Blessed America

I have so much on my mind right now, and I'm completely bummed that I haven't been keeping up with this blog so that I wouldn't have to go back and write all these things that have happened since the last time I updated... this post may turn out to be a big jumble of thoughts... no scratch that--it will be a big jumble of thoughts. :)

Where to start? Maybe the informative ... stuff.

We are in AMERICA!! Ah! Blessed, blessed America!

Getting here was quite a feat, but I'm so happy that we are here.

We left Finland July 7th, and it took us all day to get to New York, but that could also be because we didn't leave Finland until the afternoon. When we made it to New York, we waited a bit, then Uncle Erik, cousin Nathanael, (and cousins Brenden and Brian) came to pick us up, and drive us to their home in Pennsylvania. What a drive. We were dead, then the drive was 3 hours or so. Finally, at some point after midnight (or was it one...?) we made it to the house, and I went straight to sleep.

Thank heavens for jet lag, right? (no.)

I woke up the following morning at 5:30, and had a look around my cousin's room (mainly her books... you know me. ;) ) I came across Two Princesses of Bamarre. Now, understand, that I have been craving this book for over half a year. The way a starving person craves food. It was a miserable half a year without this book. Anywho... back to the story... I started reading that book, and read and read to my heart's content. When the sun woke up, as well as the rest of the household, I had finished this book. Talk about getting down to business. :)

Later that day we drove to DC, had all these wonderful parties for the wedding, then crashed at the Hilton. (For such a big hotel, you'd think that they'd have more than four elevators.)

Friday was the wedding. We went to the DC temple, and it was beautiful! (Though, I wasn't so crazy about how weird my dress looked on me. I was a complete and utter... cupcake. ;) )

Picture-taking lasted a good while, and the scorching heat, and direct sunlight didn't exactly make it any more pleasant.

The reception was fun! I got Mikaela to dance with me, and she LOVED it!!! We did some major cha-chaing...or something like that ;) and then I agreed to slow-dance with the cutie. Except... since she's so short.... I bent my knees so that I was about her height... boy was that a workout for these thighs! ;) It was so cute watching her, that it was completely worth it!!! <3

On Saturday, back in Pennsylvania, at 9:30pm our cousins came up with the idea of playing capture the flag, so they called their friends, and we all went to a park and we played capture the flag. :) It was major fun!

Sunday, we went to church in Pennsylvania, and enjoyed the rest of the day with our cousins.

Monday. We came home! <3>

And we immediately started unpacking everything. Of course, I realized in the car that I was sick, so with my snotty nose, and throbbing throat, I too unpacked. And Tuesday, feeling miserable, I finished setting up my room. It looks wonderful, if I do say so myself.

Now, since we've been back....

Wednesday, I met up with Emilie, Caitie, and Alane, and enjoyed the Concert Under the Elms. Alane played in it, and she rocked it with her mad french horn playing skills. :) Then we went to Cold Stone's.... oh boy!!! <3>

Thursday night the youth came back from youth conference, and I got to see Hannah and Kimmi!!! <3>

Friday and Saturday I spent practically glued to Hannah. haha. :) But it was good. We went to the movies (with Jonathan and Sam too), grocery shopping, to put some gas in the car, and to Hannah's first drive thru (with her driving the car) (we went to Little Caesar's and bought breadsticks... $3 for eight sticks *just to throw that advertisement in*).

Sunday was absolutely wonderful, as we were back to our wonderful little Athens Branch, and saw our friends again!! <3>

haha...whoa, just realized that it's only Monday...

I read a whole book yesterday, read another one today (but today's was short... less than a hundred pages...)

Whooh! That's all for happenings. Now on to some thoughts that I've had.

Before we left Finland, I was surfing amazon looking at books... (yeah, I know... I'm looking for a hobby ;) ) and I came across an author's blog. I checked it out, and loved it! Man, these authors are talented! Even her blog was just enthralling and capturing. So, something to aspire to, I suppose... not anytime soon. :( bummer.

Next, something that my mom said to Mikaela a while ago stuck with me. Usually, when I hear something "profound," I think "wow, that is amazing. I will remember that always," and then I always forget what it was that I thought was so amazing. But, one day, back in Finland, while Mikaela threw a fit about her friend being able to do something that Mikaela wasn't allowed to go to, or something like that... My mom calmed her down and told her, "Life isn't fair. Sometimes others get to do things that we can't, but it's our choice to be happy for them or not." (well, you know, that was the gist of it...)

Ever since then, (even though I've known just how unfair life can be ;) ) I've really tried to be happy for others even if I've maybe felt jealous... and it's hard. For sure.

Oh, well. Just keep at it. :)

So, mull over that a while, then go and eat a bowl of ice cream (it always helps) while I go eat dinner. :)