Started from the Bottom Now I'm Here

So I'm officially half-way done with my last semester at BYU! Wow, almost a college graduate and I still had to try three times to spell officially right. Ahh spell check. What you've done to the youth of the world. English needs to take a lesson from Spanish. Enough of this unnecessary double letter business. So....because of the upcoming changes in my life I've been reflecting recently (and by recently I mean the last 15 minutes) about the things I've learned in my five years since high school. I've decided to list a few of the more significant discoveries (reading back over this blog post I'm not sure if "significant" is the best word choice here...but we'll go with it. Eye of the beholder right?) for you in this next segment I'd like to call:

Things I've Learned In My Five Years Since High School: Part 1 (oooooo foreshadowing)

1. How to take a good selfie. Selfies have become a way of life...if you don't learn to conquer them they will conquer you. 

So remember...lighting is key. It's truly amazing how different you look in good lighting compared to poor lighting...some examples:

Selfies for days

People just don't look good with half faces

See what I'm talking about people??

Also it's all about volume. Volume and variety. One does not simply take one selfie...you must take at least 20 if you're gonna get a good one.

Or I guess in our case you could take at least 20 and still not get a good one. Yeah...we're pros. 

2. The definition of a good friend.

Something else that I've been giving a lot of thought to recently is what makes someone a good friend. As most of us are aware I was pretty much a loner in high school. (A fact that Midge and I enjoy bringing up every once and a while for a good laugh.) In fact I'm one of those rare breed who actually preferred MIDDLE SCHOOL. Can you believe it?? Anyways...back to sad, lonely, friendless high-schooler Emilye...well okay it wasn't really that I was lonely...I was just a loner. I did my own thing and every one else in my school did theirs. I didn't bother them and they didn't bother me. 

Going away (20 minutes away to be exact) to college was a bit nerve-wracking...I worried that it wasn't going to be any better than high school. I was moving in with one of my best friends Kelli...so that was somewhat comforting, but I was still worried about it. Luckily I moved in with some of the greatest girls EVER. I'll always remember the first night that Allie invited me to go watch a soccer game with her. Just me and her. I was like...Oh my gosh! Am I making a friends right now?! Is this what this feels like?? This is such a new experience for me! And it was all up-hill from there. I just slyly inserted myself into a group of girls that had become best friends freshman year. I don't even think they noticed. Actually I heard so much about their freshman year that I'm not positive that I wasn't actually there. Since then I've been able to make lasting friendships with many amazing girls that have been my roommates/companions for the past 5 years. As I started making these friendships I learned a lot about what it takes to be a good friend as an adult (again after reading over this blog maybe adult isn't a perfect word...maybe like a childlike adult.) I'd like to share with you now some of those discoveries of what A Good Friend Is. 

*Note to any friends reading this: if there's a lack of pictures of you on this post it does not mean I love you any less...it can be one of two things. 1. We don't have many pictures together because I didn't have a smart phone when we lived together. 2. That I don't look good in the pictures we do have together. Either could result in you being poorly represented on the blog. Sorry! C'est la vie. 

So without further adieu...A Good Friend Is:

AGFI...someone who will LOUDLY proclaim...oh Messy you're so funny! I can't believe you don't have a boyfriend!...within earshot of a guy you fancy. (Yes, I am a 90 year old woman. And I'm okay with that.)

AGFI...someone who will pick you up from campus. It means a lot.

AGFI...someone who you just can't keep anything from. 

AGFI...someone who can't keep anything from YOU.

AGFI...someone who warns you before they jump on your back. Don't be alarmed.

AGFI...someone you tackle-hug.

AGFI...someone who supports you. 

Okay I'm a HUGE fan of this pic, I totally forgot about it.

The night I opened my mission call

Don't ask me why I didn't have my call in ANY of my pictures

AGFI...someone who thinks EXACTLY like you.

AGFI...someone who thinks NOTHING like you. 

AGFI...someone who stalks you on social media to see when you are in town.

AGFI...someone who will be silly with you.

And most of all...AGFI...someone who makes a husband totally unnecessary! (Don't cry mom...I'm only (sort of) kidding) 

*Note to family: Don't be jealous...I have something similar in the works for yall.

