The Perfect Basket

It seems that all I do is play at the park and have picnics... which could possibly be true. Every day that is sunny and devoid of responsibility usually results in a picnic, because I don't have school, a job, or a life. And because I love them. I'm also behind in blogging and trying to catch up, because I've had a pretty packed week, so they come all at once, my apologies. This would also be a good time to mention the fact that this blog is my pseudo-journal, because I'm so terrible at keeping one. So every eventful thing that happens in my life is posted here--I'm sorry. :)

But Friday was the most wonderful and perfect day I have had in such a long time. Tyson came to visit! That alone was wonderful enough. He made the 2 1/2 hour trip in the morning so he could spend the entire day in Logan with me.

The day was beautiful and of course a picnic was in order. Jessica, Tyson and I brainstormed ideas for lunch, and we decided to make a fruit salad, sandwiches, and a ramen-noodle-cabbage salad. Ramen salad sounded like a good idea, because we have cabbage that we can't possibly get rid of completely, and plenty of ramen noodles. We had some issues finding a recipe and making sure that it was the right one, but we eventually found it and added the missing ingredients to our list of things to get at the store.

First stop: DI
We were in need of plates for the apartment that were smaller than Jessica's huge ones, and bigger than my little tea plates. So we scoured the kitchen section looking for something the perfect size. We found some that sufficed as eating plates--after much searching--and then we spied this hat across the aisle. It fits on either babies or dolls, and was much too small for me, but it was so very adorable. Someday I'm determined to have one just like it... though perhaps not straw, and a little bit bigger. But it was cute. :)

We made our way to the back in search of a picnic basket. This has been my dearest wish in the world, especially with all the picnics I have had. Laundry baskets don't quite work--I wanted something real.

We walked into the back room where the baskets are kept, and a light from heaven fell upon this basket. The angels were singing Hallelujah, and we were amazed at how lucky we had been. There was no way to explain it. This was the ultimate picnic basket, made for nothing less than the most sunny and perfect days in the park. This is my treasure. It is literally the best five dollars I have ever spent.

It looks rough. It has been loved none too gently, but that is one of the many things I love. Just imagine: if you bought a brand new picnic basket it would not be anywhere near the same. There are no memories, no character, no love, just the smell of fresh stain. But this has it all: holes, cracks, stains, character. This picnic basket would not be half so lovely if it was new. And that is why I love it!

After my amazing and exciting discovery we made our way to the front, but were caught by the interesting clothes along the way. We all found something new and hideous to point out, and found some crazy clothes. Jess found a leprechaun-green jacket with shoulder pads. Very Lucille Ball, and very Jessica. I loved the popped collar. So rad. :)

Second Stop: Wally World
After that we made a run to Walmart to pick up the missing ingredients to our lunch. We discovered Koolaid Bursts, the drink that everyone envied as a child. The temptation was irresistible because it was the ultimate picnic drink, AND it was on sale. Winner! We wandered around picking up random items for our picnic, and made it out in record time--mostly because Tyson was there. :)

We came home and bustled about the kitchen preparing lunch, and packed everything into the adorable new basket. We drove to the park and set out our blanket, and dug in to our feast. As for the ramen salad, Taylor was very worried at the amount of vinegar it called for, but it turned out fantastic! It's certainly on the list of things to make again. The fruit salad was certainly delicious, and so were the sandwiches. Nothing could spoil this perfect picnic. :)

Tyson made sure that we didn't have any leftovers to deal with. ;) We discovered that the tops of Koolaid bottles look like scorpions, retainers, and sumo wrestler hair. Jessica and I had a chugging contest...with half a bottle of Koolaid, and very full stomachs. So much lighthearted fun!

Isn't he so handsome? :)

It was literally one of the most wonderful days ever, and I'm so happy that I was able to share it with two of my very best friends!

Three Bandannas

Mallory, our dear wonderful friend and old roommate, came to visit our 627 1/2 house on Thursday. She had to turn in an application to the Elementary Education program, and so she stopped by for a couple hours. Jessica and I have been planning her visit for a week, and the initial plan was to go to the park and practice cartwheels, write on the sidewalk with chalk, and do something mysterious with bandannas.

We woke bright and early to clouds and rain. In the morning it was only a light sprinkle--enough that Jess and I could do some yard work--but after a couple hours it started coming down hard. To our dismay the rain continued and our plans to go to the park had to be cancelled. The chalk will just have to wait. Mallory brought bandannas, so we had a fall back. She couldn't stay very long but we had just enough time.

