i feel like my posts have been a bit intense lately. i've been making my way through a few things that i am sure will make me a stronger, more confident and compassionate young lady, but that have been trying to my heart, mind and soul.
that said, i was just reflecting on how much i love my ward here in the city. i've said it before and i'll say it again, my ward is amazing! i started going to the sf young single adult ward when i moved into the city in sept 2011 and have been in love ever since.
as most/all/some of you know i wasn't the most avid church goer when i lived in chico, but i went back when i moved down here and it was probably the best decision i've ever made. there was no better ward for me to be a part of. the thing i love most about the singletons here in sf is that there is such a sense of love, acceptance and inclusion.
but it's more than just the ward as a whole. it's the friends i've made that really make it special.
for the first time in my life i have single, straight, mormon male friends that i love more than life. as we know, i've had guy friends over the years that were at least a few of those things, but never all of them at once. i've been incredibly blessed over the years to have wonderful gay friends that i wouldn't trade for anything, but it's been so wonderful to have some straighties in the mix! you know who you are.
when i was going to byui i had some of the worst roommates, ever. it was horrible. except for a few, you ladies know who you are. but it put a bad taste in my mouth re: being friends with the sisters in the church.
however, these days i am friends with the best of the best. almost all of the women i consider to be a best friend (which is not a person it's a tier, as we all know) are those whom i attend my regular sunday meetings with. those whom i run with on wednesdays, brunch with on saturdays, spin with on tuesdays and text all hours of the night and days of the week.
i love my ward. period. it's made up of some of the most incredible people i've ever known. their testimonies of the gospel strengthen me, their senses of humor make me laugh out loud and their compassion amazes me every day.
cheers to the sf ysa.
xoxo
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Weekend in Chico
In the rare case that you have been ignoring instagram completely, you probably know I've been in Chico all weekend!
I love being in Chico. Especially this time of year.
The weather is perfect, the students are out in full swing and all kinds of memories always come flooding back as I traipse the streets of this small town I love.
As most/all/some of you know, I spent three of the most wonderful years of my life loving this town. I learned some of my most valuable lessons there (mostly outside the classroom) and made some of the most incredible friends.
One such amazing gal pal is Sarah Best. You've likely heard me talk about her as she is one of my most favorite friends from up north. Well, good news, she got engaged! In a similar fantasic fashion, she asked me to be a bridesmaid!
I love weddings. I love love. But that's another post.
To celebrate her engagement, I decided to head to Chico for a weekend of wedding planning and catching up--it had been too long!
So, Friday morning I jumped in car and crossed the bay bridge to make my way north. I arrived in Chico in just under four hours and met mumsy and grand mumsy for lunch at our favorite dining establishment, one Sierra Nevada Brewery.
Grand mumsy was in town visiting from Colorado Springs, so it was just such luck I happened to be coming up!
After I left downtown, I met up with Sarah and we hit up one of my two favorite Mexican places in Chico, Casa Ramos. All I can say is: obsessed.
Two hours and a frozen yogurt later, we were at Sarah's apartment laid out on the couch watching Bridesmaids to prepare for the day ahead of us--picking out the bridesmaid dresses!
Saturday morning dawned early and after grabbing a Diet Coke, we were at David's Bridal for our 10 a.m. appointment. All my favorites were there! Meghan came up from Fairfield, and the lovely and pregnant Stephanie came down from Magalia. I also finally got to meet the fabeled Stacey (Sarah's friend from elementary school) and Sarah's financee's sister, Sara.
I'll save you the gory details, but we ended up deciding on a dress that Sarah had originally picked out for the maids of honor only. It looked great on all of us (Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, much?). Plus, it will make for easy altering when I get sleeves added underneath. Easy, peasy!
For some historical reference on these lovely ladies:
I love being in Chico. Especially this time of year.
The weather is perfect, the students are out in full swing and all kinds of memories always come flooding back as I traipse the streets of this small town I love.
As most/all/some of you know, I spent three of the most wonderful years of my life loving this town. I learned some of my most valuable lessons there (mostly outside the classroom) and made some of the most incredible friends.
One such amazing gal pal is Sarah Best. You've likely heard me talk about her as she is one of my most favorite friends from up north. Well, good news, she got engaged! In a similar fantasic fashion, she asked me to be a bridesmaid!
I love weddings. I love love. But that's another post.
To celebrate her engagement, I decided to head to Chico for a weekend of wedding planning and catching up--it had been too long!
So, Friday morning I jumped in car and crossed the bay bridge to make my way north. I arrived in Chico in just under four hours and met mumsy and grand mumsy for lunch at our favorite dining establishment, one Sierra Nevada Brewery.
Grand mumsy was in town visiting from Colorado Springs, so it was just such luck I happened to be coming up!
Lovely Hansrote ladies!
