Life as Lil' Red: October 2012

Beautiful day in San Fran

     So.... time to update I guess. (I'm not going to say anything about being a terrible blogger). The rest of my summer was spent doing many more adventures. I went to Idaho for a family reunion and was glad to see my family since who knows when I'll see them again with my future ahead of me. While in Reno, I spent a lot of time at Lake Tahoe. That is for sure one of my favorite things about Reno. I am so lucky.

      Blake and Christine and their kids came to visit in August, which is always so much fun! They're so chill. We had the great idea, based on my extremely selfish desires to go to my favorite place in the world, to go to San Francisco one day with just me, Blake, Christine, and Ellie. What an awesomely perfect trip that was! We started the day by sharing Fish n' Chips at the Fairy Codmother, then walked our way over to Ghirardelli Square for the divine dark chocolate hot fudge ice cream sundays, then walked our way down to see the sea lions and Pier 39. I don't know what it is about San Fran, but every single time I go, I fall in love with it again. And never want to leave. I just love the fresh brisk ocean air, the many colors, and the whimsical feel of being in that city. We then decided to head to Mercado Brasil where we got Tyler and Blake some great Brazilian products. From there we decided, with great encouragement for me again to visit my favorite beach, to drive through the rest of the city over the Golden Gate and up through Muir Woods to end up at Stinson Beach. There is something so magical about that beach that just gets to me. I know it's not the prettiest of all beaches, and definitely not the warmest, but to me it is simply perfect. It is my happy place. We then made our way safely back to Reno. Perfection.

      I was also able to join my best friend Danny's family at their family reunion at Lake Tahoe for a week in August. By far one of the best trips there I've had. Everyday including wakeboarding, tubing, boating around the lake and stopping at different beaches, rock jumping, dock jumping, campfires, bike rides, volleyball, and watching the Olympics at our house right on the beach :) I was so extremely grateful to be able to spend that week with my best friend who would soon be separated from me for a year and a half because she was leaving for her mission to Cuiaba, Brazil. I'm so grateful for Danny, for her example, her love, her joy, and for the many memories we have made together so far. I had to say goodbye to her when I left for Hawaii, which was so so so weird and so so so hard. But I have since received a few letters from her and read her blog, and she is doing so incredibly well that I am so incredibly happy for her.

      On my way back to Hawaii, I left Reno and flew to LA to visit my friend Kyle from high school who goes to USC film school. We had so much fun and couldn't believe that trip actually came together, just like the rest of my trips over the summer. On Saturday we actually went to the USC vs. University of Hawaii football game at the Coliseum which was loco!! There was so much energy and so many people there! Man I wish my school had college football. We also went down around Beverly Hills, and of course visited Sprinkles cupcakes :) Then we also went north and had dinner with my brother Wade and his family which was so much fun. The most interesting day of this trip was definitely when Kyle, Nick and I went to Venice Beach and for Kyle's work had to film the Muscle Beach contest! It was nuts! Tons of huge men and women bodybuilders everywhere haha we were careful not to touch them... That was definitely an experience. We spent the trip seeing Kyle's campus and then I flew out to Hawaii on Tuesday morning.

      Since being back at Hawaii, I have definitely been on one long roller coaster, with many ups, downs, and confusing twists and turns.When I first got back, I felt extremely alone. I think it didn't help that I had an amazing summer and had mended my relationship with mainland. It also didn't help that I came fresh from that trip with Kyle and Nick who I have so much fun with and who really get me. I knew that coming back this semester was going to be interesting to say the least. I knew I was probably in need of some new friends, especially since many have transferred, and to figure out how to make myself happy no matter the situation.

     I came to know that I needed to hand my life over to the Lord again, because He knows me better than I know myself. This is when I went through some rough times, many of which were alone without friends, without invitations to do anything, and many nights alone in my room. I felt like Hawaii was so foreign to me because it was no longer the way that I had always known- which was non-stop adventure. I did have opportunities to go to some house parties, but I decided that I wasn't going to invest my time doing things that weren't completely up to my standards but that would simply fulfill having a social life. I decided not to go just for the sake of going. I finally came to the stage in my life where I realized that I am in complete control of my life and that I shouldn't care about being seen at the "it" party but should instead choose what will make me truly happier, and if staying at home on a Friday night relaxing is it, then that's what I'll do and I don't care what anyone else thinks. I feel like I have really found myself this semester. I am me and I am no one else. Last week after saying I wasn't going to a certain Halloween party, my close friend told me "Well I love you for being you." This made my heart happy, because I too have come to love myself.

      Now don't get me wrong, I have made some fantastic friends this semester who have truly blessed my life. They are exactly what I need right now. They lighten my load and make my day every time I see them. It's all about watching the "Art of Flight" snowboarding documentary with my temporary little brother Max (friend from Reno) almost every week, or helping Max and Finks (real name Bo) make chicken traps while they pretend to be on Man vs. Wild in Hawaii, going to Taco Bell with Beth, having life discussions with Crosby at Spitting Caves, stargazing at bonfires, awkward dancing with my roommates, or making pan popcorn at my house with the Meat Locker Crew (code for the coldest lounge in the guy's dorms).

      Classes are going well, it may sound wrong but I actually do love reading hundreds of pages of Communication Theory every week. My major and minor are perfect perfect perfect for me. So blessed. I have a new calling as the Relief Society President in my ward. I've been called for two weeks now, and I'm scared out of my mind. But I love the sisters in my ward, they teach me so much. And I know that there are so many things the Lord needs me to learn. I'm up for the challenge only with the knowledge that with strength from the Lord and guidance of the Holy Ghost, I can do all things. I have already felt many blessings come into my life since my service and I'm so excited to get to know and to serve the girls in my ward. I'm ready for whatever turn life decides to hand me, and I'm so grateful for the people in my life who keep my strong by their example to me, from their support, encouragement, and for simply making me happy.