California: Round Two

Man I can never get enough of California.

I just went home last week, for Thanksgiving and it was so nice to be home. I really do love California and I plan on keeping that as "home" forever.

So I got as much time as possible, I left Friday the weekend BEFORE thanksgiving, and I didn't come back to Provo until yesterday, Saturday, the weekend AFTER thanksgiving. I know, I am so lucky. I really am.

So the first weekend, I went to my mom's and got to spend time with my mom, sister and grandma. It was nice and relaxing and good to just hang out with them and be myself.

Monday I went to lunch with Lisa and Nella. Then I got my phone fixed finally!!!

Tuesday I got my hair done :) Then we made gingerbread houses! I even made a little one and brought it to school with me! It's cute!

Wednesday we left for Palm Springs and it was so nice! Again, I love California!

We stayed in condo's! I didn't have a camera, and the only pictures my dad took were of the field hockey games my sister played, so here's a picture off the website...

Yes that's a lazy river :)

It was so nice to get a little sun (even though it didn't even make a dent in my utah white skin...) and just relaxing and not worrying about life.

My sister played a ton of field hockey games in a tournament and so I went to a few of those.

We had thanksgiving on Friday and it was delicious!

And now I am back in Provo, back to life, but you know what? If I gotta do it, why bother complaining? I mean, it doesn't make it better, and I keep reminding myself, instead of whining and wanting more vacation time, be grateful for what I had. It was a rather long vacation actually and I am very lucky and blessed that I was able to take that long of a break from school and just relax and do nothing. So, I am going to try and keep a good, positive frame of mind.

Only sad thing is, I haven't heard from David in a little while and it's getting harder and harder because I don't have that constant interaction. Well, it's probably for a good reason, well obviously it is. I am pretty serving the Lord and teaching the gospel is the best excuse.... :)

But I have so many great people in my life and I need to make sure I really appreciate them. They are amazing and I would be nothing without them. I have made it a goal to become very selfless and look for every opportunity to serve others and make sacrifices. I need to be less selfish and less self absorbed...HENCE my new goal! So if you need help with anything, let me know. And I will keep praying for opportunities to help others.

How was your thanksgiving? and what are you most grateful for?

p.s. Sorry there aren't pictures. That's the only part worth while usually on my blogs haha. I tend to ramble....OK done rambling.

I've been tagged!!!

Four jobs I've had:

1. Salon Coordinator

2. Birthday Party Hostess

3. Law Librarian

4. Bagel giver outer at a Bagel Shop(for one day only, then they fired me)

Four movies I can watch over and over:

1. Groundhog's Day

2. Drive Me Crazy

3. Mean Girls

4. One more....

Four places I have lived:

1. Huntington Beach, Ca(technically it's Westminster....shut it)

2. Provo, UT

3. Yucaipa, Ca

4. Corona, Ca

Four favorite TV shows:

1. The Office

2. Pushing Daisies

3. Gilmore Girls

4. America's Next Top Model!

Four places I've been:

1. Disneyworld (Florida)

2. Nauvoo

3. Texas

4. All the states between California and those three

Four favorite foods:

1. Italian Food

2. Mexican Food

3. American Food...

4. Dessert food :)

Four websites I visit daily:

1. Gmail

2. Facebook

3. Blogger

4. BYU Website

Four places I'd rather be:

1. California

2. California

3. California

4. Maybe Italy or Greece

Four blog buddies I want to tag:

1. Rachel

2. Kimber

3. Jenny

4. Emily

(sorry guys, I am new at this and I am unaware of who has been tagged or not....)

California...California...Here we cooooooooomme..Ohhhhoh oh

So I was a little slow on adding my latest adventure to the archives but I am finally doing it. Mostly because I finally have time, seeing as I forgot it was daylight saving and I got up an extra hour earlier.

Last weekend, which feels like forever ago, and yet I can't believe it was that long ago. I went to California for david's farewell. Jenna and I packed up and hit the road about 6:30 pm on Thursday and drove all night. It was actually pretty fun. We rocked out to music and it was no problem at all staying awake. We arrived in the glorious Huntington Beach area around 2:30 am PST. I proceeded to sleep until about 8am. :)

That morning, now being Friday, I woke up and had a chance to just sit and catch up and chat with Linda, and then I got ready for my day. On today's agenda: Orange/Cerritos Route! Hooray! David!

