IVan the terrible

if you've never had the privilege to meet or converse with IVon Wall, my one and only living grandparent, you're missing out.  anyone who knows him will agree.  i had the blessing of living with him for almost 6 years and hearing all of his wisdom (lectures).  i loved when solicitors would call and ask for Ivan, to which he'd respond, "do you mean Ivan the terrible of Russia?  or are you looking for IVon Wall, spelled capital I, capital V, o-n?"  he's the biggest flirt you'll ever meet, and also the most generous person on the earth.  it seems like with every year he gets older, he becomes more like a teenager. 

my favorite memories of grandpa (besides watching him turn bright red and laugh so hard he cried when he confessed to making out with another girl while he was engaged to my grandma), are of him putting kerri and i to bed every night.  he'd make up stories in which we'd float away on clouds with our panda bear friend to have an adventure in some far away land, but we'd always make it back home for bedtime.  then he'd sing us old songs, like "out on a hike all day, dear" by irving berlin (my personal favorite), zip-a-dee-doo-dah, and south of the border.  then after wishing us goodnight, he'd play the piano and sing "the impossible dream" or "i left my heart in san francisco".  yes, living with grandpa was pretty awesome.

IVon's yard is pretty incredible.  he has a good chunk of land where my grandma used to grow all kinds of flowers and things.  kerri and i loved exploring the "forest", picking the honey suckles, and jumping on the bounciest trampoline you've ever jumped on. the yard has been hard to maintain in the last few years, so brennan and i got to spend quite a few days up there getting it ready for our reception.  

one day, brennan and grandpa were working on a planter on the side of the house while i was in the back, staining a bench.  i was off in la la land, singing to myself.  i heard grandpa yell, "quick, call 9-1-1!" i heard the words, but didn't really process them until i heard him yell it again.  my heart dropped to my stomach, thinking something had happened to brennan, and by the third shout, i was sprinting into the house to grab the phone.  i dialed 9-1-1 as i ran over to the side of the house to see what was happening.  i saw IVon and brennan just standing there acting like nothing happened.  grandpa saw the phone in my hand and said, "did you call 9-1-1?" (and in the background i hear the operator asking for our address)  

"yes, what's going on?"  

"oh i was just yelling to brother berven.  everything's fine"

i don't know if i've ever been so angry at him in my life.  when the cops did show up i thought "serves him right".  but of course, he talked his way out of it like he does with every thing, and even made friends with the cop.  

IVon is the only grandparent i've had for many years, but he is the best grandpa in the world.  

happy national grandparents day to the wisest, funniest, coolest 87 year old around! i sure do love you!

these two...

meet Lyla and Jonah, my niece and nephew.  aren't they just adorable?

they're pretty hilarious, too.  earlier this week i asked Lyla if she'd want a little brother or sister...she said a sister and she'd want to name her "minnie mouse".  the other day she pointed out the fact that my nails weren't painted and told me, "i should paint them for you."  she's almost 3.

then there's Jonah...he's almost 6.  we decided to do new sibling photos for mother's day this year, and this is just one example of the great things that happened.

classic

i am such a lucky girl to have such an awesome family.  i will definitely miss them when i move to texas, but i'm really excited to start my own little family with brennan.  (no, that is not an announcement...we're not married yet)

peace+love

things my mother taught me...

"ism nqck on
ine but onlyban old phone
nitrhibg fancy
forbsbfewbweeks"
i don't get it either.  my mom lost her phone (in the toilet) this week and this was a text i received from her just a couple days later.  the thing is, that kind of text from her is not uncommon.

so she's not a great texter, but she's pretty great at some other stuff.  like knitting, cooking, sewing, writing.  and she's pretty awesome.  like, the fact that she's been skydiving twice whilst in her fifties--once for kerri's 18th birthday, and once with all our aunts, uncles, and cousins.  that's how we do family parties around here.  but more than anything,  i am grateful for the things she has

taught me.