After lunch, we sauntered downtown to hit a few of our faves, like Tom Foolery, Made in Chico and Betty's on Broadway. We enjoyed the warm sun of the valley and chatted, as the gallerinas so often do!
After our wonderful afternoon, I got an incredible massage and ran to campus to meet one of my study abroad pals, Kirby, and we hit up the Naked Lounge for some delicious iced tea and a catch up session. She has been working as a student advisor in the Study Abroad Office and LOVES it.
Duh!
Okay so I don't have an actual picture of just me and Kirbs, but here she is at orientation a few years ago when we worked at the office together
After I left downtown, I met up with Sarah and we hit up one of my two favorite Mexican places in Chico, Casa Ramos. All I can say is: obsessed.
Two hours and a frozen yogurt later, we were at Sarah's apartment laid out on the couch watching Bridesmaids to prepare for the day ahead of us--picking out the bridesmaid dresses!
Saturday morning dawned early and after grabbing a Diet Coke, we were at David's Bridal for our 10 a.m. appointment. All my favorites were there! Meghan came up from Fairfield, and the lovely and pregnant Stephanie came down from Magalia. I also finally got to meet the fabeled Stacey (Sarah's friend from elementary school) and Sarah's financee's sister, Sara.
I'll save you the gory details, but we ended up deciding on a dress that Sarah had originally picked out for the maids of honor only. It looked great on all of us (Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, much?). Plus, it will make for easy altering when I get sleeves added underneath. Easy, peasy!
For some historical reference on these lovely ladies:
Steph's bachelorette party in 2010: final fling before the ring
Sarah, Meg and I in Tahoe the same summer
And the beautiful bridesmaids now!
Planning & parties
Anyway, I love these gals more than life and am so glad we decided on a beautiful dress and were able to knock that out of the way. Love the color. Love the design.
After the fitting, we went to one of my favorite lunch spots in Chico, T Bar. Again: obsessed.
But the day wasn't even CLOSE to over. We still had our murder mystery dinner to attend at the brewery, and we were totally in for a treat! The food was amazing, the entertainment was fabulous, and it was an awesome evening. Plus we like, totally figured out who did it and Steph won tickets to another show!
Murdered by the Mob
Babes
My fantastic Chico weekend was topped off Sunday morning with breakfast at Mom's and a stroll through Bidwell Park. I can't imagine a better way to finish off my perfect weekend.
Beautiful day at One Mile
The thing I love about being in Chico is that it helps me realize that going back to where you've been helps you better understand where you're going.
I am so excited to continue the planning, and of course for the big day: October 4, 2014!
xoxo
*A huge thank you to Sarah and Nader (her finacee! Eeek!) for letting me lounge on their couch all weekend and watch endless amounts of "Say Yes to the Dress." And for putting up with me in general.
I am so excited to continue the planning, and of course for the big day: October 4, 2014!
xoxo
*A huge thank you to Sarah and Nader (her finacee! Eeek!) for letting me lounge on their couch all weekend and watch endless amounts of "Say Yes to the Dress." And for putting up with me in general.
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
desire is not enough
I am a total night owl.
When I was just a little gal, my mom used to call me little miss party girl, because I loved to go to bed late and wake up well after the sun had risen. I totally get that from my Dad. I grew up with him watching TV quietly in the living room until after midnight and leaving for work around 8:30 a.m.
As we well know, the world loves the early bird. Which is so dumb. I don't even like worms, you know?
Anyway, this post is not about how I love to stay up late.
It's about desire.
I want a lot of things. I've always wanted a lot of things. Did you read or watch The Berenstain Bears growing up? I hope so, because they taught me A LOT about life.
I will never forget Mumsy reading "The Berenstain Bears and Too Much Fun," to me time and time again when the child version of my now extrovert self was over-stimulated to the point of a good solid meltdown.
Even the most social of us all need a little quiet time, you know what I'm saying?
Anyway, in one book, Sister Bear finds herself having to choose between being girly and liking dolls and playing on the baseball team with Brother Bear. She sings herself a little song, and it's called, "I want it all."
I want it all. Yes every bit.
Every single bit. Of it.
Hmmmm. Could the Berenstain Bears have singlehandedly created a generation of Millenials who simply think because they want it, they can have it? And not just have it, but have it ALL?
Probably not. But it does bring me again back to the point of this post. Desire, and getting what we want.
I think it's hard as a twenty-something to come to the conclusion that sometimes, even if you work hard, make the best choices you can and be the best version of yourself, you still come up a little short. You can do absolutely everything "right" (which I put in quotes due to its subjective nature, in this case) and still miss out on something--or so it would seem.
How does that happen? Why does that happen? Shouldn't it be enough to just want something, ask for it nicely, and get it?
That's like, how it works, right?
I was recently reading one of my favorite conference talks by President Uchtdorf (swoon) entitled, "Your Happily Ever After." Any general authority who kicks off a conference talk with a story about Disney princesses is okay in my book, am I right? Anyway.
