Steppin' Out With My Honey

Memorial Day Weekend: A time for sun, food, family, friends, and usually some traveling.

This weekend was a lot of fun! I almost wish it hadn't ended. I visited Mister E's family with him. We drove over Saturday afternoon, stopping for milkshakes at a great diner that I know of on the way! As we were nearing town, we caught a glorious sunset.


On Sunday, I experienced my first bonfire. Alright, alright... It wasn't really my first bonfire, but it was the first one I can remember in a backyard! All of us enjoyed roasting hot dogs and marshmallows over the coals of the first fire and the flames of the second fire!


Boy, were those coals hot. The longer the stick, the less heat you had to endure! But the food was really good. I have to admit that I ate more than my fair share of s'mores! In my defense, Mister E was trying to roast the marshmallow the way I prefer, which took several attempts and sampling.


While the entire weekend was wonderful, I especially enjoyed hanging out with his family without having to "share" them with others. We went to the river on Monday to go swimming... rather wading in the freezing cold water! Swimming was just not an option in that temperature. We did manage to get a little wet, though.


Mister E's house is very lovely. The yard is full of fruit trees and nut trees. There are trees everywhere! I absolutely fell in love with all the apple, pear, cherry, plum, peach, and walnut trees strewn about the property. By suggestion from his mom, we posed for pictures at one of the walnut trees. The pictures where he is smiling just happen to be the ones that aren't clear. Ah, the irony.


It was such a beautiful weekend, and the beauty of the land grows on you. Many beautiful sunsets are seen as well.

Hymn Humming

There are about four weeks left until my big move! It's so crazy to think I am actually moving to Utah and attending UVU. Someone pinch me. I'm afraid to wake up and find it never really happens.

Along with the excitement of getting ready to move, I've had a lot of scary realizations. This is a big, scary step in my life. I've double and triple checked with Heavenly Father that I am doing the right thing. So far, the answer hasn't changed, and it won't. I am more scared to move to Utah than I was to travel to Russia.

As I sat in the adult session of Stake Conference, a speaker read a verse of the hymn "How Firm a Foundation" (Hymn No. 85). It really stood out to me and has become my current motto. I found myself strengthened by the words as I listened to them read over the pulpit. I found comfort in them as I sang all seven verses while putting the dishes away. I know the Lord brought this hymn to my remembrance to aid me as I prepare to survive on my own in a far away place, with strange people.

The great adventure is about to begin!

Commence Countdown

I tallied the days left on the calendar until my move to Provo today. There are less days than I thought! The total is less than fifty!! That is not a lot of time to accomplish everything I need to. However, it is not time to panic... yet. That will come when I have two weeks left.

The rental agreement for my apartment arrived today. Signing the agreement will make this real. So far my move has been in the planning and talking stages. I started announcing it soon after I returned from my trip to Utah three weeks ago, but it felt so far into the future. It felt almost as if I was imagining that I would move to Provo. Yet, now it is almost here! There is so much to do before I move: replacing my windshield, packing my life (most of it rather), arranging my finances, finishing my current classes, planning YSA activities.

This is where I must say my two cents about lists. I have a love-hate relationship with lists. I abhor them because I have spent at least the last decade of my life being told to make a list. That is my rebellious nature coming out. However, I have come to recognize the helpfulness of lists over that same decade of my life. I have a list of tasks I need to accomplish in the next 40 days; I have a list for items I need and want to take with me. I think I may even have a list of lists! Boy, do I have a lot to do over the next six weeks!