Savoring Utah

In my last weeks in Utah the things I have done include:

Welfare Square bakery assignment with Rach, visited Gateway too many times, traveled to Provo, Lord of the Rings, My Thai with Dees, Tamale Night at Crowleys, gym, airport for Erin, The Help with friends, Sherlock Holmes with Rachel and her friend Sam, phone chats with Rae Fish, help clean up after basement flood, puzzles, yard work with dad, Fashion Place mall, Mexican market and lunch with sisters and Tim, preparing for London, watch BYU beat Tulsa in the Bell Armed Forces bowl, watch Big Steam with dad (actually pretty good), the Messiah on Christmas, Christmas Eve at Franklin grandparents, The Broiler (a.k.a Market Street Grill), getting a head start on my London reading, enjoying the mountain view from my bedroom window, practiced my Christmas wrapping, Bright Star, etc.

Before and After 

I'm going to miss these kids! 

Annual tamale party

Troy teaching Erin how to do push-ups

Christmas Eve

Merry CHRISTmas

A not so merry Christmas surprise

A little flood in our basement due to the hot water heater....thankfully we saved the family photos, although some are a little damp.

On the upside, we found pictures of my dad when he was a little boy and a lot of other newspaper clippings, postcards, etc. of my grandpas.

Postcards to Master Thomas G. Barker (a.k.a grandpa) from a couple people but mostly from "daddy"

Today's Thoughts

1. Dad did a great job on his church talk today!

2. Christmas is in one week!

3. Because Christmas is in one week we need SNOW!

4. I actually have time to read a book for my enjoyment

5. I move to London in exactly 18 days!

6. I still can't believe I don't have to go back to Provo for 8 months.  Kinda depressing.

7. Annual tamale night is tomorrow

Bye bye Provo

Today I officially moved out of Provo for the next 8 months.  It was very bittersweet.  I'm ecstatic to go abroad but am sad to leave BYU, University Villa, and my roommates.  I've had such a great semester and have made many friends.  Although I could've done without finals.  They weren't too bad I guess, but I hate the stress that accompanies them.

Even with the stress I managed to have some time with no stress.  Thanks to Bishop Turley, Brother Brummer, Brother Tippetts, Brother Burt, and their wives I didn't have to worry about dinner on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.  Thanks to Rae Fish I got a little break from studying when we walked down to McDonalds to get a coke after a long night with Harold.

we took a couple orders and brought back some contraband for our roommates

 We were pretty slap happy which anybody could probably tell by just looking at us....we definitely got our exercise by walking down the block and dancing to "Love, love, love" by Avalanche City.  Oh what a night!

It's nice to be done with school for a little while and to get a break before heading out of the country.  Right now before I can just relax I'm trying to sort all my stuff from Provo into my bedroom.  I have no idea how I accumulated so much junk!  Oh well, it all has to go somewhere.  So wish me luck in cleaning my room!

Picture of the day:

These are all of the toothbrushes that my mom found while cleaning out our bathroom drawer.  I promise we're not pack rats, we just don't like wasting useful things.

FINALly almost done with FINALs

With 4 finals down and only 1 to go, this is what I feel like right now:

But this is how I feel about my awesome bishopric who has provided our whole ward with dinner the past two nights and again tonight:

This is how I feel about moving to London in 3 weeks:

But this is how I feel about leaving Provo tomorrow:

I guess I'll have to cast those emotions aside for now because now I need to study the rest of the day for my math final, pack up my stuff for good, and clean my apartment before heading to the great City next to the Lake with Salt!

BUT...before that I am adding my favorite picture of the week....well last week since I failed to blog about it then.  So I'll blog about it now.  Last Thursday I performed in my choir concert at the HFAC.  It meant a lot to me that my family came down to support me.  I have the best family hands down.  In addition to my family coming, my roommates purchased tickets and Rachel brought Mike along as well.  I had been telling them for months that they didn't have to come, but ever since they found out I would be having a concert at the end of the semester they insisted on coming to support me.  Not only do I have the greatest family, I have the best friends a girl could ask for.  I'm extremely blessed.
(there should be two photos but my family wouldn't pose with me)

after the concert

Tis the season....to be thankful

Before I forget I need to recap my Thanksgiving break which included many festivities.

My break kicked off Tuesday night when Evan, Dan, and my roommates went to Cafe Rio to celebrate mine and Tess' birthday.  

our best attempt to get all of us in a photo

roommate photo

On Wednesday I woke up bright and early, and headed to the west desert with papa dear to chase down Union Pacific No. 844.  For those of you who don't know what that is, it's a steam locomotive.  I thought it quite entertaining surprisingly because we seemed to be the only people out in the middle of no where, and then all of these sudden when the train passed 50 cars appeared and there started to be chaos.  I guess it was worth the 3 hour wait for the train to actually come because dad made some friends and we got a couple good laughs in.  Gotta love those train nerds. 

