I grew up in a little town outside of Boston.

The oldest in a family of four kids ... and two parents.

I had a graduating class of nearly 300 kids.

No more than 27 thousand people lived in my town (including those 300).

The University I attended was the academic home of 30,000 students -- in a college town with an additional 60,000 people.

Here in Eugene I have an office with about 50 people I work with on a regular basis.

I have one roommate. One boyfriend. Several more friends. About 150 people I go to church with.

200,000 people.

That's more than 75,000 people than I just flippantly mentioned.

Think of your dad. Your mom. Your siblings, children, cousins, husband, wives, grandparents, closest friends, and all of that...ripped from your life.

That, my friends, is what the Haitian people are experiencing.

Every day I write stories where I mention the climbing death toll -- I see pictures of children starving in the streets... and my heart breaks.

My friends, I grew up in a little town outside of Boston.

Within my immediate group of church friends were several who had immigrated from Haiti with their families. These people were some of the most considerate, kind, loving, and charitable people I've ever met. Any suffering they witnessed -- was quelled by their charity and their compassion.

Now my friends worry about family members left in their mother country. They worry about the stability of government, about those dying from starvation, and those still looking -- a week later -- for medical care from wounds sustained in the quake.

I grew up in a little town outside of Boston.

And now, the equivalent population of the city of Philadelphia lies dead in the Haitian streets.

{image via cnn}

They need our help.

If my words can't convince you -- check this out. This is what journalist Anderson Cooper witnessed, participated in, and showed us ... sitting here in our comfortable homes. This is the life they ARE experiencing. It's not a picture to them, not a story, a video -- it's their life.

But there are messages of hope. There is a chance for these people.
There's ALWAYS hope.

My LDS friends -- you can donate to the Humanitarian Aid fund -- just do it on your tithing slip.

“Money is not the only need in Haiti ... People are frightened, bewildered, and wholly uncertain about their future. In addition to what people can do in helping with food, water and shelter, there needs to be a calming influence over that troubled nation. We invite people everywhere to supplicate God for a spirit of calm and peace among the people.”

Message from the First Presidency. 

Anyone can donate through the American Red Cross.
It's hard getting supplies into Haiti, so money is the way to go.

Here's to a little bit of hope.

don't worry, be happy...

The end of my work week last week was ... horrid.

Like, unbearably so.

{Thankfully, my weekend was good fantastic.}

And today has been rocky as well. 

And because I'm still at work ... instead of on some fabulous vacation... and because I am sick of dwelling on my epically bad mood, I'm going to focus on something{s} happier.

Happiness is:

*warm fleece pants on a freezing cold day.

*finding the exact right hair accessory for your outfit.

*a good hair day -- complete with a cute little braid.

*the plaid scarf i love.
*star filled skies -- they look so pretty and make me so happy. 

*a cute boy telling me he is/was/will be happy to see me.

*a va va va voom cocktail dress for an upcoming holiday party.
{and for a great deal!!}

*snuggling.

*this LOVELY etsy shop. seriously--etsy is like my interior design crack.
{i want the no ballyhoo one. SO good!}

*sitting at my desk in my slippers--because it's 35 degrees INSIDE my building.

*my "hobo gloves" to help keep my fingers warm while i write 2 newscasts. 
*free money from sephora ... because i'm a frequent shopper. LOVELOVELOVE.
*my plans to build a gingerbread house. aww yeah.

*finally getting our christmas tree and beginning to decorate.

*the new how i met your mother i have dvr-ed and waiting for me.

*the parties and plans i have for this weekend.

*cute voicemails from my daddy telling me he was thinkin of me and just wanted to say hi.

*the fact that BYU is going to KILL some Oregon State football.

*the fact that i actually feel good about the way i look today.

*being someone's happy thought.

*the fact that my little sister still thinks i'm cool.

*hearing that i'm endearing and great from someone i admire.

*laughing with good friends.

