Cars Pars. Parson. To Be WED.

May. 29. 2010. Let it go down in history.
Carson is getting married tomorrow.
Carson met his future wifey, Simone Healey, a little over a year ago right before he left for summer sales in Indiana. Lets just say that the distance "didn't make the heart grow fonder" in their case. They had a rough ride, but he was eventually able to "put a ring on it", if you will.

I am ecstatic to have another sister and Carson chose well. Simone is goofy, tender-hearted, athletic, beautiful, strong-willed, and funny. And she makes him happier than anyone ever has. I couldn't be more pleased. Side note: I went with Simone to buy lingerie since I'm the closest thing to being Carson without actually BEING Carson. So naturally, I had to tell her what would be most pleasing to his eye. Hahaha.

I'm gonna miss our late night talks at home, Cars. I'm gonna miss giving you advice on how to win her back. I'm gonna miss being the only girl in your life. I'm gonna miss being in our "single stage" together. I'm gonna miss going on random double dates with you. And I'll be honest- I'm gonna miss you being around to tease me. This last summer at home together has been fun. Even though I barely saw you. Thanks for being you. And thanks for setting the bar so high.

Good luck to you two! Don't start poppin out little ones too soon. I want our kids to be relatively close in age, yeah? So just wait a minute while I find a guy.
Love you to Mars.

4 wonders.

“I'd like to be the sort of friend that you have been to me, I'd like to be the help that you've been always glad to be; I'd like to mean as much to you each minute of the day, as you have meant old friend of mine, to me along the way.”

Yesterday, was a good day. I went to bed thanking my Heavenly Father for the wonderful people he's put on the path of my journey. I have these friends.... they've formed me into the woman I've become from the time I was three. One of them came a little later in life, but definitely at an important time. They were all finally able to meet each other last night and my heart just felt so overwhelmed and grateful to have all of these amazing girls in the same room.

So here's to you ladies: Ali Anderson, Shayla McDonald, Lane Scobee, and Nicole Booth. I owe you for the all the smiles, the tears, midnight slurpie runs, parking lot dances, boy stalking, bloody noses, spoon trains, prank nights, and so much more. I'm not sure how I'll repay you for the encouragement you've given me and the example you've set, but just know that you've made a difference for the better. A big one.
You've always lifted me out of problems that I didn't know I could handle and made me pee my pants from laughter more than I ever wanted. I genuinely feel sad for anyone who doesn't know them. Because they walk on water. And thats pretty rare, I think.

I'm excited for us, guys. Excited to meet the guy we've been talking about for yeaaaars, have babies, and hopefully live next door to each other. Set up play dates for our kids, and date nights with our husbands.

You each have traits that are undeniably remarkable. So keep on keepin' on, because you're definitely doing something right.

My life as I know it.

Well, my life as I know it consists of the following:
Studying
Work
Studying
Driving
Sleeping
Eating
Studying
Studying
Driving some more.

Is it paying off? You could say that. I was so stressed for my first test that I went to bed three hours early. Did I ever do that for any of my finals in the past year? You can better your bottom dollar that I definitely didn't.
I woke up stressed, studied for a couple more hours, said a prayer and got in my car for another hour departure. When I got there, they locked up my purse in a vault? I thought that was funny. What exactly in my purse would help me on an anatomy test? I dont have any bones lying around in there and I surely didn't have any pictures of a naked human body last time I checked. Then they proceeded to turn on a "white noise" sound maker. Drove. Me. Nuts. But, I took my test regardless. And what grade did I receive you might ask? And even if you might NOT ask, I would want you to. Because I am thoroughly proud of myself. A 98% folks. That is the very first test I've received higher than a 94% on in my college years. And easily the hardest. But it's what I love. Physiology... is another story.. But I love anatomy. And I love being able to apply it in my job at the clinic on real people. P.s. sorry to the lady in whom I thought your daughter was the one with ADD when it was actually you.

I dont get much sleep, I dont make new friends, I dont get much time to just "kick it", I basically EAT my pens (as you can see), but its all very satisfying.



The first of the day.

The end of the day. A fro. And a sore jaw from that daaang pen.

Ruth.

Every time I think of you, I always catch my breath.

Lauren Ruth Brown.
Named after one of the funniest, sweetest, cutest, most clever yet stubborn ladies I know.
Ruth Jolley, my mom's mom passed away today, laying next to my dad. She was a real gem and probably one of the most entertaining human beings I've ever had the pleasure of being around. Although she didn't used to be tooooo fond of me, we were able to become really great friends over the past year when she lived in Provo.
Some of our funniest family stories came from this little wonderball, so let me just re-cap some of the greatest ones.

