I went to MAMMA MIA! with my Mamma Mia. I couldn't really stop laughing. And I didn't want to. It was that good. Of course, it doesn't take much to entertain me. I mean, I'm the girl who can tell her favorite joke repeatedly and still think it's the funniest thing ever. What's my favorite joke? I'll tell you.

Me: Okay, okay. Ask me if I'm an orange.
You: Are you an orange?
Me: (Fit of ab working laughter, ferocious shake of the head) No!

Can I live in Greece? I fell in love. The way the sun shined off the water. The aged hotel. Everything was so white. Mixed with blue. Art. Simply Beautiful.

I decided this song will forever be able to put me in a good mood when I'm feeling down. And this one. Oh, boy.

My favorite part about the movie? It started a conversation about music, family, and life lessons that made my heart smile.

Other things I did today:

• Went to a volunteer meeting for this.
• Bought a shirt and a swimsuit.
• Gave my spleen to food poisoning. On a date. The most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to me. And I'm not easily embarrassed.

Song of the day.

Six of us went long boarding/scootering down Provo canyon tonight. Oh, the beauty. There was a fire at Bridal Veil. (Don't worry, we didn't start from that far up.) Made me miss my brother.

We decided to form ourselves into a gang. The long board/scooter gang of Provo canyon. We pretty much owned that mountain tonight.

We seemed to just glide down the paved path at a comfortable speed. Fast enough for the feeling of freedom to sink in. Slow enough to look around and really see my surroundings.

Rain. The only thing that could have made it better. Just one of those light sprinkles that lightly mist your face and make the rocks smell like summer. There's something different about the world on summer nights. It makes my brain ponder. It makes my heart race. It makes my soul feel connected to something bigger. Nature.

Sprinklers. We found some. She and I ran through them while the others watched in hidden envy.

Thoughts. Why? Why does one person think this way and another the opposite? Why does one person act this way and the other the opposite?

I am intrigued by others' minds. And lately mine as well.

Sometimes I forget to think. I slip back into old habits of just existing and speaking and doing and breathing. I forget to think about it. I forget to think about the people around me and paying attention to their facial expressions, and body language and tone. I forget empathy. I forget service and selflessness and fall back on my childish routines of selfish acts.

But then sometimes I do remember. And I think about every little thing before I do it. And then I look at the results of my actions and I learn and grow from it.

Curious question that has been dancing around my head for some time. On a daily basis, are your thoughts words? Are they sentences that tie together as if you are having a conversation with yourself? Or are they perhaps pictures and smells and memories? Or do your thoughts even have a form? Do they float around in your head like spirits: unseen, unheard, yet their presence is still felt. Somehow. Do they brace up against your cheek, light as a feather, until you find the words to voice them? Do your opinions and beliefs surprise you when you finally put them into words to speak to someone. Do you find yourself thinking, "I didn't realize I actually felt that way. I just said it. It must be true on some subconscious level."

On an unrelated topic, I'm beginning to believe that there is no such thing as chance. I believed this on some level before, but now this belief is stronger. Everything happens for a reason. Everything. I think we question things about life, the world, ourselves, and life has a way of bringing the answers to us in unexpected ways. But it's not just life that gives us answers. It's something much larger and more powerful than life.

It's been too long, I know. I've had things to talk about here but I've forgotten most of them. Here is what I remember.

Me likey the Sobe.

Do you ever get so freaked out and nervous that your stomach and your heart decide to switch places? Except your stomach goes to your throat? I was surprised they didn't run into each other on their way to making me franticly search for an escape route. I was completely distracted the rest of the day. I almost stole the basket from the store when I walked out. I felt like taking a nap. It was weird.

What else? Oh, I got a job. It happened very quickly. I like it. We listen to very random music when we work. One minute it's rap, the next it's country, then pop, then some acoustic guitar. And everyone sings to all of it. Mostly. It makes me laugh.

I'm getting lots better at whistling! I don't look like a duck anymore. My goal is to be able to whistle "Happy Birthday" to myself on my birthday. "Whoa, dream big!"

My twitter today didn't work. It was supposed to say, "It almost makes me sad that I don't seem to fit in with girls, but then I remember how much I HATE THEM. And then I call a guy and say... Hey dude, wanna try and beat me in basketball?"

So, I'm going to go play basketball now. Or something like that. Whatever. =)

Sunshine! Ahhh.

Song of the day. -LOVE THIS SONG.