*mint hot cocoa in a giant mug to make my tummy happy.
*hot showers and coconut shampoo.
*having my christmas shopping done and wrapped. booyah. ocd pays off again.
*overtime pay = cha ching.
*$10 fleece jacket at old navy = i am a big fleecy ball of awesome.
*having a cute boy tell you you're pretty.
*singing christmas music to myself as i do mundane tasks
*finally having an intern that i enjoy teaching things to.
*john mayer's latest album on repeat.
*have i mentioned a cute boy? he's a big part of what makes me happy.
*my FOUR HOUR nap yesterday.
*(one gripe...my tooth --the one that needs a root canal-- is killlllllllin me this week... but i'm too busy to get it fixed in the next week or so.)
*great family and faux-family who i'm so grateful for and i'm so so so lucky to have in my life.
*my awesome amazing friends i love, adore, and couldn't live without.

there's still so much more...but that helped me with my mood a little.

p.s. if you could -- please send your prayers, love, happy thoughts, positive vibes -- whatever happiness you can to summer at b is for brown. she got some horrible news today and needs all the love she can get.

tiny snippets of vacation or what i did on my summer vacation

{p.s. vacation must be said va-cas-sion... like you would say it if you had a spanish accent.}

Okay, while I wait for more vacation photos from my dad (seeing as my other camera was out of commission) ... the pictures I took on my cell phone (thanks propel) must suffice. Hence the snippets. That's exactly what they are.
Random moments from my time in: the 'lou, the 'voo and the 'ha.


When I arrived in St. Louis we went and toured old downtown St. Charles (a neighboring town/where we used to live). There we found this sign. Best office hours ever.

"We are open most days 9 am or 10 am occasionally as early as 7 am but some days as late as 12 pm or 1 pm. We close about 4 pm or 5 pm but occasionally as late as 11 pm or 12 midnight. Some days or afternoons we are not here at all lately it seems we're here just about all the time except when we're someplace else. Welcome!"

I want these hours.


In St. Charles we window shopped -- the Boltons, we love the antique stores.
This is all my family. Ben, Mom, Dad leaning, Miki, and Braden creepin in the back.


THIS IS THE ARCH.
Heck, freakin', yes. The shadow from the top, and the view from the bottom.
I love the arch. Lots.


And this is just some of what you can see from the top. In the picture on the left you can see Busch Stadium. Where the All-Star game happened. (We didn't particpate in the game as tickets were $400 a pop.)


Everyone needs to be a pioneer every so often.
Or at least debate why bonnets ever wen out of style--I would never have to do my hair!


From St. Louis we headed to Nauvoo. It is glorious there.
This is the Nauvoo temple. The original one was destroyed in the 1800s, and it was rebuilt in 2002. It's so pretty, and peaceful, and lovely.


MEGAN! I met Sister Meyers there!!
She had just told me (as my mom explained to her companion that we were related to the companion) that she never got to be like, "yeah, we're related" or "yeah I know them." Then she said she was from North Hollywood--and I knew she'd know you and Bau, and Kiki.


FUNNY FREAKIN STORY.
So heading to Omaha we stopped at this truck stop in Iowa (BORING STATE).
After I used the facilities I went to peruse through the vending machines when I discovered none of them had any candy or gum...but they did have one with fake mustaches for a mere 25 cents!! So I bought a couple, surprised my mom as she asked what I was up to, and we proceeded to laugh about them for the rest of the day. My sister's was so great because it matched her hair!


This is the Winter Quarters Temple in Omaha.
It's so historic--built next to an old cemetery where several pioneers are buried and where so much hardship happened. It's so gorgeous and secluded from the city.


There is basically nothing big to do in Omaha (we lived there when I was wee tiny).
But the one thing that they have the monopoly on is a BANGIN zoo. They even have an indoor rainforest. It's honestly one of my favorite zoo's ever. You have to check out the website.
That's one gian Koi pond on the left with a bagillion (yes, I counted) fish in it. And on the right are my ring-tailed lemurs. They're far away because they like to move it, move it.