A couple years before my birth:
My parents got in a slight argument while my grandma was staying at our house. My mom proceeded to lock her bedroom door for a little time alone. Ruth was convinced that my mother was inside her bedroom "committing suicide" or something crazy like that. After a couple knocks on the door with no response- she and her 100 lb. frame took a couple steps back, started bookin it, and ran straight through the door! Was the door made of metal? No, but it certainly wasn't made of paper either. She always knew how to get her way, even if it meant going through a roadblock. Literally.

When I was 4, and just a little wild:
My grandma flew out to Utah from Mississippi to stay with us for a couple weeks. Although I claim otherwise- apparently I wasn't the nicest kid on the block. Or the easiest to deal with.. On one of the nights she was there, she offered to babysitt us kids while my parents went to dinner. My parents tried to warn her, but she was convinced she could manage me for a couple hours. As soon as they left, I found my best hiding spot and decided not to come out. She called my name for hours and hours looking frantically all over. When she finally found me, and scolded me, I looked at her and told her to "leave me alone- you aren't my boss". And that was that. She packed up her things, called a taxi, and took off to the airport for a week early departure. She wasn't too fond of my attitude apparently.

In the past year:
I took grams to get some groceries at Albertsons in Provo (one of the most memorable experiences I have with her might I add). As we walked around the store, she had a comment for almost eeeeeverything we passed. It took us at least an hour to get a couple cokes, dish-soap, and a treat. Taking her down the magazine aisle was a bad choice on my part. Being an older woman from the south, you can understand why she might be a little racist.. It was right around the time when Barack Obama was elected president, so of course, all of the magazines had his face on them. I knew she would cause a scene if a black man's face and the word "President" on the front of a magazine registered. So I hurried her through the isle trying to shield her view. Attempt: failed. Miserably. She stopped walking, picked up a magazine and said "A black president?!? We are in AMERICA people! This is an outrage. Is this a joke, Lauren?" As I tried to calmly grab the magazine from her hand and heard her away, she ripped it back and said, "Answer me! Is this a joke?" Sadly, I had to explain to her that it was no joke while everyone around us watched in humor. Definitely embarrassed at the moment, but dont worry- I laughed all the way back home. She's a wise woman. No "change" has happened yet.

Over my dating years:
I've brought multiple guys that I've dated over to meet grams. A) Because she is more entertaining than any date I've ever been on. B) She makes them feel good about themselves. C) She is who I'll be in 60+ years, so I have to see if that is something they'd want..
I can't even begin to tell you some of the things this lady has said to the guys I've dated. I had a black boyfriend once. That was an interesting experience. I was pretty scared to take him into her house, because I thought she might possibly use the "n" word or tell him to start mopping the floor if "he was just gonna stand there". But to my surprise, when she first saw him she said, "How did you snag this one Lauren? He's too cute for you is all I gotta say.." Hahaha. Uhh.. thanks gram?
Also once I brought a guy that I really liked at the time over and about ten minutes into the convo she proceeded to tell him that "I bring a new guy over at least every 2 weeks." and "not to worry, you'll be a goner in no time." Guess she wasn't too fond of him.

So here's to you Gram, you're an absolutely wonderful woman. You raised a good daughter who is raising her daughter in the exact ways that you did. I hope that I work as hard you did. I hope that people get a kick out of me in my old age too. I hope that you forgive me for being such a mean little bugger when I was young. I hope that you remember all of our great conversations about "classy men". I hope that you know I have always loved you. I can't wait to be with you again. I really wish my husband would've been able to meet you. Take care of my kiddos up there in heaven alright? Teach them what I can't. I'll be seein you..

Productivity begets happiness.

So, remember my very first post when I said "I'd be up to speed in no time"? Well, its been time. And I'm not up to it yet.
But the truth of it all is that I thought I'd have lots of extra time when I finished up my freshman year and moved back in with my parents for the summer. Boy was I ra-ha-ha-honngg. Going to school at two different school three days a week is kickin my little butt (well.. it's not exactly little but that's another story). Spending 10 hours a week commuting to Ogden and Kaysville is a lot of time to spend alone. But I must admit that I've loved almost every minute of it. Whether I was falling asleep at the wheel or rear-ending my friend Nicoles car- I've had lots of time to just think. Think about school. Think about my week. Think about my cute friends. Think about boys. Think about my current family. Think about my future family. How pretty it is outside, how I forgot to turn off my straightener, how I just want to be sleeping, how I love summer time, and how excited I am for the next couple years. But on that note, I also think about how wonderful my present life is.
I got so lucky with my job opportunity this summer (the main reason in which I chose to commute 10 hours a week) at a hospital/clinic. It's only been one week, but has already made my appreciation for life so much deeper. I've never realized how fragile life is. Maybe because I've never had anyone super close to me get really sick or die in a freak accident. But those stories are out there- and they're everywhere dang it!
It's been so fun to help Dr. Sisneros with things I never thought I'd be able to. Shots, surgeries, breathing treatments, and just down-right oober sick people. I am completely in love with the major I chose. Maybe too in love.
Two days ago at work a lady came in who had sliced her hand REAL bad. So we went into the back to sew her up. She was about fourty years old, funny as ever, and scared. to. death. She was shaking, on the verge of tears, trying so hard not to throw up. Seeing her so scared- just made me want to take care of her like she was my own mother or something. I instantly ran over behind her and held her. I didn't even think twice about it. I was getting scared because she was so scared! I cringed when she cringed, held my breath when she held her breath, and I almost felt like crying at the end out of happiness that it was over! I'm sure Dr. Sisneros thinks I'm such a noob. But she appreciated it. Although I'm sure it was completely unprofessional.

