catching up: krystell's visit

I have been meaning to post about this since June but somehow it never happened (along with many other posts). It is a Sunday evening and W is taking a nap, the house is quiet, and it's the perfect time for a catch-up post like this one.

Back in June, my friend Krystell came to visit from Utah. Krystell was my roommate at Rick's College (back when it was Rick's college) in 2000. The last time I saw her before this visit was at my mission farewell in September of 2001 - eight years ago! We have kept in touch through letters while she was on her mission, email, facebook and each others blogs through all of that time. She had been wanting to come and see the Pacific Northwest for quite some time, so she finally did it. It was really fun having her here. It was perfect timing, too - I had just graduated but hadn't started working yet and was only volunteering a couple of days a week, so I had a free schedule (man, that was nice!).


After I picked her up from the airport, we went to Dash Point Beach and had a picnic (well, it was mostly just pita bread and hummus but it was good).

(Back when I didn't have a big belly)

Krystell really wanted to see a lighthouse so we ventured up the road a bit to where we saw one in the distance. It was kind of a pathetic lighthouse, though.

(Krystell didn't want to be in many pictures so there are lots of me)

The next day we hung out in downtown Seattle. We hit Pike's Place, had lunch at Beecher's Handmade Cheese (yum) and then went to the library for a tour and then she met up with another friend of hers for the rest of the day.

(Cheese is being made behind us)

I have been to Pike's place several times (everyone wants to check it out when they come to visit and I don't blame them) but I enjoy it every time.

That night we went to a Mariner's game.

The next day we took a ferry out to Bainbridge Island, where we looked at fun shops, had lunch at a cute little place called The Harbour House, and then had ice-cream at Mora's (thanks to my friends, Dean and Becky, who sent me a gift card there as a graduation gift. Their ice-cream is divine).

Our view while we had lunch.

Our view on the ferry on the way back to Seattle.

Overall, Krystell's visit was really fun. I'm so glad she came!

happy things

I haven't checked in in a while. I have been so busy, running from one thing to the next. Only a few more weeks until I graduate. I'm feeling it.

A few things that are making me happy lately:

1. Yesterday my friend Dodie and I had a "girls' day" to celebrate her birthday and my graduation. We got manicures and pedicures, grabbed some breakfast, hit the shops in Sumner (where I got three cute shirts and she got a cute decoration for her home), and then went out to lunch. It was such a nice, relaxing day. So fun! (For those who haven't been to Sumner, you can see what one of the stores looks like here to give you an idea of the cute shops there.)

I've always wanted to paint my fingernails bright red, just for fun.

2. I bought some fresh flowers for our kitchen table, which I love. They are so bright and cheery and remind me of the nice weather we have had lately.

3. My friend Julie is also very into photography so we took each other's graduation pictures on campus a couple of weeks ago. It was kind of fun being on the other side of the camera for a change. (I will share some pictures from that shoot soon.)
4. W's parents are in town and we're going whale watching with them tomorrow at Friday Harbor. Should be fun.
5. We had dinner with our neighbors tonight to celebrate their son's graduation and they went all out. We had crab and it was so good!
6. Katie cut and highlighted my hair and she did a really great job. If you need your hair done, she's the person to call. Thanks Katie!
7. Every room in our house is really clean right now. I love having my house so clean.

Okay, I think I should get to bed. Goodnight!

a beautiful day

My friend Jackie was sealed to her husband on Saturday in the Seattle Temple. Her and her husband are recent converts. It was a beautiful day. I really loved being there and sharing in their joy. After, Morgan had an open house for them at her parents' house.

[Morgan, Jackie and Courtney]
[Amy, Jackie and me]
Jackie is amazing. She is such a great example to me.

Congratulations Jackie and Tommy!

rachel

Surprise, Rach. This post is about you! Hope you're reading.

I was writing in my gratitude journal tonight (which I haven't done since October...good thing I have 90-Day Goals to keep me on track) and as I flipped through the pages, browsing through past entries, I found this picture tucked in the back. W took it in 2002. We were in Jackson Hole, WY, staying in Nedra Roney's amazing cabin (she is the founder of Nuskin, and one of W's friends had a connection). W and I were dating at the time, and he invited me to join him and his friends to spend a weekend at her cabin. I brought Rachel and my brother, Levi, along with me. Good times.

Rachel and I have been friends for eight years. She was my one of my mission companions. The transfer that brought us together was so much needed for me, just because I had experienced many trials and difficult companionships in previous areas on my mission, and she was such a breath of fresh air. We got along so well, she helped me lose weight, and we had fun together. (I actually think the way I eat now was strongly influenced by her, for which I am very grateful.) People thought we were sisters all the time. We served together for 7 1/2 months in Toronto, NSW, Australia, and I'm so grateful that we did. After our missions, we both attended school at Utah State in Logan. We later went back to Australia together right before W and I got married. She was one of my bridesmaids, and flew to Utah from Colorado for my wedding. I haven't seen her since 2004, but we still keep in touch. She is a great friend and I'm lucky to know her. Just wanted to get those thoughts down that came flooding back when I saw this picture. Love ya Rach!

P.S. You didn't think I would end without sharing some good old mission pictures, did you? Don't hate me.