8-27-10

Today Travis, Kami, Joshua, Annie, and I took a trip to the Houston Zoo. It was a perfect day, weather wise. All the animals were out, and we had a wonderful time. We couldn't have asked for more! These Jelly Fish were beautiful, so naturally I was entranced by their graceful movement, and snapped a few shots.

8/26/10

School started yesterday. Senior year!! My A day consists of: (1) AP Art (2) Foods one (3) Teacher aid (4) Ceramics two. My B day consists of: (1) Seminary (2) Astronomy (3) Sculpture (4) Government and citizenship. In other words, this will be a fun, laid back year. Above is a picture of homework for foods class. It is actually an arrangement for a formal dinning setting with art objects. I think it looks pretty cool just as a random picture. haha! Well, here it goes, one more year of high school... wish me luck! 

-Punch

8-24-10

Trav and I have been on the road constantly for the past few days. It's been so much fun, but so exhausting as well. We've been from Vidor, to Houston, back to Santa Fe, to Clear Lake, back to Houston, etc. I love hanging out with my favorite uncle ever.

8/19/10

Today was basically a perfect day. Let me break it down for yeee, I slept in until 10 *angels singing* Then I got up and said happy anniversary to my mama and papa. 21 years! woot woot! (They went to park city until tomorrow after about 11:30 or so.) So I was home alone until Wade came back from the temple with Krista, Merrie, and Evan. We watched Disney's Pocahontas and The Rescuers. I also worked on my art work. (I have to get 10 projects done before school starts on wednesday.) I got two projects done, thank goodness! So now I only have 4 or 5 more left to do, so some stress was removed from my shoulders today. After that everyone went down stairs and played Mario Kart!!! It's my favorite game ever. After that, Michael Hess came over in his kilt and we all watched some pretty hilarious youtube videos. Then Wade went to take Merrie home while Evan, Michael, Krista and I stayed and laughed at more videos. When Wade got back the three guys left to Michael's end of summer man party while Krista and I stayed home and played on photo booth. We made some pretty embarrassing videos and took some priceless pictures. It was overall a great day. 

-Punch

8-18-10

Kendra. She's the sweetest little girl in the world. Not to mention one of the most brilliant little 4 year olds I've ever met. Today was my first full day in Texas, I already know it's the greatest decision I've ever made. Donny and Natalie are soo generous, so laid-back, and so caring. This is one superb family, and I cannot wait to get all settled in. Life is good, Texas is grand, and Kendra and Jasper are just too adorable. I love it here, everything about it. I'm finally home.

           -Pugus

8/16/10

Chocolate milk is one of those things just makes you just plain happy. It's so simple yet so wonderful at the same time. I guess the simple things in life are the best things in life. Like this morning, I finally got to sleep in. Having Toby is great, but he wakes up so early I've been needing more concealer than usual. But today it was just wonderful to wake up after 9:00 instead of before 7:20. And another simple thing was watching Disney's Cinderella today. I haven't seen that movie in so long I forgot how much I loved it, and it brought back so many great memories. And to top it off we had a great evening with the Harris' and Fackrell's. There was so much love and happiness in the Fackrell's home, it just fills you up from head to toe. The little things really are the best things in life. Today was a chocolate milk day, so simple yet so wonderful.

-Punch

8-15-10

This is my favorite place in Eau Claire. I went there for the last time tonight before I leave on Tuesday. It's the most beautiful fountain, smack dab in the center of the quaint Wilson Park. Casey and I took one of our infamous bike rides, stopped at the fountain, and went swimming in it! It was a blast. This past week I've realized more than ever, that the simpler something is, the more special it turns out to be. Such as our night rides through the town...We bike all of the time. It's our main source for transportation! Never did I think I would be sentimental about biking around..but, I've realized it's one of my favorite past times. So many funny stories have come out of a spur of the moment bike ride. It's small adventures such as these I'll keep locked away in my memory for a lifetime. I am so lucky to have the life I do. I am so grateful for all the loving people I have supporting me through thick and thin. I love you all, plain and simple.

