Bibles and Bovines

Hello. Again... Still not sure how to introduce these blogs.

For those of you who don't know me too well, you must know I am a very punctual person; always on time that is. I am always organized and I always know where my things are when I need them. My room is always spotless and my clothes are always neatly folded and tucked away in my closet. My outfit must always be on point and I never leave the house until I am completely put together.

For those of you who do know me, you know the previous paragraph is a lie.

I am always late. I don't care how much time I give myself in the morning, I will never arrive on time. It's inevitable. That being said, yesterday morning was not out of the ordinary. I walked into the service meeting 7 minutes late, hair in a mess, tea cup and bible in hand, and still half asleep. Does anyone have any tips on how to make it to where I'm supposed to be at the time I am actually supposed to be there? No, better yet. Any tips on actually getting out of bed the "first" time the alarm goes off?

It ended up just being Mikayla and I working territory, while two others sisters were on a study.

If I have learned one thing the last two months of pioneering, it's that having fun in service and keeping things light is essential. One sister recently reminded me that if you lose your joy in the ministry, you'll quit. So keeping things fun and finding joy is a must when you're spending time in service.

In honor of keeping true to that philosophy, I may or may not have shared the good news with a few beautiful bovines yesterday.  But does something like that really even surprise you?? Mikayla and I were working territory just the two of us, when we passed a group of cows near the side of the road. I couldn't help but slow down and talk to them on our way by....

Cows are kind of adorable with their long eyelashes, big fuzzy ears, and their tippy toe hooves. These cows seemed to be friendly so I pulled over and Mikayla and I got out to see them.

Here's where it gets kinda funny. The cows got scared and backed up when we got to the fence. I tried talking to them and I held out grass and tried to get them to come over, but they weren't having it. So right before I was about to give up, I held out the watchtower and said "Well we're just offering the latest watchtower and awake..."

I kid you not, just then a cow boldly busted from the heard and walked right up to me and reached out and sniffed me and the magazines and was completely calm.... Mikayla and I couldn't stop laughing. Clearly we touched the heart of the only cow conscious of his spiritual need. Hahaha. It was too funny.

So even though I was late to the service meeting and I was a total mess, something as silly and stupid as taking a few minutes during our service day to stop and play with some cows.... Completely and entirely brightened our day.

So don't forget to have fun and find joy where ever you can... play with the cows.

Lyn-Z

"It's not the circumstances that create joy. It's you."

Chapter One

Hmmm. Um. Hi?

Well... I guess some things never change. I still have no idea how to start these blogs... Blogs? Is that really even the right word for what it is I do here? Diary? Word vomit? Story telling? Snapshots? Ahh yes. There it is. The original reason I even started this blog in the first place. To try and capture the little seemingly meaningless moments (snapshots) in our day to day routines that essentially, upon reminiscing, make up the brightest moments of our life (snapshots)... Hoping to remind ourselves that life is, in fact, ok sometimes.

I'm not even sure what I want to write about this time around. Maybe about all the changes that have taken place during the last two years. Or maybe even the changes that have occurred in just the last few months. I'm really not even sure where to start though. I guess maybe with the transplant? Or maybe the trip to South Dakota? Or maybe the summer leading up to the trip to South Dakota? Or maybe I should discuss the fact that I managed to graduate high school? Or maybe that I'm attempting to regular pioneer? Or maybe that I'm dating? I don't know. So much to talk about. So many things to be said, that probably shouldn't ever be said... But don't worry that's what I'm here for.

Either way, the fact of the matter is, I am almost 19 years old. I am done with high school. My Mom is healthy. I am regular pioneering. I am dating an amazing brother. I have my family and I have my friends. This system is winding down and changing like never before. I'm starting an entirely new chapter of my story and these are going to be some of the most exciting times of my life. It only makes sense for me to write them down and share them with you.

Yet the the changes that come with these "exciting times" can only seem daunting and overwhelming. Someone recently told me to "Enjoy the Ride." Another someone told me I should be keeping a diary of this "exciting" time in my life, and I should share my stories with others.

