A Very Merry Christmas Letter

Merry Christmas Eve dear family and friends! We are feeling so blessed this Christmas season with the amazing year we’ve had.

We started off 2014 with a welcome surprise: I was expecting! For several weeks I had felt like I might be pregnant but we were both in disbelief. After two drugstore pregnancy tests, we believed. That semester Carter finished up his Junior of his two-major (Math and Economics) degree and I worked part-time at a group home for boys teaching math and science while starting a degree in Web Design and Development and suffering through morning (all-day) sickness. After finishing my Neuroscience degree at BYU back in 2013, I decided to return to school and pursue a degree in web design. After months of researching different programs, I discovered BYU-I had an online program and I instantly knew it was the right fit. If I take three classes every semester, I should be able to finish my second Bachelors in Fall 2016. Surprisingly, I’ve loved the development side of my degree much more than the design side. I’ve learned so much already and am excited to continue my education.

Carter was accepted for an internship at the New York Federal Reserve Bank so we traveled to New York, New York for the summer months. We lived just off of Central Park West and 103rd street and loved it. According to Carter, working just off of Wall Street with researchers who directly affect fiscal policy was one of the most amazing experiences of his life. I spent the NY months taking walks in Central Park and shopping in Baby Gap. With the impending birth of our child, I figured I should just enjoy one last childless vacation :). From Shakespeare in the Park to the Bronx Zoo to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and more, we tried—and succeeded, I think—to maximize our time as New Yorkers. Carter and I still have high hopes that we’ll return to live in NY in the future. 

In October, we welcomed Noah Carter Davis into our family on his due date, the 18th. The labor and delivery went well and Noah was born just 5 hours after I was admitted to the hospital. Noah did spend three days in the NICU due to low blood-sugar issues, but is healthy and well now. At his two month check-up he came in at 11 pounds and 23 inches. So he is definitely on the smaller side, but growing. After our NICU scare, we are even more grateful for temples so that we can be sealed to Noah for this life and the next. Caring for an infant has been a wild ride that we are happy to be on (at least most of the time)!

Carter is now applying to graduate schools in finance—I’m rooting for Stanford—and economics so we are excited to see where next year takes us! We have a testimony that God loves us and cares about all the little things we care about, even if it is just a New York vacation for a pregnant mama. His infinite grace and mercy astounds us every day, especially at this time of year as we focus on the miracle of Christ’s birth. This season, we are sharing the gift by doing more family history work (#HeIsTheGift). Some weeks that just means recording and sharing more of our own family’s stories of faith and hope.

We are thankful for our wonderful friends and family and wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

Him and Her: 5 Surprising Things About Being New Parents

To continue what we started in 2013 with Him and Her: 5 Surprising Things About Marriage, for our second anniversary we're sharing 5 most surprising things about our latest great adventure: Parenting.

Photo credit: Kent Davis, December 30th 2014

Her

1. Breastfeeding, like the rest of parenting, is 10X harder than you think it's going to be. I am honestly surprised the human race has perpetuated itself this long.


2. Possibly because I'm the least sentimental person I know, I didn't bond with Noah right away. At first everything is so surreal and it felt like I was caring for someone else's baby. For the first two months, I didn't even get the 'it's so hard but worth it' feeling. Even though I was happy to have him healthy and whole I was just stuck with the 'it's so hard' part. I mean, cognitively, I knew it was worth it (for celestial and old age purposes) but I didn't feel it emotionally. It's been a slow process that's still building.


3. I didn't know that almost every conversation I would have with Carter from the moment Noah was born would revolve around how Noah is sooooooo CUTE. And that I would like it. He's deliciously adorable. Also, I have a lot more conversations with strangers since Noah was born.


4. I'm totally one of those moms who watches video of my baby after he's gone to bed, even after I've spent all day with him. He's an addiction and I'm in denial.


5. Carter is a hilariously (and adorably) protective father. If the people sitting next to us in church cough, Carter is already whisking Noah away. He told me the night we brought Noah home from the hospital he remembers wishing he had driven a less bumpy road home. Watching Carter become a father has been a particularly sweet part of this adventure.

