he's 22

Happy Birthday Haig, 

Elder Pinsent, 

my best friend.  

I love you

see you soon!

weekly notes

I am trying to run a little more.  It's hard but I am working on it.  I do feel better after I run.  I find I have more energy for the day, even though come the afternoon I am craving a cat nap, but I resist the temptation and always end up having a really good sleep at night, so it has been pretty awesome.

Summer meals are in full swing and they have been amazing.  Monday night we had hamburgers and chips, keeping it simple.  Last night Mom brought home a giant salad from the store and we snacked on lime nachos and home made salsa.  Tonight we had steak and potatoes and carrots that were cooked in tin foil on the BBQ.  I just love summer meals even if they are a little warm on hot days.  I also think I eat way more meat in the summer because the BBQ is the best way for things to be cooked!

Our soda steam machine has also been pretty life changing.  I just love to have the fizz in my drink without all that crazy sugar in pop.  We buy the crystal light liquid or whatever brand is on sale and just squirt some in.  I am currently sipping some my own peach pop, and it is delicious!

Tonight, we had a YSA activity and Sister Kristin Domike taught us to make: meat balls, stuffed zucchini, vegetable tomato sauce and fudge sauce.  We got to feast on a meatball sub, spaghetti in sauce and meatballs, stuffed zucchini and garlic bread.  After we indulged in vanilla ice cream and the fudge sauce.  I don't know if I will ever be able to make a whole meal like that any time soon but it sure did help motivate me to get cooking!

I skipped class on Wednesday afternoon to sit outside in the sun and it was glorious.

I just realized that my Facebook is so random.  Because I have friends who are older and have families and cute kids and funny lives, but then I also have friends that still party and couldn't care less about the future.  And then there's me and I just try and get people to like my stuff and think my life is cute when really it is sometimes pretty pathetic and corny.  But alas, I love it anyways!

I wrote a paper for my sociology course this week and I am really, really impressed with it so far.  Let's hope my professor is too!  Next week, I am tackling about 6 chapters of Business Law.  Final exam is June 23rd.  Wish me luck, I actually need it this time.  I rocked the midterm like it was no body's business!

I went shopping with my sister today because I need some new shorts.  I didn't find any at Old Navy, but I still managed not to buy anything that was catching my eye.  We also went to Sears and there was a couple of cute things there too but I resisted the urge to spend money on clothes I really don't need.  Go me!

I hope I can start work at the park soon!  I think it is going to be a lot of fun!

Oh, and tomorrow is my best friend's birthday.  I miss and love him a lot.  Can't wait to turn 23 with him next year.

Sunday in New Brunswick

One Sunday, June 8th 2014, we spent the day in New Brunswick.  It was a special trip to Saint John for my sister Kayla, but we also made some important stops on the way, and we had time to reflect on our lives, our membership in the gospel, and strengthen the love we have for one another.

We were suppose to go over Saturday afternoon, but that didn't work out.  So we decided we would attend sacrament in Moncton instead of getting up super early to get to Saint John for all the meetings.  I will say right off the bat that the whole day went smoothly with the travelling, and I am grateful for it!  We got to the Moncton ward and we got to see some friends.  We had a nice chat with Elder Roberts who misses Charlottetown very much.  Mom and Dad also got to see some friends that they knew from when they lived in Moncton before I was born.  One lady came up and talked to Mom for a couple minutes, and after she left I asked who it was, and she had no idea.  It was pretty funny.  Some of the members that they talked to kept saying "has it really been that long since you left here?"... yes actually it has been 22 years, makes you feel old doesn't it?  We just had the sacrament and left before the testimony portion of the meeting started, but I could feel the spirit so strong, especially in the opening prayer and the hymns that were sung.  I know it was a difficult week for these faithful members.  I am glad I could be there to see that they are all well and that they will be able to support each other and their communities on this journey.  

We left for Saint John around 10:40 and made it to the chapel there around 12:00pm noon.  I forgot how interesting Saint John is because I have not been in the city for a very long time.  It is very industrial but old school.  Parts of it are like Halifax, but I like Halifax a lot more.  My dad has a lot of roots in this ward because he lived there before he went on his mission.  On their missionary board, it even says he left from there to go on his mission to Salt Lake City (but really he left from Summerside).  He knows a number of people in the ward still and it was fun to see him interact with a couple of old friends.  We made it just in time for Relief Society and we had a wonderful lesson on how to be a 'Bucket Filler'.  We even got little buckets with bath salts, notes and a print of a quote.  They were a sweet group of ladies and I am happy we ended up going to class and not just hanging out in the car... like we were going to do.

