It's the Final Countdown

So...I'm going to the MTC two weeks from today. It's like I only have two weeks to live, and what would YOU do if you only had two weeks to live? Well..I find myself doing all the same things that I would normally be doing at this time of year, but I'm just savoring all of it so much more.

On Saturday my whole family headed downtown to some of our favorite spots. The King's English is my very favorite bookstore, and since it was a rainy day, it was perfectly beautiful.

After perusing the bookstore for an awfully long time (almost everyone ended up with a new treasure) we went on a rainy day walk through the Avenues to look at all the beautiful houses. Then we ended up in a cute little sandwich shop for lunch.

Then of course we had to head to the Salt Lake library, but not really to look at more books. We took the glass elevator (still terrifies me) up to the roof for the view. The sun came up just in time.

We walked back to my dad's work where we'd parked, so we got to walk through the Temple Square flowers a little bit. Perfect Saturday morning! Afterwards we went to Janie's dance recital together. She has always been a cute dancer but now she is actually really good. We finished up the night at my cousins' for pizza and around the world ping pong. There is no one I would rather spend the day with than my little sisters! Honestly.

The next day was my farewell. So weird. I was really glad that I gave my farewell talk a couple weeks before leaving because I wasn't very emotional, and I think I would've been if I knew I was leaving in a couple of days.

I was so grateful for the support of friends and family!

Monday, I had a day to myself downtown. I had to go visit my physical therapist before heading on my mission, just to make sure my old lady back is going to be okay. That means I got an electrode massage, which is almost worth having back surgery over. Not really, but it's a good way to start the day.

Since I was already in Salt Lake, I thought I'd take the day to explore on my own. There is something fun about deliberately being a tourist in your own city. You see it differently. For instance. Salt Lake City is still very excited about its one piece of wildlife. The falcon.

I followed (at a distance) a group of Asian tourists around Temple Square to try to see it through a newcomer's eyes. They took so many pictures, so I took a few too.

For a long time, I've been wanting to visit the Community Writing Center downtown. It turns out it's part of Library Square, which I've been to a million times. Who knew.

I sat in the writing center for a long time asking questions and reading a lot. They people there have found so many cool ways to reach out to the community. It was really quite inspiring. One of the first things on my to-do list after getting back is working on implementing some of their ideas into our writing center at Utah State. Stay tuned!

One cool thing the writing center does is taking short and simple writing projects to festivals and events, then displaying the writing. One of my favorite projects they had on a display was called "Say It in Six" where they asked hundreds of people to write a six-word memoir of their life. What would yours be?

As I walked back to temple square, I stopped in this rare book shop. Somehow I've never noticed before! I found some great stuff.

I met my dad for lunch at work, and then I walked to the Cathedral of the Madeline.

It is giant, so on the outside it looks pretty intimidating.

But it is so peaceful inside. I sat in the back of the pews, and listened to a big family recite prayers in Spanish together. I have not felt that calm in such a long time, just letting their Spanish prayers flow over me.

I'm literally not going to have alone time for 18 months, so I'm glad I spent a day exploring on my own!

That night, I went with my little sisters to their elementary school to see their principal dressed as a bunny on their school's roof. Never a dull moment! He promised them he would sleep on the roof dressed as a bunny if they increased their attendance or something. He had a tent up there and everything. The kids loved it.

Yesterday I got roped into being a chaperone on the 5th grade field trip. I've never been a chaperone before, but it was a lot more fun than I thought it would be!

My group of kids was sooo easy, and I was automatically the coolest chaperone because I wasn't a mom.

They liked the train ride downtown more than the game. I had coloring books, card games, and candy, so they were pretty happy to be on my "team."

What should I do for the next 14 days??

Home Again, Home Again

So I moved home for a few weeks. First of all, I'm just very proud that I was able to fit all my stuff into my room. Usually it takes me the entire summer to get this room to look semi normal.

Here are some other things that have been going on.

The night I came home, Rachel's birthday part was happening. It was quite the camp out themed shindig. I don't really know how to describe the creativity that goes into a Rachel party.

Here's Rachel's camp fire cake with a sparkler on the top. 

The six of us sisters slept in our giant tent in the backyard. They're pretty cute.

The next morning it was time for the Great Strides Walk! We have been participating in this walk for cystic fibrosis for the past few years and it's always a good time.

This year they had a bunch of carnival-type games going on as part of the walk.

Family time.

I loved walking around downtown Ogden with my family....so many fun things to see and with my favorite people in the sunshine...winning.

I started working at my aunt's for a couple of weeks. Here are some of the sweet people I work with out to sushi together!

And of course I've been mission shopping. I had a lovely day with my Mom at City Creek! Shopping is not one of my most favorite activities, but it's so much better when I can do it outside in the sunshine next to pretty fountains and green things. Plus, I would highly recommend lunch at the Blue Lemon in City Creek! Just the best.

Another important event was going with my sister Abbie for her first time to the temple! She chose to go through the Bountiful Temple, which was beautiful.

After the temple we got dinner at Chili's and had a sleepover with the rest of our sisters at our Grandma's house. Like the good old days.

My mom and I go on adventures sometimes. This week we headed up to one of our favorite spots, Pineview. This time we drove up to the monastery. You know, just to visit some monks. But really, it is breathtaking up there. The pictures don't do it justice at all. It's so Sound of Music.

We spend some time sitting on the beautiful beach. Had the place to ourselves for once!

And we stopped at the sweetest little diner afterwards for raspberry shakes, then ate them while driving through the beautiful canyon. It was perfect outside and we saw some gorgeous waterfalls. Perfect day with my mom!

And...I couldn't stay away from Logan so I spent the night there earlier this week.

 I am really sad that I never had a Logan summer! Lauren and I went on the river walk in the canyon and it was lovely. I just spend a lot of time in canyons lately.

There was also some spontaneous running through giant sprinklers...

...and sidewalk chalking in the tunnel. We sidewalk chalked every square of the tunnel, and had some pretty good summer scenes. I was quite proud. Thanks Lauren for letting me crash at your place!

I'm trying my best to have all my favorite foods before I head off. Namely Mexican food. Rachel and I partied it up at Pepperbelly's for fried ice cream, and my cute friend Chloe took me out to Bandido's. Gotta have my tacos.

I'm glad I've had a few weeks at home before going on my mission. I've been reading a lot, and I love just reading in the living room while I listen to my sisters play their guitars and pianos, and always hearing everyone singing and laughing. I am really very blessed!