Him

1. Baby doesn't even freakin' know how to sleep!


2. Before we had Noah, I thought we would let the baby play on the floor by himself when he was awake and then put him in his crib to sleep when he was tired. I had no idea that we would have to rock him to sleep then hold him the entire time or that he would get bored when there aren't people around to entertain him.


3. Seriously, babies don't know how to sleep.


4. You can always hear when Noah poops.


5. I always say parenting is more work that I thought it would be and it's sweeter than I thought it would be.

Here's to one more year of marriage! And may the next one be a good one too. Happy Anniversary, Carter Kent Davis!

6 Weeks

I took these photos at 6 weeks, just before we blessed Noah at church. It was beautiful and I cried. We named Noah with the biblical prophet in mind and Carter blessed our little boy that, though he would encounter opposition, especially in his religion, he would be blessed with the strength and determination to follow God's will. It was the best blessing I've ever heard.

I'm obsessed with his tiny fingers and toes! They're a bit of a trick to photograph though, because they are constantly moving. At 6 weeks Noah started to smile and coo. I can't even tell you what a godsend a baby smile is to a tired momma. Oh the validation!

Noah Carter Davis

Noah was, miraculously, born on his due date, October 18th. Only 1% of babies are actually born on their due dates, hence the miracle. I first felt cramping the night before at 8 pm, after my mucous plug fell out. They were mild, consistent cramps so faint I wasn't sure if I was imagining them. The cramps grew a little stronger over the next hour and a lightbulb went off in my head. This was it! In our true last-minute fashion, Carter went to install the carseat and we realized the car seat we had was all wrong for a newborn. So we purchased an infant carseat from Target the hour before it closed and then after installing it, debated for way too long whether we should climb Y mountain to see it lit up for homecoming (my last chance). In the end, I decided if I had to eject a baby in the next few hours then I should avoid strenuous hikes.

Awaiting the inevitable. At this point I'm thinking, "There is only one way this baby can come out..."

So off to bed we went, though I laid wide awake from both the contractions - which, by this point, were too strong for me to sleep through - and the excitement. I spent an hour googling "when to go to the hospital in labor" before I dragged Carter out of bed. We headed to the hospital where I sheepishly told the nurses, "I think I'm in labor?" They monitored me from 2 am to 3 am and then kindly told me to go home and not come back until I was really in labor. Disappointing. I, however, knew this was the real deal so we made a plan to eat bacon and omelets at Magleby's when they opened at 7 am and then come back.

I spent the next few hours perusing Facebook and Pinterest to distract from the increasing contractions and then, when that wasn't enough, I tried to imagine my cervix opening up and my baby moving down the birth canal. It helped, at least until the pain became too much for even that. A contraction would hit and all I could do was double over and wait for it to pass. At 7 am Carter woke up to intervalled moaning and he insisted we go to the hospital immediately. I agreed that we would go to the hospital and not leave at least until I received some kind of narcotic - preferably, a really strong narcotic. I self-diagnosed at 7 on the pain chart.

This time I shuffled into the maternity ward very slowly and huffed at every nurse that would listen that I was in labor. Although my water still hadn't broken, they admitted me at 8 am because I was dilated to 6 cm and progressing. I repeatedly asked for an epidural but FYI ladies, the process takes about an hour before the anesthesiologist can even get to putting the epidural in. So keep that in mind. Finally, the very nice doctor started the epidural and the heavens parted and angels sang hallelujah choruses and all was right in the world again. The greatness of epidurals cannot be overstated.

