Best (Seattle) Day Ever!

I am still in love with my home of Seattle area Washington. I have explored lots of the area but there are still more treasures to be found. Today I did my normal Pikes Place/downtown Seattle trip but then did something crazy and new- Red Mill Burgers and Fremont! Both make the top 15 things I love about home although that list doesn't actually exist. Not only did I get to explore my home a little more but I got to do it with my family.
And now for the documentation of my B(S)DE:

best day ever!... belated...

After a long and wonderful summer of EFYs and COWs and other acronyms I spent about 36 hours with some of my favorite people in the entire world- my family. We went to Long Beach, WA and just stayed in "our beach house" with my aunt/uncle+children. We played in the sand, ate sandwiches with soups, watched west wing, etc. all the things you're supposed to do on the Best Day Ever. I documented said BDE and here is my photographical proof:

Lizzie and Annie playing in the sand

on the beach

sisters

more sisters

riding in the back of the truck

Hannah got pooped on

Could you ask for a prettier ending to the BDE?

take me back

take me back
to the days we spent on the beach
the nights we spent on that corner by the church

take me back
to those 3 hour long conversations
where I'd fall asleep to the sound of your voice

take me back
to when I could hear your heart beat
as I rested my head on your chest

when i knew that heart was mine
take me back
to those days when you were mine

Happy (belated) Mothers Day!

5 generation picture

So I know that I am now 2 days late but I just wanted to mention that I do have the best mom in the world. I couldn't ask for a better example or a better friend.
I also would like to thank the women in my life who have acted as a mother figure to me especially since I came to school. My Grandmother, mothers of friends in Utah, wives of Bishopric members etc.


Also I have been blessed to know 5 grandmothers in my lifetime, and not just meeting them when I was 2 and couldn't even remember them. My great-great grandmother died right before her 109th birthday, I was 12. My great grandmother on my mother's father's side passed fall of my Junior year and my father's mother passed away the following spring. My gre
at grandmother on my mother's mother's side passed away last February. My last living grandma is my mother's mom and she is a great help to me and the best cook that I know. All of these women have different stories and backgrounds but have forever shown me a great example of strength and love. I am proud to have known these women and I hope to carry on their legacy of strength and love to my own children.

Me, my grandmother, and my mother

My great grandmother

May 3rd

May 3rd, 2011 is so far the best day of my spring semester.

First: my roommates and I made Pancakes, but not just ordinary pancakes. These were Milka bar+chocolate chip pancakes. Topped off with orange juice, a wedding announcement,and a letter from Elder Dan it was a fantastic roomy breakfast. To make it even better we saw a guy on a segway ridding outside of our house.


Second: I did all of my reading today outside in the sunshine on my hammock- my new favorite place to read

the hammock- yes that is henna on my ankle and finger

Third: I went to the Temple and saw my Grandpa today. One of the best parts of my week, I love that man and that place.

Fourth: I love my roommates. Just today we decorated our apartment and it is so cute! (pictures to come), we also did SYTYCD workout video and Lyse and I are now watching West Wing. I love love love this house and my roommates!

new blog

So I decided to try out Tumblr and made a Jerusalem blog. If you would like to follow my process of going to Jerusalem and me while I am in Jerusalem check it out!

http://youveneverseen.tumblr.com/

"Dear Katie,"

"Congratulations! You have been given initial placement on the 2011 Fall Semester Program at the BYU Jerusalem Center for Near Eastern Studies". Which means- I'M GOING TO JERUSALEM!!!!!

I can't believe it! I am going on study abroad, to the middle east, in 145 days!
It still hasn't really hit me yet but I am so excited and I really feel like this is what I should be doing.

Anyway, I'm kind of really freaking out/excited because this will probably be one of the coolest experiences of my life! Now I just have to decide whether to take Hebrew of Arabic...

i miss this

If I had a star for every time I thought of you
I'd never know the color black
because the my night skies would shimmer like diamonds
and I'd never sleep in darkness

if, for every time I smiled at a memory of us,
I got a rose petal
I could fill the ocean with the sweet scent
and walk across on the reds and pinks
until i got to you

if I could rearrange
every note of every song that reminded me of you
I could write more symphonies than
Bach and Mozart and Chopin combined

Happy Holi!

