Lovelys

You guys are the bees knees. Seriously life would be dull and i would be sad and lonely without all of you. Thanks so so much for being my friends and listening and dealing with my craziness. You'll really never know how much I love you!

ASHLEY YOU ARE ON THERE TOO.. you already read this post.. sorry dude.. i kept thinking "who the heck am i forgetting???" i forgot you =( lets have a water fight and make up.

I've got some yellow liquid for your popcorn....

~I talked to my mom today.

Crazy story about family history!

she found one of her cousins sons lives in Palmyra where my sister Julie is serving her mission. Sunday morning my mom had told Julie to go and visit him, THAT afternoon he and his family went on a tour where she gives them. She asked what his name was at the end and when he told her she started to cry and it made him cry (but he didn't know why he was crying) then she said, "my mom told me literally today about you and i was going to come see you! you're my cousin!" and he said he was relieved because he didn't know anyone on that side of his family was active in the church. pretty freaking amazing.. PLUS she didn't get transferred last week.. coincidence? i think not.

~I also talked to my mom about a mission.

So here's the deal with me. If you are a constant "stephbloggerreader" then you should know that i am very indecisive.

I went to talk to my amazing bishop on Sunday. He set up my papers online so now all i have to do is fill them out. I could start my mission papers TODAY if i wanted to. So i think what i'll basically do is start them and see how i feel. Because if Heavenly Father knows there is someone i could decide to date and marry and he isn't far, then he'll interfere, and if not then a mission is what's in his plan. It feels like i'm trying to trick heavenly father into giving me an answer when i should really just make the stupid decision. Its not stupid its a great decision, its just a big one.

~There is a new religion professor here at BYU Hawaii teaching Eternal Marriage. His name is Doug Brinley and he's my 2nd cousin (my dad's first cousin). My roommate Ali is taking his class so I went with her to say hi to him. he gave me a big hug and told me i look like a Holm and he could spot me a mile away. He said "i haven't seen you since you were this high". My heart jumped haha I ache for that kind of family while i'm here in Hawaii. I'm so happy he's here!

~My 3 callings in my ward (choir director, enrichment committee chair, rs pianist) are going splendidly. I had the first 2 choir practices this week and i had a pretty good turn out.. about 6 or 7 people haha. We're going to sing The Olive Tree in a couple Sundays and i have to pick out a good song for the Musical fireside in a couple months.

~I collect the "willow tree" figurine things. The first one i got was in Nauvoo and it was the "hold dear to the promise of love" one. I went to the mall the other day to see Easy A with my family (holy crap guys this is the funniest movie ever!! "Ooh you sharpen that pencil.. oh is it sharp? is it sharp?" lol so good) and while we were wasting time i bought another one. I have a ton at home, but this is the first and only one i have here in Hawaii. =)

This one's called "Surrounded By Love"

(do you like the headband? I was getting ready this morning and 2 of my guy friends were here and they told me i looked good.... so i wore it and i've been getting compliments all day haha but i still don't know if i like it)

****************************** Meet: BETTY *************************************

I bought her a week ago in Kaneohe. She is my baby and I love her oh so much.

She's white, and has tan leather interior

'97 Nissan Maxima

Tape player, CD player, Radio,

even the cigarette lighter works!

AND she has A/C. oh baby baby

yep those are Sheep skin front seats.

It's like driving whilst sitting on a recliner

She's my cute little Grandma car

My little Orangutan

Weston (my best friend from Georgia), his brother Landon & I

won him at the Nickelcade in Provo the day before Weston left on his mission =)

Nice roomy leather back seats.

She has broken down on me once or twice and i'm working on getting that fixed. all she does is lose some kind of connection, its an electrical problem.

so i'll be driving, she'll kind of sputter and then turn off

but she continues to coast always so i can get her off the road

so she's still safe and i still love her with her little temper.

Today's a good day and i hope all of you guys are having a good one as well!

loves =)

Beauty & the {good} stuff

Beauty = no classes on Mondays for 4 months

Beauty = feeling great about my job and co-workers

Beauty = a weekend of fantastically fun adventures with friends

Beauty = a picnic in my bedroom under the fan because Hawaii is hot today

Beauty = watching bits and pieces of You've Got Mail (my favorite) all day long

to keep the joy continuous

Beauty = Kaneohe to test drive cars and buy one today

Beauty = 5 activities involving my ward this week

Beauty = having 3 callings and loving all of them equally

Beauty = friends i can trust and talk to

Beauty = amazing new roommates who will probs become my best friends

Beauty = a new look on life

I Love the Fall

I'm so stoked for it

and I also am thinking about maybe next year

(if i don't serve a mission... ps i'm a little iffy about it)

i want to put my life on hold and

move to New York for the Fall just for kicks and giggles

Anyways.. I'm off to get the baby i've always wanted!!!!

Pictures to come soon =)

loves

and {so} it begins... again...

FALL

Acting
Singing
Dancing
History
Religion
& English

PARtY


My schedule got all messed up my first day yesterday
so that was stressful.
I pretty much had to re-make the whole thing. not fun.
And so now i'm taking random classes
and the only classes i really need are English & History
but the others will be WAY fun anyways =)

Plus i have a job now.. this is the first time i've worked
and taken a full semester of classes. ever.
I'm a little nervous, but i think i'll be ok.