After the epidural, everything progressed quickly. They broke my water and in an hour I was dilated to 9 cm. Another half hour and I was fully dilated at 10 cm. At this point I was in shock so when they suggested I wait at 10 cm for an hour before pushing to let the baby descend down the birth canal, I readily agreed. I imagine if I hadn't had an epidural, Noah would have been born two hours earlier. When the nurses decided it was time to push, I pushed for ten minutes in 3 segments and then waited another 10 minutes for the doctor to get off her lunch break. She took her sweet time and then blocked my view of my birthing mirror, so I'm now wondering how necessary her presence was. In any case, twenty minutes after I started pushing, Noah was born and then my memory gets hazy. I remember wondering if something was wrong because I couldn't hear any crying and the doctor asking me questions about holding the baby or washing and weighing him first and then holding a little bundle on my chest and thinking the whole situation was too surreal. He didn't feel like my baby. I spent several minutes craning my neck to get another look at him because I kept forgetting what he looked like. Carter held Noah and I could tell that he felt something for Noah that I didn't feel. A belonging or ownership, I guess. I think it took me several weeks to get to that point. There were many moments where I felt like I was caring for someone else's baby and I would have just preferred if they would have taken him back. Cognitively, I knew that having a baby would be worth it (mostly because I need someone to take care of me and spend time with me when I get old) but emotionally I didn't feel it. I know many people feel bonded to their baby immediately, but I also think many other people have experiences like mine.

Now, of course, I feel very bonded to Noah. I enjoy the connection I have always heard other mothers talk about and I very much feel as though every moment is worth it. I feel grateful for Noah's physical health and inquisitive little spirit.

Carter: "Are you OK? You just had a baby!" Me: "What are you standing there for??? TAKE PICTURES."

7 lbs 3 oz and 21 inches, just like his mama!

A first hold.

A second first hold.

Awe, adoration, love and surprise.

A new face.

Conehead

So so beautiful.

New York! New York!

The best part about living in New York is having so many strangers tell me congratulations and offering up their subway seats to me! There's no better way to make this pregnant lady happy. The housekeepers in my building are especially hilarious. They always call me mama in their heavy Mexican accents, "Rest, mama, it's too hot" or "Mama, take it easy." It quickly became obvious that they don't speak very much English.

"Where you from?"
"My mom is from Korea."
"Where you having the baby?"
"I'm going back to Utah."
"Oh, not going back to Korea? You have the baby in New York,  it will be a citizen."
"Well, I'm having the baby in Utah so he will be a citizen...and I'm a citizen."
"Have baby in New York. It will be citizen."
"...Ok."

That conversation is, in a lot of ways, representative of life in NY, in that the range in the human experience is overwhelming.  I'm here relaxing in New York for the summer while these ladies work menial jobs, only wishing for their children to be citizens. And don't even get me started on homelessness.

Despite my earlier reluctance to move here, I love New York, too. Did you know 1 in 50 people in the U.S. live in New York City? Apparently, it can't be helped! It's a disease and I've caught the bug. We live in the Upper West Side right next to Central Park. It's practically a dream come true! I'm talking, long strolls in the park at firefly dusk and mid-morning breakfast picnics. Soooo dreamy.

So in short, Carter and I would be happy to come back to New York for a couple of years but we have other considerations that might get in the way of that. Ultimately, our future family and Carter's career are our priorities. We're not sure right now what that means for our next couple years but we've called upon the oracle of Delphi and we are waiting for the response. I guess, let you know when we get it?

p.s. Those pictures were actually taken a month ago. Right now I'm at 30 weeks!

Body Image

a Las Vegas vacation

It's true that Carter always tells me I am the perfect size. I don't believe him. He tells me I don't need to lose any weight and I still don't believe him. At first, I thought he was lying to keep me happy. When he convinced me that, in fact, he really believes it, I thought, "How can he not see what I see?" Cognitively, I know overall health should be the goal rather than losing weight; I even strive for it by exercising and eating moderately. And yet, I don't really believe it.

I never thought I had body image issues until I married Carter. I thought I was normal. I mean, I wasn't extreme dieting or throwing up in bathroom. Ultimately, the problem is that I am normal. When I think about where this 'normal' mode of thinking came from, I think about the girl in high school who only drank water at lunch to lose a few pounds, the middle school acquaintance mentioning that she liked lying on her back because it flattens her stomach, or the college neighbor who said all her problems would go away if she were skinny. Of course none of those girls were overweight, in fact they all looked just like me. Cue internalization.

