The Secret Sister Society of Casseroles, Quilting, and Soups

Say that 5 times fast.
As I mentioned earlier, Relief Society has NOT been the easiest part of graduating. I do, however, feel the need to follow up on my previous post and say that it isn't all that bad. As humans, we exaggerate, over dramatize, etc. And I do this repeatedly on my blog, unfortunately when I feel angry or sad about something.
ANYWAY.
Relief Society is great, but it's hard. Enough said.

BUT. I've had an experience over the past week that has been pretty cool.
One of the people I visit teach just had a new baby boy. As we've been teaching this "sister" we've been asking if we can help with anything - just like any good "sister" would do. ((I sound like I'm mocking this term...but it's the only thing I can think of! Bear with me.))

When I found out that she had the baby, it was almost instinctive for me to grab my phone, text my visiting teaching companion, and see what I needed to do to help. The next night I provided dessert to go with their dinner and made a sign up sheet to pass around so other ladies could help out the family.
Tonight, another sister was bringing the family supper, but was unable to make it up the stairs. Again, instinctively, I stopped what I was doing to help.

I felt kind of weird that this service came instinctively. I thought that maybe I'd finally succumbed to a world of casseroles, quilting, and soup. But then I realized that it wasn't it at all.

Instincts are human. Humans are good. We have this natural desire to do good ((hint, hint)). When we find an opportunity to serve, we should take it. However, I firmly believe that everyone has a..."service niche" if you will. It is crucial that we all find the service that comes naturally to us. Serving is a like a talent. If you had a horrible voice, you wouldn't be a singer. If you hate to bake, don't offer to take a meal to a family!
HOWEVER
Do not shy away from the opportunity to stretch yourself! If you're just bad at baking, LEARN to do it!

Also. Whoever said that when you feel sad you should serve, was totally right. And I hate to admit that. But as things have been getting crazy and I've felt horrible, doing these small things of service were amazing. They kept my hands busy, got my mind off of things, and I was able to make someone happy, which in turn made me happy.
So. Just sayin.

Week at a Glance

Another crazy week (or 2) has past! I am eternally exhausted and emotional, but things are going as smoothly as you would expect when you're packing up your childhood and moving out.
Here are some highlights from the past week.

Monday: Open Farr's in the morning, head to Thanksgiving Point in the afternoon for a day of training, eat some Wendy's with my Papa.

Tuesday: Open Farr's again, head to the airport to pick up Mama from Cali, eat dinner at Mimi's Cafe.

Wednesday: DAY OFF! Head to Mapleton for some Pioneer Day lunch with the fam bam. Sit at home and sulk because I have no friends. ;)

Thursday: Open Farr's, jump into a swimming pool to cool off my attitude and my body, go on a date with Adam Leavitt (an oldie best friend) and have a long, late night chat.

Friday: Clean out bathroom drawers, work at Farr's, head to a pool party for Kaika Cole (he's leaving on his mish) with my BFF Sarah.

Saturday: IKEA. Shopping for the apartment, keep going through things (closets, drawers, etc.), cry a little bit, head to work.

Phew! I've been a busy bee! And these next few weeks will only be harder. If you see me around, give me a squeeze because I'll need it!

13 days until my BEST FRIEND moves to San Fran.

22 days until I move to the frozen tundra.

Just so typical me.

Life is pretty much uneventful these days.
I wake up, I putter around, and then I go to work. Nobody told me that life after high school was going to be THIS hard.

Trial #1. Going to Sunday School and Relief Society. I opted out on the Singles Ward...it's just not my crowd. But it turns out that the family ward isn't quite my crowd either. I sit in Sunday School and listen to the same old people fight about the same gospel concepts EVERY WEEK. It's a good thing that Jesus said to love everyone...or I might have some serious issues with some people. They're all very nice and they all mean well...but man. They sure can get on my nerves. Relief Society is better since there are people closer to my age. But it's kind of irksome on how almost all of the lessons pertain to families. One can only take so many notes for her future.