-Pugus

8/14/10

"He will guide us, if we choose to listen to him."

There are some things in life that just hit you without warning and makes you realize all the things you have missed. All the things that you were too busy or too stubborn to look at. All things that are around you, all the things inside of you. I realized that there is happiness and someone watching over us everywhere and wherever we go. That was something that hit me right in the face making me feel stupid and stunned. 

I've been missing Texas and everyone so much even though I was there for more than a month I still wanted to go back. And that's understandable, right? I grew up there. But, I made my self believe that no matter where I go nothing would be the same as in Texas, nothing would make me as happy as how Texas made me happy. But I realized something, I realized it's all inside of me. I remember when we were about to leave to Utah Great Grandpa Wade said these words to me, "When you move, have a good attitude. If you don't have a good attitude then nothing will seem to turn out right." He was right. I didn't listen to his advice when we moved. I was stubborn and didn't want to change, I didn't want to have a good attitude. Utah wasn't where I wanted to be, I wanted to be in Texas where I am comfortable and happy. I blocked out any happiness I could have had in Utah because I was so mad I wasn't where I wanted to be. I turned into a turtle, always going into my shell whenever something happened to me or was about to happen to me. I felt so alone and in the dark. And that is so not me or how I usually feel about things. I like to be around people to laugh and to live, but my choices turned me into someone I never wanted to be. I've been an emotional wreck since we first moved to Utah heck I was a bomb of emotion one poke and boom! I'd explode into a fit of tears and anger. I didn't think anyone cared about how I felt or wanted to know how I felt. 

But then at efy I realized there is someone always caring, watching and looking after you. The scripture for efy this year was Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the lord thy god is with thee withersoever thou goest." at efy I found this to be true. It was such a spiritual experience for me. Nothing hit me as hard as that had hit me. I was full of the spirit and so much love that week, something I thought had abandoned me. But, no matter where we are and how sad or alone we feel, we really are never ever alone. He is always there waiting to comfort us, but it is up to us to call to him so he can come and fill us with his love. and I believe in that so much. But somehow the weeks following efy that belief seemed to slip away from my mind. 

While I was in Texas I was under stress, anxiety and in the dark once again. Not because of the people there or anything, but of the situation our family was in while I was there. I didn't know where the Lord was trying to steer us and where he wanted us to be. It was hard for me to see my family in this situation, to see them cry so much. I tried to reassure my family that the Lord will put us where he wants us to be, but it's hard to be strong when it fells like the weight of the world was on your shoulders. I didn't remember the whole "for the lord thy god is with thee withersoever thou goest" thing. I wish I would have remembered it, because I know if I would have called to him, he would have carried the pain, the suffering the sadness for me sooner than now. I won't forget that again. 

I still miss Texas, but not as much as I did. Because now I know that whatever I'm going to be, whatever situation I'm in, I just need to be happy and make the best of things and turn to the Lord whenever I'm feeling alone and sad, and everything will turn out right. Because he is always there, watching and taking care of us. He will guide us, if we choose to listen to him. He loves us so much and wants the best for us. I'm glad I have a testimony of that. 

Some choices in life will be hard to make and we will go through times where we won't want to let go of the things we love and miss. But sometimes it's better to let go so we can hold on.

