Strange Happenings:

Hey, Hungary!

    
       Sometimes I feel like every opening line I write is, "I have the craziest/strangest story for you this week". But other times it's really just true. This time it all started with a ticket stub, an empty bucket of popcorn, and me attempting to be social. I don't know why I even try anymore, it always ends up embarrassingly for all involved parties.
      Well: I have this group of friends a year older than I am; they all graduated last year, so apparently it was a brilliant idea to have a "reunion" of sorts. We were all down to begin with, but then, slowly yet surely, they all began to drop out, claiming excuses of "work" and "I'm going to school two hours away and won't be home that weekend". Eventually our party was reduced to three: Chad, Tiffany, and myself. I was resolved, however, to go and make the most of the occasion despite the fact that I might feel awkward with just the three of us.
        I was certainly not disappointed in my expectations: it DEFINITELY was awkward. I pulled up as the other two were already in line; naturally, I joined them and engaged in the usually scripted "Oh how are you- Thanks, you look great too-What? Seven months? I can't believe it's been that long" conversation. Everything was running according to plan...until we finally reached the ticket booth.
       Chad turns to me and says, "Oh, and by the way, I'm buying your ticket for you." This was very strange. And the fact that he hadn't included Tiffany in the demand only enlarged my sense of "what in the heck is going on here". Apparently she'd already gotten hers before he had a chance to pay for it and therefore he felt the need to triumph by purchasing mine instead. I tried to refuse seeing as I had brought my own money expressly for this purpose (not to mention the fact that if I let him by my ticket it would feel kind like a date and that would be TOO weird because there were two girls and only one guy). But he insisted.
       We walked inside and instantly set our sights on the candy counter. Chad once again declared that he would be buying popcorn for everyone, but that if we would like anything else, we were free, by all means, to do so then. I thought this was a rather fair compromise mostly because I knew arguing the point with him could go on till dawn. In accordance with the plan, Tiffany walked up to the counter and ordered a small box of Jr. Mints...and a bag of popcorn.
      It was my turn next, and thanks to Tiffany, I had no idea what to do. (Social anxiety is great, right?) So, eventually, I thought to myself, "To heck with this popcorn thing, I just need me some Jr. Mints." And that's all I got. But then comes Mr "Chivalry" and buys a large popcorn to, and I quote, "share". IF THIS DOESN'T SOUND LIKE THE AWKWARDEST ALMOST DATE, THEN I DON'T KNOW WHAT DOES. Because poor Tiffany over here's like third wheeling hardcore and I don't even want this guy's attention, but we be sharing popcorn. All. Movie. Long.
      SO that transpired.
      But here's the best part: I get home and see that I've got a text from none other than Chad Yeates himself. "Listen," he writes, "I have a question I really need to ask you, but I need you to be 100% honest with me." Dang it. The stinking kid is gonna ask me out now. How do I let him down easy? Life is so much less complicated when I stay at home on my couch with my Jane Austen novels. But I can't hold him off for long.
"Sure, go ahead."
He replies with, "Do you think it would be awkward if I asked Tiffany out on a date?"

BOY I DID NOT SEE THAT ONE COMING. Grinning as wide as possible, ear to ear and back, I respond: "No! Not at all! I think it would be lovely and that you should DEFINITELY give it a go! ! !" Man! Dodged a bullet there. I then proceeded to rethink the entire evening. I was the one third wheeling, not Tiffany. She was just playing the strong-independent-woman-who-don't-need-no-man and I was left to receive the offers she didn't take. It was kind of hilarious. And I'm glad, too, because I was almost that one chick who initiates all the HS drama, and we all know I am SO not about that life. So, I guess you could say all in all it turned out pretty swell. And I now can go back to sitting on my couch in peace, knowing the world is one couple happier, even better that it's not me. I really should get a cat....
 
Well that's it for this week! Be glad you don't have to deal with high school anymore, you're better off. Trust me.

