Paris is better at night.

I think it's safe to say that Paris is better at night - there's something about the streets.. possibly they seem more grandeur and sophisticated or maybe just empty.  There's something about the streets that seems mystifying with the lights, and the reflections, and I don't feel rushed anymore.  I'm not a tourist because museums are closed, and I have no place to be, so I'm walking without bustle or gypsies, just among little hidden thieves and cool-weathered clothes - it's better that way.  So perhaps when I found myself alone in my hotel past midnight, I liked the Paris solace too much to draw attention to a missing roommate, and perhaps she thanked me for her time in the streets.  

Skyler is published

And at the young age of 13.

Feelings of Fall

Orange and yellow leaves crunching under my feet

The sound of football cheering and wind in the trees 

Music of birds chirping ready to head south

Snapping sticks crackle when walking in the fields

When I taste the hot cocoa or pumpkin pie

The taste of dull air while riding bikes in the mountains

Apple cider and cinnamon, nutmeg and more

Taste of the sweet corn after the harvest

The smell of wet leaves when falling from trees

Smelling strong campfires from the canyon up north 

The humid air from the river flowing strong

The dark sweet smell from the pines in the forest

Warm smooth fleece blankets when time for bed

The touch of crackling leaves on my hands and feet 

The bumps of gourds and pumpkins when decorating the house

Touching the wheat grains from the field out back

Catching sight of the tree colors; reds, yellows, and oranges

Measles on the mountains turning red to brown

Houses with orange pumpkins in rows on the porch 

The sight of cornfields and hay stacked up high

Falling for fall.

A day of green with my favorite people.

A little late?… And I'm posting about the wrong holiday? But the Daluga family spent their spring break with us in Park City.  Their visit has become an annual event (biannual when I can convince Linsey to visit me over Christmas break), and I look forward to it each year.  We went skiing and hot tubbing and played games and went running?… (Linsey is on the team for Purdue University, so she never takes a break from running, and somehow she always convinces me to go with her...) 

     

Fortunately we even got to spend St. Patrick's Day with them.  (minus Linsey and Mr. Daluga). Mrs. Daluga makes every holiday something worth while.  She brought everything green all the way from Indiana for us to wear.  So logically Cailey and I put on matching four-leaf-clover tattoos and bandanas and pins.  (Mine was a dancing leprechaun. :)  I love this family so much and was so sad that they had to leave.  I can't wait for my next adventure with the Daluga clan.

Hiking Dry Canyon on St. Patrick's Day. (My hair was in its prime?)

 Mother and daughter. :) 

 So many colors.

The colorful lineup.. 

 We reached the level of mountain goats?… semi dangerous.

Beautiful Cailey 

And Beautiful Linsey (from last year) since we somehow took zero pictures in Park City.

The doorstep.

***24 March 2012*** 

Life is short.  90. short.  On Sunday morning I woke up early to finish Daughters in My Kingdom, but I instead found myself on Virginia Boyce's doorstep.  I parked my car as usual, this time without gift or treat or even a carol to sing -- just me.  I rushed out in the flurry March morning.  I stood on the doorstep and noticed the details in the glass.  It looked different… I think I used to be able to see through her window with her children and their children and even their children on the wall, so I'd always know when Virginia was home.  But this time I just waited on the doorstep… And while I waited on the doorstep, I waited for my knock to be heard, and the doorstep brought me back to the fall leaves, and the fifty of us singing, and our one-on-one visits.

I was no longer on the doorstep.  I was in a love story at BYU; she loved him, and I wanted to love just as she did.  I was in Nevada riding horses to school, but really I was just on the doorstep… and when the door cracked opened it wasn't Virginia.  She simply wasn't feeling well.  "Tell her I came by…" smile. I turned with tear-filled eyes, because somehow I knew that would be the last time I'd be on her doorstep.

Virginia said "she had learned enough" and wondered when Heavenly Father would ever allow her to "stop learning and learning and learning"...  I think Virginia is a teacher now.  And I'm now learning, and one day, I'll meet Virginia again on her doorstep, and it will be the greatest of all visits.

This week: I looked out the window.

Currently Loving:

These are a few of my favorite things… 
because they occupy my life.

1. Count down paper chains.
2. Skiing in the deep.
3. Mr. President and his day of sorts.
4. Hearts (that my mom willingly cut out for me to decorate my apartment slash sit on my desk? If you're interested?)
5.  Vacuuming. When the vacuum is up for it?
6.  That photo up there.
7.  Making that high-pitched noise, because it's just oh so cute.
8.  Thinking about graduation = too, too far away.
9.  Lady Gaga.  As much as I want to hate her (music), I can't.  It's impeccable. Guilty pleasure? maybe.
10.  The undersized heart-shaped wreath that hangs on the door.  I don't want February to end… because heart-shaped wreaths are only for this month of love?
11.  Kodiak.
12.  Warming my hands on the lamp at my desk, because it's impossible to have warm hands (studying) ever.
13.  Instagram. What's better than something so instant?
14.  Elder Holland's talk on the Missionary Work and the Atonement… because Elder Holland is my favorite and the gospel is omnipresent.

 

I should never….

I should never… think I'm going to get homework done over a weekend trip with these girls, and the best part is that I didn't even care.  This weekend all my London girls drove down to Las Vegas to see Miss Stephanie become Mrs. Seth Probert.  She was engaged the whole time we were in London and is finally married! She of course looked flawless and unbelievably happy.  After her wedding we ran down to the strip, and I made myself go on the ride, "Big Shot" on the top of the Stratosphere.  (yes, I had to make myself), and I'm so glad I did.  :)  

I should have never… changed my weather updates on my phone to Las Vegas' weather.  I was way too excited and confused when I saw it was 65 degrees and sunny this week. And my mistake also cost me a very cold day in just a sweater.  Oops...

Speaking of weather… I should never… think it's okay to make assumptions about international weather conditions to my physics class. My very loud claim: " It's hotter than China in here"… The Chinese boys in front of me didn't appreciate that… and honestly I know mostly nothing about the weather in China, but apparently it might be hot?… 

Just for fun?  Today's forecast in Beijing - low 25 F high 46 F - so it's not too hard to be hotter than China (Beijing) these days.

We had matching long skirts.

The Las Vegas Temple.

Seth prepared a dance for Steph = classic. :) 

Sometimes Maggie and I just want pictures together.