You cannot imagine how much fun can be had with a camera, bandannas, and an old eyeliner pencil.

We became Apolo Anton Ohno. Soul patch and everything. Oooh yes.

Magic at the Park

Adam's Park is the most wonderful park in the world. Reasons include, but are not limited to:

Swings: A set of six marvelous swings stands next to the Elementary School, absolutely perfect for a swinging escape. They are 15 foot tall megaliths of steel, seasoned by hundreds of elementary school children, and years in the sun. Swinging is one of my favorite activities, an I could do it for hours upon hours. It's the closest thing to flying I have ever encountered, because planes just don't do it justice. Feeling the wind rush past you, and pumping your legs, begging the wind to take you higher and higher. It's a natural ecstasy that I never get tired of. If you haven't been swinging in a while, I suggest you try it--you will not regret it.

Playground: Watching children scampering up slides, hanging on monkey bars, and chase each other around a playground is a very entertaining venture. Their wild and careless attitude is contagious, a magic that I wish I could capture in a bottle and use at my pleasure. Playing on plastic slides are a means for escape back to a time when your only worry was your mother's dreaded voice calling you home. That happiness has been lost for a while, but I make it a goal to play on a playground this summer, as a stress reliever. Most definitely. :)

Building: In the middle of this park stands an old, battered, stone building. It is boarded up and covered with white wash. There are no signs or any indication as to what this building might have been used for, it simply sits there. It looks like it used to be a meeting house, with a food service area. Perhaps a pavilion type building, but it's sealed and traditional park pavilion is used instead. Mysterious old buildings are enchanting, and having one in this park makes it all the more magical.

Benches: I honestly cannot pinpoint why I love benches so much. It's the timeless, unchanging aspect that benches are rooted in place and they see so many people, so many lives. Think of a bench in Central Park, it sees the morning man with his coffee cup and newspaper. It sees the old lady feeding the pigeons, and the man taking his dog for a walk. The mother wrestling with her many kids, and the career woman eating lunch.Through my life they have become a symbol of safety, simplicity, romance. I simply love benches!

Willow Trees: I believe these are one of the most magical trees in existence. They sweep the ground and provide protection with their long boughs. You can hide in the greenery secluded from the world, and time seems to slow. It wraps you in a warm hug and keeps you safe from the harsh reality that lies waiting at the edge of the park. Grandmother Willow is an image that we all have impressed in our minds, and I've always wished I could speak with trees. But a willow really is a grandmother tree. She holds you, keeps you safe, and tells you everything will be alright. Nothing can go wrong in her arms. That's how a willow makes me feel.

Stone Wall: A short retaining wall borders one side, making the sloping hills of Logan flat enough to build a park. It's just as old as the building, a mismatched pile of stones with excess mortar holding it together. Lichen clings to the rough edges, and it is crumbling in some places. It stalwartly serves it's function, and keeps it's foot and a half held high. It is perfectly picturesque, and begs to be walked upon--which we did. :)

Cherry Trees: The most magical part is saved for last. There are over 15 of these marvelous trees lining the walkway through the park. They are all covered with bright pink blossoms that are the perfect symbol of spring. We went on a picnic to this park on the exact perfect day because petals were literally raining from these trees! Petals were constantly falling in our drinks and in our food, but we determined that they weren't poisonous, so ingesting one wasn't a fear.

After the picnic we were irresistibly drawn to the beauty of this park, and so we took many wonderful pictures. It was absolutely the most perfect day! Petals raining from the sky! Nothing could be more perfect!

I cannot even begin to describe this wonderful experience in words, so I will let my pictures (and captions) do the talking. :)

The beautiful blossoms that rained upon us. Rain, rain, come and stay....

Attempting...

Succeeding!

i. heart. you.

Adorable Jess!

I love this picture! And I love Jess' shoes! This shows how thick the petals were--everywhere!

"I want to lay you down in a bed of roses..." -Jon Bon Jovi

She's a keeper!

On our walk home we discovered a forgotten lot that was completely covered in dandelions. This opportunity was to much to pass up, especially with a camera in hand! There was much wishing involved, because there were dandelions everywhere!

I'm wishing... for the one I love...to find me...today!

Shall I compare thee to a dandelion...