The special part of the day was after church when Kayla received her Patriarchal blessing.  This is a special blessing just for Kayla to give her personal and direct guidance for her life.  As her family members, we could sit in the room and listen as this blessing was given to her from someone that has priesthood authority to do so.  It was such a wonderful blessing and I shed some tears for my best friend.  She has many wonderful things in store.  I am so proud of how far she has come and I know she will continue to stay on the right path, the path the Lord intends for her. 

Once we left the chapel in Saint John, Mom and Dad drove us around town.  Dad showed us where he used to live (and even tried to get inside, but there was no answer at the door).  We drove down to the ferry terminal that goes to Digby, Nova Scotia.  I would like to take it someday, because I think that's really neat!  We finally made a stop at the Carleton Martello Tower.  It was so cool and we could see the whole city.  We ate our picnic lunch and laughed together as a family.  We took some pictures and dad got a little silly.  In that moment, I was so happy to be with people that I love.

We got back in the car around 3:30pm and headed back to Moncton to see the RCMP Office Memorial.  We got there around 5:30.  It was absolutely incredible to see.  There was so many flowers, cards, signs, candles, teddy bears and my favourite thing was a little police car.  I imagine that it was a little boy's favourite dinky car, but he just had to give it to the officers that kept his community safe.  We went inside the office and signed the condolences books for each officer's family.  The atmosphere was solemn and there were kind words by many people on the street, whether they were saying "excuse me" to get by or "thank-you" to many of the RCMP and Police officers nearby.  It was a wonderful thing to witness and experience.

I love that I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  I am so thankful that I can go anywhere and there is a church building.  I am thankful for my family and all that they provide me with, especially love.  I am thankful for my sister and best friend for making the decision to receive her patriarchal blessing.  She is unique and I know that this will become a source of guidance to her.  I am thankful for my parents and my brother.  They are wonderful and I am happy to have them in my life.  I am thankful for my missionary who put two years on the line to serve the Lord and this church.  I love the people who keep this country safe, and especially those who helped Moncton this week in so many ways.  

I feel so grateful, blessed, happy, strong and thankful. 

June 8th 2014 was a wonderful day.

the fault in our stars

I just loved the countdowns for this movie.  I love that my sister introduced me to this book.  She bought it sometime last summer and took it with her when she went on her trip to Scotland.  I will always remember her telling me how much she cried when she was reading it on a plane.  I would be so embarrassed if that was me, but she didn't care one bit!  I read it while she was away on her internship in New Glasgow and my parents were away on their trip.  I fell in love with it just as much as she did.

So, we got to see the movie together finally.  We were suppose to go over to Moncton in the afternoon, but it didn't work out so we went to the movie theatres hoping to see the 7pm showing.  We got there only to find it was sold out.  We decided that we wanted to see it that night, so we went up to the counter to buy tickets for 10pm.  When we asked the teller, she told us they added another show in one of the smaller theatres for 7:10pm!  Worked out perfectly for us.  We got settled and ate some popcorn and laughed about this and that before the movie started.

The movie was mostly funny in the beginning, but as it progressed it got more beautiful, powerful, sad, but uplifting all at the same time.  I loved when they were in Amsterdam, because it is such a beautiful place.  I also love love love Hazel's eulogy to Augustus.  Kayla and I literally sobbed and we didn't even care.  Even in a dark theatre, you know when other people are crying.  I heard sniffles and I saw some kleenex reaching up to people's eyes.

The movie is related to cancer, but it is also so much more than that.  I love the relationship Hazel and Augustus have.  It is so beautiful and moving.  So many people can relate to this movie, whether it is more about cancer, love or family in their eyes.  In my eyes, it was about love.  It made me long to have an amazing love story and press on in that love no matter what the circumstances.

I intend to have an extraordinary love story...

