Light at the end of the tunnel.

In two weeks from right now, I will be done with my second to last semester of college, and cuddling up on a couch in Florida. Let's just say it's going to have to take major brain power to get through these two weeks.

Young Ambassadors is wrapped up for the year (see above picture...favorite moment of our Christmas party) and I'm full swing into homework and actually really doing a good job at it. Usually I have a bazillion other things to do at this time of year, but for some reason, it's extremely manageable. Actually, wait...I know why. It's because my mission helped me get rid of my horrible procrastination habit, and I'm pretty on top of things! I shoulda done this mission thing sooner.

The past few weeks have been fantastic, just finishing up projects, finishing CoogTube and ElevenNews, and giving me time to s.l.e.e.p! I've gotten lots of sleep, and lots of homework in, which is much needed come January when we have a performance or two (or three) every weekend. Um...I'm not kidding.

Here is our CoogTube crew. I was the executive producer along with Sydney...we had such a great time. Our 325ers are just so excited they survived!

Last but not least, I was just so excited I got to hang out with my family so much and do pretty much nothing. We went to the lights on Temple Square with some friends and had a great time. Nothing says bring on Christmas like those lights!

Speaking of Christmas...too bad it will be the first time I'll for sure not get a white one. Say hello to beaches, 70 degree weather and swimsuits! Oh yeah, and we can't forget this guy:

No mom, I will not be riding a motorcycle...

Happy golden days.

Only three more weeks left. Then I get on a plane back to the East Coast! Meanwhile, I haven't really had any fun at all...

Once I got on the ski lift, that's when I felt REALLY home. The resort was practically empty...and I'm not lying when I say the round trip of each run wasn't even ten minutes long. Which then, of course, I had President Christianson's voice running through my head, "A ski lift is an incredible missionary tool. You have them trapped for eight minutes." 

I tried my best to talk to the one man sitting next to us that one time, but the other fourteen times it was just me and Dad. Don't worry, we still were each other's missionaries as we discussed his lesson on Joseph Smith in High Priests for today. (Yes, I got to come in to the class and add my five cents as Joseph's personal testimony-guard.) So, it was a great doctrine-filled day, along with filling my need for speed that I haven't been able to suppress for the past two years.  

Then the day finished off at the perfect place with some of my favorite people.

"Here we are as in olden days, happy golden days of yore. Faithful friends who are dear to us, gather near to us once more."

-Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

I'll be home for [Thanksgiving.]

The holidays have arrived! We're leaving right now to go up to this place:

Tetonia, ID

It's obviously not this green anymore...

And there is now snow on the ground.

So remember how I was talking about my bridge the other week? It keeps getting better. I think the only reason it gets better is because I've kept a miracle journal, and I can go back and actually see what I prayed for and what happened. It's amazing the things you think you'll remember, but you really don't until you go back and look. Like this for instance...

...I got my job back at BYUtv! I start right after I get back from Washington, D.C.. Before my mission, I worked as a PA for BYUtv sports--total dream job as a student, right? That was one of the hardest things to let go to serve, and I prayed a lot to be okay with it. Although sometimes it's hard for missionaries to come back and start sprinting right as they rush into life, that was something I knew The Lord would help me out with. Not specifically that job, but enjoying life and working hard to make it seem seamless.

Speaking of being on TV and Thanksgiving...they would have never allowed me to if I had worked there ten years ago:

Thanksgiving 2003/2013 with Felicia and Mary

Happy Thanksgiving!

Song of the week:

"I've got nothing left to lose, but I'm no pair of dancing shoes...Don't push but don't hesitate. 
Wake me from this slumber...Rush me, but leave time to wake." -Gavin DeGraw

Yellowstone Bound

It's been quite an eventful week! I don't think I've even had time to sit down and think about what I'm doing next week. (I've tried to keep a scheduled weekly planning session from the mish, but it's just not working...)

Anyway, this is what Alison (Sister Jones), my dad and I did last weekend. It was Yellowstone's last weekend open, and we got the benefits. I would try to explain the beauty of it, but I think pictures will do a way better job than I ever could.

 The whole time I was there, I was wondering how on earth someone could see this, and not believe in a Supreme Being. There are way too many things that I saw last weekend that were perfect. It gave me such a humbled and peaceful feeling that I had been serving that same God for the last year and a half....and will continue to serve, with all my "heart, might, mind and strength."

And this is us in our early days at the Hill Cumorah Pageant 2012! 

We're just missing our other half...Sister Adams...

"This is a paradox of man: compared to God, man is nothing; yet we are everything to God. While against the backdrop of infinite creation we may appear to be nothing, we have a spark of eternal fire burning within our breast. We have the incomprehensible promise of exaltation—worlds without end—within our grasp. And it is God’s great desire to help us reach it."

—Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Fast cars and freedom.

The first week of summer is always an adventure. 

Especially if they're girls' trips to Southern California.

To start off the week...I spent two straight hours in a dressing room. This store is amazing for the future sister missionary needing major fashion help and decent prices. My mom kept bringing me clothes by the pile to try on. Let's just say that I've got everything to wear for the next 18 months! 