• listened to this song (hello, hello. HOLA!)
• looked at pictures
• wished I could fly-for numerous reasons
  
• learned more about this fantastic inspiration
  
• went to Juice Press
• received a "special assignment"
  
• went on a mobile stakeout for sprinklers
• ran through them
  
• giggled with friends
  
• updated my iPod
• giggled some more
• took pictures
• ate two string cheeses... let's make that three
  
• pondered about summer, the love I have for all my friends (including you, yes, you), and music
• wondered what my 20-year-old face will look like
• 30-year-old?
• 40?
• washed it

"Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart." ~William Wordsworth

I think it's TOTALLY AWESOME that his last name is WORDSworth, don't you?

Song of the day. Lyrics.

It's still wet. =)

Just kidding. Summer didn't draw this, I did. This is what Summer does to me. She sweetly whispers to me when I'm feeling bored and tells me to do creative things like paint her the way I see her at that exact moment. In this case, a butterfly inside of a heart. I did it with my fingers.

Finger painting! Did you forget about this too? I forgot all about it. This is what Summer looks like to me today. I wonder what tomorrow will look like.

What I accomplished today:

I washed my car and vacuumed it out. I've never seen her look so beautiful. Seriously. She looks gooood. Like, way good. Like, that car that you see driving up the road in the picture? Yeah, totally checking her out. Hot.

See? Look at her shiny curves glisten in the light of the sunset. Attractive.

Washing my car got me in a cleaning frenzy. I went crazy. I cleaned my room and it looks and smells great.

I organized the bookshelf next to my bed. Just in case you were wondering, I have two book shelves. The one by my bed is smaller and I only keep the books I'm currently reading on it.

Ten points goes to whoever knows what the thin white book is.

These books? Yeah, I've been reading some of them since December. I just have so many I want to read. So I get distracted. And i.just.want.to.read.them.all.ok? Okay? OKAY?!!

No, I was not snarling just then. Okay, maybe I was. I'm just really passionate about books. And when I can't read them all I get frazzled and depressed and maybe a little bit Insane.

Deal with it.

I decided to organize them in a rainbow-ish order. I think it will serve as an offering to the Sun Gods to help me get into summer reading mode and finish them. Maybe?

As I was cleaning my room, I found a project that I started a few weeks ago and just never finished. So when I completed the organization my bookshelf, I finished it. It feels good to finish things. I like the feeling of finished.

It's called Giant Journaling, this project of mine. I'm almost proud of this one. I mean, it's not as ugly as others I've attempted to create. I kinda like it.

Whoa, people. WHOA. I'm not proud enough to post a picture of it. You think I'm that comfortable with myself?

Well, maybe I am. But just not this one. I'll make another one soon and post a picture. But only if you really want. Deal? And the way I'll know if you really, truly, deeply want to see a picture of it is if you comment that you want to see it. But that's the only way I can know. Sound good? Good.

And what else will I do today? I don't know. I've been having trouble sleeping lately. But now I figure, if I'm going to be awake, I might as well be doing something relatively productive. I already feel a lot better about myself. You know, creating things instead of sitting there, staring at the wall. Thoughts?

I'm sitting on the floor right now. I've been sitting on the floor since I began organizing my bookshelf. Which was approximately... an hour ago. Time for bed.

Song of the day.


P.S. Want to know how big of a Disney nerd I am? I put my iPod on shuffle and got really, really excited when this song came on. I mean, the fact that it's on my iPod should be enough evidence. But then I just got so.excited.

I love you. I was sitting and just thinking today and I felt the need to let you know how much. A few weeks ago, I tried to put into words how lucky I feel to have MY family. I also wrote, a while before, that we see ourselves differently than other people see us. Well, this is how I see you, Family, whether you care to read this or not.

Mom, you are such a support to me. I love how no matter what, you are behind me, backing me up 100%. I love our conversations. They range from silly things that make us giggle for days to deep, thought-provoking insights and and life principles. Always uplifting. You are so strong in my eyes. A hero. You're my Buffy.

Dad, sometimes you get this look on your face and the only way I know how to describe it is complete joy. I love it. Your face just lights up. Smiles come so naturally for you. I love how we both get a kick out of the little things in life. I love that I inherited your passion for music along with many other things.

Mom (2), I love that I almost refuse to call you my stepmom. (In fact, the only time I use the word "step" is when I have to explain to people the intricate details of who's technically related to who in my family.) I love how we both seem to enjoy the sun more than most things on this planet. I aspire to have your ability to "throw something together" and have it taste as splendidly as Thanksgiving dinner.

Jim, I love your silly sense of humor. Sometimes, Mom and I pretend it gets on our nerves but we secretly love it. I don't think you give yourself enough credit. You work harder than anyone I know. I don't say thank you enough. Thank you. Oh, and thanks again for killing that spider that tried to eat me the other day. It was looking pretty grim before you showed up.

Kenna, I think you know this already, but I look up to you in so many ways. To name a few: your ability to make something beautiful out of a blank Photoshop document, your pictures, your coolness factor in the Mommy department, your sense of humor, your way with words. I love that we're friends.

