Expect the Unexpected

I like to plan.

Anyone who knows me well is well aware that I like be in charge of myself and in charge of my schedule. I have had my life mapped out to this point since... well, since I could read a calendar, I suppose. I always knew I would graduate high school in 2013 and begin my university studies at BYU. I would then spend Fall of 2014 on the study abroad program in London. When I came home I would then allow myself to start dating people, be an efy counselor summer of 2015, and get married summer of 2016 right after I turned 21--just as my mother and sister had done. When you are young it does not seem so silly to plan things such as when you are getting married, or the exact time and place you will do a study abroad. I did not consider factors such as "What if I don't get into BYU?" or "What if I can't actually go on study abroad? It's competitive and expensive" or, the real shocker, "What if I have not yet found a person I want to marry/a person who wants to marry me by the incredibly young age of 21??" No. Haha, those thoughts did not come to me until applying to colleges, interviewing for study abroad, or getting to school and realizing how many relationships fail. Call me naive, but I prefer to call myself a dreamer. Even more and a dreamer, a doer.

You see, all my life my parents have taught me that if I want something bad enough, plan for it, and work hard, I can have it. Here I am, days from turning 21, in complete awe of the path my life has taken.

Yes, I have been at BYU these last few years and am whole-heartedly in love with my university and the unique opportunities it provides. There is no where else I would rather spend my days studying and growing.

Yes, I did spend four months living in London last fall, but I have dedicated enough posts to that incredible experience.

Yes, I was an efy counselor for the summer. It was awesome. And hard. But mostly awesome.

Yes, I am getting married in two months. June of 2016, just as I always planned. What?!

And what have I learned through it all??

Expect the unexpected.

While these major events in my life have (miraculously) all gone according to plan, I have found that it is the minor details that have made all the difference. For instance, what am I actually going to study at school and do for the rest of my life? Or why spend copious amounts of money for four short months abroad? What's the point? Oh. Also, turns out it is really competitive to be an efy counselor and they prefer RM's.. Which I am not. What if I don't get the job? Or the real big one: who am I going to marry and spend the rest of my life with?!

I have found over and over again that Heavenly Father is willing to work with me. A few weeks ago at General Conference, something was shared that has stuck with me since.

"You can have what you want, or you can have something better"

That has been my overwhelming experience these last three years in college. I NEVER planned on being a nurse. Not in a thousand years. Never planned on the lessons I learned in England or the ways I changed. Never expected the heartbreaks and miracles of efy. Above all, I definitely never planned on marrying Austin. Those things were not part of my plan. Lucky for me, Heavenly Father is patient. He loves me, stubbornness and all. He has lead me by the hand and said, "Look Aimee. You can have what you want, or if you will just trust me and let go of some of your need for control, you have have something infinitely better."

Gaye Ray fan club

Love me my Ellen

Santa Barbara for life

(I said yes)

Today as I sat with friends from elementary, jr. high, and high school and listened to my closest childhood friend speak of her experiences these last 18 months in Africa as a missionary, I could not help but marvel at how much we had all grown up and changed. From returning from missions, studying in college, marriages, and even babies, big things have happened for each of us. Heavenly Father has a perfect plan for each of us. Now, that does not mean we have to give up all our dreams and goals. Not even a little bit. I have done everything I hoped to in my life! But Heavenly Father knows I am capable of so much more than I think. He has stretched me and pushed me farther than I could go alone. He has led me down paths I was much too terrified to follow. He has strengthened my faith and enlarged my mind and world. Everything He does, He does to benefit me. Simply because I am His daughter and He loves me with a perfect love. It is not because  I am somehow earned it; I am far from deserving the beautiful life I live. It is there purely because He loves me.

Nursing cohort - love these fools.

Looking for Mr. Darcy...

Oh wait. Austin is better than Mr. Darcy.

I know God lives. I have seen his hand in the small details of my life, day after day. All He asks is that I have the faith to follow Him. That I will allow Him to bless me, to lead me, to guide me to the wonderful life He so desperately wants me to have--and above all, the life that will bring me home to Him. I am so grateful. Grateful that He trusts me enough to become a nurse and care for His children in need of healing on this earth. Grateful He let me go to my family's 'homeland' and meet some of the most influential and lifelong friends there. Grateful He allowed me to spend my summer learning from the incredible youth and working with amazing people. Grateful He led me to my best friend; someone who loves me even knowing I am imperfect. More than anything, I am grateful that I can be with my best friend and family quite literally forever. 

God is real. God is good. It is a beautiful life, and I am so lucky to live it--even (and perhaps especially) when it does not go according to my plan. 

Love Always, Aimee 

I am in love with life.

I promise I am alive.

