even the sun sets in paradise

introducing: 
we're at a payphone
read away!  

put her right on the table

i woke up this morning and realized it was may 24th.  i've been trying to remember all day why that day sounded so important, like some momentous thing happened on a may 24th somewhere in my life.  i thought about it literally all day, trying to decide why may 24th sounded so familiar.  well.  remember this post?  it was from 2 summers ago around this time.  may. 24. 2010 was the day i decided officially to serve a mission.  how could i forget that?!  the day that altered and changed my life for the better in so many beautiful and unexpected ways.  the day that kicked off the happiest summer of my life.  that day seems so long ago, but will forever be engrained in my heart.  today, may. 24. 2012 i feel a completely different set of emotions from 2 years ago, not necessarily better or worse, just different.  and isn't that the way life is.  can't think of a better way to spend tonight than chillin' with mission amigos in happy valley.  i'm happy.  in the valley.  so i'll go to happy valley just one more time.

... all it takes is the moonlight...

my summer baby

back at the yearly grind... the venture outdoors festival!  LOVIN' IT!  Hot off the press, just got the full, detailed, never before seen 2012 program!  woo!  

you better be there... after all, life's better outside! 

Open publication - Free publishing - More canyon rim

has the day of miracles ceased?

when i was leaving the mission one month ago, my little brother coleman said he still expected me to send him weekly miracles i was seeing.  it was a small almost fleeting comment, but i've thought about it a lot since being home.  we always hear about the amazing miracles missionaries see and experience.  as a missionary my eyes were opened to just how many miracles there are daily and really every moment of our lives, i made the commitment, inspired by coleman, to continue to seek and recognize those miracles in "normal" life.  wanted to share one with you today:

tuesday i was running an errand for my boss.  just heading to a business a few blocks away from our office to pick up some checks and pins for an event we had on wednesday.  after i picked up all the supplies, i was pulling out of the parking garage and accidentally went the wrong way, thinking there were 2 exits.  it wasn't a big deal, only wasted about 5 seconds of my time because i quickly turned around and went the other way.  i kept driving along 600 east downtown to get back to the office.  usually the lights going north - south on 6th are extremely long so i was surprised when i came to the 200 south intersection and the light was green.  i went to proceed into the intersection when suddenly this huge semi came tearing through the other way!  he had run a red light at a ridiculously fast speed.  if i had been even a few seconds earlier, i would've been hit broadside and most likely killed.  he was going so fast, not paying attention, and if my car and the semi got in a fight i would not have won... after i caught my breath a bit, and replayed what had just happened, just pulled over and said a fervent prayer thanking Father for sparing me from that accident. 

i guess you just never know why some things happen the way they do.  "has the day of miracles ceased?  i say unto you, nay!"  

strength in vulnerability

"it's good to be strong and able to bless others, yes.  but we learned the value of being vulnerable to let others be strong for us, to let others bless us.  that, it turned out, was a blessing to them as well."
-- heaven is for real todd burpo

cha cha slide that.

spoke with the little bro yesterday.  elder ence is doing great.  it's already been 20 months since i've seen him and still got another 14 to go!  couldn't come soon enough! he's serving as zone leader of an english area right now... so when they find spanish people they have to turn them over! so lame! 

mother's day was a success.  i sure love my mom.  she's great.
even when she's pretending to sleep on the floor in the middle of the day.  

had an interesting dinner conversation about what mom and dad will be called once they become grandparents in october.  my dad's favorite - "oh great one".  how can you resist this face.  

confessions of a returned missionary: 

still get nervous when backing a car without a backer... 

can't sleep alone yet... 

still have the weather on my iphone set to celsius degrees... 

feel most comfortable with a skirt on... 

blush when i hug boys... 

no longer know how to flirt... 

oh well.  

hannah came to ysa fhe with me tonight.  people sometimes think she's one of the ysa.  she hates that, i think it's swell.  hannahbear is my best friend!  sheer excitement right here. can you tell.  

parker and lace are in hawaii right now.  did i ever mention they are expecting a baybay?  i'm finally going to be an aunt!  it's about time.  don't you worry, they are bringing back chocolate macadamia nuts from the aloha land. 

julia's just as princess as she ever was.  she grew up the most while i was gone.  so tall now.  just turned 12.  still rules the home.  she's so smart.  does insane math problems in her head and knows the most random facts about the most random things.  

don't you wish you were an ence?!  

seek.

i was struck this morning as i read in the recent general conference the opening talk by president monson.  he spoke about the terrible things in the world, then said "there is much that is difficult and challenging in the world today, my brothers and sisters, but there is also much that is good and uplifting." he then quoted the 13th article of faith: "if there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report, or praiseworthy, we seek after these things."  

to me, it is no coincidence the usage of the word seek.  in a world where values, morals, and standards are crumbling, seeking for the good should be, really has to be, our main priority.  evil is more readily accessible than good, then it ever has been, and is often the easy way out.  luckily we have been given many promises to help us combat this evil, one of which says, "be of good cheer, i have overcome the world."  

elder holland once said that the commandment to "be of good cheer" was one of the most widespread disobeyed commandment of all time.  "men are, that they might have joy" - and it is only through the pursuit of "anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report, or praiseworthy" that we can find that cheer and joy we are searching for, and that Father in Heaven wants us to feel everyday.    

president monson expresses a heartfelt thanks to each of us for our service then says, "it is such service that enables the Lord to accomplish many of His purposes here upon the earth."  the Lord has designed very specific ways of helping us feel satisfaction and happiness, and service to Him is one of the best.  think about God.  His whole work and glory is to bring us all back to Him and allow us to live in a state of perfect happiness - a fulness of joy - surrounded by and eternally tied to those we love most.  our commission here on earth - our whole purpose for existing - is to aid in that work.  how humbling is that?!  

the gospel is true.  God lives.  His promises are real, tangibly so.  we are never alone.  

 

   

you don't know you're beautiful... that's what makes you beautiful.

they talked about these lyrics in stake conference the other week: 

"and we are led to those who help us most to grow, if we let them." 

this implies that growth is voluntary.  

god may place people in our life, but we must let them change us. 

we must let them shape us and be the significant part of us they are sent to be.  

then, and only then, can we be changed.  so, into the caverns of tomorrow with just our flashlights and our love we will plunge!  

i was reminded today that we just never know who we are influencing.  

never know who is looking up to us, who's watching.  

by the righteousness of one will many be made obedient.

one day i'm excited to look back on life and see the difference i've made.

still love this quote by amanda burri: 

"i merely with to inspire, be inspired, and aspire to be something aspired."  

the heart of life is oh so good.  <3

put your blue jeans back on

so
what
 if
i
still
point
to
where
my
nametag
should
be
and
introduce
myself
as
sister
ence?


i may not say super maario brothers or paaasta, but the bathroom is definitely still a washroom.  


"in canada cars stop for pedestrians." - me  [incriminating stare] "sara, we're in AMERICA." - hannah.

... thanks han ...