Just Another Day in Paradise

So this weekend was just another day in Paradise! Not any BIG adventures; just many little ones that made this weekend fantastic! It seems that every weekend gets better and better, so at this rate, I can't wait til the end of the semester  :)  This weekend wrapped up a total of about four dates! Ya, I am a pretty lucky girl, Matt is pretty fantastic.  Now, I know you know that I could go on and on about him, but this post isn't going to be about him.

It's about this cute guy...

Meet Geronimo.  He's Matt's cat. And he is hilarious. You wouldn't think that cats could be funny but he is. And he is so cute, I seriously wanted to take him home with me. Sadly, I was denied this request. :( But let me tell you about Geronimo.  

As soon as you start scratching his head, he's yours. He'll follow you around. And if you don't keep scratching, no worries. He'll rub up again you.  Geronimo and I took a nice "pretend" nap on the grass. He came and curled up next to me. And I mean right next to me. 

I love cats, and grew up with cats, the sad part is, that as I've gotten older, I've become semi allergic to them. But Great News! I didn't get any allergic reaction to Geronimo. Pretty much means it's a perfect match. I should have taken him home with me.   Maybe I'll just have to go visit him more often.

Well, that's all for now. I hope you all enjoy your Monday, and find something delightful to have joy in!

Life as We Know it

So I wrote this last week, I think Wednesday... A little late posting it.

So most definitely, I should be studying right now. But I'm going to be heading up to campus shortly anyway, so why not make the most of my time and be productive and blog instead of just mindlessly surfing the internet.

So life, as we know it.... is pretty dang good. I mean there are some part of it I'd like to get rid of. Like hours of studying, classes that make me sleepy, and exams, dreadful exams.   So mostly school. Which is funny, because I somewhat like school.  School is who or what I've been for the last 17 years. I mean those who know me, can you picture me with a textbook and calculator in hand?! Okay, so I'm not that nerdy, school has just been my focus for the vast majority of my life.  But I got thinking today.... life without school this summer was quite enjoyable. 

I came to this conclusion.... dating an engineer... good thing I am one. We are super duper busy.  Between my classes, Matt's classes, my labs, Matt's lab, my meetings, Matt's meetings, and everything in between, I am surprised we get to spend time together.  Granted, I enjoy the small amounts of time we get together, like lunch in the study room, while some studying for the GRE tries to occur.  So as I sat in class today, fervently taking notes (really I took two pages) I turned to Matt and said "Let's go back to the summer when nothing was required of us after we left work." (Okay so those aren't my exact words, but it was around that)

Well luckily, we might get a taste of the sweet life of summer this week. It's homecoming! Yippee! And guess what, I have dates lined up the rest of the week. Woot Woot! (Note: All of them are with Matt) Something to look forward too, and give me motivation to get my studying done early. One great thing about this year so far. I have yet to spend a complete Saturday on campus.... actually to think of it, I have yet to study on campus on a Saturday. Quite a feat for four weeks into the semester. And good news. I have no plans of going there anytime soon (On a Saturday of course) It's kind of refreshing to finally have my Saturdays back to me this semester. It's finally the weekend.  

Okay, so this post is totally random. I feel like I am just rambling on and on.... so hopefully all this makes sense.... 

Short and Sweet

Sometimes, I just love my life.... Like tonight, and I am going to tell the future... the rest of this weekend. Life is great! (minus my Finite exam tomorrow) But otherwise its just so delightful! I need to get some other stuff done, so I can expand on this. But I wanted you all to know, I delight in life! And I hope you are delighting in yours!

Sometimes

Sometimes what you need comes right to you. And tonight that's what I got.  I wasn't in the best mood this morning or this afternoon, I just wasn't what I said "my chipper self." Enough that Matt could tell.  Well IWA was just what I needed.  I knew I would be in a better mood after going to our activity, and let me tell you, I was definitely right.

We had a Hymn Testimony.  We shared our testimonies about Hymns.  It was amazing.  This is the second time that I have had the opportunity to do this activity in the IWA.  It's seriously one of the best.  The spirit was so strong, and I really felt the love and unity of our chapter.  Girls said things that I needed to hear, and it made me realize, that we all really have ups and downs in college that are similar. I really love the girls in my chapter. They are all so unique and bring with them a special spirit and unity to our chapter.  There is something missing when they aren't there, and I hope that they realize that.  

As I sat there tonight looking at them, I really thought, these are my girls; sitting in front of me is my girls for my chapter.  It's like the possession and love you get for the people you have stewardship over when you receive a calling.  I've never felt it as much as when I am in IWA.  My girls will always be my girls.  

