{Call} Pictures & Videos

{Georgia 2011} Dreaming old dreams... Wishing old wishes...

Foreword:

From 2005 to 2008 I lived in Alpharetta, Georgia.

I attended Chattahoochee High School where i Graduated,

went to church at the John's Creek Ward,

and had some amazing times with some very good friends.

The Wall Family:

Ira, Kerri, Nathaniel, Devin, Justin, Harrison

(Nathaniel and i have been really good friends since i moved to Georgia, and best friends our senior year)

FRIDAY:

I Arrived at the Atlanta airport at 4:30PM (without any delays!!!)

Kerri and Nathaniel picked me up

(i haven't seen them since summer of '08!)

and we had dinner with their family at The Varsity.

(They made me try the chili-dogs because that's what its famous for

they were way good! but i could only eat one haha)

Nathaniel and i went to his house

and waited for Cameron Greenburg to come over

and we went to WAFFLE HOUSE late that night.

(Nathaniel, Weston and I used to eat at the waffle house

probably at least once a week, usually after mutual)

SATURDAY:

Cameron slept over,

Kerri made us BISCUITS AND GRAVY (nice and southern =)

and we had a lazy morning.

Around noon Devin was begging us to make homemade ice cream

so we went to publix and bought the stuff to make later that night.

Then Cameron, Nathaniel and I drove to

The MALL OF GEORGIA (half an hour drive)

to eat lunch with my really good friends

Ashlyn Lichliter & Mariana Correa (with hubby Baylen)

(all of the girls who i graduated with except one, are all married now haha)

We had a really fun lunch at the OLIVE GARDEN,

with a rude waiter,

and had some good catching up time.

I have missed those girls.

I had a few moments where i just was like

"I can't believe I'm sitting here, in Georgia, with all of you guys"

and i'd get all teary eyed and have a moment. haha

I realized as i was in Georgia

how incredibly grateful i am

for all of the amazing friends that i have.

i am soooo blessed.

I have friends ALL over

and i would be depressed and discouraged

if i didn't have all of them.

I love LOVE love my friends.

After lunch Mariana, her husband,

cameron, nathaniel and i

walked around the Mall.

We sat around in the LOVESAC store

and went to the AS SEEN ON TV store

and i bought some cute shoes for my mission at H&M.

After a couple hours we were done, and i had to say bye to Mariana. =(

who still texted me the whole time i was there even when i wasn't with her. I love her! haha

Nathaniel and i visited

Taze and Kathryn Miller

and the Ernsts!

(Verne Ernst was my bishop for my junior and senior years of high school

he's now the stake president

and is one of my very favorite in georgia/the world)

it was so fun to be able to chat with them

tell them about my call

and my parents call

and about my life.

Nathaniel and I went to dinner together at a Thai Food restaurant.

then we drove over and saw my house

on PAPILLON TRACE.

I had a moment.

The whole time i was looking at it i kept thinking about

how i felt while i lived there, and how far i've come since i was there.

It was a crazy weird feeling to see it again.

Then Cameron came over

and we watched Kung Fu Panda.

Nathaniel went to bed,

and Cameron and I stayed up and talked

in our sweet Russian accents for a little while.

SUNDAY:

Church at the Johns Creek ward.

AMAZING.

President Ernst spoke

(the night before he had warned me that he was going to call me up

to bear my testimony.

but luckily the bishop who spoke before him

only left him about 5 minutes to speak haha)

Then he bore his testimony in Relief Society

about his love for the women in his life.

Afterward i went up to tell him bye,

and started crying as he told me how special of a person i am to him and his family

i told him if it wasn't for him, i would be a different person.

he was an amazing influence in my life.

I got to see my whole ward!

tons of families and people i haven't seen in so long.

it was so nice to see everyone

and i felt so loved and missed.

i wish i could go visit once a month,

i LOVE all of the people in that ward.

Sunday night we made homemade ice cream

had Tim and Meagan Moody over for dinner

CHICKEN PILLOWS oh soo good.

watched Shanghai Noon

and played 4 men on a couch.

(I also took a nap this day,

and had a nightmare that someone was trying to attack me

and i couldn't move or wake up

so i started to scream so that Walls would come and wake me up..

i woke up really embarrassed hoping i hadn't actually been screaming in my sleep.

i went downstairs and everyone else was taking a nap too

and kerri was starting to make dinner so i helped her.

she laughed at me when i told her about my dream

and reassured me that i wasn't screaming haha

it was a really scary dream!)

MONDAY:

Kerri made us some really good

apple streusel french toast for breakfast (she really spoiled me!)