Umm this is a BONUS lesson that I learned as I was writing this post...look what google+ will do to your photos!!! It's so awesome! (and yes those are butterfly tattoos one my arm...what are you going to do about it?) 

And look at these! They are awesome! 

3. How to try new things.

Okay so MAYYYBBEE I haven't exactly mastered this one yet. BUT I'm way better than I used to be. My first few years of college helped me get over my fear of new things a little bit, but the real catalyst was the mission. Going into the mission field was kind of like that moment where the mama bird just pushes her baby out of the nest and it's expected to fly. I've always felt that was a little cruel. The mama bird should be a little gentler with it's baby. Maybe take it down to a lower branch. Let it ride on it's back and get used to the feeling of flying. Give it flying lessons. But no. Nature is cruel. You know....I swear I had a point when I started this paragraph...oh yeah! New things. Well anyways...new things. There are PLENTY of new things that I've done in the five years since mom pushed me out of the nest...you want examples you say??? Well good. Cause I've prepared a few. 

Camping. Okay so this isn't a totally new thing. I was old enough to remember one or two of those dreaded camping trips in Eureka. Oh...and I guess Girls Camp...okay I guess what I should classify this one as is "Enjoying camping" or "Camping I did with my own free will" or the most accurate but slightly long title of "Camping that was short enough that my bladder of steel was able to get me through the whole trip without having to use an outhouse or dig a hole or something." Now that's what I call camping. I also experienced my first...and last...camping trip during the winter. A ground covered in ice and snow should never be combine with paper thin tents. #justsayin #defwasntmyidea

Sports in general...basketball, ultimate frisbee, tennis, long-boarding, soccer...I do it all. Or...I do none of it. One of those two. BUT I've tried it all. And what is that saying there is no do or do not it is only try? Something like that. The only sport I ever really played before college was volleyball, but having some athletic friends has forced me given me the opportunity to play all of these sports...and actually enjoy a few of them. 

Rock climbing. Nuff said. #boss

All sorts of different food. It's always been a family joke that I got to do and eat the most exciting things out of anyone in my family because I was/am/always will be friends with Kelli Floyd. Whenever I mentioned something that I'd done that surprised my family they would say, "Oh, you must have done that with the Floyds." Well even with the Floyds helping me out I still hadn't tried very many different types of food before I moved out to college. Indian food with Abby and Dave, Mediterranean food with Logan, and Mexican/Guatemalan/Cuban food with every Hispanic in Kentucky has really made my taste buds way more cultured. 

Preached the gospel. That was a VERY new thing for me. But you know what they say...once you go Hermana you don't go back. I love my friends, family and my fellowmen (heck I still say things like fellowmen!) more than I ever did before I was a missionary. It's a new thing for me to care so much about other people. (I'm crying way too much now a days) I still love every little Hispanic person that I see. The other day a man came to the door selling tamales...I don't even LIKE tamales yall (I know, I know...I love their other food! I just could never get into tamales...except for one time I had these ones that just had black beans in them. Oh man they were super good, but I digress.) but I HAD to buy some from him. I just loved getting to speak in Spanish with a cute little Hispanic couple. Totally worth it.

Obviously this is not an exhaustive list of the new experiences I've had, but I really want to post this and it's getting to be a SUPER long post. Honestly once I saw those little picture gifs from google+ everything else in this post became irrelevant. I LOVE them. I've watched the one of Coco and I at the football game like 100 times. Also if you go back and look at my previous post I've added the pictures I promised. Love yall!

Blessings

Win or Lose You're Gonna Be Alright

I'm currently sitting in my apartment alone on a stormy Sunday evening. So what could be better than using this time to blog a little? Today was an AWESOME day. I went to Hermana Bunkall's homecoming and she gave one of the most powerful talks I've heard in a while. I mean, minus all the General Authorities I've heard speak the last 3 weeks...but seriously it was incredible. Sitting in the back and reflecting on how this girl standing at the podium was SOOOO different than the missionary I trained a year and a half ago...it was just a good reminder of the power the atonement and the gospel has to change people. 

