Happy

I am so so so happy because of reasons...that is all :)

Love

Yesterday my sister and I went down to Eugene to see Chad for the first time since he's been back and to hear his homecoming talk at church.  We left around 6 am and got there at about 8 for church at 9.  I wasn't super nervous until I was in his driveway, so we sat there for a good 15 minutes before I plucked up the courage to finally get out of the car and knock on his door.  I don't really know what I was expecting to happen, but I suppose things went fairly well.  There were moments where it felt normal like before, but mostly it was sort of weird.  He's still kind of in missionary mode and has some trouble with translating his thoughts to english...despite the slight language barrier, his homecoming talk went very very well.  He was assertive and more confident and was able to bring the spirit in a way that his farewell two years ago didn't really do.  It was amazing to see the change and see the man he's become.  After church, we went back to his house and played games and ate dinner.  At 7 they had an open house and a bunch of friends and people he knew came over to see him...thats when I started to feel super uncomfortable and a bit overwhelmed.  I probably shouldn't have stayed for that because it just made me feel weird about everything.  I don't know...I think the ball is more in his court at this point and I have no idea what to do or where to go from here.
In other news though, my grandparents' 50th anniversary was this last weekend so tonight we all went out to celebrate.  They've known each other since the 2nd grade and their love is so inspiring.  I hope one day Ill be able to celebrate 50 years of marriage with my husband and be just as in love with him then, if not more, as I will have been on our wedding day.

Homeward Bound

I could never be in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir simply because I would never be able to make it through a song without crying.  The magnitude of the spirit felt through music is so incredible.  A few weeks ago a girl in my ward sang this song and I absolutely loved it.

"Homeward Bound"
In the quiet misty morning
When the moon has gone to bed,When the sparrows stop their singingAnd the sky is clear and red,When the summer's ceased its gleamingWhen the corn is past its prime,When adventure's lost its meaning -I'll be homeward bound in timeBind me not to the pastureChain me not to the plowSet me free to find my callingAnd I'll return to you somehowIf you find it's me you're missingIf you're hoping I'll return,To your thoughts I'll soon be listening,And in the road I'll stop and turnThen the wind will set me racingAs my journey nears its endAnd the path I'll be retracingWhen I'm homeward bound againBind me not to the pastureChain me not to the plowSet me free to find my callingAnd I'll return to you somehow

Fingers Crossed

These past two months have been crazy and beautiful and terrifying all at the same time.  I went and spent the best week with my friends in Idaho and found one of the most amazing waterfalls I've ever seen.  Fresca, Brianne, and Chris all had class so I decided to take Emma to Mesa Falls.  On the way we passed a sign that said "Cave Falls".  It was only 14 miles away, so I decided that on the way back we'd go check it out.  We turned at the sign and started the 14 mile drive to the falls.  After a short while, the pavement ran out and we drove for what seemed like FOREVER on a gravel road.  Somehow, we ended up in part of  Yellowstone National Park and eventually we came to the falls.  Oh my...it was incredible.  You walk down this short path and BAM! The falls are right there...you could get in the water and swim right up to them if you really wanted to.  There was no railing or anything.  On the left-hand side, there was a cliff where the "cave" of "Cave Falls" presumably was, but from what I could tell it was all under water and rocks had fallen from the cliff making it hard to explore.  I ended up taking my friends there the next day because I just couldn't believe how beautiful it was.  This world is just so extraordinary! After going to the falls, we all decided we would go float the dry-bed behind my aunt's house.  Its basically this stream thing that gets filled up with water in the summer but is completely empty in the winter; hence the "dry-bed".  Anyways, we drove to my aunt's house (sans Chris who was lame and decided to not blow off his homework...lame, but admirable) and after accumulating the right amount of heavy-duty inner-tubes, headed to the dry-bed.  It took about an hour to float down and I have never wished so badly that my phone was waterproof or that I had a waterproof camera with me.  Fresca, Brianne, and I ended up sharing a tube practically the whole way and Im sure it was the most hilarious thing to watch.  Most of the time was spent falling into the water, hopping back on the tube, trying to position ourselves in a way that wouldn't make anyone else fall off, and trying (and failing quite often) to avoid running into trees and bushes along the banks.  I have never laughed so hard in my life and everything was wonderful.
After my trip, it was back to work.  I feel like I've been living more at work than I have at home...but I've gotta pay for school somehow.  A week or two after our Idaho adventure, my family finally decided on where we're going to go for vacation all together before Brogan and I head back to school.  WE ARE GOING TO HARRY POTTER WORLD!!!!!!!!!!! I. CANNOT. WAIT.  We've been watching one Harry Potter each week to get ready for our trip and I've just been freaking out with excitement.
While we're on the topic of exciting things happening in my life, Chad (my boyfriend) comes home next wednesday from his mission in Peru.  I cant believe he's been gone for two years...I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous about how things were going to work out when he gets back.  Two years is a long time and people can change dramatically.  It'll be interesting to see what happens.  He's supposed to fly into Eugene around 10:30 pm and then his homecoming is the 25th.  I was really hoping I would be able to be at the airport and everything, but I think since its so late and since I have to work the next morning, that I'll just wait and see him on the 25th.
Now, in some not so exciting news...last week I had a doctors appointment to get my scar from my birthmark being taken off looked at.  I was under the impression that it was only a checkup, but when I got there, my doctor told me that when they tested everything, the tumor went right up to the edge of my birthmark which made them think that there was some tumor that got left behind and it would be too risky to leave it there.  So, we made another appointment for a third surgery which I had on monday.  The first two were nothing compared to this last one.  This time was much much more painful...probably because he had to cut out all the scar tissue that had built up and I could feel all the pokes and prods.  It was terrible, but hopefully third times a charm and I wont have to go back a fourth time.  Keeping my fingers crossed for that.