While we were waiting for the train to show up
I told dad to look bored.... I guess he wasn't bored after all

Imagine this and 50 more cars behind us

Dad and I were worn out (not really) by the time we got back home so on Thanksgiving Eve we ate at Five Guys and then mom, Rachel, and I headed to REI to do some pre-birthday shopping where I got a coat and hat for London.

Thursday was Thanksgiving!  One of the best holidays of the year because it starts the holiday season.  Once again we spent the bulk of the day at Grandma and Grandpa Franklins.  This year we mom and I taught Aunt Gail, Kaden, and Paige how to play farkle.  I think it was a success.  Oh and the best part of all is we got the Christmas Santa!  Every year grandpa outdoes himself.

Me and Paiger with Kade in the background

I just had to snap a shot of this.  Isn't grandpa adorable?  He is so cute and loving with his grandkids and shows interest in them, even if it is watching Kaden over the shoulder while playing his game.

Santa holding Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer

I love going up to Ogden and this year we got another Ogden/family history tour.  Our cousin Patrick (from the Barker side) came up to the Franklin side with us and so we took him around the family history spots.  The family history tour wouldn't be complete without a visit to see Tiffy, our second cousin once removed....and yes Tiffy is a dog....and yes she has her own statue, her own cemetery actually.  Long story.  We also visited the Barker and Dee's graves, they however don't have their own cemetery.

Me, Rachel, Tiffy, Patrick, and Brooke 

After coming home from Ogden we drove down and spent the night in Spring City.  Friday afternoon we headed back home and decorated the Christmas tree (one thing I make my family do every year, usually on my birthday).  It also happened to be my birthday but everyone was sick with a cold so we held off the celebration and just celebrated by opening presents.  On Saturday we celebrated even more by eating at the Dodo and then Rachel's friend Brett met us at TopIt for some frozen yogurt.

I will admit Sunday was a great day to finish off the short break.  We went to church at 11, which was so nice because I didn't have to go to my 8:30 a.m. ward in Provo.  After mom made a delicious meal that consisted of salmon, snap peas, and cooked red cabbage.  And for a third day in a row, we celebrated my birthday by singing to me and eating my birthday cake because now most of us could actually taste it.  The only crappy part about Sunday was that I had to go back to school the next day....

....but I was a little excited to go back to Provo because I knew my awesome roommates had probably planned something fun when I returned, and they did.  For the second year in a row I messed up their surprise but it still worked out I guess.  I walked up the stairs to a welcome message on our huge front window that said "HAPPY 20th BIRTHDAY ABBY!  We Love You!!!"  When I walked in the apartment all three of my roommates and Mike looked really surprised and I later found out because sitting on the table right next to me was a birthday treat they had made (which I wasn't suppose to notice, and lucky for them, I didn't).  I guess while I went to put my stuff away they all hurried around trying to clean up and hide everything.  They had invited some friends over so when I came home they were going to surprise me but sadly I came home early so I was the one doing the surprising.  Anyway, Mike's roommates came over and they all sang to me and gave me these really delicious coconut (they know I love coconut), chocolate, brownie type things.

Front row:  Cara, Travis, Mike, Rachel
Second row: Todd, me, and Tess

Later that night we watched Elf and then Richard came over after he got home from California.  I know this has been a long post so I will finish with a brief description and picture because I think it's hilarious.  When Richard came over he opened the front door slightly, peeked in to see who was in the room and then fully entered the room wearing this....

Richard in his footy pjs and of course, his angels baseball cap

Haha boy am I going to miss my roommates, friends, and goofy FHE dad (Richard) when I go to London next semester.  Now all I have to do is make it through these last two weeks of school and I'm England bound!

The day I was born...

Exactly 20 years ago today, on November 25, 1991....

The top song was "Set Adrift on Memory Bliss" by P.M. Dawn

The top country song was "Shameless" by Garth Brooks

These magazine issues were on sale

The French matador Nimeño II died

The Italian soccer player Luca Tremolada was born

People around the world were (and do every year on my birthday) celebrating the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

This tike was born:

The best of Provo and Salt Lake

Last Friday night my roommates and I left our ward talent show early so we could brave the snowstorm and come up to Salt Lake for the night.  Before going home we stopped by The Sweet Tooth fairy Bakery and Dans grocery store to pick up some essentials to make pizza.

too bad my bangs are in the way

Tess 

Saturday morning we woke up and went to the Salt Lake temple to do baptisms before heading back to Provo.  It was Cara, Tess, and Rachel's first time doing baptisms in the Salt Lake temple.