Onto life. I've never been busier, but I've never felt so productive and effecient. I feel like I have something big to work towards. And it feels so good. Productivity really does bring happiness. And a different kind of happiness, might I add. Thank goodness for the power of perspective.

Walking in Sunlight

Well, as for the weather outside, my title is a little faulty. But let me just tell you this.
From the moment I woke up, my day has tried pretty profusely to put me down. Its the week before finals (which is stressful in itself) and the responsible side of me quickly reminded me this morning that I had a 7 page research paper due in two hours. Which of course I completely spaced and hadn’t even started. Somehow I managed to walk to school with a smile on my face prepared to tell my teacher that I didn’t have it. For some reason, he was feeling abnormally giving. So he gave me the rest of the day to finish it. Trying to write a 7 page paper on top of finishing another 10 page paper within 5 hours is.... DANG hard. At least for a freshman, lets be honest. But I somehow managed to whip them out. ..
As you can imagine, I felt pretty proud and giddy after I turned them in. Walking over to the bus to go home, I tripped. All. The. Way. Down. TWICE. And did the people around me laugh? Well, I don’t actually know because I had my earphones in. Annnnnd, I was too busy laughing at myself to care about being other peoples entertainment.
Right before I got on the bus, I decided that I was enjoying myself way too much. I wanted to spend an extra little while with me, so I decided to walk home. The long way.
Meanwhile, I was contemplating with myself and I came to the conclusion that I AM MY BEST FRIEND. Me and I get along so well. No one makes me laugh harder and no one seems to make me quite as happy. I am able to open up to myself easily and I would say that I basically know all of my own deepest darkest secrets. Anndd I definitely wear the pants, so thats a relief. I’m so excited to be stuck with myself for the rest of forever. And by no means am I saying that I’m not excited to find that “other person” who I’ll spend forever with, but for right now- I am living in the now and I’m so content.
I can’t really say why today has been so wonderful despite all of the minor roadblocks, but I can say that I truly live a charmed life. And I owe it all to the man who gave me everything. I am so grateful for the people in my life, the trials that I’ve been through, a plan, and a way.
When this song came on my Ipod, I couldn’t have agreed with a statement more fitting for that moment in time.
Its like walking in sunlight when the whole world is covered in rain clouds. Finding the truth and living it out loud. When you know what’s right, its like walking in sunlight.

Behind the scenes.

Two weeks ago, I was standing behind my entire immediate family with the happiest heart you could probably ever imagine.
We had all gotten together at my older sister Rachel's house to celebrate my dad and niece Kallee's birthday.
It was time for cake when out of no where, Kallee dragged her little boom box into the kitchen and pushed play.
All of our heads turned to see her standing there with a bedazzled plastic microphone in hand. She stood there scared to death with all eyes on her, and started to sing. Shaky legs and all. And didn't miss one word might I add.
I looked around to see the look on everyones faces as they watched her shine. It was absolutely priceless. It was shocking to me to see that even at the age of 3, she knew that these were the people that loved her the most and wasn't afraid to be bold.
Standing behind everyone else, I was able to grasp all of the love that I felt for every single person in that kitchen. How close they all were to my heart, and to each others. It was surreal and incredibly breathtaking. With parents in Heber, a sister in Herriman, and 3 college students all going to different schools, it isn't very often that we all get to be together. I had to take advantage of the situation and just take a minute to realize how important these people were. Nothing matters more than family does.
I couldn't hold back my tears as these emotions ran through my body. Although I knew it wouldn't last forever, I did know that I could take that memory with me. I could remember the way I felt and hold onto it. And so that's what I've done.. remembered. I have the greatest family in the world and I'm so grateful for that.



The birthday girl! Kallee Jaye Olson, such a beautiful little girl- inside and out.