-one of the things i always remember about her is that when we were growing up i'd always need to ask her a question right before bed after we'd had family prayer.  i'd yell from the basement "mom!  mom!  mom!"  after about 5 minutes of me yelling sporadically with no response, i'd slump up the stairs and walk to her bedroom yelling "mom!", then find her on her knees next to her bed saying her personal prayers, or in her bed reading her scriptures....i'd wait forever for her to finish so i could ask her my question and go to bed.  it was an annoyance at the time, and i didn't realize how much that simple act impacted me until the second week of my mission.  i was so alone, confused, and angry (i had just found out my parents were getting a divorce), but i didn't want to tell anyone what was going on.  prayer was a refuge for me.  as were my scriptures.  i remembered seeing my mom praying and knew what i needed to do--i knew who understood what i was feeling, could comfort me, and could take care of my family.

-she taught about cleanliness...just yesterday the HOA guy at our complex came by to check our water, and when he came downstairs he said to me, "you guys should be complemented on how clean you keep this place.  i've never been into a unit that was kept so clean"...i live with my sister

-she is a woman of sacrifice and work.  she didn't get her bachelors degree until kerri and i were in school--she put it off to take care of her children.  and now she not only has a bachelors, but two masters degrees!  she'd go to work, school, then come home and run errands with us, go to our games, take us to piano lessons, and soccer practice.

the list could go on and on, but i think the most important thing she has taught me is that love means dropping what you're doing to take care of whoever needs you at that moment.  while i was in mexico, there were so many nights she'd stay up way past her bedtime (she had to get up before 5 every morning to get to work) just to listen to me.  then, the night after i got home from mexico, i called her in a bit of a mess.  i told her not to worry about me cause it meant driving to provo and getting back to bountiful around 10 p.m. then getting up before 5 the next morning to get to work.  an hour later she was outside my front door.

yea...she's pretty darn awesome.  i love you, mom.  happy mother's day to all the moms and future moms out there!

peace+love

oh, poor atlas, the world's a beast of a burden

this world is scary and life is hard.  i've spent a fair amount of time lately reading the news (trying to get rid of that instinct of going to facebook when i get online). some of today's headlines included, "inmates seen with guns, using drugs", "US:North Korea may launch missile", "Building collapse kills at least 9", amongst other tragedies, crimes, and disasters.  then there's all the crap that happens in people's personal lives everyday that don't make it to the headlines, and they often suffer in silence: divorce, death in the family, abuse, cancer, break ups, neglect, unemployment, bad grades, the list goes on.  as i write this i hear the siren of a firetruck pass my street.  man, it's exhausting.

but, God loves us.  and as i've struggled through my own trials and felt the weight and sadness for the trials of those around me, i've been so overwhelmed with gratitude at the love people have extended to me.  for every bad thing in life, there are two (at least) good things.

ex. 1 - these missionaries

i know i shouldn't have favorites, but seriously, i am going to miss these guys.  for the last six weeks they have strengthened my faith, brightened my day, and brought me closer to Christ.  i remember kneeling with them last saturday night as we prayed together.  when we finished i thought, where else in the world would you find a group of eleven 18-21 year olds kneeling together in prayer on a saturday night by choice? yes, amidst all the turmoil around us, there is so much good--this is one incredible group of young adults.

ex. 2 - these two goofballs

ashton and tess (my roommate and her boyfriend).  they are such blessings in my life.  i got home from work on wednesday after a sort of rough day and they kidnapped me, took me to dinner, and to walk around the mall for a bit.  that's just one example of the bajillion when they've helped me in some way. they are so quick to serve and care for others.  i couldn't ask for a better roommate/friend and her boyfriend (old married couple, really).  

ex. 3-this beautiful, selfless woman

my mother.  brooke sent me a text the other day that said, "There is a scripture in Acts about mama! acts 2:28 - 'Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.'"  how true it is.  i cannot describe the peace i feel every time i am with her or get off the phone with her. she always seems to know just the right words to say. 

ex. 4-this beautiful weather we've had

ex. 5 -this weekend = general conference baby!  ya, the world is scary, but when we listen to and obey the prophet, we need not fear for the future.  God is great and He loves, and He will never give up on us or disappoint us.  He is perfect and He is my best friend.  I love Him. 

sorry this post was so wordy.  but it was therapeutic for me to write.  if you actually read it, i hope it will be therapeutic for you in some way as well.  also virtual hug to whoever can tell me where the title of this post comes from without googling it.

peace+love

my boys

wow...i didn't realized how behind i was on documenting my life here until i started looking through my pictures.

so now i will document 2 very happy, much needed reunions...christmas will come later.