And that concludes our perfectly magical day at the park. :)

Jarritos Expedition

Jarritos: a flavorful carbonated drink made in Mexico and sold in grocery stores nationwide.

Working at Reams I certainly sold hundreds of them, but I never bought one for myself--I had amazing self control thank you very much. So I had not yet had the pleasure of drinking this wonderful beverage until Monday. After stake FHE Phil invited us on a "Jarritos Run" and told us to bring 76 cents. I decided that 76 cents was an amount I could splurge. We made a Saturn caravan and snaked our way to the wonderful place called Lee's Marketplace.

Pineapple, Lime, Strawberry, Guava, Tutifruti, Fruit Punch... What to choose? It was a fierce battle between Lime and Strawberry, but Strawberry won out in the end.

My stomach has not handled carbonation in so long that it took me a very long time to drink, because it was super bubbly. It attempted to go up my nose once, and caused me to spill all over the sink. It's not quite an experience I recommend.

The bottles were irresistibly shaped, and so we took many pictures attempting to look drunk. In retrospect this may not have been the best of ideas, but it was sure fun. :)

Thank you Jarritos, for making my day. :)

Ward Searching

It has been a very exciting couple of days, and the tale that was Sunday must be shared as well. :)

We pulled ourselves out of bed bright and early so that we could find out which ward we are in. We attempted to be there by 9, but it quickly became 9:30. Jessica had called the Stake office to see if they could help us and so we found directions to the church. Once we got there sacrament was about to begin and so we just went to the nearest chapel and sat down. We had no idea what we were doing, but at least we were attending sacrament somewhere.

We wandered around and tried to find someone that knew what they were doing. The stake offices were empty and so we were left to our own devices. We found a map that designated the wards, and deemed ourselves part of the 24th ward. Luckily we had gone to the right time, but the wrong chapel. We found our ward and filled out lovely pink sheets. And lo and behold we discovered that Justin and Mike are in our ward too! Finally, familiarity! There was rejoicing.

We discovered that our ward is very much established and very very much older. As long as we keep our ages a secret we should be fine. But the people all seemed nice, and Jessica and I both felt really good about it. Sadly enough though the entire block seemed to drag on for an age, and my hunger was only accentuated by each passing minute. It was one of those Sundays.

The afternoon was spent in angst without the internet, for we didn't have the password yet. We took naps and I finally watched Guys and Dolls--my own movie. I'm still very in love with Frank Sinatra's voice. :) All I have eaten in the past few days has been peanut butter sandwiches, ramen noodles, and cereal. We don't have any other foods, and so we eat the same thing for every meal. But I'm not sick of them yet! :)

That night a wonderful thing happened. Stake prayer was held at the amphitheater on campus! My very boring post in April was on this special place that has captured my heart. I was so excited to learn that it has a purpose! Our stake uses it for stake prayer in the summertime! It is not forgotten, and it is not wasted. It's used for such a wonderful purpose too! It was so beautiful with the valley in full view and the trees finally green. A few trees on the hill had bloomed a beautiful shade of pink and when you looked right above them the temple was in view. A prettier setting for ward prayer doesn't exist.

Right afterwards the congregation enjoyed social time. Not mandated, but universally understood and assumed. The boy sitting next to Jessica started a conversation and we soon realized that he was in our ward and lived right next to Mike and Justin. He was Bill--well established in the ward. We talked for a long time and we met our bishopric, executive secretary, and all sorts of people. Bill and his roommate decided to hold a game night at his apartment and invited us.

We stopped by our apartment to grab warmer clothes and then traveled to Maple View. Our escort showed us the much loved shortcut which made me love the ward even more. We squeezed through a fence, stepped on cinderblocks, jumped another fence, and ducked under bushes to get to the designated place. Things like that are just magical. I loved it.

While at this "party" we met three versions of William that live in the same apartment--Will, Wally, and Bill. We met Jared, Lorraine, Mary, Alyssa, Becky and many more names. The intention was to play get to know you games and so we began with "I've Never." Hopefully you have all played it, because it is much fun. It definitely helped us get to know each other, and also step on each others toes. :)

When we ran out of things to say we debated on other games and the general consensus decided on "Baby, If  You Love Me Smile." I have never played this game before, but I've definitely heard about it. I didn't quite want to play, but I was coerced. It was extremely funny all night, and my comfort zone was stretched, but being with them was comfortable. By the end of the night it felt like we had all known each other forever.