So here I am. Working towards the overall goal of enjoying, appreciating, and finding the silver lining in all the changes and obstacles that come with every day. Stay tuned. Stay happy. And as always.... Don't forget to be awesome.

Lyn-Z

"Isn't it funny how day by day, nothing changes... but when you look back, everything is different." - C.S. Lewis

Just Too Close

Listening to the radio the other day when Too Close came on.. Love this song. But due to some recent occurrences with certain people in my life, I took this song a bit differently than I have in the past..

 You know I'm not one to break promises, 

I don't want to hurt you but I need to breathe.

At the end of it all, you're still my best friend,

But there's something inside that I need to release.

Which way is right, which way is wrong, 

How do I say that I need to move on?

You know we're headed separate ways.

And it feels like I am just too close to love you.,

There's nothing I can really say.

I can't lie no more, I can't hide no more,

Got to be true to myself.

And it feels like I am just too close to love you,

So I'll be on my way.

You've given me more than I can return,

Yet there's oh so much that you deserve.

There's nothing to say, nothing to do.

I've got nothing to give,

I must live without you.

You know we're headed separate ways.

This is exactly how I've felt for the past couple months. Sometimes we get so close to people that we can't breath. We get too close and the boundaries start to fade and manners vanish. We get too close and we forget that our friends STILL have the choice to walk away.. We get too close and we forget that we still have to treat them with respect.

I feel like I want to become strangers again.. so I can re-get to know you. This way I wont let myself get "too close" to you..

"There's nothing I can really say. So I'll be on my way.."

Just some random thoughts..

Lynz

Be kind to one another..

My Anthem

I don't usually think much of myself. I don't. I know my crazy. I know I'm imperfect. But I heard this song.. And I'm feeling rather proud of myself at this very moment. Proud of all that I go through each day.

My new anthem.

Give em hell, turn their heads
Gonna live life til we're dead.
Give me scars, give me pain
Then they'll say to me, say to me, say to me
There goes a fighter, there goes a fighter
Here comes a fighter
That's what they'll say to me, say to me
Say to me, this one's a fighter.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxV-OOIamyk

Lynz 

"Dream a little bigger.. "

Concert

A couple nights ago I was over at Dave and Carols and Carol mentioned that Jason Aldean is going to be coming to Duluth. This lead me to remember something I read in my Book of Awesome. Here it is!

The moment at a concert after the lights go out and before the band comes onstage

You go early, you grab a drink, you buy a T-shirt, you find you seat or you edge up to the stage, you listen to the opening act, you people watch, you talk with your friends, you guess what songs they might play, and then the moment finally arrives: The background music fades down, all the lights suddenly go out, and there is total blackness.

You feel a massive wave of anticipation sweep across the crowd, people stand up, raise their arms and scream, and everyone clamors for that first view of the band walking onstage.

AWESOME!

We all know what that feels like and you have to admit. Its amazing. Its awesome. I really hope we can get tickets to Jason Aldean. Its My Kinda Party!

Lynz

"You mustn't be afraid to dream a little bigger, darling."

Book of Awesome

Hello my dear people. How are you doing? Really though. How are things going in your life? Are you doing the things you want to do? Being the person you want to be? I hope so. :)

So I have this book called "The Book of Awesome". Its an.. you guessed it.. Awesome book!! Its just a list of really awesome things in life that we sometime dont appreciate. So for the next couple of weeks, since I have nothing to write about lately.. I'm gonna share some excerpts from this book! Hope you enjoy!! :)

Sleeping In New Bed Sheets

You know the feeling. You just spent five minutes chasing all the corners of the elastic form-fitting bottom sheet around your bed and then laid and tucked the top sheet tightly into the mattress. You found some pillow covers in the linen closet, squeezed and shook your pillows in there, put your blanket over all of it, took a deep breath, and then dove right into the fresh, cold, mothball-smelling sheets.