THEN I GOT TO HUG PRESIDENT WOODBURY!!!! Seriously though. Highlight of my life. He is like Santa Claus. Santa Claus mixed with the old man from Up. Can you imagine for a year and a half being told you aren't allowed to hug Santa Claus?? Not that he's at the North Pole or busy delivering presents...he is standing right in front of you, but you aren't ALLOWED to touch him. Yeah...sad isn't it? Go ahead. You can shed a tear. 

This is how cool my President is...

Oh you know...just my favorite person ever chilling with my second parents (or third I guess cause I mean-the Medleys)...they're tight like that

Sooooo...just imagine that this sentence somehow transitions talking about Santa Claus to talking about the text messages I get from my little sister. I'm too lazy to actually try to make a reasonable connection...well lazy...and also doubtful that it can be done.

Oh! Did I just hear you all say in perfect unison that you super loved my last blog and would really really really like to read another one almost exactly like it?? Awesome! Cause that happens to be what I have for you today! So I guess just read and enjoy. And try not to be too jealous of what we have. :)

That's what sister's are for

Just in case you were unsure about my current feelings towards One Direction. 

This is after I had listed about 10 rules I am going to enforce when we live together

Always using me for my mad Spanish skills

So much truth in this text

I literally have this conversation with Britt at LEAST once a month

Sometimes Britty dreams...and sometimes I smash those dreams with my fist

This one's really just to show you how funny I am

Hope you enjoyed those cause I sure do...also just thought I'd let you know of another funny thing that happened this weekend...soooo Friday night I went to a High School football game...the first HS football game I've EVER watched...didn't go to a single one in high school but now that I'm a senior in college...why not?? My friend's boyfriend-before-her-mission-but-currently-it's-complicated's little brother plays for Salem Hills so we went to watch his game with her. Good times were had by all. Once she sends me one of the hundreds of pictures we took I'll add it on here.

Oh and let me just say...it was the first time I was ever part of the big, fun group of Tongans at the football game and it was tight!! They are all so phony! (In case all you white people aren't aware phony in Tongan slang is kind of used like funny) I was practicing my Tongan slang all night..."Show her how to use hecka in a sentence...how many people are here?" "There's hecka people here." I have a new motto: if you're at a football game and you're not sitting by a Tongan...you're doing it wrong.

Also everyone needs to listen to Scoreboard by Apollos Hester. Best thing in the world.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CClOsC26Lw

Blessings. 

You Need Me Man, I Don't Need You

Ed Sheeran is my main man.

Hey yall I know it's been a while since I last wrote but that's mainly because my life is BORING. Okay that isn't completely true...I've been doing fun things this summer but not the type of fun things you blog about...por ejemplo...So last weekend I laid out in the sun for fours hours and then we watched The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air before heading to Stake Conference.  See? Although it was like the best day ever while it was happening it just doesn't have that excitement factor that my blogs are internationally known for. (We end sentences with prepositions at this blog. Deal with it.) Oh! Maybe if I mention we got almond avocado vanilla smoothies...hmm no. 

So...I'm sure yall are asking yourselves what marvelously fantastic thing could've happened to me to pull me out of my rut and make me blog again?????? Well the answer is simply...nothing. This is actually probably going to be one of the laziest blogs I've ever written. So did that lower your expectations enough that you'll be cracking up at whatever mediocre material I throw at you next?? Good...that's exactly what I wanted to hear. If there is anything I've learned from dating, Chinese buffets, and the Twilight movies it's this: lower your expectations and you might actually enjoy your experience! (Is it not funny to make fun of the Twilight movies anymore?? I can never tell. See I still haven't seen the last one so it isn't over for me...It wasn't over. It still isn't over!! Cue rain please.) 