Steve, I truly enjoy being your little sister that you never really got. I love how excited you get about a game, or a treat, or a movie, or just anything fun. I love how you love my sister.

Carter, I love how easily you laugh. I love how you've always had a gut-busting laugh. I love how you say RAWR. I love how proud you are of yourself for being able to walk now. I'm just as proud. I'm so excited for jumbled noises turn into words and full sentences.

Chris, I love how thoughtful you are. You're just so sweet. I'm so excited for the new additions to our family that we get through you. So so excited.

Austin, I love your little sayings. They usually don't make much sense but I love them. I love how when I hug you, my head fits perfectly just under your shoulder. I love when you pick me up and everything on the ground is so far away that it makes my tummy hurt but then you just make me laugh. And then I don't want to go down, even though it makes me nervous to be so high. I miss you, Austie B.

Mel, I love your bluntness. If something is on your mind, you'll pretty much just say it. I miss when we would go on random crazy adventures, like changing the words on a sign, or doing jumping jacks in our closet. I even miss when you would throw beef jerky at me because I wouldn't turn out the light. But I love you now even more. I love how awesome you are as a Mother. I look up to you and Ken a lot in that department. It makes me excited to have kids of my own someday. I love how we can still talk about whatever all the time.

Rayder, I love getting to watch you every week. We have so much fun. I love when you see food, you realize how hungry you are and reach out your chubby fists to grab the spoon. I love that your favorite toy is a plastic hanger. I love your smile.

Elle, I love how we both think the really silly things are the funniest. And how we can laugh about the same thing over and over again. I love that you look to me for help when you need it. Remember I'm always here for you; I'll always try my best to be a good big sister. You are so talented!

To Cousins, Aunts, Uncles, Grandparents (whether you read this or not), I love you. I look up to you all. I see your strength, compassion, patience, understanding, love, humility, service, and sense of adventure and I look up to you too.

Family, You are shiny stars to me. I aspire to be more like you. I learn more about myself everyday. I'm at a stage in my life when I need to figure out who I am and who I want to become. As I look at you, Family, I want to take all the things I love about each of you and become all those things. I'm so lucky I got you. I'm. So. Lucky. No one could fill the void if any one of you weren't here in my life.

Sorry for filling this blog with so much cheese. I just want you all to know how much I love and appreciate you.

My Independence Day was spent at the Stadium of Fire in Provo. Blue Man Group and Miley Cyrus performed. It was so cool. Blue Man Group was kind of weird. But I love weird. So it was great! And I like Miley. I'm not ashamed to admit it. But my highlight of the night were these.




It was so entrancing. I love fireworks. I felt my hear go POP POP POP along with them. Like I was watching a band play, feeling my heart pulse to the drummers rhythm. Beating in unison. My heart popped with the fireworks. Wonderful.

So, how did you spend your 4th.

Song of the day. It's pretty catchy. Silly.

At first she was against the idea. Because she was tired and feeling lazy. She just wanted to drive there. Pff... How square is that? Cool kids don't go with the norm. I explained how much fun it would be. The wind in our hair, the sunshine, the laughter, not to mention saving on gas. And by some sort of miracle... she agreed to it.

Take a moment and try to imagine my excitement... You can't. Sorry.

We quickly changed our clothes and threw sunglasses, a towel, and tanning lotion into two light backpacks. We dug up a pair of bikes and then we rode them to the public pool. I felt like I was in this movie. When they put a radio in the handlebar basket and sing as they ride.

We hooked my iPod up to speakers and hung them outside of her backpack. We snickered and sang. All the while, wondering how we came to be so fabulous. It was an adventure to say the least.

I love this picture. I love it. I love it. I love it. Not sure why.

At one point one of us said, "I love how we're graduated so we can do things like this and it makes us cool. Not lame." I know, Right?!

I wasn't aware she was taking this picture. Not bad.

Later, I rode over to her house. She sent me a text when I got there.

L: Come in through my window.
M: What?
L: Come in through my window.
M: Okay.

Didn't see a single bug. Phew!

And then! Then we went to a friends house. And played shuffle board. I kid you not, my friends. Shuffle Board. It was fantastic. My team lost. Miserably.

After, we went to a BIRTHDAY PARTY! "We're going to a party. It's a birthday party. It's your birthday party. Happy birthday, Darling. We love you very, very, very, very, very, very, very much." (Did I not tell you that my brain is a jukebox? Oh. Well, it is.)

We ate yummy cake and ice cream. And played scum. One girl was President the entire time. Except the very.last.round. When I dethrowned her. (Yes, I know that's not a word.) But Ha!

And there you have it. My very adventurous, summer day. There are many many more to come...

Song of the day.