now I can see that was just a lie.

I got on my flight to phoenix easily but then we had an extra long delay and I was late to my next flight. They held the flight for me and I ran on just as they were closing the doors. I sat next to this boy who is in my internship. 

There is this guy who is a security person from byu who will be with us for our first two weeks here. He has lived in mexico for a couple years. Once we got to the hotel he took us to this taco shack. You just walk in a say how many you want and they slam them on your plate. Then there are just these long tables in the back and like lettuce and gaucamole dispersed randomly throughout the place. I got 6 tacos and a coke for $1.50!!

I sat in this dirty little corner with my plate that is covered in plastic (they cover plates with plastic bags and put the food on top so when you are done you just throw away the bag and give the clean plate back). I started eating these tacos and oh my goodness I wanted to cry! They were amazing!! out of this world!! I ate all six quickly and couldnt believe what I have been missing out on my whole life!! Seriously so good! It was worth this whole thing just to eat those tacos!!

The wimpy boys i am with were only able to eat like 4. By the way there are four girls and 3 boys in this. They will put two of us in each town. 

After the amazing tacos we walked around the historic part of the city for a bit. It is so pretty here and the weather is perfect!  We went to mass for a bit in this huge gorgeous cathedral. There is so much energy here and so much diversity. I love the atmosphere and had forgotten how much I miss it. We watched some dancers in the street. Now I am back in my room and we are watching princess diaries in spanish. I'm really exhausted. 

Tomorrow morning we are waking up early to get fruit platter for breakfast and then we are going to take busses to some anciant ruins and pyramids. We will be there most the day and then we are going to some ballet folklorico at night.

Anyways, I'm super excited to be here! All the food looks amazing and I'm excited to eat all of it. I will probably gain a lot of weight but its for a worthy cause. Those tacos were so amazing!! I think this is going to be a lot more fun than I thought. This city is amazing! and i love being surrounded by latinos again! I feel so at home here!

Also my roommate already got pickpocketed so I will just have to be extra diligent!

Hello all, 

So Landes is the guy in charge of all BYU international security and he is here with us in mexico city for these 2 weeks. He reminds me a lot of that dad in Taken so I am in good hands. While he is here there is no need to worry! He doesnt normally come with students to their study abroads and internships but he said he was looking for an excuse to come eat tacos in mexico. He has some pretty fun crazy stories about BYU students in trouble so its been a good time! 

Yesterday we woke up bright and early to bus to some pyramids outside of the city. It was this whole aztec city that they uncovered. There were like 30 pyramids in circles and rows and then 2 huge ones! They were as tall as skyscrapers! We walked up and down some of them but it was kind of scary because there was no railing and they were super steep and high up. I had the sensation of falling the whole time. The sun was also pretty strong out there. But it was cool seeing the ruins of this whole city and then the pyramids too! Apparently they have found some treasures in the walls of the pyramid. There is another wall they know there is treasure in but they are not allowed to "discover it" until the president is there to "discover it" and form a nice distraction for some political mishap. I thought that was pretty funny. 

After we went to this plaza where they had a massacre in 1968 I think. It was right before the olympics were held in mexico and a lot of the people were upset. They didnt want to hold the olympics because it was expensive and it was the people who would be in debt and working to pay it off the rest of their life. Anyways, they were protesting and causing a scene. So the mexican president was told that if he didnt get a handle on the situation they would hold the olympics somewhere else. It was a week before the olympics were supposed to start and the president devised this plan. He took a bunch of soldiers and police and had them dress as civilians. He then gave them all a white glove. Then they went out into this plaza where the protesters were and they joined them. Then when a airplane flew past (the sign) all of the police or soldiers put on their one white glove so they could identify one another. Then they just started shooting. They estimate that about 400 people died that day. And the next day the plaza was cleaned of blood and no newspaper or radio said anything about it. It was like it never happened. It wasnt until recently that they have been allowed to talk about it.  I thought that was an interesting story.

After we saw all these ruins we got home in the evening and I had some enchiladas for dinner. They were kind of weird and I wasnt totally in love. At night we went to this dance show thing. It was at this really awesome opera house that was super pretty. I was a little suspicious of it though since in reminded me of the opera houses in phantom of the opera, mission impossible 5 and Abe Lincolns opera house. Good things did not happen there so I was a little worried. But it was fine. The dancing was cool but I was pretty sleepy and having trouble concentrating. After I had to walk the streets for a bit looking for a pharmacy that was still open (i got a pretty bad sunburn and wanted aloe vera..didnt find any though). 