I used to think that I was terrible at blogging because school made me so busy.
However, after being out of school for a month, I have to conclude that that is not the case.
I must just be lazy.
But I'm not a lazy person, so that can't explain my prolonged absence either.
I think the truth is deep down I am worried my life is no longer interesting.
There.
I said it! I no longer live in the most enchanting and exciting city in the world, so my world must not be noteworthy anymore, right? ... Even typing that out sounds silly, but I can't deny the ring of truth I have been trying to avoid.
Coming home from London sucked.
There.
I said it! I am being brutally honest with you all. It was hard to come home. I jokingly told my mother if it wasn't Christmas I wouldn't have been coming home. Except it wasn't a joke, not really. It was hard to leave 27 Palace Court and all the adventures every day brought with it. The 40 best friends I spent all my time with, the 20 million stairs I climbed daily, the never-ending tube rides, the city lights and towering buildings that made me feel so small and yet so at home, the breathtaking countryside that was so opposite of London itself and STILL felt like home, the misty rain that made my hair a hopeless mess, the theatre, the archaic churches, art galleries galore, and street market after street market full of fascinating people and unbelievable food... Yeah. It was hard to leave and even more heart breaking to know I would probably never call that place home again.

They say London is the cross roads of the world; I full-heartedly concur. You can walk down any street and hear many languages and you can get authentic food from literally any country in the world because people come from all over to world to live in London. Something about that tiny, over-populated city draws people to it. Even though you practically have to sell your first-born child to pay for a tiny apartment, people find it worth it. There is something so unique and special about that city. To just sit back and watch the world walk by you and be a part of every culture and every type of event is just... I am at a loss to explain what it is really like to be a part of. England will always be home in my heart. I would not trade that opportunity for anything.

All of that being said, I still truly do love my life here. I do! It's such a wonderful life. This last semester was my favorite one yet (besides London, obvi). I finished my minor in family studies and took anatomy so I LOVED all of my classes, my random roommates turned out to be some of my very best friends, and I had an awesome ward. I was so sad to move out a few weeks ago and say goodbye to such a brilliant time.

Other things that have happened:

I bought a car! Does that make me an adult? It's a cute, little silver corolla affectionately named Louis. (Yes, after One Direction.. I asked my London Ladies and they suggested Harry Styles, but my car was just not perfect enough to be a Harry Styles. So we went with Louis; adorable, but not Harry. Also he was my perfect mate according to buzzfeed so it only made sense).

I missed my first college class EVER to go see my dear cousin Linds return from her mission to California! It was a much needed break, even if only for a weekend. Oh my gosh I did not realize how much my heart needed to see that girl. ALSO. As of last week, she is now engaged! How crazy is that? Turns out I get to go back to California this August for a wedding! I love love.

I turned 20!!
RIP to those awkward teenage years. I am sorry, but you will not be missed.

One of my best friends since age 7 (and future roommate!!) came home from her mission!!
Best birthday present ever, right? I am so excited to show you the ropes at college, Rick! <3

I got a job as an EFY Counselor for the summer! My wish from 5 years ago is coming to light. It seems so weird, haha. I start next week. Sure, it might just be glorified babysitting of teenagers for the summer, but I am so excited! I love the youth and the enthusiasm and light they have. I am pumped to work closely with them again, and a small part of my hopes that I can have a good influence on at least one of them this summer. That would be the ultimate dream; to be a force for good and bring someone a little closer to Christ by loving them as He does.

I threw my soon-to-be-sister Emily a bridal shower! It was a lot of work, but so much fun. I think my love language is actually party planning. Or at least my dream side job anyways (so if any of you need any parties planned... hit me up). *pictures coming soon. I think it went well? There was a point about two hours before it started that I did not know if it would all come together, but of course it did. It was real good food and real good people celebrating a really beautiful girl; I am going to deem it a success.

Are they not just the cutest couple in the history of ever?? 

Well. That's about it! I have been spending my mornings running or swimming, days cleaning/organizing or doing research for a professor at school, afternoons watching my sister's softball games, and my evenings with my family or friends. It is a pretty good life, I tell you. Noteworthy, even without the adventures afforded by London. God is so good and life is so beautiful.

these are some of the best people I know. 

Oh, yeah. I guess I dyed my hair back to it's natural brown. Kind of miss the red, but it will be easier to maintain this summer. Or so I keep telling myself. 

Love Always, Aimee

This is what happens when my sister asks me to tend her dog for the weekend. 

I'm more of a cat person, tbh...

Long Time, No See

Long time, no post. I know, I know. Spring term has knocked me off my feet temporarily. Turns out doing organic chemistry for 4-8 hours a day 5+ days a week is a very real and possible situation to find yourself in. But enough about that.

What have I been up to?