And...going out to dinner is always a plus.

Day 2:

Getting a farmers' tan while seeing giraffes, lions and tigers was pretty cool...minus the farmers' tan. More like a farmers' sunburn. So many cool little animals and birds and small Chinese trees! 

After our legs almost gave out, we headed to Old Town! In Reb's own words, "Oh look! It's like Nauvoo for Mexicans!" 

The last stop of the day...the beautiful San Diego temple. This was my second time going through, and my first time doing an endowment session for a deceased woman. It really is a house of learning--and I have SO much learning to do!

I've got 3 weeks left of being a normal person...I don't know what to think! I'm so excited I could just leave right now, but 18 months is a long time to miss people. I need to pack these weeks full of hang-outs and goodbyes...I hate goodbyes. But that just leaves room for more hellos.

Anyway, tomorrow we'll finally hit the beach and relax all day with my new book of quotes from C.S. Lewis.


Favorite song of the week: God Gave Me You by Blake Shelton


"God gave me you for the ups and downs, God gave me you for the days of doubt. 
And for when I think I lost my way, there are no words here left to say, it's true, God gave me you."

Beating Barack & Black Diamonds

Well that was a wonderful weekend. It always surprises me how rejuvenating weekends can be. I take a break from school and (sometimes) work and I get to fill it with whatever I want. On Friday night, Spence and I went to the Mitt Romney fundraiser in Salt Lake City! It was super cool to network with the rich guys of Utah...except when a plastic surgeon gives you his card...that was awkward. It was awesome to see everyone coming together for one cause, and feeling like I was a part of something big...like a Presidential campaign...makes me feel like I'm doing something for our country. Here's the man himself:

Horrible "paparazzi-type photo, but it was the
only one we could get. 

Then onto Saturday...it was skiing day with Jake and Mom! It was a gorgeous day, but there were a million people there. After trying to dodge all the little kids, we finally vetoed every run that any child would go down and found wide open diamonds. Then it got fun.

So, it was a pretty great weekend. I didn't start any of my homework, and we've got a show to produce tomorrow, but it was so worth it to take a break and be with my family. I also love living in Utah. I could have gone down to Moab to hike, seen the historic sights in Salt Lake, or do the best thing we could have done: skiing! I told Jake yesterday that I better marry a snowboarder, because I couldn't handle having a guy who was better than me at skiing. It is very possible, and it would take too much of my ski pride away. I obviously won't take a guy that doesn't even ski OR snowboard. Okay... I'll consider anyone who is willing to at least make an honest effort. And I post way too much about skiing. Oh well.

And now...for the new addition to my blog. My favorite song of the week: Bittersweet--Sara Bareilles

"I call you misplaced, but never a waste of my time. Everybody's gonna make mistakes, but you'll never be one of mine...You loved me fearless, when you needed to. You would not rest until you came through. So God bless, and thank you." 

Bring on True Blue Monday!

Another dedicated post to skiing.

"Skiing: the art of catching cold and going broke while rapidly heading nowhere at great personal risk." -Unknown


That about sums it up. I think the only moments that make me tear up in the early morning is looking outside the window with inches snow on the ground. (That's not a joke, either. I know I'm weird.) Especially after this drought we've had! Anyway, yesterday was phenomenal. I got to spend the day with Jake and my dad up at Deer Valley. Since there has been no snowfall for 100+ days, (exaggeration) all the out-of-staters cancelled their trips to Utah. Needless to say, we had the mountain to ourselves.


Why do I love it? It's because I can go as fast as I want--and not get a speeding ticket. It's because I love the thrill of carving in control while focusing on technique. And, it's because I get to set aside a whole day to go enjoy the beautiful Utah mountains. The greatest thing about yesterday though, was I got to shred on these little beauties:

via: http://www.evo.com/skis/rossignol-avenger-82-ti-axial-120-bindings.aspx

Rossignol Avenger 82 Ti's. I got to demo them last year, and fell in love. They are thick enough to cruise through crud, but versatile enough to basically turn by themselves. So of course my dad got a pair this year, but chose to telemark this time, so I got to use them! I almost kept them for myself. Hehe. But, he also told me I may be getting a new pair of Rossignol's next year...hopefully I can hold out until then! 

So this was the picture of the day yesterday. I don't look as cool as Jake because I'm in the process of getting a new helmet and goggles. But he's got it covered with this new pair he got for Christmas. Man, this kid is a good skier! It was especially cool when he admitted to me on the lift that I was the only girl he'd consider going with because I'm the only one that was "good enough," and the only one that would race him. We actually had a record in our history yesterday: 45 second run. Yes, 45 seconds. He won though, sadly...only because I came upon some unexpected moguls. I may or may not have seen my life flash before my eyes. Of course this is after Dad told us to not get caught by ski patrol this time. Psh.

We were trying to get him to smile...what braces do to 14-year-old boys.

I think the reason I love skiing so much is because I grew up going with my family. It's been our favorite family activity ever since I can remember. I think it's safe to say that anyone that marries into the Hawkes family must enjoy skiing...or at least snowboarding. But then we'll just convert them.