Love America

There Can Be Miracles if You Believe:

Hey, Hungary!

    Let's just start this off by saying one thing: today was a great day!
   

    Reason number one: I won a raffle for a one-month faculty parking pass at the shhooool. The only downside to this is the fact that I don't drive to school--I take the bus. And then I realized that I had just been handed the golden opportunity: amongst high school students, these things were like gold. All I had to do was name my price.
     And so I did: the price of pizza. I sent out a proclamation (text message) that the first one to bring me a pizza should therefore win the golden ticket to living the high school dream. And, I kid you not, no less than thirty seconds later this girl responds with: "Done. What kind?" And that, dear Hungary, is how you score a free deep-dish pizza--on a Thursday, no less. # Miracle accomplished (*Cue Whitney Huston with The Prince of Egypt soundtrack in the background*)
 
    Reason two: I had the squad over for a Cinderella watching party and it was O so fabulous. Of course there was lots of popcorn involved (hopefully this isn't too surprising considering papa's infatuation with it. I'm pretty sure that as long as I live, there will always be a bucket full of popcorn kernels stored somewhere in this house...So at least we'll never starve....) But the reason I mention this popcorn is because apparently one of our friends was feeling the need to be a little extra adventurous and convinced me to try putting cinnamon in the popcorn. So I let him have a separate bowl so we could test it out. Now I could try to tell you how the flavors combined with so magical a union that the salty and the sweet made for an exquisitely decadent melding pot of flavor on your tongue, or I could attempt to convey to you the way the unexpected burst of that extra-dimensional season made it seem like perfection had found its way into your mouth, guided by the delicate-fairy wings of coconutty goodness, but I fear this would be under-exaggerated so poorly that you would simply never trust me. In short, though, I must tell you that it was delicious.
    But of course popcorn wasn't the only thing good about the party. I mean it was Cinderella for crying out loud! And you of all people should know how much I love me a good fairy-tale. Mostly it was good because of the people. After everyone else left, that one popcorn-genius friend stayed after a bit later so he could finish the story he'd been telling me. Only...suddenly I realized that that story had been finished about an hour ago and we were still just talking.
   I've never really done that with a guy before. Talked, I mean; not in the way we talked--about anything and everything, about what we wanted to do when we grew up and where we were going in life and what we were passionate about and our hopes and dreams and aspirations. It was the strangest thing but it felt really natural, and it's always been hard for me to tell those sorts of things to people before. And I know this sounds crazy and like I'm head over heals for this guy, which I decidedly am NOT, but I feel like...like that was a good experience for me to practice communicating better.  I don't really known if you will ever read these posts, but I hope you skipped over this one. Sometimes I just need a way to channel my feelings, so I'm sorry if that was a bit over-dramatic or too school-girl romantic of me. You'll just have to promise to give me some leeway here. After all, a year and a half is a long time for a girl to be without her sister.
     That's all for today. I guess I'll talk to you later.
 
      Love America

Of the Rich and Famous:

Hey, Hungary!
      This week I've got kind of a crazy story for you. (Okay, so I might say that every week, but that's just because life is unexpected and strange, but it's an adventure worth having.)
      It all started about a year ago when the parentals were out of town and I stayed the weekend with sister Boo. After church, we'd gone over to her friend's apartment to hang out and make wantons. Well, as this party was all going down, another on of her friends formulated an evil plan: she had a younger brother my age, and apparently he was pretty stinking cute, which could only mean one thing--that he and I should go out!

Daniel Lissing. A very attractive actor man.

       Naturally, I laughed it off and thought nothing of it over the next year. Until one night when I am at the opening season football game. [I may or may not have gone with the intent to watch that one James Marsden / Sean Farris guy we discussed in an earlier post...]           And I get a text.

" Hey, You don't know me, but I'm [Daniel Lissing]. My sister is really good friends with your sister and she wanted me to say hi, so hi!" 

