mellow monday.

i woke up to the most amazing rainstorm this morning!  fall is surely in the air.  It was chilly today, and i love that.  long pants and sweatshirt weather, but the sun's still shining.  mmm.  honestly, today was really hard.  it was weird to think about all my usu friends starting school today, going to their new fhe's and having a blast with new roommates.  and call me pathetic, but i really, really missed him today.  provo isn't TOO far, i know... but i was so sad and mellow today about that.  the first day apart is always the worst.  and i think reality about him being gone for school then me up and leaving for a mission is finally starting to set in.  hard.  thank goodness for friends like annie carney and ashlin anderson... i know i can always count on them for a pick me up :)  on a brighter note, i read all morning, curled up in my bed, listening to the rain on and off for hours.  devin called at lunchtime and made my whole day, (after a small but much needed cry).  i ate graham crackers and frosting in milk, which always reminds me of ashlin... and is one of my favorite treats!  i broke my desk chair today... awesome.  this afternoon i accompanied the skyline musical auditions.  today i realized how old i am because 1. i didn't know anyone that auditioned 2. when mr. gundersen was introducing me to the new(ish) dance teacher, he said, "sara was a senior 4 years ago, in 2006."  wow!  graduated in '07, thank you, gundy, for making me feel ancient... but seriously? was it really 4 years ago that we were starting our senior year?!  gahhh. 3. everyone in high school looks so tiny!  4. i saw a girl i used to babysit walking in the halls and thought, there's no way she's in high school.  ouch.  tough realities today.  but all in all the auditions went well.  always interesting to hear the commentaries of the teachers after the students leave the room, ba ha ha.  nothin' like an insiders' scoop, eh?  after auditions, i started walking home: the sun mid-sky, a bit cloudy, but then blue skies smilin' at me.  it was the perfect chilly fall weather and it smelled of freshly cut grass.  the perfect afternoon.  em.ja.ne and i talked a considerable amount today (compared to what we have been doing lately) and i got one of her inspirational messages in my inbox, which made me extremely happy!  always a boost to hear from that girl!   speaking of ems, tonight she informed me of the gorgeous sunset, which to me is always a great reminder that the Lord loves  me and is here for me, even for something as simple and silly as missing a boy.  lots of other things happened today, but i'll just leave it at that.  i was reminded today, however, how much i love the hymn "lead kindly, light."  "lead kindly, light, amid the encircling gloom.  lead thou me on."  definitely one of my favorite hymns.  i am grateful today for the peace the gospel brings and for how happy my family can make me.  fhe tonight was so great.  tomorrow... john mayer and owl city... :)  my missionary bedtime is fast approaching, so happy monday to all and to all a goodnight!

turn the page

the best summer of my life ended tonight.

feelin' a little somber at the moment.

- - -

why must all good things come to an end?

complimentary water.

yesterday was another marathon date day.  woot.

11:00am.
car mechanic.
wait for aaron and elena.
drive to provo.
check in liberty square.free cookies and lollipops.
move stuff in to room.organize shelves (kind of).
try to contact roommate.
drop elena off.
drive to mtc.walk around mtc.
devin's interview.pick elena up.
costco chicken bakes.frozen yogurt and smoothies.
drive home.
pick up katie jane.
drive to snowbird.
spa day!
swimming in the rain.
HOT tub in the rain.
eucalyptus steam room.
relaxing on the massage chairs.gorgeous foggy mountain view.
complimentary water (ha ha).
eucalyptus room again.
heat room.
warm showers.
full amenities in the locker room.
high balcony lookout.
drive home (in the fog).
crepes and ice cream.
"the perfect crepe".
ghost town.home.
12:00am.

i dare say it was an epic 12-hour-date-day.

ps. does it seem like this week went by waaay fast to anyone?

he said, "hey!"

bucket list #17: write a good love song.  check.  (just imagine the tune... i guess...)

he said, "hey, how ya doin'?  it's been a while, but hey!"
she said, "hi, how's it goin'?  yeah, i think i recall your face..."
he said, "cool, let's play!"  she said, "alright, you pick the day."

