A Happy Bride

A quote from my book, These Is My Words, The Diary of Sarah Agnes Prine 1881-1901, Arizona Territory

May 22, 1882

I have started to read a book named The Happy Bride. It is all about how a girl should act and what men expect from the girl they want to marry and such. It is a wonderful book and I plan to study it hard and put it to practice. The first thing I must do is become more religious. I will have to learn to be a ‘righteous example of piety and purity, virtuous to a fault, kind and sharing,’ if I am to be the Happy Bride in the book. … This book says ‘a young lady is never safe when in close physical proximity to a gentleman, and although he would pursue her, he thinks all the more of her if she rebuffs him heartily.’ So I will think of the hearty rebuff that I will tell … any man who presumes to be in close physical proximity. … I will study this book so the first chance I get not to be an old maid I will be ready.

That journal entry made me smile. Maybe I should study that book....

Top 26 of 26

1. Making a quilt and getting to spend 2 WHOLE weeks with my little sis over Christmas Break. We haven’t been able to do that in YEARS! Loved it!
2. Sledding with my nieces, bro, sis-in-law, sis, and boy up Hobble Creek Canyon on the perfect snowy day.
3. Having my niece Millie smile at me with her fangs :)
4. Listening to the cowbells chime while walking down a mountain path in the Alps, Luzern, Switzerland.
5. Being able to attend my BFF, Natausha’s wedding, and also getting the phone call that I’m going to be an “AUNT”
6. Finally getting to go to Mexico and see the ruins at Tulum and Chichen Itza which had been pretty close to the top of my bucket list for at least a decade…and doing it spontaneously…with my bff.
7. Another spontaneous trip to Duck Beach (NC) with that same BFF that revolutionized both of our lives and besides being a huge catalyst for change, was just a FUN, CALMING, BEAUTIFUL, ADVENTUREOUS beach trip.
8. Looking at pictures of my newest niece – Charlyanne.
9. Having a hula-hoop competition (and DOMINATING it) and eating an American BBQ in the midst of a redwood forest, with 50s music playing, and picnic tables covered with gingham table clothes with boy and family.
10. Watching The Lion King in London and walking the streets of London and marveling at all the history that had occurred around me. Oh, and becoming addicted to frozen yogurt and looking forward to the end of the day so I could eat MORE of it.
11. Biking through Vermont in the Fall – test of my strength (it was 45 miles…), having a skipping-rock competition in a historic rock quarry, eating fresh Vermont cheese, bonding with a roommate, and just loving life.
12. Playing “Murder in the Dark” in a moderately creepy old B&B in New Hampshire – laughing, spooking, arguing, hiding, the works (and speaking of the works – eating lots of pizza from Papa Johns with “the works”).
13. Glow-stick impromptu dance party on top of mattresses post Thanksgiving feasting.
14. Riding an elephant in India, seeing cows wander through the streets, monkeys holding hands, and camels pulling carts.
15. The creation of the Tiger Tummy Rub.
16. Working on the Cinque Terre puzzle with Jenni (awesome) and reminiscing about the fact that I went there last summer.
17. Feeling like I’ve overcome the initial discomfort and loneliness of being in a new and very different city.
18. All-day Adventure in Key West with an intimate yet awesome couple of people – snorkeling…jet skis…parasailing… and, eeeh, the nasty water trampoline covered with bird poo (it’s the funny memory that makes it worth it). Really, just good bonding time.
19. Riding bikes through Salzburg and seeing all of the Sound of Music sites and singing the songs in my head and out-loud at the SING-A-LONG. I’ve been addicted ever since my mom took me to see the Sound of Music with Marie Osmond in 4th grade.
20. Coming to understand myself, my strengths, weaknesses, desires, and God better through a series of events.
21. Running through Liberty Park, SLC on warm spring afternoons with a dear friend.
22. Christmas lights at the Washington, D.C. temple! A-MAZING!
23. Being taken absolutely, most definitely, by surprise!
24. Having moments where I’ve just been so glad to be – ME – with the family that I have, the parents that I have (who I’m extremely proud of as they accomplish dreams, my dad with Wilderness Innovations and my mom with going back to college).
25. Biking to the temple (35 miles), in dress clothes, on warm summer days, without bring water or snacks…haha. Good memory!
26. Having a year filled with adventure, spontaneity, travel, love, friendships, magic, history, culture, dreams.

Here's to ending a good year and starting the 27th!

I'm ready for you.

MLK Day

Dr. King said, "We must all learn to live together as brothers or perish as fools."
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Some friends and I decided that we should spend the holiday right by taking advantage of all the Civil Rights and Black American history is D.C. So, we ventured down to Anacostia (a dream come-true!!) to the Community Museum and to the Frederick Douglass House. We went to the National Cathedral for the Martin Luther King Celebration with some amazing performances ranging from traditional African dances and drums, an amazing violin performance, a cool unity speech by a Rabbi, a Christian Preacher, and a Muslim sahib, and just the experience of being in such an amazing cathedral! Then, we finished it up with a stop at the American History museum for a reenactment of the 1960 sit-in at the Woolworth's counter in Greensboro, NC. So, there was a lot of singing and clapping and experiencing. It was a huge success! And, get this (a perk of living in D.C.) - it was all FREE. Here are some pictures of our adventures.The Giant Chair in Anacostia (a place that for safety purposes we can't normally venture. Today, we thought that it was worth the risk though.)Hah, outside the museum. A testament to the part of town we were in. And below is a typical view of the neighborhood. Lots of boards and barred windows.
Inside the Frederick Douglass home. I think it was my dream house! Big windows, victorian style, beautiful attention to detail, large dining room...Outside of the house. We aren't pictured because when a kind lady offered to take a pic for us she didn't capture the house...
National Cathedral! Amazing - perhaps even comparable to European cathedrals. I love seeing this kind of architecture in the states!
Joining in the non-violent protests! DESEGREGATE!

Here's a Hint - this one's continental.

1. Town that's famous for its Silver Mine, although people originally flocked here because of the prospect of gold.
2. In 1866, it was the fastest growing city in the region (although now it's just a tiny little town whose glory lives on only in memory).
3. There is a charming train that runs through town and also helps you to imagine what life was like there in the 1800s.
4. Going on mine tours ALWAYS makes me think of a short story that I read in college by Baldomero Lillo. It's called "Compuerta numero 12". You can find it translated to english on line and I HIGHLY recommend that you read it! It's only a couple of pages.

Enjoy the picture and guess any guesses as to where we were? This one was a little bit easier, but it's a practice for the future posts.

Stay Tuned!

So, what can I say or what should I say after disappearing for a few months and suddenly realizing in a moment of calm that summer is nearly as its end and that I'm in a new city; I'm looking for a new job; I've seen a million new sites; I'm making new friends and in a new ward with new roommates. Yes, where do I even start?

Well, as promised to many dear friends, I need to give an update on my adventures, so stay tuned for pictures and tales of laughter and occasionally tears as I learned about the world and the boy who I accompanied.