Moving right along...so as most of you know Britt is up at USU right now, but during the summer she was able to come down a few times for various reasons. Well, I was living at home this summer so luckily when she came down we were able to hang out a lot. Something that became a common occurrence was that whenever we were just chilling on the couch or Mom and Dad's bed (we particularly liked that spot just to see Dad's reaction when he came in and saw us. "I would LIKE to go to bed!" Good one Dad. Classic.) Mom would come over to where we were and just stare at us. Stare and smile. She just loved seeing us together so much...she couldn't help it! Hilarious. Well recently the narcissistic part of me decided that if Mom loves seeing us two interact so much why wouldn't EVERYONE want to be privy to the private conversations of Britt and Em? Answer...there is no reason. We are fantastic. I mean separate we are pretty great, but together...oh...we're sensational. 

So I've decided that I'm going to start putting some of my favorite text conversations (that don't include confidential information) on the bloggity-blog-blog. So enjoy these next few minutes of your life because you are about to see what it's like to be Britt and I. 

WARNING: Some text messages may include jokes that you won't understand. So just act like you get it and laugh anyways. 

Also...don't judge all the misspelled words...it's a text message. Let's just accept them for what they are. 

The Britt and Em Diaries: How to strengthen your relationship with your loved ones

Tell them you love them regularly

It's all about communication

Care about the things they care about

Support each other in their decisions 

And most importantly...make each other laugh

You will always be my boo

Sometimes I don't understand where these lyrics come from...I just write the first thing that comes.

So, I have a problem, and I'd like to discuss it with yall today. (And no it is not my use of the word yall...I LIKE that word) I'm just a girl who can't say no...but not in the way that chick from Oklahoma is singing about...well sort of...but not at all really. She's awful. I'm really upset you are comparing me to her right now. Stop it.

But honestly, I can't. I've done some soul searching and I've discovered why that is...but before I get there let me just demonstrate the level to which I have this problem.

A few Sundays ago one of the high council members in my parents' ward called me and asked me to speak with him at 1...no big deal my ward is at 11 I can do that. Just 10 minutes later I get a call from a second high council member who asks me if I'd like to speak at 11 with him that same day...okay...well I'm gonna have to miss my ward, find someone to lead the music for me, and write two talks in one week...but...sure.

When I came back from the mission I was SUPER blessed and basically had a job waiting for me at my dad's law firm. The only complication was that I kind of had a job waiting for me at the BYU ticket office as well...I had worked there for three years before my mission and in that office it's just kind of expected that after the mission you start working there again. It's seen as a courtesy...that they are saving you from months of job searching once you get home, which it is, if you don't already have another job. So when I got home from the mish and had emails and messages on our home phone from them wondering if I was coming back how could I say no?! They love me! I like being loved okay?? Get off my back! As the semester has passed I've had less and less time to spare and I really haven't had time to be working two jobs, but the idea of having to quit just terrifies me! I know it's a part of life and people do it all the time...it's even expected at these student jobs...but I just can't do it! Oh and whenever people there talk to me about how great it is to still have me working there I just smile and say, "I know! It's great I love it!" I AM SO FAKE! Why don't I just dye my hair platinum blond, put on 8 inch heels and start tanning? (I am currently scanning my brain for any friends who might read this who fit that description....no I think I'm good) Oh who am I kidding...no tanning bed is going to be able to tan this skin.

My GPA my freshman year is also a pretty good indicator of my weakness. I didn't say no to many things...other than studying and getting up early...that semester.

Dating. I won't go into specifics because I don't want to be mean...but I'd say 95% of the dates I've been on are directly related to this problem. That's a high percentage yall.

Latin/country dancing...a NIGHTMARE for people who don't like turning people down. Trust me.

My last example is a pretty big one...so I have this friend of mine and the other day we were just walking in the park and all of a sudden he knelt down and...he asked me to marry him!!! I said yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm engaged now guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (wow...writing those words physically hurt me) Mark your calendars for June 3rd! Okay...maybe some of that story was fabricated...maybe all of it...but a blog post with lies is ALWAYS more exciting than a blog post without lies. But I mean I'm sure at some point in my life I was walking through a park with a guy friend...and maybe his shoe laces were even untied so he had to kneel down...see?? The lies are disappearing before your eyes. But I lie not when I tell you that this is a legitimate fear of mine. Half of my dislike of the idea of having a boyfriend stems from the fact that I'm afraid that if he proposed to me I wouldn't be able to tell him no. (Notice how in my mind the thought has never even occurred to me that if he proposed I might actually WANT to say yes? Gives you a little insight into my opinion of love. Speaking of love...if you want to loose all faith in love just watch Becoming Jane...every time I watch that movie I end up screaming, "LOVE MEANS NOTHING IN THIS WORLD, ALL WE NEED IS MONEY," repeatedly at the TV until the neighbors complain about our "dog" making noise again.)  Welp aaaaaaaaaaaannyyyyrate #hermanahansen hmm this blog seems to be revealing more of my problems than I had intended it too...did I mention that I'm writing this as I'm watching the remaining time I have to study for my Anatomy test slowly tick by...yep, another problem.

