T minus less than one month

So, as August quickly approaches, I find myself getting more and more and more stressed! Life is getting busy, and there are lots of triggers for stress in my life right now! But there are some things that are keeping a smile on my face.

1. My Bishop's willingness to act as my wing man, and his willingness to let me cry in his office. Haha.

2. This text from the EQP: "Maybe we should get together just to censure each other." So true!

3. This recent poem from EBish.

Oh Natalie, Oh Natalie,

What rhymes with Natalie?

Perhaps fatality, or even Maternity,

How about profanity, or the word calamity?

I know I'd suffer insanity, if it wasn't for Natalie.

Well, life is crazy! But there's always that silver lining!

My job

I don't always love working at the MTC. But now, with only nine days of employment at the good old MTC Bookstore left, I am trying to enjoy it as much as I can.

Two things I am loving right now:

1. WAYNE is in the MTC! He and his wife came in on Monday and have been coming in every morning to say hi and yes, buy some candy to tide them over during class. The other morning I was selling Wayne some Mentos, and for some reason we were talking about the accuracy of body scanners at the airport, and he told me very simply, in his own soft spoken manner, "Well, the Israelis use dogs. That's why they're better than us." Okay then!

2. There is an Elder, we'll call him Elder Payne, who has somehow decided he is very good friends with me and Lexi. He was delayed a week due to the fact that he had to have surgery on his nasal passageway. The day after his surgery, the mail room delivered a note addressed to "the Bookstore employees, Lexi and Natalie. "

"Surgery went well thanks for the well wishes I'll be by thursday when I'm coherent

Elder Payne"

That poor Elder! He did come in later when he was coherent, but first he came in when I'm not so sure he was coherent.

The joys of our employment.

Must Read

The Day the Babies Crawled Away

I just read this picture book, and loved it! I had read another book by this author and loved it, and I was a little confused about this book just from reading the title, but the illustrations are beautiful and the text is fun and charming. Read it!

A Tribute

Happy birthday to one of the most hilarious people I know: my Asian brother, Mark.

My favorite presidents...sorta.

Sometimes I forget how much I love the movie Dave. Also, I'm frequently surprised by how much I love the character of Dave. Man! I love him as president of the United States!

My love for Dave, however, is often challenged by my love for President Whitmore in Independence Day...

A Good Boss

Up until this week, Wayne was the store manager at the MTC Bookstore. I love Wayne; he's kind of like that boss you have who acts as a sort of grandfather. He and his wife are going to serve a mission, which is awesome, but I'll miss him! Things I will miss about Wayne include his corny jokes (A jumper cable walks into a bar. The bar tender says, "Hey. Don't start anything"), his random little jobs (putting bar codes on chopsticks, cleaning old binders), the fact that he is my wing man, and the fact that he indulges some of our whims(National Donut Day, random pizza days).

This picture was taken on one of his last days--he took us to see the new bookstore that is currently under construction. We got in trouble because we weren't wearing the proper footwear, but Wayne gave us the tour anyway (since neither he nor I will be around in the fall to see the finished product!).

My Father's Day Book Pick: Big Russ & Me

It is really so good. If you love your father (which I do, and you should), you will identify with this book. The things Tim Russert says about his own father will resonate inside you, and you will be filled with overwhelming love and appreciation for your father, your mother, and those who had a hand in raising you to be the person you are today.

If you don't love your father (shame on you), this book will help you learn to love the person your father is. I know it sounds weird, because it's a book about someone else's dad, but I truly think this book is amazing.

I loved, loved, loved this book. Maybe it won't change your life, but it changed mine for the better! My dad introduced me to this book :)

My Best Friend's Wedding

It was beautiful and wonderful and I am SO happy for Brad and Karlee! I love them both so much. I love them so much I cried all through the little tribute I tried to give at their wedding luncheon (I am my father's daughter :)! They are perfect for each other and I wish them the best in the years to come!


The night before the wedding reception, at our makeshift Bachelor/Bachelorette party...yeah....we went to Maverick...


Haley, Karlee, and me at the reception. It's too bad Janna couldn't be there, but we're so glad she's happy in London!


Don't they look so happy? I love it!


I love her so much. I am so grateful for all the support she has given to me throughout the years. Her friendship means so much to me! And she looked absolutely beautiful!