I tried my hardest to pay attention to the road, but my smiles were bigger than last year's Christmas tree and the happy tears in my eyes could have easily been mistaken as my best friend passing away.
Really though, I was on top of the world.
Butterflies must be nocturnal because I spent much more time replaying the way he smiled at me than in dream land.
Then I woke up to this, and I knew.
I knew my life was unfolding perfectly.
Oh, and I still do :)
"this love is meant to last forever."
(taken from this week's email. And hey Hunt, I couldn't agree Moore)
I wasn't planning on blogging tonight, I didn't have anything in particular to say.
Then, I came across a video, and I got an impulse to type. I've learned better than to deny those thoughts and feelings so here goes nothing.
A woman is her own worst, and most harsh critic.
Not many women can look in the mirror and say to themselves, "I look beautiful today" and truly mean it.
Most of the time, a woman doesn't live up to her full potential because an abundance of necessary self-esteem is lacking.
My fingers are stumbling over the keys so slowly as I try to figure out the right words to type.
Trying to enlighten others on a topic I struggle with myself is not the easiest task.
You are more beautiful than you think.
and why was that so hard for me to type?
Because, I belong to the majority. Just like you, and you, and all of you.
So let's work together. It starts with one simple step.
Take a couple of minutes to watch this video.
Seriously, how powerful is that?
It got me thinking on a whole new level.
I wondered what my sketch would come out as, as I thought about the way I would speak of my features.
She probably would have chubby cheeks and a nose like Pinocchio.
But why do I perceive myself that way if others don't?
I remembered something I had written in a journal some time ago and stumbled across it tonight as this topic danced around in my mind.
"I have been thinking A LOT about insecurities lately. Isn't it funny that we think we are the only ones on the face of the earth with an insecurity of some sorts? Here's the problem: We are so down on ourselves because we only see the very best of people. They can't show us what is going on on the inside, they make us believe their life is perfect and ours is no where near it. Funny because truth be told, we are all fighting our own battles. Everyone has insecurities because we believe that nobody else does... sound about right? I think so."
We truly are, as women, our toughest critics.
So stop.
Stop degrading yourself, judging yourself, comparing yourself, starving yourself, overworking yourself, hurting yourself, and trying to be someone other than yourself.
Because you are you, and the only person you should try to be better than tomorrow, is the person you were yesterday.
We are all beautiful in some way or another and all of our strengths are different.
That is what makes us unique.
Let's all do ourselves a favor and treat ourselves a little bit nicer.
After all, life is way too short to spend another day at war with yourself.
Whether it is beauty, talents, fashion, your figure, or anything else...
Figuring out what to get a mother for her birthday can be hard at times.
There are only so many candles and and necklaces you can give.
A sweet and heartfelt card is sentimental, but that happens every year too.
This year, sometime back in the beginning of March I started the process of thinking about what I should get my mom.
i think way ahead.
Nothing was coming to me.
Then... I went over to my parents house and found the only "recent" picture of us 3 kids on a table.
It was from when I was in middle school.
We clearly needed an update.
When my sister came home a million different ideas came to me.
They thought I was crazy when I told them my envision... but hey I think they turned out pretty good!
We didn't use some big photographer, we didn't buy any new outfits.
We used an old quilt to lay on, we went to a nearby field with a beautiful tree I run past almost every day, the pictures were printed by costco, we picked out things in our closets we thought would go best together, and we used a tripod.
Yep, I ran over to the tripod and pressed the button with every picture we took :)
I found a collage frame at target and put our individuals in it with the "we love you mom" picture.
Then I found another cute frame for a 5x7 of us 3 together.
Somehow, after the year mark passes, every single month seems to be monumental.
This one is quite a big deal if you ask me.
Elder Moore being gone for 15 months today, means that we are out of the double digits! (as far as months go)
We now only have nine months left.
Nine months!
Cue freak out number 15.
No but really. I'm kinda going crazy over here.
Wanna know something?
The first year I could not wait to get to the second year.
Now I'm here and I'm gonna have a panic attack.
Don't get me wrong, I can't wait for him to come home!
I'm just... nervous.
Wanna know something else?
I can't believe how much I love him.
I can't believe how often I think about him.
Loving this boy seriously comes way too easy to me.
It has never been hard, it came so naturally and it felt so right.
I continually wonder how my heart somehow finds room to love him even more than the day before.
Hunter is loving his mission.
I am loving him through it.
He is so happy, he loves everything about his mission.
I think if it were up to him, he would stay there forever.
That is, if I could join him in 9 months ;)
haha I'm so not kidding
So, I'm going to be honest here for a sec, I'm tired and I have to be awake in a matter of hours for a dang work meeting... lame.
Sooo I think I'm gonna cut story time a little short today.
That just makes the anticipation for next month that much better right??
ha I'm killing myself with thinking you all really wanna read this.
Okay so we left off here meaning I should probably start with March.
March of my freshman year was not my fav, but it's cool it gets better.