tuesday night they climbed a mountain, watched the freeway cars go by.
he laughed, she giggled.  and then she sighed.

he said, "hey, how ya doin'? there is so much i want to do... with you..."
she said, "alright, let's get goin'!  PS i like you!"
so they grabbed a piece of paper, started writing down some things

pretty soon they were country dancin', tie dyin' shirts and shoes.
holdin' hands, makin' plans... she said, "you're the boy, your turn to choose"

he said, "hey, let's go on a picnic!"  she said, "...okay..."
so he took her on a picnic, then showed her up in croquet.
he said, "baby, don't worry.  i like you anyway!"

pretty soon they were horse back ridin', watchin' movies until dark.
findin' every single lookout, and nearly every park.

he said "oh, oh, oh, will you be my summer love?"
and she said, "oh, oh, oh, i will be your summer love!"

he said, "hey, then it's settled!  you are my summer love... now."
then he paused just to say, "sara, kiss me right now."
he tucked her hair behind her ear, said, "kiss me right now."

pretty soon they were kissin', dancin' underneath the stars
he played with her hair, she said, "you've captured my heart...

 oh oh oh, you are my summer love."
he said "oh oh oh, you are my summer love!"

he said, "hey, it's time to go... it's getting close to midnight."
he drove her home, held her close, then said "good night!"
she went upstairs to her bedroom, knew it was just a matter of time

before he sent her a message... her phone buzzed twice.
"sweet dreams tonight, baby!  i love you more all the time!

and oh oh oh, you are my summer love.
oh oh oh, you are my summer love!"

so she curled up in her bed and dreamt all night of her summer love.

. . .

just a few pictures to make you smile this day:

huzzah.  

(thanks to feel good about yourself tuesday for these!)

a place of love and beauty

today is a day i have subconsciously
been preparing for and looking
forward to my whole life.

"i love to see the temple, i'll go inside {today}" 

:)  

back to school, wha?

everyone's starting school today. or next monday.
then there's me.  just chillin' at home.

no big deal.

music.life.love

moose jaw

yesterday, when whitnaaay and i got caught in the wind storm... on the lake... in a canoe... we couldn't stop laughing.  we were rowing forwards but moving backwards.  my. arms. kill. today.  so great.

summer 2010 was by far the best summer of my life.  for many, many reasons.

i love that carson is always baking dessert.

david castillo is HOME.  i think he may be the last of the guys (oh, besides kendrick.)  love all these wonderful RM's!

the typical conversation at mandy's wedding the other week: "i don't think we've met, what's your name?" "sara ence" "sara, where did you go to high school?"  "skyline..." "oh me too!  what year did you graduate?" "'07..."  (pause)  "me too!  why don't i recognize you?"  (usually a fit of embarrassment for a minute from them, me just laughing to myself) "oh, i know who you are, but no worries, we didn't talk, like at all, so no stress."  "i still feel way bad though..."  hah!  what a joke.  that's what i get for dating someone in another world of social class than me :)  love it.

i get to see melissa k today and i'm sooo excited!

went to the zoo on tuesday.  the bird show just about killed me with cheesiness.  but the monkeys were thoroughly entertaining.  do have to say though... what the heck - why did they get rid of the hippos?!  the nature's nightmares were a little frightening as well... the giant spider and pirahna's and the fruit bats.  when the guy asked if we had just eaten fruit my mom answered no.  after he explained that we didn't want to attract any fruit bats to our scent then opened the door i thought to myself, "i just ate a bag of grapes... and a banana... awesome."

thursdays are always good days.  mmhmm.  love thursdays.

i'm happy!  that's all.

canada.  can't wait.  the closer it gets the more excited i get.  devin would probably tell you differently, but it's not his mission, it's mine :)  ha ha ha...

already in post-LEAP depression and missin' my LEAPers like craaaazy!  i'm pretty sick of this one week friendship stuff.  EFY and LEAP were awesome, but it's always so sad after the week to leave your new best friends :(

i love writing random feel-good notes to people!  just spreadin' happiness, no big deal.

this shirt smells like him.  driving me crazy.

this country song just came on that says "it won't be like this for long" and it's so true - life can change so fast!  especially at this stage.  just another reminder to e n j o y e v e r y m o m e n t !  

happy summer closing!

castillo

GUESS WHO'S HOME?!

