Happy Birthday...

...to the woman who birthed me.

I decided if I made this post too serious it would feel more like a memorial, and you are not dead, so serious just didn't feel right... So just be excited to keep reading.

Look at what you started:



and remember that this picture is old and there are 2 more children that should be in the picture.

I've learned a lot from you over the past 20 years and I don't think a blog post could really cover it all, especially because I'm still finding new things that I didn't realize I knew how to do but that you taught me. Since being at college I've realized just how much I could do that I learned from you, or from watching you. Here is a very short list of things:

1. I can do dishes. And I like doing dishes. And I hate when dishes are not done right after a meal. And I will not go to sleep until the dishes are done. (my roommates really like that too)

2. It's always fun to have a stack of books to read, even if you have no time to be reading (it was sad sending my stack of books to myself last week. Now they're just sitting at your house in a box)

3. I knew more about cooking than I realized. This may come as a shock to you because I call you everytime I am cooking rice, or whenever I make Koolaid in tupperware bowl, but those are weird things to do. I know how to use a rice cooker (which I don't have here) and I normally make Koolaid in a pitcher which makes measuring the water much easier.

4. I LOVE going to the temple! This was a hard thing to realize before coming out to college, but since our temple is open all the time to walk-ins I have realized how much I LOVE it! I watched you go to the temple weekly for many many years, and now that's me too!

5. Laundry isn't too bad... unless you wait until you literally have no clothes left. That will inevitably be when everyone else is trying to do the laundry too. But seriously, I learned how to sort my clothes and how to start a washer (I have taught residents how to do these things, which is why I now have realized that I did learn that skill). I may need to call sometimes and ask if dryer sheets are important, but that's just at the end of a school year when I won't be doing laundry again and I don't want to buy a new package of dryer sheets.

6. Old dogs can learn new tricks. With a little assistance (from yours truly) you (the old dog) have a blog AND Facebook. And I talk to you on Facebook, which proves that you not only have it, but you use it. This principle (old dogs and new tricks) has also applied to me. I learned that the library (not the good ole HBLL, but the Law Library) can be my friend for studying. I think you recommended the library a few times to me when I wasn't able to focus much, but who knew it actually worked?!?!?!

And now the grand finale.

I've learned how much I like being at home. Seems funny, since for the past 2 years I haven't been home much, but that has helped me realize how much I like being at home. Your food tastes a lot better than mine, especially when I eat Trix and you eat Ham & Au Gratin Potatoes. :) Houses are a lot cozier than dorms (no offense to the beautiful buildings that are Heritage Halls, but your cinder block walls suck). I miss my piano, and your large collection of music. It beats my collection of EFY and pop books. So, get ready for the 3 hour drive to, and the 3 hour drive home from the airport... I'm comin home in 9 days!

Oh, and if possible... imagine me signing HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you.