January-March

I realize I haven't posted in ages. I also realize a) I say that every time I start a post and b) some of my five followers don't have instagram where I have been posting a lot of my latest pics. Catherine and my lovely holladay ladies I am talking about you!

Here is a glimpse of my life from the past few months via my iPhone. Enjoy!



new roomies. quick besties.





NYC


West Virginia horse races. Classy








Kiawah and Charleston, South Carolina


DC cherry blossoms!





Visitors!!














Just the usual, marg falling off the bed!


Sleep overs with aunt Sara that included movies, shopping, panera, Costco, the national mall, museums, and cherry blossoms!











Totally met taza and husband. If you don't know who this is, you won't understand and yes, I snapped a stalker shot. #awesome


Completed multiple sev runs for bevies.


Spring in DC is my favorite after fall! I am not looking forward to the humidity!

-Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

A-train comes to town

Austin came to visit last week and it was seriously so much fun. He is the best and always so much fun to be around. I have the best friends! I am sure my roommates (who I don't really know yet) thought I was crazy because I brought home a boy to stay at the house my first night with them!


Stalking pres Obama


We rented bikes and rode around all the monuments and then ended up in eastern market. Definitely my new favorite thing to do!





We even made it to the zoo, but we only saw about three animals...it was awesome!





so jealous he is back in the 801.


He even helped me put my furniture together!!! Don't you love the wallpaper??


Austin is very smart and is going to be a famous business man one day. He basically runs a company by himself so he was always making business call! The company is called sweat block-you should check is out, I have used the product and it totally works!

I was so sad when he left because a) he was leaving and b) that meant my real life had to start and I have been scared to death about the real world.

Technically my first day of work was today, but it was all orientation stuff so it didn't really count. My real work begins tomorrow and I am freaking out. I guess we all have to grow up at some point.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

happy christmas eve!

This Christmas I am especially grateful to be home with family. I have the best family and I am so grateful for their support and the joy they bring to my life. I think when you live away from home you gain a greater appreciation of family. Most importantly, I am grateful for the birth of the Savior, and His gift to me.

"There is a magic in Christmas. Hearts are opened to a new measure of kindness. Love speaks with increased power. Tensions are eased...Of all things of heaven and earth of which we bear testimony, none is so important as our witness that Jesus, the Christmas child, condescended to come to earth from the realms of His Eternal Father, here to work among men as healer and teacher, our Great Exemplar. And further, and most important, He suffered on Calvary's cross as an atoning sacrifice for all mankind. At this time of Christmas, this season when gifts are given, let us not forget that God gave His Son, and His Son gave His life, that each of us might have the gift of eternal life" (Gordon B. Hinckley, "The Son of God," Ensign, Dec 1992, 2).

"We all enjoy giving and receiving presents. But there is a difference between presents and gifts. The true gifts may be part of ourselves—giving of the riches of the heart and mind—and therefore more enduring and of far greater worth than presents bought at the store. Of course, among the greatest of gifts is the gift of love....Some, like Ebenezer Scrooge in Dickens's A Christmas Carol, have a hard time loving anyone, even themselves, because of their selfishness. Love seeks to give rather than to get. Charity towards and compassion for others is a way to overcome too much self-love" (James E. Faust, "A Christmas with No Presents," Ensign, Dec 2001, 2–6). http://lds.org/ensign/2001/12/a-christmas-with-no-presents?lang=eng


Caroling to Mootz
Christmas Eve morning with the cousins and Mootz
The awesome aunties
 
Marg and Noah
Trying to entertain Banna in the car...I think I had just as  much fun!


Family parties galore!


Sisters and our bevies! I for sure drink way more soda when I am at home than back in DC! It must be social drinking!
Miss Hadley Mae's Birthday party!
We met up with my sister to go shopping in our Christmas sweaters-Marg got one compliment and I got five, boo ya! I think Catherine was embarrased to be with us.
Riding trax to see the lights at Temple Square.

the last three months

I realize I haven't blogged in ages. There really isn't much to blog about! The most exciting news is that I am done with school and I have decided to stay in DC for the time being. For those of you who know me well, this is big. I don't do decisions well and after months of people asking me what I am doing with my life, it is nice to finally have an answer. Honestly, I felt so incredibly happy and excited after I finally made the decision to stay. This semester has been the craziest four months of my life. I have mixed emotions about it ending. I am not ready for the real world.

When I wasn't at school or at the hospital, I was doing the following: (courtesy of the iPhone-or else I would have never remembered!)

picking pumpkins-naturally

hanging with the roomies

 Halloween

Boston with Marg

My favorite friends came to visit me in DC-we had a blast laughing for basically two days straight!

Surprised the fam at home on Thanksgiving!

Sleepover in Park City

Turning on of the DC temple lights with Senator Hatch's very own Becky Hayes.

In less than one week, I decided to move from my apt in Bethesda, found a place to live in VA, and packed all my crap and moved it all across the river!

I am going to miss this apartment-we did so many fun things here!

Christmas sugar cookies! Kyle was awesome and helped me move my grown up full size bed into my new place!

DC2nd ward Christmas party

DC2nd ward Christmas after party!

Merry Christmas from apartment 101!

Graduated from GW! See that little pin on my shirt, ya that is all I got...awesome.

My new place in VA. It is about four miles from the National Mall and a five minute walk to the metro. It has a huge backyard and I have a private room! Everyone has to come and visit!

I got a job! I think I am more scared than excited. I really am not ready for employment. I just want to go back to school and not think about 401ks. I kind of get scared just looking at this picture.

but since I won't officially be employed until January 16th, I am trying to enjoy the holidays by hanging out with family and friends!

amanda's homecoming

and drinking way too much of both of these! I think utah just brings out the diet soda drinker in me!



 "Each of us must grow up and leave the security of home and the protective care of parents to enter a world full of problems and challenges that reach far beyond our experience. As we venture out, we would like a ready source to tell us how to handle every difficult situation. But that is not the Lord’s system.It is not the design of heaven that we be rescued from all difficult situations. Rather, it is the Lord’s will that we learn to handle them.The sense of being overwhelmed is very much a part of the journey. The power with which God clothes us in His holy temples does not imply that our journey will be an easy one.As we accept our lot and move forward with what the Lord has asked of us, we discover that we enjoy the company of the Holy Ghost, angels feel constrained to join us, and the heavens open to our vision.As you seek direction, the Holy Ghost will lead you far beyond your own thoughts and mark a course that reaches beyond that which you can see even by the light of day."Joseph f mcconkie“But behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right” (D&C 9:8).