We did it.

We made it to the top. It was amazing. I am still trying to process all the details but it truly was an incredible achievement. I will write a more detailed post soon (like within the next few days, Mom, I promise), but just wanted to say that we did it!

Tomorrow.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH... ETC.

Lion King Broadway

Saw this. It was INCREDIBLE. I took one of my good friends. We laughed the whole time. I maybe cried a little bit. It is my favorite show I've ever seen and I got to see it again. Inspiring, beautiful, unbelievable, phenomenal, LOVED IT.

Flaers

In general, I have really great days. I love my job, I love the people around me, I love where I am, and I love my life. But today was a hard day. At work I was really frustrated and a good friend and co-worker Eric (see exhibit A) noticed. I got home tonight to see something(see exhibit B) on my kitchen table.

Exhibit A: the only picture of Eric I could find

Exhibit B: "Flaers"

Needless to say, Exhibit A + Exhibit B= Exhibit Lizzie is so grateful for good friends.

Book Reviews

My most recent reads: 

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Brilliantly written, incredible story, the characters are deep and delightful. It is a meaningful and important book. Above all, the voices in the book are phenomenal and I love the careful (and not overdone) description of each of the women. I couldn't help but speak in a Southern accent every time I put the book down. I absolutely loved it.



Hunger Games and Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Really intriguing plots, page-turners, great novels. I have to say that the writing is a little over-dramatized and juvenile and it annoys me when writers give 16-year-olds the emotional capacity and maturity of a 45-year-olds. However, I think it is completely recommendable and will most likely buy the third book as soon as it hits shelves. 

 The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis

I've read this book a few times but haven't reviewed it yet. This is an incredible book. Many times I'd read a line and put the book down to think about it for a quarter of an hour. It is unbelievable the places that C.S. Lewis had to mentally go in order to make this story work. The best part of this book is that though it is written of darkness and evil, it inspires thought, understanding and light. Fabulous... one of my favorites. 

Medallion Manor

When I get really busy, all I post on this blog are a bunch of funny videos. I'm trying to rededicate myself to posting a little more about the more serious or profound musings of my life. It's good to work to express myself... cathartic even.

These past few weeks have been really... important. I guess important is the best word I can use to describe them. I've learn a lot, realized how much I have yet to learn, and have had some important growing experiences. I am weeks away from leaving for Africa, which thrills me and terrifies me at the same time. I have crossed some major personal milestones and look back with satisfaction and peace at some of the things I've left behind me.

But a week ago, I had a really sweet experience that I need to take time to record. My friend Chris and I are in charge of certain things in our ward and we had to plan a ward service project. Chris and his brother go visit the residents of Medallion Manor most Sundays, bringing them friendship and love. The residents of Medallion Manor are all mentally and sometimes physically disabled. Some are old, some are about my age. Chris suggested that we organize a carnival put on by the ward members for all of these people to brighten their day. We organized the activity with some help and last Saturday loaded up cars with games and pizza to bring over. I wasn't quite prepared for what we walked in to.

Everyone was seated at long plastic tables and there were several members of the staff sitting with these people. We started organizing the pizza and drinks with loud shouts and humming and drumming in the background. A flood of memories came back to me and I looked around with a big smile on my face.

For several years I worked with a young boy named Griffin. Griffin was born with a disorder call congenital muscular dystrophy which affected not only his physical  growth but his mental growth. He was taller than I was and only a few years younger than me but he was on the level of a 4 or 5 year old. It was exhausting work. It took a lot of patience and love some days as I helped him with his exercises, tried to teach him social boundaries, and pretty much played with him all day while his Mom took a much needed break. Some days I'd come home frustrated with him and others I'd come home laughing at something he'd done or said. But I always realized that I was lucky to have him in my life. His condition is one that drastically shortens a life and Griffin wasn't expected to live much past his early twenties. It seemed like he took a lifetime's amount of love and crammed it into his 17 year old body. He loved me so purely and so deeply. He never stayed mad at me for more than about 2 minutes, he'd call me his best friend and hold my hand and tell me he loved me every day. When I went on my mission and stopped working for his family, I thought about him a lot.

I walked into Medallion Manor a week ago and one of the first people I met was David. He had his arm around Kara, another resident, and they were talked about pirates.  David asked me to get him a whole plate of chips. Chips were Griffin's favorites.

