Get Lucky

My first expedition to Fiji was a self awakening.

I became a different person
The person I am today.

It significantly changed my life.

My second trip to Fiji was a life awakening.

But of different sorts.

It was an awakening to everything and everyone in my life.

And I realized how content I am with myself and my life. 

I missed my daily, sometimes boring, routine. 

And I consider myself very lucky.

The thing that I love most about service expeditions

is coming home and realizing how the most simple things make me happy.

Simplicity.

It's underrated, isn't it?

Home Again, Home Again...

Jiggity Jig.

Did your mom ever sing that little tune?

Because mine did.

But more importantly,

I am back in the US of A.

And I've never been so happy to see that red, white, and blue.

It really takes living in another country, 

on a remote island,

without electricity and McDonald's

(Yes, McDonald's... don't judge me. You would have missed it too if you ate beetle infested rice for 2 weeks. And I might have cried the first time I ate McDonald's when we were back in civilization.)

to realize how much I love America.

I mean sure we have nasty public bathrooms

but we don't charge money to use them 

(in most places)

and we give away toilet paper freely.

We also have plenty of public transportation,

hospitals, 

and hot showers.

I missed this place.

Anyways,

I'm back from my service expedition from Fiji.

A trip like this is such a unique experience

and I feel so blessed to have had the opportunity

to serve the people of Fiji and live with them for 2 weeks.

And no, even if you are Fiji it is NOT a vacation.

I've had to clarify that a couple of times.

I will be writing about my experience there in a few posts soon.

But,

that Great Gatsby though...

I knew it was coming out while I was gone

and I made sure Anders took me the night after I got home.

I'm still thinking about it.

Can't get enough of that soundtrack.

Not to mention all of the other amazing shows that I missed while I was gone!

New Girl

Revenge

The Office

Nashville

It's going to be a busy week. 

I Like Morning Dates

Yesterday was Anders only morning off this week.

Now that we don't have school, we can hang out in the morning! 

We went to the temple around 9am.

I love going to the temple.

It is especially nice now that half of the students in Provo left for the Summer!

After the temple we ate at Magleby's Fresh.

By far my favorite breakfast restaurant.

It even beats Kneader's in my eyes!

We stuffed our faces with omelettes and pancakes.

Then I made it home with just enough time to shower and get ready before work.

The Great Gatsby soundtrack was just released.

Are you as excited as I am about the movie coming out?!

Unfortunately, I'll be in Fiji when it come out.

But Anders promised me we will see it the second I get back!

Oh, Hello Happiness

The weather has been extraordinary here in Provo.

And by extraordinary I mean in the 60's & occasionally the 70's.

For us, this is a rare delicacy!

We are finally unthawing.

Remember how I bought a bike and wanted to ride it around everywhere?

Well... That is exactly what I did on Saturday.

Anders accompanied me on his little scoot.

It was a blast. 

I'm finally getting a hang of this whole bike riding thing!

Maybe the saying "it's just like riding a bike" has some truth to it.

We rode to Kiwanis park and took a nap underneath the trees.

I got a little bit of sun.

Which will hopefully help me not burn when I go to Fiji in 3 days!!

Side note: on Saturday I caught up with Lexie and Jon for lunch at Ernie's.

I had never been there before...

LOVED IT.

And I met Ernie!

That evening, when we were finished riding around, we got dinner at Smith's,

napped some more,

and ended the night watching Perks of Being a Wallflower.

I can never get enough of that masterpiece.

It was Anders first time watching it!

He loved it.

But who wouldn't?

My favorite song from Perks