                          

         

hello there JUNE

June has been lovely so far.  On Monday, I had a midterm for Business Law.  I was pretty nervous, but I had some good study tools and resources so I ended up doing very good.  I don't know when we will get the marks back, but it was worth 35% of my grade, so I am hoping I did good enough to not have to stress so much about the final.  It's not a bad course, I am just not as interested in all of the concepts which makes it a little harder to study.  I guess, the concepts are interesting, I am just not interested in them, if that makes sense!

I spent a lot of time at home, and with my sister this week.  Tuesday evening we made dinner and then I really got a craving for ice cream.  We went to a couple of places and nothing really seems to be open.  We finally went down town, and even though there was a bus accident, we were able to make it to the down town convenience store and get some Farmers ice cream.  I got black raspberry cheesecake and mint chocolate chip.  It was a perfect combination.  I would get it again 10 more time this summer.  We walked around Victoria Row, Province House and Confederation Centre of the Arts.  This year Charlottetown celebrates 150 years, so they have this giant 1864 sign by Province House, and also a giant 2014 sign by Founder's Hall [we will go there next week].  I just love PEI summers, they are always exciting, delicious and fun!

My beautiful friend Kristy got her mission call to Melbourne, Australia!  I am so proud of her.  She has accomplished so much in the past couple of years and she is always happy and positive.  She makes me want to be happy more often.  Her family is super wonderful, and even though they can't be together right now, I know how proud they must be.  I hope we can hang out a lot this summer before she leaves on her mission.  I need as much Kristy as possible before she leaves for 18 months!

Spending a lot of time at home also means I have been making a lot of meals and doing lots of other things around the house and yard.  I put clothes on the clothes line this week, a sure sign of summer.  We are helping Nala up and down the stairs most days, but she is still as cute as ever.  I have also been learning to enjoy making dinner. Pancakes was my meal on Friday night, which has become what Mom calls E.O.F.T [EveryOne For Themselves].  They were okay pancakes, but not as good as Mom makes them!  I just had to put lots of chocolate chips in to make them taste good!

It was also National Doughnut Day on June 6th!  We obviously celebrated.  Kayla was dropping me off at work, but we stopped at Tim Hortons to grab doughnuts and drinks, but then I was also wanting some French fries so we went through the McDonald's drive-thru next store.  We sat in the car and snacked and listened to the radio.  I love spending time with my sister, whether it's at home or at play.  We watched the Back to the Future trilogy this week too.  It is one of her favourites but I had never seen them all, shame on me right?

Last  but not least, June 13th is Haig's birthday!  So I got some stuff ready to send out for him.  I went with a couple trinkets because I didn't want to send anything too big that he just has to bring home in a couple of months.  I sent a Lego luggage tag, Canada key rings, jelly bellies, lip chap pictures, and I let Hallmark be cute and sappy with a card.  I also stuffed the card and envelope with star confetti, I hope he likes it all!

                                           

                 

                                    

                                   

june 5th 2014

I will remember the events of today for a long time.  I start the 70th Anniversary of D-DAY.  Four years ago I was able to see historic places where Canadians fought for freedom.  I saw their grave sites, because they gave their life for us.  I am so happy to be Canadian.  A friend posted this on twitter this morning:

Nicola MacLeod @nicolammacleod · 39m 

In light of #DDAY70, let's take the time to reflect on everything Canadian men and women have sacrificed and CONTINUE to sacrifice for us

Which moves into the next event.  My grandparent's lived in Moncton.  The street close to where they are looking for a man who has killed three RCMP officers, injured others and has put a whole city in lock down.   My heart is so sad for these families and especially some of the neighbours of my grandparent's old home.  I am so shocked that this could happen so close to home, and even more worried that now it could happen any where.

I pray for the families of the RCMP and police, members of the community and this young man's family.  

This situation needs to end soon.

nala

Nala isn't doing too well.
I'm not sure what we are going to do.
This is very much a post on the real... but I am really hoping she goes in her sleep so we don't have to make the decision of putting her down.
I just can't believe what my life will be like without her.
She has always been there for me.
She has known my happiness and sadness.
I love her for everything she has provided my family with.
Love, fun, excitement, loyalty and friendship.
She is one of my best friends.
She is so beautiful, and she has had a very, very beautiful and well-lived life.

this is getting surreal

life takes you to unexpected places, 

but love will bring you home.

3 more months Elder Pinsent, keep your chin up.