525,600 minutes

At this time last year (ok, not down to the minute exactly, but close enough) I can't believe how different my life was compared to now.

I had been in Logan for 4 months and hadn't made a single friend. I was dying with the knowledge that I still had a month before I could get back to Rexburg.

But now...I just don't know how I'm feeling.

I mean, I still have about a thousand times more friends in Rexburg than I do in Logan.

I'm anxious to continue continuing my education.

I feel like I'm almost too old to be living with my parents.

BUT

I just can't shake the feeling that if I had a good reason to stay, I would jump on it.

I have the most incredible job, my ward is phenomenal, and i'm making really awesome friends. 

I don't want to leave it behind. 

Really really don't want to leave it...

something new #3

I'm really really stubborn

I'm trying to work on being better.

For example, i can't STAND being told what to do. Whenever someone says, "oh, you'll have to [do something or other. Often "show it to me sometime"]"  or "do this" even if it's something that I want to do or was planning on doing anyway, I no longer want to do it.

In fact, I will do everything in my power to never ever do that thing.

Also the first thought I have after such a statement is, invariably, "I don't have to do anything."

the reverse is also true, if someone tells me not to do something, even if it's something I wouldn't have done anyway, doing that thing becomes the sole purpose of my life.

i need to not be so stubborn

christmas flash mob

this may or may not have made me cry every time I have watched it...

something new #2

I read magazines from back to front

and a picture, because i feel like it :)

confession

Sometimes I have this fantasy where Rebekah Westover, Jonathan Canlas, and Ryan Muirhead and I are all best friends and hang out and take awesome photos and drink hot chocolate and travel the world together.

I also have another fantasy where Rebekah Westover reads my blog and thinks I'm the coolest thing since sliced bread and she wants me to assist her on photo shoots and when I get engaged she begs me to let her do all of my photos.

But on the other hand I hope she doesn't actually read my blog because my love for her kind of borders on an obsession. I can't help it. I'm sorry.

something new #1

My friend Brooklyn did something on her blog that I really liked, so I'm going to copy.

In order to help you get to know me better, every once in a while I'm going to share with you something that not very many people, or any people at all, know about me. Maybe it will be fun? :)

So, to start it off:

i love hockey games. especially when there are fights. And I mean gloves off, bench clearing brawls.

Thankful #14

I'm thankful for

the friends i've made this semester in Logan

that my babiest brother turns SIX tomorrow!

Okay, maybe not so much on that last one. That actually freaks me out

thankful #13

I'm grateful that my Father in Heaven can see how things will effect me in an eternal perspective and guides my life accordingly. 

Specifically...I don't know how to word it, but the lyrics from two songs will help.

First, Hilary Weeks' song Unwritten

For the roads I never traveled,

for the pain I never knew,

for the places that you kept me from--

Father I thank you.

For the days that were not wasted

for the years not spent in vain--

I'm grateful for the stories that remain unwritten.

And second, Michael McLean's He Gives Me What I Need:

All I ever wanted, all I ever dreamed of,

everything I hoped, and all the things I prayed for

couldn't hold a candle to what I've been given--

I've been given what I need.

A mansion on a hill,

or love like in the movies,

perfect little dreams where no one has a problem.

Instead of all the things I thought I really wanted,

I've been given what I need

thankful #12

my friends

I realize that most of these pictures are repetitive

I've just been reminiscing :) 

I miss these people

all of them

thankful #11

photography

and how it makes me happy like nothing else can

thankful #10

my family

thankful #9

After a years long battle with cancer, my aunt Lori passed away early this morning.

I'm so sad, but at the same time I'm so SO grateful for the gospel and what it teaches us about how families can be together forever through the atonement of Jesus Christ. 

As I think about her young kids, her son on a mission...i'm grateful that they know and I know that we will see her again.

Thankful #8

I'm grateful that, somehow, I've been blessed with the skill to really impress adults.

This is nice in instances when I need to register for classes and the one I want isn't available, but I can email the teacher asking for help, and they email me back saying they'll do anything they need to do to get me into their class :)

thankful #7

Today I got a facebook message from the AMAZING photographer who did all of Brooklyn's wedding things.
She took the picture at the top of my blog

Seriously, she's amazing. AMAZING. Her name is Whitney Lewis and not only is she an amazing photographer, but she's just such a fun person! At Brooklyn's wedding she let me hold her camera and gave me photography tips and just sat and chatted with me.

And this morning I woke up to this:

Oh my gosh

Yeah, that really happened

thankful #6

A week ago, last tuesday, a doctor told my aunt that Uncle Mark would never wake up, never speak again, and basically be in a vegetative state for the rest of his life. He told her, "it's not like he's just going to wake up one day and say 'hi'."

Well guess what?

Yesterday, HE WOKE UP! 

Would you like to know what the first thing he said was?

"Hey."

And then he went on to answer questions, mostly yes or no, but he was talking.

And when one of his friends was leaving, he asked, "do you have to go?"

In your FACE, Dr. Kevorkian!

 I'm so grateful for the power of prayer and fasting! I know it brings miracles to our lives!

ALSO

I watched this this morning and almost died. Amazing!

thankful #5

Alexis Marie Maus

I love her hugs
I love her funny smile
I love how polite she is, always saying "please," "thank you," and "abacawa" (you're welcome)
I just love her so much!!


And...

Surprise! Baby girl #2! She doesn't have a name yet, but I feel fairly confident that this time around we will be getting a Hailee Jr.

thankful #4

The thing I'm thankful for today is the reason I didn't blog yesterday

Yesterday I got the opportunity to go down to Provo and sing in the choir for Elder M. Russell Ballard's fireside. 

The choir was through the Logan LDS Institute and it was 1,100 people! 

It was an amazing experience, the last eight weeks of rehearsals, all culminating in that wonderful fireside last night where we got to share our testimonies with people all throughout the world by singing praises to our Father in Heaven.

It was something I'll never forget!

thankful #3

COUGH SYRUP.APPLE JUICE.GRAPE G2

these are the things that, in what can only be called a suicide attempt, I drove my car to walgreens last night and bought. 

I hate being sick.

thankful #2

My job

I love being "Miss Hailee" more than anything in the world. I love the two girls i work with, Charlee and Isabel. I even love them when they are grumpy and when they cough their little germs all up in my grill and get me sick.

Isabel, flapping around like a dragon

Charlee

Lastly, for my best friend

referring to me like so on her blog

Thankful #1

A lot of people are making a blog post or facebook status of something they are grateful for each day this month. I know i'm a few days late, but better late than never.

You may not know, but a few weeks ago, my uncle Mark had a pretty serious stroke.

Today I'm overwhelmed with gratitude towards the people who have helped support my aunt and cousins in the last month. The people who have made meals, organized and donated things for garage sales, raised thousands of dollars, and just been there to offer love and support.

I saw this when I logged onto facebook this morning:

I don't have any more words. I'm just so grateful