People like to blame body image issues on Photoshop and Barbie but I played with and stopped playing with Barbie long before I thought about what I looked like. For all I knew she looked just like me. I didn't even realize people could visually tell I was a different race until middle school. And I started feeling fat long before Photoshop and the Internet were a thing. I think the fact I have several explicit memories of girls I knew talking about their body speaks volumes as to how society really perpetuates body image issues. Reading this letter to a mother about body image helped me understand it even more.

And so I guess this is a call to all girls to change, if not the way we think about our bodies, then the way we talk about our bodies. If all mothers and sisters and friends talked about the things they liked about their bodies instead of the things they didn't like, we could change an entire generation. Of all the things I want to give my baby, a healthy body image is a definite priority.

poolside, Las Vegas

This Is Happening

Carter's sister-in-law has a great blog, This Is Happening, that I happen to adore for her intelligent musings. I'm sharing a post from her lovely blog that I LOVED for its insight into a confusing biblical topic:

The Serious Voice 

My baby is pretty little. He's too little to really be able to do anything to make me very angry, and certainly not intentionally. Sometimes I find that I have to gently punish him, but without fail it's because he did something either hurtful or dangerous, to him or me or others, and I need to teach him not to do it again. In fact, when I have to punish him, I'm usually so NOT angry that I have to fake this "serious voice," and I feel like I sound really silly, but I want him, in all his littleness, to understand how serious I am.

I was reading the scriptures this afternoon, and the Lord was making some pretty severe threats. The Jehovah we see in the Old Testament seems to be pretty severe, and there are other places in the scriptures that His words seem to take a very serious tone. Sometimes I have wondered how these threats and punishments can possibly come from the God we know, who we know to be kind and loving and merciful and tender.

But then, remembering grabbing Eli away from the kitchen garbage for the umpteenth time this morning, I realized. It's entirely possible that when the Lord says something like this: "In my fierce anger will I visit them in their iniquities and abominations... It shall come to pass that this generation, because of their iniquities, shall be brought into bondage, and shall be smitten on the cheek; yea, and shall be driven by men, and shall be slain; and the vultures of the air, and the dogs, yea, and the wild beasts, shall devour their flesh," he's not being vengeful. Actually, to me, it's more than possible, it's what I believe to be true. Because God is perfect, and even though I do sometimes get mad at Eli unnecessarily, God would not, and does not. God does not take things personally, and God does not like to punish his children. His threats aren't just-give-me-a-reason-to-do-it threats. This is the serious voice.

And here's the serious voice again: "Therefore I command you to repent--repent, lest I smite you by the rod of my mouth, and by my wrath, and by my anger, and your sufferings be sore--how sore you know not, how exquisite you know not, yea, how hard to bear you know not." That's less a threat than a plea. From a Father who wants his children, even though they're very little and may not really understand everything he tells them, to understand the gravity of the situation and learn not to disobey.

Love and chastening, justice and mercy. The older I get, the less they seem like opposites and the more they seem like twins.

THIS IS MY WEDDING DAY

If we're in the spirit of regrets and disappointments here then I could probably tell you that I wish I hadn't taken my mom's advice and that I had styled my own hair. I wish I would have ordered my dress in white so I could find some GLAMOROUS elbow-length gloves that would match. Annnnd if I'm being really honest than the venues and catering were also a bit much (did I say that???). But tell me, what's a wedding without a Bridezilla? really, tell me. is it nice?

In a different spirit (apparently a spirit of cliches), my wedding was also perfect, because I got married. As it turns out, weddings are not about flowers and cakes and perfect get-aways with sparklers. BREAKING NEWS. Despite my week of non-stop breakdowns, I floated on cloud nine all day. I was untouchable and it was magic.

In other breaking news, marriage is actually really great and not horrible and life-ruining. So that's been nice for me.