He came and got me, we ran a few errands and then headed out to check boxes just like old times! It was nice, and the first half the day, I just kept saying, "I can't believe I am home!" It was surreal. But I was happy. But by the second half of the day, I felt like I had never left.

Mid-route, David showed me his "other work" and we said hi to President Parker and he introduced me to Ramon, Ramon, Ramon, and Billy, and other people. It was pretty cool. We also got free pizza, so that was extra cool.

At the end of the route, we stopped in to the Salon and I got to say hi for a tiny bit. I had planned on going Saturday, so I just kept that visit short. We went to David's house and killed time before Spencer came. Hooray! The old gang back together at last! Haha.

David, Spencer, and I decided to go down to Redondo Beach (special significance to David and I) and it was fun! We goofed around in the Fun Zone or whatever it's called. We walked on the pier, and then headed back. Side note: We got to Redondo strictly off memory and I think when David and I went, it was like...early summer. So...GO US!

EARLY Saturday morning we got up, set up, and had a garage sale. It was actually pretty fun, except I never knew how much to charge, and it stressed me out when a bunchof people were there at once. I could never keep my eyes on everyone at every second. Some people were kinda crazy.... "Harry Potter!?" hahhahaha...I made breakfast for David, Spencer and I, and it was just...a garage sale. Ya...

During the garage sale, I skipped out for a little bit to go visit the salon again, for reals this time. So I got to chat and visit and catch up with everyone and it was SO nice. I miss it there soooo much!! I am going to lunch with a couple of the girls when I come home for thanksgiving! I can't wait!

After visiting, I went back to David's and we all cleaned up. Then I had to wait for David and Spencer to get ready, and we went to lunch at Thai Wave. Then we ran some errands for some final things David needed for his mission. Then Spencer went home and David and i did our little tradition one last time. I'm sure gonna miss that.

Sunday I went to the FV2 ward and David spoke on Faith. It was a realllly great talk and I should really take his advice. It's hard though. I was crying a lot, of course. Anyone who know's me is not surprised.

After church I killed some time at home, but my family wasn't home so I was bummed. Then David came and got me and we went to dinner at the Miller's. That was fun. I like them, and I am soooo happy and grateful for everything they have done for David. They have been there for him, and it made things a lot easier for him.

Then we went to David's house for round two of dinners. Sara made this reallllly good chicken mixture stuff and it was yummy. Then we just hung out the rest of the night. Last time. Anyways.....

Early monday morning, as in about an hour after I got to bed, Jenna and I got up to go back to Provo. Sad day, leaving California. But I will adjust again...Plus, it was a beautiful sunrise.

Driving back wasn't quite as fun and exciting, but I still stayed awake and we made it safely. So that's good.

Tuesday I went to my classes and then Spencer came and picked me up, with David...I mean Elder Ornelas, and his sister Sara and we all went to IHOP. It was fun, and I am glad I got to go, but it was different because David was set apart, so it made things a little different. But that's ok. This is all a good thing.

Then we ran more errands all day, and then went to the Orgill's for dinner. Some friends came over and hung out a little bit and then said their goodbyes and then it was just us again, Spencer, Sara, Elder Ornelas, and Me.

David played the piano for a long while, and Sara and I cried. I am so glad she got to come up with him. I know it meant so much to him, and it was a good experience for her I think as well. Plus, I wasn't the only one crying for once.

Wednesday I got up really early and went back the Orgill's for breakfast, and then went back to school for my one class, and then Sister Miller came and picked me up and we just drove around, literally, until it was time to go to the MTC. I tried really hard to be excited....

We went to the MTC, took pictures, went to Orientation, said goodbyes and then it was done. I am sorry if this part is so vague, but I don't feel like getting into too much detail anymore...

We left the MTC and I went back to my place, and I was alone. It was such a hard goodbye. It was so sad to say goodbye to someone who has been a huge part of my life for a long time and now they're just not. I mean, we will stay friends of course, no question about it. But it's just majorly different, and I am trying to deal. I have been pretty good so far, but I have my moments. It just doesn't always seem real to me. I have been in Provo for two months, while David's been back home, so most of the time, it just feels like that situation, but then I think of calling, texting, or even IMing and I remember. It's weird how we live closer to each other than in CA, (the MTC, while I am at BYU, less than a mile apart) and it's the farthest we have ever been.

Wellll......I apologize for this being so long, and maybe very very boring. But that's the rundown of my trip to CA. It was amazing, and sad, and fun, and scary, and VERY Bittersweet. But David is doing something incredible and I am proud of him. I could never do what he's done, and I look up to him.