This weekend was the famous Festival of Colors!
A common tradition among BYU/UVU/Utah everyone.
The awesome pictures you see of people covered in colored chalk at a Hindu temple are from the festival of colors- a tradition of the Hindu holiday Holi.
Not only is it a cool traditional celebration it is a fun event for bored college students.
Who doesn't enjoy throwing brightly colored chalk at random people? Boring people, that's who.
It's also an awesome time to take pictures, see-

i got to spend the weekend with this beautiful girl!
the awesome group i went with
the throwing of the colors

spring

lying if fields of green grass and white daisies
the beginning of summer sun freckling my cheeks
and warming the winter out of my soul
a wind- the last breath of February
sends the sweet scent
of newly budding, pink cherry blossoms
the scent of new life, new hope, and new beginnings

home for the weekend

I love going home. It's the best. I went home this past week for my dad's 50th birthday! I can't believe my father is 50. We (my mom, Hannah, and I) pulled off the best surprise ever. My dad had no idea I was coming home, I even called him while I was walking around Seattle and wished him a happy birthday. He told me he wished I could be there and it took a lot of effort to not to blow the secret. We met up for dinner at a local favorite- Lombardi's. Hannah got a great video of the surprise (http://www.facebook.com/#!/video/video.php?v=109117842502144&comments).
We then surprised him with a trip to the cute little German town of Leavenworth. A wonderful weekend with my family. They're the best.

My mom is also coming to speak to the women in the accounting program at BYU! I am so proud of her and so excited to go hear her speak tomorrow! Seriously there is no one better to talk to these women about being a Mormon, female, accountant. She is living proof that you can do it all.

to my friends...

I have been blessed to have really awesome friends. And I have too many to thank individually but I hope all of you know how amazing and influential you have been in my life.

I will specifically give a shout out to my amazing roommates. Kylee, Macey, Dahea, Taalin, and Annie- you guys are the best. I have heard some crazy stories of insane roommates and even if we don't see eye to eye on everything I don't think I could ask for better roomies.

Another special shout out to my best friend- Dan. I know earlier I mentioned that my mom was my best friend and she is but Dan is different. My mom is obligated by law to love me and Dan isn't, my mom has to put up with my bad moods or crazy or boring stories and random complaints and Dan doesn't. He doesn't have to do any of it but he does and he still loves me even though he has seen me when I'm pretty low. He is also through with 6 months of his mission and doing some amazing work in the Crimea. I am so proud of him.

So I have some amazing news! I'm going to be an EFY counselor!!! I have wanted to do this since I was 14 and I can't wait!

To all the people that I love

I don't need a valentine when I have so many amazing people in my life. My family, friends, ward members. They are all so amazing.

I think I'm gonna make this a multifaceted thing so for tonight FAMILY:

Mom- she is my best friend and has been for a long time. I can talk to her about anything and for hours and never get bored. She always has a good perspective on things and is kind of creepy sometimes but it just makes life a little more fun. She is my hero and my inspiration in almost everything I do.

Dad- I am such a daddy's girl. Ever since I was a little kid and we'd go to the beach and play lion king. Thanks dad, you must really love me to not have just left me there haha. Seriously, my dad is the funniest people I know and one of the most giving and selfless people. More people should be like him, the world would be a better place.

Hannah- my little turd of a sister. I can't believe it has been 13 years! Hannah is going to rule the world one day and she will do a great job. Seriously this girl can do anything, she's smart, athletic (well relative to our family), and she has no fears. She may be the most confident 13 year old ever and she has the right to be. She's beautiful, smart, and good at everything she does. The kicker is that she doesn't even like boys yet (so she says)- all those poor boys that are in love with her don't stand a chance.