So, that happened.

Of course, I was baffled. And nervous. And kind of all together really just in a weird state of dazed bewilderment. So, being the tactful, social being that I am, I consulted my pals. Friend Franson texted back, but I felt like it was too formal (I was also being very over-analytical), so I wrote back something that I thought would be a better, but after reading that I still wasn't satisfied. And so, after almost three hours of him not texting back, I sent a better explanation/introduction, having come to the assumed conclusion that he was never gonna speak to me again because I was a raving lunatic (I'm actually not sure if this is false. I am a little crazy.) 

        AHhaha! but the story continues! Because he texted back! ....And we've sort of been talking ever since. (Except he has a real problem with responding, so it takes him anywhere from an hour to twenty-four hours to reply, but I've just come to the conclusion that that's just how he is.)  

    

         (Is this dramatic enough yet? Aparently it wasn't, because we gon' throw in a plot twist. Brace yourself.)Two days after the initial introduction, Quanne randomly texts me with, "Um, remember that guy? I think he's rich and famous!" 

      PAUSE. wat? This was a plot twist I was clearly not prepared for. So we did some stalking (not actual; just facebook etc). And we found two pages under the same name: one for a normal guy, the other for a famous pianist. Only, they had the same face. *me looking at the fb pages: Did that actually just transpire?

       Yes. Only, I couldn't just leave it to that to tell me. I had to make sure. So casually, remembering he'd said he liked to play piano (but not having realized the significance at the time), I asked him how long he'd been playing. From that point, there was no concealing anything. He told me everything: how he liked to compose his own music and that he'd even released an album last fall! 

        IT WAS HIM. HE WAS RICH AND FAMOUS. This was my chance to marry into money. (Only I'd never do that.)   I have to admit, talking to him now was a little more intimidating, until I realized he was just a normal kid like everyone else, so then it wasn't weird anymore. 

        But it was still invariably exciting and I thought I should tell you about it. Also, it's great because we've got this running joke about school because I love English and he hates it, where as he loves Math and I hate that, so we've decided to switch places whenever we have a test. But when I got to school today, I realized I had a Math quiz I'd completely forgotten about; at the same time of this realization, I saw a text from him asking how my day was going and stuff like that so I told  him about the quiz. He replies, "Oh no, why didn't you give me a heads up?" (Which kinda made me really happy because I thought he was just gonna ignore our pact) Later, after I took the quiz and informed  him that I'd aced it, (after our mini celebration moment) he said, "So I've been growing my hair out for nothing?!" And basically I just laughed and my day was fabulous from then on. 

        Whelp. That's really all I have to tell you this time. Just that I have an almost (but like not really even close to, but that's what I'm calling him because I want to) boyfriend. A rich and famous boyfriend. (Yes, the parents know. No, he's not a real boyfriend. Stop being weird.) So. Pretty exciting, right?!         Ok, thanks for humoring me. I love you.

          Love, America

P.S. I checked out his music. It's incredible. Just in case you were wondering. 

Sunday Lessons:

Hey, Hungary!
      I just wanted to tell you about my day and how good our YW lesson was. We talked about Individual Worth and learning to know what being a daughter of God means. It was combined, of course, because it was the first Sunday, and I'm really glad because I felt like this was a lesson everyone needs to hear.
       Sister Penrod started by showing us this box she'd brought with her. She said she'd brought a picture of someone very special, but that before she showed us she wanted to tell us about them first. So she began to list off some attributes: "This person was sent to build God's kingdom on earth; this person is a born leader; this person is endowed with power from on high; someone others want to live up to; someone who is powerful; someone who can change the world; this person has many spiritual gifts; they stood tall and valiant in the sight of God; they are royalty; someone whom I love."
      At the end of this, she had us each come up and take a look in her box so we could see who she was talking about. By this time, I'm sure you've already figured that there was a mirror in the box, so that when we looked into it we saw a reflection of ourselves. But the really cool thing was that she had listed all of these Christlike attributes so that by the time the girls got up to see the mirror, they could really see how they reflected Christ, which was over all just a beautiful moment.
       After this, she showed a Mormon Message President Uchtdorf had done about the ugly duckling and how, in everybody else's eyes he was different and bad, but when he noticed his own worth was much greater he became a "majestic" swan. (Click the link for the full video.)
      But probably the reason why I most wanted to write this post today was because of this quote she shared with us, which I really felt to resonate with me.