David and Kara

   David is about the age Griffin would be right now and within minutes I realized that David has the exact same disorder as Griffin. My eyes filled with tears as he took my hand and told me that we were friends. I played with David for the rest of the day. We had a donut eating contest and he beat me, which means I owe him a Reeses Peanut Butter Cup. He asked me to come back again soon.

Here's David with TJ and Aaron while we ate pizza.

This is Virginia. She has the sweetest tiniest voice you've ever heard. She drank about 10 cups of root beer.

Katie smiled like this pretty much the whole time we were there. She gave me about 200 hugs.

Here is Paul with Rob. Paul was one of my absolute favorites.

I blew bubbles for Aaron, Paul and Ray for a good 30 minutes. They just laughed and laughed the whole time.

Erik and the other Paul were running the donut contest stand. This Paul was also a favorite. He was hilarious.

Ray couldn't move his arms very well so I helped him swing around the tube that made a whistling noise.

It's been over 4 years since I've seen Griffin but I felt so grateful for him while interacting with these people at Medallion Manor. Any sense of awkwardness or reservation I might have had while working with the residents disappeared years ago while I learned from and loved Griffin. I felt like I was back in my element working with such special people with such a great capacity to love. It took me almost a half-hour to leave as I went around and said goodbye, received many hugs, had sticky fingers pat my face, had them call my name as they waved goodbye... it was such a great experience and I can't wait to go back with Chris and Rob to see them again.

I miss my sister...

This is my sister Kathy and her friends from forever ago. She's the pirate one with dark hair and underwear on her head. She's hilarious.



4 more months!!

Beachy Keen

We went to Washington to visit Ashley's family. One day we went to the Oregon coast and it was awesome. Observe:

Lizzie

Lizzie and Andy

Kirsti

Lizzie

Andy

Ashley, Lizzie, Kirsti

Lizzie

Andy

Yep, we're cool. Pretty awesome and cool and great. You might want to be us...

Let's just talk about it....

 

Royboy can now say the word "doggie" an it is the most hilarious and adorable thing I've ever ever ever seen. Ever ever. Seen. Ever. 

Seriously... how cute is this kid?!?

The best part of the day was when Dan and Taryn realized that they forgot to bring a bottle up to the cabin. Luckily, I have the coolest most Mary Poppins-esque sister-in-law in the whole world. Talk about resourceful...

The best post ever. I love it, Alot.

This is quite possibly the best blog post to have ever happened to the world. I am not even exaggerating one little bit. Go and read it right right right right now.


http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/04/alot-is-better-than-you-at-everything.html

"Couldn't have said it better without the.. myself"

So I am always interviewing people that want to work at the MTC. These two videos were especially helpful in helping me develop the art of interviewing and being interviewed. In today's economy, perhaps they'll be helpful for you as well.

Ehem.

Regarding the post below: apparently either Brazil or the Netherlands read my blog, maybe both. My request was honored.

Wow.

It's so hard to be me...

I think Brazil is going to win the game this morning but I can't help but hope that the Netherlands become a sort of Cinderella winner in this, mostly because my Dad served in Holland and sometimes sings the Wizard of Oz song in Dutch. I just think that people that speak a language that awesome sounding should get to win a soccer tournament. Plus Brazil has won 5 times already so I don't want them to get that 6th star... but when the Brazilian-teachers (not natives, RMs) that work for me found out I feel this way, they covered my desk with Brazilian flags.

I also don't know if I want Argentina to beat Germany on Saturday morning or vice versa. I like them both. I also don't know if I want Paraguay or Spain to win... I'm mad at them both. (Paraguary beat Italy and Spain is an Italian rival.)

The World Cup causes such turmoil in my heart. Such difficult decisions I face.

It's so hard to be me...

*Books

I like them. Right now I'm reading the following:

Non-fiction: Every Other Monday by John Kasich
Religious: Hope In Our Hearts by Elder Russell M. Nelson
Fiction: The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Re-reading: Peace Like a River by Leif Enger
Next on list: Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (I've heard good things... I might get this one on Audible.com though instead of reading it)

Top 5 Recommendations (for today at least) from my list on goodreads:

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak: It’s a simple story... not overdone, not over dramatized. It is authentic and is essentially about an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a hidden Jewish fighter, and juvenile thievery. It's Liesel's story about how life took everything away from her so she decided to steal something back. Death is the narrator (genius) and the story will touch you in a way I can't describe.