Nathaniel had to work for a few hours

so i went to lunch with Kerri, Lisa Miller, and DANIELLE POULTER

who was a freshman when i was a senior

and now she's on break from BYU-I, CRAZINESS!

We ate at a mexican restaurant called ADOBOS

it was delicious.

Then Kerri and I got pedicures

and went back to the house and Nathaniel was home.

Nathaniel and i watched EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND

(we used to watch it together when we were dating for a few months haha

and his family loves that show)

We hung out and watched TV for a while

then Cameron and BRANDEE DUNNE came over

(Brandee and i played on the church basketball team together

and hung out at church stuff, girls camp, and we had some movie nights together)

and we went to this really good authentic Mexican Restaurant.

Nathaniel served his mission in Monterrey, Mexico

and had searched out where the really authentic mexican places to eat were.

This place was an old mall

without a/c and run down

and all of the stores were like

tattoo parlors, or dress places for quinceaneras.

haha

We all shared some really good

tacos, enchiladas, and tamales.

and i practiced a little of my spanish.

And we had some authentic coke from mexico.

i guess its supposed to taste different because it has real cane sugar in it.

it tasted really good, but i don't drink coke enough to know the difference.

After dinner, Brandee, Nathaniel and i played Mad Gab

and talked for a little while.

we watched these YouTube videos called

"cute win fail" or something like that.

they're hilarious.

then nathaniel and i watched Everybody Loves Raymond again

and went to bed.

TUESDAY:

We woke up early

and went to breakfast with

kerri, Heather Greenburg and Jeri Colton

(Heather is Cameron's mom, (and Logan's who was my really good friend

in high school and is on his mission in Spain)

and Jeri was my young women's leader.

she gave me a really pretty pouch with my name embroidered on it for my temple stuff)

at this cute EGG HARBOR CAFE.

I got a really good omelet and strawberry-orange juice.

Then we had to go home because Nathaniel had to leave for work soon.

so we watched a little more of Everybody Loves Raymond,

and he left.

then i went and packed

and flew home at 1:50PM

My weekend was AMAZING.

i had so much fun with all of my old friends

and with the Walls.

I'm so glad they let me stay with them because it wouldn't have been the same if i hadn't.

I've missed Georgia a lot and hope that i can go back there again soon after my mission!

=)

Delightful Delays

This is the story of the worst luck in traveling ever recorded. Probably.

It all started on December 18th, 2010

Flying from HNL to LAX then connecting to LAS

the LAX to LAS flight is departing the gate,

a man stands up (whilst taxiing (big no no)) and goes into the bathroom,

he was drunk, and threw up ALL over the first class bathroom.

The plane turns around, the flight attendants start cleaning it up. Then the captain comes on and announces that he has overflown his hours, and has to go on rest for legalities. The flight is cancelled, people are angry. My dad is livid (big word).

We take a 5 hour bus ride to Vegas from LA. We would have gotten home at 2 in the morning. . . we don't get there 'til 7.

Tuesday (February 8th 2011)

Wake up leave the house at 5:30 a.m.

St. George shuttle to Las Vegas.

I'm flying from LAS to SLC then SLC to HNL.

My flight in LAS is delayed an hour.

I'm freaking out thinking I'm going to miss my connecting flight.

We land in SLC. I briskly walk to another terminal, my flight was supposed to depart in 10 minutes.

The flight is delayed an hour. So i go get a krispy kreme.

The flight gets delayed half an hour.

(The cargo door to the plane wouldn't open. The previous flight from Atlanta (=D) were all waiting for their luggage. 2 hours after they landed they got their luggage out. Then the cargo door wouldn't work right, so they were trying to fix it so that it would open and close properly.)

The flight gets delayed another hour (after the first hour and a half delay)

Then another hour.

Then a half hour...

then 2 hours....

then a whopping 8 hours.

I was supposed to leave SLC at 11 am and arrive in HNL at 330.

We don't leave until 8pm and i don't get to HNL until midnight.

My grandma picked me up and i got to visit her and see her cats and puppy.

Once i arrive in HNL, Bree and Erin are on their way and her car breaks down.

like, for good. Snoopy was dead =(

so we had to have someone else from Laie find a car, go get them because they had her car towed to Kaneohe, then come out and get me.

I was at that airport forever. I got kicked out of the baggage claim because they were closing it.

I sat outside on a concrete bench, and started to cry. It had been a full 24 hours since i left my house in St. George.

and i cried pretty hard because i was tired, and i was in hawaii, and i had all of this bad luck and it just felt weird and sad and scary.