I really liked this quote because I feel like not enough people (even some of those who are in the church) don't really understand this as well as they should. It reminds me of the "in the world, not of the world" motto. The parts about being tender and refined really stuck out to me as being qualities to emulate, and I hope I can be better at doing these. It kind of reminds you of Mom, doesn't it?

    I think it's wonderful how knowing who you are blesses you by giving you confidence to know that Heavenly Father loves you and is looking out for you and that it doesn't matter what the world thinks of you anymore because you're only focused on the Lord. 

     Another thing I wanted to mention was about Mission Prep this morning. I was teaching with someone who wasn't in our ward, so it was a new experience for me to not be going off of what the person said because I was comfortable enough around them to just say whatever I wanted, but really listening to the Spirit to know what to say. It was a special experience as we taught a lady who had a daughter that wasn't making the choices she probably should have. But as we were talking, my companion shared an insight that was, I think, as a result of a prompting, because the woman got really emotional and you could feel the spirit very powerfully. Even though it wasn't a real appointment or lesson, it was a good testament that the gospel really can help in our lives and that Heavenly Father knows us and cares about us.

     Alright, well that's all for this post. Thanks for the example of service and love; it means a lot. 

Love, America.

Jackie Chan and Why I Need Therapy:

Hey, Hungary!
       (So, basically you've already read this story from my email. This is mostly for some friends that read this and also so we can remember this incident as a teaching moment. Also, probably so we can look back on it and laugh after all psychiatrist's bills have been payed off.)

So outside of the normal birthday adventures of Jacqui poo (sorry bout the language)  and I going to the Cafe Rio, Jackie Chan brought me over the gift to end all gifts. And that's "end"as in I might never want another present in my life. 

      Ok so once upon a time, Jackie Chan shows up at our house with a birthday present. Thinking this was totally normal, it WAS my birthday after all, I took the package and began to open it. Only, I start to hesitate because through the wrinkling of the wrapping paper I can hear her whisper, "Don't sleep with it."

             ...This is something you DO NOT want to hear while opening a present from a close friend. (The "close" part is crucial because if it's just a friend/acquaintance then it's probably something normal and you can just laugh and move on. If it's a close friend, however, they will feel no qualms about being unbearably mischievous.)

          Now a little unnerved, I resume opening the package. 

         It  moved. 

                And then it....... giggled. It wasn't even a cute giggle either. It was the kind of giggle you absolutely don't want to hear when you're alone and it's three in the morning. 

      I think it's safe to say that I was a little bit completely creeped out by this point. But I'd already started the unwrapping ritual and she was waiting for my reaction. And so bravely I forged on. 

    When at last the paper came off, the present was starting at me. You know, the don't-blink-because-I'll-creep-up-on-you-in-the-night-and-haunt-your-dreams-even-when-you're-not-sleeping kind of stare. 

      It was a baby doll with a face of a Satan cherub, complete with mechanical moving legs so it can come sneak up on you along with the built in motion sensor so it can know when your parents are around and turn back into a "doll" and mindlessly giggle the sad tale of your fate. 

     I swear, there's a special kind of insane asylum for people who've owned these things.   EVERY time you move it giggles. EVERY TIME. 

Which leads me to my next topic of discussion: who do you want to get revenge (aka pranks) on? ! 

Um. ..So have a lovely week. Hope we're all alive and sane when we next hear from you. 