meet michael and mark. my two best friends from the moment we all met 7 years ago.  really, 3 peas in a pod.  these boys were there waiting for me with ben and jerry's when my cat died.  we've laughed together a lot, and at least one of them and i have cried together a lot (for his sake i won't tell who).  and after 4 years of not being all together in the same room i discovered i still love them just as much as i did when i saw them everyday.

and sam, sammy baby flew home from hell (grad school) for the holidays.  we went to church, completely stuffed our faces all day long, then sam entertained mom, brookie, and i with his life stories.

heaven knows how much i love this man and his cat sweater...i know you can't see it, but behind that poster his sweater says "real men admit they love cats".  ain't it the truth, sam taylor?  my life is happier with you in it.

and more happiness...i woke up to snow falling fiercely outside my window this morning, and it still has not ceased.  i love that i can walk around outside at 11 p.m. and have no need of light...truly a winter wonderland.

christmas to come...

peace+love

look to the light

today, my heart is here 

(san miguel, santiago, chile)

with these people (and all my other amigos chilenos for that matter)...

 and it hurts a little bit.

words cannot express the love i have for the people i met in that beautiful place.  i miss them, and the worst part is, heaven knows when i'll have the money to go back.  

in the mean time, i'm remembering what it's like to be a vessel through which people feel God's love.  

there is no greater joy than knowing that someone knows God loves them because of something you said or did.  

the great news is, you can do that no matter where you are in the world.  it's just a matter of seeking the opportunity then seeking and following the guidance of the Spirit as Elder Ballard so eloquently taught us in General Conference.  

need some inspiration?

peace+love

it's october...

...on the way to school today i couldn't help but smile as i saw the leaves falling around me and smelled the fresh, mountain, october air.  it truly is the most wonderful time of the year (sigh, what happy memories that post recalls). and things are going great.  really, i know my heavenly father loves me for several reasons..
1. i did way better on my midterms than i had anticipated
2. i got in a little fender bender a couple weeks ago and have to pay nothing
3. i have the best family in the world
4. i have the best job in the world
5. in spite of how busy i am/overwhelmed with how few hours in the day there are, everything seems to just be working out....
that's what happens when you do what jesus wants you to.
i'm not saying my life is perfect.  far from it.  are there things i wish i could change?  yes. do i get perfect grades?  ha.ha ha.  do i have bad days?  of course.  am i totally content?  not yet.  but i'm getting there.  and i'm happy.
plus, i have this wonderful weekend to look forward to that will be full of inspiration and guidance from a beloved prophet inspired of God.

peace+love

i-duh-ho

nothing makes me feel like a small child quite like riding my bike does. this is how we do it on ride idaho.

new meadows to white bird
-100+ degree weather
-rafted the salmon river
-rode 50 some-odd miles
-hung out in a bar on a sunday
-got asked if i was old enough to be there

white bird to cottonwood
-rode 40 miles
-10 of them were climbing
-fell asleep in a monastery during the nun's tour
-saw dog bark park
..seriously, this town is something from "true stories"

cottonwood to elk city
-rode 77 miles
-stopped along the way for a dip in the river
-then for a gigantic ice cream cone
-tried to teach two drunk guys to play go fish...fail

elk city to grangeville
-rode 81 miles
-climbed a killer grade in sweltering heat
-got ice cream in a parlor where i found a cute redhead
-played on the sweet slip 'n slide in the park

grangeville to winchester
-rode 51 miles to the best hick town ever
-in the gas station found photo albums labeled "hunting" and "fishing" featuring the locals
-even has a giant rifle hanging from the power line in the middle of town
-learned some sweet middle eastern rhythms in a drum circle
-went to bed with the most beautiful sunset of the trip

winchester to genesee
-woke up to a blood-red sunrise
-62 miles with a 10 mile grateful climb

genesee to moscow
-felt something touching my toe as i was putting my gear away...i turned around only to find a mouse under the tent
-22 short, easy miles into moscow
-LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG drive from moscow to boise then to north salt lake.

and suddenly my vacation ended.  what a tragedy.
peace+love

long days of summer...

