Books for thought. . .

Adoption: it's about Love.

If you know me at all, you know i LOVE to read. If i get a good book in my hand i would rather do that than watch a movie or . . a lot of other things

When i was in junior high and high school i would stay up past my encourage bed time and incessitany listen to Cindy's nagging that went, "ELIZABETH, put that book down and turn off the light!!!" .. and after i wouldn't, she'd come in my room and flip the light off. Mind you, this was usually if my dad was working nights .. haha he was the lead discipliner in our family. So sometimes i would literally grab a flashlight (from out of my dad's truck) and read under my blanket. One night i stayed up the Entire night and read a whole book. Luckily the following day was a Saturday. There's just something about being taken into another world and imaging the scenery, feelings, time period, characters that i just love.

Cinda is in my ward and my adoptive aunt! She bought 2 books last week when she was in Nauvoo at their little "Deseret Book" and she lent them to me. The first one i read was about a Boston raised lady who was orphaned and sent to live with her Mormon aunt and uncle in Montrose, IL. The family was headed West to Zion because of the persecussion of the Saints. The family took their covered wagon and traveled through Mt. Pisgah, IA and Garden Grove, IA , two of the places on the Mormon Trail that i visited back in November. I felt so close to the girl as i imagined what these places looked like 150 years ago and what they hold now. It was neat to imagine and read of this fictional character and the Mormon pioneers. The story pointed out that each time a trial was faced, the Saints had faith and positive attitudes that they could get through it! This was a new and different twist, because usually when i think of the faithful pioneers i only think of the heartache and sufffering, which is completely true. . . but they made it to the Salt Lake Valley because they were a happy people, because of the happiness brought to them throught the Gospel and Plan of Happiness.

The other book is an LDS ghost story about a girl in Cochise, AZ who was fixing up an old bed and breakfast. I found it interestingly ironic that the two books had settings occur in the two areas i have been living and going to school for the past 3 years. Cochise College was in our conference. It made me wonder how different my life would have been, if i had not been given the opportunities i have. How would i differ? And how i am that much better.

I miss my family and friends, parties, weddings, Sunday dinners, baptisms . . but i'm learning that part of growing up is going out and experiencing new things. Still i am learning, haha, Tera always told me i was naiive. . but there are things i'm learning that are making me better. I've learned to love people for who they are and realize that not everyone has the same upbringing like i did, but they still turn out to be amazing people, against the odds they had to face. I've learned to not judge as quickly as i once did. I'm grateful for the events which have transpired in my life so far. I'm grateful to know that even though i'm missing out on being close to my family, i'm becoming a better person for my future and i'm grateful they are my family forever. I love my siblings and admire them for who they are and the example they are to me and my parents for their ever continuing support.

I love watching the possey too. They've grown up to be beautiful young women. They have showed me what's important and the married one's have taught me so much about the husband i hope to have.

I suppose i write so much, because i learn so much when i read. I learn of testimonies, people, love, and life. So even if one person reads this blog, i hope you become a better or happier person because of it.

ApRiL showers BrIng on them May Flowers!!!

Oh my dearest bloggers. You are guys are so devoted and good! I love your faithfulness!

Today was General Conference! I got to watch it with my adopted family in Osceola. They give me my own room, feed me good, and let me use their washer. It's awesome! Haha . . but seriously, i love conference! It made me miss my family though :/ . . when we were kids, Sunday sessions my parents would make us all sit together in the family room and watch (and i'm glad they did). We would pull out these brown, rickety, plastic type tv trays. We'd pull up one of the many wooden chairs in our house. We'd draw a "speaker" on a piece of paper and tape it to the tray. Then we'd have a pile of important papers (coloring books) and writing utensils. We'd have inter-office discussions or requests via our speakers. Haha it was awesome. I loved being a kid and having 2 brothers that would always play with me.

Easter is in a few weeks! I get to speak in Sacrament that day, so you're all invited! I opened my peeps I bought this weekend. I love peeps. They are good soft, they are good hard. They're good at Easter or Christmas. Some of my favorite Easter memories are when we'd go down to my Uncle Jack's farm. We'd spend time together, because it was usually still cold. We'd color eggs and have an easter egg hunt outside. . . or when we had our Easter party with the White's. Candy everywhere and those few eggs with quarters in them. Haha my cousins have been growing up quickly lately! One is on a mission, one is engaged, others are already in college. . . i joke a lot with the saying "Oh to be young again" .. but i miss the simplicity in spending time with my family and friends!

So i finally broke down over spring break. . and i bought myself a flower. Not just a little flower, because, I'm gonna wear a flower, i'm gonna wear a flower. And i love it.

This is my new ring. I'm not really a ring person, well really the story goes, i had one in high school and then i lost it. . but then i got another one last year and i've kept my blue CTR ring for over a year. My new ring is a silver band, which i'm totally fine if that's what my wedding ring looks like, but this one was inscribed by mel and it reads "E cousins for eternity M." It means a lot to me and i adore the thoughtfulness and beauty of it.

I had an exciting spring break in the middle of March! I flew into Phoenix to see my old teammate and friend Breanne! We drove to San Francisco and then Oregon! This is at Crater Lake, the 3rd deepest lake in the U.S. It's on the top of a volcano! And it was FREEZING!

This is in China Town in San Francisco! I LOVED San Fran! I can't wait to be a successful business woman and live in a small apartment that's outrageously expensive and live the big city life! We ate at this sketchy Chinese restaurant, rode a trolley, viewed the Golden Gate Bridge, walked the Pier, ate at Little Italy and had a TON of fun together! We were at some shopping stores by Uof C Berkley and Bre and i had to pee so bad. . . we couldn't find a bathroom ANYWHERE! . . we saw some kid taking a box of things into a dorm hall. . so we followed him in, hopped on the elevator, picked the 3rd floor and the doors opened to .. . . A Bathroom! We were stoked! haha

This was at the Pier in this old arcade game set-up. Look familiar? It's the game from Princess Diaries that the Queen plays! Haha

Breanne and I at the San Francisco Bay with Alcatraz in the background. (That's a famous prison).

Oh, hey, i turned 21!!! . . . i've been waiting FOREVER to turn 21 ... because that's when you can do stuff!!! . . . . Like