:D 

oh devin.

sure love this boy.  

copy genius.

just another successful week of LEAP!
LEAP 2010... by far the best yet.
the caliber of students and the levels
of energy and motivation and excitement:
unsurpassable!  wow.  i'm amazed at what
a fantastic week it was.  always fun to:

see old faces:

be with best friends again: 

recruit loved ones to a new way of living: 

be reminded that i'm a 10 :)  

and of course, make lots of new best friends!  

{ soarin' turkey haters for life.  best group EVAH.  mmhmm. }  

i heart LEAP.  forevah evah!  forevah evah! 

leap LEAP leap

it's showtime!  

he's a 10.

 about 'p.s. i love you'...

"so my favorite part of the movie was when the mom is
talking to the daughter about going into a room with
someone there to acknowledge you, to be with.  you
totally do that to me.  like tonight when i got to hold
your hand and everyone wanted to know if i was dating
you and i got to say yes!  i'm the one with the amazing girl."

it doesn't get more adorable than that.  i'm tooooo luckyyyy!  <3

tonight devin surprised me with tickets to see john mayer!
it was my "reward" for finishing the book of mormon in
4 days - which beat his record of 5.  boo yah!
i've seen john mayer once a couple summers back and it
was by far my favorite concert i've ever been to!!
so, naturally, devin said, your "best" concert has to be
one with me... so you're going again.  hooray!  i thought
he had already come and i was sad i had missed it... but yay!
apparently parker and laci are coming with... which will
be a blast as well!  what a sweetheart.  drivin all the way
up on his first day of school to take me to a concert then
driving all the way back the same night.  again, too lucky.

tonight was the perfect date.  i say that a lot, but it always is.
some boys just know how to charm... and i'm dating one of them!

can't wait for cali tomorrow!  

a sit down man-to-man

lovin' all these summer rain storms!

happy wedding day to kyle and katelyn turner
and chandler and katie townsend!  i heart weddings.
what happy couples <3

bucket list item #26: read the book of mormon
in one sitting.  this week: done and done.

on a mission high... again... life couldn't be bettah!!  

LA in 2 days.  thatswhatsup.

graham crackers and frosting for breakfast. mmhmm.

shooting stars and skylines after a bonfire and canyon drive.
perfect tuesday date night.

love. in. a. box.  after feeling a little conflicted for a bit,
i finally got an answer to my question this week...
and can i just say 1. life is good and 2. the Lord knows me.
i love when i am reminded of that in simple ways.

56 days till MTC.  wooot.  can't wait!!

missin' efy this week!  alright alright hey.

LEAP.  enough said.

i need to go straighten my hair and read some more.

mmkay.  byee.

listless.

neglecting everything and everyone.

boo.  

"GIRLS" --parker adams.

after being away for 4 weeks,  

the next 28 days will be bliss.  

but as taylor and taylor say, 

all roads lead to provo. so of course

one of us were bound to have to leave 

for there eventually (again). the good 

news here is... i'm going there too... 

just not for another 2 months :)  

oh how i love being in the same city!  

lots to do this week, but absolutely no where to be.  this is the life. 

oh, hello august... when did you show up?!  

nothin' like a little morning yoga, eh?  

lots of weddings this week. 

august is another month of love.  

efy is full of creepy stalkers.  

who knew teenage boys could be so bleh. 

(gotta love it... i think...) 

brace yourselves:  i love provo.  

i know, big news, right?  enough said.  

but the "all roads lead to provo" idea  

seems to be frighteningly true 

as of late in my life.  best.  

already missin' my efy  week 10 babies!  

it's going to be a 10 sort of day(week).  

i just know it.  

"i like my whole houuussseee!

i can do anything good.. yeah yeah..."  

530.

i'm going to read the whole book of mormon this week.