Anyways.. we got 2 new roommates in our house.
they seem pretty cool.
I'm also getting a scooter so that i can make it to my 7:30 class
or my 7Am shifts in the mornings.

on another note...
i'm a little distant and lonely right now.
Nothing is really off... i've got a few options that will be pretty life changing
floating around in my head right now..
but it's not that really... i dont know what it is... i'm just lonely.
and i don't really want to date.
and i'm making a bunch of new friends and i'm happy
but you can be happy and lonely at the same time.
and that's what i am.
We'll see how the semester goes....

=)

Birthday Trip {Home}

On Monday, August 30, my mom told me i was flying home.
I couldn't make up my mind whether I wanted to have my parents visit me,
or go see my whole family.
so my momma decided for me =)

Wednesday Sept 1st I flew home around 8pm

Thursday:
Mom picked me up around 9AM
Miracle Mile Mall on the strip in Vegas
TONS of birthday shopping with my mom =THE BEST DAY EVER =)
my mom is amazing. and i love her so.

Thursday night i hung out with Jazmin!! got to hear all about
her amazing summer as an EFY counselor =)
Alex met up with us and we saw Knight & Day
Then got some bad news during the movie and left
Alex and I stayed up talking
a nice little catch up
I'm bummed we've only been friends a few months =(

Friday morning:
FAMILY BUS to SLC
Stayed in the hotel we used to stay in when i was little in Murray.
The indoor pool is exactly the same, the lobby is the same,
same old elevator, same parking lot,
same Dell Taco across the street
the only thing that's changed is the name of the hotel, like 6 times haha

We picked up my sister Melissa and saw Jef,
we ate at Dell Taco

Saturday:
woke up early and went to Hogle Zoo
It was basically me, and the married's with their children.
I miss my single sibs!!!
The kids were crazy the whole time
we almost lost Marcus
And i was ornery pretty much the whole trip haha
but the monkeys were my favorite part =)

Then we went to Gateway to let the kids play on the splashpad
and dinner at Applebee's

Sunday:
Went to church at my g-ma's ward
same old building my mom went to when she was growing up (crazy!!)
got to play with baby Jett in the hallway haha
but i missed my mom's and grandma's testimonies =(

After church my Grandma tried to introduce me to this kid in her ward
he just got home from a mission
so we go up to meet him, and it was SUPER awkward.
He like did NOT stop smiling and looking at my grandma the whole time
and she kept having to think of stuff to say
so i was just like "nice to meet you.... yeah you just got home...
how was it....." he invited me to stay for the single's ward
i said we were leaving haha.... awkwardness.....

Then we drove the family bus up to this random
dog show in Heber
long drive, didn't even get to see them cause it was $12 a person!!! lame!!!
but we went to the Alpine Slide!! that was SO FUN i loved it

Then dinner at a really really good Indian Restaurant
=the best curry i've ever had
(Even better than Haleiwa Eats... and thats a big deal)

SIDENOTE: I think i'm addicted to Barq's RB haha

Monday:
LAGOON
SOO FUN!
i took my nephew on a ton of fun rides
and got to see all my nephews and niece ride the fun rides
My brother Steve and I went on the Catapult thing
where they put you in this little steal ball
and there's poles like WAY WAY high up on either side
and the bungee cords are connected to the ball
and they spring you from the ground soo high
it was CRAZY but so fun
i couldn't believe i actually did it... i was like "What am i doing?!?!" the whole time haha

that night we dropped of My sweet sister Melissa and Baby June
and drove home.
I got to drive the family bus for 3 hours haha awesome!!

The rest of the week i hung out a lot with
Courtney Tyler
Alex Gubler
and i saw my cousins
Candace Wood & David Colegrove

I spent a lot of time with my parents,
got to go shopping
brought home fake tattoos, silly bands, and an inflatable pool for the ocean!!

I'm actually pretty bummed that i don't get to stay home for fall.
i love fall so much and miss the weather.
just seeing all the fall decorations and candy corn
bummed me out a little
and getting to spend thanksgiving with my parents
and not getting to be there when Melissa has her baby =(

I'm a little bummed.
but the trip home was so random but SO amazing!!
i love my family and STG

Something to {Remember} me by

(this is a note that i wrote my freshman year during Winter Semester at BYUH. I love it.)

Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.

(To do this, go to “NOTES” under tabs on your "PROFILE" page (you may have to add the tab by clicking on the + sign), click on "Compose New Messsage" and paste these instructions in the body of the note, type your 25 random things, tag 25 people (in the right hand corner of the app) then click publish.)

1. I absolutely hate facebook, it still baffles me that i get on it everyday. I think it's a stalker's network.. and i'll admit i feel like a stalker every time i get on.

2. I wish all of my old friends new how much i missed them, and i feel self conscious every time i tell them. i dont think i could ever express to them how grateful i am to have them in my life.

3. My absolute favorite thing to do is watch a disney movie with a boy, because either conversations of our childhood or our dreams will come up.