P.S. I usually retro-date my posts because the pressure of posting on time is oppressive, but I've always wondered how that works out with blogger. Do you see my posts come up in your feed on June 26th 2013 or December 15th 2012? Help a blogger out, will ya?

"I'm Too Busy"

So we all say it. We all say it all the time. Not that it isn't true of course...we are all very busy creatures; we all go to school, go to work, need to do this, and need to do that. We're supposed to clock in this much studying, this much scripture reading/prayer, that much exercise, that much dating. And it's IMPOSSIBLE! Have you noticed that? There were several comical days last week where I literally ran everywhere I went because I had no time for even the commute. I LITERALLY ran to my review session and then ran to a Brain Awareness Week meeting after which I ran to my car and madly drove to my MCAT prep course and then ran to the library. This semester is jam-packed and there is no indication that it is going to slow down. Reading this article from this blog, however, has helped me gain a new perspective on my so called 'busy' lifestyle.

I'm actually not a busy as I claim, really not very many people are. I spend at LEAST two hours a day inefficiently. That adds up to a whopping 14 hours a week (or also known as the time I'm supposed to be dedicating to studying for the MCAT). And honestly, most of my 'busy-ness' is self-imposed. I choose to be an officer in the Neuroscience Club, I choose to make all those unnecessary decoration for that Bridal Shower, and I definitely choose to go to that St. Patrick's party at the Covey Mansion. I wouldn't have it any other way. I love efficiency and productivity. I love feeling like my time isn't going to waste. I love always having something to do.

The end of the article hit me the hardest: "Instead of saying "I don't have time" try saying "it's not a priority," and see how that feels. Often, that's a perfectly adequate explanation. I have time to iron my sheets, I just don't want to. But other things are harder. Try it: "I'm not going to edit your résumé, sweetie, because it's not a priority." "I don't go to the doctor because my health is not a priority." If these phrases don't sit well, that's the point. Changing our language reminds us that time is a choice. If we don't like how we're spending an hour, we can choose differently."

I'm dedicating myself to changing my language. Not only will it help me better prioritize better, but I believe it will reduce the stress of feeling like there isn't enough time and that it will open me up to opportunities to serve. Am I so busy that I can't serve others? Never.

3. 1415926535897

Happy Pi Day ya'll! I stole these instagrams from Cassie...hope she isn't too mad about it! I just really wanted to share with you all my Pi Day festivities. On Pi day I went to school, did homework, went to MCAT prep, and then at 10:45 I realized we hadn't yet had any pie. So we hijacked Carter and headed over to Sammy's for pie shakes. Raspberry Cheesecake, Peach Cobbler, and Banana Cream! And yes they actually blend a piece of pie into the shake, nom nom nom.

Moabites

Is there really any other way to celebrate President's weekend than to climb all over Arches National Park? Yes. But obviously this was a bajillion times more awesome. Arches/Moab/Southern Utah is gorgeous. When we arrived at our campsite it was already dark out so I had to wait until morning to witness the incredible landscape but when I did my mind was sufficiently blown. New fav place? I think yes.



If these sunny pictures fooled you into thinking it was warm outside, lemme tell you, the only thing keeping me warm was the 7 mile loop we did through the Devil's Garden and warming my socks over the fire. The best part of the weekend, however, were the people. I have such funny, talented, interesting, awesome, entertaining friends. Chris even let me use his machete to chop firewood. If that isn't friendship, I don't know what is.

We thought about setting this up, but had to cut our weekend a little short due to an impending storm. Next time: arching swinging.

All photos are courtesy of Chris Maybe, photographer extraordinaire, blog found here.

Awkward is the New Cool

My semester is fantastic. I'm totally on top of (almost) every class, my living situation is fabulous (hello, two minutes from campus), I see at least three Jerusalem friends everyday, my outside-of-Jerusalem social life is picking up, I got through the Provo temple in a record-breaking hour this week, scripture study and prayer have been really satisfying lately, and my arms are sore from swimming. Life is soooooo good and that is an understatement. Really people, I am convinced if everyone lived the quality of life I do Israel would tear down the separation wall, Iran would dismantle their nuclear program, and we would all ride unicorns under rainbows sucking on lollipops. My Miss America crown should be arriving in the mail any day now. I know you watched that pageant so don't you dare tell me I wouldn't win with that platform. Like, please. If Miss Wisconsin can win on a platform based off of her father's incarceration then I can definitely win off a platform based on unicorns.