Ok. Have a great day and thanks for reading!

Brrrr!!!

SNOW WEEKEND!!!

(My car: Approx. 12 am)

(My car: Approx. 2 am)

(Sunday Morning)

I love photography.

One of my current obsessions is photography. I like to pretend I am a photographer sometimes and take pictures I pretend are artistic. I LOVE looking at artistic pictures too. Especially ones with a lot of emotion or capturing a candid moment.

Cold, Cloudy, Cheerful Conference and Crazy Canadians!

This past weekend was a blast!!!

I was lucky enough to get tickets to conference and so Saturday morning, we rose with the sun and drove to SLC!

It was COLD this past Saturday! Oh my goodness!! I am serious, whoever thought of up the idea that girls should wear skirts is cruel and unusual!!

I have been there before, but it was empty. I have never been to conference though and I was SUPER excited!! This really was a neat experience!

There were so many people and it was such an awesome thing to see the Prophet, and the Apostles and all the other general authorities and leaders and oh ya! The MO TAB!!! (Mormon Tabernacle Choir)

So the session was yet another fabulous addition to all the wonderful words of our leaders, and afterwards, we went to lunch.

Then, around 1:30 pm, I got to see my buddy, ELDER WILDE! YAY!! He was an elder that served in my home ward for like 9 months, and we kept in touch. He's from "Canadia eh." Haha. So he brought some friends and then we met up with more Canadian friends and just spent the day hanging out! I didn't have a working camera, except my phone, so I don't have too many pictures but Duane/Ben/Elder Wilde/Elder Red....nevermind... haha. He is supposed to send me a few, so I will post those too, when I get them.

Anyways, so we hung out with the Canadians and learned some fun differences. For example, they do not have IHOP there and thought it was pretty cool when they found out what it meant. hahah..

So while the boys went to Priesthood Session, the girls went to "Girls Night Out" at Deseret Book, and it was a ZOOO! Tons of females waiting for their other half to get out of the the session and there was a sale and cookies and a raffle. Oh man. My new friend Shannon and I went back to the JSMB and just chatted and got to know each other better and then the other girls finished in line and we all raced to the car to go to the Mayan and put our name on the list.

WHen we got their, the boys had beat us.

We had dinner and a show and for those of you who might have never heard of it. "The Mayan Adventure" is a restaurant where they have a full on cliff and a pool of water atthe bottom and the whole place looks like you are in a jungle, and they have Scantily Clad Mayans come around sometimes and they jump off the cliff and dive into the water and it's realllly neat! I LOVE places like that. I love when a restaurant has an over-the-top theme.

After dinner, we took some pictures and said our goodbyes and went our seperate ways. It was way fun and I was so sad that all my new friends live so far away. Plus, Duane, my old buddy(we go way back), he lives so far too :(

But it was still fun.

Oh and here is a picture of Duane's wet foot. He didn't realize there was water in the fountain and stepped right into it, all the way up to his knee!!! Hahaha

Good times!!!

Oh, What a Beautiful Morning! Oh, What a Beautiful Day!

This is the sunrise I woke up to Friday morning!! I took these while walking to campus. One good thing that comes from being up that early! :)

Wow, world record! I haven't posted a new blog for over a week!

I bet you have all been on the edge of your seats, waiting by your computer anxiously, just dying to know when the next blog will be, refreshing your browser every 2 minutes.

I am sorry to have kept you waiting, and thank you for being so faithful...(sad thing is, I doubt anyone even noticed. Haha)

Well it's been a pretty good week, but not quite as eventful as the week of last blog.

Last weekend, the homecoming football game one, I mentioned it rained at the game. Well the following Monday, it was FREEEEEZING!! I checked the temperature that morning and it was 32 degrees!! It had snowed in the mountains the Saturday before, and althought it wasn't rainy or snowy all week, it was really cold. It progressively got a little warmer each day, and by Friday it wasn't too bad. BUT, Saturday came and it was FREEZING again and it was rainy!!

Friday I worked a total of 8 hours. It actually wasn't bad and I am not complaining, seeing as that is a normal shift, and I have been spoiled to not have to work that long straight in a good while. BUT it was really boring because I don't really get to interact at allllll.....so that's a LONG time for me to go without talking....wouldn't you say? One time at one job I had, one guy bet me I couldn't go a whole hour without talking. Of course I am stubborn and had to prove him wrong, so I did it. It was really hard, but I did it. Haha.