The most epic part of the night though, was temporary insanity on my part. Jessica broke me before I even began, and so it was my turn to break someone else. I got a quick reminder of the rules, and then I was given the task of choosing someone. I looked at all the faces and tried to find someone that hadn't been broken. Jared and Bill were both free game. After several minutes of indecisiveness I decided to try Bill. I had no tactics, and I didn't want to do it again to someone else, so I decided to go all out. Faster than my brain could comprehend it I spun and knelt in front of him in one flowy movement and with a straight, adoring face asked him, "Do you love me?" I apparently surprised him completely and he tried to look stoic but the corner of his mouth kept twitching upwards and he broke.

My face turned red instantly and I laughed so hard. I honestly can still not imagine where that came from because I am certainly not an actress. All that thinking took barely a millisecond, and then it was over. I surprised everyone, especially myself in how outgoing that move was.

It was a great night full of fun. I'm so happy that we have made new friends and that we love our ward so much. It's going to be a great summer, and we're off to a wonderful start!

Monumental Move-In Day

8:30 AM--Alarm, quickly followed by Snooze button
8:40 AM--Snooze button
8:50 AM--Snooze button
9:00 AM--Snooze button
9:10 AM--FINE. I'll get up.

The morning was spent packing the remaining bags and boxes into my tiny car. I could actually see out the back window this time, so driving wasn't as dangerous. Miraculously everything fit--everything I remembered to take. Since then Jess and I have put together quite a list of things we need. :)

After a quick lunch I began the long drive to Logan. Much fun.

Once I got to Logan Main I suddenly panicked. My auto pilot clicked off and I suddenly had no idea what to do. I wanted to go home--to Rich Hall. But there were bare walls and locked doors waiting there. I knew I was supposed to go the managers office for our apt complex, but I was so frightened. I'm not ready to be a grown up, and acting like one scared me even more. There was a slight moment of panic when I realized that I had to remember where the office was. Of course I knew, but in that moment of panic my mind pulled up blank. I told myself to breathe, and once I calmed down I found it no problem. It was easy, and the man was so kind, it made me feel much better.

I searched our apartment for our roommate Alaina, but she was no where to be found. We met her for a few brief seconds before we went to bed, but we haven't seen much of her otherwise.

So I unloaded and unloaded and unloaded. Jess came as soon as I finished, so I helped with her stuff too. Our apartment was littered with boxes and bags--and still is. I'm still in the process of deciding whether or not to live out of boxes for the next three months... This apartment has a severe lack of storage space in the rooms and closets. I'm also in need of a desk for classes next month... so we might have to invest in one at the DI. Needless to say we are in need of furniture because we only have the barest of bare essentials. But we will deal with it for the summer. 

I discovered that this apartment is a cell phone bunker. I get terrible service, and this makes me so very sad. So I apologize if I don't answer texts or calls--I blame it entirely on the house.

While I was unloading I saw this on the fridge. My uneasiness at moving in to a vacant apartment, and my extreme need for something familiar was cured by a simple magnet. And all of you who know me can tell that I indeed love princesses, especially Belle. So before Jess came to cure me of my nervousness, Belle was my happiness. :)

Once we finished packing and Jessica's family left--for the second time--we were visited by Phil and Jake, and eventually Tim. Phil brought over his TV and is letting us use it this summer, which is very much appreciated. We have everything else, but no TV, and not having that would be a bummer, all summer. 

Tim wanted to go to DI and Smiths, and so we tagged along. Jess and I decided to look for a desk and after reviewing many options decided on the yellow plastic Playskool one with a desk lamp. Just kidding. We are still in the market, but it was an irresistible picture. Anyone have an extra $20 to donate to the Jessica/Taylor desk fund?

We also spied the most amazing purple armchair at the DI. It wins. We wanted so badly to buy it, but just like the desk, we currently don't have the money. It was the most amazing chair though... and it reminded me of the chairs on UP! that Carl and Ellie have. Mine would most certainly be purple. :)

We visited Smiths and bought bread, milk, eggs and bananas. The staples of life. We had no clue what we needed at this point. The boys tried to convince us to go out to eat, but we decided to stay home and save our money. It was a most delicious dinner of Ramen Noodles and Peanut Butter and Banana sandwiches. Those were about the only two things we could make. Our first dinner in the apartment was a success. Our roommate had still not appeared and so Jessica made the remark that we're like a married couple because there are only the two of us. :) Go Jess.