i cannot believe it's already july 22nd...before i know it i'll be cooped up in the hbll reading one of the bajiliion books i'll have to read between my 3 english classes and spanish writing and reading class.  boo. so, i'm just filling my days with all the outdoor fun stuff i possibly can....kind of like how chipmunks gather as much food as they possibly can.
-night swimming
-lots and lots of bike rides.  long ones, short ones, uphill, downhill, fast, slow.
-floating down the provo river
-more bike rides
-red rocks brandi carlile concert...i die of happiness...and pot
-roasting mallows
-hiking
-more biking
-more swimming
-lots of working...but have i told you how much i LOVE both of my jobs?

have a happy summer

p.s.  my cute auntie stephanie is due for chemo tomorrow...if you could remember her in your prayers tonight and tomorrow morning we'd all really appreciate it.

peace+love

perfection

this morning in my scripture study i read, "for it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things.  if not so, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad.  Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no...happiness nor misery, neither sense nor insensibility...and if ye shall say there is no law, ye shall also say there is no sin, ye shall also say there is no righteousness.  And if there be no righteousness there be no happiness." 2 Nephi 2:11-13

my earthly father may not be perfect...i love him either way.

there is no perfect being...except one.

my heavenly father is perfect.  He loves me with a perfect love.  He does not make mistakes.  we are all His children.  He knows us individually.  He knows our weaknesses and our strengths and He wants us to succeed.  He will never leave us.  and He will fight for each and every one of us individually that we may return to Him, until that judgement day when our brother will plead on our behalf so that we may enter into a state of never-ending happiness.

and that plan, my friends, sounds perfect.
peace+love

it's been a while

man, it really has been a while. but i'll tell you, preparing for a mission is non-conducive to the internet when you want to spend every waking moment with the people you love most...

cousin dougy (who i get to hang out with for a whopping 18 days between the time he came home and i leave)

mandy

my gorgeous best friend since we were 6--i love her baby bump.

mi familia. they're the best.

cedar peeps in b-town!

doing what i love most

peace+love

stay alive, drive 55

cedar was so good to me...

-st. george temple

-a big smile and hug from prof. modesitt

-pastry pub complete with chocolate tiger cake

-sky fest (20 some-odd hot air balloons launching at once)

-german pancake breakfast

-getting lost but eventually hiking in bryce canyon

-all of the above with great friends

-the funnest birthday party i've ever been to with new friends (including huck finn)

-church

-sunday writing ritual in my tree

-birthday celebration for the one and only skye complete with awesome conversation and the encouragement i've needed all month

(photo teaser courtesy of cheri. i'll get the disposable developed someday soon...)

did i mention i have great friends? i've been home less than two hours and i already want to go back. the only thing sustaining me is live recordings of mumford and sons. shocker, i know.

peace+love

overworked and underpaid

yesterday my sister informed me my eyebrows needed to be plucked.

i also missed out on a perfectly windy day of kite flying.

but, on a more positive note...

tonight, i was taking my dog for a walk after dark. i kept picturing bo radley following me.

i got a little nervous, so i hummed "long shadows" to myself.

nothin' like the sweet sound of josh ritter to make you feel better.

(it also helps that bo radley is actually a good guy who saved scout and jem from an untimely death by the knife of the town drunk...)

p.s./btw my birthday is in a week. i'm $66 away from my goal of $210 to charity:water. if you have not yet donated or told a friend to donate, you have until friday!

peace+love

dzing dzong

it's a few days late, but DZING DZONG happy 19th birthday kewwwi...the best lil' sis in the world

this is for you

peace+love

free fallin'

my cousins came in town from washington, so what did we do to pass the time? oh ya know, check it off my life list cause i jumped out of an airplane...with all these hoodlums

{p.s. family, i love the one random tandem instructor not related to us in this picture standing behind bethany}

that's actually my aunt, but this gives you an idea of what it looks like when you jump out of the plane...

you know what the best part is?

free falling.

i wasn't even scared. the only time i really got nervous was when we were flying up to the 13,000 feet and they opened the airplane door. which i was sitting right next to.

but walking over to the door, stepping with my toes over and falling 110 mph for a minute?

no problem.

(this is also stephanie...i didn't get photos or video--nice banana pose, steph)

anyway, you really must do this someday....it was AWESOME

peace+love

oh mandy...

