Quick Update

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."

Part II: How to have the most amazingest birthday EVER!

On the day of your birthday, go for a run in obnoxious neon-yellow shirts with one of your favorite running partners. Wear your new orthotics too so that you feel uber-powerful and mega charged!

When you get home from institute, find your cousins sitting in the living room with the most AMAZING biflavored cake ever! Both of your most loved flavors would be involved- in this case, funfetti and chocolate! Thank you Jeff and Haley and Megan!
Then, when your crazy roommate Michelle sees the motorized couch going by, she'll chase it down and ask them if the birthday girl can have a ride. Of course, they'll agree and take you for a spin to the tunes of Michael Jackson playing through the couch cushions!
Then, obviously it is time for some roommate ice cream at Cold Stone. Thanks to Mom and Dad for the gift card- we were pretty much in heaven. Mine was cake batter ice cream with brownies and chocolate chip cookie dough... YIKES deliciousness!

What birthday trip to Cold Stone is complete without a dance party to Smashmouth?!?! No glass was smashed in the process, nor too many customers scared away ;)
Then, to finish the night, open the packages Mom and Dad sent from home (hopefully they will include your favorite games and a classic Disney movie like Mulan), and call them to tell them all about your day's adventures.
Spend some quality time with the people you love, and your day is complete!

Part I: How to have the most amazingist birthday EVER!

First of all, you must spend an entire week at home with your family. Have a good brother-in-law that calls to convince you that you need some family time and then get on a plane the very next day, never suspecting just how much you have needed to be at home. Have loving parents who pick you up with dogs and take you to see your new niece first thing upon your arrival.
Then, you spend every day with your family. I got to hold Mikayla for hours at a time and watch her ever-changing faces. We nicknamed her "D.Q" for Drama Queen, but Dad (aka. Big Grandad) says we will NOT be calling her that!
I got to discover some pretty incredible things about my family as I watched them around Mikayla and as they helped me escape from the cares of the world. They have so much faith and more love than I ever knew before. Mom and I had grand adventures running errands and decided we are fans of Eegee's flavor of the month for February- Mango Tango. According to Meagan, it's the tango part that's a bit iffy, but it was pretty delicious! Meagan and Dustin and I had lots of good talks, we all loved hearing from Seth, and Dad took me up to the land with "the Boys" for some stargazing and to ponder on life.
Pretty much every day, you dress up Mikayla and have a photo shoot. Mom and Dud are pros at making her look absolutely adorable.
Pretty much every waking minute is with your family. It is the best! (This is one of my most favorite pictures of Dad ever- he bought Mikayla this outfit on clearance and it is DARLING!)... and the hat just makes the whole thing complete ;>
The night before leaving, the family goes to the Cheesecake Factory and enjoys a $130 meal- complete with strawberry and raspberry lemonades- on the house! We had SOOOO much delicious food! My Louisiana-style pasta was a favorite with everyone- mmmmm! Good choice!

The next night, go over to Dustin and Meagan's again for the last time and sit and talk with your family. Have some of Meagan's most excellent Darn Good Chocolate Cake. By this time, you will have realized that you have been blessed in the last week and in your life with tender mercy after tender mercy.