The talk is basically about the fact that yes, things worked out for Cinderella, Snow White and Belle, but not until the end. Homegirls had to deal with lost slippers, moody dwarves and literal beasts before their stories were finished. Until they got their happily ever after. He say this:
"Isn't that what we all desire; to be the heros and heroines of our own stories; to triumph over adversity; to experience life in all its beauty; and in the end, to live happily ever after?...But such a blessing does not come without a price. It is not given simply because you desire it. It comes only through understanding who you are and what you must become in order to be worthy of such a gift."
And may I add to that, "what you must become in order to be worthy and ready for such a gift."
So you see, it's not just about desire. It's about wants and needs colliding with personal worthiness, readiness and the greater plan for you and your eternal family.
We also cannot get what we want right away, because we might not appreciate it. Dieter also says this about my beloved princesses:
"Sandwiched between "once upon a time" and "happily ever after," they all had to experience great adversity. Why must we all experience sadness and tragedy? Why could we not simply live in bliss and peace, each day filled with with wonder, joy and love?"
He goes on to answer:
"In stories, as is life, adversity teaches us things we cannot learn otherwise. {favorite part, PAY ATTENTION!} Adversity helps us develop a depth of character that comes in no other way. Our loving Heavenly Father has set us in a world filled with challenges and trials so that we, through opposition, can learn wisdom, become stronger, and experience joy."
So it's true, you can't always get what you want.
But you will always eventually, get what you need.
xoxo
When I was just a little gal, my mom used to call me little miss party girl, because I loved to go to bed late and wake up well after the sun had risen. I totally get that from my Dad. I grew up with him watching TV quietly in the living room until after midnight and leaving for work around 8:30 a.m.
As we well know, the world loves the early bird. Which is so dumb. I don't even like worms, you know?
Anyway, this post is not about how I love to stay up late.
It's about desire.
I want a lot of things. I've always wanted a lot of things. Did you read or watch The Berenstain Bears growing up? I hope so, because they taught me A LOT about life.
I will never forget Mumsy reading "The Berenstain Bears and Too Much Fun," to me time and time again when the child version of my now extrovert self was over-stimulated to the point of a good solid meltdown.
Even the most social of us all need a little quiet time, you know what I'm saying?
Anyway, in one book, Sister Bear finds herself having to choose between being girly and liking dolls and playing on the baseball team with Brother Bear. She sings herself a little song, and it's called, "I want it all."
I want it all. Yes every bit.
Every single bit. Of it.
Hmmmm. Could the Berenstain Bears have singlehandedly created a generation of Millenials who simply think because they want it, they can have it? And not just have it, but have it ALL?
Probably not. But it does bring me again back to the point of this post. Desire, and getting what we want.
I think it's hard as a twenty-something to come to the conclusion that sometimes, even if you work hard, make the best choices you can and be the best version of yourself, you still come up a little short. You can do absolutely everything "right" (which I put in quotes due to its subjective nature, in this case) and still miss out on something--or so it would seem.
How does that happen? Why does that happen? Shouldn't it be enough to just want something, ask for it nicely, and get it?
That's like, how it works, right?
I was recently reading one of my favorite conference talks by President Uchtdorf (swoon) entitled, "Your Happily Ever After." Any general authority who kicks off a conference talk with a story about Disney princesses is okay in my book, am I right? Anyway.
The talk is basically about the fact that yes, things worked out for Cinderella, Snow White and Belle, but not until the end. Homegirls had to deal with lost slippers, moody dwarves and literal beasts before their stories were finished. Until they got their happily ever after. He say this:
"Isn't that what we all desire; to be the heros and heroines of our own stories; to triumph over adversity; to experience life in all its beauty; and in the end, to live happily ever after?...But such a blessing does not come without a price. It is not given simply because you desire it. It comes only through understanding who you are and what you must become in order to be worthy of such a gift."
And may I add to that, "what you must become in order to be worthy and ready for such a gift."
So you see, it's not just about desire. It's about wants and needs colliding with personal worthiness, readiness and the greater plan for you and your eternal family.
We also cannot get what we want right away, because we might not appreciate it. Dieter also says this about my beloved princesses:
"Sandwiched between "once upon a time" and "happily ever after," they all had to experience great adversity. Why must we all experience sadness and tragedy? Why could we not simply live in bliss and peace, each day filled with with wonder, joy and love?"
He goes on to answer:
"In stories, as is life, adversity teaches us things we cannot learn otherwise. {favorite part, PAY ATTENTION!} Adversity helps us develop a depth of character that comes in no other way. Our loving Heavenly Father has set us in a world filled with challenges and trials so that we, through opposition, can learn wisdom, become stronger, and experience joy."
So it's true, you can't always get what you want.
But you will always eventually, get what you need.
xoxo
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