Olivia- where do I even start with her. Olivia is the biggest flirt and sweetheart i know. She always takes care of me when I'm home. She has been fun from day one. Always with her little girly attitude and just her desire to be one of the big girls has been so fun to watch. She is brilliant too! Like seriously, she is at like a college reading level. Okat that's a little too high but like first grade she was at a 5th grade reading level so either the 5th graders are getting dumber or my little O is a genius.

My grandparents- so I have 3 Grandma and Grandpa Westover and Grandpa Robison. All are so amazing for different reasons. Grandma always takes care of me and feeds me so well, Grandpa Westover just has a great personality and makes everyone he comes in contact with feel so loved, Grandpa Robison has such amazing wisdom and is so kind and generous and truly care for people. I have a very deep connection with my family but Grandpa Robison and I and definitely kindred spirits, something I didn't realize until it was almost too late.

I have so much more family that I could thank and express my love for but there are just so many of them. I love all of you so much. Thank you all for your support. I have the best family ever and today they are my valentine.

A day to love

I started out the day at 5:30. Okay that's just when my alarm went off but I got up eventually and went to the temple. Can I just say that there is no better way to show your love for your ancestors than to do their temple work. I love going to the temple, it may be the best place to be Valentines day weekend. There is a great feeling of love (agape) and peace there.

I then came home and slept. I love my bed and my blankets, especially my heated blanket. I love to just sleep and feel warm and cozy.

Then Taalin and I went to Target. There are two things I love about this- Taalin and Target. Taalin is probably one of my best friends, we always have tons of fun together and I always find myself laughing when we're together. Target is a lovely new valentines day weekend tradition for me. Me and Dan went randomly last year and just got delicious jelly beans so I decided to go again this year.

After Target we found our new favorite cheap pizza place: Pizza Pie Cafe Express. Oh my goodness, $5 pep pizza, cheese sticks, and cinnamon sticks. I am in love. We came home and just ate in the middle of our living room floor.

I have the BEST ward, the elders quorum came around and brought every girl in the ward roses. I'm not sure they realize how happy it made me, every girl should get flowers on Valentines day even if they don't have a valentine. Thank you so much.

Best Mail Day EVER! I got a wonderful package from my family including loads of candy, a picture and rocks from my sister, and "slockers" (what Luke calls my slipper-socks). I also got a letter from my kind of valentine. I can still count Dan my valentine right?

Such an amazing day and now I'm ending it with a relaxing night to myself. Ideal, not entirely but definitely a nice time to reflect and enjoy some personal time.

Я люблю Вас

Han-Banan

"look at her eyes, they've been fighting again"

Happy Birthday mi hermana! That's right Hannah is now 13, a snotty little teenager. I remember when she was born- I was almost 7 and so excited to be a big sister. I remember going to see her in the hospital and playing with her as a little baby, just in the past year and a half I've been at school she's grown so much.

Me and Hannah telling O that she had something in her teeth

Do you?

think I'm funny, pretty, loving, and kind
make me laugh, hold me tight, and know my eyes
love that I'm weird, think I'm smart,
accept that I'm different and don't like to play a part
want me to succeed, or always be happy- even if it might make you sad
if not, don't bother. I already know someone who understands

Great Day...

So today was a wonderful day for a couple reasons:

First I had my EFY interview today- I cannot describe how annoying the application process was and now I don't have to worry about anything except for if I am hired or not. But now it is no longer in my hands.

Second I wend to the Temple for the first time in about 6 months- I used to go every week last winter semester but this year I have been lazy and really not very motivated to go. The spirit is so unbelievably strong in the temple- a feeling that I recognized from last winter but hadn't felt for a long time. Truly one of the most spiritual temple experiences of my life.

Third I finished the Iliad- for the past 4 weeks I have had to read the Iliad, 70-90 pages at a time, and now I am DONE!!!

Fourth SDSU got JIMMERED!!!! Way to go BYU- proud to be a coug tonight.

December

January, February.... this is how I feel



Let's be serious, music is the best expression of feelings. It is the only way to express emotions to their full extent, or at least the closest you can get.

beauty

in the coldest corners of our lives

in angles and shapes
that rarely capture attention
in special rarities
that only come through
cold and sorrow
do we find the beauty truly exists