Well. I entered my last year of being a teenage with my 19th birthday! It was a wonderful day full of my favorite people. I went shopping with my mother, had a picnic in the park with my best friend, went laser tagging, and to my favorite restaurant.
YOU GUYS.
If you have never been to The Mandarin Restaurant in Bountiful.... You have not lived. Go. Now. Stop reading this. Go. And get the almond chicken and veggies and honey walnut shrimp. I'll just say you're welcome in advance.
Anyways. It was a good day to say the least :)

I had a few days off between school semesters where I watched my younger brother and sister with Mom and Dad off in Hawaii celebrating 25 years of marriage with eternity to go!

I also said goodbye to Jae Col as she left on her mission to Virginia. That was hard.. But she is amazing and I will see her soon enough I suppose. 18 months is nothing!

Isn 't she a babe? I thought so.

Then I have been in Spring term for about 6 weeks now? I love it but I would be lying if I didn't tell you it was hard. Classes twice as long and twice as fast is a lot to take in.. But you get used to it. Plus it's way nice to get it done fast. There is no way I would survive this chem class for 15 or 16 weeks in a regular semester. No freaking way. But having it as my main focus with a little class and the best TA ever isn't too bad at all! Seriously we have the best TA. Liz. We owe our lives and grades to her. And I am not exaggerating.  Someone needs to up her pay.

Nights consist of hiking, temple trips, exploring provo, swimming,  watching movies, making cookies, playing volleyball, ward activities, and making friends. It's a pretty good life.

Provo Temple <3

I am also in swimming and ceramics classes. Probably two of my very favorite things in the world. Getting up to exercise and swim is wonderful and ending the day in the studio on the wheel is perfect.  When I get stuff out of the kiln maybe I'll post a picture!

Here is a view of the studio I wish I could live in 

And now. The point of this post.
The most exciting thing of the entire year (so far) has happened.

**drumroll**

I can't get over this picture. Isn't he cute? Aren't we cute? Isn't the temple wonderful? Everything in life is wonderful.

JACOB CAME HOME FROM HIS MISSION!!

My older brother  returned from his two year service as a missionary for the LDS church in London, England this Wednesday. I don't know if I have ever been more excited or smiled more in my life. Or cried so much from pure joy.
It was so incredibly good to see him, see he's a real person and not just a memory, and hear is laugh and voice again.
Two years is long time.. It's weird to think how much has happened in both our lives and how much both of us have changed and yet still managed to look basically the same. Though he does seem taller..

Hey look! It's Jake!

Our house flying it's true colors. 

Aren't my posters adorable? 

Ah. Such a good day at that airport though. It's crazy to think I will switch him places in less than 3 months! And what an adventure that will be.. But for now I am so happy to just be home and hang with my family. It's been too long since we've all been home. (And I suppose I technically still have two weeks of living in Provo before we are all home again but... What's two weeks after two years, right?)

I am currently on my way home for his Homecoming weekend and couldn't be more excited.
The Church is true. God is wonderful. And life is an amazing adventure.

Love Always, Aimee

2+2+2+2

With only two days called the weekend, two days of classes, two days of studying, and then two days of testing left in this semester I have realized something that you would think would be obvious.
Time never slows and it definitely never stops.

I swear I was just having Christmas break and telling my friends on missions about the new classes I was taking. And then it was midterms and I was like "Holy cow! I can't believe we're halfway done!!" and now finals are at the door and I am having a panic attack.

How is it possible that it's basically been a year since I graduated? I remember it so clearly. Every detail. How is it possible that I haven't seen my very best friend in a month and she leaves on her mission in about twenty days? How is it possible that I turn NINETEEN in 10 days?? Saayy what? I still don't think I am old enough to be considered an adult.
Time at college is on hyperdrive, I swear. Every day is full of things that have to get done; classes, papers, studying, quizzes, tests, gym, cooking, cleaning, partying, sleeping, church activities and callings. I feel like I have changed so much in the last year that maybe my friends won't even recognize me anymore. But at the same time it feels like it's been no time at all since I've seen them when in reality it's been nine months for some.

I think the craziest thing is considering that I have missed a whole school year for my little brother and sister. Grade school years are an eternity long, I swear. They have probably changed and grown so much and I have hardly been there to see it. And next year I will be even more absent. Heck, for the first four months I will be living across the ocean and when I come back I will be busy applying to nursing school.

I suppose the real reason I am having a panic attack is because I really am growing up and moving out. Sure, I've lived away from home for nine months. But it's about to get even more distinct. It's going to get more real. I will be home for the month of July this summer and half of August. That's it. I am determined to enjoy every day of it because it just might be the last time I ever live there again.
And let's be real, we all know there is no place like home.

It other news, shout out to my favorite girls Sariah and Morgan for getting their mission calls!! Argentina and California; both Spanish speaking. They will be amazing and I just adore them. That's all.

Also the Happiest of Birthdays to my favorite brothers!! 14 and 21 never looked so good.

Love Always, Aimee

P.S. 53 days until Elder Erickson's return! Woot woot. 147 days until my trip to London. Here we go.