Explanation on this picture:  Tess' boyfriend is 6' 7" and so we had to take a picture
underneath the sign because he wouldn't even fit under this.

Saturday night Tess and I went with our friends Melisa and Rebecca to Cafe Rio and then to the Riverwoods to see the Christmas lights (yes I know it is early, but it was definitely worth it)

Melisa, Rebecca, and I

Tess, Santa, and I with Becca creepin' in the back

Tess and I

Tess and I then ended the night by watching The Princess Bride.

Just when I thought our weekend couldn't get any busier, Sunday came along.  After church (which is at 8:30 in the morning) we had to make pizza for apt. 90.  We bet them a couple weeks ago that our apartment could beat theirs at Nerts (the card game) but sadly we got totally crushed by Eric and Jason, so on Sunday they came over for some homemade pizza; which was delicious if I say so myself.

Also that day, my friend Richard (F.H.E. dad) hosted a dinner taco party for some of his friends.  Those were also delicious.  After the taco party and ward prayer we finished off the weekend by watching Pocahontas with Evan and Mike P.

Do you see what we saw in the tortilla?  It took me about 5 minutes after everyone else to see it

Well I hope you had just as fun of a weekend as I did.  Thanks for actually reading down to the end!

Something on my thankful list

At the beginning of every Biology class a different students shares a spiritual thought.  Today a boy who has cerebral palsy stood up and shared this video:

At the end of this video he bore a spiritual testimony and said only two people have died for him: Jesus Christ and the American soldier.  He then ended by saying how sad he was because of how many seats will be empty on Thursday and how many unwrapped presents there will be on Christmas.  

It really hit home for me when he pointed out that seats will be empty this Thanksgiving because one seat will be empty for my family this year.  My cousin Troy is serving in the Army and although he is not in Afghanistan this Thanksgiving (he was a couple years ago) he is stationed in Germany right now.  I'm so grateful for his willingness and dedication to serve our country.  He is such a great example to me and I know we all miss him, especially this time of year!

What I love most about Thanksgiving

I stole this off my mom's blog from last November.  

My Dad is an artist; always has been.  He ties flies, paints a little, and makes things in his workshop (once he made 4-person canoe).  My Dad also made the best snowmen on the block, but he didn't just make snowmen.  He made igloos big enough so that all of us could stand up inside them (at the same time), giant snow dogs, snow forts, and all kinds of snow sculpture.  He once made a life-size plaster-of-Paris hand painted/sculpted Santa. It stood in our living room during the month of December.
He drew and painted large wooden cut-outs of Santa sitting in an arm chair with his orange soda in hand and eight reindeer hooked up to Santa's sleigh waiting for Santa to hop in and take off from our well-lit roof (as soon as he finished his drink, of course).  We even had Rudolf, the Red-nosed reindeer.  My Dad's not a large man but he has a BIG imagination.

Dad's Holiday tradition started about 15 years ago.  He carved 6 Santas, one each for his 5 children and one for my Mom; each hand painted and unique. On Thanksgiving, Mom wrapped them up and we took turns choosing a package.  That was many Santas ago.  Each year on Thanksgiving day, my Mom passes out the wrapped packages and we choose the newest carving from my Dad. I'm sure that he is tired of carving 6 of the same figures each year, but we treasure them and anticipate them as much or more than the Thanksgiving meal.  I actually have friends who call after Thanksgiving Day to ask about the new carving .  Some years Santa comes equipped with a chair or a sled; a removable gift; wire eyeglasses; a basket with removable fruit; a separate hat rack with a removable hat; and a mug of hot chocolate with teeny-tiny marshmallows.  The details are amazing.

We cherish these folk-art carvings.  Some day they will be divided up amongst my children, but for now they reside on the living room mantel from Thanksgiving until New Year's each holiday season.

I wholeheartedly agree with my mom when she says we cherish grandpa's Santa carvings more than any other Christmas decoration (yes family, I love them even more than my ornaments).  I'm grateful that my grandpa has put so much time and effort into making these for my family.  If he ever reads this I want him to know that the carvings he has given me are among my most prized possessions and I will treasure them forever.  Whenever I see any of his carvings (which there are a couple displayed around my house year round) it is a reminder of how wonderful he and grandma are, and how much they love and care for their children and grandchildren.  My grandparents are seriously the two most selfless people I know; they would do ANYTHING for me.  I'll reiterate what my mom said about my grandpa- "he has a BIG imagination," and I'll add that "he has an even BIGGER heart."  Even though I don't see him or grandma on a regular basis I love it when I can go to Ogden for family dinners, give grandma a hug, and hear grandpa call me "Gabby Abby."

I am anxious to hopefully get another Santa in exactly two weeks, but more than that I'm excited to see my family on Thanksgiving.  This season I am thankful for and love my Franklin family!