I am so grateful for every single one of them.  I hope they know that.  I hope they know they are all special to me, and I get excited to see them, and are sad when we miss them at activities.  I hope they know they are the reason my days and weeks get better.  There's just not enough to say about them, except for.... My Soul Delighteth in IWA!!!!

Time to Celebrate!

What are we celebrating....? We are celebrating my day of birth... aka, my birthday! This past weekend, it was my birthday, and it was a party! I feel like I had one of the best birthdays, and what was even better, it wasn't just one day, it was three! I got to spread out the joy and celebration over the entire weekend.

So let's recap....

Friday, started off like any other Friday, school almost all day. But I had stuff to look forward too. My parents sent me a birthday package that was waiting for me at home all day.... I kinda wanted to go home in between classes just to open it, but I had patience to wait until I got home.  And it was a great package.... my parents are the best! Seriously.... the best! Also, Matt was taking me out that night :) Before getting ready for my date I went and ran some errands. You know me, trying to cram as much into my free time as possible.  Well look what I came home too.

Seriously, so surprised, and the best one to come home too. He also left a cute note, birthday card (Mickey and Minnie of course) and a beautiful necklace.  Seriously, he is one of the most thoughtful people I know. Anywho, I was excited for my date, but pretty sure I now just got more excited.  Now it was off to my date. We went to Texas Roadhouse, where luckily, I didn't have to sit on the saddle. We then went to the park to be little kids again and went for a walk.  One of the best dates.  I had a blast, but granted, I always have a blast on dates with Matt.  

Saturday, my cousin and I went to Park City and shopped our little hearts out.  Let's just say "Stella got her groove back."  We went to the outlets and then historic Park City, where we got stuck in a rainstorm and hail storm.  We found out that shopping can really wear you out.... we were tired and worn out by the end of the day.    

Sunday, was a good day.  I played the musical number in church and Matt came to listen.  Then I got a Sunday afternoon nap.... oh how I have missed these with late church.  Then that night, we ate dinner and watched the CES Fireside with Elder and Sister Oaks at home.    I really liked Sister Oaks' talk.  Then to my "surprise" we had a birthday get together.  My "sneaky" roommates made cake and fondue and we had some friends over, and then we watched "Big Bang Theory."  Yup, the typical nerd thing to do; how else would we celebrate?!  

So pretty much this weekend was fabulous, and I delighted in everything! A special thanks to Matt, my cousin, and "sneaky" roommate Lauren for making it one great!  

The Friendliest Flower

Flowers... Aren't the beautiful? They are just so happy and friendly.  

A quote I love about flowers is from "You've Got Mail"

Friendliest Flowers

Flowers can just seem to brighten any gloomy day.  Today's post is going to be one of pictures. So enjoy!

From my parents for the first day of school last year.  My parents are always was thoughtful and send flowers to brighten up any day.  I wish I had more pictures of them. But this is all I had.  

The first flower Matt gave me.  He has beautiful flowers outside his house and a garden.  He wanted me to choose a flower to take home, of course I forgot, so he surprised me and picked one out for me

I came home from my grandpa's viewing to this at my door with a cute note... need I say more :)

A just because flower.... so pretty.  This picture doesn't really do it justice. Sadly it fell apart when I went to save it, so now I have dried petals instead of the flower.

That's another thing.  All these flowers that mean so much to me... I save them... ALL. I love dried flowers.  I feel like you get to enjoy them so much more, especially when they have meaning behind them.  My room is the one with a wall lined with drying flowers from the ceiling. 

I am so delighted by all the people who bring these beautiful plants into my life!!! Thank you!

My Grandpa

Meet Grandpa Johnson

Photo from C. Johnson

Last Saturday, my dear sweet Grandpa passed away surrounded by his family.  He was an amazing man.  He was so caring, loving, and gave the best hugs.  You truly knew that he loved you.  There were some neat experiences I got to share with him and my family the last week or so.  It's times like these that bring families together and strengthen them.  My Grandpa had 10 children, so when we all get together, there are a lot of us.  I learned this week how little things my grandpa did have been taught to his children.  I always just thought that was how my dad was, but now I know he learned it from his dad.  If I could grow up to be like my grandpa I think I would be very happy in life.  That's just the kind of man he was.

Photo from C. Johnson

This is how I remember my grandparents growing up. They were Mr. and Mrs. Claus.  Spreading Christmas cheer to everyone.  Visiting the people in the hospital on Christmas Eve, and teaching their grandchildren the importance of this by bringing them along as "elves." 

I am so grateful for everything that I have been taught by my grandpa.  He will truly be missed. But I know that I will see him again someday because I have an eternal family.