Trial #2. Responsibility. This topic can be divided into three categories. WORK, SCHOOL, and PLAY. I have to go to work so I can get money so I can go to school. And all I want to do is play! ((If you are an old person reading my blog and rolling your eyes at this, get over it. I guarantee you were in this position at some time in your life.)) I hate my job, but I hate when I'm not earning money. I'm getting a second job here in the next week so that should make things better. Or worse. Or both.
School is so complicated. I stare at my schedule every day and still can't figure out what is wrong with it. It is so stressful to put things together! Not to mention packing and getting things ready. I have a massive list of items I still need. It is SO overwhelming. Somebody tell me this is worth it!

Those are essentially my issues...haha I'm such a big baby sometimes.
Gone are the days when we could all hold hands, play a friendly game of red rover, and just clothesline the people that we hated.

If you feel the need for a tasty frozen treat, come by Farr's tonight and visit me. I'll be there forever.

I'm tired all day and I don't sleep at night...

Hence, this blog post. Which is probably dangerous...but hey. Whatever.
This blog post is dedicated to my BEST FRIEND in the WHOLE world, Aaron Nelson.

Isn't he handsome? 

Aaron and I have known each other for the past three years, but really only became best friends this year. ((Which was a silly idea because I feel like we could have saved each other a whole lot of DRAMA)) Sophomore year, all the girls in choir had a HUGE crush on him. I mean, this guy was THE item. He wasn't from Lakeridge nor was he from Canyon View, so he was just this mysterious, attractive man that all the girls dreamed of marrying. If Aaron was gone one day and a girl was gone, everyone just assumed that the pair had eloped and all hope of marrying him was lost. I'll never forget the day when Amy Dymock got his number in History class. We were SO jealous! ((Being a sophomore is precious, isn't it?))

Little to Aaron's knowledge, I actually stalked him pretty hard core. My sister used to be in his ward and it was always this huge joke that Aaron was my secret boyfriend. 

Junior year happened. I was wrapped up in trying to get a boyfriend and I sort of forgot all other humans. Including this Aaron Nelson kid. UNTIL the end of the year hit and Mr. Keyes was selecting Student Directors for the next year. I had already decided that I was not even going to apply for Student Director because it would have required me to miss Shakespeare Competition and I was not going to miss that for anything. Thus we see, Haley and Aaron were chosen. It came to pass that they wanted me to serve as A Cappella President and we flourished for the space of three months under those positions. We partied, became good friends, had lots of laughs, etc. 

However, THE DAY OF our choir council retreat, I texted sweet, sweet Aaron to ask him why he was not at the school yet as we had to leave for Timp Caves very soon. Aaron informed me that he had changed his mind about being a Student Director and needed to talk to Mr. Keyes. ((That wasn't the exact conversation, but you get the skinny.)) I was ruffled. One because I was super ticked and two because I knew that Mr. Keyes would ask me to fill in. Which made me a little bit more angry. Long story short, I filled in as Student Director and the world came tumbling down. ((Next time someone gives me a position of authority....don't.))

Aaron was still in choir, however, and was the funniest person I have ever met. Every day I thought, "Man. Why in the world have I never talked to this kid??" As choir progressed and people got sassy, I got a little more insane than usual. One particular day I came out of leading a sectional and I was SO angry. I started to vent to Aaron and he said, "Oh my!! I know exactly how you feel! She is SO annoying!! We need to discuss this over ice cream...." And thus we see, a fond friendship was born. 

As we got to know each other, it's ridiculous how many times we said, "Why have I not been friends with you until now??" Ice cream was a frequent occurrence ((1-2 times a week..)), venting sessions in the van, ice cream, and really just more ice cream. Chamber Tour happened...and we were each others only friends. YOLO? I took him to the Sadie Hawkins dance.