I don't know that I have anything in particular to say, other than male infertility is a huge problem in Mali. But you already knew that. I could offer an entertaining story? Cassie and I were lovingly picking out eggs for the week in the grocery store as three boys from our new ward passed us. And naturally I was friendly, "Oh hey guys! Fun times grocery shopping? Awesome." which was met with blank faces and mumbling. Being the oblivious person I am, I totally did not realize they had no clue who we were and they definitely thought strangers were hitting on them in the grocery store. Cassie tried to save the day by yelling out, "We're from your ward!" a tad too late though one of the boys apparently heard. Imma interject here with some outrage. I KNOW one of those boys helped us move in and we met the other two at our ward party. So who do they think they are, going about and not remembering us?? We're memorable people, alright? Later one of the boys tried to ameliorate the situation by confirming our new-ness in the ward and then conversing with us. Of course I then made the situation worse by interjecting awkward one liners in inappropriate places of the conversation, " Jerusalem reunions are so great, we just like to touch each other." Don't worry, my social standing in that ward isn't totally shot...yet. I've heard that awkward is the new cool. Oh you've heard that too? Cool - I mean awkward.

Happy One Year Anniversary, Ling Ling!

When I started this blog, and all 800 of my journals, I didn't have any particular goals or any general audience in mind. In fact, I didn't even intend to tell people about my alternate persona 'Ling Ling'. You know, the alternate personality who admits how in love she is with her TAs, proudly proclaims her accomplishments across the internet, and thinks she is pretty funny... oh wait, that last one is me. I just meant to write about myself for myself and see where myself would lead me. And after a lifetime of failed journals and one surprisingly successful year of a blog, I have learned quite a lot about myself. I do not care at all about deadlines. I like lame jokes. I care about the real world...the one that exists outside of this Utah bubble. I take pictures. I overuse question marks and colons. I think my family is out-of-this-world hilarious. And lastly, but probably most importantly, I don't care enough about what I'm putting on the internet. Like my dream crush on Devin...totes not approp.

Of course, I guess I did tell a few people about my blog (but only out of honesty when directly asked the question 'do you have a blog?') and so I begun posting with only one goal in mind: entertainment. Maybe I've strictly adhered to this, maybe I haven't. In reference to my journal I once told a friend, "My general goal is to write something that someone will eventually want to read, so I throw in some dinosaurs here and there and call it a day. Historical accuracy? Not really a priority." I apply the same philosophy to my blog, hence the tagline "I reserve the right to exaggerate as much as possible". I sincerely hope you, whoever you are (my sources tell me mainly the continental US, Alaska, and Canada), have been entertained this year. I certainly have. And if you find this need was not met, just follow the links at the bottom of this post. I know plenty of entertaining internet treasure troves.

From some cute girls at BYU who I will probably recognize on campus and then have to pretend like I don't: http://awkwardgirls.blogspot.com/

This is a sophmore at BYU-I and she gets all her clothes thrifted alllllll the time. It's incredible. She's also inspiring me with her No-Make-Up-November: http://thriftedthings.blogspot.com/

You don't know this girl but I do and she is saucy:http://freethebody.blogspot.com/2010/10/shark-week.html

Fuuuuunnnnnny: http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/04/alot-is-better-than-you-at-everything.html

Summa Lovin'

Summer is the magical season when you never know exactly what will happen. And this summer some very magical things did happen (cue nostalgia). I finally pruned my gmail inbox to an anorexic 3 unread messages. The HP legacy ended. I started a diet of entirely chocolate. Best friend and roommate got engaged. Alexa graduated. Five elderly women now hold a piece of my heart. I managed to spend a good 57.1% of my summer unwashed (that's showering 3 days of the week on average...disgusted anyone?). God kindly let me serve for two months in my most coveted calling: Relief Society teacher. And lastly, I only lost a single shoe in the move. This is the record among moving-day records, including 'Most Toothbrushes Found' or 'Largest Spider Killed'. One shoe isn't even really a whole item; it is half of one item. This is momentous, friends.