This morning we woke up early to watch the soldiers put up this huge mexican flag in front of the national palace. They had a huge marching band and like 100 soldiers participating to put it up. That was nice. I felt very patriotic. 

I went to a little panaderia for breakfast in search of bread. I was kind of dissapointed. I was spoiled with the bread in chile (which was straight from heaven) and the bread here is pretty dry and flaky. So I will probably stay away from that. 

After we went to a musuem about sur juana. Then we went to this big market place. One part of it they call "prostitute street" because there is a prostitute like every 5 feet. It was kind of strange because its not a bad part of the city at all. There were also families everywhere and it just seemed very out of place. A lot of the girls looked like they were only 13! Its sad.

I love all the colors everywhere. The hills are just covered in cololful houses. We were talking about how first world and third world countries grow. First world countries grow when someone arrives with a new skill. Sqauter communities here in third world countries start in different ways. Mexicos rural areas are shrinking and people are forced to move into the city. But they have no money and no where to go once they get here. So they meet with a member of a sqauter community and get on a list to build a house. They wait a couple years and pay some money and then are told to meet in a certain spot. So like 500 families all meet in an open place at night and are told to build a house before dawn. They all scramble and build something and in the morning a whole new community is there. No one owns the land but there are so many houses and people that the police dont get involved. So thats how mexico is growing. 

The politics and goverment here are really interesting. 

We went on the metro today. That was an experience I didnt enjoy. I thought the busses in chile were bad. We basically fell onto the metro and it was so packed! Our security hero, Landes, was yelling at us to keep our hands in our pockets to protect our possessions. The moment I got in there I could feel hands going down all my pockets. Luckily my phone was in my purse that I had covered with my hands. It was impossible to see who was doing what as it was so crowded. Everything was sweaty and gross and I felt faint. But even if I did faint i wouldnt have fell down because i was so slammed against other people that i would have stayed up straight. It was unpleasent. 

We also went to different art museums today. Art is great and all but I get my fill in a few minutes. We probably spent like 6 hours in art museums. People were ohhing and aweing over different pieces but i thought some of them looked like they had been painted by a pack of preschoolers. 

We were supposed to go around 6 to watch them take down the flag but they were late in doing it. I can hear them doing it now (its 11:00 haha). 

Anyways, I'm pretty exhausted. Tomorrow we are going to some more musuems and famous parks or something. My goal is to find a good tamale tomorrow. That sounds nice. I will try and send like 50 pictures tonight so that I can make more space on my phone. Good night!

Books and Love and Books and Love

Today we went to the library. I love the library! Its one of the best places ever! Today it was even better because they were having a giant book sale. They were practically giving away classics...so we bought most of the books (pretty much free!!) and added another shelf to our library.

And I started thinking....how lucky we are to have books! Most of us here have the wonderful blessing of learning how to read. And so often this blessing and gift is put to waste. Books are the foundation to all of civilization!

There is nothing sadder to see kids wasting hours in front the TV when they could be exploring new and old worlds...and becoming better educated by reading!

Plus...does anything smell better than the inside of an old book?

So here is a list of some of my favorites....in no particular order.

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hasseini

Kind of a depressing book with lots of violence BUT very interesting and calls to awareness. Its about a girl who lives in the modern middle east. Good story of triumph and overall inspiring--if you can get over the blood.

The Robe and Magnificent Obsession- both by Lloyd C. Douglas

I love Lloyd Douglas! He is a wonderful writer and has so many hidden messages in his books. The Robe is a great story of Christ’s ministry and forgivness. It ultimately follows one of the roman soldiers that crucified Christ and his attempt to clear what he had done. Its very inspiring and places you back into Christ’s life and miracles. Magnificent Obsession is one of my favorites. It follows a boy who tries to justify his life after accidently taking the life of another man. It is AMAZING! I especially love that it kind of talks about brain surgery (which i have a fascination for). Its a great reminder of what any one person can do and the power of forgivness and potential. Both of the storylines are very similar you will find- but each wonderful!

Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand

Ayn Rand is such a thought provoking writer. She can see into the future so well- its almost frightening! If you get a chance to watch or read some of her interviews- do it! She is extremely intelligent, at least in a political sense. Its been awhile since I last read Atlas Shrugged, but from what I can remember from it it shows a dystopian United States. After the leading citizens refuse to run buissnesses where they are exploited by increasing taxes and rules---they all just leave. And pretty much leave America in ruin. It explores the failure of government coercion. Its a twisty book and fascinating! The first 500 or so pages are kind of slow- but you will reach a part where it just kabooms. There are some dirty parts however. But you wont look at our government or country the same. It’s kind of long...but dont let that scare you!! And the best part is by the end you will know the answer to the question--who is john galt?

Wild Swans by Jung Chang

Scary book about China’s fall into communism. Very informative and one you cant put down! Its fascinating to watch a whole country turn to complete apathy.

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie

Agatha Christie is the best mystery writer in the world. You should read all her books, but this one is the best. You just go along reading it like any normal murder mystery--but the ending will take your breath away! Don’t cheat and look ahead!! Also golden by Agatha Christie is And Then There Were None.

Mere Christianity and the Screwtape Letters- both by C.S. Lewis

C.S. Lewis is a mastermind. Mere Christianity explains christianity in unique and thought provoking ways. Screwtape Letters is fairy comical and follows the devil training one of his minions through letters. Its also an interesting view on things.

Anna Karenina and War and Peace- Leo Tolstoy

Its hard to be brief about these two book. Basically Tolstoy is AMAZING and incredible and just the best! The depth he develops his characters into is just….so amazing. Anna Karenina shows the downfall of a great woman- its sad and a tragedy. But inspiring at the same time. War and Peace follows the war of 1812. The characters will be your best friends forever. The symbolism and story will be engrained in your soul forever and you will finally understand my love for Russia! I could say more...but I wont. Tolstoy is amazing though! Did you know that when he died thousands of peasants lined the streets and cried for him? He had such a GOOD huge impact in the lives of so many! Truly a devoted, amazingly intelligent and kind man.

My Sisters Keeper by Jodi Picoult

I reccommend this one with a few reservations. It can be quite dirty if I remember right. But the storyline is pretty intense and does make you think about the value of life and what we really owe to one another. I was able to personally connect to the story and maybe thats why I liked it so much...but either way its a least an entertaining read. House Rules is a good one too- I actually like that one better.

Little Britches and Fields of Home by Ralph Moody

Any book by Ralph Moody is great. Most of them are about his farm life childhood and they are just warm and fuzzy books! They have some great subtle lessons too. These books made me want to move to a farm.

The Giver by Lois Lowry

Another book that makes you think. Short and easy.

The Chosen by Chaim Potok

I love this book so much but I’m not really sure why. I think I just love the simplicity of the life this jewish boy and his dad live and their dedication. Its a great story of friendship and growing up. I also really love the sequel...I think that ones called “The Promise”. That one is especially good because it studies a bit of psychology and mental illness in it. Super fascinating!

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

This book makes me want to go run through some mud and eat weeds. Let me know if you have the same feelings after reading it. Obviously its a great book too.

The Illiad and Odyssey by Homer

Both books everyone should read. They are kind of hard to get through but you will understand where every other book get their roots from!

The Scarlett Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy

An extremely entertaining book that will also educate you on the history of Paris during the reign of terror. Its a classic and I love it!

Don Quixote by Miguel D Cervantes

This book continually gets voted as being the most influential and best novel ever written! Hopefully I can read it in spanish soon This book has it all- it is hilarious and a romance, symbolic, educational, inspiring and just wonderful! You will love it and hold it in your heart forever. Also you will see little signs of this book in tv shows, books, talks and everywhere you go! Its like a whole new world opens up!

Papa Married a Mormon by John D Fitzgerald

This one might be hard to find. The copy we have of it looks a hundred years old and is in pieces. Such a cute little book! Its about this rugged man who marries a sweet mormon girl in the early Utah days. Its funny and cute and has a decent message if I remember correctly.

Yearning for the Living God by F. Enzio Busche

A incredible book by an incredible man! You wont look at the world the same after this one. You could read it a million times too. So many great inspirations in this book.

