See ya!

I'm heading to California today for a trip to Disneyland. Yay for taking time to not think about school one bit even though I really should be. 

Long Weekend

This past weekend some friends and I went to St. George to take advantage of the long weekend for Presidents Day. Going to Zion National Park and hiking Angels Landing was definitely my favorite part of the trip (as well as going to Dixie Rock and literally feeling like I was on mars). We did a wonderful nature "hike" up leeds canyon on our way out of St. George on Monday. The beauty of this earth blows my mind. 

In other news, my world got rocked a bit on Friday when I met with my adviser to talk about grad school. I have been thinking lately that I really want to go get my masters in Social Work. After meeting with my adviser, thinking, talking with people I love, and being guided by a loving Heavenly Father, I have decided to not graduate this semester with my bachelors and take one semester this summer to re-take a couple classes so that I can be a more competitive applicant for grad school. Wait what? I'm staying an extra semester even though I don't have to? You better believe it! And I feel so good about it. Ever since making the decision to stay I have had such an incredible peace given to me that this is what I'm supposed to be doing. I feel good about the fact that I will be able to apply to grad school (including my top choice) with even more confidence, and whether that's now or when i'm 40, or never, that door will be open wider than if I didn't stay. The amount of comfort I have received from Heavenly Father about this decision makes me so happy. It's so cool to see that at the point in my life where I felt so crazy and unsure about a lot of things, God showed me the path I need to take. A path I never would have thought of going down, but a path that now I know is right. This is a huge reminder that I need to be constantly aligning my will with God's will. He knows best. And when we are going down the road in life that is best for us, we will be able to feel that peace that only comes from God. We will be able to feel that peace even in the inevitable stress. 

Love Love Love

One of our best friends got married over the weekend. Little fun fact; we live in what is called the "shewolf" house (our ward has called it that for years) and Christian has been our only "werewolf" ever. Sounds dumb, I KNOW, but we love him, to say the least. He couldn't have married a better girl for me and my friends (and himself, obviously). She includes us in their lives and loves us, which obviously makes us love her even more. I couldn't be happier for them. He's so happy and in love. At the luncheon when he started talking about her I definitely started to cry. I can't wait to have someone love me that much. I love love. I think love is so incredible. I'm so excited to someday feel a love like never before. I think I was in love at one point in my life a long time ago. But I look forward to the day where I experience a love that is so strong and real that it makes me realize I wasn't ever in love at all. 

I didn't get any pictures of the bride and groom (oops) but here are a couple from the night.

At the luncheon. 

Hillary is a real gem.

After the reception I went and played with Mel's new
niece Luna. I was in golden doodle puppy heaven. 

Winter Break

Well a new semester has started and my LAST ONE at that. I'm so excited for this semester. I only had to take 13 credits and I am taking some classes I have always wanted to take like drawing and rock climbing (I forgot how much I enjoy it). Wednesdays the only things I have are climbing and then drawing..nice day right? And Friday's I don't have school, YES! I'm doing my capstone this semester, which I basically just get assigned a community development internship. I'm really excited for that.

Meet Rugar. One of the dogs at the climbing gym I go
to. We like to cuddle.

The past month has been the best month of my life. Right after finals I flew to Indy to be with my sister and her family and then help her fly to Utah with her kids (my brother in law had to work until the 26th). Indy was so fun. It was so nice to spend time with my nieces and sister and bro. We did Christmasy things like going to see the big Christmas tree in downtown Indianapolis and making ginger bread houses. I got to be a part of the B-well's Christmas eve festivities and cute Steph got me presents so I could be a part of everything.

Then we flew to Utah. The flight went great. The best $8 I've ever spent was on the wifi on the plane so my nieces could watch a show on my phone and be entertained. It was so nice to spend time with family on Christmas and Christmas Eve and to spend time with friends on other days of the break. I am so incredibly grateful for the season where we are even more focused on our Savior, Jesus Christ. I wish everyone carried the season through the year.

Christmas Eve

Blurry but oh so cute.

Christmas Eve. I love MK's face.

Christmas morning.

The Christmas Village in Ogden is SO cool.

Bundled for the Christmas Village.

Ready to snowmobile at the cabin.

Annual Ryther Christmas party. One of my favorite
Christmas traditions.

Loved spending time with cool people at Temple Square
seeing the lights. No better way to get in the Christmas
spirit.

The weekend after Christmas all of my siblings and their families, me, my parents, and my best friend Kumi went down to St. George. We rented a couple condos and spent much needed and great family time playing games and eating treats. Obviously the best part about the trip for me was on Saturday, the 28th, when I had the opportunity to go through the temple for the first time. It was incredible and I feel so incredibly blessed to be able to have done so. The St. George temple is gorgeous and it was even more special because my parents were sealed there 32 years ago and all of my siblings got to be there to support me, along with Kume, which meant a lot.The temple is such a wonderful blessing.

Best day ever.

So so grateful to have the parents I do.

Some friendly sibling competition with arm wrestling,
games, and of course I push up competition. 

Kume is the best. So grateful she came to St. George to support me.

Hard core cards in the morning. Such a
funny picture, they look like old
women.

Dinner at the pizza factory Saturday night.

I spent a chill and wonderful day with my family on New Year's Day.

I could just eat her.

But really.

Random pic with the sweet girl that made me an
aunt.

After a couple days at home my parents and I flew out to New York City for some birthday celebrating. We got to go to the Manhattan temple, eat at lots of yummy places, go to a couple Broadway shows (Annie and Newsies-which btw Newsiescompares to Phantom and Wicked..it was absolutely incredible), went shopping and lived through the cold weather!

On our way! 

Celebrating with New York cheesecake. 

On the Subway.

After Newsies.

The temple is truly an oasis from the busy city streets just
outside.

On our way to church (that is in the same building as
the temple. 

9/11 memorial. There was such a somberness around here that you
really could feel. So grateful for the heroes of our country.

After the temple session.

Snowy NYC.

At "Good Enough to Eat" for breakfast...mmmm.

NY Macys was CRAZY.

Cutest old people on the subway.

I got back to Salt Lake and headed straight up to Logan. It was my birthday the next day and my friends/family spoiled me like none other. It was such an all around wonderful day. We had a get together for cake and ice cream at my house that night for me and my other roommate whose birthday it previously was and it made me realize even more how incredibly blessed I am for all the wonderful people I have in my life. I truly have been blessed with the best and most supportive family and such incredible friends. I'm just feeling so blessed all around.

If you made it to the end of this post you are crazy and I commend you.