Love, America

Second Best Day of the Year:

Hey, Hungary!
   (You realize I only say "second" best because obviously Christmas comes first.)

So! It was ma burrfday this week. It's official. I can now legally do magic outside of school! And if it were not considered impolite, I definitely would be disapperating all around the house.
       Also, apparently I'm super popular because my phone kept going off all morning. (Literally all morning, like starting at midnight.)
        And then when I went to sleep, I had this dream that Micah and David and the kiddos were over (and you were home) and JJ found your mascara and started putting it on and you were all, "Jeannine! ....let's go do your make-up." And as you took her away the phone started ringing except that was in real life and I woke up and it was Micah calling to sing happy birthday with Jeannie to me.
    It was so super cute! And then after they were done singing, Jeannie went to go play and all through the rest of the phone call you could hear Jeannie in the background going, "Happy birthday....BECCA! Happy birthday to...beCCA! Happy ...day...BECCA!" And, boy, if that wasn't the cutest thing ever, I don't know what is.
   The parents made some German pancakes for breakfast, which was super nice. (I could kinda hear them upstairs and I dreamt they were making hashbrowns but they wouldn't work so they made it into potato casserole instead.)
  Then later in the day, Natalie came to kidnap me to lunch. We couldn't decide where to go so we were driving around and then suddenly she says, "Oh! I know what we're gonna do!"
     Build a Bear. We went to Build a Bear. We built a bear. We also (after) proceeded to the restaurant and sat them next to us in their fancy carry-out cardboard coloring boxes. We also consulted Josh (our super hilarious server dude at the California Pizza Kitchen) as to what Natalie's bear's name should be. 

      And get this: half of our meal was like totally FREE! They gave us a free ice cream sundae (for because it was my burrfday and the Build a Bear people had given me a burrfday sticker) and also Natalie signed up for their rewards thing because we could get a free appetizer. (Look at us being all savy.)   

     And then after that super cool adventure, we came back to our house and ate cake and ice cream while coloring on our boxes and listening to the tunes. It was FABULOUS. #bestest burrfday ever. 

(His name is Cap)

And then on Wednesday, Jacqui and I went out to the Cafe of Rio (as she calls it) and drove over to Rotary Park and had a fun little birthday picnic. It was so nice of her! She really is wonderful and basically the bestest cousin ever. She drew me this cutest card. 

Basically I had the best birthday. Thanks for listening, and I hope everything is well over there. Don't forget to eat extra cake for me.

Love, America.

Trek Journals:

Hey, Hungary!
    I told you a little about trek already, but I wanted a place to keep the journal entries I'd written, and since I'd only told you a little, I figured this would be good in case you wanted the deets.

June 18, 2015
     Today was long, but it was good. There were some big hills we had to go down. They called it "Gravel Hill" which is easy enough to figure since there were some crazy rocks we would have to sand-surf down. I was so scared we would lose control of the cart and tumble down, but we all pulled equally enough that the handcart made it down without any troubles. I guess it just goes to show that in the gospel pulling your weight along with the ward family goes a long way with helping each other make it home again.
      We were all so tired when the camp finally came into view, but we still had to cross the river. When we got to the water's edge, bishop had us gather in a circle and he gave us a devotional and read some accounts of the Martin/Willie river crossings. It wasn't anything I hadn't heard before, but suddenly, as we sat on the brink of crossing our own river, it all became so much more real. It seemed as though I could feel the fatigue of all of those saints crossing the freezing rivers and I felt the great appreciation for those men and boys who stayed in all day to help the others across. I was really impressed by the spirit of goodwill and service that really embodied the pioneers. It was a very spiritual experience. 
       Our river, in contrast to those crossed before, only rose a few inches above my ankles and was barely colder than room temperature. I was almost disappointed that we didn't get the full experience, but I could just imagine the trials of the others and I counted myself lucky despite all of it. 
      Then we came into camp and, an hour or so later, had a hot dinner of pulled pork, corn, and watermelon. Again we were so much more blessed than the real pioneers. We danced the Virginia Reel and had a fireside where actors told the stories of miracles that took place here nearly 200 years ago because of the faith of the people. I was amazed by it all. After "Singing in the Sage" (a creative twist on "Singing in the Trees" from girl's camp) we headed off to our beds. 
      I was so glad to e lying down and finally be able to rest. And then I woke up from the cold several, several times during the night even though I had a shirt, a sweatshirt, leggings, pajama pants, and a heavy sleeping bag on. It got so cold I, at one point, thought to myself, "It's so cold I'm freezing to death!" But at that moment I almost gasped at my being so inconsiderate. I began thinking of all of those  that had come before, had slept where I then slept, in the middle of the winter no less, and actually had frozen to death. 
     If anything it was a very humbling experience to get me out of my spoiled attitude. I though to myself that no matter how bad I think things are, others had it much much worse.