The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner

Of course Faulkner is an amazing author but this one really takes the cake. Its insanely hard to read (ha- thats an understatement) but try and get through it! He uses a unique technique called “stream of concious” through the book. Basically it follows the thoughts of the characters minds. You are not sure whose thoughts you are reading. The hard part is our thoughts are not always in the present. We can see something in the present and our mind will jump back to a previous time long ago or any other random incident. The challenge is to try and make some sense of the book! But its worth it--spark notes is very helpful throughout.

Les Miserables by Victor Hugo

10000000x better than the movie! 1,600 pages looks like a lot! But it goes by fast! You just really have to read all of it to truly know the characters. And trust me...the characters are worth truly knowing. Even just the frist 50 pages where it only talks about the bishop...ahhh! so amazing! Victor Hugo is so incredible.

Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriett Beecher Stowe

The book that got the Civil War underway. It will make you cry but you will finish it inspired and enlightened. I couldnt say enough good about this book. Absolutely incredible.

Alas Babylon by Pat Frank

A scary/fascinating book about what would happen if an atomic bomb went off in America. I think its pretty accurate and shows how good it is to be prepared! Also shows how some people react to crisis and the right way to act when everything blows up! A good message and a wonderful book!!

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

This book has my heart all tied up forever. If only I could be like Atticus.

Austenland by Shannon Hale

This one is just fun

Farenheight 451 by Ray Bradbury

Bradbury is another of my favorites. Such an excellent writer!! This one is especially good. Even if you’ve read it before-- read it again!! Something Wicked This Way Comes is another good one. It’s scary--but something about it is just so enticing!

The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls

Oh I love this book so so much!! Its sad but so inspiring!! You will love the family in a depressed sort of way. Somehow I related to this book. I just love it!! Read it!! and then look up Jeanette afterwards--she is doing great!

The Ultimate Gift by Jim Stovall

This might be the one rare exception where the movie is better than the book. So watch the movie or read the book- they’ll take you about the same time. Either way you’ll get the inspiring message.

Peace Like a River by Leif Enger

A wonderful book until the end when it will rip your heart up! But its a great heartwarming book all the same that will inspire you to love and know how to behave when life gets rough. Its great.

Others by Blaine Yorgason

A book with a different heartwarming random story in each chapter.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

Oh my goodness...this book is really the best. So inspiring, so enlightening, so awesome. Its about this girl who grows up really poor in Brooklyn and has a bit of a tough family situation. But she pulls herself up by the bootstraps and makes a great life for herself. I especially love her love of books!

Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

I dont care what you have heard about this book...it is great. I could read it a million times. Read it just to get to know Melanie (why does no one ever talk about her? She is the best!) So much about this book is wonderful.

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

A classic book about love and dedication. You will be inspired and fall in love! It also has some twists in it to keep things interesting

And There Was Light by Jacques Lusseyran

An enlightening book about a man who goes blind but is led by a “light”. I think you will especially like this one. Its quite remarkable.

The Fishers of Men Series by Gerald N Lund

Elder Lund is a phenominal writer. I especially this series because you feel like you really understand Christ’s life through it. These are books you just want to hug! I promise you will adore them

Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier

This book is just good. Its a classic and is a bit shocking I think. Stick with it--its worth it!!

The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck

This book reminds you of the importance of hard work and the value of this land we are given. Its hard to get through at times but you will like it by the end. The culture in it is a bit shocking.

Fire of the Covenant by Gerald N Lund

The story of the Willie and Martin handcart company told in a masterful way! You will cry...a lot. But its worth it!

Oh Pioneers and My Antonia by Willa Cather

Willa Cather is one of my favorites. Oh Pioneer is a bit on the depressing side by My Antonia is all good! I dont know why I love these books so much...but they are classics!

One Thousand Gifts by Ann “something”

A good reminder to be thankful and find joy everyday! A true inspiration all the way through

Blue Willow by Doris Gates

A child book but I adore it! It reminds you to be grateful.

The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Spear

A touching book about a man during Christ’s time. The history through it is great and the ending is magnificent! I read it for the first time when I was 8 and it has stayed one of my favorites since then.

