For my faithful followers (i.e. Dud), here's a quick update on life. No pictures right now because I am in the library "studying", but here is what my life consists of:
1. My roommates and I ran in a 203-mile-long relay in Arizona about two weeks ago. It was one of the coolest things I have ever done. My legs added up to about 13.5 miles, which convinced me I can do a half marathon!! So that's the next feat on my list- after my knees take a chill pill and the hot Tucson summer passes!
2. My family rocks. Seth is doing great on his mission with a new companion, and we really look forward to hearing from him every week. It's so good to read about their success in teaching through their humble service. Between his faithfulness and Mikayla's arrival in the family, I don't think any of us could be any more elated or proud. I got to go home to be with Meagan and Dustin and their families for the blessing. Mikayla was lovely and sweet and greeted me at the airport with an adorable "I love my Auntie" shirt. I love being Auntie Maren and am really hoping Meagan and Dustin will be around this summer so I can get a little more Mikayla time (and Fud and Dud time too :>). Dad and Mom are graciously letting me work at the office over the summer and I am aching to be back in Arizona and surrounded by my family. I love them so much!
PS- these thoughts are in no particular order... just as they come...
3. I am loving my ward and roommates more and more. Most every night ends in an hour to two hours of laughter and loving and a roommate prayer at our house. Everything is so happy there. Nicole and Margrethe and I found an awesome apartment to live in with their RM girl friends in the fall. It's an apartment above the garage of a house built in 1879, complete with a huge lawn, garden, and puppies which we will have open access to. We are VERY excited!
4. The weather is warming up in Provo, but it still decides to snow every week or two, just for good measure. A wonderful surprise came a few weeks ago when tulips sprouted up in our front yard! They haven't blossomed yet, but they bring lots of hope for a gorgeous spring!
5. Seth always asks about my dating life, so just for him (even though he can't read this), it is good :) I feel pretty neutral about it, really, since I'm only going to be here for another month. However, Dustin gave me some valuable advice last week to smile away and that very day, I got a date! All three of us girls who ran in the Ragnar Relay decided we really want Arizona boys... brilliant! In the meantime, I've had several friends ask if they could set me up on blind dates. I've never had one of those before, so it should be an adventure if they actually pan out. I think it sounds like a blast, and I trust my friends' judgment... so why not?!?!
6. Meanwhile, the gospel of Jesus Christ is on this earth and filling my life with more and more wholeness and joy. Lately, I've been wondering a lot about how I have been so blessed by such a faithful, true, and loving family. I wonder what made me worthy of this gift, and what it is that I am to do with such an incredible blessing. Oh, man. I love them. I also am beginning to feel more and more anxious to invite the people I know to listen to the missionaries and am hoping more opportunities to do so will come this summer back home.
7. Lastly, ice cream is delicious, especially Graham Canyon from the Creamery. Also, I love playing inner tube water polo with my roommates/their boyfriends/my cousins. We've had a rough go of it in the upper division but now that we're in the intermediate bracket for tourney, I feel success is eminent... except we'll be missing half our players on Friday.
Life is good. As Nicole always likes to quote from Ann of Green Gables (and I'm so glad)...
"God is in His heaven, and all is right with the world."
