Writing Letters

"To send a letter is a good way to go somewhere without moving anything but your heart." 

~Phyllis Theroux

Do you ever become excited when you see your name on an envelope with the return address indicating it's from a friend or family member? I know I do. Even if it's just an invitation, announcement, thank you card or the annual Christmas newsletters.

Of course I love the wondrous inventions of the internet with it's e-mail and Facebook. I adore cell phones with the ability to call and text others. I truly revel in instant communication. But there is something about having a letter with my name front and center delivered to my mailbox that just makes you feel special.

To be sent a letter from a family member or friend represents the love they have for you. They took the time to update you on their lives in order to keep you included. They want you to know that they care that you know. They want you to share in the excitement of their lives. They want you to know exactly how much you mean to them.

In today's world, personal letters are no longer all that common. We certainly use it for formal invitations. We use it for graduation announcements, wedding announcements, and even baby announcements. We use it for the sincere Thank You cards and the joyful Happy Birthday cards as well as the heartfelt Get Well cards. The annual Christmas newsletters are always a favorite of mine so I can be included and be aware of all the achievements and growth the family friends realized throughout the year. I love receiving any mail like that.

But personal letters? They've mostly been replaced by e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, texting and phone calls. Which undoubtedly is a fantastical thing I truly love. It allows me to be updated in real time. However, the occasional letter to know that I'm cared for is something I treasure.

There's a trick to receiving this sort of mail. You write others. When you take the time to show others you care by writing them a letter, they are more likely to write back. Or at the very least know you love them. I've been writing different people regularly since the first week of January. In the process, I've discovered I love writing others. It makes me feel so cheerful and happy and I'd totally suggest it to everyone. However, if you really want to write someone that'll write back, write to someone who doesn't really have access to real time information, such as Latter-day Saint Missionaries. They love it.

I've collected such a huge list of people to write that I'm intimated by the list as it's grown. All I have to do it take one person at a time. One person a week, or day or somesuch and before you know it, you're through and recycle back through the list.

Letters. They do special things to people's hearts.

Eagle Court of Honor and Wood Badge

My brother, along with a couple other wonderful young men, received their Eagle Scout Awards yesterday. As much as I love the other two young men, my brother is my brother and I'm going to be focusing on him. Sorry guys.

This is my youngest brother helping with the Presentation of the Colors. At the end he also did the Retiring of the Colors. He did a really fantastic job.

 This is my dad being escorted by two of his sons to receive his Wood Badge.

My mom created two videos for this Eagle Court of Honor. This one is a summarization of the Eagle Projects these young men completed.

 This is my brother receiving his Eagle.

 Joshua is the absolute sweetest person ever. Often you see a child and you see that child helping someone else and you say, "Oh how sweet!" Especially when that child is in elementary school. However, my brother has always been that way and always will be that way and you'll always think, "Oh, how sweet!"

 These are the new Eagle Scouts giving their Eagle Promise.

 This is Joshua receiving the American Flag.

This next video my mom did is the Trail to Eagle.

 This was when Joshua gave his talk and spoke about his mentor who led him to where he is today and for being the kind of person he wishes to be someday. He said much more that caused me to tear up. I'll have to ask for a copy of his talk. Because he chose my dad, even though he already received his Parent's Pin.

 This is one of the other young men. He's basically like a brother to me and it was so awesome to see him receive his Eagle at the same time as my brother. :)

He also chose my dad as his mentor. My dad has done a lot for these boys and has enjoyed every minute of it (at least in hindsight). But he was so touched that he was a little teary-eyed himself.

These boys have already received their Eagle Scout. But I added his photo for several reasons. First off, the Eagle Scout in the middle is my other younger brother who received his Eagle awhile ago. The boy on the right is the older brother of the new Eagle, Ryan, who chose my dad as his mentor. But these three are all like brothers to me (one of them actually is my brother). I'm so grateful for the example they give to my younger siblings and for always strengthening each other.