4. i feel like no guy will ever make me feel as loved as my dad does, even though we argue 50% of the time. And i've come to realize it's only because we're so much alike.. and i love that about us.

5. I love the Rocket Summer, the starting line and old punk bands.. but Celine Dion beats out anyone and everyone i've ever listened to. Because my mom, my sisters and i used to listen to her and sing along when we were little.

6. My sister just had a baby, my first niece, i get to hold her in 27 days and i can NOT wait. I don't think i'll ever give her back once i get her. My nephews are the best thing in the world, i can't wait to meet you little junebug.

7. I am turning more and more into my mom every day. And I hope it continues. She's perfect.

8. I think that every girl has a lot of amazing qualities, and that guys don't realize how lucky they are to know us.

9. I don't feel like an awkward person, but i think i can easily make people feel uncomfortable, and i always try really hard to make it more comfortable, and the harder i try, the more awkward it becomes. and i absolutely hate it.

10. I look up to my brother Steve and his wife Jaime's marriage, it's like a real life fairy tale. They are both such amazing people.

11. I look up to each of my siblings, because all of them are the people i want to be, and i feel so lucky every time i'm with them.

12. I don't like writing missionaries.

13. I took a marriage class last semester, some people thought i was weird, but it will probably be the best class i've ever taken.

14. I LOVE Friends (the t.v. show).

15. I love clothes, and shopping, but recently i have been really good at not spending my money and that has surprised me.

16. I love country songs. i like to listen to it while i get ready in the morning.

17. I want to do so many different things in hawaii... but just being by the ocean, and having the ability to go there every day would be reason enough to be here.

18. the ocean scares the heck out of me. (i know i just contradicted myself ha)

19. My dad and i used to play hide and go seek and come to court when i was little, and to this day i still hate when people jump out and scare me like my dad used to.

20. i think my sister melissa is perfect, literally. and i think when julie and jef are together, they are the funniest people on earth.

21. I fall for my guy friends pretty easily, and its usually hard to find a reason not to like them anymore. and hardly ever, mostly never do i tell them.

22. I wish i were more girly.

23. I think i am only truly happy when i can be myself and embrace it.. being in an english class gives me the best feelings i've ever felt in my life.

24. I am a neat freak. i like to be very organized so that i know where everything is. My mom used to call me the "walking tornado" and i know her constant nagging changed me.. so thanks mom, its one of my favorite qualities.

25.I never crawled when i was little, i scooted across the floor. my mom said i looked like uruslla from the little mermaid. and i'm left handed.. something was wrong.

Twenty {One}

I have been 21 now for 4 days!!

For the first half hour of my 21st year...

i took advantage of the time i had, and pondered on my 20th year.

I learned SO much.

I loved so much

i gained/lost so much

and i grew a ton

so here's to you year 20, thanks for the memories =)

year 21... let's see what we can do buddy!!

{My Birthday}

My friends are the best. i'll just put it that way.

They were planning this HUGE weekend for my birthday

but Monday morning comes,

and my mom decides to fly me home for 1.5 weeks

so their plans were ruined (well not really... im actually pretty sure they're carrying them through right now without me, but its cool.. its not their fault im not there haha)

So on my actual birthday

the clock struck 12

Bree, Ethan, Erin and I drove to foodland

i brought a candle and a lighter

we bought cupcakes (with Star Trek rings on them)

and i put my candle in, lit it, and made a wish.

(i'm going to make it a tradition that i always do this at midnight.

and i'm always going to either buy or bake myself a cupcake every year,

just to remember how much i do and should love me haha =)

after that, we were up pretty late.

i went to bed around 3? bree recorded a pretty embarrassing video of what happens to Stephanie when she's tired. (oh goodness... haha)

then i went to bed, got up a few hours later to get a drink of water

my friends were still up, and they had put up a WAY cute HAPPY BIRTHDAY sign on our kitchen wall. haha

I woke up the next day around 6:50,

Bree and I drove Crystal to the dentist and went to breakfast in Kaneohe at IHOP.

French Toast Slam oh baby baby!

Went home and napped til 12:30

went to Sunset (my favorite beach) with Erika, Bree, and Ethan.

I laid out on the ocean and played for 4 hours, it was SO fun.

my really good friend Garrett called me from Georgia!!! I love and miss him!!

(i used to each lunch with him every day my senior year, but we haven't even talked since graduation.. crazy)

Later that night we watched all the Friends "The one with all the birthdays"

then we planned to go to dinner around 8

we didn't get to Haleiwa til 9

Haleiwa Eats is CLOSED on Tuesdays (so sad!!!)

so we went to Cholos Mexican for my birthday dinner

Tessa, Ethan, Erika, Erin, Bree, and Bryan came with me.

and we watched one of my favorite movies Runaway Bride

Erin and Bree made me a cute cake

and i made yet another birthday wish and blew out my candles =)

Best. Day. Ever.

(mainly because i got to spend it with the people i love)

THEN i flew home Thursday morning

went shopping for a few hours with mom

and bought TONS of cute things.

It was seriously the best day ever haha i got to shop with my mom

just me and her

and buy tons of stuff.

Happy 21st to me =)