This nice couple from Texas came and talked to me, and they ended up asking a lot of questions about the church so that was cool.

NEXT FLIGHT. . . from Honolulu to Kona

Delayed 3.5 hours. But i did make it and had an amazing time on the Big Island.

(i also had a REALLY REALLY cool missionary experience on this flight. New Post to come)

NEXT FLIGHT. . . from Kona to LAX

Delayed a half hour

then the radio wasn't working right, so we had to make a stop in Honolulu and possibly switch planes.

They fix the radio after an hour in Honolulu.

I'm in first class because my dad upgraded me, then he had a guy from the business on the plane who was 6'6" and a big guy, so i switched him and sat in coach with his 6 year old son who was sleeping and kept hitting me and laying all over me haha. 4.5 hours later we're in LAX.

LAX to LAS

we were already bumped up to a later flight, but we landed 10 minutes before that one was supposed to take off. My parents and i RUN as fast as we can to the gate, (usually when you have a connecting flight and you're cutting it close, the gate attendant will hold the flight for you, especially if its that close) so we get to the gate and the lady was going back and closing the gate. We have the TSA people go back to tell her we're waiting. She shuts the door anyway. and My dad is... beside himself.

the plane was right there. not even leaving the gate yet, we were on the list, and she knew we were. but she said we weren't and that the gate was already closed and there was nothing she could do. My dad goes off.... "that's b.s. we're on that list and you know it"

i run to another gate to get on a different flight. My dad calls and we get switched to another airline that leaves in an hour.

We go through security again. my dad is freaking out thinking our bags won't make it on this flight. he talks to the lady at this other airlines gate, she claims that there's no way she can know and there's no way to find out.

My dad starts yelling at her.

My mom and i just get on the flight.

The flight attendant comes onto the plane before they shut the door and tells my dad that she did call, and they don't know if the bags are on the plane. but she did call (i don't get why she didn't just pick up the phone and call while we were standing there.)

my dad was really frustrated because all of the attendants were just being lazy, and claiming they can't do stuff. My dad flies like every day of every year for the past 30 years. . . he's not some dumb customer that doesn't know how it works.

Anyways.... we did make it home eventually.

3 of the 4 bags we had made it onto the flight, and delta had to drive the other one up from LA to us in STG. Their mistake i'd say.

I did get $450 worth of money toward a flight (it expires in a year so i need to use it before i leave on my mission) and 2 free meals while i was in SLC.

I'm flying to Georgia on Friday. . . cross your fingers for me.

A {letter} to Me

(Listen to the song first)

Brad Paisley is one of my favorites. . . =)

I still need to blog about my flight madness this past week. You guys have no idea... it was the worst bad luck i have ever had in my entire life.

Anyways. . . while i was on the 4.5 hour flight from Honolulu to LA last night, that song came on my ipod.

I'm going back to Georgia this weekend. And i've also visited and come into contact with a lot of old friends since I've gotten my mission call.

This song made me decide to blog about what i would write to myself if I could send a letter back.

Dear Steph,

You're 15, in middle school, and having a hard time with your friends. You don't feel appreciated and you've never felt like you've fit in with that crowd. You wanted to be popular so bad that you almost lost yourself on the way. Don't worry little girl, the Lord has an even bigger plan for you than you have for yourself.

When you find out about moving to Georgia, don't get caught up in saying goodbye. You'll be back. Don't worry about your friends forgetting about you, because you've made one of the best friends you'll ever have. Always tell Jazmin how much she's meant to you throughout all of it.

Stop talking to Matt, it only ends up making your life complicated. and make friends in school. Chattahoochee is scary, but it will become one of the greatest things you'll ever have experienced. Cherish seminary, sister Yates, and spending time with Mariana, Jenn, Ash, and Rachel.. because the summer will bring massive changes.

If i could tell you one thing to do in the summer of '06, it would be to figure out now how much your parents care about and love you. Always remember that mom wants what's best, not to torture you and keep you away from Josh. Keep Jazmin close and tell her that she's more important than anyone.

Your Junior year is the hardest of the three. Get out of the house, talk to people in school, and make friends. Girls have talked behind your back, and you've lost every friend in your ward, but this will make you stronger than anything. Keep talking to Courtney because you both help each other through some of the hardest lessons life has to offer.

Tell Andrew that you like him, and have the confidence to date him. Pay attention in math, and remember that Coach Dell loves you, he will always be there to help you.