-Punch

8-13-10

Today Elise, Casey, and I did what we always do. We hung out, went to Savers, and other various Antique/Thrift Shops and spent too much money. The thing that made today different though, was the fact that it's one of the last times we'll be doing it before I move. I never thought it'd be this hard to say goodbye. I'm having a lot of trouble with it. I've probably cried enough this week to last me a long time. My emotions are so drained, and I'm ready to start a new. As hard as it is to leave, I have to keep telling myself that I am doing this for myself. It's the right decision, but it doesn't make it any less difficult. It's the most difficult thing I have ever done. Ever, in my life. Saying goodbye to the two people in this world who aren't family, but feel as if they are. I love them with all of my heart, and I hate that I'm making them so sad. It hurts so much to know they are hurting right now. I have a problem with doing things for myself. I always do everything for other people, to make sure they are happy...and this time, I'm not. I'm doing this for me, and it's much more formidable, and much harder than I ever could have imagined. We also went and saw the movie Eat Pray Love. First of all, I recommend it if you haven't seen it yet. It's an excellent flick! Secondly, let me give you a little synopsis. So it's about this woman, Liz, who live in New York. She has a great life. A wonderful husband, who loves her, and cares for her dearly. She has friends that are once in a lifetime people. She has a career that is to die for, and a beautiful home to live in. He life is stable, comfortable, and routine. But she isn't happy. She doesn't have a passion for living anymore, and she doesn't know why. She can't figure it out. She used to have a desire to see, feel, and experience everything. She realizes she isn't happy in New York, and she isn't giving all of the people she loves most her full potential as a person. She still has yet to figure herself out. So, she prays. She prays for an answer because she doesn't know what else to do. She gets her answer. She decides to go away from her "safety net" that is new york, and go find herself where her heart is telling her to go. I won't give anything else away, but that is basically the plot line. Sounds familiar right? Yeah, I thought so too. It was like I was watching my life happen. I couldn't believe how similar my situation is to Liz's. Anyways, I guess this post is just another post discussing how much I'll miss it here, even though I know I'm making the right choice. It's just all that I've been able to think about lately. It's consuming my mind. Two more days left in this town. Two more days of familiarity, and then I begin a new chapter of my life. Surrounded by the people I love most in this world...my family. I can't wait to be with you all. You are the people I need, and want to be with most, even if it is hard to let go of the life I have here...It's time for me to be happy. It's time for a new familiarity.

"The only thing more unthinkable than leaving was staying; the only thing more impossible than staying was leaving."
— Elizabeth Gilbert (Eat, Pray, Love)

-Pugus

8/12/10

I woke up to Toby's whining today. He is such a good alarm clock. I was the first one up, as usual, and was on the computer all morning. Soon, everyone else starting waking up and got ready for the day. 

My friend called me while the day was still getting started and accused me of being a vampire, he doesn't think I eat. at all. It's funny/annoying. Still I love Him. :) 

This afternoon, Krista, my mom and I went Lone Peak High School. (Only two weeks left until senior year... ahh!). We went to Hobby Lobby afterwards to get some art supplies... Just for the record I love Hobby Lobby.  SO much. It's just full of happiness. haha. Krista and I love to take pictures and just be weird there. But since there were so many employees EVERYwhere today and we didn't want to be kicked out of the store, we weren't able to be quite as obnoxious as usual. Still it was fun. 

The rest of the day, I worked on my art. I have to finish 11 projects before summer ends, and I only have one done. So I worked on renaissance art the rest of the day, which was really hard, because 1) I'm not a realistic artist and 2) Krista was sitting across from me making me laugh uncontrollably. But, I still got some things done.

 FINALLY the finale of So You Think You Can Dance came on!! Sadly, Kent did not win, but I'm still happy with who won. That person totally deserved it.

So all in all this day has been full of laughter and happiness. Perfect. In so many ways.

-punch

08-12-10

Today I went to Madison, Wisconsin with my two best friends, Elise and Casey to enjoy one of my last days in Eau Claire. We visited local coffee shops, shopped at super cool thrift shops, and found these ridiculously talented dudes playing their instruments on the street for money. They were fantastic! Obviously the girl in red really enjoyed there musical stylings as well...she was busting a move for them. A little awkward I might add. It was a wonderful day to spend in Mad- town with my friends. I'm going to miss them so much when I leave.

-Pugus

8/11/10

Yesterday Krista my mom and I stayed in our night clothes all day and watched So You Think You Can Dance recordings/America's next top model and colored in a disney princess coloring book while we watched. We were going to go places, but all three of us got horrible headaches, so we stayed home. Seven O'clock rolled around and we watched the final dances by Robert, Kent and Lauren from So You Think You Can Dance. Personally I think Kent should win 100%. If you don't watch So You Think You Can Dance... you are missing out. No joke. Tonight is the finale! I CAN NOT wait!

-Punch