Hello there...

I'm back!

Yay!

I stopped posting and made my blog private after going back to school and feeling like I hardly had an exciting thing to write about, BUT, I am back.

First things first,

I have some pictures to share from earlier this summer.

My parents and I went on a hike in Big Cottonwood Canyon.

It was a gorgeous day.

Next...
While I was still living and working in Utah before heading back up to school I was able to go to a few of the different temples in the area.

I was most anxious to get to Mount Timpanogos because it's been my favorite for years, even though I had never seen it in person.
Let me tell you, it lived up to all of my expectations, and more.

Guys... this picture ^ is straight out of the camera.
You can't tell me that isn't stunning.
I'll be getting married there :)

Lastly in this little mini-photo update, Rexburg had some freezing rain on top of snow on top of freezing rain.
That was complicated, wasn't it?
I'll just let the pictures do the talking.

Needless to say, that storm really did make me feel like I was living in a winter wonderland.

Now, with that catch up post that transitioned us from summer, through early autumn, and to winter, I can appropriately post about Christmas later this week :)

It's good to be back.

If I still had Myspace...

...my mood status would say "nostalgic."

I woke up to rain and a gloomy but beautiful sky this morning.

I walked outside and the air was warm with just a tinge of a chill.

I felt a longing for Washington.

Days of rain and tall, vibrant, fresh green trees.

I think I might be figuring out that I consider Washington home.

And boy, do I miss home.

Snow in January

This morning I woke up to this:

I could not be happier that I finally got the snow I'd been longing for. 

So, I soaked it all up.

I put on my Christmas sweater and some Christmas socks

I took some photos of the beautiful snow

I listened to a few Christmas songs and made some hot chocolate

And settled in to watch a movie and make a Valentine's Day craft

It was a good, good day.

P.S. We still have to figure out how to hang that without the tacky pins sticking out :)

My Day

Today started out dreary and it didn't hold much promise.

When your alarm goes off at 7, and just for kicks you check the temperature outside and it's -3 degrees, you know it's bound to be a rough Monday.

Getting out of bed I groaned and rubbed my eyes, realizing that I was the only one in my apartment that was awake.

Then, I remembered this:

So I changed my attitude and decided to make getting out of bed worth it.

Changing your attitude can suck, but it can make a world of difference.

Walking to my first class (which is on the complete opposite side of campus, a nearly twenty minute walk, uphill...) in -3 degree weather with a wind chill on top of that, would not normally be a great start to my day.

But - you're about to think I'm crazy - there's something invigorating about freezing to the degree of numbness.

Getting to class, I was awake and ready for the day.

So thanks, Rexburg, for the wake up call to stop complaining about the things in life that I can't change.

Sometimes, you just have to realize that life is beautiful.