June 19, 2015
      We have just finished the women's pull and now I am sitting on top of a mountain surrounded by my ward family. 
      It was intimidating at the beginning. We watched the men walk away and we were left alone. Only, we weren't really alone. I had my sisters with me and I had Mama Kandell with me, but more than that we had the pioneer spirit with us. 
      I admit, at first, I had wanted to take the spot on the handcart that took the least amount of work because I was afraid of the difficulty that might come. And then I thought to myself, "It doesn't matter where you are--you've got to get your family to the top of this hill, so where ever you are, pull with all you've got."
      Before we began (and before the men left) there'd been a priesthood prayer that we would have the spirits of those that had been on the trail before us and that if it would be Heavenly Father's will that we could see angels. I imagined what it would be like to see an angel. But as we reached that hill there were numerous angels around me: they were my sisters pulling beside me; they were teh women like Mama Kandell who helped the other carts because we had one more person than everyone else; they were even the men off to the side who encouraged us without words or pulling, but by the simple act of holding their hands (and hats) over their hearts as we passed. And then there was one man at the head of the hill standing as silent as the others, only he was not covering his heart for us. Instead, he was dressed in an all-white temple suit and stood as a representative of all who had gone before. I wondered at first whether or not he was an actual angel until I saw his stake dog-tag peaking out from his suit. And that was the moment I knew that angels weren't always on the other side of the veil.

They told us this story in the women's devotional before we headed out of a woman who joined the church after her cousin back in England introduced it to her. After a few weeks on the trail she became upset because she was so weak but she desperately wanted to walk all the way to Zion. Well, she stayed strong and walked the 1000 miles and when the Martin/Willie rescuers came and she saw it was someone she had known back in England, she went up to him and recorded later in her journal that he burst into tears when he saw her. When she asked why, he said, "Because you look so hungry and the food wagons are still another week away." But he gave her an onion and instead of keeping it to herself, she took it to another man who was almost passing away.
      This story really impressed me with the true character of the pioneers. There wasn't a member of their company that didn't wholly serve all those around them. They were nothing unless selfless. And they gave up everything all for the love of their God. I only wish I could have that strength.

Earlier today we were going up a hill and dad was coming up from behind and said to the Kandells, "I just wanted to make sure my girl was pulling her weight." (But it was jokingly, like he does) and then Papa Kandell said, "Oh yes. She's a monster." And Mama Kandell added, "A bright, beautiful monster."  And in my head I was like, "But she wore it wonderfully well." (Which, of course, is from Cinderella.) And then we made it to the top of one of the hill and everyone started shouting and cheering because we made it and all I could think was "Hurrah! Hurrah for Israel!" 

Because Sometimes Life:

Hey, Hungary!
 