Congrats everyone on all your achievements.

I am going to Switzerland

So guess what? I'm going to Switzerland. Is that not the craziest thing you've ever heard in your life?
I, me, and myself, am going to Switzerland.
That country in Europe.
Why?
Well, I'm going to be there to help my cousin out. She's in a huge play production Oliver that she's been preparing for since at least February and she has a minorly important part. However, she had three young children and her husband will be gone most of the time because of work.
She looked up babysitting. But in Switzerland all of the babysitters have to register. There's basically a babysitting union over there. Thus, if you want a babysitter you go through the union. As a result you pay quite a bit. A LOT actually.
This is where I come in.
See, it's actually cheaper to fly me from California to Switzerland and back then it is to get a 16 year old girl from around the corner. So I'm going to Switzerland!
I'm going to Switzerland! I'll get to see my cousin and her kids, and probably my Aunt and Uncle and their kids. I'll get to see a small part of Europe. I get to experience jet lag. I'll get to see things older than my country. I'm so excited for this experience!! And I'll be gone for 30 days! Yet, I'll be home in time to see my brother leave on his mission.
This is going to be quite the adventure! I'm so very stoked!

Best Thing About Summer

You know what the best thing about summer is?
The fact that summer is represented by a constant black, brown and green stain on the soles of your feet. That your hair lightens in color as a result of sunshine and the continuous presence of chlorine from swimming. You feel alive as you play frisbee, tag or any other inventive games out in the sun and as soon as your face hits the pillow your unconscious. It means the perpetual company of all things green. It's expressed by having your window open at night because of the cold summer breeze that blows by and the waking in the morning to the singing of the birds. It causes the warping of time as the daylight hours are longer and the evenings are exciting, but the day still seems shorter and you wish there was more minutes in a day. Summer gives an excuse for ice cream, smoothies, shaved ice, melons, lemonade.
Every summer day is a day to be celebrated.
It's a time of relaxation and adventure. A time of renewal and life. It's a time spent with family exploring the world around us and strengthening relationships. A time with friends enjoying the lives we've been granted.
Summer.
It's a time of Joy.
That's the best thing about it.

Home Sweet Home

I'm finally home from school and have several months to relax from school work, though I miss the culture and the people. Though I must say it's been quite fun to spend time with my family and friends and to be creative with all the time I've been blessed with.
Before I even came home, I attended my cousin's wedding! I'm so grateful that my prayers were answered, my schedule cleared up and I was able to find a ride from a dear friend so I could make it. I made it to her baptism and she to mine when we were little. We've grown up together even though we've been in different states. I was certainly going to make it to her wedding. She was and is and always will be awesome.

I arrived home by way of train with my brother and met our family at the station. I'm officially the second shortest person, but not by much. By December I expect to be the shortest.

I watched Captain America with my institute friends.

I've made peanut butter brownies with a friend.
I, of course, have visited the library multiple times and read several books.
My sister and I are planning on how to finish up the room we share. She's spent the summer painting it this warm gold color and now we are working on the details of things.
I've eaten a many a popsicle in the wonderful hot weather of the California Valley.
I've played some frisbee with my siblings in the park.

I've written my missionary friends letters.
For the first time in the year 2011, I've been able to attend my home ward and see everyone that I've missed so much!
This last Monday was the first Family Home Evening with my actually family has had together in all this year. We played Red Light, Green Light, Leap Frog, Hide-and-Seek, and some water games.

It's all just been a bundle of fun with more to come!
This week, my mom, sister and I are having a bunch of girl friends over for a Disney Animation Movie Marathon and I'm so excited for it.
I'm loving being home.

Benjamin's Mission Call

I know this is a little late and many of you may have heard this already, but Ben's received his call to serve in South Carolina Columbia Mission! He reports to the MTC on his 19th birthday which just so happens to be on October 19th. It's awesome.

And in case you missed it, this is Ben opening his mission call. :) Sorry for the sound being a little off in some places.