After finally seeing that this "other" girl existed I took it upon myself to become more involved in Hunter's life. If that was even possible... (Are you starting to catch on that I was obsessed like way early on?) I started asking him about things he likes thinking it would make him wanna talk more. I started waiting longer to text back to make him anticipate the next reply. I even, wait for it, curled my hair!! That's right my friends, I didn't begin to curly my hair (presentably) until freshman year! Anyhow, all my little tricks seemed to work and somehow we began talking more, hanging out more, and others started to pick up on this. I had a friend, a guy friend that continued to ask me what my "relationship status" was with Hunter almost every day. He was always so disappointed when I would let him know it was the same as the day before. We would joke around about how he is the missing puzzle piece in my life and with him it would be complete. (ha cheesy I know. That must have been the start of all the cheesy things I still do!) So towards the end of March, beginning of April I recall a conversation that took place very late at night that was monumental. You see, we used to stay up wayy past our bedtime texting practically all night which was so stupid because we would see each other the next morning at school... Somehow I was always the one that fell asleep even though he was the one that had to wake up at the crack of dawn and played football and basketball. Anyhow, this one night after talking about happy things he said this: "Aleigh Joy, you really are my best friend. You make me so happy." My heart fluttered and my lashes batted. My heart was beating 20 times faster and my cheeks were, I'm sure the color of vine ripe tomatoes. I was so happy, I felt on top of the world. Some of you may be thinking that I was now in the "friend zone" but let me tell you a little something... There is absolutely no way that a boy and a girl can remain just best friends for very long. An attraction of some sorts will stand in the way no matter what if you are spending enough time with each other. That is my opinion, but I also believe it is the stone cold truth. So this conversation lead to a nickname that 2 of our friends gave us that I had a love hate relationship with. (the nickname, not the friends) "Just Besties" mmhhmm thatt was it. I promise you that if you brought that little term up to Hunter a thousand and a half memories would flood his mind and he would giggle and smile. If we were together we would squeeze each others hands 3 times and stare at each other with big smiles as we reminisced on the good 'ol days. I'm sure that by now you are confused and not much is making sense, but I promise you it will make much more sense when I get to the summer months. Just know, that this best friendship, needed to happen and because of it we are still very best friends today. That's right, I am in love with my best friend in the entire world, and oh! Just the very thought of him drives me mad :)
To be continued...
Today is a special day, today is my mother's birthday.
Happy Birthday Mom!!
I really really love you.
A mother's love is one of patience, kindness, happiness, and adoration.
A mother is a daughters role model, she is super woman in a little girls eyes.
A mother nurtures and encourages that little girl to become all she can imagine.
A mother holds a special part of every kids heart, and she stays there forever.
My mother doesn't fall short of any of these qualities.
She truly is one amazing woman.
Let me just tell you a little something about Sally Jene...
She has been there for me since day one when my little stomach ached and I cried constantly.
She continued to be there for me as I rapped my 5th grade president speech, when I scored my first goal on the soccer field, when I tried out for cheer as an incoming freshman, when the going got tough with friends and that "girl drama", and when I walked across the football field to receive my high school diploma.
She continues to be there for me, and I know she always will be.
My mom really is super woman.
She found a way to balance 3 kids, a job, at one point school, and found time to run her heart out.
Seriously though, when she was 18 years old she ran a 56 mile marathon. (is that right mom?)
My mom, makes me proud to call her my very own, and I will love her forever.
Thank you mom, for all you have done for me, and all you ever will do.
This past week I spent my time in the state of Utah.
I surprisingly really like it there... although it could be because it stole practically all of my friends.
I drove up with my best friend Lauren, and that my friends, was a blast.
The music of choice ranged anywhere from Glee, Celine Dion, Imagine Dragons, Burlesque, and Natasha Bedingfield, to City of Colour and Hilary Duff.
We just really like to sing our hearts out.
The snacks involved sour rips, vitamin water, smartpop, nutty bars, and everything else that is good in the world.
Once we made it to St. George we took some snaps of the beautiful temple and headed over to Cafe Rio for the famous sweet pork salad.
For that salad alone, I wouldn't mind moving to Utah tomorrow.
We had about 100 miles left when we hit a ridiculous thunder/lightning/ you name it storm that broke the windshield wiper. Perfect, just what a couple of young girls need.
We stopped on the side of the road and attempted to fix it in the pouring rain, ha... that didn't last long.
Here's a video to help you better understand all that we endured (ha)
Somehow, we made it safe and sound :)
The rest of the trip was wonderful, it was the perfect little getaway I really needed.
The memories were filled with amazing company. Some new friends, some old.
It felt so good to be reunited with my sweet Samantha. I was so lucky to spend a couple nights in her dorm at BYU. Let me tell ya... those twin size beds are bigger than you think haha.
I was also so happy to be able to attend general conference for the first time.
It was an amazing feeling being inside that conference center filled with the latter day saints as all received inspiration from the general authorities.
It was such a bittersweet moment when I hugged my Lauren friend goodbye Monday afternoon at the airport.
We hadn't been that close for that long, but let me tell you, as soon as we both let our walls down we clicked instantly.
She is the best friend I have been searching for.
We can talk for hours on end without worrying what the other one is thinking. We could live off of frozen yogurt or ice cream. We can spend days on end literally just sitting and talking without getting bored of each other. We are practically twins, in the sense that our lives are ridiculously similar. We love imagining our future families going on vacations together and day dreaming about how much fun it will be to maybe be pregnant together one day.
To say the least, it was hard to say goodbye once our friendship seemed to be just at the peak.
I had to quickly try to wipe my tears away and act like a big girl while checking my bags in.
In a few short months we will be reunited, and thank goodness because I miss her already.
on the road!
sweet little one
the cutest
Zupas, I miss it already.
Shopping day!
Cake Bites!
The. Creamery. Yes.
Reunited and it feels so good
Chillin on a dirt road
New friends at Spark
Mango mint, who knew that would be so yumm?
Dinner with the Moore's!
yuuummm. i will seriously miss my dessert buddies
part of the conference crew. I love those Chapman gals
getting ready to go inside!
chills
amaze
Moroni, he's the man.
beauty
I will never grow tired of taking pics of this temple
So much happiness
Walking on sunshine
I love this temple, picturesque.
Maybe one day I will get to this story, but for now, just know this lady is awesome.
So much beauty
Our Hungry faces?
St George!
The storm is on its way
80's Dancing!
It was a good trip, and it seemed to go by all too fast.
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