      Okay, so I've got a joke for you this week: what do you call a lot of high school drama that's all really one-sided and it's just your friends making everything complicated? Oh, wait. Not a joke. It's my life.
     Remember there was that one time with that one boy and the Monya and Jackie Chan were bugging him about taking me out? Well he hasn't asked yet and they're now bugging me because I'm in love with a "jerk". But I'm like so what if it's been two weeks? He says he's too busy (which is true since he's got an internship and finals week and he's been sick).
     Okay, so "busy". Even though I believe that he is busy, it feels like avoidance. Which is actually fine with me because you know how I am in social situations, and I've started overthinking again and now I'm like "NEVER talk to people ever again!" and going into full introvert mode. And it's not like I'm in love with him. I like him; he's attractive and nice, but it's not like we're gonna get married, so I don't really care that much that he's busy.
      But I still wanted to be friends, though. And I finally got up the courage to write my phone number in his yearbook...except for he skipped out on yearbook day so I didn't even see him. Lame. And then again it was actually a good thing I didn't give him my number because shortly after yearbook day my phone had a brain spasm and is now quite dead.
      And now it is summer.
     Beautiful summer where I don't have to talk to boys and don't have to care about school and drama, which I didn't even know was a thing a little over a month ago. And so I am left in a blissful ignorance.
   Sorry this was a short (and somewhat ridiculous) post; I'll write more later when my life is interesting again. But, hey, thanks for listening (or reading or whatever).
   
   Love America

It Must be Destiny...

Hey, Hungary!

So here's what's up:
       Once upon a time James Marsden (see left) went to our high school under the alias of...um...well that's not important. What's really important was that some times he actually TALKED TO ME and I even had the nerve to talk back! And then as time went on, I realized I had developed a sizable crush on him. The only problem was he was way out of my league; and I mean WAY out.

       So I kept my silence, always knowing that it would probably never work out for us, but always secretly hoping it could. This, as you well may know, can be very trying on a girl's emotions. Especially when one day he comes into class and says, "I'm so excited for prom!" and of course my best friend and I had to pretend to be happy and excited for him. And even though he asked some girl who was practically four feet shorter than he is and it probably was so awkward for them to dance and he totally should have asked me, I actually was happy for him to be excited to go with this girl (who really is a very lovely person) because he was being really cute about it. 

      And then more time passed and he went to prom with this lovely girl, and that's not even mentioning her being a sophomore, and that was an end to it. I still liked saying hi to him in the halls and talking sometimes in class. And then one day everything changed. 

      One day our brother went to his brother's wedding reception. The next morning our brother came and said to me, "So I was talking to [James Marsden] at the reception and he said he thinks you're really funny and had him laughing really hard the other day." My ears perked. I couldn't show too much interest because I hadn't yet told Mother of my crush on him and she was listening in from the kitchen. And then Brother kept talking: "And he said that you're pretty and he might ask you out." WAIT, WHAT?! Controlling my inner freak-out session, I just brushed it off with a smile and half laugh, and as Brother walked away, I slipped into my bedroom to properly freak out. [JAMES MARSDON] might ASK ME OUT?!!! (EEEEK!!!) 

       After about a day's time, I began to realize that his saying that might be all there was to it. After all, he'd been known to say things like that just to move a conversation along before. But somewhere deep inside I tucked the possibility away just for something to think back on now and again. 

       The next problem in this situation was that I had told our Monya about him. She subsequently told our Jackie Chan, who is nefarious for being bold enough to just walk up to guys and ask them their views on her friends. I, sadly, was naive enough to think she wouldn't do anything to harmful. Boy, was I wrong. As our Monya and I were watching Phantom the other day, she casually leans over and says, "Oh and by the way, Jackie Chan asked [James Marsden] if he was gonna ask you out and said that you really liked him." Yes. She ACTUALLY spoke those words. To his face. Cue dramatic "Noooo"from inside my head. 

