The Most Wonderful Mother

Sometimes I play this game with myself where I break down my traits, into two categories-ones from my father and ones from my mother. Eyebrows, dad. Smile, mom. Handwriting, dad. Snort, mom. Each reminds me where I belong.

Some people worry about ending up like their parents but I worry that I won't. I want to end up like my mother. So, I play this game.

Things that remind me that I am my Mother's daughter.

Stopping to give homeless people money or food.

Laughing so hard that I can't breathe and end up snorting.

Wanting to spend my free time reading.

Standing up for people that I love.

Loving the time I have with my family.

Getting annoyed when people read over my shoulder.

Hating the cold with a passion.

Loving all paper products and owning a milliom notebooks.

Mom, you are the most wonderful woman I know. You are smart, brave, kind and beautiful. I   love you a million smiles that look just like yours. Happy Birthday!

Sunshine On My Shoulders

This is my excited face.

It's April, which means....National Poetry Month, for one, and the beginning of my countdown to summer, for another. Do I talk about summer a lot? I just can not help it. I love summer. I dream for summer. 

In the meantime, here are some things I am excited/happy about

-My trip to Washington DC...hello, 'Washington DC is paradise to me'*

-The fact that I don't have to wear tights every single day. Though I might be scaring people with my white legs.

-The West Wing. I am about 10 years late to the party on this show but I love it. And it makes me want to know more about the Constitution, which seems like a good thing.

-Easter Candy. I mean, it is half price at Wal-Mart.

-National Poetry Month. A good excuse to write lots and lots of haiku's. Maybe I will even memorize a poem.

-My lovely friend, Emily Rita Hale, and her amazing singing performance. She faced her fears and performed for an audience at BYU. I can not stop thinking about her beautiful voice.

-Book making! The perfect hobby for me.

Excited yet?

*this actually comes from a song that is all about DC. Look it up!

One Year Later

One year into the mission

Today was one year since I returned from my mission. I think about my mission every single day. I think about the people I taught, the members I worked with, how hard it was, and the lessons I learned.

I almost did not go. I thought I was too old and I didn't want to give up all my plans. For months, I went back and forth. Go. Don't go. Go. Don't go. I put my papers and waited, terrified that I had made the wrong decision.

Then my call came and as I read it, standing out by our mailbox, I felt it. The spirit confirming to me that this was right and good. As I read 'the Spain Barcelona Mission', I knew that God had heard my prayers and was putting me exactly where I needed to be.

I thought missions were such a sacrifice. Leaving everything I know and love? Put all my plans on hold? I have come to realize, is it such a sacrifice when you come out with so much more.All the things I gave up for 18 months, would never amount to the experiences and happiness the mission has brought me.

I miss Spain everyday. I miss clipping on my nametag. I miss talking to strangers on the street. I miss struggling with Spanish. I miss my companions. I miss that blazing happiness I felt when teaching with the Spirit. I miss sharing my testimony everyday. I miss the people I taught.

But I will always be a Spain Barcelona Missionary. An El Faro Missionary. The things I learned and felt are written on my heart and I hope I am following them everyday.

On my mission someone said ' the best mission is the one you are currently in'. So even though I am no longer a missionary, I can still be learning and progressing. That was what my mission taught me. To be happy where I am, to do cheerfully all that is in my power and trust in God.

Oh Summer Where Art Thou?

How I felt about my birthday...delicious

This winter has been a test of my patience. Though I have lived in Idaho for most of my life, I have little tolerance for cold. And snow even less. I  think it should only snow on Christmas Eve and Christmas, to get everyone in the spirit. This winter it has snowed mountains. Every time I thought we had got through the worst of it, it would snow again. Ahh! Save me from the ever growing pile of snow on my porch.

It is good that my birthday came in the midddle because I needed somehing to pull me out of my snow induced stupor. Nothing makes me happier than a good birthday celebration.  I love having a day (or whole month), all about me. And so I celebrated in true Melissa fashion with cute new clothes, books, delicious food, dance parties and karaoke. I mean I sang 'America' by Neil Diamond on my birthday. Perfect way to usher in my 26 year.

Thanks self, for being born in February in an efort to drive away the winter blues. Thanks parents, for just having me and lovimg me.

And now that my birthday month is over, can we bring on Summer? Thanks!