The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom

I saved the best for last!! This book is amazing on all levels! It is the best and one everyone should read at least a thousand times. I have read it every three months (for the exception of my misson time) for the past 9 years and I still cry and laugh and love it more every time! A story about the Holocaust and concentration camps and all that...but written in such an inspiring and uplifting way! You will come away just singing of love for everyone and with such a strong desire to just be better! It should be added in at the back of the Bible or something. Corrie Ten Boom is one of the first people I want to meet in Heaven. I could talk about this book for days. It is wonderful. Everyone who hasnt read it yet should cry and be ashamed. Buy this book. It is worth having.

I love eqyptian and roman history and Beyond the Desert Gate by Mary Ray and God King by Joanne Williamson are great! Also inspiring tales of service!

If you feel like some more heavy reading--The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon, Plato’s The Republic and The Spirit of the Laws by Montesquieu are good ones to explore! (or fall asleep to) ;)

Other authors to explore when you are finished with the above…

Louisa Marie Alcott- love this author! Someone you can count on for a wondeful story. She writes more for children but her stories are timeless and can be read whenever! Some of my favorites from her-- Little Woman, Old Fashioned Girl, Eight Cousins, Rose in Bloom and Under the Lilacs.

Gene Stratton Porter- this author makes you want to live outside or something. Some of my favorites-- Girl of the Limberlost and the sequels to that

Go read all the Harry Potter Books

Jane Austen never lets you down

Charles Dickens is great as well--but you have to be in the right mood for him.

Thats all for now...but I have more!! Let me know when you have finished!

Happy Reading!

Unihue Moments

I woke up this morning dreaming of Chile. Thats not unusual...normally I still wake up thinking I’m in that little mountain town. Sometimes its not so pleasent...like when I wake up thinking men have entered my room (my sister does not appreciate that I sleep with the light on)...or a dogs barking wakes me up and I want to go outside and shoo it from the hanging trash bags.

But today it was good. One of my last weeks we visited this tiny little town (well it didnt have enough streets to be called a town). We got up at 5 am to take a rickety old train that was so stuffed of people we stood squeezed by the doors. Eventually they all left and we went winding along and in between the green mountains. Every once in awhile I would wake up and see the huge Bio bio river twisting along with us. When it seemed like we had reached the edge of the earth we got off and saw our three streets of “Unihue”. It was 9 in the morning and everyone was sleeping but we saw the cutest little grandpa walking and he invited us in for breakfast. He took our coats and had us sit near the fire as his adorable wife gave us hot bread and tea. We taught them a lesson and sang some hymns with them. They said a prayer blessing us, gave us huge hugs and kisses and sent us into the sunshine. And that was how the day went. Wandering around little paths...looking for humans, eating apples and everything being so quiet.

Not a creepy or scary quiet. But a peaceful sunshiney quiet. Like nothing could ever really be that bad...because the trees are so pretty and the sky so bright and blue! And if everything else falls apart...we will always have the sky!

And I miss that. I have been home a month now and have found that kind of quiet almost nonexsistent here. It is so easy to get sucked into all the stuff that we have here. It is so easy to worry. Worry about college and clothes and money and callings and problems and problems and problems and problems.

And I went to bed last night just worried about a bunch of stuff that really doesnt matter much. So God reminded me of Unihue. Of a little town where people make bread and feed chickens and talk to their neighbors all day. And thats kind of how it should be. There is way too much stuff in this world. And we really need to focus on what matters most. On what our actual needs are...not wants...but needs.

Today there was a beautiful sunset. But I was so focused on trying to instantly decide what major to study at BYU...and where I was going to work...and how to pay for everything..and how many parasites I maybe still have...and how I am going to meet my goal of getting married next month (haha just kidding!)..and and and!

So its my own fault that I didnt stop to enjoy the sunset or that I hardly even acknoweldged its exsistence.

And it’s my fault that I only nodded, said “mmhmm” and kept reading when my little brother was trying to show me his newest wound.

God gives me...and all of us...plenty of blessings everyday. He gives us plenty of reasons to stop and look around and wake up a bit. He gives us plenty of opportunites to help others and develop those qualities that we say we want.

It’s just kind of hard to see it all with all the other stuff.

But God loves us. And He always wants to bless us and help us get away from all our distractions and little (or big) worries. He wants us all to have quiet and happy moments in “Unihue” and remember that we are here for a great and wonderful purpose! And life is Beautiful!

So we just need to stop and look up at the beautiful sky and enjoy it!

and bake bread

and go on a nature walk

and eat chocolate (why not?!)