...well you came and you gave without taking...{virtual hug to whoever names that song without googling the lyrics}

this is my friend amanda.

sorry, wrong picture

i didn't know her in real life before i knew her on blogger.

see, she was roommates with mackenzie, my sister from another mister/kerri's (my sister) best friend

[this is mackenzie and amanda]

so kerri was friends with her. kerri had her blog on her sidebar.

and i started reading it.

she is funny and has good taste in music, so of course i read/commented on her blog.

then i met her in real life. so now we're real life friends.

welp, she's feeling kinda sad cause in a few months i'll be leaving and won't be reading any blogs for a year and a half. she thinks she'll no longer have any comments on her blog.

so, i'm suggesting if you like me you should go read/comment on her blog. cause i bet you'll like her too.

do a sunday service and say hi!

i'll be happy you did.

(all pictures stolen via amanda's facebook page and blog)

peace+love

i HATE the heat....and other thoughts on life

summer is not my favorite season in utah. unless i'm sitting next to a body of water. when i grow up i'm moving northwest. oregon, washington, northern cali, or alaska. mark my words.

cycling on the legacy parkway trail just isn't the same as my routes in southern utah. but, there is one section of the trail called birnham wood. all they need to do is name a section dunsinane and we'll have a full-fledged shakespearean tragedy on our hands.

life has been going 100 mph and i don't think it will slow down until i'm retired, living in my winnebago travelling the u.s. with my handsome, charming hubby.

i made up new kesha lyrics to fit that one song..."wake up in the morning feelin' like p-diddy. i don't know how to sing but i make lots of money. i'm really really smart but i write stupid lyrics, they play me constantly on the radio so everyone can hear it....pedicure on my toes toes blah blah blah blah blah blah"

on the other hand, my life will be complete in just 15 days. (click me! click me!)

it's good to be home with my family. except i think kerri is getting sick of sharing a bed with me. (yes, i have my own bed. no, i don't sleep in it) and they left me this weekend. with absolutely no food in the house.

i went to bear lake and discovered my new favorite dessert (second only to mint choc. chip ice cream)--chocolate covered raspberries. HELLLLOOOO heaven in mouth.

i decided i want to go on a mission for the lds church. my papers are almost in but not quite cause guess what? the last thing i need is my wisdom teeth x-rays. i went in thrusday morning to get them and the dentist said her machine wasn't working. which means now i have to wait till monday. which makes me want to cry. or scream, seeing as i don't cry. either way i just want to goooooooooooo.

peace+love

repentance

i had this conversation with my little sister today...

"kelli, you need to update your blog."

"sorry...i've been busy"

"well guess what? your readers don't care if you are busy. they care about reading your blog. so you need to update it."

so, here i am. updating my blog.

go listen to radical face.

you've probably heard:

you should hear:

peace+love

on the road again...

1. My dream vacation would be hawaii. or china to see all the amazing natural arches. did you know 4 of the worlds biggest arches are in china? {6 are in utah. i love this state} .

2. The best trip I've ever taken was baaaa, that's a toss up. carribbean cruise was pretty darn amazing because i'm addicted to the water. but europe. oh europe...i had some pretty darn incredible experiences. .

3. The most important items to take on a road trip are music and gummy watermelons .

4. The next trip I'm looking forward to is Phoenix, AZ on thursday with my bestie, alicia! .

5. If I had to pick one CD to listen to for a long road trip it would be josh ritter. or cat stevens. best roadtrip music for the west, definitely. .

6. The biggest disaster I've ever encountered while traveling was my mom would say when i was 3 driving from illinois to utah. apparently i was puking and diarreah-ing the entire way. but i'd say when some friends and i were driving up to logan for a football game we saw a pick-up truck that had rolled into the ditch in the middle of the freeway and caught on fire. we watched a guy pull the driver out. .

7. My favorite traveling memory is driving to southern utah a million times when i was little to visit my grandparents. i used to have a hard time sleeping anywhere but my bed. so everyone else would be asleep as my mom was driving through the desert or zion and she'd listen to van morrisson or gladys knight. i'd just lean my head out the window and stare at the stars that you just can't see in the city.

.peace+love

happy birthday ol' fart

dear mattie,

hap-hap-happy birthday! thanks for being an awesome:

sister-in-law

cute baby maker (hint hint nudge nudge make more!)

choreographer

dancer--pretty sure you won that dance off last summer...though my mom was a very close second

wife to my brother...i don't know how he convinced you to marry him, but i'm glad he did

nice person

mom

piano player

friend.

{matt's the one in the middle}

i love you mattie, and i'm glad you're part of my family!

peace+love