Luckily, I don't have to be too sad about the end of summer because I have some even better things in store.

I am SO excited :)

Keine Hose Zeit

For your viewing pleasure, a collage:

My Sabbath was excellent, as always. There is just no beating a whole day dedicated to God. Beyond the spiritual uplifting Sunday is extra good because I never have to wear pants. And as I always say, the best time is no pants time.

PS I made those bracelets. Suggestions/comments are welcome.

I Heart Recycling!

And the BEST kind of recycling is recycling unwanted clothing! Really though, think about it. Instead of throwing used goods into the ocean or putrid landfills why not just sell them back to destitute college kids? It's the ultimate recycling because it's actually helpful to the economy and there is no added wastes to the environment created during the recycling process. Plus it is FUN FUN FUN. Brilliant!

I LOVE thrifting but I especially love thrifting outside of DI. Mormons have a way of using things until they can't be used anymore. Look at these beauties that I picked up the other day. Shhhhhhh...don't tell my mom :)

Brown riding boots: 6.99 White leather boots: 4.99 Blazer: 6.99 Sequin tank: 1.99

And here I am wearing the white booties. They are exactly like a brown pair I have but white. I can't believe I ever said no shoes. Silly me!

If you are obsessed with blogs and thrifting like me then you will love this girlie's cute blog. EVERYTHING she wears is thrifted. Everything.

P.S. Do you like my hair? I love me some summa braids :) Inspiration from this blog.

Mommy Dearest

How do I write a fitting tribute to the woman who made all that I am?

Mom, thank you for sacrificing the things of the world for me. Thank you for teaching me to love God more than myself. Thank you for always thinking I am hilarious. No one else laughs as sincerely as you at my humor. Thank you for never caring whether I was embarrassed by your antics. Talking about Jared's butt no longer phases me. Thank you for teaching me to work hard and play hard. Thank you for never letting me settle for second best. That was hard lesson to learn. Thank you for showing me how to be brave. Thank you for teaching me charity by example. No one else loves old people like you do. Thank you for teaching me how to be like Christ. Once when I felt lonely you said, "Whitney, you need to stop worrying about whether you have any friends and start worrying about who you are being a friend to." I've carried that advice in my heart and it has changed the way I look at people. Most of all thank you Mom for always loving me.

Mommy, I love you so much. You are my best friend. I miss you when I'm away. No one is better at rubbing my back when I am crying or giving me advice when I am lost. There is no one else who gets me like you do.

Ok now that I've cried a Lake Erie into my lap I need to go do some flood control. I love you Mommy.

Love your Favorite Daughter :)

Holy Land say what?!

I give you just one guess as to what this little piece of paper says (I am smiling with my eyes, an Asian technique developed through many muscular exercises). Need a hint? It has to do with this lovely place....

....located in this lovely city....

....with these lovely people!

If you guessed the happiest place on earth you would be sadly mistaken but not entirely off either. That's right my pretties, I AM GOING TO JERUSALEM! For those of you who don't know, I applied to study abroad at the BYU Jerusalem for Fall 2011 and have been accepted! OH MY FREAKIN' HOLY LAND. I've already hosted numerous daydreams about funny-shaped international outlets and unintelligible shop signs. What an adventure! Don't worry, I've always secretly wanted to write for a travel blog so I'll be sure to post frequently while I'm there. If I have any benevolent stalkers (or really any type of stalker, I'll take who I can get) who also happen to be filthy rich, now would be an excellent time to make yourself known. This whole trip is going to end up costing me 10,000 buckeroos. Good thing I'm loaded...not.