So Friday night, Rachel and I went to our ward activity. They had a Ward Abilities Night(not talent show...) and they had a lot of really good, or funny performers. They also had a chili cook off for the food, and MAN I love chili! It was SOO yummy, and fun. I am glad we went. It was the first thing we attended besides church for the ward.

Saturday morning, we went grocery shopping where we proceeded to purchase a 10 pound roll of ground beef! Oh man, people were teasing us in the line, but in a fun, friendly way, not a mean way. But we got some other things, and we went home and made burgers on my George Forman. He made the patties pretty big, and then we had bacon, and avocado, and lettuce, tomato, grilled onions, and condiments. It was SOOOO yummy!!!

Then we played a board game and then we called Karli and went to see Transformers. GUESS HOW MUCH WE PAID....

ONE DOLLAR!! It was a normal theater with mostly normal movies, all that were still fairly new. I mean, Transformers? Isn't that pretty recent? Any ways, for the matinee, it was a buck! Best buck ever spent...maybe...hhaha

it was a good movie though.

WHILE we were driving to the movies, it started raining again. Only it was sooo cold, that it turned to slush and then....

SNOW!!! OH MY GOSH IT WAS SNOWING ON US!! and Karli was wearing rainbows! Haha. She's from california too.

SO ya, it was officially my first snow here! The other time it was only up in the mountain, it never snowed down in the valley. How crazy is that? In SEPTEMBER! Even the locals were surprised at how early it came. But the next day it was mostly melted up in the mountains, and it never stuck on the ground down here. But I got a picture of the Y before it was all gone. And it was just super cold the next day, for church. I had to wear nylons. YUCK!

After the movie, we went to Karli's house and played Mexican Train with her roommate Sarah and her fiancee David. It was fun. I did not win, but I did not lose. That's all that matters.

After a while we went home and we made our second meal of the day: Breakfast Burritos!

We made eggs with onion, bacon, chopped tomato, grated cheese, and of course ketshup for me. SOOO good! It makes me want one right now! Then we just hung out and watched a movie and it was just a good weekend.

Sunday was good. After church we went to Regina and Steve's house for dinner. They had all Steves family that lives in the area, including a nephew and niece that go to BYU(my ride home) over and it was SO fun! We had a nice dinner, almost like thanksgiving. I haven't had mashed potatoes in forever! And then we played a game called Hummm...ble...

It's where you have to hum the song or act it out to get your team to guess it.

That's a Roma! HAHAHAHHAHAHAH....(had to be there)

Anyways, it was really fun, but then back to the grind this morning with school and then work. Then I came home and kind of wasted a little too much time. BUT! I got a package and that's why! I was so distracted! It was so fun! It had tons of yummy treats in it from my parents including homemade cookies, poptarts, a cake mix, chips, and candy!! YUM! I took the bags of chips and divided them into two ziplock baggies each so I can take them for lunches! And the red doritos bag on the right is empty:) It had popped in the package and darn it, I had to eat it. haha. It was awesome though and I was SOOO excited!!! I almost started crying when I opened it. I am not sure why. I think it was just because I felt so loved. I always get things I don't deserve(good things) and I always wonder why I am so blessed. But no matter what the reason, I am always soooo grateful! I can't wait to go get them a card tomorrow!

OH that reminds me, Lisa sent me a card too! She's so sweet!! I miss her so much, as I do the rest of the salon. I really do. And my family. I miss everyone! TAKE ME HOME! WAHHH!!

haha. No, I am ok. Although, I would like to go home and visit. Tomorrow I am getting stamps so I can finally send my sweet Crystal her thank you card that is welllllll under what she deserves, and welllllll over due.. I wrote it out right away, but never had stamps. But finally, tomorrow I am getting them. Hopefully they sell them at school because I am not waiting any more to go to the post office...

Well, sorry this blog wasn't as exciting as last times. It seems as if I hit the high point in the semester very early one. Haha. No, it is fun and will continue to me. I even went to FHE tonight, and it was pretty fun. I am finally meeting people from the ward. YAY! Thanks Rachel for talking me into going!!

Alright, well have a superb week and email me with your response to this weeks survey question:

Have you ever been to the snow? What is your opinion of snow?

Respond at Heather.lds@gmail.com

I am such a dork but I love having those little surveys because I like to know random facts about my friends and family!

LOVE YOU ALL!!