We have a most interesting and purely ugly couch. I love it simply because it is so wretched looking. Warning: If you plop onto it there is no bounce back, and so it is not quite comfortable. It is slightly better than the couch that leaves lines on your face, but it is still a ghetto couch. I love it. The pattern is what makes me love this couch. Look how wretched it is. Jessica and I decided that each line looks like something different. So humor us by seeing our creative shapes. :)

Starting on the left we have a figure that looks much like a rope. Next we have a lovely imitation of camels lying down--make sure to tilt your head. Next to that the reddish blobs with green dots are reminiscent of red blood cells, courtesy of Jessica. The zig zag shape we decided was either mountains or tepees and the yellowy blobs look like sushi. Our crowning achievement though is the last row. We decided they look like tumorous hearts with a bite taken out of them. Winner.

The fish had been contained all day, and we suddenly remembered them and decided to get them some clean water. Jessica opened the lid of the transport-carrying-case-yogurt-container-with-holes, and little Brandon was afloat on top, lifeless. He didn't even get to see his new home! We began with six and now we are tragically left with two. I am going to be very sad now when they all die. We had a funeral for Brandon Fish, the Brave. He will be missed.

As we were sitting on the couch we heard the distinct chirp of a smoke detector out of batteries. The office was definitely closed by that time, and they would  be closed Sunday as well we figured, and going the entire weekend with a chirping smoke alarm did not sound pleasant. We soon discovered that we had no soap or toilet paper for the bathrooms, and so for all of these reasons it was necessary to make a trip to Walmart. On our way to the checkout stand we stumbled across a box of sidewalk chalk for $2. Happiness--in a box. :) Mallory, when you come: park, cartwheels, and CHALK! I'm so excited! 

It was only after we bought the batteries that we realized we could just take the empty one out for the weekend and then call the office... now we have two expensive 9v batteries that are absolutely useless. Oh well. :)

Our night was completed by a vicious battle of Mario Kart. Phil, Jake, Jess and me played the first round in a track which came to be known as "Fall Off Land." It was a difficult track and Jess and I fell off constantly. We were terrible. We played a few EASIER rounds until a few other girls came and then we were more or less on even ground. It was a cutthroat battle trying not to fall off, trying to press the right buttons, and avoiding quicksand and tornadoes... I lost most of the time, but it was a wicked awesome battle. 

We got home and still had not unpacked a single thing. We dumped everything off our beds and made them fit enough to sleep in. And crashed. It was a long, full day. But full of fun!

Picnic-in' in the Park

Warm summer days are absolutely my favorite. For weeks I have been craving a real picnic with good food, sunshine, and a nap under the clouds. And on Thursday I finally got the chance!

Tyson had a free morning and so he came over and we commenced making "lunch". The menu contained BLT sandwiches, fruit salad, and Paradise Punch. BLTs sounded like heaven to me and Tyson was put in charge of cooking bacon while I cut up fruit. There were many adventures involved, including turning the house smoky, opening windows and doors, forgetting the necessary yogurt, buying the necessary yogurt and deciding on a flavor of juice. BUT we had a picnic!

One day I am going to buy a picnic basket, but I do not, as of now, have one. So a cooler was substituted, along with tacky grocery bags, but we were on our way!

We drove to Mapleton North Park--my favorite--and picked a nice shady tree to spread my splendorific blanket under. We ate our delicious lunch that filled us to the brim and then enjoyed the sunshine. My denim blanket was nice and warm from the sun, and just about perfect for a nap. It was the perfect day, the perfect break, and the perfect picnic!

Monotony

Wow, April must have been a very eventful month. :) It was indeed--filled with many fun things with my amazing roommates! I refuse to believe that we are roommates no longer... Still. Sitting at home with nothing to do with my life is extremely boring. Going to bed at 11 and saying away from sugar is doing good things for my body, but at the moment I feel like I'm stuck in High School. Doesn't that sound like a horror story? *shiver* I'm feeling less and less like a college student, and it's frightening! Just one more week and then I'll be back at school, with at least Jessica to entertain me and keep me company. ;)

So, to remind me of all the wonderful things I love about college, home, friends and just about everything, I have compiled a list of things that make me happy. Enjoy. :) (I love this poem!)