The Giver by Lois Lowry: Jonas lives in a community where everything is controlled, monitored, and predictable. This is the story about how he realizes that experience, memory, and life are far more important than the order and the protection that the society he lives in values so much. Though it was written for young adults, it is in my opinion one of the most pertinent and incredible books written, period.

Crossing the Unknown Sea by David Whyte: The man write poetry like it's prose and writes prose like it's poetry. He essentially lived like a pirate for a while, studied as a marine biologist, and now quotes classical literature like it's no biggie. He's a genius. The book has a great balance of poetry and practicality and Whyte talks about how to develop a deep connection to our work (meaning careers) by connecting it to our life's work (meaning our purpose). You can't read this in one sitting because one paragraph will supply thoughts for days.

If Thou Endure It Well by Neal A. Maxwell: If I read this book with a highlighter, the whole thing would be bright yellow. Elder Maxwell has a way of using words in a way that makes absolute sense in my mind so I decided to read one of his books... and this one couldn't have been more instructive and enlightening. Beautifully written, absolutely incredible. 

All 7 of the Harry Potter Books. There is no excuse for not reading these books. None at all (coughMOMcough) so just go buy them and read them all right now. I'm serious. I love few things more than Harry Potter.

Corners and Currants

A few months ago I had a pretty negative attitude about the way my life was going due to some disappointments and hurts. Well... no. Redact. Not due to them... but due to my reaction to them. I wasn't acting but was allowing myself to be acted upon, so to speak. But over these last several months and particularly the last several weeks, I have felt this sense of liberation and happiness. I feel like something great is happening in my life and that blessings are right around the corner. I see it as a huge miracle that Heavenly Father protects me from so much and sees me so perfectly that He can guide me—albeit at times kicking and screaming— down paths that I wouldn't go down on my own. Then we turn a corner and I see what He's guiding me towards and I stop with my tantrum and say "Ohhh... okay." Just takes faith. And hope. And trust.


Sometimes when I feel overlooked, I realize after some time, some walking, and a few corners that it isn't the case at all. I'm not overlooked, I'm looked over. I'm not being passed up... I'm being pushed up. And thank goodness there is a God above who knows what's best for me, especially when I don't. If my life was left in my clumsy hands, I would've dropped or broken or lost it by now. Instead I am guided and upheld by righteous and omnipotent hands. I'm so glad that in times of intensity and growth, the Lord also instructs and enlightens. I read this recently in a book and loved it. 

I was living up in Canada. I had purchased a farm. It was run-down. I went out one morning and saw a currant bush. It had grown up over six feet high. It was going all to wood. There were no blossoms and no currants. I was raised on a fruit farm in Salt Lake before we went to Canada, and I knew what ought to happen to that currant bush. So I got some pruning shears and went after it, and I cut it down, and pruned it, and clipped it back until there was nothing left but a little clump of stumps. It was just coming daylight, and I thought I saw on top of each of these little stumps what appeared to be a tear, and I thought the currant bush was crying. I was kind of simpleminded (and I haven’t entirely gotten over it), and I looked at it, and smiled, and said, “What are you crying about?” You know, I thought I heard that currant bush talk. And I thought I heard it say this: “How could you do this to me? I was making such wonderful growth. I was almost as big as the shade tree and the fruit tree that are inside the fence, and now you have cut me down. Every plant in the garden will look down on me, because I didn’t make what I should have made. How could you do this to me? I thought you were the gardener here.” That’s what I thought I heard the currant bush say, and I thought it so much that I answered. I said, “Look, little currant bush, I am the gardener here, and I know what I want you to be. I didn’t intend you to be a fruit tree or a shade tree. I want you to be a currant bush, and some day, little currant bush, when you are laden with fruit, you are going to say, ‘Thank you, Mr. Gardener, for loving me enough to cut me down, for caring enough about me to hurt me. Thank you, Mr. Gardener.’”

I wanted to tell you that oft-repeated story because there are many of you who are going to have some very difficult experiences: disappointment, heartbreak, bereavement, defeat. You are going to be tested and tried to prove what you are made of. I just want you to know that if you don’t get what you think you ought to get, remember, “God is the gardener here. He knows what he wants you to be.” Submit yourselves to his will. Be worthy of his blessings, and you will get his blessings.

Elder Hugh B. Brown

Bring on the blessings.