Although I will say that I don't ALWAYS have this problem...in some situations the word, "No" actually comes to my lips pretty quickly...like when I'm woken up in the middle of the night by someone who I will only refer to as "Midget"...you know...to protect her identity...and asked to call some man that I don't know to ask him to send her pictures of her best friend's cheer leading team that he had taken. Yeah...I didn't even have to fully wake up before the word, "No" came out of my mouth.

So now would you like to hear my reasoning as to why I have this problem? If you answered, "No, please make this blog post end while I still have my sanity!" you better just stop reading now cause I'm not listening to you, Erica. Well here it is...I'm too good of a person. That's right...I care TOO much. I know that when people reject me I don't feel good so rather than have anyone else feel that way I just agree to whatever they ask me to do. Yep, I know what yall are thinking...I must rock that question at interviews when they ask me my greatest weakness. I usually like to round it off by quoting Ether 12:27 to them. #BOManswersquestions

Oh! I just put together how I can make those lyrics apply to this post! You will always be my boo....because I will never be able to breakup with you! Anndddd....nailed it.

On a real note I really do want to be able to say, "Yes!" to more service opportunities...so if you (and I realize that when I say 'you' I'm only talking to about 10 people...so yeah this announcement isn't all that amazingly self-less) need someone to help you with something or you are feeling kind of down please call me and I will be GLAD for the opportunity to help. (And if I'm having a bad day or am in a bad mood and happen to forget about this goal just remind me that this is a 'service opportunity' and I will humble up (down?) pretty quickly. Promise)

Well to all my faithful readers out there (hey mom!) I bid you goodnight. Or good afternoon or good morning...depending on what time you're reading this.

PS Before you even go there I am aware that my spelling and grammar only worsened during the mission...so lets just all pretend we don't notice it okay? It will make everyone happier...promise.

Party in the USA...I know. I'm ashamed of myself.

Ahhh the Olympics. A wonderful, wonderful time of the year. Well...every other year I guess. I've always found it ironic that they claim the Olympics "unite" us with the rest of the world. I personally find the opposite to be true. Every other time of the year I am a very loving person. But that love is somewhat forgotten as I mutter slightly derogatory comments about Russians and the Chinese during the Olympics. The fact that someone is not from the USA has never been a reason for me to dislike them...until they are competing against my favorite ice dancers. (TAKE THAT CANADA!) People that I literally had never heard of, or at least didn't remember from four years ago, have become my new heroes. You know what...I feel a highlight reel coming on...

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE OLYMPICS 2014!!!!!!!!!$@@%!!!##^&$$!!

1. Davis and White win GOLD! Now lets just forget about the fact that I saw those five words on a "friend's" status about 5 hrs before I could go home to see it. (Don't worry I've learned from my mistakes...I unfriended him that same day. Just try and ruin 2016 for me. I dare you.) I was still super excited to see them put those cocky Canadian's in there place..I mean who could NOT love these two? With all those videos of them skating together when they were like 10 and talking about how it was scary to look into each others eyes...adorable. Apparently they have over come that hurdle...

Dad. One comment about the twizzels and I swear...

2. USA sweeps podium!! This was one of my favorite heart-warming stories. Joss Christensen's father had just died, and pretty much his last words to him were to keep skiing. He totally made his father proud. Tear.

Owned.