New sheets are great because they don't smell like The Sleeping You, with your armpit hair all squishing around in there all night, your drool leaking all over the pillows, and your crusty old feet flaking off into little piles of dead skin shavings at the end of the bed. And let's not forget the hot farts you pop out when your sleeping too. Don't deny it! We're all disgusting when we're asleep, and new bed sheets are great for letting us temporarily escape our own filth.

Really, only one thing can add to that new bed sheet feeling and that's when its your first seasonal sleep in thin cotton summer sheets or thick winter sheets. As you close your eyes softly, crickets chirping outside your window, moonlight and tree branches shadow dancing on the walls, you know right then and there: It's going to be a good night.

Awesome.

So that was it peeps! A page out of the book of Awesome. You got to admit.. Fresh bed sheets? Pretty awesome.


I wish you well. Be happy. Be kind. And DFTBA! :)

Lynz


"You mustn't be afraid to dream a little bigger, darling."

2013

As the last hours of 2012 begin to wind down, I'm starting to reminisce on all the things we did this last year. We had some ups. We had some downs. But all in all I believe it was a really good year. :)

Feburary- February was a good month. You want to know why? Because my parents and Dave and Carol surprised us with Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan concert tickets. Upon surprising us with tickets I burst into happy tears! The concert was an ABSOLUTE blast and easily the best concert I've been to! So so fun and I'm so so happy to have that memory with my family! :)

March - Liz and Adrian got married!! It was stressful and crazy all until the night of.. when everything went just as planned and it was an absolute blast! Something I don't think any of us will ever forget!

June - In the warm summer month of June we packed up our camper and pulled it down the road.. 10 minutes down the road that is. We got a site at a camp site real close to the house and the Stutes and us spent the weekend camping. We were right on the lake and spent out days swimming, fishing and just chilling. Sandy even came over one day and taught us how to play Poker..

June was also the last month we had Brother Letcher. He seriously was the best C.O I think I've ever spent time with. He has a whole different way of teaching. He made everything seem so real and practical. Still to this day when I have a bad attitude I think about his talks and his attitude and I'm ready to pack up and head to Houstan all over again!

July - Do I really have to explain what went on in July? This years July party wasn't as big as it usually is, but it was just as fun! David, Kelli, Logan, Parker, Dawson, Bob, Tami, Sam and Tressa made it for the festivity! We spent a day at the lake and a night around the camp fire! We also spent a day in Duluth and went to Spirit Mountain and rode the Alpine Slide! (if you've never been, its a blast!) Then we drove north to go to Gordys, a little burger joint that was featured on Guys Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives. It was definitely a dive, but it was oh so good!

September - We are Warriors!! Mike, Sarah, Liz, Dad and I all ran in the Warrior Dash! It was an absolute blast! I SO didn't want to do it, but I made my self to it anyway and I am so happy we did! It was so fun and we're all planning on doing it again next year! September was also the annual Devils Lake. Again, such a blast! This year was interesting because me and Mik spent our nights in a tent! It was the first REAL time I had been camping in a tent. David let us use his tent and cots, which was awesome. David, Kelli, Dave, Carol, Mom, Dad and I hiked up to Devils Door Way which was so beautiful!










 A panoramic of Devils Lake. According to this picture, you can see why we love to go there every year! :)


October - October was such a stressful month. It started when the town had a benefit for Mom to go to Rochester and it was such a success! Swansons and Wenskys and my Grandparents surprised us by coming up and supporting us! Then after the benefit we moved to Rochester for the first time. The first time was the hardest and it definitely will be a time we wont forget.





I'm sure I'm missing so many awesome things we did this year.. but as the time still ticks down, I'm thinking about my new years resolutions. We're starting back at the top of the year and I feel like the slate gets wiped clean. Its like Monday, every one gets a redo. This next year I just want to relax for a second. I just want to take this year to relax, have fun, find out more about myself and not take it to seriously. I don't want to do anything huge next year. Just take some pictures and have fun.

I'll see all you lovelies next year.

Love you all.

Lynz