gradgeyashin!

finally online for your viewing pleasure:

graduation photos

april 23/24 2009

BYU provo, ut

i heart this picture

two of my greatest loves:

my husband and my honda

:)

Lately I've been...

Lately I've been. . .
Feeling Nostalgic

Today is Pioneer Day! But there is nary a handcart or a bonnet in sight, here in central Illinois. I miss Utah. (did I just say that?) Yes, I do. I miss the mountains and I miss my friends. I miss being closer to family. I miss being able to walk to the temple. And being able to drive to California in a day. I miss being in the place where I made so many wonderful memories. I miss celebrating pioneers and the countless sacrifices they made for us.


Lately I've been. . .
Thinking About Life

I've been reading The Screwtape Letters, by C.S. Lewis. I don't particularly like how people quote him as if he were a prophet (because he's not), but I do appreciate his immense talent for writing and his insights on life and God. Its an interesting and thought-provoking read.
But more than this is the pondering I've been doing about: who I am and who I want to become, what life is all about and the purpose of it...and why I believe what I believe. All of these questions have come about because I left the bubble. Now we no longer live in 'Mormon world'... I had forgotten what it was like to be frequently questioned about my beliefs. I've gotten a lot of questions recently. And I've been praying to be able give the right answers.
Here is what I've learned:
1. It pays to just be brave and be honest, no matter what.
2. The Spirit can put words in your mouth when you don't know what to say.
3. I definitely, without a doubt, know that the Church is true.


Lately I've been . . .
Loving My Husband
This picture is one I took in Florence. (wow, that was a romantic trip) We've been going on bike rides together, enjoying the beauty of this green Illinois summer. I am so thankful for a wonderful man who serves me. He is constantly thinking of me, doing kind things for me, and making sacrifices for me. I love him because he leaves me notes with scripture verses on them. I love him because he calls 5 days in advance to ask me on a date (be ready at 7!). I love him because he waits up for me to get home from work so we can eat ice cream together. I love him because he is so supportive and keeps me going every day.


Lately I've Been. . .
Learning Stuff
I guess that's good, right? Jonny and I talk about how sometimes we feel like our brains are completely saturated, that nothing else can fit inside. I heard someone say once that "the more you learn, the more you realize that you still have a lot to learn" (or something like that). Anyway, I'm definitely feeling that right now. I'm learning stuff at my job (Its going much better, by the way), and I'm learning A LOT of stuff at school. But I also know that I have so far to go! I love learning and expanding and growing. But sometimes growth hurts. . .Because things (in this case, me) have to be stretched to their limit, or broken down and then built up again, stronger.


Lately I've Been. . .
Longing for Someone
Meet Ollie. He needs a good home. I've become crazy looking at Petfinder.com because I want a dog so much! But I can't have one. Almighty Landlord says no. Remember our fish? His name was Agua. And sadly, he joined the ranks of the brave fish swimming in heavenly toilets. Now we are petless... and I am fighting off the urge to have a companion, to nurture something, to feel some sort of lifeform in our apartment (the mold on the sour cream lid doesn't count). Just kidding! But for real... isn't he cute? I know, I know, I'm just scratching a proverbial itch that cannot be remedied. (at least for now)

My First Night

(thanks for the image court.)

Things I Learned:

• its a lot harder than it looks
• 'busy' is a relative term (personally, I thought the place was hoppin' for a thursday night. but more seasoned servers laughed at my stressed-outedness)
  
• a platter comes with 2 sides, a basket comes with 1.
  
• whoever designed the computer menu system for Applebees was seriously scatterbrained (and that adjective is generous)
  
• contrary to my previous belief, i am not that good at multi-tasking (please juggle 6 tables on your first night. thank you very much.)
  
• i don't know anything
  
• "weight watchers points are VERY serious" (requesting absolutely NO butter on her broccoli...she tips her sunglasses and narrows her eyes at me as if I have some evil scheme to drench her trees in lard and trick her into eating them)
  
• "an MGD"="a Genuine"="Miller Genuine Draft" (seriously, people. i know NOTHING about alcohol. that's not an exaggeration. its time to get educated.)
  
• its a lot harder than it looks
  
• to a cute old man, giving me a 5% tip with a smile probably feels the same as pressing a piece of 10-cent gum in my hand and giving me a pat on the head
  
• some lady had the nerve to tell me (after requesting 3 different drinks, proclaiming each one "disgusting") that she didn't like her 7 oz house sirloin steak after all, and would take the rest home to her dog.
  
• its a lot harder than it looks (did i say that one already?)

I forgot...