1. Wishing--I simply love wishing! On dandelions, wishing wells, 11:11 and shooting stars! There is so much magic in wishing, as long as you believe in it. And yes Jessica, it is more often than not the same wish, but it's a good enough wish to repeat. I really want it to happen. ;)

2. Princesses--Such elegance, such grace, such beautiful voices... I love princesses. They are so cheerful, kind, gracious, and beautiful. Can I please be one someday?

3. Cake Batter Cookies--simply heaven in a cookie. Ambrosia, manna, divinity, whichever you prefer. :)

4. Quotes--I love quotes because they say so much, and show ideas that you could never think up yourself. Other people say things more eloquently and teach you the truth about life.

5. Rain--The smell of the earth after it has just rained is intoxicating. Everything is new after a rain: the leaves are revitalized, the flowers are vibrant, and the sweet smell of dirt fills the air. The colors shine in deep, rich tones, and the dew pulls everything back to life. Rain is happiness sent from heaven.

6. Music--isn't it simply wonderful? How was music created? I think Heavenly Father loved us enough and realized that joy comes from music and so he sent it down to Earth. How in the world were instruments like the violin and the piano created? The shape of a violin is so complicated... needless to say I am truly grateful for music.

7. Love--life would be a shadow if we were unable to love. The friends and family we know would have no connection to us. We would all be stoic zombies if we couldn't love! Think of it! Love is essential to almost every emotion, and every relationship. What would we be if we couldn't love?

8. Hugs--definitely make me happy. :) Safety, protection, care, concern and love all packed into one small embrace.

9. Nature--Being in nature can help set your fears aside, put your priorities in order, and bring you peace. Seeing the Earth in it's raw, untainted state can bring you close to God and help you appreciate the little things. The smell of dirt, the colors of flower petals, the soft grass, the firm trees, this is what heaven is.

10. Family and Friends--make life worthwhile. :) Happiness is meaningless when you are alone or with people you care nothing about. Memories are to be shared, and happiness makes memories. So thank you all, for being my friends. :) You bring me more happiness than you can know!

A Fantastic Journey

This year has contained happiness, joy, goofiness, and laughter. It has been laced with sorrow, pain, and growth. The lessons I have learned will never be forgotten, and the friends I have made are priceless. I have found myself, discovered the real Taylor after years of searching. There is more to be found, but I have come to love myself and be comfortable in my own skin. This more than anything is the greatest lesson I have learned this year.

But, like all journeys, this one has found it's end. I haven't even accepted the fact that it is over. It's so hard to fathom that this life I have grown accustomed to is about to end. I just barely found my niche, and now I have to start all over again. Taking a step into the dark is always the scariest thing, but for the next few years I'll need to get used to it. Moving up here was difficult, but doing it again? I guess I managed once, and I'm sure I'll live again, but it's so frightening. There are a lot of things that will happen this summer, and I'm sure not ready for them. Growing up is tough.

But today I'd like to write a tribute to all the good times. Here is a list of all the great things I have learned. It's been an amazing year!

1. I realized the value of eating healthy.
2. I learned that the craziest and most fun things happen at 2 am.
3. I learned just how much I love my family.
4. I found that taking time to cook a meal really is worth it.
5. I realized that winter quite literally never ends in Logan.
6. I discovered the special spirit that resides in the small older temples. :) You're never lost when you can see the temple!
7. I found that if you want your goldfish to die they will live FOREVER.
8. I have learned to truly value a beautiful day in the sun.
9. I have made two homes, one in Mapleton, and one in Logan. I'm always home, not homeless.
10. I realized that God shapes us and his hand is in everything.

There are so many things! But that's a simple list that works for me. :)

My friend Sarah shared this poem in her testimony today, and I fell in love with it.

The Weaver

My Life is but a weaving

between my Lord and me;

I cannot choose the colors

He worketh steadily.

Oft times He weaveth sorrow

And I, in foolish pride,

Forget He sees the upper,

And I the under side.

Not til the loom is silent

And the shuttles cease to fly,

Shall God unroll the canvas

And explain the reason why.

The dark threads are as needful

In the Weaver's skillful hand,

As the threads of gold and silver

In the pattern He has planned.

He knows, He loves, He cares,

Nothing this truth can dim.

He gives His very best to those

Who leave the choice with Him.

--B. M. Franklin

That sums up all my feelings much more eloquently than I ever could. But I'm so grateful for this year, and for my roommates, and for Heavenly Father's guiding hand in my life. Don't ever forget me guys, promise?