Friday, June 12, 2009

Home and back again

Welp, looks like I have once again slacked on updating this thing.  But that's cool, at least I'm doing it, right? A lot has happened since my last post.  On May 27th, I flew out to St. Louis for 10 days.  The 27th was my youngest brother, Ethan's birthday.  He turned 12!! I just can't believe it! My BABY brother is only an inch or 2 shorter than me, which is quite upsetting actually.  But I guess he has to grow up eventually, even though I don't want him to... :( Anyway, we just had a simple little cake and ice cream deal that night, which was really nice.  Then the next night was Pooky's graduation, as seen in the picture below.  It is also so weird that my younger brother is graduating from high school when I still feel like I just graduated.  But it was a good night overall.  


That weekend was also a very special weekend for me.  On Saturday night I went to an open house for my friend Tyler, who was leaving for his mission the next week.  He is going to Paris! Anyway, his family is very dear to me.  His mom, Michelle, is the one that I've mentioned before with the terminal brain tumor.  She only has a few months left at best, so I just wanted to soak up my time with her.  She is just such an amazing person that I've always admired in every way possible.  She always has had such a way of making me feel good about myself and is so friendly and wonderful to everyone that she comes into contact with.  It really is heart breaking that her son is going on a mission and she probably won't be there when he gets back.  Life really is unfair sometimes.  Before I came out to St. Louis, I was getting extremely wrapped up in my own problems.  I was feeling so alone, like no one could understand what I was going through.  I was angry and bitter towards my circumstances, and thoughts of Michelle only made me more bitter because I felt it was just so unfair that she and her family had to go through such an extreme trial.  Getting to visit with her and be at home really was such a slap in the face.  The next day (Sunday) I went to Tyler's ward to hear his farewell talk.  His talk was so touching and I was so proud of the man that he has grown up to be.  As he started to talk about his mom, there was not a dry eye in the congregation.  He talked about the plan of salvation and how even though he might not see his mom right when he gets back from his mission, he will still see her again.  I can't explain how hard that hit me.  It was like something I've known all along hit me over the head, and it hit me hard.  I can't believe how wrapped up I was in my own emotions and trials.  It really caused me to lose sight of the big picture, and why me or any of us are really here.  All of my anger and bitterness was melted away and it was just reaffirmed to me that I will see Michelle again, even though this trip was probably the last time that I will ever see her.  After the meeting I said goodbye to Michelle.  I will never forget that moment.  Time seemed to stand still for a minute.  Michelle and I just hugged and cried.  I had so many things that I wanted to say to her, and yet the only thing I could really say is that I love her.  Sometimes the short, sweet goodbye's are the best.  She insisted that I don't say goodbye, because we both know that we'll see each other again.  And I really do know that.  I guess I just forgot temporarily.  I could sit here and be angry that I don't get to spend more time with her before she goes, or I can just be grateful that I got to have that moment in my life.  I'm just grateful that I was able to take the pebble out of my eye and once again remember that there is so much more in this life than just me and my big, and yet miniscule problems.  So yeah, there's my deep thoughts for the day.... On with the rest of my trip...
The rest of that week I really didn't do much.  I spent a lot of time with Ethan, which was a lot of fun.  I took him to lunch and to see Star Trek for his birthday.  It was such a good movie! I was expecting it to be good, and it definitely exceeded my expectations.  We has a family also went and saw the movie UP, which was very cute. I just love kid movies, so of course I loved it.  I also went to the Botanical Gardens with Daniel Boone, as seen below.  It was SO humid! But it was still a very good little trip.  I love going there.


So yeah.  I also spent time with my parents and Parker, which was fun.  I didn't spend a LOT of time with friends, but I guess that's just how I am whenever I go home to St. Louis.  I spent time with the Leimburgs of course, but really I see them as family, so they don't count as friends.  :)  Well I think that's all for now... 


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