        So much for my so called best friends. Besides, I'm pretty sure the first rule of high school is not to let your crush know you like them. But it's okay because James quickly took command of the situation (or so I am told) by saying he "really wanted to go out with me"! So that made things a little better. Besides, the more I thought about it, the more I was okay that Jackie Chan told him I liked him, even if I hadn't wanted her to to begin with. Because, why would I care that he knew if it's true? Honesty is the best policy, right? I don't know. We'll see, I guess. And even if this goes no where, (which I'm sure it will) at least we started out with that. So in a way I guess I'm grateful.
        But the thing is, Jackie Chan doesn't like to just leave things be. They keep pestering him. Today they asked him if he was going to ask me out and he said, "I just need some time!" which both makes me excited for the possibility again but also made me sad because I feel like they might be pestering him too much although it's just fun and games too them.
        I only hope he doesn't think I'm putting them up to the pestering. He might think I'm too aggressive (which if you've read any part of this post you'd see that wasn't true) or that I'm clingy or obsessive or some junk like that. I just want everything to start on a clean slate.

Well, that's it for now. I'll update you again if something actually happens. Sorry I went all boy-crazy school girl on you there. I can be a little dramatic sometimes. But, hey, it's high school.

Talk to you soon,
          Love America.


P.S. You know what? I think I changed my mind. Maybe he's not James Marsdon. Maybe he's more of a Sean Faris (below). Or, I don't know. Choose some attractive actor and go with that. 

Off to the Empty Sea (MTC):

Hey, Hungary!
(I know it's been a while since you actually left for the MTC, but I haven't written a post since then so I figured this could count.) Life around here has seemed a lot slower since you left. It's definitely a lot quieter. Most days when Dad is at work and Mom is out running errands and I'm all alone, I often find my self being grateful I'm not truly an only child. I think big families are such lovely things! Certainly they are very loving and that's practically the same, if not a great deal better.
     I think about you a lot and always hope you are having a splendid time learning the language and serving. I also miss you a lot, but don't worry because I know you're not gonna be gone forever and you'll be home before we know it.
     Something kinda cool happened over spring break that I didn't actually tell you about. Megs made me read this book called "The Wednesday Wars" so that she would read one of my romances. I was really skeptical about it at first because it wasn't quite my style, but as I got reading, it turned out to be a really good family book set in the 60's. Anyway, the cool thing I wanted to tell you about was that closer to the end of the book the main character, Holling's, sister runs off to California to "find herself" and they have to deal with her being gone. This was good for me because I didn't exactly know how to cope with you being gone, and it taught me how to be OK with being alone. Here's a couple of the paragraphs that really touched me:
       "Maybe the first time that you know you really care about something is when you think about it not being there, and when you know--you really know--that the emptiness is as much inside you as outside you. For it falls out, that what we have we prize not to the worth whiles we enjoy it; but being lacked and lost, why, then we rack the value, then we fine the firtue that possession would not show while it was ours. That's when I knew I really did love my sister.
       And then something happens and his sister decides to come back home and there is a description of how he feels and I may or may  not have cried during the whole chapter just because I really do love you. And in that moment when she arrives home, this is exactly what I imagined you coming home would be like (and don't worry about the coke stuff; that's got sentimental meaning from earlier in the book):
      "Think of the sound you make when you let go after holding your breath for a very, very long time. Think of the gladdest sound you know: the sound of dawn on the first day of spring, the sound of a bottle of Coke opening, the sound of a crowd cheering in your ears becasue you're coming down the last part of the race--and you're ahead. Think of the sound of water over stones in a cold stream, and the sound of wind through green trees on a late May afternoon in Central Park. Think of the sound of a bus coming into the station carrying someone you love. Then put all those together."
....Um, so really all I'm trying to say is that I love you. And that I miss you. But I am also glad for you to be on your mission and to be able to serve the Hungarian people. (Sorry for all the mush stuff, I just needed to get some feelings out. Also sorry that you can't experience the full strength of these paragraphs without reading the whole book. And sorry that I mumbled on about books even though you don't even get books. Sorry.) Anyway, good luck and hurrah for Israel!
Love America.