What was so special about our victim that someone wanted to erase his identity? Don't say spy.

A child of five would understand this. Send someone to fetch a child of five.
Groucho Marx

Just as a head's up, I'm working on setting up a mission blog that is apart from this one. I'll explain more when I launch it but know that it is, in fact, in the works.

Sometimes I have really bad luck. Sometimes it's a couple of days, or months, sometimes it's only with certain things. Take, for instance, cameras. I have had 3 in the last 8 months. 4 in the last 4 years. I know, right? It's like I purposely take them, chuck them at the ground, and then look for another one. Well let me explain to you how they have taken that last plunge.

My first camera served me well. It was silver. I got it for Christmas my junior year of high school, I'm pretty sure my friends hated this gift as I took pictures of everything. It even served me well when I took my trip to Jerusalem, that is until someone stepped on it. Now, it's my own fault. I shouldn't have left my bag where my camera was on the floor when we were learning Dahbka. But I thought it would be safe and out of harms way. Little did I realize how big the circle was going to get. Luckily it was on the last few days that the camera broke. When I got back to the states I went to get it fixed. I was then told that to replace the inner screen that had cracked would be more expensive than just buying a new camera.
This is how I got my second camera. I also got it for Christmas. My nice blue camera served me for almost three good years. It saw a lot of fun and a lot of my college life. Then as I was packing my room to move home from college I was the one to step on it and break the inner screen. "Aw crap," was my thought.
This was how I got my third camera. My nice pink one. It lasted for 5 months. It wasn't stepped on this time however, I dropped it. It wasn't a hard drop either. I was up at Bridal Veil falls with Georgia Boy, Kwistin, Mal, and their boy/date. The trip had been going great, lots of pictures, laughing, lots of running around barefoot. You know, the usual. I had placed my camera in the front pocket of my hoodie thinking it would be safe there. After all I had just climbed through the pool at the bottom of the falls several times and not dropped it. I did a small happy dance, or some sort of dance, and what happened? The frackin thing fell out of my pocket. This time however the inner screen didn't crack, yay! Bad news is the focusing part of the lens had gone crazy. It wouldn't focus and the camera would shut off after a few minutes of scary sounds. Mum and I took it to a camera place in October, I was desperately hoping that it would be cheap to fix, and found out that a new camera would be cheaper. Seriously people? Why can't you just make replaceable parts for these things?
This is how I got my fourth camera. It's nice and black and all shiny. I am going to guard it with my life. It's going to go with me on my mission and it's going to come back in one, not broken, piece. And Mum bought a 2 year warranty for it. If it breaks in anyway it will be replaced. Mwhahahaha. Still guarding it with my life though.

Anywayz. Christmas was great! I didn't get a lot of presents but I'm totally okay with that. I would rather the money go to my mission than anything right now. Though my wonderful sister Lani did give me one of the coolest things ever. She made me some Felix Felicis. It's so awesome. She put it in a tiny potions bottle on a necklace and everything. I'm thinking about taking it on my mission but I don't know if that would count as sacrilegious or not.

Well, hope you had a Merry little Christmas yourself and happy New Year!


Oh and if you don't know what Felix Felicis is, go read a small book series called Harry Potter.

Well, it's a wonderful device nonetheless, despite the poorly written instruction manual.

"Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God." - William Carey

Alright, I've hinted, I've almost spilt, and I'm going to admit it now. I am going on a mission. I am serving a full time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Boston, Massachusetts. First off: YYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!! I am so excited!! I can't help but sing "I'm going to Boston! I'm going to Boston!" over and over again. THe best part is that Martha's Vineyard and Hartford, Connecticut are in my mission! Both are very important to the history of the deaf community in the US. I might be going English speaking but I'm hoping to use my ASL skills in the mission.

Second of all: Who the freak names their state something so hard to say let alone spell? Oh well, I'm still suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuppppppppppppppppppppppeeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrr excited. You can't tell can you?

Anyways, gotta blaze!!!

Ah, the pitter-patter of tiny feet in huge combat boots...

All change is not growth, as all movement is not forward.
Ellen Glasgow

This post is to go along with the last one.

Christmas 2008

February 2009

Halloween 2009

June 2010

Thanksgiving 2010

April 2011

October 2011

I can see the difference, can you?

(You can click on the pictures to make them bigger, just in case you didn't know...)

You don't know me, son, so let me explain this to you once: If I ever kill you, you'll be awake, you'll be facing me, and you'll be armed.

"I wish you would never forget" - Kate Nash

Okay this is going to be another dump of thoughts. I know I probably over load all y'all when I do this but sometimes that's how it goes.

Here's to the serious stuff...

I'm currently sitting in the, almost year old, MC on campus, over looking the newly opened, almost finished Smith quad. I know I'm going to miss this place. No matter how many times I have cursed the 'Burg, for varying reasons of course, it's become my home. I think I have changed almost as much as campus has the four years I've been here. I walk for my associates tomorrow. I know I'll be back for my Bachelor's (I'm almost done with it anyway) but I still can't help feel a certain sadness. From where I sit I can see the path that I walked for 9 months to my dorm and to class. The parking lot where so many adventures happened, the gate to my dorm. The path that I still walk to get to my apartment. The doors of the Smith where I waited for Georgia Boy almost every MWF Winter semester because we had class at the same time. The very, very different looking path that Han, Seabass, Gecko, and I would take to go play volleyball. Even looking at the MC eating area, I might not have a lot of memories on this floor but it's where I pass through to try to keep warm from the freezing weather. Where I met with so many friends to go do other things. I can see the top of the Spori building where I go when I'm all but ready to scream my lungs out from the frustrations because the student art relaxes me. (yes I'm weird, but if you haven't gotten that yet that's your own fault).
I'm going to miss this place so much, even though most days the only thing I want is out. I have so many people I care about up here. From those I know because of working in the HR office, to friends I've made, to anyone else. This has been my life for 4 years. This has been my refiner's fire, taking a very immature, tortured (not as bad as most but still), confused, selfish, scared, bottle up all those feelings 18 year old and changing her into a still slightly immature, less confused, a little more selfless, brave, communicating, a little less haunted, vibrant, confident, stronger in the gospel of Jesus Christ 21 year old. I know I'm about to step into an even greater refiner's fire, but that is for the future me. The past me, the NOW me, is just that, me. I'm happy with who I am now. I still have a lot of room for improvement but I don't hate myself anymore. I don't feel like I have to be perfect for people to like me. It's okay to show imperfection, because those that are bothered by it don't see the real you. And why would you want to be around people like that?
I'm happy. I think I've finally applied the greatest lesson this university has been trying to teach me from day one. When you become active in the gospel you are happy. When you understand and apply the Atonement, in all of it's umph, you have the greatest capacity for joy. I'm to that point. This semester has had it's up and downs but I do believe over all it has been my happiest. Especially the past two weeks. Why? I've ready my scriptures almost every day, I've studied Preach My Gospel with Allie Cat almost every Sunday. I've been active in my calling as RS teacher. I have prayed with real intent every night. I've kept a gratitude journal. Basically I've allowed the light of Christ into my life. And what a light that is. I am proud to say that I am a Latter-day Saint, Mormon, one of them crazy people, which ever you know us by. I am a proud member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
That is the greatest thing I have learned in all of my university studies.
I will miss this place.