I mean look at us...

Then we saw Les Mis together...and cried. So that was cool. 

We built snow men...

Went ice skating on a lake..

We went to grocery shopping...sort of..

Tried to make new friends..

Made grumpy cat shirts...

Went to Prom together....SO CLASSY

And were pretty much hot babes all the time.

Aaron and I are basically the same person...it's kind of ridiculous. Sometimes we fight ((or I just get mad at him)) and sometimes we are too angry at life to actually talk to each other. But, at the end of the day, we're always best friends again. We always call each other while we're driving ((a habit I really should break)) and frequently have contests for who can make the ugliest face. Aaron understands people. He knows when I'm mad at it him, and always makes amends. He knows that I don't do well at night, so if I start to blow up, he just tells me to shut up and go to bed. He hates all the same people I do AND he is the best shopping partner. 

In just 6 weeks, Aaron and I will be splitting ways. I will be moving to Antarctica ((AKA Logan)) and Aaron will be moving to China ((AKA San Francisco)). I sometimes cry a lot when I think about it...but in the end, I know it will all be okay. Because ours is a friendship that will last forever.

We're just two friends. Two good friends. Two BEST friends.

Recovering

1. Make your bed

2. Read your scriptures 

3. Write a letter to a missionary.

Let me tell you, it made such a difference to start my day off right:)

#itsbeenaroughweek

Life is a cycle. After every good comes a bad and after every bad comes a good.
Last week was crazy busy with weddings and work and family.
This week was hard.
Family was in and out, I've been working, and I've been a little extra hormonal. If you know what I mean.

Yesterday I came home from work and got into my pajamas. I was so exhausted and the house was quiet. It would have been a perfect opportunity for me to clean the house or apply for another job...but instead I read. And I read. And I stared out the window. And I got on facebook. And I cried. And I even resorted to Pinterest. I was rude to a boy. I flipped out at another boy. And all I wanted was a coke with lime. ((Yeah. I crave that. Don't judge.)) Then I cried some more and felt really sorry for myself.

This morning, I woke up. And I stayed in my pajamas. I finally got the guts to apply for another job. And then I showered. And I went to work.

The Air Conditioning was out again today. Surprise? I think not. Second time it's happened this week. With me as a happy, cramping, bloated, clam.

But tonight was good. And tomorrow will be too. Because life is good.

But if you wanted to bring me a coke with lime....I wouldn't be offended ;)

Is it really that hard??

When I was an insecure little Jr. High child, I had a huge problem with my smile. I had braces, chubby cheeks, squinty eyes, and a whole lot of self esteem issues.
My smiles often looked like this:

Or I gave up on closed mouth smiling and settled for goofy. That resulted in looking like this:

But then one day I thought, "Does that really show people who I am? When I look at that picture in 20 years, will I want to remember my insecurities or do I want to remember how I felt in that moment?" And thus my smiling began. 

I've been really frustrated lately as I scroll through pictures on Facebook or Instagram and see girls ((and boys)) who constantly post model shots. ((I have to admit I am guilty of posting a few of those myself.)) But tell me, what is so wrong with a smile??? God gave us teeth. God gave us a spirit and truth and light. SHOW IT!! Stop flaunting your looks and flaunt your beauty.

I am completely okay with pictures of yourself, just make sure you're showcasing the right thing. 

SO! As I jump off of my smiling soap box, I want to issue you a challenge. 

1) Next time you post that "Selfie Sunday" show that social media that you know how to SMILE!!

2) Encourage others to show of their smiles. Next time you are in public, notice the people you are walking past. Make eye contact with the ones who look especially grumpy and flash them the biggest smile that you can!! ((I tried this yesterday. It's kind of amazing.))

Try these things and you might be amazed by the results. Seriously, it makes a huge difference. 

Thanks for reading!! And thank you those who started following me! I think I gained a total of two followers ;) 

Love you all!!