It's Always A Good Time

A Roberts reanactment of Thanksgiving dinner

This past week was American Thanksgiving, which was equal parts fabulous and terribly short. I haven't been home for Thanksgiving in two years and it has been four since we were all home together. It was celebration time. And boy did we celebrate in true Roberts fashion.

Kimberlyn woke me up early Thursday morning. Normally I would have been annoyed, especially since she woke me up by touching my leg(scary!),  but then we got to snuggle while Sarah entertained us with her dinner roll impressions. I am convinced that Sarah could have own show and be a roaring sucess. That girl is hilarious.

Once the rest of the household woke up, the boys and I started my favorite Thanksgiving tradition. The Lord of the Rings Marathon.  Can there be a better way to celebrate, then watching the Fellowship save Middle Earth? I think not.

Then of course we had the main event...turkey, mashed potatoes, rolls, green bean casserole, stuffing. Mmmm delicious. Good food + hilarious conversation= perfection.

After dinner, I tried to convince everyone to dance to One Direction. There weren't many takers oddly enough. Then it was on to our Thanksgiving 'pagaent', which consisted of us laying on the floor, in a circle pretending to be Thanksgiving food. Yep, that is Sarah with the blanket over her being the perfect dinner roll. Pagaent sucess.

With that being said, and in the spirit of Thanksgiving, I am grateful for many things. For my fabulous family, who are both hilarious and crazy. For my siblings, who allow me to be the cool older sister and go along with my wild schemes. For my fantastic parents, that taught me everything I needed to know and who inspire me everyday. For my mission and all the people I met, the lessons learned, the heart that changed. For my job, and my amazing co-workers. For my beautiful friends, near and far-so awesome. For twinkle lights, my own comfy pillow, cute skirts, red lipstick and delicious food. For dance parties, bike rides, fresh flowers and lettters in the mail. For starry nights, music,  hot showers, hilarious stories. For Jesus Christ, the gospel and the Atonement.

Thanks. This life of mine is pretty wonderful

This Is Happening...

What is going on in my life?
Seeing as how it is your lucky day, I am going to tell you!

1. I finally broke down and bought an ice scraper. Clearing six inches of snow off my car with a cup convinced me that it would be a good purchase.

2. I bought the new One Direction album. I will be listening to it nonstop for the next couple of weeks. Niall is my favorite, in case you were wondering.

3. My car has become my portable library. Which means I never have to be without my favorite books!

4. I finally got a chair for my desk. The chair type is Frode...so in honor of Hobbits everywhere, I decided to call it Frodo.

5. I am knitting a scarf. And when I say knitting, I mean I am knitting it using a knifty knitter. Which might be cheating.

6. I dressed up as Jackie O for Halloween. Favorite Costume Ever!

7. Last Friday, I went to a Thanksgiving dinner my ward hosted for Young Adults with disabilities. It was a blast. There was a kid that reminded me of Sarah... he was saying 'Just Kidding' over and over again.

8. I need a Pen Pal. Anyone want to volunteer?

9. I am excited beyond measure for the Holidays. I might dress in Christmas colors all December.

10. I went to a wedding reception and there was dancing. Aren't weddings with dancing just the best weddings? I could have danced all night...bahaha

11. I think I want to be a librarian.

Nights of Glamour and Glitter

This past weekend was splendid. There are several reasons for the splendidness of this past weekend, which include, A) I got to spend it with people I adore, B) I got to dress up...twice, and C) I purchased a Hobbit Moleskine Notebook.  

The weekend kicked off with an all night Glamour Night to celebrate Miss Emily Rita Hale turning a quarter of a century. We got all dolled up and took some hilarious shots. My hair was so full of hairspray that my bangs stood up without bobby pins. That is a lot of hairspray. I also had a ton of glitter put in my hair, which meant that every time I moved, I moved in a cloud of glitter. 

Then on Saturday I got to attend a murder mystery party...as a flapper. Which is my dream come true! I love the 20's! I altered a dress I found by adding fringe to the bottom and made my own headband.  I got to spend time with Miss Melissa and boy did we laugh. We looked up some 20's slang, drank fake alcohol, and tried to guess the 'murderer'.  

Honestly, I love dressing up. I have decided that I would be entirely happy dressing up in costumes to make my living. Just for fun, not to be an actress or a model.

Anyone having a costume party they want to invite me to?