When you meet Weston Goggins, write it in your journal. He'll become one of the best friends you'll have. You, Weston, Nathaniel, and Garrett will create some of the greatest memories that you'll remember in high school. Have fun, and don't stress about relationships. Have the confidence to be yourself and to not date when you don't need to. Stay close to Arielle, she needs you just as much as you've needed her.

The end of your senior year will be filled with so much fun with Weston and Nathaniel. When you go to Portugal, appreciate the culture and be patient. Don't worry about saying goodbye to Weston or Nathaniel, but appreciate Georgia and all it has given you. You've never been afraid of making the decision to go to BYU Hawaii, all you feel is excitement and later on you'll look back and feel so much satisfaction with the way you felt and how it all came together. You don't know a soul, but will make friends almost instantly and the Lord will bless you with the amazing friends you've always prayed for.

Remember to be happy, remember to not make things a bigger deal than they are, and stay close to the Lord.

Don't get caught up in dating and getting married, just enjoy college life and all of the friends you've made.

Study more, and play harder. Take lots of pictures. Hawaii is an amazing blessing.

Texting Danny isn't as important as all of the fun you'll have with Chantal, Bree and Erin in the Casa, remember that they are always there for you.

Soon you'll be frustrated, scared, and really in love. Don't be afraid to say what you feel, and listen closely to the spirit, don't ignore the promptings but trust in your heavenly father's plan for you. You'll make it out alive, i promise. Don't be quick to get upset, Quit talking, quit worrying, and have the confidence to be happy. Serving a mission is something deep down you know you want to do, don't be afraid to make that decision. You've always known that everything will work out how it should. Have Faith and Hope in your future :) you have a lot going for you.

Love, your future self. =)

admittance & {loves}

Happy HAPPY note!! I'm in Hawaii right now!

In the Casa!

With Bree and Ethan and Ariel!

and i got to hang out with Erin at the RWC today!

and go to class with Bree, Tessa, and Bonnie!

and go to subway!

and ride a longboard around Laie!

and i think i'll go to Foodland later for some comida =) =)

and we're going to watch a movie and make brownies tonight!!

I just wanted to admit,

that being here in Hawaii again, and around the mormon college scene,

I've noticed that those feelings of wanting to get married are ever-present here for me.

I am definitely looking forward to all that life is blessing me with starting this very minute

and continuing on and on. I am very blessed.

On another note:

I want to make another list of things that I love.

Reason:

the other day whilst driving to Arizona for 8 hours

i was thinking about how my attitude has gone downhill

and i've been really lazy and just not really very....

diligent

about doing what i need to do to be proactive haha

so my mind again came up with a metaphor

(remember the one with the small hands

taking their problems

and dropping them into the huge hands above them?)

Here's Steph's #2 LIFE METAPHOR:

there is a tiny jar (like the size for Jam)

and it sits (metaphorically) on my desk in my bedroom.

And its full of good, happy, wonderful, blissful things

things that make me happy

good deeds for my life

service that i've done for others

all of the church meetings i've been to

the times i've read my scriptures and said my prayers

the times that i've asked the Lord to help me make decisions..

things like that.

And every time i do something like

complain

or have a bad attitude

or get angry with someone

things like that...

it takes away some of the happy things in the jar.

so i think about it and realize that i want to keep as many things

in the jar

as possible.

the end. =)

THINGS I LOVE

shopping

anthropologie

toms shoes

my brothers' ambitions

my perfect big sister's advice

the temple

garments (ehh.. sometimes but i'm learning to)

flowers

hawaii (you know what that incorporates, right?)

Valentine's Day

Taipei, Taiwan

Georgia

St. George

My grandma and her love for cats

my parents

my big sister in New York

spaghetti and orange juice

clue

card games

putting on makeup

country music

slow songs/love songs

movies

making and cuddling in quilts

kissing

texting

guacamole

cafe rio

pedicures

my CTR ring

headbands

shopping for mission clothes

Ariel

Haleiwa Eats (HI) & Benjas (UT) & Satay House (GA) all Thai Food

Organizing

Cleaning

baths

vanilla perfume

pearl earrings

periwinkle things

Krispy Kreme donuts

junebug saying "so YUUUMMMAAYY" with a deep voice

Camden talking about "the holy god spirit"

marcus and his "giant house with the world's biggest hot tub and thats it"

huddy and his cute little lisp "im hudthun holm"

jettbug's smile

how i'm the baby whisperer and can put Drake to sleep before his parents can

orange peel

ghost in the graveyard in my house

talks with Ta'ei/Erin/Bree/Ashley

reading in pajamas and socks

making brownies with Bree

Texas sheet cake

25 main cupcakes

=)