3. He took that fall like a man! Oh man...part of being crazy enough to train to be in the Olympics is being crazy enough to fly 10-1,000,000 feet in the air (depending on the sport, of course) with the chance that you aren't going to stick the landing. I saw some pretty gnarly falls this year...bro. Surprisingly enough one of the hardest falls was from a male figure skater from the U.S. He came down SUPER hard right on his hip bone...but with the cheers from the crowd he got up and finished his program. Slow clap anyone?

4. Ted Ligety. I cannot tell you how relieved I was when he got gold in that one event. (CONFESSION TIME: Every single event that involves skiers going down a hill at a rapid pace seems the exact same to me. I swear they just give them 10 chances to get gold in identical events. It's very kind of them but a little confusing for the viewers at home. Also, if those announcers tell me one more time about the "soft snow" conditions...I get it. It's hard being an Olympian.) But really, I was SO happy that he won (and you know...he had a disadvantage cause he skied last...and you know how soft the snow gets after that many riders have been one it) because seconds before the event they showed a video of him, in which he basically says that his life would be over if he didn't get gold in this run. I was immediately very invested in his cause.

5. Reporters sometimes don't have souls. So picture this. Bode Miller just (finally) metaled in an event. I'm pretty sure he had hurt his knee during the event causing it to be his last run in the Olympics...ever. An Olympics that his little brother was supposed to be at as well, but he died before having the chance. Now put Bode in front of the most heartless-I-just-want-a-good-story reporter and this is the conversation that goes down. (Only SLIGHTLY exaggerated)

So that must have been a pretty emotional run for you how are you feeling?
I feel good about it I didn't make any major mistakes blah blah blah...
How does it feel being here without your brother? You know. Your brother. Who was supposed to be here but died.
Uhh, I'm just trying to make him proud of me...
What would your brother be doing if he were here, which he isn't cause he's dead?
Supporting me...
So I saw you looking up to the skies before the run. Who were you talking to Bode? Was it your brother? Your dead brother? Who's in heaven...you know cause that's where dead people go. And he's dead.

And then she has the nerve to try and rub his shoulder lovingly as he folds over and bursts into tears! I was not happy Bob. Not happy.

6. Mormon Mom gets a silver metal and jumps into the stands. Yeah...it's a cute story. She's cute. I like her. It's even better that in the Church News it had a picture of her going to church in Sochi.

7. I really don't know what this is because I care very little about opening and closing ceremonies...but it HAS to be a highlight.

Things needed at the Olympics: Giant ice skating bear. Check.

8. Curling. 'Nuff said. The fact that that sport continues to come back year after year is a highlight for me on it's own.

9. Russian figure skating pair. Fine...so there were a few people that I liked that weren't from the USA. That usually only happened in the events that our peeps didn't even have a chance. Therefore, I really was happy to see...Russian Name and Female Russian Name win the gold in figure skating. Mainly because by everything the announcers were saying I was afraid of what would happen to them if they DIDN'T win.

10. Bob Costas gets pink eye! Okay...maybe it's a little harsh to have that in the highlights reel, but I really love Matt Lauer! (That love started when I was nannying for Mel and Kip and I had very little in my life. The today show got me through. Oh...and you know...my love of Brady.)

All in all the Olympics were very enjoyable this year...as long as you allow me to remain in denial about Shawn White...he got his third straight gold as far as I'm concerned. And he still has long hair.

My patriotic blanket. Very useful during the Olympics. Very random every other day of the year. 

GO USA!!!

PS In regards to the title of this blog post...the other day while walking through campus (woah...is that facebook group as heard at BYU still around?? It was hilarious) I heard this girl say, "Yeah...but Party in the USA is a classic!" If we are now classifying a Miley Cyrus song as a classic I'm afraid for the future of this world.

PPS Okay what is this sport and HOWHOWHOW did I miss it???

My future? I think so. 

Judging solely from pictures I'm assuming that it's sort of like the hunger games, on skis.

PPPS Did everyone else enjoy those commercials about how if we contact this number or go to this website we could see how WE could become an Olympian?? The fact that I'm willing to sit on my couch for 3 hours every night for 2 weeks should tell you that I'm not Olympian material bud.

Blessings.