And this last one is for my BYU Newsies.
In the Omaha Airport they had this ad. Does anyone recognize him?
You should. It's Stu Snodgras, good guy turned bad for the Make-A-Wish foundation. Just for Beetle Boy. (This PSA ran EVERY day during our shows.)
I miss that.

So there's the snippets from my vacation.
Real, pretty (yay photographer-on-the-side daddies) to come soon!!

{p.s. just an additional plug. the make a wish foundation is so cool and super important, check the website and see if there's any way you can contribute to making these kids wishes come true.}

besttttt. weekend. everrrr.

This weekend was General Conference for my church.
It was THE MOST AMAZING weekend of inspired counsel and instruction.
These men are beyond amazing and I feel so blessed for being able to participate.
I have always known the church was true; and now my testimony is even stronger.

After the Saturday afternoon session, Sarah and I decided to make a fun trip to the coast.
Here are a few pictures from the day.
And there was an AMAZINGLY EXCITING event that happened there.


My first sunset sitting on the beach.
(I grew up on the wrong coast to watch it set on the water.)


Me and Sarah all cold but extremely happy.
One of my long-lasting goals in life has been to find a sand dollar for myself.
Well after a mile of beach and around 30 minutes of searching I had 20 fragments of sand dollar, but nothing whole.
But after mostly giving up and heading back --lo, and behold, there he was. Cornelius, the Sand dollar. So now he is living in my room--proof and reminder that God loves me.


I was freezing and windblown by the time we got back to the car.
But still really happy.


We stopped for seafood and another giant truck ... violated courtesy rules.
The spot is clearly labeled "compact."
(Although, his license plate cover says "I'd rather be watching the Andy Griffith Show." kudos.)


On the way back we found this sign.
I almost died laughing.
I love my lolcats ... and advertising references to them!!

I'm so sad to see this weekend end. It's been so amazing, and I've felt so uplifted--I want to feel this way forever.

I KNOW My Redeemer Lives

Sometimes my batteries run on little or no juice.

Especially my spiritual batteries.

But then there are other moments where the Lord has the foresight, the patience and the love to confirm to me my own testimony and once again get my knowledge and my love to the place it needs to be to let the world know what I know.

I've had MANY moments like that today. And in the midst of all of them I stumbled upon this:



Enjoy.
I know I did.

Isn't it about....time?

My friend Alex posted this on her blog and as I watched it I almost died laughing.



Sometimes it's funny to be part of a Single's Ward.
Sometimes I feel this way.
I love when he's like, "Spring...might be nice..."
Hahahahahahaha.
I'm still laughing.

Dedication

A favorite apostle of mine passed away today. Joseph B. Wirthlin. This man's life of dedicated service, intelligence and kindness is one I have revered for a long time. His talks will greatly be missed in my General Conference viewing.

This talk (it comes in 2 parts) is one of my very favorites from the past few conferences. I cried through the entire thing and, honestly, I believe I am a better person for hearing this talk.
And this is the Elder Wirthlin's testimony. Simple, loving and poignant.
And this is Carol Mikita's biopic on Elder Wirthlin from KSL.

Jimmy and Old Ben

In high school I took a class lovingly called HFS. It was short for Hemingway-Faulkner-Steinbeck and was a lit class focused entirely on the literary works of said authors. After drudging through Hemingway (depressing man), working through Steinbeck, I fell in love with Faulkner.

Well cut to this weekend...it was YSA Conference here in Eugene and our speaker Ron Bartholomew, a Professor of Religion at BYU, told us the story of Jimmy and the Bear from Faulkner's Collection: Go Down Moses ...

This story was a parable of the Spirit and the things we must do to receive and be worthy of personal revelation. It was amazing. I wondered for a moment if I appreciated it more because of my love of Faulkner, but as the lesson went on..I didn't care why, I just cared that I got to listen. It was one of the best lessons I've had in a really long time.