I forgot how much I love SUMMER. This week I went to the pool (at the campus gym). (For the first time. . . in a looooong time.)
Yes, i got a major sunburn.

I love:
-sunny days
-getting tan lines
-the smell of sunscreen
-walking on hot pavement
-wearing sunglasses
-sweating in the sun
-jumping in cold water
-floating on my back
-chlorine in my skin
-laying/dripping on a towel
-warm flip flops
-riding my bike
-my hair wind-drying

If only I could have those things every day...then it would be a REAL summer!
Unfortunately, life beckons. (school, clinic, work, budgets, laundry, groceries, yadda yadda yadda)

73% and other whimsies

I only have 6 things left on my list !!
Which means I have done 16/22= 73%. That's pretty good. I still have 2.5 months left. I think I can pull it off.
I like lists. (If you haven't noticed.) Goals and lists keep me on track, motivated, productive.


I love the sky here. I DO miss the mountains and the valley. Don't get me wrong. Every day I miss the dryness and the sunshine. But the vast, vast sky is gorgeous. And HUGE. It lasts forever. If I drive out of the city for 5 minutes (literally), into the corn fields...all around me, I can see to the horizon.
Tonight we had the sister missionaries over for dinner (they are serving in our ward). Sometimes it is strange for me to think about. They could be older than me. Ha! But it was fun. I love the spirit they bring into our home. AND I made a red velvet cake...with cream cheese frosting. yum.
I've been thinking a lot about Kuwait recently. ('cause of this) And I finally found this OLD picture on my computer. Love ya, family! Miss you. (And dad, I miss that long ole mustache)
PS. I am TINY! PS2. No, we didn't really dress like that. It was just for the picture. PS3. I love all of our "trying to be serious" faces.

Rainy Fourth and The Bee.

Just thought I'd give an update of our lives real quick.

• Grad school is not for wimps. I think we both feel as if we've been cruising along doing fine- and just this week- the ground beneath us took a steep downhill right quick. Everything is picking up speed, and we are running, tripping, sweating, reaching, trying to keep up. Everyone says its worth it. I hope they are right! We're in for the long haul.

(the picture below IS blurry- its not your eyes. life is just flying by so fast, we can't even get a decent shot.)

• Our Fourth of July was great, as always. But different than how I remember. This is how my memory goes:

-pancake breakfast at church
-the pledge of allegiance
-swimming and/or running in the sprinklers
-watching a parade
-sweating in the sun
-barbecue smells
-bare feet on hot pavement
-cold, sticky popsicles
-sparklers in the cul-de-sac at dusk
-spreading a blanket in the cool grass
-eating greasy, fingerlickin' good food with my family
-laying on my back to see the fireworks
-saying "oooh, ahhh"
-staying up late
-falling asleep to the sound of bottlerockets




This year...we still had the greasy, fingerlickin' good food. But that's about it. It poured (I mean cold, relentless, flooding-the-streets rain) ALL DAY LONG. The city was forced to cancel all of their fun events. (a freedom 5k, downtown parade, fireworks at the community college, bandstand in a park)
We still got together with our awesome neighbors and ate good food, played guitar hero and watched the cute kids run a muck (being stuck inside all day is hard for them too). We managed a few sparklers in a misty pause during the downpour. Then we came home and watched Starwars.


But I will say this, traditional day or not- I am thankful for our country. And for the countless people who have sacrificed to keep us free. Happy Birthday, America!

• Oh the Bee. As if we are not busy enough, I decided lately that it was high time I got a job. Extra cash is always necessary and appreciated for starving students such as myself. This week I was hired to work at Applebees as a server! I get to wear cute oldman no-slip tennis shoes and a T-shirt with minihamburgers on the back (which are not the least bit appetizing on cotton, lemme tell you.) I'm excited. I'll keep you posted on my adventures there, soon to come. I'm sure there will be many.

If any of you are in town, please drop by and eat good in the neighborhood at Applebees in Champaign, featuring carside service.
And for those of you who don't find yourself in central Illinois (aka all of you), please leave a big fat tip next time you go out to eat. Those servers are just kids like me, trying to catch a break. Thanks. ;)

• Lastly, lest you have begun to think that 1. our lives here are nothing but stress and disappointments, and that 2. I am nothing but an ungrateful pessimist, please read the following list of things I am very lucky to have at this time of craziness and transition:

• walks in the park
  
• bike rides
• fireflies at dusk
• free summer concerts
  
• phone calls and emails from family
• nice neighbors
• fun callings (him-YM, me-YW :) )
• the opportunity to learn
• new friends
• a great campus gym
• student loans
• ice cream
  
• my ever supportive, hard-working husband